Why were so many action-figures and vehicles never in any comics, TV-series or films

[Original TMNT Cartoon Fan]

Many of the action-figures and vehicles from the late 1980's and early-1990's never appeared in any comics, TV-series or films. (maybe some unknown minicomic) Why were these ever released? I only bought what I recognized (1987 cartoon, Archie Comics).

As far as I know the 2003 (and IDW) as well as 2012 only have toys based on the cartoons and comics.

[CyberCubed]

Playmates made up a bunch of new mutants to sell as toys.

My guess is the writers of the OT then picked and chose which ones they wanted to put into episodes and just ignored the others.

[Original TMNT Cartoon Fan]

Playmates made up a bunch of new mutants to sell as toys.

My guess is the writers of the OT then picked and chose which ones they wanted to put into episodes and just ignored the others.

But wouldn't it be better to wait with releasing the toys until they'd appeared in any cartoon episode or Archie comic book.

[snake]

But wouldn't it be better to wait with releasing the toys until they'd appeared in any cartoon episode or Archie comic book.

I don't think it really mattered considering more people remember the toys than specific episodes of the show. And the toys were QUALITY too.

[CyberCubed]

Its too bad Archie never got a small stint in the toyline. Seeing the Archie Mutanimals, Armaggon, Null, etc. all get toys in the 90's would have been amazing.

[snake]

Its too bad Archie never got a small stint in the toyline. Seeing the Archie Mutanimals, Armaggon, Null, etc. all get toys in the 90's would have been amazing.

I know an idiot that swears up and down that Armaggon had a toy and immidietly dismisses me when I tell him otherwise because "You weren't around then, how would you know?"

The cob knobbler was shocked when I told him that the mirage turtles had all red masks.

[CylonsKlingonsDaleksOhMy]

I know an idiot that swears up and down that Armaggon had a toy and immidietly dismisses me when I tell him otherwise because "You weren't around then, how would you know?"

The cob knobbler was shocked when I told him that the mirage turtles had all red masks.

Somebody no doubt had a Street Sharks action figure and didn't know Street Sharks was a thing. :tlol:

[snake]

Somebody no doubt had a Street Sharks action figure and didn't know Street Sharks was a thing. :tlol:

That idea has certainly crossed my mind.

[Powder]

It's a good question. I was always bothered by the fact that the show & toyline rarely referenced one another.

[MrPliggins]

As a kid, I was convinced I must've missed an Ace Duck episode, since all of the other figures had been featured on the show at that point. I "time taped" every episode to try and catch it. If only I had the internet, episode lists, etc!

[The Fifth Turtle]

It's a good question. I was always bothered by the fact that the show & toyline rarely referenced one another.

Which was odd because the tv show was made to sell the toys.

[wpugh2424]

As a kid, I was convinced I must've missed an Ace Duck episode, since all of the other figures had been featured on the show at that point. I "time taped" every episode to try and catch it. If only I had the internet, episode lists, etc!

Yea when I was little I never saw an episode with ace duck
After rewatching these I obviously caught him
As far as the question for the thread, who knows. It's def disappointing

[Powder]

As a kid, I was convinced I must've missed an Ace Duck episode, since all of the other figures had been featured on the show at that point. I "time taped" every episode to try and catch it. If only I had the internet, episode lists, etc!

Yeah, I had that same experience with so many characters. Getting the DVD sets over the years always excited me, knowing I missed so much of the series. I was certain I'd be seeing characters X, Y, & Z. So much for that! :tlol: Scumbug/Antrax, Merdude, there were a few pleasant surprises, but as we all know, mostly a letdown.

Which was odd because the tv show was made to sell the toys.

Exactly! Makes no sense. You'd think they'd have had a good working relationship, as 4kids & Nick did/do. Maybe we were better off? Sometimes their toy-pushing agenda can be grating. Still, what a rogues gallery to miss out on...

[CyberCubed]

Yeah, I had that same experience with so many characters. Getting the DVD sets over the years always excited me, knowing I missed so much of the series. I was certain I'd be seeing characters X, Y, & Z. So much for that! :tlol: Scumbug/Antrax, Merdude, there were a few pleasant surprises, but as we all know, mostly a letdown.

You didn't see most of the OT until the DVDs? Hm, I always assumed you were one of the kids who watched it in the 90's as it aired on TV. Especially judging by your age and posts about it.

[Powder]

I saw probably 65-70% of it. Being born in 1990, I caught up a bit late. Reruns were on typically while I was in school, it made things difficult. If not for the fact I was sick so often, I'd have missed even more of it. My grandma would tape episodes whenever possible, & I'd also rent the home features from Blockbuster, so that's probably how I saw as much as I did. I did get The Next Mutation in its entirety though. :tlol:

[Original TMNT Cartoon Fan]

Its too bad Archie never got a small stint in the toyline. Seeing the Archie Mutanimals, Armaggon, Null, etc. all get toys in the 90's would have been amazing.

