Kenner's first 21 Star Wars figures | Are they any good?!

Journey with us back to 1978 and the early days of Star Wars as we take a detailed look at the first 21 action figures made by Kenner.
Support us on Patreon: / analog_toys
Like us on Facebook: / analogtoys77
Email us at: [e-mail]
Subscribe to the 3POA Podcast: / @3poapodcast
Visit the Valaverse website: valaverse.com/
Watch Valaverse on KZbin: / @valaverse
Valaverse Instagram: / thevalaverse
Valaverse Facebook: / thevalaverse
#Valaverse #Action_Force #Desert_Rat

[@AnalogToys]

Do you remember your first Star Wars action figure?

[@timothyward8695]

Mine was a Stormtrooper. My brother's first was Darth Vader. And, as silly as this seems, before I got any of the hero figures, because you could clearly see belts in their sculpts, and because one was clearly taller than the other... when I got my hands on both, they were stand-ins for Batman and Robin. _"Truly wonderful, the mind of a child is."_ Did I just quote Attack of the clones? I need more coffee...

[@AnalogToys]

Hahahaha

[@Thingamajiik]

Vader, Double Telescoping Sword. But of course the Sword is long gone... The Vacuum probably devoured it...

[@Thingamajiik]

Bespin Luke, At-At Driver, Tie Fighter Pilot, Ewoks Three Pack, Nien Numb, Lando Skiff, General Madine, The Emporer, Anakin Skywalker, Bib Fortuna, Klatuu, Imperial Dignitary, Jedi Luke, Chewbacca plus Droid Loader. I think that's all I've got... Pretty incomplete but there's Holy Grail Figures in this Collection.

[@Thingamajiik]

Didn't get many as a Kid, Money was Tight 💸😞

[@Its.Chad.]

“… when Star Wars was fun”. Amen. Great video, Tony!

[@Journey-of-1000-Miles]

I was born in 1971, and I clearly remember playing with each and everyone of these figures. People of my generation, lived through the golden era of toys, Saturday morning cartoons, and video games. not to mention, professional wrestling! L O L I should also mention, TV sitcoms.

[@brianwyde3829]

I still remember the first 3 figures I got - Darth Vader C-3PO and R2-D2. This was not the best figure combination to recreate exciting adventures but I loved them and soon got additional figures. No toy line dominated my childhood more than Star Wars.

[@gecko-sb1kp]

My first figure was Luke in April 1978 (1 left in the store). Got R2 a couple of weeks later (50 or more in the store) and Darth Vader and CP30 at same time in one store (Lots of them) and Liea and Stormtrooper at another the same day (I got the only two). So I had 6 very quickly. Then nothing in the stores for another 8 months until the rest of them all came out together in Jan 1979...the way they were released in Australia is a mystery...

[@jerryziegner]

Another great video. I’m 52 years old and Chewbacca was the first figure I got. What a magical time in history

[@kahnlives]

I’m also 52, the Tusken Raider was the first one I got. I believe it was for a good grade or perhaps because I nagged my poor mother to death until she gave in. Those were the days.😢

[@rhettmiller3842]

Damned straight.

[@aisforapple9968]

I’m 51 and I loved these action figures! I remember every Christmas I would run downstairs and tear open my presents and opened up my Star Wars figures. Those were really the days…!

[@kahnlives]

@@aisforapple9968 🫡✋

[@gecko-sb1kp]

Chewbacca was the last figure I got to complete the first wave (we never knew at the time there would be a second wave). 12 on the cardbacks and he was my last. Luke was my first 10 months earlier at Centrepoint, Midland in April '78. Chewie from Belmont Forum in Feb '79. Not for the want of trying he just wasn't in stores in Australia until that time. Ridiculous, because he was one of the first produced...

[@aworldmadeofcardboard3692]

For me, this was a great trip down memory lane. I had many of these figures as a kid. (None of the rare ones) It was a time when companies made toys for kids, A time when we could play and a time to imagine our own future. That is what a toy is made to do.

[@Bendernity]

wdym? toys aren't made to play with anymore?

