by James Hunt
For toy collectors , no detail is more desirable than an unreleased prototype . While tidy sum of toys never get made , those that stop at the prototype stage reach a nigh - mythical condition : They ’re important parts of ethnical account that are effectively out of the question to get ahold of .
Of naturally , you do n’t have to be a collector to be intrigued by the toy that never quite made it . To assist you conceive of what your toybox could have looked like , we ’ve break up out some of the most interesting natural action fig that , for one reason or another , never got made .
1.THE DARK CRYSTALACTION FIGURES
Though it ’s a well - see craze favourite these day , The Dark Crystalunderperformed when it was release in 1982 , leading the Aviva Toy Company to cancel a planned rail line of action figures . Of the nine figures prototyped , six of them — Jen , Kira , a Happy Pod Peasant , a Slave Pod Peasant , Aughra , and Skeksis — would have come with accessory including a different objet d’art of the Dark Crystal each . The other three — a Landstrider , Mystic , and Garthim — were heavy and came without accessories .
But this tale does have a happy ending : In 2016 , toy producer Funko announced plans to put someDark Crystalaction figures into production as part of its retro - cheer " re - action " line . It might have taken 32 years , but fans of the moving picture canfinallyget theirDark Crystaltoys .
2. AND 3.TRANSFORMERSUNICRON (1986) ANDTRANSFORMERSUNICRON (1999)
The planet - eating golem Unicron has been a fan favorite nemesis of the Autobots ever since he was first seen in 1986’sTransformers : The Movie . Despite that fact , it bring over 15 years for a toy release — though not through lack of trying .
At a foot tall , the first attempt at a Unicron toy — Hasbro’sblue - gray and yellow image — would have been the tallest Transformer of its earned run average ; it contained a voice microprocessor chip and phonation - altering mike . Hasbro ’s partners at the Japanese troupe Takara also made a diminished version ground on the same mold , which had a " lunation system " add-on and a darker gullible - and - yellow color dodge . But despite the achiever of the rail line , neither company put the toy dog into production , likely because the expense would have been prohibitive .
After that , the idea of making a Unicron toy dog did n’t evaporate constantly . Takara prototyped an entirely new version of Unicron in 1999 , specify for inclusion in theBeast WarsNeo miniature line . The character had feature prominently in this Japan - exclusive cartoon series , and a full - size resin prototype with vast levels of item and a number of doohickey was made — but again , costs incur in the way of production . Despite the part ’s popularity , it took until 2003 for Unicron to experience an prescribed miniature release as part of theTransformers : Armadaline .
4.STAR WARSROCKET-FIRING BOBA FETT (1980)
It was long rumor that initial versions of mail service - away exclusive premium huntsman Boba Fett had amissile on his back that fired , while late variation had the missile glued in place due to safety concerns — but for years , the very existence of the discharge missile version of the toy was disputed . Kenner , the manufacturer of theStar Warsaction figure of speech , officially denied that it was ever release , and some fan even argued that the ignition projectile was a collective false memory originating in fanciful childhood reminiscence .
The truth is that the skyrocket was advertised as dismission , but the actual released interlingual rendition always had it glue in place , make the firing rocket epitome unbelievably desirable . Less than a XII thoroughgoing examples subsist , and they rarely change hands . The figure ’s desirability lead to the issue of a similar version in 2010 which , like the original , was only useable through a mail - away pass . The original is now one of the most valuedStar Warstoys ; one sold for $ 16,000 in 2003 .
5.CENTURIONSSERIES II FIGURES (1987)
Centurionswas a surprisingly successful cartoon with 65 episodes produced throughout 1986 . But its toy telephone line was n’t a strong trafficker . This stand for that plans to ground figures on some of the show ’s later reference , like Rex Charger and John Thunder , were never realize . Prototype figureswere created exhibit Rex Charger with his Electro Charger and Gatling Guard fomite add - ons , while John Thunder dumbfound his Silent Arrow and Thunder Knife suit . The line would have also included additional weapons systems for the original triad of Ace McCloud , Jake Rockwell , and Max Ray , but with the sketch over and existing toy dog warm shelves , the second line was canceled .
6.STAR TREK TNGBRIDGE PLAYSET (1989)
The first caller to obtain a license forStar Trek : TNGtoys was Galoob ( considerably known for Micro Machines ) . They only produced a single class ’s worth of toy before thing function south . Prototypes for the second year include a flying Frisbee - flair Enterprise and Tricorder Walkie talking picture , and theEnterpriseDBridge playset .
Shaped vaguely like theEnterprise D , the playset had space for several figures on a miniature nosepiece set domiciliate inside the dish antenna section , while a transporter platform was integrated into the ship ’s " neck . " Although it was advertised on the back of a identification number of resign TNG digit , a lukewarm reply from retailers and the poor sales of the initial line direct to the canceling of the licence and ensured that the playset never got made .
7.WATCHMEN15TH ANNIVERSARY FIGURES (2001)
In 2001 , DC Direct mean to eject a series of action figures to fete the 15th anniversary ofWatchmen , the best - sell graphic novel of all time . But frosty relations with the volume ’s Maker — including the famously principled Alan Moore — intend the ancestry was never discover alfresco of a few image read off at various toy fair . DC ended up cancel the undertaking to avoid upsetting Moore any further . Of course , theWatchmenmovie later came with a host of natural process figures based on the role — not because DC had repaired relations with Moore , but because they were market specifically asmovieaction figures . According to the site Comic Book Bin , " Moore does not want to be associated at all with the flick or arrogate any royalties due and thus would have no aesthetic moral right of first publication over any merchandise bear on to the Watchmen film . "
