Tag: kids

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Hasbro will make figures for Rebels’ Hera and Sabine, but then what?

Rebels: Sabine

We saw Sabine’s official reveal this morning, and although we’re still waiting for Hera’s, Hasbro confirmed with Newsarama’s Lucas Siegel that action figures of both Rebels ladies are coming, and will be unveiled at SDCC.

There’s been some blowback to the concerns over the lack of women showed in the first wave of Hasbro Rebels toys. But together with the ‘for boys’ nature of Disney XD and the apparent ‘ladies last’ spacing of the character reveals, it’s really felt like the female characters – and thus female fans – are there as an afterthought. (Is it really still not a given that women and girls like action?)

Yes, we know ‘this is how it is.’ Yes, we know that ‘it’s all here to sell toys.’ Yes, we know that’s ‘what advertisers want.’ And that’s exactly why we’re fighting so hard over this. This is our first major rollout since Disney took the wheel, and this is an uphill battle.

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Marvel, Natalie Portman sponsor effort to get more girls into the sciences

Natlie Portman and Kat Dennings in Thor.

With Thor: The Dark Work on the horizon, Marvel and star Natalie Portman are launching the Ultimate Mentor Adventure to inspire more girls to explore STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics) fields. Girls 14 and up are eligible to apply. UL (Underwriters Laboratories), Dolby Laboratories, National Academy of Sciences and Girl Scouts USA are also sponsoring the effort.

Portman, who reprises her role as astrophysicist Jane Foster in the film, also had some interesting things to say about female characters:

“I want them to be allowed to be weak and strong and happy and sad – human, basically. The fallacy in Hollywood is that if you’re making a ‘feminist’ story, the woman kicks ass and wins. That’s not feminist, that’s macho. A movie about a weak, vulnerable woman can be feminist if it shows a real person that we can empathize with.”

She joins a long line of Marvel ladies speaking up for variety. (via)

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Her Universe reveals a massive bounty of new items for Disney’s Star Wars Weekends

Her Universe A-line Rogue Squadron dress

Return of the Jedi necklaceHer Universe has revealed yet more new items to debut at Star Wars Weekends. There are 5 new tees, 1 new tank, and four new costume hoodies, plus the long-awaited X-Wing dress and a limited edition necklace.

Above is out ‘official’ reveal of the A-line X-Wing dress. At right is the limited edition Return of the Jedi necklace. Only 1,250 have been made, but only 500 of them will be sold (first come, first serve) at Star Wars Weekends. The remaining 750 will be available “at select Her Universe events” – during summer convention season, perhaps?

Head below the cut to see the rest of the new offerings – including another limited edition – and as always, click on the photos to see larger versions.

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AT-AT walker delights 4-year-old

AT-AT walker

Illustrator Ben Dewey pitched in to customize an AT-AT walker for Stephanie Kaloi’s 4-year-old son, who associated the tool with pain. It was a success:

More importantly, the goal was accomplished: our son happily walked all around our living room firing lasers at us for nearly an hour without once being scared that the walker would cause him pain. He’ll need the walker for another three weeks, and having him happy to use it is a huge leap forward for his recovery.

Check out more pictures of the walker at Offbeat Families.

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EUCantina kicks off their Summer for Children’s Literacy

Fellow fansite EUCantina launched their Summer for Children’s Literacy yesterday. The program, which runs through September 12th, is focused on raising awareness of the issue, and money for Reading Is Fundamental, a charity that Club Jade has long supported.

The site will be hosting several contests, with prizes donated by Del Rey, and is also selling t-shirts featuring the program’s logo. Head over to EUC to donate and get more details on what’s to come.