Mondo's New TMNT Figures Will Make You Feel Like A Kid--And That's By Design

As a child of the ’80s and ’90s, I’ve been through countless waves of Ninja Turtles merchandise, from action figures to cartoons, video games, and even pizza-themed playsets. But when Mondo announced their soft vinyl Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles collection, it felt like a breath of fresh air in the sea of cookie-cutter collectibles.


When Mondo unveiled its fresh assortment of Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles figurines crafted from pliable vinyl, this collection undeniably distinguished itself amidst the offerings from other collectible brands associated with the franchise. In an environment saturated with intricately posable “ultimate” figures inspired by everything ranging from the original comic book to the iconic Coming Out of Their Shells concert tour, Mondo’s oversized, more robust reinterpretations of the initial action-figure series definitely offered a fresh perspective.

When Mondo delivered the Michelangelo action figure prototype to me for evaluation, it stood out as a particularly potent dose of nostalgia compared to most other items available – though I didn’t know exactly why until I talked to the creative team at Mondo.

It’s worth noting that the firm’s plush vinyl figurines are generally bigger than many of the action figures typically sold in stores, particularly those categorized as collectibles. However, the upcoming launch of the Ninja Turtles line makes this discrepancy more evident.

According to Mondo Senior Director Hector Arce, speaking with TopMob, the sense of nostalgia comes from both the colors and memories associated with Turtles toys, as well as a tactile experience. He explained that when we were children, holding a turtle toy in our small hands gave us a specific feeling. Now that we’re adults, our hands have grown larger, but these new Turtles toys still feel the same way they did back then in your hand.

Mondo's New TMNT Figures Will Make You Feel Like A Kid--And That's By Design

Peter Santa-Maria, Mondo’s Senior Creative Director, commented, “Few individuals get to physically handle these items. However, when people do, they all seem to express a similar sentiment, which feels almost like a shared, unconscious tactile memory.”

Growing up, I used to have a lot of fun with many Ninja Turtles toys. I’m happy to say that the new version does a great job of capturing that nostalgic experience. The articulation is quite similar, although instead of elbow joints like the original toys, the wrists are now movable.

At San Diego Comic-Con, I finally got my hands on some figures in the flesh, and let me tell you, they really made a splash! The toy line has definitely left an impression, and there’s no doubt it’s got potential to expand even further. Among all the exciting reveals, the Baxter Stockman prototype at Funko’s booth was a real showstopper. With those colossal fly wings attached, it towered over everything else!

Mondo opted for a unique approach in contrast to the mainstream toy industry, choosing bigger and more stylish figures with reduced articulation instead of exact replicas of our beloved Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles (TMNT) toys, cartoons, and films from the past. The reasoning behind this was straightforward.

In the vast ocean of extraordinary turtle-themed items available, we felt compelled to stand out – to carve our own unique niche, as stated by Arce. I believe these creations are indeed achieving that distinctiveness.

Mondo's New TMNT Figures Will Make You Feel Like A Kid--And That's By Design

Additionally to Ninja Turtles action figures, Mondo offers soft vinyl toys based on various franchises such as Halloween, Scott Pilgrim vs. the World, Stranger Things, Godzilla, and King Kong. For fans seeking figures with more movability, they also provide articulated figures for certain properties like Masters of the Universe, Batman: The Animated Series, and X-Men: The Animated Series.

Essentially, similar to its exclusive poster prints and vinyl discs, Mondo aims to leave a unique touch on every product it distributes.

Santa-Maria stated, “There are countless fascinating collectibles out in the world. Our goal is to identify what’s ordinary and add our unique touch. We want to infuse anything we have the rights to develop with a dash of our creativity. How can we make it recognizable yet modern at the same time?”

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2024-08-26 23:39