Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles – 1996
Playmates Toys released two new sub-sets in 1996, Coil Force and Muta Force. The Mini-Mutant line also returned with a new series. Playmates re-issued six previously released sets from past years under a new series banner, Ninja Power, to commemorate the line’s 10th Anniversary. One blow to the TMNT franchise happened on November 2, 1996, when their animated series came to an end. This coincided with the ending of both Turtles comic books series the year before.
For more information about Playmate’s Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles line from 1996, see bottom of the page for a complete summary.
Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles (1996): Basic Figures
With the new focus now being on the themed mini-series figures, Playmates decided to not release any figures as part of a basic assortment for 1996.
Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles (1996): Coil Force Figures
This new series of figures has the turtles all wound up…..literally, as they used new coil force technology to defeat their opponents.
Coil Cool Donatello
Market Value:
Carded $60 – $85
Loose $15 – $25
Coil Cool Donatello
Accessories: Bodacious Power Poundin’ Bos, Foot-Shreddin’ Knife, Slicin’ Stars
Years Released: 1996
Scarcity Factor: Tough to find on the secondary market
Notes: Donatello used new coil force technology to shoot out his leg and arm, which is coiled up until Don needs it to spring out on his enemies.
Lickety-Split Leonardo
Market Value:
Carded $60 – $85
Loose $15 – $25
Lickety-Split Leonardo
Accessories: Kickin’ Katanas, Loppin’ Long Sword, Shredder Shreddin’ Shogun Stars
Years Released: 1996
Scarcity Factor: Tough to find on the secondary market
Notes: Leonardo used new coil force technology to shoot out his leg and arm, which is coiled up until Leo needs it to spring out on his enemies.
Mighty Mech Michaelangelo
Market Value:
Carded $60 – $85
Loose $15 – $25
Mighty Mech Michaelangelo
Accessories: Really Nasty Nunchukus, Kowabunga Choppin’ Axe, Bodacious Battlin’ Blade
Years Released: 1996
Scarcity Factor: Tough to find on the secondary market
Notes: Michaelangelo used new coil force technology to shoot out his leg and arm, which is coiled up until Mike needs it to spring out on his enemies.
Rapid Recoilin Raphael
Market Value:
Carded $60 – $85
Loose $15- $25
Rapid Recoilin Raphael
Accessories: Shreddin’ Samurai Sais, Bodacious Bashin’ Battle Axe, Shredder Barraging Blade
Years Released: 1996
Scarcity Factor: Tough to find on the secondary market
Notes: Raphael used new coil force technology to shoot out his leg and arm, which is coiled up until Raph needs it to spring out on his enemies.
Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles (1996): Muta Force Turtles
The turtles get their own mechs so they can defeat their enemies in Robotech style shell units that miniature figures can fit into.
Andro-Skeleton Leonardo
Market Value:
Carded $175 – $225
Loose $30 – $50
Andro-Skeleton Leonardo
Accessories: Kickin’ “Double-the-Damage” Katana Blade, Shoulder-mounted Techno-Tazor, Foot-Flattenin’ Finger Flick Mega Mondo Missile
Years Released: 1996
Scarcity Factor: Tough to find on the secondary market
Notes: Leonardo gets his own Mech, with this new mini Andro-Skeleton Leonardo version figure that fits perfectly inside the robotic shell.
Dynatronic Donatello
Market Value:
Carded $175 – $225
Loose $30 – $50
Dynatronic Donatello
Accessories: Rockin’ Shockin’ Cyber Bo Rifle, Shoulder-mounted Techno-Tazor, Shredder-‘Splodin’ Finger Flick Mega Mondo Missile
Years Released: 1996
Scarcity Factor: Tough to find on the secondary market
Notes: Donatello gets his own Mech, with this new mini Dynatronic Donatello version figure that fits perfectly inside the robotic shell.
Robomatic Raphael
Market Value:
Carded $175 – $225
Loose $30 – $50
Robomatic Raphael
Accessories: Savage “Swift n’ Silent” Cyber Sais, Shoulder-mounted Techno-Tazor, Ninja-Nihilatin’ Finger Flick Mega Mondo Missile
Years Released: 1996
Scarcity Factor: Tough to find on the secondary market
Notes: Raphael gets his own Mech, with this new mini Robomatic Raphael version figure that fits perfectly inside the robotic shell.
Robotation Michaelangelo
Market Value:
Carded $175 – $225
Loose $30 – $50
Robotation Michaelangelo
Accessories: Gnarly Noggin’ Knockin’ Nunchakus, Shoulder-mounted Techno-Tazor, Foot-Flattenin’ Finger Flick Mega Mondo Missile
Years Released: 1996
Scarcity Factor: Tough to find on the secondary market
Notes: Michaelangelo gets his own Mech, with this new mini Robotation Michaelangelo version figure that fits perfectly inside the robotic shell.
