Come Aboard the U.S.S. Enterprise (Doc Brown's Time Machine, Harry Potter's Broom and More) at Universal Studios' FanFest Nights
Fandom isn't always the United Nations, it can be territorial and divisive. There are those always on the verge of 'my phaser is bigger than your phaser' battles, so who will emerge victorious when fandoms collide? Universal Studios Hollywood is debuting the new after-hours Fanfest Nights April 25 – May 18 for admirers of vastly different franchises. Will Trekkies, otaku and Potterheads make friends at the dance party on Universal Plaza or will they retreat into factions?
Temporary new attractions themed to Star Trek, Back to the Future, Dungeons & Dragons, One Piece and Jujutsu Kaisen will be presented along with enhancements to The Wizarding World of Harry Potter and Super Nintendo World. Themed environments, limited-time food and merch and costumed characters will enhance the suspension of disbelief and allow you to immerse yourself into your favorite movie, comic or fantasy world for a few hours. Universal has had wild success with their series of after-dark makeovers during Halloween and down the road at Disneyland, nights themed to Star Wars and vintage Disney Channel shows like Phineas and Ferb have sold out in recent years.
Jim Henson's Creature Shop is readying the giant toothy cyclops Xanathar for his appearance at Dungeons & Dragons: Secrets of Waterdeep. A baby dragon and the serpentine bird Occamy will dine on three-course meals at Three Broomsticks restaurants and enjoy the light show in Harry Potter's village as Doc Brown sends Marty back in time when lightning strikes the clock tower (and guests dine on Outatime cookies with edible flames) in a supercharged Hill Valley Courthouse Square, the actual location where Back to the Future was filmed four decades ago.
Fans of One Piece and Jujutsu Kaisen will fulfill quests and fight curses while dining on items like 'Luffy's Meat on a Bone' (which we think is probably just the regular ribs served at Cocina Mexicana).The most immersive environment built for this 13-night showcase might be the NCC-1701-D Enterprise set at the heart of Star Trek: Red Alert. Fans queueing up at the Starfleet Museum are caught in interstellar mayhem when the ship is attacked and ensigns have to rush tour groups through sick bay, engineering and finally onto the glorious, full-sized bridge of Captain Picard's Enterprise. The 1980s set was recreated for the final season of Star Trek: Picard and was loaned to Universal (along with one of Jean-Luc's tunics) for this brief excursion.
Los Angeles was invited to visit the set with producer Stephen Siercks, Senior Director of Entertainment Production at the park, who converted the onetime Walking Dead space into this new walkthrough attraction. We loved that it was story-driven and you weren't just being chased by the Borg. We loved that the team spent three years digging through the Paramount archives to match colors and sounds perfectly to the show, and that they are encouraging visitors to dress up. We really loved the clever replicator trick that we were asked not to give away.
The scale of the rooms seems to shift a bit as you pass through them (was that a tiny warp core or a giant popcorn bucket?) but I've never been aboard a Galaxy-class starship so who am I to say?
Fans lost their mind when the original crew of the Next Generation reunited on Picard so we can only imagine similar euphoria when they can step aboard the storied ship themselves. Their glee might be enhanced by an ambitious food and beverage program that includes not only Romulan Ale and Klingon bloodwine but Andorian Red Bat Sandwiches and Tribble Truffles. All that and Earl Grey, hot. Sign me up. Engage!
