The Dark Night Rises in 3D Print: Launzer & i.materialise Partner to Produce Batman Figurines

An iconic comic book character created in 1939 by artist Bob Kane and writer Bill Finger, Batman has pretty much seen it all through these many decades of fighting crime in the ongoing and dark days of Gotham City. No stranger to the world of high-tech, we’ve seen him in many dashing forms as he has evolved from the page to the cartoon and onto the big screen being played by numerous and sometimes offbeat handsome actors. With the advent of digital design and 3D printing, branding of movies–along with games and more–is taking a new, exciting, and fun turn for fans in Europe.

Just ask the team at Launzer. They now have the enviable position, as we saw briefly a few weeks ago, of being the first company not only to have complete 3D printing and marketing rights to the masked superhero who makes wearing tights even more fashionable than the coolest hipsters in Portland do, but they also … drum roll, please … have rights to produce a variety of other Warner Brothers characters in 3D print with i.materialise. This means that fans in the EU and the EEA can look forward to seeing the creepy Joker in figurine form, as well as a range of 3D printed cartoon characters from the Looney Tunes realm.

The 3D printed Batman works in tandem with marketing for the ‘Batman Begins’ movie and the figurine is available in several different 3D printed materials. Eager fans can choose from collectibles available in:

• Multicolor
• Paintable white polyamide
• Stainless steel

“We are really proud to be the first to bring Batman alive in the 3D printing world,” said Kari Voutila, CEO of Launzer.com and 3D Online Factory Ltd. “Batman has always been a pioneer in new technologies and 3D printing is a natural step for this superhero.”

Launzer, teaming up with i.materialise as their 3D printing partner, is setting out with a handful of other pioneering 3D printing companies who realize what a boon the new technology is to any brand–with the gaming industry setting the tone due to gamers’ affinity for having a figurine or memento that they can touch, helping them to re-live many enjoyable hours from games, their stories, and characters.

If you ask a gamer or a moviegoer why they have shelves lined with figurines and what the collections mean to them, they usually respond with two words: good memories. With the emotional connection often tying consumers to their favorite characters, 3D printed marketing–along with offering users the ability to paint figurines and be involved in other creative projects–is a great way to tie fans to a variety of pop culture products which they usually don’t mind paying for. It’s fun all around, and is often also the path and positive impetus for introducing individuals of all ages to the joys of digital design and 3D printing.

Launzer offers countless 3D printed items from their new DC Comics figurines to other brands like Dibidogs and Year Zero Tactics. They market 3D printed jewelry pieces, phone cases, tie clips, and other novelty items. For the Batman and upcoming projects they will be partnering with i.materialise.

Are you excited about the new Batman movie, and when these 3D printed figurines are available in your region, will you be ordering one? How do you think 3D printing will affect modern brands? Discuss in the 3D Printed Batman Figurines forum thread over at 3DPB.com.