2011 Reveal: SDCC Event-Exclusive Keepsake Ornaments
Hallmark Unveils Plans for Comic-Con 2011
KANSAS CITY, Mo. (June 6, 2011) — Hallmark announces its return to Comic-Con International in San Diego (July 20-24), providing 125,000 attendees access to Comic-Con-exclusive Hallmark Keepsake Ornaments, a sneak peek of product for 2012 and visits with creators of popular Hallmark characters.
During the convention, Hallmark will sell limited quantities of the following Keepsake Ornaments:
IG-88 and Dengar, Star Wars: The Empire Strikes Back™ – This two-pack features the assassin droid IG-88 and Corellian mercenary Dengar from Star Wars: The Empire Strikes Back™. IG-88 and Dengar are the third and fourth bounty hunters to become Keepsake Ornaments. Limited run of 1,000 sets.
Comic Book Guy, The Simpsons™ – Wearing his own Comic-Con apparel, the Comic Book Guy from “The Simpsons” celebrates his 20th year as a popular cartoon character. This is the second year that “The Simpsons” has inspired an exclusive Keepsake Ornament for Comic-Con. Limited run of 1,000 Keepsake Ornaments.
Descending Upon Gotham, Batman™ – Batman swoops down from the dark heights of Gotham in this Keepsake Ornament. A repainted version of a 2009 Keepsake Ornament, the Caped Crusader wears a contemporary gray and black bat suit rather than the blue and gray one popularized in the 1960s. Limited run of 750 Keepsake Ornaments.
“We are excited to participate in Comic-Con for the fourth year,” said Beth Dorr, associate merchandise manager for Keepsake Ornaments. “The convention gives us a great opportunity to meet and interact with some of our most passionate fans and reward them with exclusive opportunities and sneak peeks.”
Visitors to Hallmark’s booth in the Lucasfilm Pavilion will be able to view many of the new 2011 Keepsake Ornaments as well as get a sneak peek of what’s to come in 2012. They also can pick up a series of collectible buttons featuring Star Wars Keepsake Ornaments. The series will feature five designs, with a limited quantity of one design given away each day of Comic-Con.
Throughout the convention, popular Hallmark characters hoops&yoyo™ will make visits to the Hallmark booth. Comic-Con attendees also will have the opportunity to engage with the creators of Hallmark characters, including Bob Holt and Mike Adair (hoops&yoyo), Peter Martin (Asteroid Andy) and John Wagner (Maxine).
John Wagner’s feisty character Maxine, the self-appointed “Queen of Crabbiness,” celebrates her 25th anniversary in 2011. Since 1986, she has appeared on millions of cards and thousands of books, as well as Keepsake Ornaments. On Thursday, July 21, and Friday, July 22, John Wagner will be on site to share the inspiration behind Maxine, discuss how he’s kept her character fresh for 25 years and answer questions. Hoops&yoyo creators Bob Holt and Mike Adair will sign autographs on Thursday, July 21, Friday, July 22, and Saturday, July 23. Asteroid Andy’s creator Peter Martin will visit the booth on Saturday, July 23, and Sunday, July 24.
In addition to on-site Comic-Con activity, Hallmark will administer various product giveaways of some current Keepsake Ornaments as well as exclusive and signed products via Twitter (@HallmarkPR, #ComicCon, #SDCC) before and during the conference. For more information about Hallmark and the full line of 2011 Keepsake Ornaments, visit Hallmark.com/Keepsakes.
IG-88 and Dengar
Star Wars: The Empire Strikes Back™
Comic Book Guy
The Simpsons™
Descending Upon Gotham
Batman™
Sneak Peek of Three of Don Palmiter’s 2011 ornaments (Plus a Bonus)
Hallmark’s second Keepsake ornament Sneak Peek for 2011 includes pictures of 3 ornaments designed by Keepsake Studio Senior Sculptor Don Palmiter.
Decking the Door
Joyful Angel
Simply Beautiful Collection
Arts and Crafts Bungalow
28th in the Nostalgic Houses and Shops series
This year’s Nostalgic House ornament, the 28th in the Nostalgic Houses and Shops series, hits pretty close to home for one member of the Keepsake Studio, Meg Hilburn.” I had been wanting to do an arts-and-crafts style bungalow for awhile,” Don said. ” I took a sketch into a product review meeting, and afterward, Meg came up to me and said she lived in just that style of house. She brought in some photos and I ended up doing an ornament very close to her exact house.”
Meg, an Editorial Strategist for Keepsake Ornaments, was very happy to cooperate with his artistic process. The ornament features interior furnishings as well as exterior architectural stylings of the arts-and-crafts movement, which made the bungalow one of the most popular home designs in 1910s and 1920s America.
“The ornament has her stone fireplace and her roof. I painted the ornament the same as Meg’s home, inside and out,” Don said. “I took a little license with things, too, so I could add the arts-and-crafts feel. I added a ceramic chimney cap because a lot of those bungalows had them, although hers didn’t.”
And one other aspect of the bungalow has special significance for Don. “I grew up within a mile of where Meg’s house is,” he said. “I used to ride my bike all over that area when I was a kid, and those are some great memories for me.”
Don is already at work on the 2012 ornament in the series, and while he is not able to divulge any details, he did say that he got a lot of help from photos shared by Keepsake Artist Anita Marra Rogers.
In Addition to spotlighting Don, the latest Sneak Peek also revealed UP, 1st in the Disney/Pixar Legends series.
Up
1st in the Disney•PIXAR Legends series
2010 Reveal: SDCC Event-Exclusive Keepsake Ornaments
Exclusive: Hallmark Ornaments to debut at SDCC 2010
KANSAS CITY, Mo. (May 28, 2010) — Hallmark will return to the SDCC this summer (July 21-25) with a line up of exclusive DC Comics, Star Wars, and Simpsons products for the event to introduce enthusiastic collectors to the world of Keepsake Ornaments.
75 Years of DC Comics – Features the publisher’s three most iconic heroes bursting into action from the very comic books in which they made their first cover appearances Wonder Woman in Sensation Comics No. 1 (January 1942), Superman in Action Comics No. 1 (June 1938) and Batman in Detective Comics No. 27 (May 1939). Limited run of 750.
K-3PO and R-3PO, Star Wars: The Empire Strikes Back™ – This two-pack of protocol droids–features repaints of the C-3PO Keepsake Ornament offered in 2003– celebrate the 30th anniversary of the release of The Empire Strikes Back. While the red-plated R-3PO can be seen working within the Rebels’ secret Echo Base on the ice planet Hoth, the white-armored K-3PO is shown as an advisor in the base’s command center during the Imperial attack that ultimately drove the rebels back into space. Limited run of 1,000 sets.
Mr. Burns’ Christmas “Bonus,” The Simpsons™ – Depicts the boss you love to hate from television’s “The Simpsons” offering his idea of a generous holiday gift. Limited run of 500.
The ‘Keepsake Ornaments’ of each design will be offered for sale every day of the convention. Visitors to the Hallmark booth at Comic-Con again will receive a series of collectible buttons featuring Star Wars Keepsake Ornaments. The button series will feature five designs, with one design to be given away on each day of the convention. A limited number of buttons with each design will be produced.
Feel free to visit Hallmark.com/keepsakes to see the complete line of Keepsake Ornaments for 2010, which includes designs based on favorite characters from comics, movies and television.
75 Years of DC Comics
K-3PO and R-3PO
Star Wars: The Empire Strikes Back™
Mr. Burns’ Christmas “Bonus”
The Simpsons™