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LEGO Reveals 7 ONE PIECE Sets Including The Going Merry and Straw Hat Pirate Minifigures
It's One Piece's world, and we're all just living in it. Although the live-action adaptation of the long-running anime/manga series will not return to Netflix until 2026, One Piece is already rolling out the red carpet (or should we say, unfurling the red sails) when it comes to merchandise. Yes, we're talking LEGO. There was great excitement when One Piece and LEGO announced their collaboration around the Netflix series. It turns out, it's historical. LEGO's One Piece sets mark the first time the toymaker has created any kind of anime-inspired builds. (And we sure hope it will not be the last.) But though we expected such an epic meeting of the minds to be BIG. It's stretched even our imaginations. The first wave of One Piece LEGO sets contains seven different builds: The Going Merry Pirate Ship, Battle at Arlong Park, Buggy the Clown's Circus Tent, Windmill Village Hut, The Baratie Floating Restaurant, LEGO BrickHeadz Monkey D. Luffy Figure, and LEGO BrickHeadz Buggy the Clown Figure. For even more fun, every LEGO One Piece set will include one or more of eight collectable 'Wanted' posters featuring some of the series' most notorious pirates. Fans also won't have to wait too long to set sail with One Piece's LEGO adventures because all sets will be available on August 1, 2025, with pre-orders officially open now. We also have to say, we just love that this array of LEGO sets offers some incredibly affordable sets. Of course, LEGO HAD to make a Going Merry build, how could it not? In season one of the live-action One Piece adaptation, the Going Merry is the central home base the Straw Hat Pirates return to again and again. It's Luffy's dream. And it's the home of his family, and that's beautiful. We absolutely can't wait to build this glorious ship out of bricks. The ship of dreams, if you will. LEGO shares of this One Piece set: Hoist the Jolly Roger and lift the anchor! The Straw Hat Pirates' iconic ship is brought to life with the LEGO ONE PIECE The Going Merry Pirate Ship aged 10 and up can act out their favourite scenes from the series, with the full Straw Hat Pirate crew, as seen in Netflix's ONE PIECE, in Minifigure form. This captivating set features over 1,376 pieces, bringing the ship's detailed deck and interior to life, with a large, printed sail featuring the iconic Jolly Roger skull, to sail the crew out to unchartered waters, as they embark on their search for the famed One Piece treasure. This set includes four collectable 'Wanted' posters. RELATED ARTICLE ONE PIECE's Portrayal of the Imperfect Journey of Dreaming Brings Resonance to a Common Theme The LEGO One Piece Going Merry Pirate Ship set contains 1,376 pieces. The LEGO One Piece Going Merry Pirate Ship includes Minifigures of all five Straw Hat Pirates: that's Monkey D. Luffy, Nami, Usopp, Zoro, and Sanji. The crew is dressed in their traditional sea-faring outfits. Zoro has his swords, Luffy his hat, Sanji his delicious dishes (and a drink ), Nami her telescope, and Usopp his slingshot. Iconic! The LEGO One Piece Going Merry Pirate Ship will cost $139.99. This LEGO set measures over 13.5 in. (34 cm) high, 15.5 in. (39 cm) long, and 8 in. (20 cm) wide. Next up, some villains. It wouldn't be One Piece without its array of baddies, after all. This LEGO set depicts Luffy and the Straw Hat Pirates' skirmish with the Arlong Pirates at their homebase Arlong Park. Those who watched season one of One Piece knows that this LEGO set recreates the scene of the biggest battle from the first chapter. LEGO reveals, 'A set worthy of an iconic battle: the LEGO ONE PIECE Battle at Arlong Park set offers fans a feature-packed play experience. The 926 piece set, enables anime fans aged 9 and up to recreate the iconic showdown between the Straw Hat Pirates and their rivals, with elaborate details such as a collapsing Arlong Park pagoda. Young fans will love fun features like the shooting gallery for target practice, three 'Wanted' posters, and the forest, in which Usopp fights the villain, Chu. The LEGO One Piece Battle at Arlong Park Set contains 926 pieces. The LEGO One Piece Arlong Park set comes with Minifigures of Monkey D. Luffy, Nami, Usopp, Arlong and Chu. The LEGO One Piece Battle at Arlong