Kre-O

Last updated

Kre-O
BotCon 2011 - Hasbro KRE-O booth Optimus Prime statue (5802062347).jpg
Kre-O Transformers logo
Type Construction set
Company Hasbro
Country United States
Availability2011–present
Official website

KRE-O is a line of construction toys manufactured by South Korea-based Oxford and marketed by Hasbro. Kre-O was released in stores in Fall 2011. [1] [2] The name Kre-O comes from the Latin word creo, which means "I create".

Contents

Kre-O toys feature highly articulated humanoid figures called "Kreons". [3] Kre-O blocks are compatible with Lego bricks and Lego minifigures, hence also compatible with Lego, Mega Bloks, [1] and other building block brands.

Toy lines

Kre-O Transformers is the first line of the Kre-O series. They were first shown in February 2011 at the American International Toy Fair trade show in New York. [1] Transformers Kre-O figures include homages to their live action film, Timelines, Transformers: Prime and Beast Hunters sub-lines.

Kre-O G.I. Joe was released as the third Kre-O line in February 2013 as a Toys "R" Us exclusive. [4] This collection is based primarily on Hasbro's G.I.Joe: A Real American Hero toy line, cartoons, and comic book series, but includes some Adventure Team Kreons as well.

Kre-O Star Trek was released as the fourth line of Kre-O sets in April 2013. [5] The initial sets and Kreons are based on the 2009 reboot and its sequel Star Trek Into Darkness . A preview trailer was posted by Hasbro, first on Facebook, then later on YouTube. The trailer re-enacts the original "teaser trailer" for the first film, showing the construction of the U.S.S. Enterprise in Kre-O form and by Kreon construction workers. [6] A press release made at the 2012 New York Toy Fair showed the completed Enterprise model (complete with flip-up "saucer" showing the ship's Bridge) and Kreons of Kirk, Spock and Sulu. [7]

At ComiCon International 2013, Hasbro announced new brand lines for Dungeons & Dragons and Cityville Invasion plus additional building sets for Star Trek, GI Joe and Transformers brand lines. [8] Kre-O Cityville Invasion is the fifth line of Kre-O sets, based on the popular CityVille online game series. This line introduces "Sonic Motion Technology", which triggers specific movements in special Kre-O bricks. [9]

Kre-O Dungeons & Dragons is the sixth Kre-O line, released in January 2014. It is based on the popular role-playing game series of the same name. [9] [10]

In early 2017, Hasbro debuted a new line of product based on the Trolls movie. [11]

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References

  1. 1 2 3 Lennihan, Mark (13 February 2011). "Hasbro pushes into Lego's land with new blocks". USA Today. Retrieved 10 August 2012.
  2. "MTV Geek EXCLUSIVE Images: Transformers Kre-O Optimus Prime, Bumblee, and Ratchet". MTV. 27 April 2011. Archived from the original on 24 July 2011. Retrieved 28 April 2019.
  3. Kuchera, Ben (20 July 2011). "Playing with Hasbro's Kre-O Transformer kits: don't call them Lego". Ars Technica. Retrieved 12 September 2018.
  4. Goellner, Caleb (12 October 2012). "Hasbro Reveals KRE-O 'G.I. Joe' Building Sets [NYCC 2012]". Comics Alliance. Archived from the original on 14 October 2012. Retrieved 18 January 2013.
  5. "Star Trek Kre-O Sighted". 18 April 2013. Retrieved 16 May 2013.
  6. KREO (6 July 2012). "Trailer for Kre-O STAR TREK USS ENTERPRISE on YouTube". Youtube. Retrieved 10 August 2012.
  7. "Full Press Release: 2012 NYTF: Hasbro Star Trek Kre-O First Look on TOY NEWS INTERNATIONAL Website". Toynewsi.com. Retrieved 10 August 2012.
  8. Kinney, Jim (18 July 2013). "Hasbro introduces new KRE-O construction toys at Comic-Con in San Diego". The Republican. Retrieved 12 September 2018.
  9. 1 2 "Comic-Con: Hasbro Announces Dungeons & Dragons KRE-O Sets". ComingSoon. 16 July 2013. Archived from the original on 19 July 2013. Retrieved 17 July 2013.
  10. "Hasbro's KRE-O launches Dungeons & Dragon toy sets". Entertainment Weekly . 16 July 2013. Archived from the original on 21 August 2013. Retrieved 31 July 2013.
  11. Agar, Chris (5 October 2016). "Hasbro Reveals New Trolls Playsets". Screen Rant . Retrieved 30 July 2017.