Mr. No Stripes
Sr Member
Is that... legal?
Who created the Disney trooper armor?
- Thread starter blewis17
- Start date
Is that... legal?
Hangar18Studios
Well-Known Member
Yes, for you accuracy-sticklers, the Vaders and troopers are all hybrids. I was given a certain amount of creative license on the sculpting, but keep in mind there is a committee of Disney folks that have to be satisfied. Sometimes a request is made to change a certain angle on the sculpt, or add a part from ANH, or ESB, and ultimately you wind up with an amalgam of all their favorite Vaders.
Personally, I love the idea because it means that "I" am responsible for having had a hand in creating another Vader that is unique from all the others out there.
Also, keep in mind that there are certain safety issues that have to be accomadated for as the actors are interacting with park guests in the Orlando (or Anaheim) heat. Hence the need for light-weight vac-form Vaders helmets, mesh in the trooper eyes and tear ducts, edge-trim on the trooper chest armor, etc.
Scott
Personally, I love the idea because it means that "I" am responsible for having had a hand in creating another Vader that is unique from all the others out there.
Also, keep in mind that there are certain safety issues that have to be accomadated for as the actors are interacting with park guests in the Orlando (or Anaheim) heat. Hence the need for light-weight vac-form Vaders helmets, mesh in the trooper eyes and tear ducts, edge-trim on the trooper chest armor, etc.
Scott
roboprop
Well-Known Member
Yes, because they're not being sold and no profit is being made on them.
Folks should see the helmet up close. it's an absolute work of art!
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rolleyes:rolleyes
rickrickrick
Sr Member
Perhaps you misconstrued my comments as criticism, which was not my intention. Merely observations. I'm sure there are many cooks in the kitchen to satisfy on a corporate project like this, especially for Disney folk, who are famous for their micromanaging everything.
Rick
KevVader
Sr Member
Geez, yeah...same here. I just re-read my post and I came off as a bit of a dick...sorry Scott, wasn't my intention either.
Hangar18Studios
Well-Known Member
LOL!
No, I'm not offended by anyones comments, quite the contrary. In fact, thank you for the compliments. It is definately a group effort to create so many costumes, it couldn't have been accomplished without the help of my exceptionally talented co-workers and the guidance of our employer, a true artistic genius.
I applaud the "accuracy sticklers", I think our mutual love for the original trilogy is what is driving us all to push the envelope of prop and costume collecting as well as the manufacuring process. The hobby is seeing better, more-accurate interpretations of our favorite characters these days, not only from the licensed manufacturers, but from the fans. It's an awesome time to be a collector (aside from the poor economy).
I totally agree with the general opinion that the previous Disney suits were crap. To give a little background on those suits;
Disney did NOT make them. I know many Disney artisans, and trust me, they are MUCH better than that.
The old suits were manufactured for the Lucas Super-Live Adventure, and were cast off of a ROTJ stunt suit. They are modified, cut, and butchered so extensively because the Super Live Adventure was a heavy "stunt" show. The show was produced by Kenneth Feld, a big producer of Ice Shows and Circuses. Who exactly made the armor is unknown. When the Super Live Adventure flopped (predictably), apparently Disney purchased the Star Wars costumes, because not only were they using the trooper armor in the park, they were using the Greedo and Gamorrean Guard mask a friend of mine made.
It is actually because of Star Wars Weekends that Disney made the plunge and upgraded the trooper armor. They listened to the critiques of the 501st and invested in armor that is much more appreciated by the fans.
When the company that I worked for at the time was awarded the project of creating the new armor, I was ecstatic! We decided to approach the re-build with a certain philosophy; upon examining original trooper armor we determined that the original manufacturer probably didn't have the time, and the full knowledge/appreciation of the human anatomy and it's bio-mechanical interaction with armor. Our shop has EXTENSIVE armor experience, and anatomical sculpting is second-nature to us. We decided to make the armor as it "should" have been made.
Firstly, we made it symmetrical. Secondly, we made it actually "fit" a person. Third, we made it so you could actually move and function in it, and fourth, we made it out of the best materials for the intended application. Aside from our in-house standards, we then had to accomadate Disneys requirements of aesthetics, safety concerns, the size of their performers, and of course the ever-present budget and schedule. And THEN it still has to meet with Lucas approval.
In the end it was an AMAZING experience for me to be a part of the official Star Wars world.....even if I was on the outer-rim worlds. I had learned a lot from my employer. I had resisted his suggestions in the beginning about some of the sculpting, myself being a Star Wars purist. But in the end, when I saw how good the armor looked, it looked more heroic and muscular, it looked like a formidable soldier. I thought, "my boss is right! THIS is how armor SHOULD look". I understand that they are quite different than the original trilogy, and I still love the look of those suits, but I also love our suits too.
