Figure of the Day: Day 360: Anakin Skywalker

ANAKIN SKYWALKER Jedi Spirits
The Power of the Force Collection Cinema Scenes
Item No.: Asst. 84035 No. 84058
Number: n/a
Includes: Display Base
Action Feature: n/a
Retail: $19.99
Availability: Fall 1998
Appearances: Return of the Jedi

Bio: Obi-Wan Kenobi, Anakin Skywalker, and Yoda-- three individuals with lives intricately intertwined. Before Obi-Wan Kenobi was forced into a life of hiding, before Anakin Skywalker gave in to the dark side and became Darth Vader, even before Yoda was known as the last Jedi Master, a young Anakin was presented to the Jedi Council for permission to train the boy in the ways of the Force. Many years later, the Galactic Republic crumbled and the evil Empire rose in its place. Only after the defeat of the Empire, at the hands of Anakin's son Luke Skywalker, would the three great Jedi be reunited after death as spiritual guides for Luke and the New Republic. (Taken from the figure's box back.)

Image: Adam Pawlus' toy shelves.

Commentary: As a figure that's been Special Edition-ed out of the saga, this Anakin Skywalker is a bit of an artifact. It's essentially a statue, but he has a good face sculpt, interesting decoration, and good texturing that show it to be from a good era of action figures. However, what you see is what you get-- it doesn't like to move and there isn't much to it. Anakin seems to have the most different figures at different stages of his life. You have the 10-year-old, the 20-year old, the cyborg, the tattooed warrior, the warrior, and now, the dead guy. There's also room for more Expanded Universe Anakin figures in there which, no doubt, we'll someday see due to the neverending popularity of the Skywalker patriarch and the need for new product. Here's hoping, really-- such a great character could stand to have some more toys made for him, perhaps a "live action" figures of the various Clone Wars Volume II costumes?

Oh yeah, and it mentions the Expanded Universe construct of the New Republic on the box. Cool, no?

Collector's Notes: As the old Sebastian Shaw Anakin was replaced by Hayden in 2004 when the DVDs came out, a lot of fans are crossing their fingers for a new version-- and if you believe the rumor mill, we'll get one in the next year.

Day 360: May 1, 2007