The Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles franchise is famous for its wide array of multimedia content and products. The franchise also has significant success in all the media associated with it. Playmates Toys birthed the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles toys. This company also produced the most Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles toys to date.
It all started after the success of Eastman and Laird’s Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles comic book produced by Mirage Studios, so many toy companies were reluctant to get the right to manufacture a toy line for the comic because of its small cult fans. However, Playmates Toys were open to the idea of manufacturing a Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles toy line but insisted on creating an animated television series exclusively for kids and young teenagers to increase the number of expected customers.
Late in 1987, an animated television series titled Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles (Teenage Mutant Hero Turtles in the U.K and some European countries) turned out to be the most popular media of the Turtles franchise. Murakami -Wolf-Swenson Inc. produced this series just to sell toys. Playmates Toys held their end of the deal also. So, the very first Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles toy line hit stores in the Summer of 1988.
The best ten action figures of the 1987 Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles cartoon
10. Playmates’ Foot Soldier (1988)
Playmates Toys released the Foot Soldiers action figure in 1988 as a basic figure in their Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles toy line. The action figure comes packaged with a weapon stand that holds the Foot Soldiers signature weapon, Turtle Shell Biter, and it also consists of electroshock-mace and turtle carver knife.
Playmates based this action figure on the robotic, mindless, and speechless Foot Soldiers from the 1987 animated series. These soldiers served as loyal servants of Shredder, the evil leader of the Foot Clan. In the animated series, Foot Soldiers were mass produced robotic ninjas that create an army for the Foot. They possess radioactive eyes and Hi-Tech weapons. They were constantly a menace to the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles.
9. Playmates’ Turtle Party Wagon (1989)
Playmates Toys released the Turtle Party Wagon in 1989 as part of the second wave of Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles toys. This toy has another name, the Mutant Attack Van. The Turtle Party Wagon is a sophisticated van that is wonderful for role-playing with other Turtles action figures. This figure has also enough space to sit about six action figures comfortably, or even more if carefully arranged. It also has a spring action Foot tenderizer weapon, which can hold one action figure. This toy also comes with an anti-foot raider blaster and a wacko bomb slide. Then, there are two machine guns, shell-proof armored windshield visor, and the Turtle shell hubcaps. The spoiler on top of the van triggers the anti-Foot tenderizer, whacko bombs, and other features.
This figure is a replica of the Turtle Van that Donatello made in the 1987 animated television series. This van has since become an iconic vehicle for the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles
8. Super7’s Bebop (2019)
Super7 released the Bebop action figure in 2019 as part of its ReAction Figures of their Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles toy lines. The action figure comes with Bebop’s signature weapon, the Turtle Shell Drill.
Super7 based their Bebop action figure on the villainous character from the 1987 animated television series. Bebop used to be a human before his encounter with the mutagen, which transformed him into a mutant humanoid common warthog. However, the transformation did not affect Bebop’s sense of style. Bebop’s distinctive mohawk, sunglasses, nose ring, excessive use of jewelry, and party time dressing characterized him. Bebop is the Foot Clan’s enforcer and a menace to the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, under the guidance of Shredder.
7. First Gokin’s Oraku Saki (Shredder) (2017)
First Gokin released the Oraku Saki action figure in 2017 as part of the Classic Collection of its Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles toy lines. The box contains a fully armored Oraku Saki (Shredder) and some other accessories like a weapon stand with a Bo, two Sai, two nunchakus, and two swords. The action figure also features a highly articulated figure, a removable helmet, and diecast parts.
First Gokin based the action figure on Oroku Saki, also known as the Shredder, the vile leader of the Foot Clan. Oroku Saki became the leader of the Clan by setting up his master Hamato Yoshi. Upon his appointment as the leader, Saki quickly turned a once prestigious Clan into a criminal enterprise, and he became the primary villain of the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles.
6. Super7’s April O’Neil (2020)
Super7 released their April O’ Neil action figure in 2020 as part of the ReAction Figures of its Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles. The action figure is a red-headed woman with bright yellow clothing; a digital camcorder accompanies it.
April O’ Neil is a character from the 1987 animated television series Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles. She is a television news journalist, which is why the toy comes with the camcorder. April accidentally discovers the Turtles’ home in the sewers, and she subsequently became their friend. She also uses her media platform to spread the good news about the Turtles and refutes rumors or negative news about them. Her public association with the Ninja Turtles makes her an easy target for the Turtles enemies. While she is regularly a captive, the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles always come to save her.
