Here’s a release that would be pretty much tailored for an
eight-year old me. Whilst there have been several iterations of the Clone Wars
Anakin, they’ve almost all been in the ‘animated’ style – an acquired taste, to be
sure. This is the first figure in Hasbro’s move to release Clone Wars figures
in a ‘realistic’ style, more akin to the film-based lines, and was
followed by a Clone Wars-style Obi-Wan Kenobi and Ahsoka Tano. From the concept up
(my friends and I used to imagine endlessly what the Clone Wars were like and
how Anakin Skywalker was as a Jedi), this figure was a must-buy for the
collection…
The Package
The Vintage Collection packaging is a great look for the
Star Wars line, and Anakin Skywalker is no different. The Clone Wars logo from
the TV series is used, but the image is a photo-realistic portrait of Hayden
Christensen in Clone Wars attire against a Coruscant-esque backdrop. The Kenner
logo is present on the bottom of the card, and Anakin is packed with his
lightsaber and saber hilt on display. As with all European releases, the back
of the card is covered by a boring multi-lingual sticker.
The Figure
Anakin Skywalker comes with 14 points of articulation, a
lightsaber and a lightsaber hilt. His look is based upon the 2008 Clone Wars
film, with the stylish red, blue and brown armour. He wears a four piece
soft-goods skirt.
The Light Side
First of all, the figure looks very cool. Anakin’s Clone
Wars armour always had a good look to it, and is a refreshing change to the
usual Jedi-in-robes look. The facial sculpt resembles Hayden Christensen enough
to pass (although it could also be used for Edward Norton), and the lines in
the armour and folds in the fabric are very well done. The proportions are
spot-on, and despite the small, in-scale, feet, he can balance very well – no stand
required!
The joints allow a great deal of posability, which is a
massive plus point. The balance is such that the legs can be posed in an action
stance whilst still standing up, which is important for an action figure. The
ball-jointed shoulders are a good step forward for Hasbro – previously, we’ve
seen shoulder pads restrict arm movement, but on Anakin Skywalker, the shoulder
pads actually slide under the body armour, leading to a much greater degree of
movement. The skirt works really well, matching the colours of the paint apps and
actually being quite posable.
The Dark Side
One of the first things I noticed out of the package was
that Anakin Skywalker is slightly hunched – it’s not a huge problem in most
poses, but it’s there. Another half-criticism is about the points of
articulation – swivel hips rather than ball-joints and the lack of upper torso
articulation might be a negative to some, but in all honesty the figure has all
the articulation it needs, and looks as good as it could.
One definite change I would make would be a hole in the belt
to hang the lightsaber hilt from, but that’s it. There’s really not much wrong
with this figure.
On Balance
This is a fine toy, and one that’s been a long time
coming. Regardless of your opinions of the Clone Wars series, I’m sure that the
idea of a Jedi Anakin Skywalker appeals to Star Wars fans young and old, and
this time round Hasbro have nailed it. An unreserved five star figure!
*****