Park Set will cost $79.99. This LEGO set measures over 11 in. (29 cm) high, 6 in. (16 cm) wide and 4 in. (10 cm) deep. Buggy the Clown. Is he a villain? Is he an anti-hero? It's hard to say. What we do know is that he's absolutely a fan favorite character if there ever was one. So it makes a lot of sense that he gets TWO LEGO sets with his name in the title. The first of which is Buggy the Clown's Circus Tent Set. LEGO shares of this One Piece build: Sure to make even the swarthiest pirate smile! The LEGO ONE PIECE Buggy the Clown's Circus Tent set is perfect for builders aged 8 and up with its pirate worthy weapons and accessories, and as the buildable tent can be flipped around to create a larger play area. The devious clown villain's lair includes three circus contraptions from which the heroes must escape: a water tank, spinning vertical table, and a hanging cage and is customizable with two 'Wanted' posters so young fans can create their own ONE PIECE world. The set features Buggy the Clown, Monkey D. Luffy, Nami and Zoro in their Minifigure form. Who doesn't want a LEGO set with a water tank you can use to torture your fellow Minifigures? The LEGO Buggy the Clown's Circus Tent Set contains 573 pieces. The LEGO Buggy the Clown's Circus Tent Set includes Buggy the Clown, Monkey D. Luffy, Nami and Zoro in their Minifigure form. Isn't little Buggy the Clown just adorable? This LEGO set costs $54.99. LEGO One Piece Buggy the Clown's Circus Tent set measures over 6.5 in. (16 cm) high, 6 in. (15 cm) wide and 5.5 in. (14 cm) deep. Ah, Windmill Village, it's where Luffy grew up, formed his bonds with Red-Haired Shanks, and snuck a bite of the Gum-Gum fruit which gave him his incredibly stretchy powers. And now, you can relive that adventure with this LEGO set which takes us all the way back to the future King of the Pirate's roots. LEGO shares, 'Every adventure needs a start. Every hero needs an inspiration. The LEGO ONE PIECE Windmill Village Hut set lets fans aged 8 and up re-enact the iconic scene in which Monkey D. Luffy sneaks a bite from Shanks' hidden Gum Gum Fruit. The 299-piece set showcases a young Monkey D. Luffy, Shanks and Makino, all in Minifigure form for the first time. With a detachable roof, the beachside store has a fun-filled interior with plenty of accessories to role play running the store and entertaining customers. Fans will be able to find one collectable 'Wanted' poster.' A Shanks Minifigure is honestly not just a want, it's a NEED. The LEGO One Piece Windmill Village set contains 299 pieces. The LEGO One Piece Windmill Village set includes Minifigures of young Monkey D. Luffy, Shanks and Makino. And we are obsessed with little Luffy. The LEGO One Piece Windmill Village set costs $29.99. This LEGO set measures over 5 in. (13 cm) high, 7.5 in. (19 cm) wide and 7.5 in. (19 cm) deep. Ah, the Baratie? Where would we be without it? Nowhere because we wouldn't have Sanji. And even though Zoro might roll his eyes at the stupid waiter, we know he'd be sad if Sanji wasn't along for the ride. The Baratie is also one cool ship, with its hustle, bustle, and fish-head mast. LEGO shares of this One Piece build: Let's eat!! Adult fans of ONE PIECE can grab a seat at the LEGO ONE PIECE The Baratie Floating Restaurant and fuel up before the next adventure. The 3,402-piece set offers plenty of intricate details and easter eggs for fans to find, including five collectable 'Wanted' posters. The pier in front of the fish-shaped sea-born restaurant allows builders to dock the Going Merry and recreate Zoro and Mihawk's tense sword battle, with unique play functions. The iconic restaurant includes 10 of characters in Minifigure form, including the Straw Hat Pirates, Zeff, Vice Admiral Garp, Helmeppo, Koby and Dracule Mihawk. This set is really the big Kahuna. The LEGO Baratie contains so many incredible Minifigures, so many rooms to build, and so many scenes to renact. Not to mention! Dracule Mihawk!!! Koby!! We cannot wait to build this one. The LEGO One Piece Baratie Floating Restaurant Set contains 3,402 pieces. The LEGO One Piece Baratie Floating Restaurant Set contains SO many Minifigures, 10 to be exact. These include the Straw Hat Pirates (Luffy, Sanji, Zoro, Nami, and Usopp), Zeff, Vice Admiral Garp, Helmeppo, Koby, and Dracule Mihawk. As a bonus, Zoro is in his leisure outfit this time, perfect