The first Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles action figures went on sale in 1988. Playmates Toys developed the figures after the franchise’s animated television series made the characters widely recognizable.
The toys helped transform TMNT from a successful independent comic into a major children’s entertainment property. The initial line included the four turtles, Splinter, April O’Neil, Shredder, and other figures based largely on the 1987 animated series. Their designs and accessories reflected the cartoon more than the darker early comics.
The timing is sometimes confused with the 1990 live-action movie. By the movie’s release, the figures were already an established toy phenomenon. The line’s success also encouraged Playmates to produce vehicles, playsets, role-play accessories, and figures for later animated and film versions.