| Prototype for Kenner Plush Jawa | |
| Most long-time collectors are familiar with the plush Jawa, which was released exclusively by Regal in Canada. Despite its being strongly associated with our hockey-loving neighbors to the north, the toy seems to have been planned for a U.S. release by Kenner, which had the plush license in the United States. This first became clear upon the surfacing of a Kenner spec sheet referencing the item.
Here you see one of these Kenner Jawa prototypes beside the production toy. The main differences concern the arms, the composition of the bandolier on which hangs the pouch, the shape of the body, and the color. In fact, the reddish hue of the prototype also differs considerably from that of the example seen on the spec sheet. Though the prototype has a tush tag, it bears no text or graphics. I'm not sure what happened here. Did Kenner develop the product, cancel it, then allow it to be produced by Regal? Keep in mind that Kenner developed the plush R2-D2 and plush Chewbacca, both of which turned up in Regal incarnations. Or was the item developed by Regal, considered by Kenner, and then cancelled from the Kenner line? Whatever happened, several of these prototypes have surfaced. Some have even mistaken them for fakes. Whoops! |
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| Description by: | Ron Salvatore |
| Photo: | Ron Salvatore |
| From the collection of: | Ron Salvatore |
| Country: | United States |
| Film: | A New Hope |
| Licensee: | Kenner |
| Year: | 1978 |
| Category: | Prototypes / Miscellaneous Toys |
