Tron Action Figures Identification Tool with Pictures

Despite Lisberger Studios’ initial plan to finance Tron independently with the profits from Animalympics, the project faced a financial hurdle. Undeterred, Lisberger and his team embarked on a journey to secure additional funding, approaching major production companies. While many rejected the project, the Walt Disney Company recognized the potential in the premise and the studio’s animation techniques. This pivotal moment allowed Tron to secure the funding it needed to realize its vision of a virtual world, complete with back-lit animation and revolutionary CGI.

While Tron was initially conceptualized with a comedic lead, such as Robin Williams, Disney pushed the film to take a more serious tone. This new direction led to the creation of the software engineer Kevin Flynn, played by Jeff Bridges. Meanwhile, another central character in the film, Alan Bradley, was named after the team’s scientific advisor, Alen Kay.

The story of Tron

Tron followed Kevin Flynn’s journey as he sought to reclaim software he had developed for a massive company, Encom. After a former coworker, Ed Dillinger, took credit for Flynn’s programming, Flynn left the company. Not happy to have another use his work, Flynn attempted to reclaim his code by hacking Encom’s systems. These attempts introduced him to the Master Control Program (MCP), which began to overtake Encom’s entire network, accessing data and blocking employees from the information.

After Flynn attempted to access Encom’s mainframe directly, the MCP responded by digitizing the man and making him a new resident of the Grid. Once there, Flynn discovered that the MCP had locked down the grid and forced programs to play games to survive. Moreover, a security program, Tron, was also forced to play these games, making it incapable of protecting data from malicious programs like the MCP.

As a “User,” Flynn had power over the mainframe, making it easier for him to escape and revolt against the MCP. Thus, he journeyed with Tron and Yori to the I/O tower to communicate with the outside world. Eventually, they gained the power to defeat the MCP and his lackeys like Sark.

The Tomy Tron toy line

Following the trend of merchandising science fiction films, Tron gained a small action figure toy line. The Japanese company Tomy, whose history dates back to 1924, picked up the license to make this franchise its first series of action figures.  Originally called Tomiyama, the toy manufacturer had become best known for wind-up toys. However, the company was ready for the challenge that Tron presented.

Mimicking the iconic back-lit style of the movie, Tomy developed a series of action figures with translucent plastics. Each of these action figures featured detailed painted-on circuitry lines. These action figures also came with accessories like identity discs or staves. Moreover, the Tron action figures came packaged on colorful card-backs that mimicked the style of the movie.

Tomy only created four action figures for the Tron toy line: Flynn, Tron, Sark, and the Warrior. The Warrior action figures were troop-builder figures that came with a staff accessory. Meanwhile, all the other characters came with an identity disc. Thus, the figures were ready to reenact the battle for the mainframe’s freedom.

Tomy also created two vehicles for the Tron toy line. The light cycle game served as a decisive moment in the film, so the company created toys of these vehicles. They made two light cycles: one orange and one yellow. Each of these vehicles featured a zip-pull cord that launched it into action. Tomy also dabbled in the handheld electronic games market with a Tron game.

Other Tron Merchandise

In addition to Tomy’s toy line, other products were celebrating Tron’s theatrical release. Bally Midway brought the film’s excitement to the video game arcades in 1982. This arcade cabinet featured four mini-games that presented gameplay based on the movie’s best moments, like the light cycle race. It also featured black lights that made players’ clothing seem to glow. The arcade cabinet became a hit, leading to the creation of a follow-up arcade game, the Discs of Tron, in 1983.

Tron’s action also found its way to console video games. In 1982, Mattel featured Tron on its Intellivision system.

Tron 2.0 video game

Even though Tron initially received a lukewarm reception, the film gained a cult following. Thus, it eventually grew into a franchise with multiple follow-ups. The first of these follow-up projects was a 2003 video game called Tron 2.0. Monolith Productions created this game for PC and ported it to Mac OS, Game Boy Advance, and Xbox. While this game briefly revived the franchise, a theatrical sequel eventually removed it from the continuity.

NECA’s toy lines

NECA played a role in keeping the Tron franchise alive in the early 2000s. This company notably produced the action figures for Tron 2.0. They also released Tomy-style Tron action figures in 2002. The company even produced new light cycles for these rereleases, producing the missing blue cycle. Even though NECA’s toys resembled the old Tomy ones, the accessories were incompatible between the two lines.

