TMNT Gen Figure - Question

[Usagisher]

Knowing how hard it is to find one of the TMNT Gen figures, I was pretty surprised to see one for sale on ebay, from a Canadian seller, for a relatively low buy it now price.

And then they had another one.

And then they had another one.

And so it goes. Apparently these aren't rare north of the border? These Canadian figures are on bilingual cards and have a "Spinmaster" logo next to the usual Play Mates logo.

Does anybody know if they were packed more frequently in the Spin Master collection?

If you're interested, the auction number is 220019997593.

[Andy]

I haven't seen a Gen figure and I look quite often for them.

[chickrockguitar]

I got mine on eBay. I looked for ages and ages as well. He now stands with my Usagis (TMNT New one, 90's and Space) on my shelf.

[Stan Sakai]

I've only got one of the Gen toys myself. Playmates sent it to me. I haven't really been looking for it, though.

[Todd Shogun]

Stan I always wondered how it felt to be able to walk into your neighborhood Wal Mart or Toys R Us and actually find action figures of characters you created yourself available for sale. Have you ever gone in and tried to push the kids to buy the Usagi figures? Probably not, but I myself would find it hard to resist...

Also, I would imagine that Playmates cuts you a check for their use of Usagi and Co. in their toy line. Do they write you a lump sum check up front, or do the compensate you on an ongoing basis, based on sales of said figures? Just curious........

[Stan Sakai]

Stan I always wondered how it felt to be able to walk into your neighborhood Wal Mart or Toys R Us and actually find action figures of characters you created yourself available for sale. Have you ever gone in and tried to push the kids to buy the Usagi figures? Probably not, but I myself would find it hard to resist...

Also, I would imagine that Playmates cuts you a check for their use of Usagi and Co. in their toy line. Do they write you a lump sum check up front, or do the compensate you on an ongoing basis, based on sales of said figures? Just curious........

I don't usually see my figures on the toy racks. I've gone to a Toys R Us and found the Usagi toys, but nobody was around.

I get a cut off what Playmates pays Mirage Licensing for the Usagi and Gen figures, so Mirage writes me the royalty check every quarter that my characters are used. They are doing a new Turtles line which does not include Usagi, so I won't be getting any more checks from them. The Turtles are not nearly as popular as they were 15 years ago, so the royalty checks are much less. Back then, the Usagi figure sold 2.2 million units in its best quarter. Now, it's just sells in the thousands. I think that pretty much goes for the entire current TMNT line.

[go]

Dear Sensei Sakai,
"Usagi figure sold 2.2 million units in its best quarter..."
Thank you for your honest and interesting information.
Approximately how many Usagi Action figures
(all types including Dark Horse, Antarctic Press,
Big PVC versions, 2 resin statues...)
have been manufactured?
What is the Usagi Yojimbo action figure population?
In northern California the stores have the Turtles but not Usagi or Gen.
I wonder what Usagi and Gen sales would be if the product was commonly available.
Thank you all for the fun!
Best wishes
go

[Cyberwolf]

When the Gen and Usagi toys were available, I could not get them, and now cannot find them at all, to much woe and frustation. I wish they would make them commonly available, the sales would pretty high. Are there any plans for other characters to come as toys, say like Tomoe or a Neko ninja?

[Stan Sakai]

Are there any plans for other characters to come as toys, say like Tomoe or a Neko ninja?

Just the Usagi and Gen figures were made into toys. There are no plans for any of my other characters to get the same treatment, though a Tomoe toy would be neat.

[Todd Shogun]

Cast my vote for Tomoe!

[Feadraug]

Cast my vote for Tomoe!

I go for a Tomoe figure too, although I don't know if any of them would make it in Spain (though I remember the Usagi figure from the old TMNT collection arrived), even if a Tomoe figure existed. ^^U

Anyway, I've seen some UY sculptures in a comic store in Málaga, one with Katsuichi carrying a young Usagi and another one with adult Usagi and Spot. Both of them are really impressive (and expensive). I think they're unique pieces... or am I wrong? A pity I don't have any pictures of them right now...

[Steve Hubbell]

Anyway, I've seen some UY sculptures in a comic store in Málaga, one with Katsuichi carrying a young Usagi and another one with adult Usagi and Spot. Both of them are really impressive (and expensive). I think they're unique pieces... or am I wrong? A pity I don't have any pictures of them right now...

They are official releases, and the Katsuichi Sensei and Young Usagi one is still readily available. The first one produce, Usagi and Spot, has become more scarce and correspondenly more expensive.

http://www.darkhorse.com/search/search. ... agi+statue

[Lady Keiko_ronin Usagi]

I'd like to see a Tomoe action figure too...
In fact, I was looking around a WalMart when i found the Gen action figure

[Stan Sakai]

They are official releases, and the Katsuichi Sensei and Young Usagi one is still readily available. The first one produce, Usagi and Spot, has become more scarce and correspondenly more expensive.

The sculptors actually wanted the Katsuichi/Young Usagi to be the first statue, because they loved the design and were anxious to work on it.

However, it made more sense to do the Usagi/Spot statue first. The first casting sold out very quickly, and Dark Hose went back to "press". The first casting states that it is a "first edition" under the base, and came with a signed trading card.

[Feadraug]

Yes, those are the sculptures I was talking about. So these are official releases then. Thank you for the info!

And I still remember the one with Usagi and Spot was pretty expensive compared with the one with Katsuichi and young Usagi. Anyway, they still look impressive.