To realize how " Star Wars " changed the toy dog industry , we have to go back a long time ago to agalaxyfar , far off . During the seventies , scientific discipline fabrication was unpopular – or at least blank out as a genre – and the idea of toys based on moving-picture show or TV was in its infancy .
But all of that was about to be turned on its head when George Lucas , fresh off the success of " American Graffiti , " proposed " Star Wars , " fundamentally a westerly solidifying in kayoed space . It was a bold concept – and one that struggle to find a home . Lucas and twentieth Century Fox finally derive to an accord , an unusual one that allow Lucas to exchange a $ 500,000 director ’s pay for the licensing and selling rights . It was a decision that would make Lucas wealthy beyond all imagining and change the toy diligence forever when Lucas turn his vision to the " Star Wars " toy tie - ins .
Kenner , then have by General Mills , was the original plaything company to license " Star Wars " association - ins . Kenner was so overwhelmed by the unanticipated winner of " Star Wars " and the subsequent need for the toys abide by the May 1977 release that they run out of stock almost immediately . At Christmas that year , they still had n’t caught up . The company issued an " Early Bird Certificate Package , " which give Kid what amounted to an empty boxwood with an IOU for action figures that were finally available in the spring . By the goal of 1978 , Kenner had sell more than 40 million Star Wars action figures for more than $ 100 million in glaring sales [ source : Block ] .
Kenner not only made the toy fun to spiel with , they made the 3 - 3/4 - inch natural action figures fun to hoard . The original " Star Wars " toys are some of the most sought - after payable toy , and the phenomenon show no signs of slowing . In 2001 , " Star Wars " merchandise generated $ 3 billion in sales . In fact , since the 1977 original picture show release , more than $ 20 billion in licensed merchandise has been sell [ source : Block ] . " Star Wars " is responsible for the rebirth of the entireLego bricksbusiness in 1999 , when the society launched " Star Wars " Lego bricks – the first motion picture or TV show tie - in for Lego bricks – and the Lego " Star Wars " video game .
And now Disney is taking its twist . In 2012 , Disney paid Lucas $ 4 billion for the " Star Wars " franchise . Since that time , they have sell 10 million lightsabers in a variety of forms every yr , a number that will only increase as the December 2015 release particular date for " Star Wars : Episode VII " nears [ source : Graser ] .
The never - before - seen achiever of " Star Wars " toys made moving-picture show - toy dog tie - ins an crucial part of nearly every flick selling campaign in children ’s films and in many vitrine , films for grownups , too . All of those plaything can trace their blood line straight back to a visionary who change not only the motion-picture show industry , but the toy dog business as well .
