{"id":56296,"date":"2017-08-01T08:47:36","date_gmt":"2017-08-01T15:47:36","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.entertainmentearth.com/news\/?p=56296"},"modified":"2017-08-01T08:47:36","modified_gmt":"2017-08-01T15:47:36","slug":"gentle-giant-star-wars-early-bird","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.entertainmentearth.com/news\/gentle-giant-star-wars-early-bird\/","title":{"rendered":"This Early Bird Kit Will Make Star Wars 40th Anniversary Celebration Big Fun!"},"content":{"rendered":"

$\"\"$ A big anniversary deserves a big celebration – maybe even a jumbo one!<\/p>\n

To that end, Gentle Giant is doing exactly that to mark Star Wars<\/em> 40th Anniversary this year.<\/p>\n

The expert designers and manufacturers are re-creating one of the earliest and biggest Star Wars<\/em> merchandising campaigns in the franchise\u2019s history on their signature Jumbo scale: the celebrated Early Bird Certificate Package<\/a>!<\/p>\n

Star Wars<\/em> hit bigger in 1977 than anyone, even George Lucas, dreamed it would, grossing $187 million (more than $775 million in today\u2019s money) by November – enough to snatch the title of all-time domestic box office champ out of the jaws of Jaws<\/em>. That big demand for movie tickets led to a big demand for merchandise.<\/p>\n

Kenner Toys held the action figure license but wasn\u2019t ready to roll them out. So with the year-end shopping season looming, the company manufactured a last-minute holiday miracle. The Early Bird Certificate Package<\/a> promised those who purchased it they would get the first four figures as soon as the toys were ready.<\/p>\n

The Force was strong with the \u201cempty box campaign\u201d! Kenner sold several hundred thousand units, and satisfied customers had the first Star Wars<\/em> action figures in their hands starting in mid-January.<\/p>\n

$\"\"$ <\/p>\n

But you won\u2019t have to wait for anything when your Gentle Giant Jumbo version<\/a> of the box arrives. It comes with oversized versions of those first four figures: R2-D2, Princess Leia, Luke Skywalker, and Chewbacca.<\/p>\n

Each figure faithfully replicates the 3 3\/4-inch originals in every way – Luke\u2019s double-telescoping lightsaber, Leia\u2019s white vinyl robe and black blaster, Chewie\u2019s \u201cgreenish\u201d bowcaster, Artoo\u2019s clicking dome and illustrated label – but at about three times the originals\u2019 size.<\/p>\n

$\"\"$ <\/p>\n

This fantastic four-pack even comes in a big version of their original white plastic mailer tray. The packaging also includes super-sized stickers and a larger reproduction of the original folding display stand, complete with perforated cards for \u201cSpace Club\u201d members.<\/p>\n

$\"\"$ <\/p>\n

No detail from the original 1977-78 campaign has been overlooked. They\u2019ve all been enlarged!<\/p>\n

These action figures loom large in Star Wars<\/em> lore, and, if you\u2019re a member of the first Star Wars<\/em> generation, probably loom large in your memory too. Now they can loom large on your display shelf! Join the Jumbo anniversary fun by pre-ordering Gentle Giant\u2019s Jumbo Kenner-Style Star Wars Early Bird action figures<\/a> today!<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"