Playmates Toys is a toy manufacturer that has produced a large number of licensed Star Trek action figures, vehicles, and play accessories. In Europe, the company's 1990s releases were distributed by Bandai.
The line was launched in the fall of 1992 with a series of action figures based on Star Trek: The Next Generation. Nearly the entire USS Enterprise-D crew was represented, plus Gowron, a Ferengi, a Borg, and a Romulan. Role-playing items included a type 2 phaser and communicator, while a shuttlecraft was produced for the figures. A model of the Enterprise-D was also released. The line was quite successful, and another wave of TNG figures, accessories, and vehicles was produced in the fall of 1993 along with a special boxed set of all seven of the original series' major crew members.
In 1995, Playmates' video game division called Playmates Interactive Entertainment released Star Trek: Deep Space Nine - Crossroads of Time for the Sega Genesis and Super Nintendo Entertainment System platforms.
However, the license's popularity had begun to decline by 1998. By 1999, the number of items produced by Playmates had dwindled with limited releases being offered exclusively through individual retailers. On 17 September 1999, Playmates' Star Trek lines were formally canceled.
In January 2008, it was reported that Playmates would be creating a toy line for J.J. Abrams' Star Trek. [1] This new line of figures, vehicles, and role-playing items was launched in April 2009. A second wave was planned for release in late 2009 and was later pushed back to spring 2010 before the releases were canceled and Playmates' Star Trek licensing was concluded. The company cited disappointing sales. [2]
The "Design-an-Alien" contest was promoted on some Playmates Star Trek toy packaging and offered a fan the chance to appear as an alien extra in an episode of Deep Space Nine. John Paul Lona won the role of a RasiinianAmbassador named Runepp and appeared in "The Muse".
Star Trek: Voyager Visual Effects Supervisor Dan Curry used parts of Playmates' Borg action figures to create a pile of Borg corpses seen in "Scorpion". In the "Red Alert: Amazing Visual Effects"-special of the VOY Season 3 DVD release, Curry complemented the sculptor of the toys for his accuracy, since he was able to have close-up shots of the faces taken, without having to modify them.
In "Dark Frontier", the young Annika Hansen character sometimes played with a model of a Borg cube that belonged to her father. This model was actually a modified 1994 Playmates Borg cube (No.6158).
In one of the concept illustrations for the Borg sphere dated January 1996, John Eaves hid the names of his wife Diane and his two daughters, Olivia and Alicia, among the extremely intricate outer details. He added, "What's funny about this is that Playmates put out a toy Borg sphere which just happens to contain the first initial of everyone's name." (Star Trek: The Next Generation Sketchbook: The Movies, pp. 205 & 215)
For Star Trek: First Contact, John Eaves used the 1994 Playmates toy, no. 6172, of the USS Enterprise-B, the only commercial refit-Excelsior-class model available at the time, to construct the golden display models of the class seen in the display case of the observation lounge of the USS Enterprise-E in the movie. He filled one of them up with solid resin, made castings from it for additional copies, and had them all gold-plated for their appearances. [3] The models seen in their later reappearance in Star Trek Nemesis, were constructed from the by then available AMT model kits of the refit-class.
Ezri Dax was the only main cast member (from the four spin-off series made during Playmates' licensing of Star Trek) not to receive an action figure from the company. Diamond Select Toys released an Ezri figure in late 2007.
The Playmates "Design-an-Alien" contest-winning sketch
Interactions with Star Trek parody and pop culture productions
In the Star Trek parody and pop culture-referencing television sitcom The Big Bang Theory, Playmates Star Trek action figures have made an appearance on at least on two occasions. The series is centered on four science nerds who are rabid fans and collectors of Star Trek, science fiction, and comics memorabilia. The episodes where Playmates toys were featured are:
"The Nerdvana Annihilation" (Season 1, episode 14): In this episode, central character Leonard Hofstadter, weary of collecting, decided to distribute his toy collection amongst his friends. Dismayed to see them arguing and competing for choice items, Leonard threatened to rip open the packaging of a rare edition of his Geordi La Forge action figure (in collector circles, items in mint condition in their unopened original packaging are the most valued) to escape from the fracas. He warned, "Okay. I did not want to do this but, I have here the rare mint condition production error Star Trek: The Next Generation Geordi LaForge, without his visor, in the original packaging. If you do not get out of my way, I will open it." [4], thereby alluding to a rare production error version (valued even more highly by collectors) of the already rare 1992 first release of Playmates toy no. 6015 (see below).
