DARTH VADER TAMAGOTCHI

As May the Fourth approaches here is an entertaining way to have some Star Wars fun that you can carry around with you to enjoy throughout that special day. Star Wars Darth Vader Tamagotchi Nano is a pocket-sized game device which puts Darth Vader in the palm of your hand. Play out Anakin Skywalker’s transformation to the Dark Side! Available now on amazon.com

Yes, you get to guide his path. Depending on how you care for him, one of 10 character outcomes will be revealed. Train with a lightsaber, duel enemies, and catch iconic scenes from the films each hour. Plus, it comes with a removable silicone Darth Vader helmet case to store it!

Key aspects of Star Wars Darth Vader Tamagotchi Nano are:

• Your interactions with Anakin determine which light side or dark side characters you encounter in the game;
•  Train with the lightsaber or duel with an enemy;
• See 12 special scenes from the Star Wars franchise periodically appear on the screen;
•  Play 5 Mini Games: The LETTER CATCH: “STAR WARS”, LIGHTSABER TRAINING, TRENCH RUN, DUEL OBI-WAN KENOBI, and BATTLE WITH LUKE SKYWALKER 

Tamagotchi are a brand of digital pets from Bandai. Your pet's well-being and development depend on the care you provide it by interacting with a portable gaming device that the digital creature is housed on. Bandai has adopted this format to a template meant to delight Star Wars fans by interacting with a character from the franchise. In this case, your interactions impact Anakin Skywalker's transformation into Darth Vader. Is this a toy you'd be geeked about?

The Star Wars Darth Vader Tamagotchi Nano is recommend for ages 8+. It utilizes two LR44 batteries that are included. The Darth Vader Tamagotchi device hangs on an included chain and also comes with silicon storage case in the shape of the Dark Lord of the Sith's iconic helmet.

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YOUNG JEDI ADVENTURES

A new animated show aimed at introducing preschoolers to a galaxy far, far away is debuting May the Fourth on the Disney Junior cable network and Disney Plus streaming service. STAR WARS: YOUNG JEDI ADVENTURES has Jedi Master Yoda guiding younglings as they study the ways of the Force, explore the galaxy, help citizens and creatures in need, and learn valuable skills needed to become Jedi along the way. The stories in this series' episodes take place during the High Republic era of Star Wars' canon long before the immergence of the Empire and Clone Wars' Order 66 which wiped out the Jedi. 

Disney has released a series of shorts that are available to view for FREE now on YouTube and can be streamed on Disney+ beginning April 26 to promote the animated series before its May 4, 2023 premiere:

Meet the Young Jedi -- Kai, Lys, and Nubs work together to battle a training droid at the Jedi Temple on Tenoo.

Lys’ Creature Caper -- Lys follows the clues to retrieve an adorable creature running amok through the Jedi Temple.

Kai’s Daring Droid Rescue -- When her droid RJ-83 is in trouble, Nash calls on Kai to help rescue him.

STAR WARS: YOUNG JEDI ADVENTURES stars Jamaal Avery, Jr. as Kai Brightstar, Juliet Donenfeld as Lys Solay, Dee Bradley Baker as Nubs, Emma Berman as Nash Durango, Jonathan Lipow as RJ-83, and Piotr Michael as Master Yoda. This new show is sure to be a fun way to make Star Wars Day stand out. I'm sure a lot of kids and their Star Wars fan parents will be geeked to see it. May the Fourth be with You! 

STAR WARS SMUGGLERS RUN

I have great memories of playing on monkey bars that all the kids thought looked like a spaceship on my elementary school playground during recess imagining having Star Wars adventures playing with classmates in our pretend Millennium Falcon. That was the closest I'd figured to ever be when it came to taking a ride on science fiction's most famous spacecraft. My inner child was ecstatic to pilot the ship that made the Kessel Run in less than twelve parsecs with my son as co-pilot during our own Smugglers Run at Star Wars: Galaxy's Edge theme park within Walt Disney World Resort in Orlando, Florida.

