Star Wars Figure of the Day: Day 3,227: R2-BNE (Bunny, Holiday Droid Factory)

R2-BNE Hoppy Easter
Star Wars Droid Factory 2025 Spring Droid
Item No.: ???
Manufacturer: Disney
Number: n/a
Includes: Bunny ear hat
Action Feature: n/a
Retail: $14.99
Availability: February 2025
Appearances: n/a   

Bio: All different types of astromech droid populate the Star Wars galaxy. Each droid is different and has their own unique personality and colors. This droid can e found in the idyllic plains of Naboo. Join R2-BNE on their adventures throughout the galaxy. May the Force be with you... and your droids! (Taken from the packaging.)

Image: Adam's photo lab.

Availability: Click here to buy it at eBay now!

Commentary: Disney's special droids now greatly outnumber Hasbro's output, so if you want a seasonal souvenir you're probably going to be buying a bunch from the house of mouse. The latest offering is R2-BNE, which sold out online in under a week. Clearly, people like rabbit hats. The droid itself is the same mold we've been getting, with a new hat. The web bio says "Artoo's signature colors take on pastel hues and he wears an adorable pair of bunny ears, making him a stellar find in every Easter basket and the cutest way to celebrate the start of spring." The cardback bio indicates they are a separate character. Which will you choose? Probably neither, as it sold out, and you may not have another crack at this one.

This is a pretty good one. Rather than going with green, Disney opted to take a white droid and add both blue and pink to the figure. And it really works. Not necessarily evoking Easter specifically, these colors look a lot like some of the Easter Bunny characters I've seen some other manufacturers over the years. Specifically, the Hallmark/Crayola bunnies from about thirty years ago. (Retro ornament enthusiasts may remember Hallmark's various Easter Ornaments and other collectibles from that era, but I digress.) I don't anticipate a big edition size for this one as seasonal stuff tends to have a pretty short shelf life. Go to the parks if you missed it online, it sold out quickly. Heck, buy two. There will be someone who wants one.

Since it's the first Easter droid, the good news is there's nothing else like it in the toy line. Hasbro hasn't done a lot of pastels, Disney has largely stayed away from pinks and baby blues. The coloring is a little paler than the renders on the cardback, but I assume to most fans it'll look like baby color R2-D2. The figure is mostly a case of what you see being what you get, with one exception - under the dome is a really striking metallic blue color. I was expecting the "guts" underneath to be unpainted or gray, so this was a real surprise. There are also a lot of little details I would have not expected, like pink highlights around the eye and "ankles." I see no indication that anybody pocketed pennies out of the paint budget to make this one.

If you're a droid fanatic, or if this particular color suits you, you're going to want this one. I don't anticipate a ton of Easter figures in the coming years, but who knows? I would've expected a few Valentine's droids by now, and haven't yet seen one. The generous helping of pink mixed with blue really looks great, and I've got a lot of friends who I think will be excited to see this one - or they would be, had it not sold out so quickly.

Collector's Notes: I got mine from Disney as they were offering free shipping. Shipping is presently around $10. Parking at Downtown Disney is also about $10, so short of a clearance find or dumping on eBay I don't expect it to get much better than this. I ordered it February 17, received it February 20, and it was sold out on February 20. If it restocks, better hop on it.

--Adam Pawlus

Day 3,227: March 27, 2025