[@1969Risky]

I still have my figures stored away at home & still in very good condition. Apart from the Kenner range here in Australia, we also had the Toltoys made range & were branded as such. The Toltoys versions were a little better than the Kenner counterparts in quality & detail. By the end of SW:ESB, all the figures were Kenner made. I did not know of the extended tip lightsabres, but I remember back in 1980 I sent off some tokens to Kenner for the ESB accessories. They included the oxygen masks, a plastic Yoda backpack for Luke to carry him in, extra blasters & Chewbacca's plastic backpack to carry C-3PO. I still have all of those as well. A lot of the Kenner range was expensive back then. I did have the Toltoys X-Wing, land speeder, Twin Cloud Pod Car & the Kenner cantina set which had levers to move the figures but sadly those items got destroyed when I was moving about 20 odd years ago. I have no clue to their value these days. I kept them mainly as I remember my parents buying them for me as a kid.

[@enfieldjohn101]

If you do ever decide to sell them, the Toltoy toys, in good condition, will do quite well at auction online since they are a bit rarer in countries besides Australia and New Zealand than the Kenner ones.

[@kidcollectable4043]

Wow! Great seeing all of these figures! I have collected all of the first 21 and I am glad to say that my Kenner collection is nearly complete!

[@tnyc3265]

Another classic video to go along with your vintage Kenner Six Million Dollar Man, Evel Knievel, and Mego videos. Thanks Tony!

[@stevenmacias3605]

Even though I never collected these growing up, I love watching these videos that bring back memories of going through the toy dept. and Toys R Us seeing the action figures snd playsets. At that time, back in the late 70s, toy departments were a treasure trove compared to today. Sad but it's fun reminiscing. Looking forward to the next installment. 👍

[@mayhemcbs]

Thank you for this one!

[@MichaelJShaffer]

This is a great start to your new series. Cool to see you have the "red bar" R5-D4 in your collection. I do wish they would have continued the double telescoping lightsaber. The two best things about them to me are the more realistic length and the fact that the entire lightsaber could retract into the hilt without having that tip sticking out like the regular telescoping. lightsabers did. Love the original Kenner commercial score.

[@danriley5848]

This brings back great memories and I remember having all of these figures as well as the other toys. Great video as always.

[@briandillingham890]

The music choice was inspired and definitely took me back. Well done.

[@LaserPants]

Great video man!

[@thereallantesh]

I absolutely loved this video. I was obsessed with these figures as a child, and saved every penny I could to buy them. I received the Sears exclusive Cantina play set that Christmas, and I remember being upset that Snaggletooth was modeled incorrectly. I later traded him to my cousin for the shorter red version. At the time I was excited to make the trade, but now I think it would be neat to have the blue version. I still have all my figures. At some point I'm hoping I can display them again.

[@GarysActionManChannel1970]

The first Star Wars figure I had was the Stormtrooper. Great video, mate 👍

[@Irish37]

I was a recipient of the Early Bird action figure gift set from Christmas, 1977. I'm Generation One. And I still think Star Wars is fun!

[@kieronball8962]

An excellent, entertaining and informative video, from Tony, for Analog Toys.

[@jambogeordie]

You did an amazing job telling the story Tony. While I was aware of the history, your presentation, photos and narration were excellent and shed some new light (Walrusman proto!) cheers!

[@robertsinfiniterealms1308]

Even though I knew all that information it was still fun to see this video come together. Great job.

[@CraigAlanMurray1977]

Hey Tony, great video mate. This is the third time I’ve watched this video now and it’s definitely one I will be coming back to watch again. I look forward to your upcoming content, more like this would be fantastic. Take care 👍

[@sva3897]

The Kenner Star Wars toy line must be one of the most well know vintage toy lines today. That makes it not easy to bring a video with a fresh approach on the subject. I really enjoyed your review, nice footage of the toys and the narrative is spot on. Just a detail in the video maybe: but I liked that you used a few shots with modern/vintage rebel fleet troopers and the Tantive IV background. These go perfectly together with the vintage figures. btw; a while ago you made a video about the unreleased Blockade Runner; that was super interesting! Thanks for the great videos Tony, looking forward to see what Analog Toys will release in ‘24

[@georgeaitken2719]

Great video tony well researched and very informative I didn’t even know about the double scoped lightsaber

[@Mvargo97]

Great video. Analog Toys continues to level up the quality of vintage toy videos

[@dancramphorn7315]

I recently rediscovered my love of Star Wars collecting by joining a Vintage collectors group. Love your video

[@TimHayes]

Excellent video Tony!

