Company: Funko
Release: November 2017+
Size: ~7 cm
Main distribution: Worldwide
Barcode:
Darkwing Duck: 8 89698 20397 5
Baloo: 8 89698 20399 9
Chip: 8 89698 20400 2
These are an action figures collection from the Disney Afternoon series. These were animated TV series by Disney, with spin-offs of popular Disney movies / characters, often aired Saturday morning or afternoon. The figures are made by Funko. They came out in waves.
Wave 1 came out in fall / November 2017 and existed out of Darkwing Duck, a limited edition chaser black and white Darkwing Duck (Negaduck Negatron), Scrooge McDuck, Baloo, Chip and Dale with Zipper. This covered the animated TV series Darkwing Duck, Ducktales, Talespin and Chip ‘n Dale Rescue Rangers. I got 3 out of 6.
Wave 2 came out in October 2018 and added to the previous wave with Gadget, Gizmoduck, Launchpad and King Louie. It covers the same TV series as wave 1. I got 0 out of 4.
In March 2019 an exclusive Target 3-pack was released of Huey, Dewey, and Louie. I do not own this set.
All their packaging are a classic cardboard with plastic front that clearly showcases the figure inside (The 3-pack was a box with a clear front). The images used appear to be airbrushed stock images and can also be found on their respective DVD releases.
Wave 1
Darkwing Duck
The packaging has the TV series Darkwing Duck logo, as well as Disney’s and Funko’s. It has an airbrushed picture of Darkwing Duck, as well as its name so you know who you’re buying.
The back just has a simple airbrushed stock image of Darkwing Duck and his companions of the show.
Darkwing Duck is sporting his crime fighting outfit as seen in the show. He looks exactly like his animated counterpart. Darkwing Duck is the only figure that came with an accessory, his utility gun. It shoots several kinds of gas and also had a grappling hook. The toy is simply black and does not shoot anything. It fits and slides perfectly in his hand.
The cape and hat rim are of a more bendable rubber. The feet feel softer and slightly bendy too. The figure has joints and can move head, shoulders, elbows, stomach and legs.
On his back on his purple jacket he has in raised font © Disney, Funko LLC 2017, Made in China. Above it in black is GW170926, which is also next to the barcode on the box.
Baloo
The packaging has the TV series Talespin logo, as well as Disney’s and Funko’s. It has an airbrushed picture of Baloo and his companions, as well as its name so you know who you’re buying.
The back just has the same airbrushed stock image as the front.
Baloo is sporting his shirt and hat as seen in the show. He looks exactly like his animated counterpart.
The figure has joints and can move head, shoulders, elbows, stomach and legs.
On his back he has in raised font © Disney, Funko LLC 2017, Made in China. Under his tail in black is GW170926, which is also next to the barcode on the box.
Chip
The packaging has the TV series Chip ‘n Dale Rescue Rangers logo, as well as Disney’s and Funko’s. It has an airbrushed picture of Chip ‘n Dale on the side, which is also featured on its DVD box. It also has its name so you know who you’re buying.
Unlike the others, the back of the packaging features both the Chip and Dale with Zipper figures with the Collect them all! tagline. Perhaps this is as they are the only figures in the wave from the same TV series and therefor more of a set. The same airbrushed image of the front is also on the back.
Chip is wearing his iconic pilot jacket and hat as seen in the show. He looks just like his animated counterpart.
The figure has joints and can move head, shoulders, elbows, stomach and legs.
On his back under his tail he has in raised font © Disney, Funko LLC 2017, Made in China. Under that in black is GW170926, which is also next to the barcode on the box.
I’m not a fan of Funko. Mostly their Funko Pops. I don’t like how they stylise the Characters and squash their unique features into the same mold. I also don’t like how they cash on people’s nostalgia. That said they have a few lines that are ok. The mystery mini’s are more westernised Chibi’s, and the Rock Candy is a cool stylised version of pop culture females. When they announced these action figures however, I could hardly believe they were made by Funko! They look exactly like their animated counterparts, and are just cool poseable figures.
The Disney Saturday afternoon TV series were some of my favourite cartoons and something to look forward to on television. Chip ‘n Dale Rescue Rangers were my favourite, as Chip ‘N Dale are my favourites of the basic Disney Characters from Mickey Mouse. Influenced by Indiana Jones and Miami Vice, with a touch of McGyver, these were a great children’s version of the old 80’s and 90’s TV series (that I also like!). Darkwing Duck was Disney’s answer to the popularity of Batman. Talespin played in on the likes of Airwolf and Top Gun. Duck Tales has some Indiana Jones adventures looking for treasure too. It just all screams ’90s nostalgia to me!
When I saw the Rescue Rangers figures I just knew I had to have them! And when I realised there aren’t that many, I tried to get them all. I only see them in Forbidden Planet here in the UK though, and I find them a bit pricey, so I only bought Baloo on a half price sale, and got the others for my birthday through Amazon. The rest is still on the birthday / xmas list (family buys mainly through Amazon, so it’s good to have some stuff I want from there as most stuff I like is secondhand or from Japan!).
I do hope Funko continues these and at least brings out a Wave 3 with Montgomery Jack to finish off the Rescue Rangers. I would also like to see other series like the Gummi Bears or Gargoyles. Or even just the main Disney Characters of their spinoff series like The Little Mermaid TV Series, Aladdin the Series, The Lion King’s Timon and Pumba and the New Adventures of Winnie the Pooh, but they may be harder to licensce.
I have to say though that as much as I like these figures, they are really stiff and hard to pose! Especially the legs. I also think that Chip and Dale could have had fluffier chests.
If you’re a fan of the old Disney Saturday cartoons, you’ll like these. If you’re into Funko, you’ll probably like these too, or you give them a pass as they are not Funko Pops? If you’re into action figures, these might float your boat too, but they are very stiff and hard to pose in my opinion.
Got any more details / information you think I should add? Or did I get something wrong? Do you own any of these? Which one is your favourite? Do you agree or disagree with my findings? Let me know in the comments below!