Anakin Skywalker’s Pod Racer - EI - Vehicles

The high-speed, adrenaline-packed pod races in Mos Espa are immensely popular events for the local populace. The pilots of these pod races must have lightning reflexes and nerves of plastisteel, especially for the Boonta Eve race at Mos Espa Arena. Here, Mos Espa's best maneuver through a perilous course that winds its way through narrow canyons and tunnels. Facing incredible odds and vicious competition, a victory for the young competitor Anakin Skywalker would make him Mos Espa's best pod racer.

The name of the vehicle might be misspelled on the front of the box, but that likely won’t prevent kids and collectors from enjoying what one of the most uniquely designed and colorful vehicles the Star Wars toy line has ever seen to date is. Anakin Skywalker's Pod Racer (the correct spelling is Anakin Skywalker's Podracer) is a clever vehicle release that incorporates screen-accurate authenticity with play value nearly seamlessly. Is the handle part of the vehicle’s design? No, of course not, but it provides the ultimate grip to fly the vehicle throughout your world and recreate the exciting Boonta Eve Classic podracing event. Hasbro tediously recreated the many fine features of Anakin Skywalker's Pod Racer and then added a stunning paint job which not only captures the eye but allows both kids and collectors to appreciate the artful qualities of the podracer. A focal point of Star Wars Episode I: The Phantom Menace, and comprising many minutes of the film, the Boonta Eve Classic is the Star Wars version of NASCAR, something that George Lucas wanted to incorporate into Star Wars at some point. And here it is. The design of Anakin Skywalker's Pod Racer is believable. A large, weighty engine propels the cockpit via cables along rough Tatooine terrain. And as the only human that can pilot a podracer, Qui-Gon Jinn interest is piqued once her learns of Anakin Skywalker’s multiple skills. But how does the vehicle fit into the Episode I toy line? And was there anything more Hasbro should have done to make the vehicle a definitive release for kids and collectors?

Anakin Skywalker’s Podracer comes with quite a few features. We’ve already mentioned the thick black hand grasp and how it isn’t screen-accurate, but it provides an anchor point to hold and balance the vehicle in your hands. Also, there are two buttons embedded into it that are utilized to articulate the direction vanes and activate the brakes to recreate the same moments we see in the film. Admittedly, the moving parts of Anakin Skywalker's Pod Racer are nice to have here, and the way they move is faithful to what we see during the Boonta Eve Classic. We also appreciate the inclusion of the energy binder accessory. In case you’ve forgotten, this is the same beam that Jar Jar Bink’s tongue gets paralyzed. It’s tricky to attach to Anakin Skywalker's Pod Racer, but with a little patience, you can easily get it to fit into place. We’re thoroughly impressed with the design of the cockpit. It contains a massive amount of detail, and the deco Hasbro applied is nothing short of brilliant. There is also a decal sheet to enhance the already beautiful paint operations already applied. Some are a bit difficult to apply thanks to the small areas of the cockpit, but like anything, a little patience goes a long way. The bonus here is the Anakin Skywalker pack-in figure. It’s not great as a standalone action figure, but it’s a perfect addition exclusive to this vehicle. Anakin’s hands are pre-posed to hold onto the handlebars of the podracer. And he’s already wearing his helmet which gives us a unique version of him in the Episode I toy line. He looks fantastic seated in the canopy too.

Anakin Skywalker's Pod Racer doesn’t fire any projectiles, and there is nothing to wind-up or explode here. But that’s also the charm of this vehicle as well. Anakin Skywalker’s Pod Racer is what it is, a space version of a racing car. This vehicle set retails for $22.99, which is more than fair. Hasbro needs to recoup tooling costs and this all-new sculpting is worthy of your $22 and change. If you are a fan of The Phantom Menace, you may have varying opinions about the Boonta Eve Classic. Some of the scenes are exciting, but others are completely slapstick and outlandish. Some fans of the film don’t like all of the podracers shown. Others didn’t like Fode And Beed. But whatever your take on these many scenes, we’re happy to see Anakin Skywalker's Pod Racer released in the Episode I toy line. It’s great as a standalone vehicle, and also looks amazing posed with Sebulba’s Pod Racer. We wonder if Hasbro will tool more Podracing vehicles in the toy line for the future. But only time will tell. We find Anakin Skywalker’s Pod Racer vehicle an especially worthwhile addition to the Episode I toy line. It’s a thoughtful release, is enjoyable to fly around your home, and faithfully recreates one of the most action-packed sequences in Star Wars Episode I: The Phantom Menace. Sure, the Anakin Skywalker pack-in figure included here isn’t anything special, but the figure is the perfect complement to the vehicle. We wouldn’t have it any other way. It will be interesting to see how far we can complete all of the characters and vehicles from the Boonta Eve Classic over time.