My Daughter has caught the Stop Motion bug. We started with the program Stop Motion Explosion on my computer and Eva made a couple of Stop Motion movies with our Modibots.
This past weekend I was at Philly BrickfFest Live where I met Dave Pickett from Brick 101. I bought his book The LEGO Animation Book. He even signed it and that thrilled Eva to no end.
When I got home I looked around my office and decided to move the studio back upstairs but also build in some space where Eva could work on her Stop Motion Creations as well.
I’m getting things ready for our Spring Break Trip up to New Hampshire. I will be bringing along the Polaroid SnapTouch camera and the Cube+ and the Zip. The kids saw me playing with them and they wanted to try it out, so they let me take their photo with the SnapTouch. It isn’t be best camera but it is meant to print out 2X3 images on heat transfer paper so they don’t need to be high detail, but they aren’t too bad.
Like I said, we’re off on vacation for Spring Break next week and we’re not going to be doing a whole lot other than being together and having fun. So, I think that it is finally time to break out some of my LEGO Star Wars sets that I have been collecting for years. The kids are old enough to work together to make Luke’s X-Wing Fighter!
We are a little over a month away from the release of Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2. This is a movie I’ve been waiting for ever since I saw the final stinger from the first Guardians of the Galaxy. Guardians of the Galaxy will always have a special place in my heart because it was the first Disney trip I ever took that was Marvel related. The interviews with the cast were something that I will always remember fondly. My favorite interview of the whole event was with Dave Bautista. He was one of my favorite characters from the first film and I think they are upping the funny factor with him in the second movie.
Earlier today I posted a video where I talk about the differences I am seeing in the big two cinematic universes. In the video below you will see why I love the Guardians so much. In one minute you know who they are and what they can do. The whole movie is going to be incredible.
In the latest Guardians of the Galaxy trailer we see the revelation of Peter Quill’s father, the baddies of the film, a giant monster and more baby Groot. He’s more of a toddler Groot at this point, though.
After what had to me the worst, for me because of self diagnosed Misophonia, teaser trailer in which Drax crunches, slurps and generally mouth attacks his food around a campfire as the rest of the Guardians stare in disgusted disbelief, we get the real thing. We get a great trailer with even more fun action, music and humor. Family is going to be key to this movie. The idea of family and the bonds of family as well as what makes someone part of a family. It is reflected in the line of the trailer that says, “We aren’t friends… we’re family.” That is a perfect way to describe the dynamic of the Guardians of the Galaxy. I cannot wait for this movie to arrive in theaters. I utterly loved the first one and want to see what they do the second time around.
This time I’ve done the smart thing and picked up all the LEGO sets that I could find, I didn’t do that with the first movie and am so kicking myself. I’ve also seen the toys starting to hit the stores and there is a great Nerf blaster that is Rocket’s. I totally want it and the upgraded Peter Quill, Star-Lord blasters.
It was a day of play around here. the kids and I got together and built a bunch of Modibots and played with those. We were going to try and do some stop motion but it is hard to do that with a kid who never stops and who is always in motion. I also couldn’t find a really good program to help with the stop motion. I tried the Stikbot studio but it still is not the best option.
This morning I popped into Target and there I saw two Guardians of the Galaxy Vol.2 LEGO sets. I had to pick them up. I didn’t grab all of them when the first movie came out and I am kicking myself now. I noticed that they are certainly going to capitalize on the Baby Groot character because he is in both of the sets. I am looking forward to opening these sets and building. Maybe we will do it on Built from Brick and maybe I will do my own build. I do not know.
Also, the fine folks from 360 PR sent me a copy of Super Mario Maker 3DS totally out of the blue. what a great surprise! the kids are loving making courses of their own.
Check out this cute Stop Motion video featuring the Marvel Action figures. It is part of a campaign around the toys that will be coming from the brand. I did see some action figures around the $7.99 mark that look really nice, sort of the size that old action figures were and with some decent articulation, too. It looks like the one above which I found in an oddly mis-marked package recently. And No, I did not buy it, I should have done so. The video below makes me want to go buy a bunch and try to make some stop motion videos myself.
Marvel Unveils “Heroes Come In All Sizes” Retail Campaign for Spring 2017
Spring Focus Brings Together New Story Content, Brand-Driven Marketing, and Exciting Product Releases Celebrating Heroes Everywhere
Glendale, Calif. (February 7, 2017) – Building off three years of success for Marvel’s Super Hero Spectacular retail event, Disney Consumer Products and Interactive Media (DCPI) is debuting an all-new retail campaign in Spring 2017 tailored to heroes everywhere. “Marvel Heroes Come in All Sizes” is a celebration of Marvel Super Heroes – and everyday heroes – across a broad spectrum of merchandise, new story content, digital storytelling, and collaborations all reinforcing the idea that the best way to measure a Super Hero is by the size of their heart. The campaign will package content with brand-driven marketing and new product releases to drive Marvel retail placement for fans of all ages.
