Hasbro just announced a partnership with Shapeways regarding a new initiative where Official and Fan Art will be 3D Printed and sold as official Hasbro products. The announcement first came from Hasbro’s 2014 2nd Quarter Financial Conference Call and Shapeways followed it with an official statement from their end. Though the initiative begins with My Little Pony: Friendship Is Magic, the company plans to expand into other Hasbro brands which [hopefully] might include G. I. Joe.
“Once we have filled our 3D printers with community designed ponies, we will continue to work with Hasbro and the Shapeways community to enable more Hasbro branded content to be created, 3D printed and sold.This is a major step forward in realizing the creative potential of 3D printing, to make products on demand that might otherwise never make it into people’s hands. Hasbro has been incredibly forward thinking and open minded, to realize that the existing unmet demand within their fan base can be satisfied with the help of those very same fans. We expect to see many more partnerships like this, to enable user generated content to be 3D printed based on existing intellectual property, with fair attribution and compensation for all parties involved. We’ve seen this model work successfully in the digital realm, and we’re thrilled to be leading the charge in the physical.”
The designs (Fan Art) must be cleared with Hasbro to ensure they are not obscene, violent or hateful, but otherwise, the artists largely have free rein. Even the price for the figurines will be set by the artists.
For more info, visit SuperFanArt.
News Post Image: Figurines inspired by Hasbro’s My Little Pony line and printed at Shapeways.
SilverOptimus says
News Post: Hasbro Collaborates With Shapeways To Sell 3D Printed Artwork
Odins1Dad says
I hate how the whole brony thing was blown up as a 4chan joke that turned into a sick reality.
Naptime says
I had an extensive collection of ponies when I was 3-4 years old, so I was the original brony WAY before it was cool... ;)
Seriously, though, if this project does get to G.I. Joe, it will redeem the brony a bit. That is a fan group that is really loud, visible, and really into creating their own designs and Hasbro's approach to the fan design stuff might not have been the same without them. All I can say is I would love to see some of the designs done by some of the talented folk here available to print!
stillagijoefan says
Sounds great. But i dont really see myself buying 3d "artwork" when i can get the articulated plastic versions for $5 - 10.
sithewok says
Ugh. Shapeways vastly overcharges and uses inferior plastics a lot of the time.
It's a smart move, but I'm not looking forward to the exorbitant amounts of money any official design will cost...
Snakeeyesisposh says
Odins1Dad says
ba-zing!
Danney says
If the prices are like most stuff on shape ways now, forget about it. I'm not paying even more then I already do for mass produced items. I'll stick to casters and eBay till I get my own printer.
fireflyguy says
Hmmmm. Could be interesting. Cost would be the biggest factor. I have ordered a couple of things from Yetibrew designs on shapeways, but it is expensive. I'm sure this is where we are headed, though.
Dusty Ayers says
Interesting. Wave of the future? Who knows. The implications are interesting though. Imagine having someone do a Kickstarter to build the perfect modern ARAH version 1 Duke or something like that, with Hasbro's blessing no less.
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