ANAKIN SKYWALKER Flashback/Dream Sequence
The Vintage Collection 3 3/4-Inch Action Figure
Item No.: Asst. E7763 No. G0906
Number: #347
Includes: Lightsaber, hilt
Action Feature: n/a
Retail: $16.99
Availability: January 2025
Appearances: Ahsoka
Bio: In the World Between Worlds, Anakin Skywalker appears to his former Padawan Ahsoka Tano to teach her one last, crucial lesson. (Taken from the figure's cardback.)
Image: Adam's photo lab.
Availability: Click here to buy it at Entertainment Earth now!
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Commentary: One of the things that's good - and bad - about collecting the same toys for over four decades are the improvements. When you see a live action-style figure like this
Anakin Skywalker, based on
Ahsoka, itself based on
The Clone Wars, you might say "don't I have this already?" And the answer is "yes, twice." We last got that
The Clone Wars The Vintage Collection Anakin Skywalker [FOTD #2,731] in 2020, itself a redux of a 2012 figure. Clearly enough time has passed, but if you're a toy company or licensor asking "why are our old fans acting like we're not doing anything good?" it's important to remember that not everybody is going to dive into their collection and compare an old figure to a new figure when pre-orders go live. If your memory of the old figure is positive, you may not want to replace it. (Conversely, if you make a new character, fans will take note.)
The big question is "Should you skip the original and/or replace it with this one?" I'd say yes, probably - if you get the 3-pack version or this one, they seem samey enough to get the job done. The 2012/2020 figure was very good for its time but this one refines it a bit. Emphasis on "a bit," mostly because the first one was good. It is hard to find new ways to make a super-articulated figure better, and in this case Hasbro does so with the new-style ball-jointed hips and thigh swivels. The rest of the joints are all pretty similar, and you even keep the cloth "skirt" which is a good move if Hasbro makes another Jedi Starfighter. If they don't, I wish they'd have done plastic.) The figure is generally excellent, with the kind of sculpting that's typical for a modern figure, a peg hole for the lightsaber hilt, a separately molded wig, and a good enough range of motion. The colors look good and I'd say the costume fits the figure better than the costume on the actor - that's good! The wig seems a little too floofy or high, which I would say gives the edge to the 2012/2020 hair. The figure's face is excellent, but he lacks any sort of scars. I'm not sure why, you could see it on the show.
It's a pity we never got to see this figure actually fight or duel or attack anybody on the TV show - the scene was economical. I don't think it's a lot to ask for some "Wars" to go with your "Stars," but such is budgeting on streaming - we got a pretty nice (if small) toy line from a series with a lot of cool stuff in it, and hopefully we'll see some more. Hasbro did a nice job overall here, and I would say my only genuine complaints are that his face is a little too clean, his hair is a little too perfect, but he's got it where it counts. You can pose his legs, you can pose his arms nicely, and it's worth noting he and the new Luke Farmboy share the same lightsaber hilts. I don't see this as a bad thing, and honestly at this point "close enough" works for me when it comes to lightsabers for my action figures. It's not a Vader hilt, we're winning here. If you see this figure at a good price, give it a look, and be sure to compare it to your old Anakin figures. You can really see how far Hasbro has come with sculpting in 13 years. And that's good! But also, if all we're getting after 13 years is new iterations of perfectly good existing things, I can't argue with the legions of fans who just moved on to other things.
Collector's Notes: I got mine from Entertainment Earth.
--Adam Pawlus
Day 3,221: March 6, 2025
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