“Whether you are big like Hulk, small like Ant-Man or smart and quick-to-action like Black Widow, Marvel truly has a hero for everyone,” said Paul Gitter, senior vice president, licensing, Marvel at Disney Consumer Products and Interactive Media. “From young kids to teenagers, to a casual fan or a diehard adult collector, Marvel Heroes Come in All Sizes showcases that there is no singular definition for a hero and that our diversity is what makes us so powerful.”
Spring 2017 will bring a wealth of new Marvel storytelling spanning home entertainment, television, publishing and digital content, all highlighting the theme “Heroes Come in All Sizes.” Fans will be able to enjoy Marvel’s latest cinematic hit Marvel’s Doctor Strange at home with the Blu-Ray and DVD release on February 28th, while Marvel Publishing launches the new Monsters Unleashed! comic series and Disney Publishing releases the first novel for young readers featuring Squirrel Girl in The Unbeatable Squirrel Girl: Squirrel Meets World and a picture book featuring Baby Groot. On the small screen, fans will be able to catch the season 3 finale of Marvel’s Ultron Revolution and the season 4 finale of Marvel’s Ultimate Spider-Man Vs. The Sinister Six. More Marvel favorites will be returning to television with the season 2 premiere of the Marvel’s Guardians of the Galaxy animated series and the premiere of new “Rocket and Groot” video shorts. Continue reading Marvel’s Heroes Come in All Sizes Campaign with Video→
I cannot wait for GUARDIANS OF THE GALAXY, VOL 2. to be released. I loved the first movie and am super excited for the second one to be released. Meeting the Guardians of the Galaxy cast was one of my most favorite moments ever. Everyone was very cool. I’d be beyond stoked if I was to win this contest. It is highly unlikely, but could you imagine?
This past Saturday, Marvel Studios Hero Acts launched a sweepstakes tied to GUARDIANS OF THE GALAXY, VOL 2. By submitting a photo through marvelstudiosheroacts.com, one winner will receive a trip to the GUARDIANS OF THE GALAXY, VOL 2 Red Carpet Hollywood Premiere! All photos must be submitted between now and February 28, 2017.
Here is a video with Chris Pratt and Director James Gunn talking about the sweepstakes and Marvel Studios Hero Acts:
I am surprised that there is not a Marvel Collector Corps Box yet themed for Marvel’s Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. So far there is a Phil Coulson and Agent Melinda May. There is a Daisy Johnson Pop coming. But an actual box would be great. I’d love to see Fitz and Simmons as Pops and Mack, Bobbi and the rest.
I was cleaning my office today. I’m getting it ready for a visit from the in-laws. When I did that I found a whole bunch of Pops. They are doubles of ones that I got recently. I can’t believe I already got these once. And not even have one of the most important Guardians of the Galaxy Pops. How I missed that one is beyond me.
While I was at Target I found some fun M&Ms boxes that are about Celebrating 75 Years of M&Ms. We’ll see if I can find the rest. More in the video.
A few years ago I had the distinct pleasure and a once in a lifetime opportunity to go to California to see Guardians of the Galaxy and meet and interview the cast. It was such an amazing experience and to this day is the best ever press trip I was on. Meeting Chris Pratt, Dave Bautista, James Gunn, Zoe Saldana, and Vin Diesel was simply amazing. We missed Kevin Feige on this trip but I did get to see him on another trip that I went on for Avengers: Age of Ultron. So, suffice it to say I am bursting with excitement to see this movie. I follow James Gunn on Facebook and he is excellent with his posts. He did an amazing thing with Guardians of the Galaxy and Vol. 2. promises to be even better.
There are some great things happening in this new movie including the addition of Kurt Russell as Star-Lord’s father. I think he is the most perfect casting for this role. I’ve loved him since The Computer Wore Tennis Shoes that I watched on The Wonderful World of Disney. And then his roles as Snake Plissken in Escape from New York and then Jack Burton in Big Trouble in Little China, plus Gabriel Cash in Tango and Cash he was awesome! So he’s gonna crush it as Star-Lord’s dad.I just cannot wait. Below is the press release for the movie. Continue reading Oh Yeeeah! Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2 Begins Shooting!→
I am a bit late with my Loot Crate review from December. I received my crate right before the Holidays and well, things got a bit backed up. I finally got to explore the crate today and there were some very cool things inside. The crate itself becomes the Bat Cave which is great because the exclusive Funko Pop figure was Joker Batman-Batman. That is what he’s called. It is Batman dressed as The Joker as Batman. You can kinda get stuck in a loop there.
A bunch of other things were included. some good some not that special. The theme was Anniversary because so many properties have Anniversaries this year (ahem… Transformers turned 30, where was their representation). Some of the big ones were Marvel turning 75 and Batman 75 plus The Simpsons are 25 and Tetris is probably around that same age. Ghostbusters are 30 and their item was pretty much the lamest part. Otherwise it was a strong box filled with fun stuff. I loved the piece done about Zen Monkey Studios. That guy is amazing. Check out all the things in the crate. Oh and there were “I Am Groot” socks!
A few years ago I had the distinct pleasure and a once in a lifetime opportunity to go to California to see Guardians of the Galaxy and meet and interview the cast. It was such an amazing experience and to this day is the best ever press trip I was on. Meeting 