Smugglers Run is a motion simulator within Star Wars: Galaxy's Edge that provides riders with the experience of flying in the Millennium Falcon. It is a more intimate version of Star Tours that seats no more than six people in a cabin and has interactive elements that let riders control the ship's actions and impact elements of the simulation. Dodge obstacles, fire weapons at threatening TIE Fighters, and escape into Hyper Space as realistic digital imagery immerses you in a flight through the Star Wars galaxy. Hit it Chewie!!!

A visit to Star Wars: Galaxy's Edge transports you to the planet Batuu in a galaxy far, far away. While wandering through this remote outer rim planet's Black Spire Outpost you will discover a life-size model of the Millennium Falcon parked outside the entrance to Ohnaka Transport Solutions. The ride queue for those who want to take a spin on this piece of junk wraps you through this space port owned by the infamous Hondo Ohnaka.

My kids were geeked to see Hondo at Galaxy's Edge as this character connects the theme park with the animated Star Wars series. My kids have grown up watching the Clone Wars, Rebels and Bad Batch animated series and actually are much more fans of the Star Wars cartoons than the movies. I actually am more a fan of the animated and live action television shows than the recent Disney Star Wars movies so have to admit being glad to see Hondo there myself. In fact, Hondo is there in all his glory with an incredible animatronic of the Weequay pirate voiced by Jim Cummings who portrays Ohnaka's character in the animated series.  

Hondo recruits you to participate in a Smugglers Run utilizing the Millennium Falcon and ushers you aboard. Entering the spaceship is like walking onto the set of a Star Wars movie. Leaving the space port the hallways of the Millennium Falcon are filled with screen accurate details. You can even sit at the holochess table! 

Eventually making your way to the cockpit, each member of your crew is given an assignment. Two pilots sit in the front row–the left side moves the ship left and right, and the right side moves the ship up and down. The next row controls the weapons where riders press buttons to shoot down enemies and obstacles in the way. The back row holds the engineers who work to repair the ship during the flight. You want to ride in the front row because it has the most immersive content and best view. While the ride is still fun wherever you sit, honestly the best experience is with front row seats!

The ride is made up of several interconnected simulators on one giant turntable. Riders that manipulate the simulator's controls more skillfully and quickly than other cabins can actually earn more to do in their mission such as capturing more cargo or navigating an asteroid field as the other platforms catch up. So, there is a benefit to trying to master the simulator's controls versus just going along for the ride.

Riding the Millennium Falcon was a blast! The experience absolutely earned a Geek Daddy nod of approval for the spectacular Imagineering efforts put into crafting the space port and Millennium Falcon ride queue elements and the thrilling Star Wars adventure you are able to partake in with the motion simulator. If you are heading to Disneyland or Walt Disney World don't miss out on blasting off in the Millennium Falcon ride!

JAXXON THE STAR WARS SPACE BUNNY

One of Star Wars oldest characters who apparently been in carbonite hibernation after George Lucas took a disliking to him has recently made a comeback. Jaxxon, a space bunny-style alien, initially appeared in Star Wars #8 (1978) as part of the first story arc following Marvel devoting the initial issues of the comic book series to the official movie adaption of A New Hope. Teaming up with Han Solo and Chewbacca in a number of misadventures, Jaxxon was one of the first characters to join the Star Wars galaxy expanding upon those in the 1977 movie.

A Lepi smuggler and mercenary from the planet Coachelle Prime, Jaxxon captained the starship Rabbit's Foot. Piloting a ship prone to breakdowns, Jaxxon often finds himself stuck in spaceports looking for trouble to either barter or pay for needed repairs. In his Star Wars comic book debut, Jaxxon is recruited to help protect a nearby village from bandits known as the Cloud-Riders and as well as a gigantic roaming monster known as the Behemoth from the World Below. Jaxxon added some looniness with Bugs Bunny-style quick witted humor to stories and appeared in a number of the early issues of Marvel's original Star Wars comic book series.

