The Lord of the Rings trilogy by J.R.R. Tolkien has been a favorite of many ever since the first book was published in 1954. Since then, the trilogy has grown into a full-blown franchise – with movies, games, endless merchandizing, and action figures. As collectors of vintage toys, we know the importance of the history of a toy. Knowing when the first Lord of the Rings action figures were made is essential!
Animation Adaption
There was one animated movie before the Lord of the Rings film trilogy we all know and love today. Ralph Bakshi adapted the first two books into an animated film in 1978. This film used various animation techniques, such as rotoscoping. It also changed Saruman’s name to Aruman. Despite this movie being intended as the first part of a series, it never received a sequel. So, the story remained incomplete. Even though this movie had a lukewarm reception, a memorable toy line came from it.
The First Lord of the Rings Action Figures
Knickerbocker, a small toy company that was known for its stuffed animals, produced the action figures for the Lord of the Rings animated movie. This took place in 1979 – a year after the movie came out. The series featured 5 ½” action figures, with characters such as Gandalf, Aragon, Frodo, Samwise, and Gollum. It had a Ringwraith with a 7 ½” horse named Charger. There was also Frodo’s Horse. Eventually, competition from the Star Wars line prevented this line from gaining any traction.
After the Knickerbocker Line
Rankin/Bass created The Return of the King movie in 1980 to complete Bakshi’s unfinished story. However, few people found out about this release. Therefore, many people were left with an unsatisfying, premature end to the movies. Then, in 2001, Peter Jackson introduced his live-action take on the books. Complimenting this new take, Toy Biz released action figures for the movie from 2002 to 2005. During this time, they created thirteen different jaw-dropping versions of Frodo! Many other toy companies, such as Diamond Select, produced action figures for this series. However, there is something nostalgic and special about the original 1979 Knickerbocker series.
Lord of the Rings Legacy
The epic adventures of the Lord of the Rings series found its way into countless hearts, and it continues to inspire people worldwide. Tolkien’s genius is exemplified in his writings’ ability to invoke wonder in generations of people. Almost 7 decades after publishing, the Lord of the Rings is gaining fans as young children discover the series. The 1979 Knickerbocker action figures take us back to when the story felt new. Vintage toys allow us to feel like we experience our favorite adventures for the first time again.
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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 versions of Christmas. Every day as a vintage toy buyer is an absolute joy!
Is there a site that shows what toy biz lord of the rings figures go with each accessory. I have over a hundred figures that got moved and all mixed up. Trying to match everything back together. These are the 6-7” figures. Thank you
Sorry, we mostly buy and sell vintage toys. I have not been to a site that does that for LOTR’s. If you find one post it here.