"The Russian Rocket Reaction" (Season 5, episode 5): In this episode, Brent Spiner (as himself) thoughtlessly ripped open a signed first edition Wesley Crusher Playmates action figure (alluded to as the 1993 edition no. 6021) which Wil Wheaton (as himself) had just given to the Sheldon Cooper character as a peace offering. Spiner tried to make amends by offering his Data action figure to Sheldon as a replacement but was rebuffed when his action figure was deemed to be of lesser value.
The Star Trek items used in the series, including these Playmates action figures, were from CBS Television Studios's Licensing Department Archive. CBS is not only the producer of The Big Bang Theory, but is also the owner of the Star Trek television franchise.
The first release of the figure came with a removable VISOR, identified by an image of La Forge without his VISOR on the blister pack. This was considered a choking hazard, and so was replaced with an integrated VISOR. The removable variant is now extremely rare.
One of the main complaints about early Playmates vessels was their lack of a display stand. In particular, because this product had a center of gravity in the saucer section, it 'listed' forward on a shelf. A re-release in 1994 included a new display stand.
Communicator Walkie-Talkies
6119
None
Clip-on communicator speaker/microphones, attached to a belt-mounted transmitter. Claimed range of 170 feet.
Since the figure sports a beard (as the same basic sculpt as #6014 was used), this is a Season 2 Riker, rather than a Season 1 as the other crew figures are intended to be.
A limited edition released as part of a four-figure pack from the JCPenny catalog, which included #6035, #6942 and #6943; as well as a limited single release in Canada. The package claimed to represent "Redemption Data", but Data did not wear the command division uniform in that episode. He would wear it under Jellico's command in "Chain of Command, Part II".
Only 7,000 units were made for the US and Canada. With no international release, this is considered to be one of the most difficult Playmates releases to obtain.
The Generations releases featured the original costume designs made for the movie. These designs were scrapped shortly before filming on the movie began, but the action figures were already in production at the time. Figures wearing the correct uniforms would see release over the following years. Unlike other Playmates figures, the Generations figures lacked articulated elbows and knees.
From the deleted opening scene. The packaging erroneously credits its use to the deflector room sequence. As with #6911, Kirk's rank is incorrectly given as admiral.
from "All Good Things...". The figure was to have been packaged with a base in the style of the future Starfleet communicator. Instead, the standard TNG delta shield was used instead. The original base appears on the back of the blister pack.
Leonard Nimoy was dissatisfied with the collector's cards to be included with the figures, and refused to allow his figure to go into production with one. As a result, this figure does not contain a collector's card.
A re-release of #6172, with unique Movie Series packaging. The box and decals are marked as USS Excelsior, but the ship is the refit version seen as the Enterprise-B.
Klingon Bird-of-Prey
6128
as #6174
Re-release in TNG packaging.
Klingon disruptor
6129
as #6146
Re-release in TNG packaging.
Bajoran phaser
6273
Stun, disrupt sounds
Light-up beam emitter
Released in TNG packaging, despite being a DS9 product.
Capable of transforming from the standard Galaxy-class into the three-nacelle version from "All Good Things...". In order to accommodate the various components within the hull, no electronics could be included.
from "Yesterday's Enterprise" - part of the anniversary "1701 Series", limited run of 1,701 figures. (While not appearing as she really appeared in the episode - minus the belt and wrist cuff and her head a reuse of the previous Yar figure so her hair style is not as it was in the episode.)
