Figure of the Day: Day 1,029: Anakin Skywalker

ANAKIN SKYWALKER Mos Espa Encounter
Episode I Cinema Scene Assortment
Item No.: Asst. 84115 No. 84161
Manufacturer: Hasbro
Number: n/a
Includes: Chuba, CommTech Chip, extra figures
Action Feature: n/a
Retail: $19.99
Availability: Summer 1999
Appearances: The Phantom Menace

Image: Adam Pawlus' yard.

Bio: While wandering with Anakin Skywalker through the maze of Mos Espa's outdooor marketplace, Jar Jar Binks spots a juicy chuba hanging temptingly from a vendor's cart. Unable to resist, Jar Jar lashes out with his sticky, elastic tongue, and accidentally sends the tasty treat flying into the soup of the galaxy's fiercest podracer - Sebulba. Enraged, the Dug racer leaps from his table and viciously attacks the unfortunate Jar Jar, leaving young Anakin to rescue his Gungan friend. (Taken from the figure's packaging.)

Commentary: As I've mentioned before, figures of Anakin Skywalker from the first prequel pretty much up and vanished in 2000, with one exception in a Jedi High Council pack around 2004. This particular version-- and most from 1999-- were basically all the same figure with slightly different limbs or accessories. A single sculpt was modified and made into a basic figure, a pilot version, a pilot version with an LCD game, a pack-in, and so on and so forth. They basically resembled the character, and had more than a passing resemblance to actor Jake Lloyd, although the toy seems to be slightly darker skinned and had a slightly less round face.

So, how cool is this figure? It really isn't. Nearly 10 years after its release, I can safely say that this one has basically remained in a box for most of the past decade. While packaged with unique Sebulba and Jar Jar Binks figures, neither are ultimately compelling enough in the modern collecting world. This Anakin's most notable feature is a pointed finger that makes it look like he's lecturing Jar Jar. That's the high point here. He has six points of articulation and no accessories to speak of. If you have one Anakin Skywalker from The Phantom Menace, you really do almost have them all. This one's for collectors only, especially collectors of packaged stuff. The boxed set looks quite nice.

Collector's Notes: This mold has never been reissued, but it's so close to other figures you might not realize this. As mentioned above, what makes this release distinctive is that pointing finger arm. I guess you can do "pull my finger" dioramas all day long if you get this one. Hooray for the elevation of the level of discourse in toy collecting! And fart jokes!

--Adam Pawlus

Day 1,029: May 25, 2009