Disney has unveiled its latest ‘real’ lightsaber at SXSW 2023 and the glowing toy is mind-blowingly accurate to the iconic movie weapon.
If you’ve been a Star Wars fan since childhood, chances are you’ve either owned a plastic glowing lightsaber, or pretended to fight using only sticks. Childhood dreams are about to come true on Disney’s Galactic Starcruiser as a ‘real’ lightsaber – or, at least, the most real rendition yet – has been revealed.
Disney Parks and Experience chairman Josh D’Amaro premiered the new prop at SXSW on Friday (March 10), which will be part of the Star Wars-themed live action experience at the Walt Disney World Resort.
Take a look at the new illuminated toy and how its technology functions.
Disney debuts ‘real lightsaber’ at SXSW 2023
The highlight of SXSW was the moment D’Amaro wielded a lightsaber hilt on stage, sending the crowd into a frenzy when the chairman pressed a button and triggered a smooth beam of light growing from the hilt.
The audiences collective gasps were captured on fan footage as the toy’s technological advancements mimicked the realistic luminescent plasma blade seen since the 1970s.
Take a look at the ‘real’ lightsaber, complete with the dramatic signature sound effect:
Most lightsabers on the market already have the plastic tube already exposed, so Disney’s retractable version is a major milestone.
The idea was first introduced in a Galactic Starcruiser trailer in May 2021, but fans have finally witnessed the weapon in the flesh.
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Unfortunately, the ‘real’ lightsaber is not available for purchase and visitor use. The replica is restricted to performers only. Guests are given swords without the retractable function during their lightsaber training experience.
The ‘real’ lightsaber is six years in the making – here’s how it works
Wondering how Disney managed to pull off the design? Just check out their Google Patents file; it outlines the mechanics of the device, including detailed diagrams of the hilt and how the glowing light is achieved.
The patent was filed in March 2017 and granted in September 2018.
The explanation abstract reads:
“The device includes two long plastic semi-cylinders, and these two blade body members are rolled perpendicular to their length, which creates compact cylinders of material of small volume that can be provided on a pair of spools in a hilt.
To extend the blade, a motor provided in the hilt unrolls the blade body members from the spools. Each blade body member passes through a blade forming guideway that nests the semi-cylindrical blade body members together as they leave the hilt. To retract the blade, the process is reversed.
The lighting of the blade is achieved with a flexible strip of light sources. The light source strip is attached to a blade end cap and positioned in the center of the two blade body members such that it is pulled up along with the blade body members during their extension.”
In other news, Are there train strikes on April 3rd, 4th, 5th 6th 2023?
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