Last weekend Disney Stores rolled out new Star Wares for May 4th, but a couple weeks earlier a few of us were in California for a press event showcasing new toys including Disney Store Plush. These aren't the same as the items currently sold by Comic Images, some are larger, some are smaller, and they're all quite different - creatures, robots, and aliens are on deck from Star Wars and The Empire Strikes Back.

There's more, read on!

Last weekend Disney Stores rolled out new Star Wares for May 4th, but a couple weeks earlier a few of us were in California for a press event showcasing new toys including Disney Store Plush. These aren't the same as the items currently sold by Comic Images, some are larger, some are smaller, and they're all quite different - creatures, robots, and aliens are on deck from Star Wars and The Empire Strikes Back.

Plush comes and goes in Star Wars, typically surrounding a big push. This year Comic Images has an exquisite suite of new products based on Star Wars Rebels, while Disney is delving back to the archives and giving us some classics.

These items aren't final, but they're pretty final. I asked why the Bantha (which appears in the movie both with or without his saddle) has a saddle and the Tauntaun (which appears pretty much only has a saddle) doesn't, and sort of just got this look from around the room. (You know the look. Where are my old-school fans at?) It looks like the grey snow reptomammal will turn out pretty fantastic, it's very large and seems to be almost sized to work with their hefty 12 3/4-inch figures... if he had a saddle.

Some of these are in stores now, with more promised throughout the year.

R2-D2 is in stores right now, and features a jointed head. This is unusual in most American plush toys, as "soft" and "articulated" don't tend to go together. It's not uncommon to see this sort of thing on higher-dollar collector teddy bears for adults, or electronic "plush" for the kiddies. R2-D2 doesn't do much of anything other than look cool and remind you what a pain in the neck it was to get R2-D2- from Kenner's Star Wars Buddies line... because this seems better and at $10 is a better deal, adjusted for inflation 16 years later.

A Jawa was also shown which, unsurprisingly, seems to push what a plush Jawa can be. The textures of the robes are pretty fantastic with added wrappings and bandoliers. There wasn't much else shown for this line's future, so I guess you'll just have to keep checking back as The Disney Store grows its exclusive wares. A pity there aren't more convenient locations.

--Adam Pawlus

Special thanks to Disney for the early look at these items! More articles from this event are still coming, but not many.

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