for hanging out at the Baratie and eating (drinking) up a storm. Meanwhile, Sanji is in his waiter outfit. We stan! The LEGO One Piece Baratie Floating Restaurant Set will cost $329.99. This LEGO set measures over 14 in. (35 cm) high, 21.5 in. (54 cm) wide and 10.5 in. (27 cm) deep. In addition to the five scene-based LEGO One Piece builds, LEGO has also announced two BrickHeadz figures. The first, of course, is Monkey D. Luffy. LEGO shares, 'These sets celebrate some of the series' most popular characters in their most recognizable forms, making them ideal for display.' RELATED ARTICLE Give the Gift of Luffy's Straw Hat to the ONE PIECE Dreamer in Your Life The LEGO BrickHeadz Monkey D. Luffy Figure contains 136 pieces. The LEGO BrickHeadz Monkey D. Luffy Figure costs $9.99. This set measures over 3 in. (9 cm) tall. The second BrickHeadz figure, of course, belongs to Buggy the Clown. Here's how he stacks up. The LEGO BrickHeadz Buggy the Clown Figure contains 176 pieces. This set will cost $9.99. This figure measures over 3 in. (9 cm) tall. And that's what you need to know about the LEGO One Piece sets coming our way soon. But when will these LEGO One Piece sets actually release into the world? Well, they'll set sail on August 1. And they're available for pre-order right now! Don't delay, capture this precious treasure today. REad next Live-Action ONE PIECE's Chopper Is CUTER Than Grogu
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AXS Lab Wins Gold Telly Award, Will Present at United Nations on Global Accessibility Innovation
Creator of AXS Map Jason DaSilva Continues Quest to Grow Accessibility Freedom for All NEW YORK, June 05, 2025--(BUSINESS WIRE)--AXS Lab, a leading non-profit coalition of individuals and organizations who advocate for disability inclusion and accessibility innovation, announced today that its short film "AXS Map: Mapping Access Through Community" has won a Gold Telly Award in the Promotional Video, General Accessibility category. The recognition underscores AXS Lab's global impact and its commitment to community-driven accessibility mapping. The video illustrates how people can use AXS Map, a crowd-sourced digital app to rate and share accessibility information for public spaces in their communities. More than just data, AXS Map is about dignity, visibility, and action, empowering individuals with disabilities to take control of their environments and advocate for lasting change. Honored by the United Nations In recognition of its ongoing work in digital inclusion and grassroots accessibility, AXS Lab has been invited to present at the United Nations during Accessibility Awareness Month. When: June 9, from 10:00 AM to 11:15 AM. What: Jason DaSilva to spotlight the global significance of community-led mapping in advancing the rights and mobility of people with disabilities. Who: Jason DaSilva is a director, producer, writer, and disability rights activist best known for the Emmy Award winning documentary, When I Walk, the first film in a documentary trilogy. As President of AXS Lab, Jason is the key creative and strategic voice of the organization, providing insight to necessities in disability activism and facilitating AXS Lab's work with the United Nations and partner organizations around the world. Jason is also responsible for the creation of AXS Map, a digital mapping tool that allows users to rate and review venues' accessibility. "AXS Map empowers people with disabilities to take control of their environments and advocate for better access. Speaking at the UN is an honor and a chance to bring accessibility to the center of international dialogue," said DaSilva. "These recognitions validate the global importance of grassroots mapping for accessibility." In addition, AXS Lab is continuing development on its robotic accessibility mapping pilot, which uses AI to navigate and assess public environments, bringing technology and human experience together in pursuit of a more inclusive world. Details will be available soon at This gold Telly adds to the other prestigious award including, the American Association of Persons with Disabilities (AAPD) Paul G. Hearn Leadership Award, the New Mobility Magazine: Person of the Year Award, and the Christopher Award for Excellence in Film. In 2019 he was awarded the Top 40 Trailblazers Award from the Community Resource