The 1990 live-action Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles film holds a special place in the cockles of my heart. I was only 11 years old when it was released, and the film was the first that I was able to attend without parental interference. That’s a big moment for a youngster, and luckily it was a TMNT film and not something like The Rescuers Down Under (also released in 1990).
That year was also the peak of the original Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtle cartoon series, which ran from 1987 to 1996. And there was also the classic Playmates TMNT action figure series. So it’s not a surprise that I still think fondly about the 1990 Ninja Turtles film.
Fast forward 27 years, and NECA has started releasing quarter-scale figures based on the film license. These are large, 16.5-inch tall beasts with a lot of heft and just as many points of articulation (they say about 30). To date, they’ve released Leonardo and – just recently – Raphael. Thanks to NECA, we’ll be featuring the Raphael figure in this review.
The first thing you notice is that this collectible likely weighs more than an actual live box turtle. It could definitely be the centerpiece of your TMNT collection. And it’s not just because the figure is the size of a two-year-old child. NECA has done an amazing job capturing the on-screen look of Raphael. If you remember, each turtle looked slightly different. And this is the spitting image of the film version of Raph.
Raphael includes three sets of interchangeable hands, a slice of pizza (of course), and his two sai. The sai can either be held in either hand or placed in the belt holster. And there’s enough articulation in the figure’s arms and legs that you can get all sorts of poses from the included accessories.
So let’s talk about the money. The suggested retail price of $99.99 seems like a lot, but it’s actually less than half of some comparable 1/6th scale figures. Remember…this Raphael is a 1/4th scale figure.
And it’s not like NECA is skimping on the quality. Both the sculpting and paintwork is top-notch. Raphael’s skin is sculpted with all sorts of texture, and he has random dark green splotches…just like he did in the movie.
It’s sad to type this, but the original Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles movie is closing in on being 3 decades old. Hopefully the reboot hasn’t made people forget that original film. Although…we all hope we can forget that Ninja Rap scene from Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles II: The Secret of the Ooze.
The Facts
1/4th Scale Raphael
Series: 1990 Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles Movie
Manufacturer: NECA
Material: Plastic
Dimensions: 1/4th scale – 16.5 inches tall
Points of Articulation: 30 points
Accessories: Two Sai; Slice of Pizza; 3 sets of interchangeable hands
Pricing: $99.99
You can pick one up at the following:
Amazon.com: $169.99
Still available for pre-order at a number of online retailers.
