Action Figures Get ‘Speaking’ Roles

Tue., Feb. 16, 1999

The Hollywood Reporter

The Force was exhibited last week at the American International Toy Fair when Hasbro Inc. introduced exclusive technology enabling action figures to re-create scenes from the new “Star Wars” film, “Phantom Menace.”

The toys, due in stores in May to coincide with the film’s release, pair basic, 4-inch “Star Wars” action figures from the new movie with digital audio COMMTech (communication output memory module) chips, allowing the figures to “speak” dialogue from the film. For the chip to activate, it needs a COMMTech reader unit, sold separately.

Hasbro anticipates that the COMMTech chips, which feature a holographic image of a movie character, will become collectibles in their own right.

Teletubbies toys to talk to TV

“Teletubbies” will talk back to the TV screen this spring. ActiMates Interactive Teletubbies, which respond to videos and broadcasts of the popular preschool series, debuted at the toy fair. During the spring, daily “Teletubbies” episodes on PBS will begin carrying a specially encoded radio signal, and animation technology from Microsoft will enable the plush dolls to interact with the broadcasts. Laa-Laa and Po dolls will be released in mid-March and Tinky Winky and Dipsy in August.

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