Mattel Naruto toys

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When the Naruto anime series first hit North American shores in 2005, stores started stocking their shelves with the orange-clad ninja. American toy maker Mattel produced a line of Naruto figures and accessories – from small posable action figures to larger fixed statues. Mattel doesn’t make these anymore, but here’s a look at some of toys from the series’ original release.

12" Naruto Slashing Action with sound12″ Naruto with sound

Despite his size, Naruto is limited in movement and emits four different and annoying sounds. Pressing the red spiral on the back of his jacket forces Naruto’s left fist forward with a rackety “pow!” Twisting the ninja’s upper body exudes a whooshing noise as his left leg kicks out sideways. Kind of awkward for someone who’s attacks are supposed to be articulated and deadly, not clumsy.

 

12" Sasuke Slashing Action with sound12″ Sasuke with sound

An exact clone of the Naruto figure, Sasuke presents no new sounds or movements. The punching and kicking action are the same — nothing new and fantastic. In this case, the button on the back is the Uchiha clan emblem – the simple red and white fan used to blow air into a fire. Sasuke just looks good just standing around all by his lonesome self.

3½” Naruto and Sasuke

Possibly the most prevalent of the figures available, the 3½” figures included variations of Naruto and some of his fellow ninjas. With articulated joints and accessories, these figures are much more flexible than their larger counterparts. Heads turn, arms flex, and the legs bend. The aspiring hokage has the most  forms available, but the noticeable differences are with his hands – they can be set for jutsu attacks, carrying kunai, or configured to carry other objects.

Sasuke came in a few forms, one of which has him in the stance for Fire Style: Dragon Flame Jutsu. Because of this, the legs move at the hip; the knees do not flex as they are bent in position for this technique. Sasuke’s left hand is moulded for a transparent orange flame accessory, long missing, which gives the illusion he is really blowing fire.

Naruto and Sasuke 3.5" figures Naruto and Sasuke 3.5" figures Naruto Throw Kunai Daggers
Naruto Shadow Clone Jutsu Naruto Shadow Clone Jutsu

3½” Ninja Academy Naruto

Here’s something you don’t see everyday – Naruto with his goggles. At the very beginning of the series, before graduating Ninja Academy, Naruto had a pair of goggles perched on his forehead. A limited edition release, Ninja Academy Naruto was available at a select few comic/anime conventions; in this case being Wizard World Chicago 2006 (San Diego Comic Con being the other). Included is the massive scroll that Naruto was tricked into stealing which inside contains a number of forbidden techniques, one of them being his trademark Shadow Clone Jutsu. The packaging is much more elaborate than the other retail models to highlight its elusiveness.

Ninja Academy Naruto front Ninja Academy Naruto back

2″ Squad 7 Figures

Even smaller, Sasuke, Naruto and Sakura come bundled together in their team formation. Forever frozen in their poses, Sasuke wields the massive fūma shuriken, while Naruto has three of the more practical throwing stars – one in his his right hand and two in the left. And Sakura is left clutching a kunai in her right hand. Considering their size, the faces are detailed, right down to Sakura’s large forehead while some areas appear to have sloppy paint job, especially around the hands and feet. Four sets were made, based on the Chunin Exam storyline; the first one obviously being Squad 7, but there was also Orochimaru and the Grass Ninjas; Team Dosu with Kin Tsuchi, Dosu Kinuta, and Zaku Abumi; finally Squad 10 with Shikamaru Nara, Choji Akimichi, and Ino Yamanaka, or so the back of the box advertised.

Naruto Mini Figures Squad 7 Mini Figures back

This is just a handful of the complete collection. Most of the main cast was made available – Sasuke, Kakashi, Jiraiya, Shino, Neji, Gaara, Orochimaru, Kidomaru, Zabuza, and Haku. Even though these figures aren’t being manufactured anymore, plenty are still available in anime stores or on eBay.

 

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