Yoda (Dagobah Training) - OTC - Basic (’05 #16)

A friend of the Rebel Alliance, Yoda trains Luke Skywalker to be a Jedi Knight. Hiding from the evil Empire on the planet Dagobah, Yoda teaches Luke to use the power of the Force. He wants Luke to be strong enough to fight Darth Vader, who is a powerful leader of the Empire. Yoda tries to teach Luke all the skills he will need for the coming battles.

We really like this figure. There. We’ve said it. And it’s up to you to accept it. Sure, the 2004 OTC Yoda (#02) figure may not be super-articulated, but that’s not the figure’s strength. Its interactivity, its charm and its interchangeability are the winning factors here making it one of the best approached Yoda action figures Hasbro has produced to date. Now Hasbro renamed the figure Yoda (Dagobah Training), gave it a new number (’05 #16) and gave it revised packaging so it fits In better with the “transitional wave” of The [Post] Original Trilogy Collection as Hasbro prepares for the Revenge Of The Sith line look launch. Even if a figure isn’t super-articulated, an excellent sculpt may be all you need to pacify you. This idea may best explain why Yoda (Dagobah Training) excels. An all-new take of the demure Jedi Master, this is the closest that collectors can get to an Original Trilogy interpretation of the fan favorite character. Interestingly, this figure may be superior to the 2004 OTC Yoda Vintage figure as far as likeness is concerned. (Obviously, the VOTC figure has enhanced articulation). This Yoda, however, comes with a generous ten points of articulation (all of which is located in the upper body) and a nice amount of accessories that tie him specifically to the “training on Dagobah” scenes from Episode V. Besides his infamous gimer stick and an environmental display stand (that interconnects with the first four figures in The Original Trilogy Collection), Yoda also comes with the memorable blue backpack and it attaches to 2005’s OTC Luke Skywalker (Dagobah Training) (’05 #9) figure beautifully.

You know that Yoda (Dagobah Training) comes with eight points of articulation. You may be surprised to learn that some of the points are premium articulation. He comes with a ball-socket head, but the real enhancement made to this figure is the inclusion of ball-jointed shoulders. You can swing his arms as needed generously and they help when posing him with Luke Skywalker (Dagobah Training) too. Sadly, the ball-jointed articulation is diminished by the addition of swivel elbows, but Yoda still possesses impressive arm movement which is needed for his interaction with Luke Skywalker (just mentioned) as well as for his other accessories or interacting with R2-D2. Yoda has been given a decent sculpt. He breaks apart at the waist so you can put his upper half in the backpack which comes with the figure. (This piece then attaches to Luke Skywalker (Dagobah Training) to complete the set up.) Yoda is more of a statue than anything else, but he looks good and that will be enough for any collector purchasing this figure. The details in his face aren’t perfect, but they’re good and we love the detail in his robes. They looks raggedy and worn as they should. No soft-goods are included, unfortunately, so there are less ties to the vintage Kenner figure version released in 1981. We have to admit that Yoda’s greatest asset would be his head sculpt. We don’t think it’s entirely perfect, but for us it’s hard to find fault, Besides, the ball-socket articulation gives it quite a bit of personality depending upon what angle you decide to tilt it. For us it works out well.

The “transitional wave” of The Original Trilogy Collection is a mix of both old and new. The first eight figures are all-new sculpts and include characters from The Phantom Menace, Attack of The Clones and A New Hope. Then the final eight figures are characters that Hasbro deemed the most popular or bestselling in addition to one “new” figure for the line: Sandtrooper (Tatooine Search) (’05 #12). Obviously, a selection of action figures like this is a nice mix and provides something for everyone. They know what they’re doing in this line. It’s very interesting, however, to see Prequel Trilogy characters in black and silver packaging. It works nonetheless. The sudden announcement of the Original Trilogy in mid-2004 coming as unaltered versions of the films on DVD was a monumental announcement. And Hasbro worked in overdrive to get out as many Original Trilogy focused figures and related products as possible to make the event more exciting. Yoda (Dagobah Training) is an achievement from this line. It’s not a perfect action figure by any means. But we love his interaction with Luke Skywalker (Dagobah Training) and we love the forward thinking and consideration they give these new action figures to make them all they can be for collectors. They chose two great action figures to re-release in the POTC lineup. Yoda (Dagobah Training) will age out at some point in time and become obsolete, but for now, it’s hard to dislike what Hasbro did with him in this line. It goes without saying that we enjoy him very much.