The Stump Asteroid Intergalactic Wrestling Stadium could have been a great playset! :) Could have been with Cudley the Cowlick http://lavignebrownart.blogspot.se/2007/12/mutanimals-heroic-vehicles.html

[wpugh2424]

The Stump Asteroid Intergalactic Wrestling Stadium could have been a great playset! :) Could have been with Cudley the Cowlick http://lavignebrownart.blogspot.se/2007/12/mutanimals-heroic-vehicles.html

That'd been really cool
I'm on a Archie comics run and came across that a volume or two ago

[Andrew NDB]

That'd been really cool
I'm on a Archie comics run and came across that a volume or two ago

A volume or two ago? There was only one.

[wpugh2424]

A volume or two ago? There was only one.

? ?
I have the trades that have been recently releasing. As far as I know there are 11-12 volumes thus far

[Ninjinister]

Exactly! Makes no sense. You'd think they'd have had a good working relationship, as 4kids & Nick did/do. Maybe we were better off? Sometimes their toy-pushing agenda can be grating. Still, what a rogues gallery to miss out on...

Considering how they didn't produce toys for about half of the seasons of 2K3...

[lonewarrior20]

personally i'd love to see a robot chicken animator or someone do a stop motion parody of the wacky racers using some of the vehicles. i mean just look at the shredder mobile.
http://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0696/1587/products/IMG_1432_1024x1024.JPG?v=1429911273
if thats not dick dastardly style i don't know what is.

[Powder]

Considering how they didn't produce toys for about half of the seasons of 2K3...

Barring BTTS, what were they slacking on? To my memory, pretty much every key character you'd want a toy of, had one...

[Ninjinister]

Barring BTTS, what were they slacking on? To my memory, pretty much every key character you'd want a toy of, had one...

Nothing from Lost Season, either. And half of the Fast Forward stuff never got past toy shows.

[CylonsKlingonsDaleksOhMy]

Barring BTTS, what were they slacking on? To my memory, pretty much every key character you'd want a toy of, had one...

No Chaplin, no Tribunal Acolytes or "Shredder Variants". Those immediately come to mind.

[Powder]

Nothing from Lost Season, either. And half of the Fast Forward stuff never got past toy shows.

Weren't the Mystic Fury turtles based on the Lost Season, or am I mixing things up? & yeah it's a shame the Inuwashi Gunjin got cancelled but we got a pretty good assortment of FF figures.

No Chaplin, no Tribunal Acolytes or "Shredder Variants". Those immediately come to mind.

Did more than like 5 people want those, though? :tlol: I mean, Playmates knows their demographic has never been too big on human toys, barring the classic characters. I see where you guys are coming from, though.

[CylonsKlingonsDaleksOhMy]

Weren't the Mystic Fury turtles based on the Lost Season, or am I mixing things up? & yeah it's a shame the Inuwashi Gunjin got cancelled but we got a pretty good assortment of FF figures.

Did more than like 5 people want those, though? :tlol: I mean, Playmates knows their demographic has never been too big on human toys, barring the classic characters. I see where you guys are coming from, though.

Yeah, the Mystic Turtles were about the only thing Playmates did for the Lost Season.

I wouldn't have wanted a Chaplin, but Joy, Feragi, and the other two? Sure. Wasted character potential, didn't do much in the series... wouldn't mind them getting revamped by IDW someday.

[Ninjinister]

Weren't the Mystic Fury turtles based on the Lost Season, or am I mixing things up? & yeah it's a shame the Inuwashi Gunjin got cancelled but we got a pretty good assortment of FF figures.

The Mystic Turtles were released closer to Mutant Nightmare so I always assumed that if that wasn't supposed to be a preview for Season 4, that they ended up porting them from the game to the series.

In addition to the Gunjin Leader and the Turtles variants planned, Biggles, President Bishop, Starlee, Triple Threat, Street Phantom, and Kanabo Splinter were shown.


Did more than like 5 people want those, though? :tlol: I mean, Playmates knows their demographic has never been too big on human toys, barring the classic characters. I see where you guys are coming from, though.

I am still convinced that more people want stuff like that than Playmates says. And if they didn't want to just release the Acolytes as regular figs, they could have had Mutations ones that became their totems. Could've done that with Shredder and the Turtles, too. Could've had a two-pack with Splinter in his new duds plus Ancient One, could've had all of the Tribunal, a bunch of the monsters and stuff introduced in the season, the Justice Force members that never got made.... I think after watching the season I had estimated about 30 or so unique figs that could have been made, not including variants.

