Applause was a gift and toy company that produced licensed collector's figurines and toys sold in greeting card and comics shops.[1]
History
Applause produced figures and toys for franchises such as Sesame Street and Disney.[1]
The creative team included senior product manager Marc Bruderer and creative manager Robert Curet.[1]
Star Wars Collector's Series
In the mid-90s Applause had a Star Wars license for toys. Seeing the precedent of the previous decades, and the Kenner figures, Applause decided to focus on collector dolls with the protagonists in unusual appearances that reminisced scenes of the original trilogy. In the fall of 1995 they produced the Star Wars Collector's Series which included around 10-inch tall figures of Luke with Yoda on his back, and Han in Stormtrooper armor on the Death Star.[1]
Shadows of the Empire
In the mid-90s Applause was one of the licensees of the Star Wars: Shadows of the Empire multimedia project. Dave Williams was concept artist for these figures and proposed scenes.[1]
For othe project Applause planned to produce two vinyl dolls, for Dash Rendar,[2] and for Xizor.[3][1]
There was a Limited Edition Statuette titled "Villains", featuring a bust of Palpatine with figures of Xizor and Darth Vader, with an embossed figure of a TIE Interceptor and Stormtroopers.[4]
Following the premise of the Collector line, there were plans for statuettes with specific scenes from the story, pairing classic with original characters. Before the design of the statuettes, Dave Williams made storyboards of the relevant scene in order to capture the drama and fine-tune a desired snapshot.[1]
Proposed scenes (but probably never released) included:[1]
- Statue of Dash Rendar
- Statue of Xizor
- "Spirit of Villainy" with Vader and Xizor
- Luke confronting Dash on Kile about Leia (in the aftermath of the Battle of Gall).
- The meeting of Darth Vader with Xizor.
- Luke's and Dash's stand against Gizz's Gang in the Beggar's Canyon Incident.
