Playmates Reveals ‘Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles’ Relaunched Line at Toy Fair

Later this year, Nickelodeon will be reinventing the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles cartoon much in the way that IDW Publishing reinvented the TMNT comic line. While the core characteristics of the Turtles will remain intact, the creative teams behind these versions have gone in two very different directions. While IDW has gone for a more gritty and realistic (well as realistic as mutant turtles can be) version of the shelled foursome, Nickelodeon is going the other direction with a more kid friendly version much in the way the comics and cartoon series diverged over twenty years ago.

At Toy Fair, the Flickcast got to see some of these latest Turtles designs up close and personal. The first thing people will notice actually isn’t the turtles at all but the redesigns on Shredder, Splinter and April. Shredder’s redesign looks like it has some drastic anime inspired influences behind him. He has been beefed up in terms of muscles and has more exaggerated spikes on his armor than ever before. The same goes for the Foot Soldier’s who now have incredibly creepy white with red polka dotted eyes.

Splinter’s design has changed too. While the latest version of IDW’s comic still has Splinter as the elder sensei, the cartoon series looks to give the rat new life with an invigorated color scheme as opposed to his classic grey and ninja arm wraps to allow him to participate in the battle as well. April is taking on a completely new design as she is being cast this time as a teenage girl instead of a mid-20s news reporter.

The Turtles themselves retain a lot of the look from their 1990’s toy counterparts. Each turtle has their own distinct color scheme. This time however, characters will be sculpted more to scale with their personalities. Raphael will be the largest of the group and the more youthful Michelangelo will be smaller than his shell backed brothers. The Deluxe Power Sound FX line will feature voice actors from the series including Jason Biggs (American Pie, Saving Silverman) as Leonardo and Sean Astin (Rudy, The Lord of the Rings trilogy) as Raphael.

One really impressive addition to the line is the Secret Sewer Lair Playset which stands over three feet tall. Looking back on the original line, nothing even compared to the size of this thing. This is going to be one of those playsets that dominates living rooms and toy rooms much like He-Man and Thundercats castles did in the 80s.

Check out the descriptions of all the newest Tennage Mutant Ninja Turtles figures below and, more importantly, check out all the pictures too of what is in store for the Ninja Turtles later this year.

Action Figures

The Action Figures contain more than 12 points of articulation and are the most highly detailed and articulated Turtle figures ever made! Each turtle figure is uniquely sculpted, with heights ranging from 4.25 inches to 4.75 inches, to capture the individual personalities of the characters from the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles TV show. Each Turtle is wearing his signature bandana and comes packed with their two core Ninja weapons and added weapons rack for hours of Ninja playing excitement.

The Deluxe Power Sound FX Figures deliver battle phrases with awesome sound effects, and come to life like never before! Each of the figures stand 5.5 inches tall and features proprietary wire coil activation in the arms and legs that trigger heroic battle phrases, such as “I’m invincible!” and “Hiiiiiiii-yaa!”

The Classic Collection Action Figures reflect the look of the original Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles from the 1988 TV show. Each Turtle stands 6 inches tall, features more than 30 points of articulation and is authentically detailed to appeal to the true action figure collector.

Vehicles

The Sewer Spinnin’ Skateboard is compatible with all the Basic Turtle Action Figures and comes ready to Shred! The skateboard looks just like the one featured in the TV show and includes Ninja Battle Boost technology that allows it to perform over 10 different skateboard tricks.

With the Rippin’ Rider, the Turtles can hit the road ready for battle! Compatible with all the Basic Turtle Action Figures, the Rippin’ Rider comes complete with classic Turtle details and textures, including chopper front forks, quadruple rear exhaust and a T-shaped headlight to seek out The Foot wherever they are hiding.

A true Ninja needs a stealthy ride with awesome looks and details, and the Ninja Stealth Bike more than delivers! As seen in the TV show and compatible with all the Basic Turtle Action Figures, the vehicle features a textured turtle shell that covers the turtle from head to toe, and to on-lookers from above, makes it look just like the street. But with Ninja Battle Boost technology and the flip of a button, the shell opens, revealing a Ninja Turtle ready for battle! The cycle comes with an exclusive Raphael action figure.

A bad enemy like the dreaded Foot Soldiers need a bad ride, and the Dragon Chopper is a really, really bad ride! As seen in the TV show and compatible with Shredder, the Foot Soldiers and the four Basic Turtle Action Figures, the Dragon Chopper includes Ninja Battle Boost technology. Kids simply push the activation button and watch as the action figure performs a 360 degree flip over the handle bars and lands on its feet, ready for battle! The Dragon Chopper comes with an exclusive Foot Soldier action figure.

When the Turtles need to travel together to take down Shredder and the Foot Clan, they all pile into the Shellraiser. Built to run either on the subway rails or on the busy streets of New York City, the Shellraiser has entrances on the top, in the front and on the side of the car, and can fit up to eight Basic Action Figures inside. The Shellraiser really packs a punch with Ninja Battle Boost technology, including a spring loaded cannon on the top of the car and a side door that automatically opens with the touch of a button and a Turtle flies out, does two 360 degree flips around the bar and destroys whatever enemy is in the way!

Playsets

The ultimate playset for Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtle fans, the Secret Sewer Lair Playset is big, and ready for Ninja battle action! This playset will have kids creating their own Lair of excitement as they become the leader of the pack, swinging into action, training the Turtles and defeating Shredder once and for all! Standing 42 inches tall and resembling the Sewer Lair that is home to the Turtles in the TV show, the Secret Sewer Lair includes more than 20 different exciting Ninja features.

Role Play

Do you have what it takes to become a Ninja Turtle? With the Ninja Combat Gear, kids can Turtle up in their favorite Ninja gear to find out! Each set includes the Turtle’s authentic noise-making ninja weapon, signature bandana and two throwing stars that will help transform kids into their very own hero in a half shell!

Ever wonder what it would be like to be Leonardo and battle with his fierce Katana Sword? Now you can with Leonardo’s Stealth Sword! The fierce Katana Sword looks just like the one from the TV show and delivers the same power, and then some! It includes two modes of play; training and battle mode, and displays awesome light-up effects as kids swing to defeat the enemy mutant!