Nickelodeon is rebranding the franchise this year with an all new title, look and design, as well as brand new villains that will appear in the new Rise of the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles animated series and toyline. This year at San Diego Comic-Con, Playmates Toys and Nickelodeon offered the figures as individual box sets that features additional deco, detail and accessories compared to the retail versions coming out on October 1st. These figures stand between 4.25″ to 4.75″ and are based on the new series.
At the panel this year, a lot of new information was revealed regarding the series such as new voice casting – Kat Graham as April O’Neil, John Cena as Baron Draxum, Tom Kenny and Fred Tatasciore as Alberto and Repo Mantis respectively, Rob Paulsen and Maurice LaMarche as the Foot Clan, Rhys Darby as Hypno-Potamus, John Michael Higgins as Warren Stone, Jorge Gutierrez as Ghostbear. As you are aware, Splinter has undergone some drastic changes to his character such as him being aloof, and the Turtles themselves will act more like teenagers with ninja skills and fighting crime, and these changes means some freshness into the franchise that’s never been done before.
The series airs September 17th on Nickelodeon, and the toyline hits shelves beginning October 1st.
Rise of the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles Exclusive Figures from Playmates Toys
Playmates Toys, the longtime master toy licensee for the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, will offer four San Diego Comic-Con exclusive figures that are based on Nickelodeon’s brand-new animated series, Rise of the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles. Each figure will retail for $30 and will be available from Thursday to Sunday (July 19-22) at Nickelodeon’s booth, #4113.
The individually sculpted figures come in a protective “fifth panel window box” that will be placed in a 2018 San Diego Comic-Con box that features each Turtle’s name. The figures range in height from 4.25 inches for Michelangelo, to 4.75 inches for Raphael, with Donatello and Leonardo each standing at 4.5 inches tall. Each figure has 13 points of articulation and not only includes their new core weapon accessories, but also features additional decoration, details and accessories.
Availability: San Diego Comic-Con 2018 – July 19th-22nd
These new Rise of the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles figures are packaged in a window box and folding flap with artwork featuring the Turtles on the inside. The flap stays closed with velcro, and the window showcases the figure and included accessories. The box is protected by a plastic cover, and the box slides in and out. The packaging also includes a white mailer box that specifies which Turtle is inside the box. The packaging does not reveal this until the flap is opened.
Each of the Turtles features an all new unique figure sculpt, painted in a different shade of green, stands at different heights, and includes unique chest harnesses, belts, shells and accessories (they do share the same throwing stars). These are also different character designs than what has previously been done before for the franchise While the Turtles keeps their iconic color masks and bandages to tell them apart, there’s some major differences such as the style as well as some key characters have had their personalities altered such as Splinter. The retail versions of these figures won’t have as many detailed paint applications as these have.
Raphael will start out as the Leader, and has the bulkiest and tallest figure sculpt, making him the muscle of the team. His head sculpt has the top half covered with a red bandana, which covers most of his head. The chest is soft plastic that is painted in yellow, with white bandaids on the upper right hand side overlapping each other like an X, and There are lines sculpted on to give it some definition. The shell has a lumpy surface that reminds us of Slash’s shell, and is the most unique shell of the four Turtles. The shells and chest have the red belt over it, which is made of a soft plastic. On the front of the belt, is a green oval shaped object such as a Turtle comm, and on the sides are clips to store the sais. His legs and arms have white bandages on the ankles and feet. The upper thighs and elbows have pads on them. On his left forearm and right lower leg are bandaids, such likely cover up cuts or bruises. His articulation includes a ball jointed head, swivel-hinged shoulders, swivel-hinged elbows, swivel wrists, swivel-hinged hips, swivel-hinged knees, and swivel-hinged ankles. Included with Raphael are two sais and two throwing stars.
Leonardo is best known as the leader of the team, but not at the beginning in this series. His head sculpt features a blue mask around the eyes and sticks out in the back, and there are red stripes on each side of his face above and below the eyes. The chest is painted in yellow with lines sculpted and detailed definition. The shell has some patterns and details sculpted on, and is flat and not lumpy like Raph’s. The chest harness and belt are connected on the waist and lower back, and is painted in dark and a light blue. There is a clip on the back for the katana. On his arms are yellow stripes, two on each side, and one on each side on his hips. His wrists and ankles include gauntlets and bandages that are painted in dark and light blue just like the harness and belt. His articulation includes a ball jointed neck, swivel-hinged shoulders, swivel-hinged elbows, swivel-hinged hips, swivel-hinged knees, and swivel-hinged ankles. Included is a Katana and a big translucent blue sword, and two throwing stars.
Donatello is the inventor of the team, the this figure comes with gadgets and technology that he invented. His head sculpt is mostly covered in a purple bandana, with binoculars on top of his head. His chest is painted in yellow, with detailed lines and definition. His shell is flat, with some sculpted lines and details, including what looks like a spine down the center of it. There is a purple belt that wraps around his waist, with pockets on either side of the green belt buckle/turtle comm. There is a backpack that goes on his back like a clip, and a drone that is removable that flies and acts as a spy. The drone is made of translucent purple plastic. His arms and legs have purple stripes on it, including purple elbow pads, gloves, knee pads, and and footwear. His articulation includes a ball jointed neck, swivel-hinged shoulders, swivel-hinged elbows, swivel wrists, swivel-hinged hips, swivel-hinged knees, and swivel-hinged ankles. Included is a bo staff with tech, and two throwing stars. This figure does not have a place to store the bo staff on his body.
Michelangelo is the dimwitted younger and shortest of the brothers. His head sculpt includes an orange mask around his eyes and goes out the back. The shell is yellow and includes sculpted lines and details giving it definition, as well as green and red shapes. His shell is similar to Leonardo’s, with some detailed patterns on the back, and these painted in yellow. This shell however is smooth, with the edges beveled. The chest harness is over and below his right shoulder, and there is a clip to hold the nunchucks on the front, and there is a green buckle/ turtle comm where the straps meet. His shoulders have yellow paint splattered on them, which includes a large and small oval shape on both sides. The wrists have a band around them, and he includes orange knee pads, and orange bandages around his feet. His articulation includes a ball jointed neck, swivel-hinged shoulders, swivel-hinged elbows, swivel wrists, swivel-hinged hips, swivel-hinged knees, and swivel-hinged ankles. Included are two nunchucks with objects such as a boxing glove and mace made of orange translucent plastic, a long nunchuck with three handles, and two throwing stars.
Overall, the extra deco and detail offered on these looks great, and the exclusive packaging is a nice touch. The attention to detail on the sculpts themselves came out extremely well and the likeness is spot on. While these are exclusive to San Diego Comic-Con, the retail versions of these will be out on October 1st, 2018.
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Retail versions:
What is shown are the official press images, and you can check out the coverage from New York ToyFair HERE.
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