Wall-E Anticipates 30 Billion on Toy Revenue

It turns out that Wall-E is far more marketable than last year’s beloved rat. The potential for Wall-E coin was laid out at the Licensing Show Expo, as Variety reports:

Mouse House is banking big on “Wall-E” toys and other merchandise to generate some $30 billion in retail coin this year. Mouse House’s “Wall-E” push encompasses everything from pricey deluxe robots to branded “Wall-E” Crocs shoes that leave caterpillar-tread-like tracks.

Disney hopes the story of cute robot Wall-E will be much more translatable into licensing coin than was last year’s Pixar pic, “Ratatouille,” which may have wowed critics but left licensees less charmed by the pic’s rodent motif.

It is a reality these days, folks. It is a relief to see, however, that they backed the rat even though he wouldn’t make very good Crocs or plushies. They’re just mammals, folks. Not unlike you and me. Humans carry diseases too. Lots of them.

This is a good time to remind ourselves that, though cute and our friend already, Wall-E remains a cash cow. Perhaps the sequel ought to be the story of a Disney character who wants to break free of the merchandising and finds himself going on strike. He puts his robot foot down: I am NOT for sale! Well, isn’t that what Toy Story is all about anyway? Sort of? Merchandising is inevitable. In fact, it’s become so pervasive in the kid world that it’s almost impossible to find toys, backpacks, clothes that aren’t branded by some character or film. This is hardly exclusive to the US; it’s everywhere. Who are we but what we buy?

Okay, it’s way too early to go off on a crazy rant. Wall-E toys. Coming soon to a Toys R-Us near you just in time for Christmas. You can also build your own Wall-E at Wall-E Builder’s Group. Who thought that up?