Collectors and fans alike have a chance to own one-of-a-kind Star Wars art pieces while giving to a good cause with The Empire Muggs Back. Lucasfilm asked artists, comic book creators, toy designers, and celebrity fans armed with markers, paint brushes and glue guns to transform blank Mighty Muggs (donated by Hasbro) into custom Star Wars art which will be auctioned by The Make-A-Wish Foundation.
StarWars.com chats with ShadowMachine Animation artist Daniel Driscoll about his process for turning a blank Hasbro Mighty Muggs into a special tribute to Darth Chicken.
What did you choose to do for your Mighty Muggs art piece?
My Muggs' name is "Darth Chicken." As an animator on Robot Chicken: Star Wars Episode II I had the chance to combine my love for stop motion and Star Wars. My own interpretation of Chicken as Vader pays homage to both.
Why did you want to participate in The Empire Muggs Back art project?
I decided to participate in The Empire Muggs Back project because it was a fun and challenging way to be involved in a great charity.
What was your step-by-step process? What materials did you use?
My process was sculpting all the individual pieces out of Sculpey. Once they were baked, I painted everything and then set them aside and wired everything together. I used one LED light for the cyborg eye and a cold cathode for the lightsaber. Once everything was wired up, I mounted him to the stand, and glued all the individual pieces.
What were some of the challenges you faced while making your art piece?
The whole thing was a challenge! I've never customized Mighty Muggs or any other vinyl toy for that matter. On top of that, it was my first time using LEDs. So it was quite the learning experience.
Why do you think Star Wars fans will love The Empire Muggs Back project?
I believe that some of the appeal of Star Wars is that the fans feel that they are part of something huge. Star Wars has allowed for a lot of fan art and interpretation. That is why the Robot Chicken riffs on Star Wars are so much fun. We have a healthy respect for what we make fun of, and the fans know it. I believe the quality of the work we have done on the Mighty Muggs will be apparent, and so embraced by the fans of Star Wars.
The Mighty Muggs art pieces are now up for auction and can be seen at The Empire Muggs Back on Starwars.com. The auction ends August 14, 2009.
Stay tuned to StarWars.com for in-depth coverage on The Empire Muggs Back.
