Star Wars Figure of the Day: Day 3,047: R5 Unit (Yellow, 2023 Pride Collection)

R5 UNIT Disney Exclusive
Star Wars Droid Factory
Item No.: ???
Manufacturer: Disney
Number: n/a
Includes: Red R2 unit, orange R4 unit, yellow R5 unit, green R6 unit, blue R7 unit, violet R8 unit
Action Feature: Comes apart
Retail: $74.99
Availability: May 2023
Appearances: n/a

Bio: In celebration of Pride and the company's Pride collection, The Walt Disney Company is giving funds as part of our ongoing commitment to organizations around the world that support LGBTQ+ communities. (Taken from the packaging.)

Image: Adam's photo lab.

Availability: Click here to buy it at Amazon now! 

Click here to buy it at eBay now!

Commentary: If you want a R5 Unit that matches your old Game Boy Donkey Kong Land cartridges, this is it. Despite being famous for being red - or white, with red markings - this one is more or less a banana yellow. And in 2023, I offer it some of the greatest praise I can get after writing up over 3,000 action figures: it's different from what I've already got.

It's worth noting that the Pride Collection boxed set has four droids using the basic "R2" body, all of which follow the same template but in different colors. The darker panels are the same across all the bodies, but in different colors - as are the light ones, and the silver ones. In some cases the coloring is so subtle, you may miss it - there are indeed dark yellow panels here, but in the right lighting it's almost impossible to make them out. The painted sides of his legs also closely match the plastic, showing that they didn't take any shortcuts - but sometimes, you may not get credit for the work and the money you put in to something. It basically looks like a big yellow droid, which is enough to make me fairly happy.

The R5 dome looks like a 1980s kitchen accessory. The head uses light and dark paint to look like some sort of lemon wedge platter, and I am here for it. The eyes are painted black, with painted red and yellow indicators nearby. There are even silver struts on the side of the dome, plus a yellow interior under the head if you pop the noggin off. Disney did a nice job here.

While I still have some issue with the cost of a set of repaints that have been molds in circulation for over a decade, they're nice, it's for a good cause, and they stand out from other droids you've already purchased. While they still have the wheels in the feet, I would've loved a special accessory or hat in the box - although I suppose that could be tough to pull off correctly, other than maybe droid-size rainbow Mickey Mouse ears, which actually would be pretty cool. Get on that, Disney. And if you love droids, you should probably get this set before they sell out and someone carves them up to sell individually at a higher fee on eBay.

Collector's Notes: I got mine from Shop Disney.

--Adam Pawlus

Day 3,047: July 18, 2023