WATTO Watto's Box
Episode I Cinema Scene Collection
Item No.: Asst. 84115 No. 84159
Manufacturer: Hasbro
Number: n/a
Includes: Display base, CommTech Chip
Action Feature: n/a
Retail: $19.99
Availability: Fall 1999
Appearances: The Phantom Menace

Bio: Watto was a male Toydarian merchant who lived on the planet Tatooine. He owned a junkyard in Mos Espa from which he sold a variety of used mechanical parts, ranging from spaceship parts to droid components. (Stolen from Wookieepedia.)

Image: Adam Pawlus' toy room.

Commentary: Love him or hate him, you can't deny that one of the best acting jobs out of Episode I came from Watto. He's chubby, ugly, and has a funny accent-- which of course means he'll make a great toy. This figure statuesque sculpture stays true to the dynamic digital design of the alien, bringing you all the important parts of the release. While similar to the individual carded figure release, this Watto has a much more muted paint job without the harsh lines of a black wash, which allows him to look-- depending on who you ask-- slightly more realistic at the expense of some of the detail. He's poseable at the arms, legs, neck, and wings, which is about what most figures were back when he was released. He's designed to stand around, looking angry at the races going on around him. Since he's so wrinkly, bloated, and freakish looking, Hasbro's designers (or if the rumors are true, Art Asylum's sculptors) did a bang-up job on making this one of the best figures of its time. This figure also has the distinction of being the final Watto from the first chapter of the prequels, and one of only three 3 3/4-inch scale action figures based on the character. If you have another Watto, you may want to get this one anyway as it is distinctive enough to set itself apart from the two other releases.

Collector's Notes: Like so many Episode I toys, this set can be for almost nothing these days. For about ten bucks, you'd be stupid not to buy it. Not only does it have a nifty display base, but Watto also includes Graxol Kelvyyn and Shaaka, two aliens unavailable in any other set. What's more, Graxol is one of the biggest figures in the entire line-- a title he'll likely never give up. Buy this. I don't care how much you hated The Phantom Menace, you owe it to yourself to own this very collection. (MORE IMAGES COMING SOON)

Day 651: February 16, 2008