Hi all! PlayToy HK has announced that they will be releasing a set of soft vinyl figures of the Science Ninja Team as part of their VinArt line of toys. The figures are each 11 inches tall, except for the 9 inch tall Jinpei. All five figures come with removable helmets and their individual weapons. It is unclear whether or not these figures have any amount of articulation, or if they are more or less soft vinyl statues. If they have any articulation at all, it would be at their hips, shoulders, and/or neck. These toys are high-end collectible soft vinyl figures, and as you might expect, this mean they come with a high-end collectible price. The individual figures are selling for $798 Hong Kong dollars apiece, which is roughly $103 U.S. dollars each. They can also be bought as a five figure set, which sells for $3,840 Hong Kong dollars, which is roughly $495 U.S. dollars. If you'd like to see more photos of the figures, including what they look like with their helmets removed, or would like to order any of the figures for yourself, this can be done at the PlayToy website here: http://www.playtoy.com.hk/pages/home James

I guess they're trying to make the figures look old school? I find them fairly ugly, can't see spending that kind of money on them, but thank you for keeping us informed!

Hi all! I don't disagree with you on the ugly. They aren't going to be winning any beauty contests, that's for sure! You hit the nail on the head that they're trying for an old school look. Soft vinyl toys in Japan during the 1960's, 1970's, and early 1980's tended toward exaggerated and strangely proportioned representations of the characters. At their best, they can be described as "cute." At their worst, they're just plain ol' ugly with a capitol "Ugh." Since those vintage soft vinyl figures are the toys that many of the soft vinyl collectors grew up with, the modern day, high end soft vinyl market tries to replicate that type of design aesthetic in order to appeal to the nostalgia of their audience. If we had played with the old Japanese soft vinyl toys as children, we'd probably think these looked great. Since we didn't, we lack the nostalgic resonance that they're aiming for, and find these figures unattractive. As long as their intended audience likes them, then I guess that is all that really matters. James

Very true! I know Asian collectors who are getting them. That's the best explanation I've seen, btw, thanks! I do buy the older ones because they're vintage from the show. These, though, nah.

Thanks for letting us know about this James. Those pictures look great! I guess I fall on the 'cute' side of the equation. Of course, I haven't seen their faces yet.

Maybe its the angle of the photo or its just me but Ryu looks pregnant instead of plump.

Originally posted by Kritter Maybe its the angle of the photo or its just me but Ryu looks pregnant instead of plump.

I had the same thoughts....LOL

Originally posted by Redbird

Originally posted by Kritter Maybe its the angle of the photo or its just me but Ryu looks pregnant instead of plump.

I had the same thoughts....LOL

Okay, maybe my brain is starting to go back to its normal, quirky self....I just had this thought flash through my mind: Hmm...I wonder what could be done with that in a BotP story line....

Uh oh, EW!

Hi all!

Originally posted by Transmute Jun Thanks for letting us know about this James. Those pictures look great! I guess I fall on the 'cute' side of the equation. Of course, I haven't seen their faces yet.

Well, that's an easy fix. Not as easy as you using the link I provided in the initial post to check them out yourself, but still easy. Just remember; once seen, these cannot be unseen. Don't blame me if you feel a sudden urge to tear out your own eyes. James

Well, they could be worse.

Yeah, at least they've tried to make them look accurate.

Bad case of helmet hair aside....