5. Playmates’ Splinter (1988)
Playmates Toys released the Splinter action figure in 1988 as a basic figure in their first wave of Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles toys. The action figure comes with a weapon stand that contains a ninja bow and arrow, a sword cane, and a ninja star. The splinter action figure has purple apparel held by a waist belt.
The action figure is a replica of the Splinter as portrayed in the 1987 animated television series Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles. Splinter was formerly a human, Hamato Yoshi, a master ninja from the Foot Clan. Unfortunately, when his former student, Oroku Saki, betrayed him, the Foot Clan exiled him. So, he became homeless and alone.
Eventually, Yoshi took up residence in the sewers of Manhattan, where he lived with the sewage rats and his four pet turtles. After exposure to the mutagen, Hamato Yoshi transformed into a humanoid rat while his pet turtles became humanoids. Dubbed Splinter, he trained the turtles in the art of ninjutsu.
4. Playmates’ Michaelangelo (1988)
Playmates Toys released their Michelangelo action figure in 1988 as a basic figure from the initial Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles toy line. The highly articulated figure is distinguishable from the other Turtles by his orange-colored mask and ribbons tied around wrists and knees. The Michelangelo action figure comes with a weapon stand, a pair of nunchakus, fist daggers, ninja stars, and a kama.
Playmates based this action figure on the Michelangelo character from the 1987 cartoon. Michelangelo is a playful, fun-loving, and not-so-intelligent Turtle that loves eating pizza and attempts varieties of pizza toppings.
3. Playmates’ Raphael (1988)
Playmates toys released their Raphael action figure in 1988 as a basic figure from their first wave of Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles toys. His red-colored mask and ribbons tied around his wrists, elbows, and knees differentiate this figure from the rest of the turtles. The action figure comes with a weapon stand, fist daggers, a pair of sai, ninja stars, and a kama.
Like the other figures, Playmates molded their Raphael action figure after Raphael from the 1987 animated television series. Raphael was the witty orator of the group with his funny and sarcastic remarks and reply. He is the funniest of all the Turtles.
2. Playmates’ Donatello (1988)
Playmates Toys released their Donatello action figure in 1988 by Playmates Toys as a basic figure from their foremost Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles toy line. This figure is distinct from the other Turtles by his purple-colored mask and ribbons tied around his wrists, elbows, and knees. The Donatello action figure comes with a weapon stand, a Bo (Donatello’s signature weapon), turtle fist daggers, ninja stars, and kama.
Playmates based the highly articulated action figure on the Donatello character from the 1987 animated television series. Donatello is the creative genius of the group. He is the most scientifically intelligent Turtle in the group and is solely responsible for most of the Ninja Turtles’ gadgets and vehicles.
1. Playmates’ Leonardo (1988)
Playmates Toys released their Leonardo action figure in 1988 as a basic figure from their debut wave of Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles toys. The highly articulated figure is distinguishable from the remaining Turtles by his blue-colored mask and ribbons tied around his wrists, elbows, and knees. The action figure comes with a weapon stand, katana blades (Leonardo’s signature weapon), Turtle fist daggers, ninja stars, and kama.
Playmates also based this action figure on the character from the 1987 cartoon series, Leonardo. Leonardo is the leader and battle commander of the Ninja Turtles. He has also proven to be the most composed and mature.
Final Thoughts
The Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles toys from the 80s were exquisite action figures and are mostly collectors’ items now. The significant success of the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles animated television series was quickly felt in the toy market. As the cartoon grew in popularity, kids desired replicas of their favorite Turtle or any other character from the show.
Do you have old and used Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles toys?
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About the author
Author: Chris Ingledue
Contact: email
Bio: I am the founder and owner of Wheeljack’s Lab pop Culture and Toy Shop. My vision has always been to reunite customers with their favorite childhood toys and pop culture, triggering fond memories, and reigniting their imaginations. Every day, I work in the “lab” where it’s Christmas 365 days a year. I scour the internet, like when we had the Sears Catalog of yesteryear, for the next great treasure. Then, I await the arrival of the postman as if he were Santa Claus himself and helping collectors worldwide with their own versions of Christmas. Every day as a vintage toy buyer is an absolute joy!
The weapons for that Foot Soldier are incorrect. It did not come with that knife, it came with a ball and chain type weapon. That knife looks like the one included with Rocksteady. Your post may mislead a collector into thinking they’re not getting an authentic toy.
Looks like we were both kind of wrong. I just checked my packaged one, it does have the knife AND the other 2 weapons.
Yes, it does have all three weapons. The photograph is from an auction of an incomplete Foot Soldier done by us, so it does not have all the weapons present. That is sometimes the nature of selling used toys.
I checked the wording of the article to confirm that it does indeed mention all three in two different sentences.