Nickelodeon Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles Series 15 (Playmates Toys)

It feels like it's been a while since we've spoken about the Nickelodeon line of Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles from Playmates Toys, but fret not, new toys are hitting toy isles as we speak - Most of which are the items based on the new film; Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Out of the Shadows. Its because of this that you may have a little difficulty finding the four new figures from the basic lines. Most stores are being so inundated with movie based figures that they're simply not getting the basic line in stock. We found these at a local Walmart, but even then, trips to other Walmarts in the area yielded nothing but movie related items.

All four of the new figures are Leonardo and Michelangelo related. Much like the prior released series, these come as a surprise as they were not announced at last years Toy Fair or Comic Con. Eye-Poppin Leo and Tongue-Poppin' Mikey were both advertised on the back of the aforementioned prior release - So to correct our statement, they were a surprise when the prior release hit shelves.

 Eye-Poppin' Leo

 Tongue-Poppin' Mikey

Then there are the two new Shadow Ninja figures. These resemble the very first figure released for the Nickelodeon TMNT line - Night Shadow Leonardo. However, unlike this figure which was stiff as a board, I.E. no articulation, and featured a paint deco of black, these figures change to black when dipped in cold water.

 Shadow Ninja Color Change Leo

Shadow Ninja Color Change Mikey

***Update***

You can add the highly anticipated Dire Beaver into the mix of new figures that have hit store shelves. As with the above figures, Walmart appears to be the place where the action is. We found two at our local store, but none at other retailers such as Toys R' Us or Target. Happy hunting!

Dire Beaver

While new figures are always fun to find, these do come with a bit of disappointing news. First and foremost, while Playmates Toys is releasing newly unannounced figures this in turn continues to delay the highly anticipated ones that have already been announced. For example, one of the most anticipated figures, Muckman, has been confirmed as being released (the good news). However, it's not going to be until 4th quarter of this year (the bad news). In addition, and the most disappointing news, this eats into budgeted funding to produce and release figures such as the Mutant 3-Pack which would have featured Ice Cream Kitty, Spike and Dr. Cluckingsworth. These figures have been "back burnered" until further notice - I.E. may or may not be released. In short, while we continue to receive revisioned (or repainted) sculpts of the four Turtles, it causes delay, or the loss of entirely new figures. Personally, we'd rather get the new figures, and skip on the oversaturation of the Turtles.

Oh, well. We suppose Playmates Toys is going to do what they feel like doing. They did show some good stuff in their mix of Toy Fair 2016 promotional items. However, they also showed a massive amount of more Turtle brothers figures as well. The line has already been running for four to five years, which is about the halfway point of what the original series ran for back when it started in the 80's. Perhaps Playmates Toys is running out of steam.

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