Anakin Skywalker’s Spirit - TAC - Basic (30 45)

Added: October 30th 2010
Category: 30 (77-07)
Reviewer: Paul Harrison
Score:

Name: Anakin Skywalker's Spirit
Collection: 30 (77-07)
Number: 30 45
Source: Return Of The Jedi (Special Edition)
Availability: October 2007
License: Hasbro

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Character Profile

Species

Apparition

Status

Saved from the Dark Side

Weapon of Choice

Loyalty and love

Characteristic

Dies to save his son

As the Rebels celebrate their victory over the Empire, the spirit of Anakin Skywalker appears to his son, Luke. But instead of the ravaged Darth Vader he became, it is the youthful Anakin Skywalker who appears, restored at last to the hopeful young Jedi he once was.

The Star Wars Special Edition versions were bittersweet for many. While we got to see gorgeously enhanced prints of the films, the tweaking of the storylines caused great chagrin in many. The biggest travesty was probably changing who shot first in Chalmun’s Cantina (let’s not open that wound here), but another change that caused some heartache was the inclusion of Hayden Christiansen’s likeness as a spirit at the conclusion of Return Of The Jedi. George Lucas has come up with reasons on why this change was made, but purists of the original version of the film (which is many we might add) really don’t want to see liberties like this taken in these brilliant films. Unfortunately, the “damage” has been done and this probably won’t ever be changed back at this point so we’ll have to take it or leave it going forward. Hasbro loves to delve into making never-before-made characters from these Special Edition films into plastic form and the latest in their mission was Anakin Skywalker’s Spirit.

Anakin Skywalker’s Spirit is undoubtedly a well designed action figure. He’s super-articulated which is totally unnecessary for a holographic or spirit action figure. And while Anakin Skywalker’s Spirit is superb in the articulation department, we’re not sure how well he does in other departments (like the use of “spirit soft-goods” and a realistic lightsaber and his angelic looking paint job). Well, we guess you know where we stand here. In all honesty, it is quite difficult to distinguish all of the differences between a holographic image and a spirit image in the films. From what we can gather, the spirit figures have a full figure glowing outline around them while the holographic images as just transparent blue. But Hasbro can’t recreate this outline and they opt for a pearly and translucent approach when it comes to the action figures. (Of course this wasn’t always their approach – remember the POTF2 Frito-Lay Spirit Of Obi-Wan Kenobi? How things have certainly changed!)

So, we don’t think that Anakin Skywalker’s Spirit captures the natural look of the spirit images in Return of The Jedi. This is just our opinion and we wouldn’t be able to advise Hasbro on a better approach either. And we don't think this style makes it fail as an action figure. We're talking personal preference here. These types of figures just aren’t our favorite. But for what this figure is, we find it more than acceptable. We still aren’t crazy about his Jedi robe. It looks like he should be an angel on top of a Christmas tree (for which we have seen a few photos of collectors doing this at Christmastime). And it is very “wiry” in the fact that it can’t be posed. It has a stubborn drape to it that just can’t be changed easily. While we’re crazy about the frosted blue color of the POTF2 Cinema Scene Jedi Spirits, we just think they look a little bit better in comparison. You may feel differently and that is great. But we don’t think the approach used to make Anakin Skywalker’s Spirit is any closer than what Hasbro has given us before. But again, your opinions may vary.

Collector Notes

Anakin Skywalker's Spirit

Status: Anakin Skywalker's Spirit is an all-new figure.

Articulation Count: 14

Articulation Details: ball-socket head, 2 ball-jointed shoulders, 2 ball-jointed elbows, 2 swivel wrists, swivel waist, 2 swivel hips, 2 ball-jointed knees, 2 ball-jointed ankles

Accessory Count: 3

Accessory Details: lightsaber hilt, lightsaber blade, "soft-goods" sparkly robe

Date Stamp: 2007

Market Value: Click here to check the latest prices based on Click here to check the market value on eBay! listings.

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