Darth Vader [Black & White Edition] (Star Wars Animated) - Maquettes

If you thought the Star Wars Animated Maquettes line couldn’t get any better, than you aren’t aware of the complementary Black & White Edition Maquettes that they made as counterparts to the earliest releases in the line. They were developed as an homage to the classic animation films, as they seen in their original black and white glory. So Gentle Giant Ltd. thought that they could carry over a similar nostalgia into a Star Wars collectible line. Simply put they worked like charms. They actually exceeded expectations. Limited in production to only a fraction of what the general release “color” versions were, the Star Wars Animated “Black & White Edition” Maquettes were extremely limited and reserved for members of Gentle Giant Ltd.’s Collectors’ Club which eventually turned into the Premier Guild. Darth Vader [Black & White Edition] (Star Wars Animated) is a fabulous collectible that is wise beyond its years. Its aged look (thanks to the reserved color palette) makes you believe that the piece is a classically timeless collectible, which we guess it actually is.

Your first thought may be that Gentle Giant Ltd. got off relatively easy with the paint operations for the Black & White Edition Maquettes. But that would be an erroneous assertion. They still had to achieve texture, shading and various levels to give the collectible the depth of its color counterpart. And they executed this perfectly. They are various shades of dark gray (or what we like to refer to as faded black) and then elements of white and pure gray colors were added to accent his chest box and the buttons on it. We’re perhaps most impressed with the grayed lightsaber blade. It is quite an amazing little accessory and gives the Maquette so much character that you’re only left with thinking “wow, that’s pretty neat” and it leaves an impression on you. Some may find it redundant to buy two Maquettes of the same sculpts with two unique paint jobs, but when it’s done in this very artistic manner, we think there is no other option but to purchase both of them. With only 500 pieces, the Darth Vader [Black & White Edition] (Star Wars Animated) Maquette won’t have a remotely similar availability, but it will be worth it if you can secure one for your collection.

The Star Wars collecting community was instantly ready for the Star Wars Animated Maquettes line. And for many the “Black & White Edition” Maquettes were an answer to an unasked prayer. They were a pleasant surprise (an understatement) and provided collectors a completely unique way to enjoy characters from the Star Wars universe through a completely different light. For those who love useless trivia, both the color and black and white versions of the Darth Vader Maquette feature a misspelling at the bottom of the base. Both have “Dath Vader” printed above the edition number. Gentle Giant Ltd. Actually offered to send out stickers to collectors to fix the misspelling, but most let it go and kept the error hidden by simply displaying the piece. But regardless of the typo, the Darth Vader [Black & White Edition] (Star Wars Animated) Maquette is a stunning addition to any Darth Vader focused collection or any Maquettes collection. This is one piece that you should focus on attaining because it is truly a gorgeous collectible. We can’t guarantee however that you’ll find it for a song.