At this year’s Christmas Toy Fair, Sega’s toy division showed off their officially licensed Star Wars R2-D2 Homestar Planetarium –  a R2-D2-shaped projector capable of displaying over 10,000 stars on the ceiling or wall of your choice. Despite that hefty number, the actual unit isn’t that big, only running on four AAA batteries. The projection only spans about five to seven and half feet depending, with a circumference of almost six feet around, perhaps making it more ideal for bedroom situations. Still, you have to admit the thought of having your own mini-R2 unit spitting the stars onto your ceiling would be sweet. It even includes the Death Star for good measure. The unit hit Japanese stores back in mid-September, but if you want to get your hands on one, you can always import it. It’ll cost ~$87 USD before tax, so it isn’t cheap, but importing toys rarely is.

video via diginfo

There’s an infinite galaxy’s worth of things that could be said about this photo, but more or less I’ll just say that it warmed my cold cold heart and made me smile, and I hope it does the same for you. And by the way…mail might have been faster than the amount of time it took the droids to get to Obi Wan. I mean, really.

Also, it makes me wish they had specialty versions of the Forever Stamp. I want an R2-D2 Forever Stamp. One that beeps at me. Hm…

Via Topless Robot

Gia Manry is a professional writer specializing in geek culture. She currently writes primarily for Anime News Network, but also likes being followed on Twitter. She can be contacted via her website.

A long time ago — well it was really really only a few years ago in 2007 that the post office started decorating postboxes across America by making them cosplay as R2-D2. And it was a cool event and then we thought it was all over, however Heart Art Collection in Japan has decided to make a collectors edition Star Wars R2-D2 Seikai no Post Collection model to celebrate that magical moment. And best of all this isn’t just a model but it also doubles as a piggy bank as well.

I’m sure it’s not every day that you come across house music featuring robots – famous ones, at least. The video here features some of our favorites lending their robotic talents to Eclectic Method’s latest release entitled, you guessed it, “Robots.” Clever name, right? Yeah, I thought so too. I was really hoping they’d throw in some Mechagodzilla, but I suppose it was just wishful thinking. Still, it’s a pretty cool video and if you’d like a copy of the song or more info about the group, check their official website.

Found via The Awesomer

Tim is a pro-blogger and freelance writer out of San Diego, California. In addition to Fanboy.com, he contributes to the ModernMethod Network of sites as an Associate Editor for the Japanese culture and entertainment blog, Japanator, as well as the collectible toy culture blog, Tomopop. For more information, follow him on twitter, or check out TimSheehy.com

Your jealous office mates will accuse you of having yet another toy, however this R2-D2 USB Cleaner isn’t just a plaything as it can destroy any dust bunnies found within a parsec of your PC. This tidy droid stands at just a bit under four inches tall, plugs into any USB port on your computer and should be shipping in August.

Medicom Toy is one of the cooler Japanese hobby companies which has an beautiful series of super realistically rendered figurines known as Real Action Heroes. This series is based upon well known licensed media properties and in the past they’ve put out figures for everything from Dragonball Z to Indian Jones. And they have just branched into Star Wars — shown above is the Real Action Heroes #494 Star Wars R2-D2 and shown below is the Real Action Heroes #493 Star Wars C-3PO:

The R2 unit is a bit over six inches tall and is able to turn his dome head and his legs are adjustable. Also included are LED lights which are a nice added touch, of course batteries aren’t included. C-3PO also features LED lights and all of his limbs can be posed. Of course these toys aren’t too cheap: R2-D2 is priced at $189 and C-3PO is $209 (I assume that the extra cost for C-3PO has to do more with his complexity than popularity).

As a Star Wars fanboy I’m quite impressed with the level of detail in this Kubrick Star Wars DX Series 1 which is based on Return of the Jedi. Featured in the set are Luke Skywalker as a Jedi Knight, C-3PO & Salacious B. Crumb, R2-D2, Chewbacca, Amanaman the bounty hunter, Bib Fortuna and extra parts to build a Jabba the Hutt! These goodies will be shipping around the end of June however pre-orders are already being accepted.

I have to say that Kubrick Jabba has a happy quality to him that you don’t see in the film — it almost looks like you might not mind hanging out with him:

A long time ago in a galaxy far far away the fanboys (and fangurls) all had dirty hair! Although sadly I think that most fans who will purchase the Star Wars Shampoo Bottle Set will be afraid to ruin the collectors value by actually using the hair cleaning substance within:

By the way I’m noticing that most product designers seem to favor R2-D2 for merchandise because he seems to be best designed to store stuff…

The two things that caught my eye about this Star Wars R2-D2 Statue is that not only includes eight attachable accessories (a periscope scanner, gripper, and a saw just to name three), but given the fact that it’s at a 1:6 scale size it looks like the perfect toy for modding! Although faint-at-heart may think twice about kitbashing this droid as the asking price is about $160 and it is a limited edition.

It’s gets very dry on the planet Tatooine — and that’s why this special R2-D2 unit has been converted into a handy humidifier! Frankly for a USB trinket this goodie is pretty impressive — you can store up to 8 ounces of water in the body of this droid. And best yet R2-D2 doesn’t require any batteries, you can run the device just on the power of your USB port (admit you didn’t want to waste that port on something dumb like a backup hard drive anyway!).

Below: The planet Tatooine has been known to cause dry hands….

From 1981 (well this commercial aired in 1982, but you know what I mean) comes this spot for the Kenner’s Yoda and R2-D2 sensor-scope action figures from the Empire Strikes Back collection. As why poor Luke Skywalker and poor old Obi-Wan Kenobi don’t get a mention at the end of the advert I don’t have a clue. Although with some research I did discover that some lucky kids from this era could actually get a Dagobah action playset if they didn’t want to get dirty in the backyard:

This humorous segment of one of two episodes from Sesame Street in 1980 that feature C-3PO and R2-D2 (scene 4 of episode 1396 to be exact). Other scenes featured Bob singing about the alphabet with the droids (and of course some kids to help out).

From a long time ago from a galaxy far far away comes this R2-D2 beanie hat which I discovered on Etsy. The hat is designed by Babbidge Patch which makes all sorts of wonderful scarves and hats that are slightly less sci fi themed although ever so cute.

Who could ever forget the trash compactor scene on the Death Star? Of course R2-D2 wasn’t in that scene, but this clever t-shirt shows the “after” shot if that was the case. The t-shirt is designed by Glennz Tees and available at ThinkGeek.

You’ll have to modify your tissues to work with this Japanese R2-D2 Roll Tissue Cover, but being able to blow your nose in fanboy style makes it worth the effort!

“We’ll be sent to the spice mines of Kessel or smashed into who-knows-what!” This R2-D2 until looks like the “who-knows-what” part of that description:

The R2-D2 Aquarium

“Modeled after the most well-known astromech droid in the galaxy, this R2-D2 holds a 1 3/4-gallon aquarium tank in his central compartment, ideal for a small freshwater family of goldfish, gouramis, or tetras. The domed head rotates with any vocal command you issue and he utters his familiar “bleeps” from the Star Wars movies. His radar eye houses the eyepiece to a built-in periscope that provides an intimate view of the aquatic activity below, allowing you to watch your charges swim towards the food you’ve dropped in from the dome’s removable feeding door. Includes filter and overhead LED tank lights that randomly morph between red, blue, and green (lights can be disabled). Includes a two-sided waterproofed cardboard insert depicting scenes from the movie as a background.”

Found via geekalerts.com.