After being featured in Star Wars comic book issues 8-11 & 16, Jaxxon disappeared! George Lucas thought the character created by Howard Chaykin was too goofy and a blemish on the Star Wars image. So, he put a kibosh on the character. Ironic coming from the creator and number one proponent of Jar Jar Binks! Maybe Jaxxon instead of being overly silly was just ahead of his time.

A little bit of silliness though is just what IDW Publishing was looking for when it came to producing a comic book series called Star Wars Adventures aimed at tween aged readers. Nearly forty years after he disappeared, Jaxxon made a return. In addition to exploits in Star Wars Adventures, Jaxxon also joined in on the hijinks of IDW Publishing's Halloween themed Ghosts of Vader's Castle mini-series. Marvel even hopped in on giving Jaxxon a second chance by including him in a humorous variant cover in the first issue released after Marvel regained the comic book publishing rights for the brand paying homage to the character's role in the first ever original Star Wars story published.

To celebrate Lucasfilm's 50th anniversary, Hasbro even created an action figure of the six-foot tall, green-furred Lepi known for his wise-cracks and karate kicks. The toy comes packaged in a box with artwork inspired by Jaxxon's appearances in Star Wars Adventures comic books. It is part of Hasbro's 1:12 scale Black Series collection of Star Wars action figures. I couldn't resist picking up one of these Jaxxon action figures for myself.

What do you think is next in store for Jaxxon? An appearance in The Bad Batch animated series of The Mandalorian live action television show? His re-emergence in Marvel's comic book series? I'm looking forward to seeing more of Jaxxon now he has returned to the Star Wars galaxy.

THESE ARE THE STAMPS YOU ARE LOOKING FOR

These are the stamps you are looking for! The United States Postal Service is releasing on May the Fourth Star Wars themed Forever Stamps featuring droids from a galaxy far far away. Designed by Greg Breeding with William Gicker serving as art director, the collection will be available on a pane of 20 stamps and feature droids from both film and animation, including IG-11, R2-D2, K-2SO, D-O, L3-37, BB-8, C-3PO, a Gonk droid, 2-1B surgical droid, and Chopper. You can wait until May 4, 2021 to purchase these fantastic stamps from your local post office or pre-order them now online by clicking here.

Each 55¢ stamp has a Forever classification meaning as postage prices go up the value will always be that of a regular first-class 1-ounce mailing. The stamps are being sold though in a bundle of 20 stamps rather than individually costing $11 plus shipping and handling if you purchase them online. Situated in a pane with four rows of five, the stamps vary in height based upon the proportions of the various droids shapes.

Because these are the price of regular stamps you won't feel guilty actually using them. I'm going to get some to add some Star Wars flair to some of my personal correspondence as well as a panel for a collectible keepsake. I'm absolutely in when it comes to buying some of these Star Wars droid stamps.

With the post office involved in political and financial turmoil purchasing these stamps is a nice way to show support for the postal service while enjoying being a Star Wars fan. Did you know that while the U.S. Postal Service is considered a government entity it receives no tax dollars for operating expenses and relies on the sale of postage, products and services to fund its operations. If you value having the post office as a part of our society show your support with a Star Wars stamp. I'll step off my soap box now.

In addition to releasing these stamps on May the Fourth as a way to make the day special, these Star Wars stamps celebrate Lucasfilm's 50th anniversary and are part of a campaign to promote tech as cool with kids by Disney to hype STEM education and careers being attractive to today's youth. 

I'm geeked about these stamps! Another fun way to make May the Fourth stand out as Star Wars Day. What do you think of them?  

STAR WARS BAD BATCH ANIMATED SERIES ON DISNEY PLUS STREAMING SERVICE

My whole family is a bunch of Star Wars geeks. My fanship began watching the original trilogy of theatrical movie releases and playing with Kenner Star Wars toys as a kid. While my love of Star Wars is nostalgic to those original movies my wife and children are more tied to the animated series that we've watched together as a family throughout my son and daughter growing up.