Playmates re-released several older series of figures with new Ninja Power packaging in 1996. This was mostly done due to slipping toy sales and Playmates not wanting to go deep into the bank to create new molds. They were also celebrating the 10th Anniversary of the introduction of the Turtles to the world, and it was a nice way to celebrate releases of past years.
The Ninja Power figures generally sell for $25 to $50 each, depending on character or series.
Scarcity Factor: These figures can be challenging to track down, but usually found at reasonable prices.
The Ninja Power re-released figure sets were:
- Head Droppin’ Dudes (Originally released in 1991)
- Sewer Spittin’ Turtles (Originally released in 1992)
- Mutations (Originally released in 1992 and 1993)
- Ninja Action Turtles (Originally released in 1993)
- Kung-Fu TMNT Tournament Fighters Figures (Originally released in 1994)
- Pizza Tossin’ Turtles (Originally released in 1994)
Head-Droppin’ Leo
Mutatin’ Raphael
Pizza Tossin’ Mike
Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles (1996): Accessories
Playmates did not release any accessories or sets for the 1996 Wave.
Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles (1996): Mini-Mutant Turtle in a Turtle Playsets
Playmates released the final Mini-Mutant series in 1996 with these new turtle inside a turtle playsets for each of the turtle characters.
Donatello’s
Doomsday Defense Base Playset
Market Value:
Carded $175 – $225
Loose $50 – $75
Donatello’s Doomsday Defense Base Playset
Accessories: Donatello Playset, 2 x Mini Figures, Miniature Accessories
Years Released: 1996
Scarcity Factor: Tough to find on the secondary market
Notes: Watch as Donatello transforms from a everyday normal looking Don figure into a miniature doomsday defense base playset, complete with mini figures.
Leonardo’s
Battle Castle Playset
Market Value:
Carded $175 – $225
Loose $50 – $75
Leonardo’s Battle Castle Playset
Accessories: Leonardo Playset, 2 x Mini Figures, Miniature Accessories
Years Released: 1996
Scarcity Factor: Tough to find on the secondary market
Notes: Watch as Leonardo transforms from a everyday normal looking Leo figure into a miniature battle castle playset, complete with mini figures.
Michaelangelo’s
Cyber Command Center Playset
Market Value:
Carded $175 – $225
Loose $50 – $75
Michaelangelo’s Cyber Command Center Playset
Accessories: Michaelangelo Playset, 2 x Mini Figures, Miniature Accessories
Years Released: 1996
Scarcity Factor: Tough to find on the secondary market
Notes: Watch as Michaelangelo transforms from a everyday normal looking Mike figure into a miniature cyber command center playset, complete with mini figures.
Raphael’s
Samurai Sewer Lair Playset
Market Value:
Carded $175 – $225
Loose $50 – $75
Raphael’s Samurai Sewer Lair Playset
Accessories: Raphael Playset, 2 x Mini Figures, Miniature Accessories
Years Released: 1996
Scarcity Factor: Tough to find on the secondary market
Notes: Watch as Raphael transforms from a everyday normal looking Raph figure into a miniature sewer lair playset, complete with mini figures.
Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles (1996): Playsets
Playmates did not release any large scale playsets for the 1996 wave.
Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles (1996): Vehicles
Playmates did not release any action figure vehicles for the 1996 wave.
After releasing so many creative and new figures since 1988, Playmates only released three new series in 1996. This was due to a huge decline in toy sales that gradually began in 1994. Playmates also gave us six previously released series from past years, which were now released under a new banner called Ninja Power. Playmates clearly recognized that interest in their TMNT action figure line was finally coming to its end. This trend also trickled over to other turtle themed merchandising items, since most brands or items had already been discontinued or re-themed to other popular brands at the time, such as the Power Rangers or Beanie Babies. Another massive blow to the TMNT franchise this year happened on November 2, 1996, when the once mighty Turtles animated television series was finally cancelled and came to an end. Since the comic book series had already ended the year before, it was looking like the turtles had finally run out of media outlets to promote its line. Still, Playmates refused to call it quits and announced that the line would continue the following year.
Playmates once again made the decision to not release any basic assortment figures in 1996, and instead focus solely on the smaller action figure sub-sets. That being said, there were only two new series released in this wave and one Mini-Mutant series. The two new series were the Coil Force and Muta Force figure sets. The Mini-Mutant set was called the Turtle in a Turtle set and saw the turtle figures transform into mini playsets. To offset the minimal new product, Playmates re-issued six previously released sets from past years under the new series banner, Ninja Power. These new figures all had the 10th Anniversary seal on the top right of the package.
Since there was no basic assortment of figures released in 1996, the packaging had changed once again with each of the individual series of figures having different cards to focus on their theme. Most of the packaging still mainly focused on the individual figures with portraits of characters around the figure bubble. The re-issued Ninja Power figures all had the same exact packaging with the name of the actual figure on the bottom left of the bubble.
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