Top 10 Star Wars moments in Sideshow history
A long time ago, in a galaxy far, far away…
Or, more precisely, ten years ago in southern California – Sideshow began an epic journey, when we proudly announced our newly acquired license to produce quarter scale Premium Format™ Figures inspired by Star Wars. Not soon after, the saga continued with the additions of Sixth Scale figures, busts, and dioramas, as we aspired to bring new levels of artistry and authenticity to our collection. Presenting hundreds of unique interpretations of the iconic characters that inhabit the Star Wars Collectible universe, Sideshow captured the imagination of devoted fans around the world. Today, in addition to inspiring our growing collectibles line, Star Wars has been a continuing source of artistic creativity, spirit of imagination and celebration of fandom.
Looking back, here are ten of our fondest Star Wars related moments in Sideshow history:
10. The time our artists created a colorful collection of custom ‘Art Trooper’ Sixth Scale figures
As droves of fan-art will attest to, every pop culture artist loves a good chance to riff on a cinematic icon. And that’s exactly what we did we these customized Stormtrooper Sixth Scale Figures.
Click to view the full gallery from the Star Wars Legion Art Show.
9. The time we ‘gotcha’ with these April Fool’s Day announcements
In 2005 and 2006 we delighted Star Wars fans across the galaxy with these silly surprise faux product announcements.
8. The time we embarked on new adventures with the Star Wars Mythos collection
“The Star Wars Universe is limitless with possibilities, its mythology ever-expanding. Our art team wanted to contribute to that expansion by telling new stories about some of the most compelling Star Wars characters. With the encouragement of Lucasfilm, we created the Mythos line of statues.This line of collectibles will be populated by characters from new and existing story lines. We will bring history, unique details and personal choices to each in order to elaborate on who they are. Through the design and sculpt process our goal is to delve deeper into these established characters and offer our own interpretations of what they have done outside of the Star Wars canon.
Our art team is taking the themes and core concepts common to the Star Wars mythology, such as love, honor, hope, despair and adventure, and accentuating those themes to achieve a collection of figures unlike any we’ve previously offered. Our vision is to portray moments in the imagined lifetimes of these characters and reveal them in a new way, in a new light. We hope to capture the imagination of Star Wars fans all over the world, and share with them our own adventures in that galaxy far, far away.”
-Tom Gilliland, Sideshow Creative Director
7. The time we created a customized figure and artwork for Dark Lord Dave, Imperial ruler of the Sideshow Freaks community
Sideshow fans are a breed apart. They share our love and passion for the trappings of modern pop culture. We owe our continued existence and success as a company to their continued support and enthusiasm. Several years ago, one fan by the name of David Stephan took his fondness for our work to the internet and created the Sideshow Freaks, an independent online collectors forum. Its members are a rabid tour-de-force of collector energy and excitement, as passionate about our products as we are.
Dave’s contributions to Sideshow as administrator of the ‘Freaks’ board have made him an integral member of the Sideshow community. So when a group of his most loyal forum subscribers came to us with the idea to create a custom sixth scale figure of him as his forum alter ego, Darklord Dave, the creative team at Sideshow rallied the troops.
Working from reference photos provided by several fans, sculptor Trevor Grove created the perfect miniature portrait, transforming Dave’s brilliant smile into that of a glaring, white-eyed Dark Lord of the Sith, his mouth twisted in a sinister smirk. Costume fabricator Kevin Ellis constructed an original body costume that featured our first-ever use of embossed stitching in a suit, and various accessories from our classic Star Wars figures, including the boots and gloves of Darth Vader and the belt of a Blackhole Stormtrooper.
In the end, we were able to provide the Freaks community with a gift for their leader the likes of which many of us here at Sideshow would love to have for ourselves: A twelve-inch version of Dave, gone to the Dark Side, complete with red lightsaber.
We’ve been thrilled to have Dave – and all the members of the Sideshow Freaks – along for the ride these many years, and we’re looking forward to continuing the experience for many more years to come.
6. The time we participated in The Dented Helmet’s “As You Wish” Helmet Project to raise money for the Make-A-Wish Foundation
In 2012 the Sideshow team received an invitation to the “As You Wish” charity project for Star Wars Celebration VI 2012. Co-sponsored by the Dented Helmet costuming group, the 501st Legion, and EFX Collectibles, the mission was simple: Using one of two iconic Star Wars helmets — either of a Republic Clone Trooper or that of Boba Fett, art teams from various production houses were challenged to re-imagine the source material into, well, whatever they wish!
Our artist for this project were master mold artist Jesse Lincoln and paint guru Anthony Mestas, who put their heads together and re-imagined Boba Fett’s helmet into something downright medieval. Check out their finished piece, dubbed “A Game Of Clones.”
5. The time the 501st Legion ushered our San Diego Comic-Con trip winners to the Sideshow booth
4. The time Sideshow’s Darth Vader Sixth Scale Figure stormed the arctic on a U.S. Navy Submarine
Aboard the USS Hampton, based out of San Diego, Sonar Chief Petty Officer Geoffrey Walker is regarded as the leading expert on Sonar and Foreign naval weapon systems. But he is also easily known as the ship’s biggest Star Wars fan, routinely interjecting humor and references from the beloved saga into daily operations, such as, “You’re not actually thinking of going in to a minefield?!”
Prior to a March 2014 expedition, Chief Walker contacted Sideshow with a fantastic idea for a unique photo opportunity, inspired by his particular love for the opening scenes of Star Wars Episode V: The Empire Strikes Back, and the famous Rebel battle on the frozen ice planet, Hoth.
Celebrating a worldwide fandom, how cool would it be to pay homage to Star Wars in one of our planet’s most Hoth-like environments? Sideshow’s Sixth Scale team members searched the archives and were honored to provide the crew with a Snowtrooper Sixth Scale Figure and Darth Vader Deluxe Sixth Scale Figure to make the trek.
The crew of the USS Hampton ‘finished their circle’ and returned with picturesque greetings that juxtapose the Star Wars antagonists against an out-of-this-world backdrop.
3. The time we teamed up with Hot Toys to offer the best Star Wars collection worldwide
Sideshow becomes the sole distributor of Hot Toys Star Wars collectibles in North America and Europe (Read more)
2. The time we teamed up with ThinkGeek and Empire Magazine to give away a Life-Size Han Solo in Carbonite
1. Every time we bring Star Wars to collectors all over the world
[store-items brand=”Star Wars”]