In 1982, Tomy released a small merchandise line for Walt Disney's computer fantasy Tron. The line consisted of two light-cycles (yellow and red), and four 3.34 action figures from the film.
The action figures included were Flynn (Jeff Bridges), Tron (Bruce Boxleitner), Sark (David Warner) and a Warrior, one of the MCP minions.
Flynn, Tron and Sark came equipped with glow-in-the-dark data disks (or frisbees), while the Warrior came equipped with the prod or staff he used in the film to push prisoners onto the game grid.
Like the characters in the film, the action figures looked kind of neon, and were actually transparent, with white outlining to suggest their computer circuitry look.
The light-cycles featured rip-cord technology (like you find on today's BeyBlade toys), and could house one action figure a piece. The box legend for the light cycles went: "From the amazing world of Tron comes the futuristic Light Cycle that takes off like lightning."
Like the Indiana Jones/Raiders of the Lost Ark toys I featured not long ago here on the blog, the Tron toys were ones I somehow missed during my childhood. I understand that NECA re-released the line (and added a blue light cycle) to celebrate the recent premiere of TRON Legacy, and so apparently I missed my second opportunity to pick them up!
I actually saw the yellow lightcycle a couple years ago and nearly fell on my butt in shock.
ReplyDeleteI had the Sark figure when I was a kid. He ended up joining forces with Darth Vader, since he was the same size as the Star Wars action figures. I always wanted the other three, but the toys were pretty hard to find in my neck of the woods.
Thanks for posting. It brought back memories.
I had the red lightcycle myself, a Sark and a Tron I believe. The cycle was the star, though. So many of my action figures took a ride in that thing before its days were done. (It also did a great job at block tower demolition, by the by)
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