Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles action figures

Lore & Background

The first TMNT license came as a role-playing game by Palladium, followed by miniatures from Dark Horse. First Comics reprinted early issues in color. Licensing agent Mark Freedman approached toy companies; only Playmates Toys expressed interest. Playmates insisted on a cartoon first, leading to the 1987 animated series produced with Murakami-Wolf-Swenson. The first action figures debuted in summer 1988, including the four Turtles, Splinter, April, Shredder, Rocksteady, Bebop, and a Foot Soldier, plus vehicles like the Cheapskate and Turtle Blimp. Vehicles included a jokebook and catalog; Pizza Points on packaging could be redeemed for merchandise.

Reader's Guide

The Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles action figure line, produced by Playmates Toys from 1988, was a landmark in toy history. Its success was driven by a coordinated animated series, a strategy influenced by earlier toy lines like He-Man and G.I. Joe. The figures' detailed sculpting and variety—including historical and pop culture themes—set a standard for action figure lines. The line lasted ten years, producing around 400 figures and dozens of vehicles and playsets. Its sales of about US$1.1 billion in four years made it the third-bestselling toy figure line at the time. The collaboration between Playmates, Murakami-Wolf-Swenson, and writers created a lasting legacy in both toys and animation.

Did You Know?

• Staff artists at Mirage Studios in Northampton, Massachusetts provided conceptual designs for many figures and are credited on packaging.
• The first animated series premiered in 1987 and ran for almost a decade.
• The premiere series of figures included vehicles like the Cheapskate, Turtle Trooper, Turtle Blimp, and Foot Knucklehead.
• Retromutagen Ooze was sold in 1989 in a container with a glow-in-the-dark Ninja Turtle in mid-mutation.