Hasbro and Disney Consumer Products have just announced Ultimate Grogu, a $599 first-of-its-kind animatronic of the beloved Star Wars character that is a 1:1 scale recreation meant to feel as though he just walked off the screen into your home. To learn more, Hasbro invited IGN to an early preview, and we walked away amazed by how much it actually felt like we were in the room with one of the stars of The Mandalorian and Grogu.
Before we dive deep into how Ultimate Grogu was brought to life, we wanted to share that pre-orders begin later today, April 30, at 10am PT/1pm ET on Hasbro Pulse (First Edition and Standard), Amazon (First Edition and Standard), and Fan Channel retailers with two different editions.
The First Edition will let a select few own Ultimate Grogu by the end of 2026, and it comes complete with an exclusive packaging sleeve and a limited-edition collector card. When that is sold out, the Standard Edition will be available, which will ship in early 2027 and comes in standard packaging without the card. Both editions are the same price and feature the exact same Ultimate Grogu.
Ultimate Grogu Is Unlike Any Toy Ever Seen From that Galaxy Far, Far Away
Ultimate Grogu is, as Hasbro puts it, “the most life-like, interactive, and expressive Grogu character” it has ever built, and we quickly understood why. This isn’t just some toy, it’s a premium product that was built with the help of the real Grogu puppets that you’ll soon be able to see in The Mandalorian and Grogu, as the team visited director Jon Favreau and the set of the film to ensure they got every detail right.
“It’s amazing because you know it’s a puppet, but then you see what they’re doing and the amazing artistry on display behind it, and it just becomes Grogu,” Chris Gollaher, Director of Product Design at Disney Consumer Products, told us. “It is about bringing the character to life, and we knew that’s what we wanted to do.”
A big problem, however, was that the film used different Grogu puppets depending on what was happening on the screen, and Hasbro needed a single model to do everything. To that end, Hasbro created an animatronic with over 250 animations and sounds, 14 sensors, four motors, directional audio sensing, Beskar armor, a very cute little satchel, and yes, even Grogu’s favorite cookie that he can move with the Force.
This cookie was one of the most impressive parts, as it really showcased the capabilities of this animatronic. Grogu can sense when the cookie is nearby and he’ll start getting excited. If you put it in front of him and double-tap his head, he’ll raise one or both arms and use the Force to bring it closer. Alongside some fancy Force sounds, the cookie will begin to shake and vibrate to show Grogu really wants it in his belly.
He can recognize when you put it in his hand, and he’ll even do chewing motions when you put it near his mouth. Be careful though, because if he eats too much, he just may unleash the cutest burp. Oh, and he’ll be very upset if you take it away!
Grogu also comes with a Grav Charge Detonator, and sometimes he’ll be a bit scared and hesitant and do an adorable/terrified “toddle” away, but sometimes he’ll find his courage and use the Force to disarm it before it destroys your home.
As you can tell, Ultimate Grogu has many different layers of play that will continue to unfold as time goes on. You may notice that if you make a sudden, loud noise like a clap, he’ll squeal and jump a little bit. If you do a gesture that is more nurturing, he may get a bit more nuzzly. If you pick him up and put him down to quickly, he may give off a little huff because he didn’t want to be put down yet.
Speaking of picking up, Grogu has the most incredible gesture to signify he’s ready for an “uppy.” He will tilt his head to the sky with those big eye and raises both arms in such a way that you would be a monster if you didn’t oblige. And when you do pick him up and try to swing him around, the weight of his body will shift from side-to-side to really make it feel as though you are picking up a 14.6-inch, 9lb baby.
Another groundbreaking thing about Grogu is that this is the first time Hasbro has made his whole body and head “soft” to make Grogu feel more realistic. He is also made of very high-quality material, and it allows for such things like his ears to let light through and also feel just wonderfully squishy. It also enable little touches to make him feel more alive, including the subtle motions in his eyelids or a little nose wiggle that make a huge difference despite being small motions.
“It is about bringing the character to life, and we knew that’s what we wanted to do.”
All in all, this led to a product that the team is proud to call “character forward and not tech forward,” despite all the advanced processes it took to bring it to life. This philosophy can also really be seen in the three modes it has available to it – Explore Mode, Grab & Go Mode, and Display Mode.
In Explore Mode, Grogu will…well… explore his very near surroundings. He will toddle around and respond when there is sound and play in all the best ways. If you want to keep him on your shelf or show him off to friends without worry that he will walk off a ledge, you can set him in Display Mode and even cycle through all of his animations.
The Grab & Go mode is the last one we want to discuss, because I think it’s perhaps most important. While Hasbro has many Grogu toys, there isn’t anything quite on this level, and that makes it the perfect companion for cosplayers or those that want to show it off at a Comic-con or Star Wars Celebration. This will keep him under control while you carry him around, and he can be powered by either 4x D-cell batteries or with a USB-C cord.
If you’ve been to Galaxy’s Edge, you may have seen Mando walking around with Grogu in his pouch. With Ultimate Grogu, that can now be you, and I think that’s very special. Ultimate Grogu is a huge step forward in the world of toys, and a huge part is how closely its tied to The Mandalorian and Grogu.
This isn’t a toy that’s modeled after something digitally created that doesn’t truly exist in our world. Ultimate Grogu is literally made possible because of the access given to Hasbro and Disney Consumer Products, and that includes seeing Grogu on set, CAD files, watching the puppeteers do their magic in bringing him to life, and working closely with Favreau to ensure every check box is marked.
I walked away very impressed with Ultimate Grogu, as it was a product that endeared itself to me the more I sat with it and saw how the little nuances made him feel like he was actually in the room with us. As I previously said, it’s very hard to resist a request to pick him him and give him a big hug when he reaches his arms to the sky and coos for you.
I also was truly moved by the talent and passion on display from the team. Each member shared their stories of the role they played in Ultimate Grogu, and it was so evident how much this meant to them and how they did something unprecedented here, together.
Sure, it’s an expensive investment, but for those in the right market, there really isn’t anything like it from that galaxy far, far away.
For more, check out the latest trailer for The Mandalorian and Grogu and Favreau’s comments on how it will be the first new Star Wars movie in theaters for a generation of young kids.
Adam Bankhurst is a writer for IGN. You can follow him on X/Twitter @AdamBankhurst, Instagram, and TikTok, and listen to his show, Talking Disney Magic.
