Mattel Reimagines ThingMaker, Allowing Families To Become Toy Makers With At Home 3D Printing
ThingMaker 3D printing eco-system of mobile app plus printer gives young designers the necessary tools to bring their imaginations to life
Feb 12, 2016, 12:00 EST
EL SEGUNDO, Calif., Feb. 12, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- Mattel, Inc. (NASDAQ : MAT ) kicks-off New York Toy Fair 2016 by announcing today an easy-to-use 3D printing eco-system for families – ThingMaker Design™ App and the ThingMaker™ 3D Printer. Through a previously announced collaboration with Autodesk, Inc. (NASDAQ : ADSK ), ThingMaker is designed to virtually hand over the "keys to the toy factory." The iconic ThingMaker from Mattel first debuted as the original at-home maker device in the 1960s, and has been completely reimagined for the 21st century. The ThingMaker 3D printing eco-system, combined with a little imagination, is all families need to design, create and print their own toys from start to finish.
Whether creating figures such as dolls, robots and dinosaurs, or wearable accessories like bracelets and necklaces, Mattel's new ThingMaker eco-system is the answer for at-home creative play. By downloading the ThingMaker Design App, families can browse through easy-to-follow templates or tap into their imaginations and build their own creations from hundreds of parts. When the masterpiece is ready for creation, designs get sent right to the ThingMaker 3D Printer, which prints parts in batches for easy assembly via ball and socket joints.
"In today's digital age, it's more important than ever for families to transcend the digital world and make their ideas real," said Aslan Appleman, senior director, at Mattel. "ThingMaker pushes the boundaries of imaginative play, giving families countless ways to customize their toys and let their creativity run wild. We're thrilled to work with the 3D design experts at Autodesk to bring this one-of-a-kind experience to life."
"We're excited to work with a storied company like Mattel to develop an app that bridges the digital and physical worlds and brings new forms of making to the next generation of designers and engineers," said Samir Hanna, vice president and general manager, Digital Manufacturing Group, Autodesk. "Creativity begins with inspiring the individual. The ThingMaker eco-system makes building your own creations not only possible, but more intuitive for young creators than ever before."
Available fall 2016 in the U.S., consumers can purchase ThingMaker 3D Printer at an expected SRP of $299.99 with pre-orders beginning February 15, 2016 on Amazon.com. Mattel will have a variety of filament color options available for the ThingMaker 3D Printer with additional design content including branded options rolling out at a later date. The ThingMaker Design App also works with other printers; it is available now and free to download for iOS and Android devices.
For more information on ThingMaker 3D Printer and ThingMaker 3D Design App please visit thingmaker.com.
About Mattel
The Mattel family of companies (Nasdaq : MAT ) is the worldwide leader in the design, manufacture and marketing of toys and family products. Mattel's portfolio of best-selling brands includes Barbie®, the most popular fashion doll ever produced, Hot Wheels®, Monster High®, American Girl®, Thomas & Friends® and Fisher-Price® brands, including Little People® and Power Wheels®, MEGA® Brands, including MEGA BLOKS® and RoseArt®, as well as a wide array of entertainment-inspired toy lines. In 2013, Mattel was named one of the "World's Most Ethical Companies" by Ethisphere Magazine and in 2014 ranked No. 5 on Corporate Responsibility Magazine's "100 Best Corporate Citizens" list. With worldwide headquarters in El Segundo, Calif., Mattel's companies employ nearly 30,000 people in 40 countries and territories and sell products in more than 150 nations. At Mattel, we are Creating the Future of Play. Visit us at http://www.mattel.com, http://www.facebook.com/mattel or www.twitter.com/mattel.
About Autodesk
Autodesk helps people imagine, design and create a better world. Everyone--from design professionals, engineers and architects to digital artists, students and hobbyists—uses Autodesk software to unlock their creativity and solve important challenges. For more information visit autodesk.com or follow @autodesk.
Autodesk and the Autodesk logo are registered trademarks of Autodesk, Inc., and/or its subsidiaries and/or affiliates in the USA and/or other countries. All other brand names, product names or trademarks belong to their respective holders. Autodesk reserves the right to alter product and services offerings, and specifications and pricing at any time without notice, and is not responsible for typographical or graphical errors that may appear in this document.
© 2016 Autodesk, Inc. All rights reserved.
Mattel
Angela Emery, 310-252-3306
angela.emery@mattel.com
Katie Kotarak, 949-438-1-78
katie@thebrandamp.com
Autodesk
Jennifer Gentrup, 415-547-2435
Jennifer.gentrup@autodesk.com
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SOURCE Mattel, Inc.
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