[@SpookTroop]

Though i was born in 2007 these are probably still my favorite line of Kenner Star Wars figures there’s just somthing so beautiful about the simplicity of these figures where back then they were toys for children to actually play with

[@michaelblaine6494]

I was 27 when you were born😭😭😅

[@MrLeonidas0001]

"A time when Star Wars was fun" - damn right bro!!!

[@roycampsall2179]

Great video Tony. Very informative.

[@JeffMitchell-lv4zx]

Like many other 50 something year olds, i often watch these videos & look back on all the toys i used to play with now being considered holy grail treasures. Geez, if i still had all my toys from around 1980! I had loads of star wars toys, but i was really a micronauts kid! :) Great video!

[@nickdunlop07]

Great video Tony thanks again. Brought back many happy childhood memories 👍🏻👍🏻

[@jrex9197]

Great video! So glad I was there to enjoy these times. Priceless

[@daschyt2225]

Another great video! Looking forward to the up-coming Vintage Star Wars figure videos.

[@atariboy9084]

I got the first Kenner Star Wars figures and toys when I was 6 years old in 78 at a NYC Woolworths store and also got there vehicles and playsets as well and still own them to this day. AWESOME video my dude!

[@artstudent1255]

I have been wanting you to do a few videos on the original Star Wars figures for a while, and you did not disappoint!!! I hope you eventually get around to the rest of the line.

[@005AGIMA]

Finally got round to sitting down and watching this through. Fantastic history. Thanks so much for the work put in. It's funny, but I remember being keen to "upgrade" my R2 and 3PO to later versions as a kid. If only we'd known lol. Your history also explained scale wise, why I found myself happily using my Fisher Price Jeep for Action Force, as the scale seemed to work. I never knew the connection before. Love your channel. Also in Perth :)

[@davidburke4489]

Hands down my favorite video!! Well done Tony! 👏👏

[@JcKors0-ez3ct]

One of your finest videos Tony!!!

[@mcgannahanskyjellyfetti6854]

Props for using the footage of the original (and REAL) voice for Bobo Fett... 15:14 😎👍

[@ryangann5037]

Great production and content in this video. Enjoyed watching

[@burtreynolds2969]

This was great! Looking forward to the next one.

[@tausti]

Brilliant video!

[@thedragonreborn9835]

Very good video. Looking forward to the rest of the series. 👍

[@ChuckWCoulter]

Thank you for this. The first 21 are marvelous.

[@favoritethings3065]

Exceptional video!….thank you

[@felixlighter3332]

Nice one Tony, really enjoyed that. Look forward to the coming eps.

[@SlashManEXE]

The Snaggletooth from the movie was tall, but later references depicted another character with the same creature mask from the Holiday Special. The Snaggletooths were two different characters, technically

[@TheBeachBoyBeatle]

Outstanding video!

[@macman3676]

Great video, thank you, takes me back to my childhood. I remember having the Death Star Droid and R5D4, but lost them over the years.

[@xocab]

Another top Notch video, Tony! You really got me thinking what my first Star Wars action figure was. I honestly don't know why I don't know that! Great, now that'll be in my brain all day! Grrrr

[@JohnHood]

Thank you for evoking halcyon memories from a long time ago…

[@Mutron_78]

Fantastic video sir, informative and enjoyable as always

[@bigsnacksjenkins]

Did Kenner ever released sales numbers for the Star Wars line? It would be interesting to see a estimate of how many units of an item sold

[@kingerikthegreatest.ofall.7860]

Great video tony. I had Vader, Jawa l, Luke and a x- wing . Wish I still had them .

[@lamarravery4094]

This is where it all started and I was there. I was about 6 or 7 when I got the original 21 for Christmas along with the vehicles and the deathstar PlayStation. Wish I had extras to leave in package for investment purposes, lol.

[@metcalf2013]

Fantastic video. Thx

[@VConley]

Such a great breakdown!

[@shawnforrester1610]

Great video Tony! As a kid born in 72 I unfortunately remember the disaster that was the Xmas special. The only thing cool was the Boba Fett cartoon. My friends and I at recess spent the time talking about how dumb Chewie’s family was. Good times.

[@jonniehotdog]

I love Kenner Star Wars and I love this video!

[@drewg809]

This was such a fun watch!!

