Kre-O

Kre-O
	Kre-O Transformers
Type	Construction set
Company	Hasbro
Country	United States
Availability	2011–2017
	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".

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 Mega Bloks, Cobi (building blocks),^[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, G.I. 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]

In other media

Kre-O was featured in a segment of Robot Chicken titled World War B, a spoof of the film World War Z, featuring Lego minifigures being attacked by Kre-O zombies that are also the imitation minifigures.

References

^ ^a ^b ^c Lennihan, Mark (13 February 2011). "Hasbro pushes into Lego's land with new blocks". USA Today. Retrieved 10 August 2012.
^ "MTV Geek EXCLUSIVE Images: Transformers Kre-O Optimus Prime, Bumblebee, and Ratchet". MTV. 27 April 2011. Archived from the original on 24 July 2011. Retrieved 28 April 2019.
^ Kuchera, Ben (20 July 2011). "Playing with Hasbro's Kre-O Transformer kits: don't call them Lego". Ars Technica. Retrieved 12 September 2018.
^ 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.
^ "Star Trek Kre-O Sighted". 18 April 2013. Retrieved 16 May 2013.
^ KREO (6 July 2012). "Trailer for Kre-O STAR TREK USS ENTERPRISE on YouTube". Youtube. Retrieved 10 August 2012.
^ "Full Press Release: 2012 NYTF: Hasbro Star Trek Kre-O First Look on TOY NEWS INTERNATIONAL Website". Toynewsi.com. Retrieved 10 August 2012.
^ Kinney, Jim (18 July 2013). "Hasbro introduces new KRE-O construction toys at Comic-Con in San Diego". The Republican. Retrieved 12 September 2018.
^ ^a ^b "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.
^ "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.
^ Agar, Chris (5 October 2016). "Hasbro Reveals New Trolls Playsets". Screen Rant. Retrieved 30 July 2017.

External links

Official Website Archived 4 July 2011 at the Wayback Machine
Kreosite Archived 21 December 2013 at the Wayback Machine - An independent wiki with details of all the Kre-O sets released