LEGO.com Parents News : Exo-Force Powers Up

			3 Jan 2006 Exo-Force Powers Up With Manga Flare! The recent release of the highly anticipated EXO-FORCE line of products has launched an epic battle pitting man against machine; good against evil. At stake-- the very future of humanity itself!
	The products’ design and back-story are based on Japanese “manga,” which were originally like a cross between comic books and graphic novels. Manga typically explores humanity’s relationships with technology, and the EXO-FORCE story is no exception: In ancient times, humans and robots lived in harmony on Sentai Mountain. But the robots revolted, releasing uncontrollable forces that split the mountain in half! The robots were cast into the gorge, but they lived on while the humans built bridges between the two halves of the peak. Now, the robots have risen again to occupy half of the mountain. More powerful than ever, they have just one aim—to completely drive humanity from Sentai Mountain. But they’ll have to defeat the EXO-FORCE to do it! The story features the training and battles of four of the pilots in the EXO-FORCE. Entrenched in their fortress near the Tenchi Bridge, each of the four young martial artists is armed with a unique battle machine. When a member of the EXO-FORCE “powers up” his battle machine, he’s insulated in armor and ready to take on the evil robots with a unique range of weapons. The story of EXO-FORCE is a story about conflict … heroes … bravery in the face of overwhelming odds … mystery … and the ultimate battle of humans vs. machines. The showdown taking place on this mountain may well be the first spark in a firestorm that will engulf the world! The new LEGO EXO-FORCE products are specifically designed to encourage role-playing, with the forces of goodness engaging in the eternal battle against evil-- and one look at the toys makes it clear which characters are the bad guys: The robots are rendered with severe angles in dark colors while the EXO-FORCE characters are composed with more curves and brighter hues. The EXO-FORCE minifigures also have spiky hair and the large eyes that signify ‘good’ characters in traditional manga. Of note is the fact that the EXO-FORCE’s battle machine’s cockpits have a clear window that allows players to see the minifigures insulated within. LEGO Marketing Manager, João Esteves, says “It’s the minifigure steering the battle machine that makes the EXO-FORCE unique in relation to other products in the same category. It helps children to live the story because the minifigure gives them a clear point of entry for role play.” But the fun of building is no less important than the play that comes afterwards; after all, these are LEGO products. In addition to the robots and battle machines, builders can construct vehicles, such as the Mobile Defense Tank or the Striking Venom, the Sonic Phantom aircraft, and Sentai Fortress, the EXO-FORCE’s base camp on the mountain. The largest set is composed of about 1,000 building pieces and several of the battle machines can be combined to form super battle machines! These design features were developed in some of the most extensive testing in the LEGO Company’s long history. The line has been tested in four stages, with boys between 7 and 9 years old evaluating every aspect of the toys and the EXO-FORCE universe. How the boys used the toys was also closely scrutinized to ensure that the products would hold together in the midst of a pitched battle for control of the universe. In addition to the toys, the LEGO team has developed a series of long-format commercials composed of 5 two-minute episodes that will air on Nickelodeon and NickToons during the week of January 23 and the week of January 30. The series has been developed using the newest animation techniques and it has the look of Japanese ‘anime,’ which is manga for the film medium. This is a great way of involving kids, providing context for the toys and spurring their imaginations. Rounding out the new line, LEGO.com has dedicated a new web site to the EXO-FORCE where it’s possible to view the comic strips echoing the animated series’ stories. João Esteves smiles enthusiastically, stating, “Manga and LEGO toys go very well together. It’s something new that’s never been done before… there’s every reason to believe the EXO-FORCE [line] will be a success.” Check out the EXO-FORCE web site at www.lego.com/exoforce.

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