Appearances in Kingdom Hearts

The next time that Tron reappeared was within another video game franchise: SquareEnix’s Kingdom Hearts II in 2005. This time, the movie only became the basis for a world within the game featuring characters like Tron. The characters in the game, like Donald and Goofy, took on appearances that also mimicked the appearance of the Tron world. Moreover, Tron returned to the Kingdom Hearts franchise in 2012’s Kingdom Hearts 3D: Dream Drop Distance.

While these games only featured the Tron world, they led to the creation of new Tron action figures. Diamond Selects created multiple action figures based on the Kingdom Hearts Tron world, including characters like Tron and Sora.

Tron: Legacy, the theatrical sequel

Tron returned to theaters in 2010 when Disney released the official sequel, Tron: Legacy.  Decades after Tron’s events, Kevin Flynn’s son, Sam, followed a mysterious signal found on a pager that led to his father’s abandoned arcade. While exploring, a laser device activated and transported Sam onto the Grid, a virtual world his father had created before his disappearance.

A new program wearing Kevin Flynn’s face, Clu, had taken over the Grid and forced programs to participate in deadly games. Thus, Sam had to fight to survive in the games, similar to his father’s journey decades earlier. However, Sam did not have Tron’s assistance in his journey, for the program had been corrupted.

Sam discovered that Clu had planned to use his father’s identification disc to enter and conquer the human world. After Sam escaped, he discovered his father had been imprisoned on the Grid for years. He eventually helped Tron remember his past and defeated Clu. He also brought an ISO program from the grid, Quorra, to the human world.

Spin Master’s Tron: Legacy toy line

Following the tradition of marketing movies with toys, Spin Masters created the toy line for Tron: Legacy. This company created multiple 4” action figures featuring characters like Sam Flynn, Clu, Rinzler, Black Guard, Jarvis, Quorra, Castor, and more. They even released Target-exclusive sets like Sam Flynn and Rinzler Coliseum Disc Battle 1. The Tron: Legacy toy line even included a 12” Ultimate Clu action figure.

Aside from the action figures, Spin Master introduced new vehicles based on the show. Thus, new variants of the light cycles were available for movie fans. This 2010 Tron toy line lasted two series before it faded away. However, many other companies also contributed to the Tron: Legacy merchandising push.

Other Tron: Legacy merchandise

Medicom also released new Tron toys. This company notably created Tron-themed Bearbricks for the movie and a Tron: Legacy Kubrick set.

Years after Tron: Legacy left movie theaters, LEGO released a building set based on the film. They created a pair of light cycles that fans could build starting in 2018.

Another element of Tron: Legacy marketing was a new video game entry called Tron: Evolution. This 2010 video game acted as a prequel to Legacy and was released on multiple platforms, including PC, PS3, PSP, and Xbox 360.

The television series and inclusion in Disney: Infinity

Disney produced another prequel for Tron: Legacy in 2012. Tron: Uprising aired on Disney XD for 19 episodes. This series follows the character Beck, who trained under Tron to become a great warrior. This character eventually became a revolutionary leader who bravely fought against Clu.

The Tron Franchise appeared once more when it became a part of the Disney: Infinity Toys to Life video game. This game series ran from 2013 until 2016 and utilized chipped figurines to activate characters in the game. Thus, a new figurine based on Tron: Legacy appeared in stores.

The modern Tron toy lines and projects

In the 2020s, Diamond Select became the home of the Tron license. They introduced new 7” action figures of characters like Tron and Flynn. Diamond Select also created multiple SDCC Tron action figure exclusives. For instance, they released a 2020 SDCC exclusive in a faux VHS tape case. The company’s 2021 SDCC three-figure set featuring Flynn, Tron, and Sark captured the feel of the vintage Tomy toys. Diamond Select also released Walgreens-exclusive Tron action figures.

One more company has introduced new Tron action figures to the market. In 2022, Super7 created new Tron toys, like a Tron and orange light cycle set that appeared in Disney parks.

A new addition to the Tron franchise, Tron: Ares, is planned to be released in 2025. Over the years, this project has evolved from a short film into a full film.