Bionic Buzz® got to cover ICCC 2021. Tennessee’s premiere sci fi fan and toy collecting convention with attendees from across the country and around the globe. Special guest at the con was Jim Swearingen. He was the principal conceptual designer for Kenner’s line of Star Wars toys. In 1976, Swearingen was working in Kenner’s preliminary design group when his boss, Dave Okada, came in with a script and some photographs from a new movie called Star Wars. Jim took the script home and read it. The next day he insisted Okada lock himself in his office and read it.
From 1976-79, Star Wars became Swearingen’s baby. The success of Kenner’s “Star Wars” toys even shifted the toy industry’s focus toward thinking small. Until then, action figures were foot-long dolls like vintage G.I. Joe. Kenner’s 3 3/4-inch Lukes and Leias stemmed from the UC designer’s mock-ups, the size of which were based upon what he rummaged from the company toy bin. We talked to him about how he had to keep Boba Fett toy a secret before the Empire was released.
