It's time to party like it's 1999! Walk into a 7-11 in Japan, and you'll feel like you've been transported to the unforgettable cross marketing product blitz that accompanied Star Wars Episode 1...which was followed by countless bouts of fan angst, hand wringing, and cries of "Why, George, why?!?!?"
This current wave of "No we will never let you forget the prequels" marketing ties in with the theatrical release of Episode 1 in 3D in Japan. (Yes, it takes light years for movies to reach here.) Midichlorian counts aside, all the old imagery is back, and at every aisle, Darth Maul, Jar Jar, and crew stare you down and try to Force choke or stultify your brain into buying something.
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| Buy the bread, Luke.... |
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| ...because dreams of plastic glory await! |
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| Meiji chocolate isn't half-bad. |
Next we move on to product branding.
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| These frozen treats - Gari Gari - are kind of like big square popsicles. Not my favorite, but I was at a restaurant once that had this Gari Gari x soda x whiskey concoction, and it was goooood! |
More after the jump:
What would a Star Wars product reunion be without toy tie ins??? Here we have a new wave of mini phone strap Bearbricks given away with a grip of different drinks.
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| There are 8 different Bearbricks. |
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| The Force is strong with this one. |
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| But not so much with this Battle Droid that looks like the unfortunate offspring between an Ewok and a castout from Flock of Seagulls. |
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| I drunk one of these to get a SW Bearbrick years ago, and the memory still haunts me. |
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| Not a bad deal. Get yer 105 yen bottle of water and a free figure. As you can see, only the Flock of Ewoks figures are left in this batch. |
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| I really wanted to get a drink so I could score a new phone strap, but besides the water, I just wasn't up for downing one of the remaining choices. |
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| Darth Maul welcomes you to 7-11. How long before EII is out in 3D and the merry go round starts up again? |
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