Official merchandise for Baby Yoda was available for purchase at the Comic Con Experience in São Paulo over the weekend. Ever since the tiny green creature was revealed at the end of The Mandalorian’s premiere episode, rescued from dire circumstances by the title character, he has taken the internet by storm in the form of adorable memes and others which are extremely unnerving. But, respecting the wishes of executive producers Jon Favreau and Dave Filoni, who wanted to maintain the shock value of Baby Yoda’s first appearance, merchandise has been surprisingly slow to roll out.
The limited Baby Yoda swag which does exist has been a bit disappointing so far, confined to t-shirts and drinking mugs. More entrepreneurial enthusiasts, not keen on waiting for months to show off their fandom, have already made toys of their own which are based on the character. For those hoping for official items to add to their collection, there is a Funko Pop of The Mandalorian’s scene-stealing companion. While the vinyl figures produced by Funko can vary, with some being impressively unique, and others falling into the more generic category, Baby Yoda’s Funko Pop definitely veers more unique. Available for preorder in two sizes, the toy is already a bestselling item that would be a cool-looking addition even for a casual Star Wars fan.
Still, Baby Yoda lovers won’t actually get the Funko Pop and other official toys until well into the new year. The rarity of official merchandise means that any bit of new information about products which involve The Child are sure to get attention. At the Comic Con Experience, which was held in Brazil over the weekend, those in attendance were able to get their hands on a bit of licensed Baby Yoda goodies. Check it out in the photo below.
The display at CCXP shows an eagerness to respond to a potential miscalculation which, by one account, is costing Disney millions. Those who have preordered Baby Yoda goodies will get them eventually. But by then, the excitement around the new miniature addition to the Star Wars universe is likely to dim. At the moment, the character is omnipresent and universally adored. That sort of interest is difficult to sustain.
On the other hand, it’s hard to argue that Disney should have risked sacrificing the game-changing twist of The Mandalorian in order to maximize profits. It points to a larger issue, which has no easy solutions, of how to tell stories in a world where leaks run rampant and everything is interconnected. At least as the CCXP display shows, there is an attempt to sell Baby Yoda products that are a little more distinctive than a generic t-shirt and a mug.