Hot Wheels Proton Saga Special Edition First to Feature Kid’s Design
● 9-year-old Saw Jane Harn from Penang is the first kid in the world to have artwork featured on Hot Wheels® packaging
● Hot Wheels x PROTON Kids Design Competition for kids to reimagine packaging design
● Hot Wheels Proton Saga Special Edition is a reflection of Malaysian pride
It was a dream-come-true moment for 9-year-old Saw Jane Harn of Penang, when her artwork was unveiled at the 12th Art of Speed 2023, as the grand prize winner of the Hot Wheels x PROTON Kids Design Competition 2023. This achievement makes her the first child in the world to have her hand-drawn artwork featured on Hot Wheels die-cast packaging. Jane Harn’s design will be printed on the special edition Hot Wheels Proton Saga, which will be available for purchase in Malaysia sometime next year.
In 2022, Hot Wheels and PROTON revealed their first-ever collaboration: a Hot Wheels 1:64 scale diecast of the iconic 1985 Proton Saga, which was Malaysia’s first national car. The objective was to celebrate Mattel Malaysia’s 40th anniversary. The Hot Wheels Proton Saga will now be showcased globally as part of the world’s best-selling Hot Wheels singles collection, which is solely manufactured by Mattel Malaysia.
Earlier this year, Hot Wheels and PROTON announced the Hot Wheels x PROTON Kids Design Competition to add more meaning to their collaboration. Malaysian children were invited to participate in this momentous occasion by creating a blister card design that encapsulated the essence of “A Malaysian National Car.” The winning designs will be featured in a special edition Hot Wheels x PROTON product. The contest attracted 386 entries from children aged 4 to 12 years old. With Saw Jane Harn, 9, declared as the winner, Ezra Rehan Pal, 11, and Austin Goh Zi Hao, 11, took second and third prizes respectively.
“Over the past five decades, Hot Wheels has always been igniting and nurturing the challenger spirit in every child to help them reach their true potential,” said Murat Ariksoy, General Manager, Mattel South Asia. “Through Hot Wheels x PROTON Kids Design Competition, we aspired to bring new and thrilling experiences to develop the skills and confidence in children to take on the world by combining competition, experimentation, and creativity. This collaboration surely empowered the children.”
“The Malaysian elements Jane Harn chose for her design are a quintessential summation of our beautiful country,” said Azlan Othman, Chief Designer at PROTON and one of the judges for the competition. “We thought that her artful execution of these undeniably Malaysian icons would set a wonderful backdrop for the Hot Wheels Proton Saga.” Jane Harn’s design celebrates a range of Malaysia’s natural features and achievements, from the rhinoceros hornbill and hibiscus to the country’s national bird and flower, as well as the National Monument.
Besides the honour of having her hand-drawn artwork adorning the Hot Wheels die-cast packaging of the special edition Hot Wheels Proton Saga, Jane Harn took home a RM500 cash prize, Hot Wheels products, and limited edition Hot Wheels merchandise. Jane Harn and other winners also had the opportunity for an exclusive meet-and-greet session with Matt Gabe, Hot Wheels Lead Packaging Designer.
The 40th Anniversary of Mattel Malaysia has included many firsts: the brand’s first collaboration with PROTON, the first chance to bring Malaysia’s national car in diecast form to people around the world, and the first Hot Wheels diecast to feature packaging designed by a kid.
“Just as Mattel Malaysia celebrated its 40th anniversary in 2022, PROTON also celebrated its 40th anniversary on 7 May this year,” said Roslan Abdullah, Deputy Chief Executive Officer, PROTON. “Meanwhile, the Saga just turned 38 on 9 July 2023, so the Hot Wheels Proton Saga is an apt way to celebrate these milestones in our company’s history. Going forward, we will seek more collaborations with partners such as Mattel Malaysia who, like PROTON, have played a central role in inspiring Malaysia’s car culture and our love for cars.”
Car enthusiasts and Hot Wheels collectors around the world can look forward to the special edition Hot Wheels Proton Saga in December 2023. Meanwhile, the Hot Wheels Proton Saga Limited Edition, featuring Jane Harn’s design will be available for purchase in Malaysia in 2024.
Event: Hot Wheels x PROTON Kids Design Competition 2023 @ 12th Art of Speed 2023
Venue: Malaysia Agro Exposition Park Serdang (MAEPS), Selangor
Dates: 29th July, 2023
It’s so heartwarming to see young talents like Jane Harn being recognised and celebrated on such a global platform!
Her artwork captures the essence of Malaysia beautifully, making us all so proud! And to think that it’s going to be on Hot Wheels packaging, how cool is that? ️
I’m also thrilled to hear about the Hot Wheels x Proton collaboration, especially as they’ve both reached such significant milestones. And of course, who can resist a special edition Hot Wheels Proton Saga? Can’t wait to see it in December! ️
And then there’s the upcoming Hot Wheels Proton Saga Limited Edition with Jane’s design… 2024 can’t come soon enough!
Great job on the post, my friend! Always love reading your updates and getting to share in the excitement. Keep ‘em coming!
P.S. Huge congrats once again to Jane Harn and the other winners. Here’s to the next generation of artists and designers!