The toy industry seems to be adopting 3D printing at an ever increasing rate. Hasbro, Inc., in particular, has embraced the technology quite swiftly. Instead shunning 3D printing as a threat to their core business of manufacturing toys and games, the company, with one of the strongest brand portfolios in the industry, is using 3D printing to compliment their already strong business.
Back in July of this year, Hasbro teamed with Shapeways to announce a new partnership and website, SuperFanArt.com, in which they now offer up their trademarked material for designers to create figurines based around their ‘My Little Pony’ brand, and in exchange take a cut of any revenue generated from sales. Then again last month, the company announced a widening of this partnership, adding brands such as Transformers, Dungeons & Dragons, and Dragonvale to the initiative. This wasn’t the end of their continued expansion into the 3D printing space, however.
Today, Hasbro announced yet another major partnership, this time involving Walmart, Disney Consumer Products and 3DPlusMe, launching a project called Super Awesome Me. The new project will enable children and adults to participate in a unique 3D scanning and printing experience. 3DPlusMe, known for their scanning and printing personalized merchant platform, are contributing the technology, Disney and Hasbro are contributing the branding, and Walmart is providing the venue where the platform can be set up at.
“With 3D printing, we’re now able to provide fans of Marvel Super Heroes for the first time ever with this very unique opportunity to create a one-of-a-kind action figure featuring their own likeness,” said John Frascotti, chief marketing officer, Hasbro, Inc. “By partnering with Walmart, Disney, and 3DPlusMe, we’re delivering to consumers a totally personalized product experience.”
Starting tomorrow, September 19, and continuing until September 28, customers at 10 Walmarts, and 2 Sam’s Club stores throughout the United States will have the opportunity to have their heads 3D scanned. Once scanned, for a price of just $45, Super Awesome Me will print out a miniature replica of their head and place it on a Captain America or Iron Man action figure body, which is approximately 12″ tall.
“By joining forces with high-profile retail partners and brands, such as Hasbro and Walmart, we are delivering a story-driven experience to fans on an unprecedented scale,” said Cydni Tetro, CEO of 3DPlusMe. “Our mobile personalization platform for 3D printing is the first of its kind. Helping consumers become popular characters is not only a compelling event for fans, but a powerful retail opportunity.”
Once the scan is completed (approximately 3-5 min), it will take about 4 weeks before the personalized action figure is ready to be delivered or picked up. The scanning process takes place using a DSLR camera and a Kinect device. The heads are printed in full color from a material known as gypsum.
3DPlusMe expects to eventually make additional characters available, and expand this initiative to other locations. A complete list of all the locations for this event can be found below. Let us know if you or your child has taken part in the Super Awesome Me process, and feel free to post a photo of the completed prints when they are received, in the Super Awesome Me forum thread on 3DPB.com.
Subscribe to Our Email Newsletter
Stay up-to-date on all the latest news from the 3D printing industry and receive information and offers from third party vendors.
Print Services
Upload your 3D Models and get them printed quickly and efficiently.
You May Also Like
XJet Sells Metal 3D Printer to Mold Maker, Deepens Partnership with Youngstown Business Incubator
Back in 2017, XJet, the Israel-based original equipment manufacturer (OEM) of metal and ceramic additive manufacturing (AM) systems, sold its first machine in the North American market, a Carmel 1400C...
Croom Medical Signals Potential for 3D Print Diversification in Nuclear Fusion
As international interest in reshoring continues to mount, the additive manufacturing (AM) industry clearly has key advantages to offer suppliers scrambling to develop alternatives to traditional supply chains. One of...
From Concept to Reality: Nikon AM CEO Hamid Zarringhalam on Executing a Metal 3D Printing Strategy
There are countless metrics you can use, whether quantitative or qualitative, to judge the success of an organization. One of the most important may simply be the organization’s ability to...
Havaianas Collaborates with Zellerfeld to Launch 3D Printed Flip-Flops
The shoe of the summer is undoubtedly the flip-flop. Easy on, easy off, your feet won’t get sweaty because there’s not much material, and they’re available in a veritable rainbow...