Lt. Reginald Barclay
16044
"Type-2B" phaser
Medical tricorder
Desktop monitor
PADD
from "Projections" - part of the anniversary 1701 Series, but a run of 3,000 figures, instead of the 1,701 produced of the other two figures.
Lt. Commander Montgomery Scott
16045
Phaser
Tricorder
Communicator
as seen in "Where No Man Has Gone Before" - an exclusive figure only available from the Huntsville 30th Anniversary Convention distributed by Spencer's Gifts.
Lieutenant Hikaru Sulu
16046
Phaser
Tricorder
Communicator
as seen in "Where No Man Has Gone Before" - an exclusive figure only available from the Huntsville 30th Anniversary Convention distributed by Spencer's Gifts.
Reginald Barclay
Starfleet Academy, 4.5 inch figures, Asst. No. 16000
Character
Uniform/Costume
Stock No.
Accessories
Variants/Notes
Cadet Jean-Luc Picard
Flight Training Suit
16001
Each Starfleet Academy figure included a CD-ROM disk.
The SIMs beacon as an accessory is something of an oddity, as it did not appear in First Contact, and only ever appeared on screen in Star Trek: Voyager.
Special release to licensees, never released to the public. Designed to promote the upcoming Star Trek: First Contact and its associated merchandising, less than 500 of these were ever produced.
Role-playing, Ships, Playsets and Accessories
Product
Stock No.
Accessories
Sound/Light
Variants/Notes
Type 2 Phaser
16062
Stun, disrupt sounds
Light-up beam emitter
This product was detailed in a pale blue, rather than the grey of the prop.
Talk-Back Classic Communicator
16065
as #6117
This product had the additional ability of recording and playing back short voice messages.
The design of the Enterprise-E was taken from early concepts created by John Eaves; as such, it differs significantly from the final design (in particular, the Bussard collectors are uncapped, the saucer shuttlebay and impulse engines are swapped and the saucer hull is thicker. A more accurate version would be released in 1998 for Star Trek: Insurrection.
Hull panel could be removed to display battle damage, via a button on the sphere's hull.
Star Trek: Innerspace Series
A new range of playsets "disguised" as vessels and technology from Star Trek. Two centimeter-high accessory figures were included.
Product
Stock No.
Figures
Variants/Notes
USS Enterprise NCC-1701-D
6131
Picard
Riker
Data
One of the larger playsets, this product features the Enterprise-D bridge, captain's ready room, brig and Ten Forward, all of which open out from the saucer section. A small shuttlecraft is also included which fits into a shuttlebay taking up the full volume of the connecting dorsal.
The packaging of this figure says the Phaser is a Type-2 however it actually comes with a Type-1 Phaser
Doctor Beverly Crusher
Movie uniform from Generations
16047
Medical tool
Hypospray
Medical kit
Thermos bottle
Crusher never actually wore this uniform variant in Generations. This figure was a limited edition - with 10,000 being produced, 1,000 with a special backing card in Europe.
While this figure is based on his costume from I, Mudd his accessories are from Mudd's Women
Doctor Leonard McCoy
Starfleet dress uniform
16155
Tricorder
Hypospray
Communicator
Anabolic protoplaser
This figure was a limited edition - with 10,000 being produced, 1,000 with a special backing card in Europe.
Star Trek Warp Factor Series 1, 4.5 inch figures, Asst. No. 65100
Featuring characters from "Trials and Tribble-ations". Some US releases contained fuzzy tribbles in addition to the hard accessories, and a "Triple Tribble" game card.
Star Trek Transporter Series, 4.5 inch figures, Asst. No. 65400
Each figure is rendered in a part-translucent state, and come with a battery-operated, push-activated, light and sound base in the style of the appropriate transporter pad.
Character
Uniform/Costume
Stock No.
Variants/Notes
The Original Series
Captain James T. Kirk
65401
Mr. Spock
65402
Dr. McCoy
65403
Lt. Uhura
65404
Chief Engineer Montgomery Scott
65405
Ensign Pavel Chekov
65231
Exclusive to Target stores, limited release of 10,000 units.
