08-23-2016: Source3 released 3D printed figurines of South Park characters in celebration of its 20th anniversary

It was official release supported by South Park Studios and Viacom

On August 23, 2016, to mark the 20th anniversary of South Park, Source3—an intellectual property management platform—collaborated with the show's producers and Viacom to license a commemorative series of 3D printed character figurines that had not been available in any official format before. The figurines were 3D printed in full color from gypsum powder using CJP technology, with Shapeways and Amazon responsible for their production and sales.

Source3 was launched in 2014 by former employees of Google and 3D Systems to create a large-scale licensing and distribution platform dedicated to 3D printing. Since its inception, the company signed distribution agreements with several prominent organizations, including the US Army and video game company Capcom. However, as consumer 3D printing experienced a decline, the company expanded its focus to digital entertainment, leading to its acquisition by Facebook in July 2017.

Returning to South Park—the project was planned to last for three years, during which time it featured year-round introductions of new and classic characters, allowing collectors to gradually assemble the entire cast of the show. South Park creators Matt Stone and Trey Parker were personally involved in the project, even hand-signing a limited number of Stan, Kyle, Cartman, and Kenny figurines.

Other characters released in the first batch of 3D printed figurines included Candidate Garrison, Tweek, Terrance and Phillip, Clyde Frog, and Tap Dancing Butters. Each figure varied in size from approximately 1.65" to 4" and was shipped in premium packaging that provided information about current and future releases.

Amazon and Shapeways were responsible for the production and sales of the figurines. A set of the four main characters was priced at $160 plus shipping, while individual figures ranged in price from $20 to $46.

Unfortunately, this was one of the last major attempts to use full-color gypsum 3D printing in mainstream applications to generate significant revenue.

Source: www.3ders.org