Even though I put myself into full Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles mode this week (at least in terms of action figure features), I was still not prepared for this.
So I kicked off Monday with a look at the new S.H. Figuarts Raphael and Michelangelo from Bandai, knowing full well that this feature would be coming later in the week. Sure, Rogue One is releasing on Friday, so even though I should be in full Star Wars mode by now, these new figures are keeping me grounded in the more realistic realm of mutated teenage turtles with ninja skills … ahem. But hear me out because NECA’s new quarter-scale TMNT line, based on original 1990 movie, is giving us the most realistic figures of the most realistic take on the Turtles we have ever seen, and, oh my, are they CRUSHING it.
Even though the ultimate proof is in the action figure pudding, I will admit that I have a nostalgic soft spot for TMNT, and that original movie as well. I think it is vastly underrated, and for me, everything from the gritty comic-based story line to the design and interpretation of the Turtles themselves are just great. We have not gotten straight-up takes from the movie in terms of action figures, so when I spotted the prototype for Donatello in NECA’s booth at Toy Fair this past February, I was already excited for the line. However, it was the impressive nature of that prototype that got me hyped more than anything, I mean, the thing is gorgeous, but I was a bit scared I might have set the bar too high for the final product.
As it turns out, I was not prepared for this, because this figure is unreal. I mean it is very real, but also very unreal, as I almost cannot believe it, and my expectations were pretty much blown away. Sure, there are a couple of small nitpicks that keep it from being 100 percent perfect, but they are completely overshadowed by what is good, because what is good is fantastic. This isn’t even my scale, bro (Donatello is my first ¼ scale figure), but any pretenses I had about the final production piece, or the limitations of the scale, pretty much went right out the door with him. This thing enjoys all of the aesthetic details possible at this size, but, much to my surprise, this figure functions as well, if not better, than a lot of 1:12 scale figures I own, and that is a serious compliment.
Let’s get the obvious stuff out of the way first. The sculpt, paint, and any other kind of aesthetic detail on this figure is just phenomenal. Trevor Zammit is one of the best sculptors working in this business right now, and while you will know his work from the bevy of products he has worked on for NECA, this is probably his crowning achievement. I mean, under Randy Falk’s direction, NECA is no stranger to incredibly sculpted figures, but Donatello is by one of the best screen-to-plastic offerings ever produced. I hope you can see that I am not drifting into hyperbole here, and NECA showed off the accuracy and realism in the sculpt via their “Is it Live or is it Henson?” series, and even having the figure in hand, you can see how easy it is to confuse the toy and the screen puppet/costume.
I had a few occasions to talk with Zammit about this figure, and I can tell you he is a HUGE TMNT fan, so not only is he a master of his craft, he also put a lot of love behind this project. That is not only apparent in his sculpt work, but also in the fact that he personally oversaw some of the production process in China to make sure this figure came through perfectly. It is pretty amazing what an extended trip halfway across the world can do, but I am quite thankful he went the extra mile because it really shows.
If you have been collecting figures long enough, there is always a period of worry over degradation of final product from pristine prototype. We expect it because that is the nature of mass production, but if this figure lost anything from that original prototype I saw at NYTF, I cannot spot it. Every time I inspect this figure, I find a new detail I did not notice before. I could go on, and on, and on, and on all day talking about this, but I am going to have to let pictures speak to most of it. The paint is also damned-near flawless and every technique in the book was used to capture all of the subtleties of Donatello, and everything from the color transitions on his skin via airbrush to the weathering on his faux-leather belt is unbelievably well done. Nothing, and I mean NOTHING was overlooked.
I do want to indulge in the highlights, though, because some of them are just too impressive to skip. While I imagine the body will be reused for all four of the brothers, the head sculpt is uniquely Donatello. So while I find the accuracy of the sculpt to be right on, the chosen expression is also perfect for this figure. It shows Donatello’s more serious side, but the pointed portion of his upper “lip” is also unique to him amongst his brothers, so that is a defining for him. A compliment to the production process as well is his eyes — their are eerily lifelike. You know those paintings where the eyes “follow” you? Yeah, Donnie has that, and it is a cool effect even though I cannot explain it.
I also want to mention the texture on the skin positions of the figure, since there has been some discussion about it. I know some people online were calling out the texture as being overblown and out of scale with the size of the figure, but in person I do not find that to be true at all. In fact, the effect is essential to sell the full effect of the sculpt being based off of the movie costume. The additional airbrushing and the unique spots on the skin help pull it all together, but the texture works really well as the foundation.
The shape of his mask is great, too, and while that doesn’t sound like much, it is essential for his expression, and being honest, I could pick the mask out in grayscale among the four as Donatello. Furthermore, the mask also employs soft goods for the portion that hangs below the knot, and it is pretty seamless in the transition from plastic to cloth. I do NOT like cloth on 1:12 scale figures as general rule, but at this larger size, it facilitates a need very nicely.
Materials are a strength of the figure overall, and that is further represented in Donatello’s belt/bo harness and his swappable hands. I am glad they went with a faux leather for belt because it works well here, and the effect of the natural distressing is very convincing. Additionally, the softer plastic used for the swappable hands is very much appreciated because it allows Donatello to naturally hold the pizza slice, TCRI ooze canister, and bo staff (all with fantastic sculpts of their own), and the differences in diameter of the ooze can and bo is accommodated well.
What was the most surprising to me about the figure, and maybe it was my preconceptions about this large scale, is how well the articulation functions, and the engineering that has gone into the joints. While this is not apparent on the package or in promotional images, the movement in this figure is just as impressive as just about anything else. The range of movement is great in the neck joint, and that helps give Donatello a lot of expression. There is a hidden torso joint under the front of the shell, and the real kicker comes in the range in the arms and legs. Double elbows and double knees make all the difference in the world here, and the ratcheted joints help give the added strength to help support the weight. I mean, Donnie can do the splits, and, more amazingly, he can balance on one leg in a kicking pose. I have figures three times smaller than him that cannot do that, so I am completely gobsmacked by this. UN. REAL.
Since I did mention a nitpick, I might as well bring it up here, because it relates to the joints. Well, not the joints themselves, but it does effect them. So, while this is VERY minor, the elbow and knee pads, while they look great, do inhibit a bit of the range of movement in the joints they cover. It is not terrible, but they do get in the way just enough to completely realize the full range. Like I said, I might be a bit overly critical with this, but with everything else being so perfect, I have to mention it. I predict that most people will not even give it a second thought though, especially as they pose Donnie on one foot.
I am a completely smitten kitten with this. A taken turtle. Whatever you want to say, even though it came out at the very end, this is likely my figure of the year. Donatello is absolutely incredible, and if you have reservations about the scale, this is the figure to take the plunge, especially if you have room for it. I am no doubt in for all four, and when you think about the $100-ish price tag, he actually feels like a bargain comparatively. I give complete kudos to the entire team at NECA — it is a company with a long history of fantastic figures, but to me, Donatello is their crowning achievement. Now, if they can find a way to shrink the sculpt down and release these in 1:12 scale, I will have everything I would every want for movie Turtles.
If you are a TMNT fan, DO NOT pass this up. I promise you that you will regret it in the long run if you do. Donatello is an amazing piece.