Usagi Yojimbo’s popularity and product is soaring right now with his debut to the current Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles animated series airing on Nickelodeon. Not only is this 5″ and 10″ figure part of the offering from Playmates Toys and Nickelodeon, but they also offered a San Diego Comic-Con 2017 exclusive box set, Samurai Usagi, and Warrior Horse with Samurai Usagi 2-pack. All of which we had the pleasure to review, and if you haven’t read those reviews yet, just click on the hyper links above and get caught up.
This samurai rabbit and is fan-favorite ally of the Turtles has roots to the franchise going back to the 1980’s. Since the character aired in several episodes in the original series, Usagi Yojimbo became widely popular, and was also underused we felt in the original series, as this character, among others, should have been featured in more episodes. This wasn’t the characters only appearance in the 1980’s, as his first appearance does back to November, 1984 in Albedo Anthropomorphics #2, published by Thoughts and Images.
In the current series, The Ninja Turtles find themselves in another dimension inhabited by animal warriors! Disguised as samurai, the Turtles ally themselves with ronin rabbit named Usagi Yojimbo. Together they must save a young prince from a band of Neko ninjas led by Jei, an evil sorcerer.
The 12″ Usagi Yojimbo figure is exclusive to Wal-Mart Stores.
Thank you to Playmates Toys for providing their Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles Usagi Yojimbo figures for review.
Availability: Summer 2017
Usagi stands at 11 1/2″ tall and is a jumbo sized figure that is more than double the size of the 5″ basic line-up. The figure has a good likeness to the animated counterpart, with the exception of having nine points of articulation. Usagi’s outfit mimics the 5″ figure, and he is sculpted in a light blue robe, with dark blue pants, a white belt, and white trim on the robe. There are also symbols on either side of his chest, with black dots and a third one on his back. Just like the 5″ figure, his feet are in sandals. The likeness is very nicely done and fits into the same style as the other figures. Included are two swords that fit into his hands. The articulation includes a ball jointed neck, swivel shoulders, swivel wrists, and swivel ankles.
Usagi Yojimbo is beautiful, and there is no better term to describe this figures sculpt. Playmates Toys have truly impressed us with Usagi Yojimbo, the Samurai Turtles, and others, and the line has come a long way since its re-launch back in 2012. Usagi Yojimbo is based on the current Nickelodeon series, and depicts the likeness of a mutated bunny wearing a ninja masters robes and pants. The head sculpt is incredible, and includes facial details that are painted including the eyes, nose and mouth, as well as whiskers that are painted with black dots on the cheeks. Most of the head is smooth, including the long ears that are bent backwards, but there are some sculpted hairs on the backside of the head, as well as the center of the back of the head. The ears are tied together on the top of the head that is left white, as opposed to painting the scrunchie. The robe is painted in a light blue, with white trim on the edges, and white circles with black dots on the upper parts of the chest. There is also a white belt sculpted and painted around his waist, with a separate tied piece made of soft plastic with two parts of the belt hanging downward. The dark blue pants are sculpted thin on top, and spread out as they go down to the feet, and have some sculpted bevels around them. The feet are in sandals that are painted in orange, and the ankles are ball jointed making it easy to create some dynamic poses. Sculpted to his waist is a non-removable sheath for his swords, which can fit in nicely. The sheath is painted in dark blue, and has some sculpted textures on the upper part, with the rest of it being smooth. Included are two katana’s painted in grey.
Usagi Yojimbo includes a ball jointed neck, swivel-hinged shoulders, swivel-hinged elbows, swivel-hinged hips, swivel wrists, swivel-hinged knees, and ball jointed ankles.
Overall, these are excellent figures worth of adding to your collection. If you have been collecting these modern figures over the years, then you know how important it is to own this version of Usagi Yojimbo and to place him on your toy shelf.
Purchase:
