Yet Howard didn’t simply give up his dream. At last, an authorization was given to HOT TOYS to manufacture 1/6 figure this year as the company has been earning higher opinion and ranking in the international figure market.
Amongst all Star Wars movies, Episode 5 – The Empire Strikes Back influenced Howard the most. As Luke Skywalker has always been his favourite character plus his first owned figure is Luke Skywalker in the Cloud City scene so he decided to manufacture Bespin (Cloud City locates on Bespin Planet) Luke Skywalker in an even more exquisite and glamorous DX series as debut production. Apart from movable eyes, two headpieces, two costumes and one Cloud City scene stands, Howard told Troop 501 a piece of exclusive news, the figure actually contains two Nos. figure bodies, both headpieces have movable eyes (Parallel Eyeball Rolling System (PERS)). The aerial at the scene stand bottom is fixed into a positionwhich could be adjusted so that players could place the figure wherever even surface . Such friendly design will definitely captivate global Star Wars fans. Seeing that the final design is yet to confirm pending approval and modification, pictures of the figures could not be disclosed. Still, Howard hopes the figure would be ready to order in next few months and be launched the soonest in first quarter next year.
但 Howard並無因此而放棄生產星戰人偶的理想，隨著Hot Toys在國際人偶市場上獲得更高的評價以及更高的地位，終於在今年獲準生產星戰1/6人偶，由於Howard在多集星戰中最深受帝國反擊戰的影響，且最喜愛的角色是Luke Skywalker，再加上第一隻擁有的人偶就是Cloud City中的Luke Skywalker（又可叫作Bespin Luke Skywalker，因Cloud City是位於Bespin星球上），故選擇了以這個造型作為頭炮，並選擇以更精密及華麗的DX系列推出，除已知的可動眼、兩款頭雕、兩套衫以及一款 Cloud City場景底座外，Howard獨家向香港501部隊透露，這款人偶其實是包含兩個素體，而兩個頭雕均具可動眼，而Cloud City底部的「天線」情景是可以固定在某一位置及調較角度，讓玩家可以吸在屋內任何平滑的地方，實在是非常用心的設計，一定能令星戰迷愛不釋手，可惜仍要待審批方面回覆再作出少量修改，故暫未能提供人偶相片，但希望能於未來數月內接受預訂，最快明年第一季推出市面。
Unlike any other film figures introduced by HOT TOYS, Star Wars figures do not have a problem of timeliness as the movie is the Classic of all sci-fi films. “I believe that slow works yields fine products, so I plan to produce one design every year. So far, I have neither a plan for other series, nor an idea of next character for the DX series. All I wish is to produce an authentic Star Wars figure that has a taste of the 80s.” said Howard.
By end of the interview, Howard shares with us an interesting interlude in 2011 San Diego Comic Con. “It was quite a surprise to find Mark Hamill, actor for the role of Luke Skywalker, having autograph ceremony in the spot.” told Howard. “Back then, HOT TOYS has announced the introduction of Star Wars figures; the rudimentary model of our debut – Bespin Luke is exhibiting in the hall; and the figure’s core production team are all there, so I immediately grab the figure and call together the team to rush to meet Mark hoping that we all could take a picture. However, when we got there, he’s already gone.” continued Howard, with disappointment shown on his face. “I would still hope to hand in the Bespin Luke figure to him personally in future.”
由於星戰是科幻電影的經典，不像Hot Toys目前推出的其他電影人偶般可能有時間熱潮上的限制，故暫時只計劃每年推出一款，未有計劃推出其他系列，而亦未落實第二款星戰DX會是那一個角色，希望能夠慢工出細貨，最重要是希望能做出一隻具有80年代風味，忠於原著的星戰角色人偶。
訪問尾聲，Howard分享了一段他在2011 San Diego Comic Con（聖地牙哥動漫展）的小插曲，話說他當時他正在會場中，突然發現了飾演Luke Skywalker的演員 Mark Hamill正在會場舉行簽名會！當時Hot Toys已公佈了推出星戰人偶，而第一炮 Bespin Luke的初形亦放在會場中展覽，再加上製作這隻人偶的整個核心團對均在會場，故他的反應是馬上拿起這隻人偶，並集合團隊一同找Mark Hamill簽名並拍照留念，可惜當他們一切俱備趕到簽名會時，Mark Hamill已經離開了會場…. Howard憶述時表示感到十分可惜，亦寄望將來可以親手將人偶交到Mark Hamill手上。
HOWARD and 501ST
Howard told us that he heard from friends
出货通知 | 布若飞
《一品芝麻狐》系列盲
《人类博物馆》非酋欧
ACTOYS原创设计作品—
明日方舟 1/7正比例
