Donatello Action Figure Review: NECA's TMNT x Usagi Series

Continuing our looks at the new TMNT x Usagi Yojimbo figures from NECA Toys, I am cutting right to the chase and going right to my favorite Turtle: Donatello.

A packaged action figure of Donatello from Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, featuring the character in a green costume with a brown belt and purple mask. The box is purple, displaying the figure and accessories.

Back of a Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles action figure packaging featuring artwork of Leonardo in a forest setting with a weapon, along with other characters and a picturesque castle in the background.

Yes, this new series is actually numbered, and while I started with Usagi himself yesterday, I felt inclined to jump to my favorite Turtle for a very particular reason. See, I have a LOT of TMNT figures. Heck, I have a lot of NECA TMNT figures. Understandably, when it comes to getting new TMNT figures, there is a long history of cool stuff that I have absolutely loved and keeping things fresh becomes more and more of a challenge. So, when I say that new TMNT figures might be my FAVORITE TMNT figures, you should know that I do not say that lightly.

Action figure of a green turtle character with a purple mask, standing on a purple background, accompanied by interchangeable hands and a weapon.

But… here we are. I know what you are probably saying – it’s recency bias and all that, but I have been anticipating these since they were first shown off at Toy Fair 2025, and I have not been able to shake them. So, I was probably setting myself up for at least some light disappointment when they arrived because I have been so heavily hyping them to myself, but that is not the case. These turned out so nicely and are so unlike any other Turtles I have, so yeah, these might be my all-time favorites.

A green action figure of a ninja turtle wearing a yellow body armor and a purple mask, standing against a purple background.

A green action figure resembling a turtle ninja character, facing away, with a purple headband and brown accessories, set against a purple background.

So, it is only appropriate that I start with my favorite Turtle, and Donatello is pretty wonderful. He is not the best Turtle figure in the set (I will get to that tomorrow), but I have an extra high standard for Donatello, and this one absolutely ranks. I love it when an action figure properly evokes the personality of the character, and then to have it fit into a specific context like the adventures in Usagi’s world, that just makes it all aces.

A green cartoon turtle character with a purple mask, standing with a wooden staff against a purple background.

A detailed action figure of a green turtle character with a purple mask and a wooden staff, set against a purple background.

Stan Sakai’s style and designs cannot be separated from the world of Usagi Yojimbo. He created it, styled it, and has nurtured it for decades. He brought the Turtles in seamlessly, and to have NECA recreate that in plastic down to the smallest details is really something. Sure, the Turtles themselves can logically share parts, but there were not shortcuts taken in the creation of these figures.

Action figure of a green turtle character wearing a purple mask and holding a bo staff, posed against a purple background.

A green humanoid action figure, posing dramatically with a staff, set against a purple background.

The sculpting work is great, and there are decades of expectations with that when it comes to NECA. Sakai’s TMNT are a little more square and boxy, and that is captured here with Donatello being a bit more squat than usual. There is some exaggeration in spots like the plastrons, feet, and head shape, and these really did walk right off the page. Honestly, I could look at the shell all day and appreciate the details and uniqueness of it. Each of the figures comes with a standard “Sakai” expression that gives the Turtle team a uniform look, and they also get a more personalized expression. For Donatello, I am going with the closed mouth frown on the shelf – it fits him well.

Four action figures of Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles posing together against a purple background.

Like all the comic-inspired NECA figures, the paint work does a lot of heavy lifting here, and the rounded lines and cross-hatching is very clean. It is crazy when you look at stuff like this – it is like 3-D objects have been drawn into real space, so they look like they live in this world, but could be flattened and be right back on the page. It makes for a cool effect and the years of perfecting this technique really hits a high note here.

Two action figures posed against a purple background: a white rabbit warrior in samurai armor wielding a sword and a green turtle character holding a bo staff.

Aside from the mentioned swappable portraits, Donatello also has swappable hands, a ninja star, and his requisite bo staff. The latter has rounded ends (like that broom handle so many of us used as kids), and while that is a small detail, I think this is the first time we have see a bo like this. It fits snugly in the sheath along the back that is held by his unique belt. The articulation helps facilitate most any TMNT pose you would reasonably want (granted these are not “super” articulated), and the bo poses are particularly nice, which is good.

A collectible figurine of a green turtle character wearing a purple mask, holding a bo staff, against a purple background.

Yep – I love these figures, and I cannot wait to talk about the others. They are so true to the source material, and while they are in a long line of TMNT in plastic, they are unique and stand above many, if not all of them. I love that they almost have a “cute” quality about them, and that is a breath of fresh air as I love just about all facets of the property. Donatello is debuting at Haulathon, so be sure to stalk your local Target – you do not want to miss these.