[@Thingamajiik]

Good Stuff man! 😉👍 Tony i've got your Figure imported to Germany!

[@blueotter11]

Fantastic video, can't wait for the ESB version!

[@futuramayeah]

at 1237, i like the 3 robots in that picture, i like the rubber part of the power droid and the clicking? noise he makes when you move his legs i think, and i like the shiny metal skin of the death star droid, they recently made a vintage collection one and looks nothing like this figure, and it's not shiny like this one, so it stinks, and i like that this r5 has a shiny neck

[@thepadawancollectorofficial]

Great video Tony 🙌🏼

[@TighelanderII]

Being used to the 12" figures of the Sixties, I didn't care for the tiny figures from the late Seventies.

[@Lazy-kv4kb]

cause you're a creep that likes to play with dolls

[@impossiblepie]

May the force be with you Tony.

[@lumbagoboi1649]

Ive always been interested in these old figures mainly because they were given to me by my dad as basically my first starwars toys (aside from a few phantom menace figures because i was little while the prequels were coming out) My dad, aunt, and uncle all had a few toys so when my dad kept all of them, he managed to keep around 43 of them. A few were lost (the first luke and han are gone) but i have empire strikes back versions of them. Theres something so charming about thier old and kinda wonky designs.

[@TheGentlemanWake]

Great vid. I really appreciate the effort you put in to these. The second camera angle will definitely make editing easier for ya. However I would suggest changing the framing a bit to either be much closer or farther. Otherwise the cuts from on to the other can appear abrupt or jumpy

[@dsc7964]

Mate, that was awesome! 😁👍

[@jamesadams7880]

You said it perfectly- a time when Astar Wars was fun.

[@futuramayeah]

at 1013, i like that they made colorful outfits for the aliens, if they did have production stills, they might have made drab looking outfits, so i liked that they had colorful outfits as a kid that appealed to me

[@michaellocke3327]

Great start to a new series! And to making feel OLD! lol I had them all. I love all the newer stuff but part of me still misses the originals.

[@jonboldrey5339]

Good ol star wars video Tony I like it 🇺🇸💪🍻🇬🇧🇦🇺

[@phatstax2011]

Kenner also used their own genric, but cool sounding music in both their Star Wars and Empire Strikes Back toy commercials and then used officially licensed John Williams music in the Jedi toy commercials.

[@streetwithoutjoy]

The Early Bird Chewie also had a greenish bowcaster!

[@projektkobra2247]

Had then lost a lot of these...managed to find my original C3P0 and R2 at the bottom of some junk box...R2's sticker having come off on one of their "undersea" adventures in the bathtub... I got a replacement sticker, and now they both stand together on the wall as they should.

[@FigureFever]

A blast from the past. great video Tony. 😊I didn't know regarding the lightsabers. I was fortunate to have most of the figures from the 1st wave, as well as the smaller head - Han Solo.

[@EdsterIII]

Oh how I remember this time! Stopping at Toys R Us, Target stores, K-Marts, and K•B Toys was always a treat! I can remember waiting for the Jawa figures to be released. I'd call those same above stores. Nope, nope, sorry nope. Then a local Toy Store in our neighborhood who apparently had spoken to my Mom/Dad, had our phone☎️number. One day after we had gone to dinner at our local 🥞International🥞House🥞of🥞Pancakes🥞 my Mom said let's stop at Toy Country USA, maybe they'll have something new? Yeah sure I remember 💭thinking💭. Ok, why not. As we walked in the owner who I knew from the store, he was a really cool guy, he said, "Check out my new Star Wars figures Display Stand. Oh and look at the very top. There sitting on the top was about 5 or 6 Jawa Action Figures! I flipped out! YAHOO! YAHOO! LOL! I was so happy. They were the ones with the plastic robes. I lucked out and the owner had saved me some. I bought one with my allowance, my Mom bought me one, and oddly my Dad also bought me one. Here is the most tragic of this story. My Star Wars figures were given away. ALL of them! I remember getting my C3PO and R2-D2 and I loved them. What followed was months and months of saving allowance money, shoveling snow for money, cutting grass, whatever. The Hoth Playset, the Cantina set, the Landspeeder, the X-Wing fighter the Tie Fighter, the Cloud Car, and my favorite was the Death Star playset! I remember getting the Cantina set from Sears and Roebuck and it had a weird variant of the Snaggletooth figure. He was taller and his suit was blue instead of red, or vice versa. I don't remember having any of the telescoping Light Sabers. But I do remember ordering 2 or 3 of the Rocket Firing Boba Fett figures, only to learn that the figure was changed because some kid shot himself in the 👁eye👁 with one of the Battlestar Galactica ships. I was so bummed out. I remember opening up the one, seeing the notice and leaving the rest unopened, but again they were given away! However those figures along with the Mego Superheroes were my childhood favorites! Great toys, great times, and awesome memories! Take care!

