NECA Takes it to the Next Level at Toy Fair

by Mike Stencel

If there was one booth at New York Toy Fair that felt like it was designed specifically for longtime collectors, it was NECA. The booth wasn’t just about announcing new toys, it was about showing how wide and eclectic their catalog has become. Combined with a mix of Ninja Turtles, horror icons, and nostalgic specialty toy lines, the company delivered the kind of intricate detail and fan appeal that has been synonymous with NECA for many years. From Fortnite-styled slashers to McDonald’s mascots, the booth felt less like a toy display and more like a pop culture museum of collectibles that will eventually end up on your shelf.

TMNT Cartoons, Crossovers, and Comics Collide

NECA’s TMNT presence was massive and equally divided across several sub-lines. In the TMNT Cartoon Ultimate line, fans were treated to a parade of deep-cut variants that lean hard into the 1987 series’ love of costumes and disguises. Newly shown figures included Incognito Michelangelo, Construction Worker Donatello, Sailor Raphael, and Tuxedo Leonardo, along with a gritty, authentic-looking Leatherhead.

The 2012 TMNT animated series also received some love and attention with Ultimate-style figures of Slash, Tiger Claw, Casey Jones, Metalhead, and Splinter coming out this year.

Crossovers were another big theme as NECA revealed TMNT x Fortnite designs, including Fortnite-styled versions of Leonardo, Raphael, Donatello, and Michelangelo, as well as Shredder.

For comic fans, one of the most exciting reveals was the TMNT x Usagi Yojimbo line. The booth showcased individually packaged Ultimate figures of Miyamoto Usagi, Leonardo, Donatello, Michelangelo, and Raphael in a style inspired by Stan Sakai’s world, each featuring multiple head sculpts, interchangeable hands, and their signature weapons. These figures were made specifically for collectors who want their shelves to reflect the broader TMNT multiverse.

Horror: Slashers, Shrines, and Santa-styled Sickos

NECA’s horror section was stacked, both literally and figuratively. One of the most talked-about reveals was the Fortnite x Horror crossover, which reimagines these iconic characters in the game’s stylized look. Shown were Michael Myers, Leatherface, and Billy the Puppet from Saw, all transformed into Fortnite’s exaggerated proportions and colorful aesthetics. Never in my wildest did I ever expect to see Michael Myers holding a keyboard as an accessory, but here we are.

Friday the 13th fans have plenty to look forward to as well. NECA announced new "Friday the 13th: The Game" Ultimate action figures to the lineup including figures based on Part 8 and Part 9. These 7-inch figures feature game-specific, highly detailed, and articulated designs based on Jason Takes Manhattan, Jason Goes to Hell, and a Tom Savini–inspired “hellish” Jason design. NECA didn’t stop at just figures. The booth also featured a Pamela Voorhees shrine, a detailed diorama-style setup that paid tribute to the franchise’s original villain and added a creepy aura to the Jason lineup.

In addition to the Ultimate horror figures and Pamela Voorhees shrine, NECA also leaned into Friday the 13th nostalgia with the unveiling of Retro Jason collectibles tied to the classic NES-style retro game. Among these is the Classic Video Game 7-inch scale action figure of Jason, complete with game-themed packaging that evokes the original 8-bit experience and adds a special touch with window box art reminiscent of the old video game cartridge. Jason appears in his iconic pixel-inspired deco and comes with classic accessories like a machete, axe, and removable mask, plus a Pamela Voorhees head display accessory.

Jason wasn’t the only slasher featured at the booth. Horror fans “Scream”ed at the sight of a brand new Ultimate Ghost Face, complete with multiple masks, including the infamous tongue-out spoof mask associated with Scary Movie. Dead by Daylight’s The Trapper was also showcased, expanding NECA’s presence in the video game horror genre.

For those more into modern horror, Welcome to Derry and Terrifier were strongly represented with a new 1/4-scale Pennywise figure from the hit HBO Max series on display as well as an Ultimate Art the Clown figure, including a Santa suit look tied to Terrifier 3, as well as Toony Terrors-style reveals like Santa Art and The Little Pale Girl. The booth also teased more from Predator: Badlands with Ultimate fully-articulated and highly-detailed figures of Dek, Father Njohrr, Dek’s brother Kwei, and a two-pack of Thia and Bud. All figures come with interchangeable heads, hands and a variety of brutal weapons and accessories. 

Jim Henson Classics Go Ultimate

One of the more delightful surprises at the NECA booth was the growing Muppets presence. The first wave of Muppets Ultimates was shown in a stage-style display and included Miss Piggy, Mahna Mahna with The Two Snowths, and Gonzo with Camilla. These figures lean into expressive sculpts and come with character-specific accessories as a way to honor Jim Henson’s legacy. 

Speaking of Henson, can you tell me how to get these meticulously-detailed Sesame Street Ultimates? Big Bird was proudly on display, complete with a variety of accessories including a vintage-looking head sculpt, a tie, multiple hands, the letter “B,” and his teddy bear Radar, alongside a newly revealed Super Grover, with flight stand, and an updated look at everyone’s favorite garbage grouch - Oscar.

NECA’s Nostalgia Steals the Show

NECA’s specialty section might have been one of the most memorable areas of the booth. DuckTales Ultimates were shown in themed pairings: Scrooge McDuck with Dewey, Gizmoduck with Huey, and Launchpad McQuack with Louie, capturing the adventurous spirit of the series in highly poseable, accessory-packed forms.

The McDonald’s line also drew plenty of praise as well. NECA showed an Ultimate Grimace, and announced Ronald McDonald and The Hamburglar as upcoming additions. On top of that, the Ben Cooper Costume Kids line expanded with Hamburglar and Birdie, each paired with classic Happy Meal Halloween Boo Buckets. The display also included Phunny Plush versions of Birdie and Hamburglar, plus bobbleheads of Hamburglar and Grimace, making the McDonald’s section feel like fast-food nostalgia takeout.

NECA also showcased a fan favorite from the Beetlejuice universe with the reveal of the Ultimate Bob (Decoy) figure, from the sequel. This 7-inch scale figure comes fully loaded in true Ultimate fashion, with multiple interchangeable heads, extra hands, files of the deceased, and additional shirt pieces that let collectors recreate the other Shrinker characters, Jeff and Dave. Bob features full articulation and comes in a collector-friendly window box packaging, making it equally suited for display or posing.

Rounding out the display was the Ultimate Pee-wee Herman figure, shown with three interchangeable expressions, multiple hands, “secret word” papers, and, of course, Pterri the pterodactyl.

Brainrot Bendies

And finally, if you’re a parent of pre-teens, you’ve likely endured a barrage of nonsensical rhyming phrases at home. While it might sound like a lesson in Italian culture, it’s actually the "Italian Brainrot" meme trend.

NECA is leaning into this viral phenomenon with their new line of 5-6 inch Brainrot Bendies, launching later this year. The first wave features fan-favorite characters: Tung Tung Sahur, Ballerina Cappuccina, U Din Din Din Dun Ma Din Din Din Dun, Brr Brr Patapim, and La Esok Sekolah (I think I broke spellcheck).