For my money, you would be very hard-pressed to find a current action figure line that is more perfect than NECA’s TMNT movie figures. From screen accuracy to articulation, this line is hitting on all cylinders, and even though we only get a couple of changes a year to add to our collections, I have loved every minute of it. So of course, when we love something around here, we wish list the SHELL out of it (see what I did there?), and I have some top picks I want to see make it into this line.
We are in a good spot with the line overall, I think, as having the Turtles, Spinter, Foot Ninjas, and Shredder have covered the “must have” foundation. So, operating in an “icing on the cake” status for a list like this takes some of the anxiety and urgency out over just having to accommodate for what is considered to be essential. Plus, next year is the 30th(!!!) anniversary of the original movie, so knowing NECA, they are most definitely going to take advantage of that to give us another round of coolness. Plus, while my priority for a line like this will ALWAYS be on the first movie, subsequent chapters do provide some interesting options…
5. SUPER SHREDDER
Speaking of which, we will start with one of those. Now, let me be clear: I absolutely HATE The Secret of the Ooze. Even as a kid, I found it to be absolute GARBAGE overall, and for a lot of reasons. Heck, it has been at least a decade since I last attempted a viewing, and I own the movie as part of a TMNT bundle, and have kids now. That movie destroyed the awesomeness of Donatello (my favorite turtle) from the first one, there was no Casey, it had fake April (Fapril?), Keno? Hell no. Plus the story was totally lame and wasted what could POTENTIALLY have been a logical next step for the franchise.
That said, there are some interesting designs that could be harnessed, and old Kevin Nash himself looked pretty crazy as Super Shredder. Yeah, the idea is nutballs, but anyone who has seen that movie can tell you that Shredder’s transformation was one of the most memorable parts of the movie, Vanilla Ice notwithstanding. I mean, the dude got huge, but somehow is armor mutated even more noticeably, so there would be a lot of detail to work with here. I might despise the movie itself, but I know iconography when I see it, and I will admit that I do need a Super Shredder in my collection.
Especially if he needs to hang out with…
4. TOKKA and RAHZAR
Yeah, it is kind of cheating on a list like this to put two names in one entry, but you would never have one without the other when it comes to these two guys, so it is a packaged deal. Don’t get me wrong, these two characters are idiotic in terms of their movie portrayal. Also, they kept imagery of them under wraps before the movie hit, so it was a giant disappointment when those silhouettes did not turn out to be Bebop and Rocksteady (even though I knew deep down they didn’t look anything like them). Like, those dudes were just waiting to be brought to the screen, and we got these guys instead? That is exactly like what happened with Skeletor’s minions in the MOTU movie, without the fact that Blade, Saurod, and Karg were actually cool.
That said, and really, I am not a total hater here, I have come to dig Tokka and Rahzar’s designs, and like a lot of things, at the very least these guys will work great as action figures. My affection has grown for them over time as well, especially with subsequent video game and cartoon appearances, and their vintage toys were always pretty darn cool to me. Of all of the characters on this list, T&R seem to be right up NECA’s alley in terms being able to go nuts with their monstrous designs, so I have zero double in my mind that figures of them in this line will afford Tokka and Rahzar the chance to be cooler than they ever had. So yeah, I need them on my shelf, but not before…
3. TATSU
Hey, just because Shredder’s right hand man got clobbered with a golf club before he had a chance to get some Primatine, that doesn’t mean that I don’t want this guy in my collection immediately. I was always a fan of his, and his design and role were perfect to help Shredder build his underground empire at a more hands on level. Plus, he was mean and scary-looking, and provided Casey with a chance to be challenged by worthy opponent. For a guy that I had zero point of reference with prior to seeing the original movie, I did not question him one bit, he was a perfect character for what the story needed.
Tatsu has had murky past beyond the movies, most notably (to me) appearing in the Hyperstone Heist video game but I think there has always been talk about the character ownership and likeness rights that surround this dude. So, I am keeping fingers crossed that it is not a false hope to get this guy because he is very important to round out the first movie cast. His robes would be an interesting design challenge, but with everything we have gotten thus far in the line, I trust NECA 1000%.
2. APRIL O’NEIL
April was friggin’ AWESOME in the original movie, and that is just a scientific fact. I love how the character translated to the screen and Judith Hoag (aside from, as Leo states, is a fox) brought April’s confidence and detailed nature to the character in remarkable form. Plus, after the Turtles themselves and Splinter, there is not a single “good guy” more important to the movie and overall mythos than April. Sure, I will admit, that while April did get into the action from time to time, she might not be as direct “action figure material” as some of the others on this list, but that doesn’t mean that she is not required and I am positive a figure of this April will be MOST welcomed by fans.
Getting her in the right costume might be a challenge because I am pretty sure April changed her look throughout the movie more than anyone else, but I am partial to her duds from the opening scene when she is accosted by Foot thugs stealing camera equipment. To me, that look is the most classically “April” AND a (likely) soft goods yellow raincoat could be included to keep the wink to the cartoon look intact. April is another one where a likeness deal would likely have to be in place, but c’mon, NECA, we need her!
1. CASEY JONES
To me, no other character was as striking in terms of presence and instantly likeable in the first movie and Casey Jones. Yes, the Turtles are stars and first loves, but damn it, Casey is so awesome. I mean, Casey has pretty much always been awesome, but the movie version of him is my absolute favorite, and Elias Koteas absolutely KILLED it in his portrayal. His relationships with Donatello, Raph, and April are some of the very best of the entire movie. His presence becomes crucial to much of the plot, so while I stated above that we have the foundational needs covered, I consider Casey (and April!) absolutely required. Casey gave the Turtles the ability to move more seamlessly into spaces where they would most certainly stand out, so his involvement was crucial to the rescue to Splinter. Plus, I don’t think anyone else would have the stones to flat out crush Shredder in the back of a garbage truck.
Heather grey sweatpants have never been so cool either, and those are least interesting part of Casey’s overall look, which is totally “toyetic.” I mean, a hockey mask (though an unmasked head is CRUCIAL), cricket bat, and all of the sports-related weapons (a Jose Canseco bat!) are just what we need to kick some Foot backside, and the sculpting team at NECA could go bananas. I mean, I want him for the fight scenes alone, but having Casey would be the perfect way to button up the main cast, and I cannot be alone in recognizing him as my most wanted figure from the movie line at this point.
This is my list, I am sure there are not many surprises here, but I find that these are the most essential movie characters still hanging out there. Now, that is no disrespect to Trench Coat Raph, Danny, Head Thug (I see you, Sam Rockwell), my boy Chief Sterns, or (deep breath) Vanilla Ice, but these the guys I want to see next, so please NECA, make us say, “COWABUNGA!”