[@SaturnCanuck]

Tony that was great! Another amazing video. I was a bit old for action figures then but I do remember the infamous "Empty Box Campaign". My little cousin had them all, though. Oh and did you know the Power Droid is now known as the GNK series? Get it?

[@mikebull1972]

Great content Tony!

[@robertferguson5562]

I still have mine collected from 1978 to 1983.

[@Phaota]

I still have all of my original SW figures with accessories. Only a few were replaced with new ones when the first figures were either lost or damaged too much. I still wish I had the vinyl caped Jawa and the telescoping lightsabers for mine. Due to how fragile they were, replacements had to be found and those were normally the solid sabers. My favorite figs were C-3P0 and R2, of course. But I love them all and didn't mind the errors in manufacturing or design, like the Blue Snaggletooth (which I have as well).

[@theunagang]

Great Video ! I must ask where did you get the music that was used in the old kenner commercials? Sounded like a full version or a great edit? Loved the music in those old commercials

[@scottwilson3741]

I loved these. Still have some of the originals, albeit missing a lot of accessories. Which includes the vinyl cloak for the Jawa

[@user-ny5ey7bs9e]

I remember all.these figures when I was young I remember my mom getting my brother and myself for some odd reason only the jawas the sand people and the droids.

[@Chronically0nline]

Uploading on the same day? Next time lets coordinate outfits! Well done sir, nothing beats vintage.

[@maxrico6660]

They've produced some much better and much more accurate figures since the originals but those original figures are really the closest to my heart. They're my absolute favorite out of my whole collection.

[@dennissmith5807]

I still have the Blue Snaggletooth.

[@robertferguson5562]

I 8 u 😠

[@marktroddyn3351]

I received my first figures in my Easter basket in 78. My parents removed them from the card and removed their guns, but at 5 years old I was OK with that. Anyway they were awesome!

[@informer]

13:26 I had this figure when I was a kid, but I always thought his name was Silver Droid. I don’t remember it being Death Star Droid

[@NewtonDKC]

Love this and these figures will forever be inexplicably important to me (and the first few Empire waves…just magic!). One slightly minuscule;y negative - the side on filming angle feels weird to me…maybe just used to seeing you front on and prefer that to the weird angle, and saying it just in case you were wanting feedback on it. And if not then just disregard me sounding like an arse of a git! :-) Fantastic video as always sir, love the prototype pics!!!

[@kevinellis8307]

Great trip down memory lane and the toys I still retain. Especially, the Earlybird Certificate Envelope, figure stand, another pre-order stand with pivots and the 4 starter figures. I’m so glad I held onto this elusive envelope so many years. The figures are still in the box and white tray Kenner mailed them out in. ❤️❤️‍🩹

[@HasseBasseBingBong]

I never once saw a C-3PO with gold finish. I only saw the silver version. But I only discovered Star Wars during the JEDI line, so maybe that's the explanation.

[@paulfowler6665]

Your knowledge is amazing. I'm loving these videos on the original Star wars toys. I didn't buy any as a kid until Empire came out but had most of them and the ships by the time they stopped making them. Like many will always regret selling them a couple years later for sod all😢

[@clobberonline6812]

I agree !

[@matthewwade920]

The black stormtrooper version of the Death Squad Commander (at 8:18) looks like it has the body of a Fisher Price toy - the crooked arm, the slouch and the bell bottom pants suggest this. The helmet looks large, and I wonder if it is a cut and paste photograph

[@garinsparks7041]

My Favorite group

[@candoentertainment9118]

Luke and Artoo were my 1st figures.

[@Takeshi357]

12:11 and then the publicity shot wasn't even from Star Wars, but the Holiday Special!