Star Wars Figure of the Day: Day 2,639: CZ Protocol Droid (Color-Changing Droids, Droid Factory, Galaxy's Edge)

CZ PROTOCOL DROID Color-Changing Droids
Star Wars Disney Droid Depot
Item No.: No. ???
Manufacturer: Disney
Number: n/a
Includes: 4 droids - CZ, 3PO, R4, BB
Action Feature: Pops apart, changes from white to orange
Retail: $39.99
Availability: ca. July 2019
Appearances: n/a

Bio: All different types of Astromech droids populate the galaxy.  Each droid is different and has their own unique personality and colors.  These droids have the special ability to change color!  (Taken from the figure's packaging.)

Image: Adam's photo lab.

Availability: Click here to buy it at Amazon now!

Commentary:  I have no idea when this color-changing CZ Protocol Droid came out - I didn't see an announcement and had no idea it existed until it popped up on eBay.  I am rather amazed Disney found a way to make these interesting after so many recolors - the build-a-droid gimmick and super articulation seemed like the endgame, but no.  These guys change colors - the CZ droid is orange when it's cold, and white when it's hot. It seems to easily hold the "cold" color at room temperature, until you start to handle it - so freeze it before you display it if you want an orange droid.

The base figure has dirt on it, which is very visible in "white" mode but vanishes in the "orange" mode.  Sculpted detail is the same as it's been - good - with decent paint on top of it.  You're being charged for this extra deco, but it does give you more than you can do with the toy other than pose, display, or cram in a ship.   I really like what they've done here and I'm impressed how well the colors change.

Molded in white with color-change orange, what delighted me the most was when I handled it after it was left at room temperature for a few days.  It looked like some sort of crab coloring.   It's silly, it's non-canonical, but I think these may be my favorite (non-glow in the dark) droid figures out of the House of Mouse yet.  Kudos to them - maybe we'll get UV-reactive ones next.

Collector's Notes: I got mine from my pal Shannon. Thanks Shannon!  There are 2 droid 4-packs and 1 droid playset with a Gonk Droid at this time.  "Warm" colors on the droids are their movie-like state.  "Cold" colors tend to be a lot stranger.

--Adam Pawlus

Day 2,639: November 19, 2019