It’s Figure Friday, and we’re taking a look at two Saturday Morning Icons. Pee Wee’s Playhouse and Frosted Flakes were a staple of my Saturdays growing up. As I’ve shared previously, I was a chubby kid. Tony the Tiger and I were TIGHT! Unfortunately, he didn’t bring out the Tiger in me as much as he elevated my glucose levels while I watched Pee Wee’s Playhouse. Are these figures flaky or gr-r-reat? Let’s take a look at NECA’s Ultimate Pee Wee Herman and Jada’s Tony the Tiger!
Ultimate Pee Wee Herman by NECA
NECA has done a solid job of capturing Pee Wee’s likeness. You get three different head portraits: screaming, laughing and smirking. Pee Wee was such an animated character, they could have given me a dozen different heads and I’d probably still want more. I’d have loved a sculpture of him doing his tape face routine. Maybe if we get some additional Playhouse characters, they can pack in an extra head or two?
Pee Wee feels a bit light in the accessory department. You get some extra hands and two extremely small secret word cards. Pterri the Pterodactyl is a nice addition and adds a little world-building to the Playhouse. It will be interesting to see what the license allows NECA to produce. I’d have to imagine Cowboy Curtis or Miss Yvonne is a bit of a longshot, but Conky, Chairy and Magic Screen might make for a nice accessory pack.
It’s nice to have a Pee Wee Herman figure in 2025. The Max documentary Pee Wee as Himself hits Max on May 23. It’s a shame we couldn’t have given Paul Reubens his flowers while he was still with us.
Tony the Tiger by Jada Toys
Jada’s foray into the cereal aisle continues with Tony the Tiger. While Frankenberry and Count Chocula featured limbs that sometimes felt delicate, Tony feels a bit more sturdy. He’s still a bit top-heavy, but his legs provide a solid foundation.
Jada has included some great accessories with Tony. As with the previous cereal mascots, Tony gets a box of Frosted Flakes. Unlike the previous releases, Tony also gets a bowl and a spoonful of cereal so he can actually have breakfast with you. Just like the commercials! If you need to burn some of those calories, Tony is ready to hoop it up with a basketball and a couple of special hands. With one hand, you can make Tony carry or dribble the ball, and with the other, an extended index finger… er… paw? pad? Whatever. You can put the ball on the tip and make it look like it’s spinning with the added effect.
Tony looks like he’s leapt off the screen and onto your shelf. His colours are vibrant, and the black stripes are clean. If you have any fondness for this character, this figure will instantly put a smile on your face. Jada has already shown off Fred and Barney with Fruity and Cocoa Pebbles. If we’re continuing with cereal mascots, I’d love a Captain Crunch and Sugar Bear. Which ad icon would you like to see Jada tackle next?