My kids associate the character Obi Wan Kenobi more with James Arnold Taylor who voiced the character in the Lucasfilm animated television series than Sir Alec Guinness or Ewan McGregor who played the Jedi Master in the movies (we'll see if this changes when McGregor comes back to play the role in the upcoming Disney Plus live action series).  They've grown up cheering for a cast of animated characters just as remarkable as those in any Star Wars film ranging from Anakin Skywalker's padawan Ahsoka Tano in Clone Wars to a boy being trained to be a Jedi by a former padawan who escaped Darth Vader's purge in Ezra Bridger during Rebels. This new generation of Star Wars fans is more fond of these animated series than the prequel and sequel movie trilogies and I appreciate these television shows for having been able to enjoy them together with my wife and kids over the last decade.

So it is really exciting that for Star Wars Day (May the Fourth) that as a treat for fans, Disney Plus will begin streaming the 70-minute premiere of a new animated series that expands upon the stories from the Dave Filoni produced Clone Wars and Rebels shows. Dave's done an excellent job of masterfully expanding upon the Star Wars galaxy in a way that honors the aspects of Star Wars which long-term fans delight in while adding details keeping the stories new and exciting. Filoni contributed to the vibe of The Mandalorian which has quickly become another one of my family's favorite tv shows and it makes us sad that he wasn't involved in the production of the Disney Star Wars movie.

On Tuesday, May 4, 2001 Star Wars: The Bad Batch will debut. The animated series takes place during the dark times between the end of the Clone Wars and the height of the rebellion in the original trilogy. After the fall of the Republic and the rise of the Empire, a group of clone troopers known as the Bad Batch must navigate their way through a galaxy experiencing drastic and violent change.

The show's stories follow an elite and experimental group of clones that were first introduced in the final season of The Clone Wars as they find their way in a rapidly changing galaxy. Members of Bad Batch—a unique squad of clones who vary genetically from their brothers in the Clone Army—each possess a singular exceptional skill that makes them extraordinarily effective soldiers and a formidable crew. The Bad Batch will incorporate characters from both Clone Wars and Rebels into its stories as well as some from The Mandalorian including assassin Fennec Shand.

We're so geeked for The Bad Batch to arrive on Disney Plus! With this show being released on Star Wars Day the Force will definitely be with us this year!

SOLO STAR WARS STORY ACTIVITY SHEETS

May the Fourth be with you! In honor of Star Wars Fan Day, May the 4th, Walt Disney Studios has provided A Geek Daddy with some free SOLO: A STAR WARS STORY themed activity sheets and coloring pages to share with you. Just download the embedded images, print them out, and have some fun. SOLO: A STAR WARS STORY opens at theaters across the United States on May 25, 2018.

Directed by Ron Howard, the film shows a series of daring escapades deep within a dark and dangerous criminal underworld where Han Solo (Alden Ehrenreich) meets his mighty future copilot Chewbacca and encounters the notorious gambler Lando Calrissian (Donald Glover), in a journey that will set the course of one of the Star Wars saga's most unlikely heroes. The movie is rated PG-13 by the Motion Picture Association of America (MPAA) for sequences of sci-fi action and violence.



My family is going to be flying to the movie theater faster then the Millenium Falcon made the Kessel Run when the release date for SOLO: A STAR WARS STORY arrives.  Who else is excited to see this Han Solo origin story?! While you are counting down the days for the film's theatrical debut, enjoy these activity sheets and coloring pages to pass the time:

ACTIVITY SHEETS

COLORING PAGES

For more information about the film, head over to starwars.com/solo

TOPPS COUNTDOWN TO HAN SOLO MOVIE

Who is excited about SOLO: A STAR WARS STORY coming to movie theaters soon?! Counting down to this new Star Wars movie's theatrical debut, TOPPS will be showing a new scene from the movie every weekday now through the film's May 25th opening on their website.  Each of these images will be available to purchase as a limited edition TOPPS trading card that is only available for one day only.  Once a new scene is revealed you'll have missed out on your chance to get your hands on the previous day's card.