[Powder]

In addition to the Gunjin Leader and the Turtles variants planned, Biggles, President Bishop, Starlee, Triple Threat, Street Phantom, and Kanabo Splinter were shown.

I am still convinced that more people want stuff like that than Playmates says. And if they didn't want to just release the Acolytes as regular figs, they could have had Mutations ones that became their totems. Could've done that with Shredder and the Turtles, too. Could've had a two-pack with Splinter in his new duds plus Ancient One, could've had all of the Tribunal, a bunch of the monsters and stuff introduced in the season, the Justice Force members that never got made.... I think after watching the season I had estimated about 30 or so unique figs that could have been made, not including variants.

Wait, all those characters had prototype toys shown? I'd love to see pics, if there are any! I don't mourn 'em, though.

As for the others, yeah, I'm sure some people did, maybe even a decent amount, but probably not enough to warrant making them. That's one thing I will side with Playmates on. Agree to disagree, I suppose.

[CyberCubed]

They showed a toy for Cyber Shredder from BTTS that never came out either.

Would have also liked a figure of Khan. I liked the speculation that he was one of the 4 Elite Guards which is why his character didn't seem like he came out of nowhere. Plus 4kids played the Elite Guard theme music everytime he fought in BTTS.

[Ninjinister]

Wait, all those characters had prototype toys shown? I'd love to see pics, if there are any! I don't mourn 'em, though.


Here's a few courtesy of our buddy Vaughn


http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v487/VaughnJohnny/DSCN5055.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v487/VaughnJohnny/DSCN5056.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v487/VaughnJohnny/DSCN5050.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v487/VaughnJohnny/DSCN5045.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v487/VaughnJohnny/DSCN5046.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v487/VaughnJohnny/DSCN5047.jpg

[CyberCubed]

That Street Phantom looks hilarious.

[Powder]

Huh! How 'bout that. It's not often something like that escapes me, but there they are. As expected, virtually no articulation, but the paint & likenesses are mighty fine. I guess it's too bad they never made it to market, though I personally would probably have skipped all of them. Thanks for posting the shots!

[wpugh2424]

Those are sweet

[CyberCubed]

I'm surprised Starlee was going to get a figure when girl figures typically don't sell well in boys lines.

[snake]

Triple Threat is a cool looking figure. Him and President Bishop are the only real losses from those pics

[TMNTFanatic4Life]

Purple Dragon :tlol:

[pferreira]

Which was odd because the tv show was made to sell the toys.Fred Wolf says on the Turtle Power documentary he wanted to avoid making the cartoon just another toy commercial. Unfortunately we don't get to see him elaborate on that. Perhaps there's some truth in what he said? More power to him I say. The writers didn't seem to care much for the Playmates toyline. There's an episode which features the toy trashcan that flings trash and the writer makes fun of it by having the thing be completely useless. :lol:

[Original TMNT Cartoon Fan]

There's an episode which features the toy trashcan that flings trash and the writer makes fun of it by having the thing be completely useless. :lol:

Corporate Raiders from Dimension X. Not really useless when it sprayed a lot of water onto several brainwashed businessmen in a single time.

[pferreira]

Corporate Raiders from Dimension X. Not really useless when it sprayed a lot of water onto several brainwashed businessmen in a single time.I remember it flinging rubbish and completely missing it's target. Everyone seemed unimpressed. :lol:

[miru]

Heck, even the 2007 line had a few of these. For example, the Alien Hunter line. There were also going to be some in the Sub-Sewer line and the cancelled "Global Mutant Missions" line, as well as some other cancelled stuff. However, these newcomers had quite a different flavor from the old ones, and don't seem to be remembered fondly. And yeah, they should have released the Starlee figure, perhaps as a 2-pack with Cody Jones (to possibly open up a line slot for another villain character?)

[Coola Yagami]

It's kinda funny. The 80's show went more into adding the toy characters and vehicles into the show. I'm not 100% sure but I think the Pizza by the Shred episode tried to cram in as many TMNT vehicles as they could. It was weird when the CBS episodes basically stopped and only showed the Turtle Van and Turtle Blimp.

The 2K3 one focused more on the variants, with them using the same bike/rollerblade/whatever else they used in the variants and stuff like the Prehistoric and Battle Nexus variants and whatever else.

The problem with the 2K3 toyine was once they made figures based on the 2007 movie.... they didn't want to go back to the regular figures. They started making variants of those (Alien Hunters) until the toyline died.

I don't know what happened. Like, can you imagine if the Nick toyline stopped making those figures and only did BayTurtle movie variants? I guess they thought the 2K3 and 2K7 Turtles were so similar no one would know the difference or care. But when it came to Nick Playmates didn't seem to keep the cartoon and movie toyline as two separate things.