A focus on event exclusives and continuity expansions highlight a lull in major toy releases this week.
This week’s reviews bring a focus on established franchises with event-exclusives and continuation of ongoing lines, suggesting a quieter period in the toy release cycle.
S.H. Figuarts Showcases Imit-Ultraman and Tony Tony Chopper
Bandai Tamashii Nations continues to hold strong in the collectible action figure market with recent S.H. Figuarts releases dedicated to longstanding fan-favorite franchises. As detailed by My Shiny Toy Robots, the S.H. Figuarts Imit-Ultraman was released as an event exclusive for the Tamashii Nations Live Action Figure Expo 2026. This release finally brings to life an iconic villain from the Ultraman universe, who first appeared in the 1966 series’ “Brother from Another Planet”. Despite its historical significance, fans had to wait until 2026 for this figure, emphasizing Bandai’s intent to dig deeper into the lore and offer exclusives that reward dedicated collectors.
In the One Piece realm, My Shiny Toy Robots reports on the release of the S.H. Figuarts Tony Tony Chopper -Drum Island- figure as part of Bandai’s ongoing One Piece collection. Following the completion of figures from the Romance Dawn Arc, Bandai hasn’t slowed down, now branching into the pre-time skip era. Chopper’s addition as a retail product speaks to the expanding universe of One Piece figures and the continued demand for character-specific releases catering to each chapter of the anime.
Doctor Who’s Vortex Edition: A Nod to Classic and Modern Adventures
Character Options steps up their game with their latest wave of Doctor Who figures, as noted in My Shiny Toy Robots. The new release features the Doctor Who The Cybermen From Dark Water (2014) Vortex Edition Figure Set, leading the charge in a series of exclusive online figures. This initiative caters to both classic and new series aficionados by introducing a build-a-figure project culminating in a Yeti from 1967’s “The Abominable Snowmen”. Such initiatives reflect Character Options’ efforts to entice collectors with unique extras, possibly rejuvenating interest in the series’ extensive toy line. However, it remains to be seen how these releases will fare in terms of collector enthusiasm compared to more accessible retail offerings.
Overall, the emphasis this week is on deep-cut releases and continuation of established lines rather than broad-scale new figure rollouts. This suggests a strategic pause or build-up to larger announcements likely planned for the upcoming months.
