# Nostalgic Ninja Toys The TMNT LEGO Figurines are a Great Compensation for the Loss of 'Cowabunga' By Elise Ying-Hei Ho | Published 2012-10-12 | Life-Stages Source: Trend Hunter, https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/tmnt-lego References: [wired](http://www.wired.com/geekdad/2012/10/lego-tmnt-nycc/) & [wired](http://www.wired.com/geekdad/2012/09/tmnt-nickelodeon/) An official release date has been announced for the new TMNT LEGO collection: New Year's Day 2013. For those of you who were upset when you heard that [Nickelodeon](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/the-cowabunga-collection) was replacing Michelangelo's famous catch phrase in Ninja Turtles, "Cowabunga" to "Booyakasha," here's some compensation. LEGO has taken a childhood classic, Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, and created the figurines that were debuted this week at New York's Comic Con. The toys feature a variety of characters including Master Splinter, Shredder, a turtle mobile, a pizza truck and all the ninjas. These TMNT LEGO figures will be released on January 1, 2013 but only in North America, but with most places closed for the new year, the eager beavers may have to wait another day. ## Trend Insights (Trend Hunter) - Score: 4.6/10 - Popularity: 42% | Activity: 89% | Freshness: 8% - Audience gender: 90% men, 10% women - Primary generations: Gen Z, Millennial - Top markets: North America ## Categories [Trend Hunter](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends) > [Life-Stages](https://www.trendhunter.com/life-stages) > [Toys](https://www.trendhunter.com/toys) ## Key Themes ### Key Themes Behind This Trend - **Nostalgic Ninja Toys:** The TMNT LEGO figurines tap into nostalgia and appeal to consumers' love for retro toys. - **Licensed LEGO Collections:** The popularity of the TMNT LEGO collection demonstrates the demand for licensed LEGO sets based on beloved franchises. - **Comic Con Exclusives:** Comic Con exclusive releases, like the TMNT LEGO figurines, create buzz and excitement among collectors and fans. ### Where This Applies - **Toy Manufacturing:** Toy manufacturers can explore opportunities in creating nostalgic toys and collaborating with popular franchises, as seen with the TMNT LEGO collection. - **Entertainment Licensing:** Entertainment licensing companies can benefit from partnering with LEGO to create licensed toy collections that tap into consumer nostalgia. - **Collectibles Industry:** The collectibles industry can capitalize on Comic Con exclusive releases, like the TMNT LEGO figurines, to drive sales and engage with passionate collectors. ## Related on Trend Hunter - [Animated Movie-Themed Snack Cakes](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/teenage-mutant-ninja-turtle-cakebites.md) - [Cartoon Mashup Qsr Meals](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/hello-kitty-tmnt.md) - [Retro Platform Fighting Games](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/the-cowabunga-collection.md) - [Collaborative QSR Kids-Meal Toys](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/sanrio-and-tmnt.md) - [Traditional Ninja Puzzle Towns](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/the-old-town-15th-anniversary-set.md) - [Cartoon-Inspired Card Games](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/magic-the-gathering-x-teenage-mutant-ninja-turtles.md) - [Anime-Inspired Building Sets](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/one-piece-collaboration-1.md) - [Nostalgic Superhero-Inspired Soaps](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/cowabunga-cleanse.md) - [90s Cartoon-Themed Supplements](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/ghost-x-tmnt-products.md)