No, I'm not offended by anyones comments, quite the contrary. In fact, thank you for the compliments. It is definately a group effort to create so many costumes, it couldn't have been accomplished without the help of my exceptionally talented co-workers and the guidance of our employer, a true artistic genius.
I applaud the "accuracy sticklers", I think our mutual love for the original trilogy is what is driving us all to push the envelope of prop and costume collecting as well as the manufacuring process. The hobby is seeing better, more-accurate interpretations of our favorite characters these days, not only from the licensed manufacturers, but from the fans. It's an awesome time to be a collector (aside from the poor economy).
I totally agree with the general opinion that the previous Disney suits were crap. To give a little background on those suits;
Disney did NOT make them. I know many Disney artisans, and trust me, they are MUCH better than that.
The old suits were manufactured for the Lucas Super-Live Adventure, and were cast off of a ROTJ stunt suit. They are modified, cut, and butchered so extensively because the Super Live Adventure was a heavy "stunt" show. The show was produced by Kenneth Feld, a big producer of Ice Shows and Circuses. Who exactly made the armor is unknown. When the Super Live Adventure flopped (predictably), apparently Disney purchased the Star Wars costumes, because not only were they using the trooper armor in the park, they were using the Greedo and Gamorrean Guard mask a friend of mine made.
It is actually because of Star Wars Weekends that Disney made the plunge and upgraded the trooper armor. They listened to the critiques of the 501st and invested in armor that is much more appreciated by the fans.
When the company that I worked for at the time was awarded the project of creating the new armor, I was ecstatic! We decided to approach the re-build with a certain philosophy; upon examining original trooper armor we determined that the original manufacturer probably didn't have the time, and the full knowledge/appreciation of the human anatomy and it's bio-mechanical interaction with armor. Our shop has EXTENSIVE armor experience, and anatomical sculpting is second-nature to us. We decided to make the armor as it "should" have been made.
Firstly, we made it symmetrical. Secondly, we made it actually "fit" a person. Third, we made it so you could actually move and function in it, and fourth, we made it out of the best materials for the intended application. Aside from our in-house standards, we then had to accomadate Disneys requirements of aesthetics, safety concerns, the size of their performers, and of course the ever-present budget and schedule. And THEN it still has to meet with Lucas approval.
In the end it was an AMAZING experience for me to be a part of the official Star Wars world.....even if I was on the outer-rim worlds. I had learned a lot from my employer. I had resisted his suggestions in the beginning about some of the sculpting, myself being a Star Wars purist. But in the end, when I saw how good the armor looked, it looked more heroic and muscular, it looked like a formidable soldier. I thought, "my boss is right! THIS is how armor SHOULD look". I understand that they are quite different than the original trilogy, and I still love the look of those suits, but I also love our suits too.
Mr. No Stripes
Sr Member
sure about that?
voice in the crowd
Sr Member
What do you mean? Is it legal for LFL to license out and sell things they didn't actually originally design or make:angel
I have never quite understood how LFL license things to MR/Hasbro/Palitoy etc etc and have for 30 years been able to sell items that are the likeness and copies of products originally made by other companies.
Basically by slapping together products made by Sterling Armament Company, Hengstler and the Minneapolis Honeywell Regulator Co. that makes it your intellectual property if you use it in a film - right?
On the MR / Disney legality I am sure LFL dictate that as the E-11 is their intellectual property and Disney can use it
Sorry for side tracking this is an interesting thread.
Cheers Chris
KevVader
Sr Member
Glad that you didn't take offense Scott...you guys did a great job nonetheless. I think that we as a prop community get a little too caught up sometimes in the minute details that 99% of the fans could care less about. But then again....that's why I love this place!!!
Again, great job and thanks for sharing the backstory! Very interesting!
Again, great job and thanks for sharing the backstory! Very interesting!
firebladejedi
Well-Known Member
Great info thanks for sharing :thumbsup
Disney is working in conjuction/or with a license from LFL. MR's SW work belongs to LFL. So yes, it is.
Thats actually a common myth. Just because an infringing item is not sold or profited from does not exclude it from protection under Title 17 of the United States Code. Next time you watch a DVD, read the FBI warning at the front. It specifically says... "including infringement without monetary gain". That applies to all protected works covered by US Copyright Law.
Now, that said, as others have pointed out, there are licensing agreements and what not in effect, so while I don't know enough to say for certain, it is most likely legal to do what they are doing. Just not for the reasons mentioned above.
tubachris85x
Master Member
Was just at Disney two weeks ago..I read this thread before and it's cool to know the backstory of the trooper suits while seeing them in person!
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