Tuesday, June 26, 2012

Star Wars Figure of the Day: Day 1,835: Anakin Skywalker

ANAKIN SKYWALKER Jedi High Council
Original Trilogy Collection Screen Scenes
Item No.:
No. 32162
Manufacturer: Hasbro
Number: Scene 3
Includes: Base, extra base, 2 chairs, Saesee Tiin, Adi Gallia
Action Feature: n/a
Retail: $19.99
Availability: 2004
Appearances: The Phantom Menace

Bio: The Jedi High Council is the main interface between the Jedi and the government of the Republic. The twelve High Council members are chosen from the ranks of the Jedi Masters and represent a gathering of great minds who have proven themselves and their abilities in the service of peace and justice.   (Taken from the figure's packaging.)

Image: Adam's photo area.

Commentary:  Some figures you chase down because they're great, others you get out of obligation.  If you want a complete Jedi High Council chamber, you're going to end up with this Anakin Skywalker which, honestly, isn't a bad figure.  By the time he was released you probably already had an opportunity or two to buy this mold, and the darker dirt and pretty nicely painted head may not be enough to make it exciting.  (Of course, in 2012 there have been a couple new repaints of this mold, as well.)  Anakin's head looks vaguely like Jake Lloyd, and I mean that it sort of occupies this neat space between being true to the actor, and true to the character.  A completely realistic one may be creepy, but this one definitely feels a lot like an action figure made to look like him, which, uh, is exactly what it is.  The costume is good, the articulation is acceptable, given that it's a figure from 2000 it's actually quite good.   Really, the only thing I'd change would be to fix up the legs to have a better range of motion in the hips, because aside from that the sculpt and deco aren't bad.  It's just that the figure occupies that "don't I already have a figure just like this?" space... and it sort of does,  but it's just different enough to make you mad.  Sort of.  I think it's not different enough to make you mad, really, if it weren't for the Jedi screen scenes you probably would skip this set.

Collector's Notes: I was probably the only collector who ho-hummed the scenes as Hasbro put them out in 2004, as the figures were pretty lackluster and we were all lining up to shell out roughly $80 for a floor and some chairs.  You should have minimal difficulty getting this set for $20 or less today, which is funny because I remember these commanding a premium a few years ago.  I guess people realized the Jedi in the set weren't really good compared to other releases?


--Adam Pawlus



Day 1,835: June 26, 2012

No comments: