This is Kenner's 12" See-Threepio from 1978.After Artoo, it seemed natural to cover Threepio in this next post.
There's not much to say about Threepio, the character, that hasn't been said a million times before. With that said, I will say this...he's shiny, he's whiny, and if he had spent any time on Dagobah he might have felt a bit briny (I'm here all week, folks). Bad rhymes aside, Threepio (along with Artoo) made for great comic relief in the Star Wars films. Unfortunately, I think that the widespread acceptance of these characters and their humor planted a seed or two in George Lucas's noggin' that eventually led to much more ham-fisted comedy in characters like the Ewoks and Jar Jar Binks. The droids' humor was perfect...ewoks and Jar Jar, not so much.
Kenner didn't really go above and beyond the call when they made See- Threepio in his 12" size. For all intents and purposes, Threepio is just a larger version of his 3 3/4 counterpart. He sports all the same limited articulation (neck, shoulders, hips) and doesn't include any accessories or play features. Such limited articulation on a character that has built-in spots for extra articulation is a cheap cop-out and one of my pet-peeves (I've noticed some of the recent Buzz Lightyear figures have the same issue... There's an elbow joint sculpted right in that doesn't move!!!) What you see is what you get and it's fairly easy to track down a "complete" See-Threepio these days as he didn't have any extra pieces to lose. However, he does sport a very shiny, gold paint scheme. Pretty, ain't it?As a kid, his limited play features were a huge disappointment. Sometimes, I think I was made to suffer. It's my lot in life.
I never did have any of the 12" figures as a kid, that doesn't stop me from trying now. I did snap up the POTF2 versions of both C3-PO and R2-D2, and now that I think about it, I think the Threepio has the same articulation.
ReplyDeleteAlso, CB would give up his third leg for this C-3PO.
ReplyDeleteJust sayin.
I have a 12" C3-PO available, if you want to give me an offer! claytlee@aol.com
ReplyDeleteI am not surprised that 3PO is so limited in the articulations. Take a look at him in all Star wars films (except for the Battle Droid Factory scene in Attack of the Clones) he can barely move... so this has to be the most accurate toy someone can make.
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More articulation = more complex toy = more money. And these were already the less popular size figure. I don't know what you think Kenner could have done here.
ReplyDeleteDitto with play features. What would you have added to Threepio? Talking? Lights? More expensive again. Umm... missile launchers maybe?
Anonymous... Yes, more articulation and features costs more money but you have to realize that 3P0 sold at the same price point as other figures in the line that had many more accessories (like Boba Fett), cloth clothing, and more articulation. I love the figure for what it is but it wouldn't have killed them to add waist, elbow or knee articulation... and, yeah, I think light up eyes or something wouldn't have blown their profit margin, either.
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