Figure of the Day: Day 93: Obi-Wan Kenobi

OBI-WAN KENOBI Coruscant Chase
Saga Collection Collection 1
Item No.: Asst. 84851 No. 84854
Number: 0246
Includes: Lightsaber, ASN-121 Droid
Action Feature: Magnet in hand connects to droid or lightsaber
Retail: $4.99
Availability: March (or April) 2002
Appearances: Attack of the Clones

Bio: Ten years after losing his master at the hands of the Sith, Obi-Wan Kenobi has become Anakin Skywalker’s Jedi mentor. Given the mission to protect Senator Amidala after an attempt on her life, Obi-Wan finds himself hanging from a fleeing ASN-121 assassin droid as it tries to escape through the maze of Coruscant cityscape! (Taken from the figure's cardback.)

Image: Adam Pawlus' toy shelves.

Commentary: The first figure shown to the world from Attack of the Clones was this Obi-Wan Kenobi figure. With a metal lightsaber, magnets, and seven points of articulation, it pretty much set the stage for the year. Which is to say, decent quality, low price, and loads of play features. The figure's sculpt was based on scanned data from the sets (or so we were told) with additional input from toy designers, otherwise it would be a statue. The figure's quite capable of holding on to the droid, but be careful-- it's not a very strong magnet and it could drop. The sculpt is par for the course-- good, but not great. The likeness is not at all bad, however the paint job doesn't do it any favors. The expression (and parts of the face) do look like Ewan McGregor, but obviously a little paint goes a long way and in this case, it could've used a little more. The dirt on the boots was a nice touch, though, and as the de-facto "standard" figure of Obi-Wan for the movie, this figure was adequate for its time, although revisiting this figure would be nice, now that we can have ball joints and even better sculpting.

Collector's Notes: This figure was rereleased, with all of its accessories, in the Toys "R" Us exclusive Jedi Warriors set. (Yes, we know, very exciting.) Unlike Episode I, the figures from the second prequel made a big leak in March, over a month before their targeted release date. Fans all over the United States stumbled on cases of them sitting in the middle of the floor (or on the pegs) at Wal-Marts, Targets, and other stores, thus leading to an added crazy degree of excitement that you normally don't get from a launch feeding frenzy. Of course, four years later, and interest in the figure isn't exactly high.

Day 93: August 7, 2006