Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles

It's no secret that about six to eight years ago the toy industry hit a snag.  Because of rising costs for modeling, manufacturing and shipping toy companies reduced the size of action figures, cut back on quality and raised prices-with one exception; Playmates Toys.

Playmates Toys consistently turns out high quality action figures in a variety of sizes, doesn't skimp on details or accessories and manages to keep the cost of its figures lower than most competitors.  Proving that even in tough times quality counts!

Playmates' new Teenage Mutant 'Ninja Turtles' movie figures are a perfect example of what I just mentioned.  Packaging, paint application, articulation, accessories, detail and playability are at the top of the scale and...kids can afford them-imagine that!

Three different scales of figures have been produced.  I refer to them as Small, Medium and Large.

Eight figures make up the 'small' selection and they include Leonardo, Donatello, Raphael, Michelangelo, Splinter, April O'Neil (sure to be the most collectible), The Shredder and Foot Soldier.

Let's start with Splinter.  An oversize humanoid rat, Splinter comes dressed in a tan robe and deep brown jacket, Around his neck he wears a medallion and included with the figure is a samurai sword.  Splinter, like the other small figures, does not skimp on details, even going so far to feature finely detailed hands, feet and facial features.

The Shredder figure is my favorite.  Bristling with knives, swords, pointed armor, an elaborate headpiece and bio-tech armor The Shredder definitely lives up to his name. Like the other figures he is articulated and can hold various weapons.

The Foot Soldier is probably the most austere of the figures.  Dressed in gray, tan and black the figure includes several handguns and a large assault rifle.  He also comes with a slipover transparent face mask.

The four Turtles come dressed as one would expect if they are in anyway familiar with the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles.  All have footwear, tunics, leggings and waist decorations.  All wear some sort of hand and arm protection and are distinguished from each other by size, distinctive eye mask and similar outfit accents in their trademark colors. 

Donatello comes equipped with a fighting staff, Leonardo with two small katanas with scabbards, Raphael with twin sai and Michelangelo with nunchucks.  All of the figures are articulated, come packed in see-thru hanging bubble packs with accompanying color photos of the turtles from the live action, computer generated animation movie.

The toy line is simply referred to as Ninja Turtles but for the sake of this review I will refer to them as TMNT.

The TMNT 'Medium' figures are even more impressive than the 'Small' figures.  The 'Combat Warrior' TMNT figures stand about six to seven inches tall and feature something called 'Squeeze Legs'.

Squeeze Raphael's legs and he slashes with his sai and Donatello twirls his staff.  Pretty  impressive!

The 'Large' Leonardo and Michelangelo figures are so detailed you can see the texture of their skin and shells. Each articulated figures comes with realistic looking clothing-folds and all and their armor, weapons and other pieces of clothing are super-detailed-right down to the rivets and armor plates!  

I'm really impressed with the figures' facial features, three-finger hands, musculature and accessories.  You will be too once you see them.

All three sets of the various size figures include all the Turtles while the 'Small' set includes other film characters.  Look for more Turtle figures, vehicles and other goodies to come.