Exchange, an award for leaders who are driving meaningful change in their communities and the larger world, and the Made in New York recognition at the Gotham Awards. About AXS Lab AXS Lab is a nonprofit organization dedicated to increasing accessibility and amplifying the voices of people with disabilities through innovative media, technology, and community engagement. With support from the Ford Foundation, MacArthur Foundation, New York Community Trust, Bertha Foundation, and Google Earth Outreach, AXS Lab continues to lead the way in digital inclusion. View source version on Contacts Media Contact: Alison Guzzioaguzzio@ 484-459-3243 Sign in to access your portfolio
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AXS Lab Wins Gold Telly Award, Will Present at United Nations on Global Accessibility Innovation
NEW YORK--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- AXS Lab, a leading non-profit coalition of individuals and organizations who advocate for disability inclusion and accessibility innovation, announced today that its short film "AXS Map: Mapping Access Through Community" has won a Gold Telly Award in the Promotional Video, General Accessibility category. The recognition underscores AXS Lab's global impact and its commitment to community-driven accessibility mapping. 'AXS Map empowers people with disabilities to take control of their environments and advocate for better access. Speaking at the UN is an honor and a chance to bring accessibility to the center of international dialogue,' said DaSilva. Share The video illustrates how people can use AXS Map, a crowd-sourced digital app to rate and share accessibility information for public spaces in their communities. More than just data, AXS Map is about dignity, visibility, and action, empowering individuals with disabilities to take control of their environments and advocate for lasting change. Honored by the United Nations In recognition of its ongoing work in digital inclusion and grassroots accessibility, AXS Lab has been invited to present at the United Nations during Accessibility Awareness Month. When: June 9, from 10:00 AM to 11:15 AM. What: Jason DaSilva to spotlight the global significance of community-led mapping in advancing the rights and mobility of people with disabilities. Who: Jason DaSilva is a director, producer, writer, and disability rights activist best known for the Emmy Award winning documentary, When I Walk, the first film in a documentary trilogy. As President of AXS Lab, Jason is the key creative and strategic voice of the organization, providing insight to necessities in disability activism and facilitating AXS Lab's work with the United Nations and partner organizations around the world. Jason is also responsible for the creation of AXS Map, a digital mapping tool that allows users to rate and review venues' accessibility. 'AXS Map empowers people with disabilities to take control of their environments and advocate for better access. Speaking at the UN is an honor and a chance to bring accessibility to the center of international dialogue,' said DaSilva. 'These recognitions validate the global importance of grassroots mapping for accessibility.' In addition, AXS Lab is continuing development on its robotic accessibility mapping pilot, which uses AI to navigate and assess public environments, bringing technology and human experience together in pursuit of a more inclusive world. Details will be available soon at This gold Telly adds to the other prestigious award including, the American Association of Persons with Disabilities (AAPD) Paul G. Hearn Leadership Award, the New Mobility Magazine: Person of the Year Award, and the Christopher Award for Excellence in Film. In 2019 he was awarded the Top 40 Trailblazers Award from the Community Resource Exchange, an award for leaders who are driving meaningful change in their communities and the larger world, and the Made in New York recognition at the Gotham Awards. About AXS Lab AXS Lab is a nonprofit organization dedicated to increasing accessibility and amplifying the voices of people with disabilities through innovative media, technology, and community engagement. With support from the Ford Foundation, MacArthur Foundation, New York Community Trust, Bertha Foundation, and Google Earth Outreach, AXS Lab continues to lead the way in digital inclusion.