(Formed Asst. #65230)
Lt. Hikaru Sulu
65232
Exclusive to Target stores, limited release of 10,000 units.
(Formed Asst. #65230)
The Next Generation
Lt. Commander Data
65421
Captain Jean-Luc Picard
65422
Lt. Worf
65423
Commander William Riker
65432
Lt. Commander Geordi La Forge
65433
All Next Generation figures were painted in an incorrect uniform style, with the colors inverted, but not in the style of the DS9/VOY uniform. Deanna Troi and Reginald Barclay were originally scheduled to be included in the range, but were not produced.
Boxed sets
The twin packs came with diorama backing, and lacked accessories.
Product
Contents
Stock No.
Variants/Notes
1701 Collectors Series
Captain Jean-Luc Picard from "Tapestry"
Lieutenant Natasha Yar from "Yesterday's Enterprise"
Lieutenant Reginald Barclay from "Projections"
16122
A repackaging of #6442, #16043 & #16044, with all accessories. There was some controversy over this release, particularly from those who had purchased the original, extremely-limited figures (often at inflated prices). The release had in fact been an attempt to mollify the wider consumer base angered by the initial short run.
"Holodeck Series" Twin Pack
Captain Jean-Luc Picard as Dixon Hill and Guinan as Gloria from "Clues"
Ensign Harry Kim and a member of Species 8472 from "Scorpion"
65192
Mail-away and other Exclusive Figures
Character
Uniform/Costume
Stock No.
Accessories
Variants/Notes
Klingon Warrior Worf
16145
None
This was an exclusive figure included in the Worf - Return to Grace CollectionVHS collection. Limited to 40,000, the figure is actually a repainted variation of #6437.
This release was a more accurate representation of the Enterprise-E than #16418
1999 releases
All figures released in 1999 were store exclusives in the US, but given a general (albeit limited) release in Europe and Australia.
Star Trek Transporter Series, 4.5 inch figures, Asst. No. 65440
Character
Uniform/Costume
Stock No.
Variants/Notes
Nurse Christine Chapel
65441
Exclusive to Target stores.
Yeoman Janice Rand
65442
Exclusive to Target stores.
Starfleet Command Edition, 4.5 inch figures, Asst. No. 65800
Character
Uniform/Costume
Stock No.
Accessories
Variants/Notes
Captain Jean-Luc Picard
Starfleet duty uniform
65801
compression phaser rifle
type 2 phaser
tricorder
Borg scanner
Exclusive to Target stores.
The first 4.5 inch figures to use the First Contact uniform.
Lt. Commander Worf
Starfleet duty uniform
65802
type 2 phaser
bat'leth
d'k tahg
tricorder
Exclusive to Target stores.
Seven of Nine
Silver biosuit
65803
compression phaser rifle
scanner
desktop monitor
Exclusive to Target stores.
Lt. Commander Data
Starfleet duty uniform
65804
tricorder
type 2 phaser
compression phaser rifle
engineering case
Exclusive to Target stores.
Counselor Deanna Troi
Starfleet duty uniform
65805
desktop monitor
type 2 phaser
tricorder
PADD
Exclusive to Target stores.
Commander William Riker
Starfleet duty uniform
65806
desktop monitor
type 2 phaser
compression phaser rifle
tricorder
Exclusive to Target stores.
Starfleet Command International Edition, 4.5 inch figures, Asst. No. 65840
These two figures were originally to be part of assortment #65800, but were dropped by Target. They were still released in Europe and Australia. In total, around 4,000 units were released.
Wave 1 was released on 19 April2009. A second was planned to follow in several phases July-October 2009. This was initially pushed back to early 2010, but ultimately was not released.
Galaxy Collection, 3.75 inch figures, Asst. No 61750
Each figure comes with a Bridge or Transporter Room playset accessory.
Wave 1
For this wave, releases outside the United States do no include the playset accessories.
Contains Bridge component B17; out of scale with other figures
Also intended to be included with this wave were two Bonus packs, each containing five of the components missing from international Wave 1 release, with one figure also included in each pack.