Despite the fact that the last Tron film was 13 years ago, Disney is releasing new Tron merchandise (not to mention the four decades since the original). Although another sequel, starring Jared Leto, may be in the works, the toys coincide with the opening of Tron Lightcycle / Run at Disney World, the high-speed ride that debuted at Shanghai Disneyland in 2016. The park’s Tron Identity Program is used to customise the action figures, which display your scanned face on an LCD hidden behind the figure’s visor.
The Tron Identity Program will scan visitors’ facial features and record six lines of dialogue. The resulting figure’s LCD will display your scanned face, and pressing a button on the chest will play back the recorded lines. Your personalised identity is saved on a memory card, which you can swap into other Tron toys that Disney hopes you’ll purchase.
Custom action figures are about as old as modern 3D printing, but the holographic approach has the advantage of much faster turnaround times. Disney World visitors can have their toy in hand in around 16 minutes because it does not require plastic moulding. In comparison, Hasbro’s Selfie Series can take 45 to 60 days to arrive, though you don’t have to travel to Florida to get one.
If you are planning a trip to Disney World, you can reserve a time with the Tron Identity Program beginning March 21st. A custom figure will cost $90, which is $30 more than Hasbro’s custom figures (non-LCD, non-Florida).