Only TOPPS website is showing these exclusive previews of the movie. So head over to topps.com to check out their Countdown to Solo: A Star Wars Story event.  You can go to just check out the scenes from the movie without an obligation to buy anything.  Of course once you see these limited edition TOPPS cards you may want to pick some up for yourself. Priced at $9.99, they are bordered with an image of the Millenium Falcon along with a description of  each card's featured image. TOPPS has been listing the print run after the card is listed as sold out and most of the cards already issued have averaged a print run of under 300 cards providing a nice level of exclusivity for collectors.

MAY THE FOURTH BE WITH YOU

Hope you enjoy Star Wars Day with someone special in your life!  May the 4th be with you!

Enjoy Star Wars all summer long with SwimWays pool toys

**A Geek Daddy received the featured products for free**

We received a great May the Fourth treat from the nice folks at SwimWays who sent us some samples of their pool toys to help celebrate Star Wars Day.  Unfortunately, May in Michigan is still a bit too cold for swimming but SwimWays gesture still helped make our May the Fourth a "water-full" day!  My kids can't wait for summer weather to arrive so we can go swimming and enjoy these wonderful Star Wars themed pool toys and floats that this leisure and recreational water products manufacturer sent our family to try out.

A Geek Daddy's box of goodies from SwimWays included noodle lightsabers, dive ships, pool floats and a light up Death Star beach ball:

STAR WARS MILLENNIUM FALCON RIDE-ON

Blast through the pool just like Millennium Falcon co-pilots Han Solo and Chewbacca on the Star Wars Millennium Falcon Ride-On. This durable vinyl ride-on features 2 heavy-duty grab handles.  Inflatable float is over 5 feet long! Actual inflated dimensions are 61 in. X 46 in. X 13 in. 

STAR WARS DIVE SHIPS

Star Wars Dive Ships from SwimWays are a collection of 3-D molded dive sticks featuring popular ships from the Star Wars movies! Great water toys for swim practice to encourage new swimmers or to play with out of the pool on a rainy day. This set of dive toys comes in the new Star Wars: The Force Awakens (Episode 7) packaging, making it a great gift for the Star Wars collector, too! Three ships in every pack, one each of Tie Fighter, Millennium Falcon and X-Wing Fighter.

STAR WARS SPRING FLOAT KIDS’ BOAT

The Star Wars Spring Float Kid's Boat from SwimWays is a float designed for the way kids really like to play! This durable pool float for kids has fabric-covered inflation, Star Wars graphics kids love on the comfortable mesh seat, and side handles that are easy to grip. They can ride the float on their belly, sit up in the float, or lay back and relax. The patented inner spring sewn into the outer edge of the float adds comfort and stability in the water, and makes folding and unfolding the float a snap. Folds flat and compact into the included carry tote, making this a great choice for travel, too! One float per pack.  

STAR WARS LIGHT-UP BEACH BALL

There's no escape from the Galactic Empire when the Star Wars Death Star Light-Up Beach Ball from SwimWays invades your pool! This inflatable beach ball looks like the infamous spacecraft from the Star Wars films. Impact-activated LED lights inside create a cool nighttime effect and show off the details of the Death Star graphics. Grab a few for your next Star Wars themed party - your guests will love it! Also makes a fun gift for the Star Wars collector. Includes (non-replaceable) button cell batteries. Sold individually. 

STAR WARS NOODLE LIGHTSABER

Wage an epic battle between good and evil with the SwimWays Star Wars Noodle Lightsaber! These pool noodle toys have lightsaber grips at the bottom and a foam noodle on top, so you can display your fighting skills in the water or on dry land. Choose from blue (Luke Skywalker), green (Yoda) or red (Darth Vader). Sold individually. 

CLICK HERE to check out all the Star Wars products available from SwimWays and for more information regarding pricing and availability of these really fun pool toys and floats. 

