Wisconsin-based PlayMonster is blasting into a whole new realm with its first franchise-based toy line.
Developed over the past couple of years, Snap Ships is a new brand for kids ages 8 and up that combines action play and construction — two of the hottest play categories — for an immersive play experience across a fully realized world that includes an animated series and companion app.
Snap Ships posits a future in which the world is under constant attack from an alien species known as The Komplex. Fighting the battle is The Forge, an elite team that pilots a fleet of versatile and specialized Snap Ships defense attack crafts. During their continuing conflict, The Forge discovers UJU tech, a mysterious creation left behind by an ancient civilization. When added to their Snap Ships, each craft is upgraded with incredible new powers and abilities.
“Snap Ships is so much more than a great toy line — it is a content-driven franchise that allows kids to not only build, but also play, battle, rebuild, customize, watch content, engage with the app and then do it all over again,” says Tim Kilpin, PlayMonster’s newly appointed president. “We set out to change the building play experience, and it is the biggest launch in PlayMonster’s history.”
To build out Snap Ships’ immersive world, PlayMonster enlisted the services of Wind Sun Sky Entertainment, the Canadian studio that helped bring My Singing Monsters to life. Led by Wind Sun Sky CEO/executive producer Catherine Winder (The Angry Birds Movie, Super Dinosaur), the former Lucasfilm exec who worked with George Lucas to assemble the team behind Star Wars: The Clone Wars, the animated series Snap Ships: Dawn of Battle will debut new episodes on YouTube each week beginning next month.
“We knew right away that we wanted to be a part of Snap Ships because of its all-around potential,” says Winder, “We’re excited to partner with PlayMonster, one of the fastest-growing toy companies in the industry, to bring the Snap Ships story to life through creative content.”
Finally, the free, interactive Snap Ships app is designed as a perfect companion to the toy line and animated series. Kids are invited to “Build to Battle” using the included digital building instructions for all of the core Snap Ships kits, in addition to making their own custom ships. Kids can also track their collection, prep ships for flight in AR, and test fire weapons. The app also brings the Snap Ships into kids’ homes in full size using AR. Video game industry vets Scott Pease and Jeff Swenty (Tony Hawk series, Guitar Hero, Call of Duty) invented Snap Ships and developed the app for iOS and Android.
“To us, Snap Ships are more than toys—we imagine them as real, working spaceships,” says Pease. “The Snap Ships app brings that fantasy to life: summon life-sized ships in Augmented Reality, walk around them, test their weapons, and fly them into Battle. You also get access to an endless supply of unique ships with detailed, 3D building instructions, so you can build them all with your real-life toy kits!”
At launch, the Snap Ships Fleet includes:
- SV-51 Scout
- Locust K.L.A.W. Stealth Craft
- Sawfly K.L.A.W. Minelayer
- Scythe AV-19 Tank
- Sabre X-23 Interceptor
- Scarab K.L.A.W. Interceptor
- Scorpion K.L.A.W. Troop Dropper
- Battle Set: Wasp K.L.A.W. Heavy Fighter and Falx SC-41 Escort
- Gladius AC-75 Drop Ship
- Trident ST-33 Gunship (Target Exclusive)
Snap Ships are available beginning today via Amazon. Families will find them soon at Target stores, and additional retailers will be added as we move toward the holiday season.