#MayTheFourthBeWithYou #StarWarsDay

Toys-R-Us MAY THE FOURTH Star Wars Weekend Event - Free LEGO Mini Wookiee Gunship Giveaway on May 3

Swing by your local Toys-R-Us on Sunday, May 3, 2015 to build and take home a FREE Mini Wookiee Gunship LEGO toy set as the retailer celebrates the Star Wars MAY THE FOURTH Weekend.  May the Fourth used as a pun of the May the Force lines scripted in the Star Wars movies has evolved into an unofficial "Star Wars Day" where both fans and brands have lots of fun celebrating the franchise.  Since May the Fourth falls on a Monday this year, Toys-R-Us is celebrating a day early when it is easier for parents to bring their children to stores on a weekend to enjoy an event.

From Noon - 2pm on Sunday May 3, children 5 years of age and older who visit a participating Toys-R-Us will have the opportunity to build a mini LEGO Star Wars space ship and take it home with them for FREE.  Supplies of the LEGO toy kits at each store are limited to about 100 people first come, first served and even though the event is promoted for two hours if you get there and they are out then you are out of luck.  Two years ago we went up to our local Toys R Us around 1pm and it wasn't very crowded allowing my kids to have a great time putting together a Star Wars space ship and taking it home with them.  So based upon the good time we had in 2013, we went back last year and it was a pretty miserable experience.  We arrived at 12:15 and got in a long line for the event eventually approaching the build table at 12:30.  We were next in line to start building when a store employee said they were all out and the event was over.  So we watched them start taking the event display down and left empty handed a half hour into what was billed as a 2 hour event.  Even though we had a bad experience last year, we're going to go back this year to try it again because my kids love LEGOs & Star Wars plus I'm sure they would like these Wookiee Gun Ships; and when someone is giving away something for free you only have so much room to complain.  This year we're going to go a half hour before the event starts to get in line.  So my tip to you is if you go - go early!

DISNEY'S CABLE NETWORKS WILL HAVE A STAR WARS FOCUS ON MAY THE FOURTH

Disney is using what has become known as Star Wars Day (May the Fourth ... be with you) to premiere the first official trailer for its new animated television show STAR WARS: REBELS.  It will also be broadcasting the first LEGO STAR WARS: THE YODA CHRONICLES episode (a comedic look at the Star Wars Universe through the use of Lego building blocks ) to appear on the Disney cable network since the show was moved from Cartoon Network.

 

The now named LEGO STAR WARS: THE NEW YODA CHRONICLES will air on Disney XD on Sunday, May 4th (Star Wars Day) at 7pm ET/PT.  Disney XD is a cable channel with programming targeted to children and teens in the age range of 6 to 14 years old.  Disney also has cable channels Disney Channel, Disney Junior, ABC Family, Fusion, and the ESPN networks under its ownership.  During the May 4th showing of LEGO STAR WARS: THE NEW YODA CHRONICLES the trailer for the STAR WARS: REBELS animated series will be premiered.  Immediately following the NEW YODA CHRONICLES premiere of the REBELS trailer it will than be shown on Disney's other cable properties and online.

According to the STAR WARS: REBELS production team, this is the official synopsis for the new series:

Star Wars Rebels continues the epic tradition of the legendary Star Wars saga with all-new exciting, action-packed adventures. It is a dark time in the galaxy, as the evil Galactic Empire tightens its grip of power from world to world. As the series begins, Imperial forces have occupied a remote planet, ruling with an iron fist and ruining the lives of its people. The clever and motley crew of the starship Ghost is amongst a select few who are brave enough to stand against the Empire. Together, this ragtag group will face threatening new villains, encounter colorful adversaries, embark on thrilling adventures and become heroes with the power to ignite a rebellion.

STAR WARS: REBELS will debut with an hour long special this summer on the Disney Channel and half hour weekly episodes will air on Disney XD starting in the fall.

The YODA CHRONICLES though having a "new name" appear similar to the same format of the show that recently ran on Cartoon Network.  These are funny shows that are enjoyable for parents and kids to enjoy together.  The quips often have both me and my kids chuckling. If you have time this weekend, tune in to THE NEW YODA CHRONICLES and enjoy an extra special treat by getting a sneak peek at the new STAR WARS: REBELS animated series.

May the Fourth be with You!