Bootleg TMNT toys are something every avid collector has come across at some stage during their journey. If you collect Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtle figures, one of the most pressing challenges you’ll face is determining whether they are real or fake.
Sometimes it will be very difficult – in fact, almost impossible – to make an accurate assessment.
But telling the difference between a fake and real TMNT figure is critical to assessing their value. A bootleg may be worth $50, and a genuine could be worth $500.
NECA is a leading toy manufacturer of TMNT figures and is known for producing very high-quality items. However, bootleggers have done a pretty impressive job at creating mimics and knock-offs.
Below, we’ll outline some of the things you should look for when trying to tell the difference between a real and bootleg TMNT figure.
Paint job detail
When making the comparison between a real vs bootleg TMNT figure, you’ll notice overall much more detail on a real one. By looking at the lines, colours, shades and tones, you’ll see that a lot more quality control was placed into the real toy’s manufacturing process.
For example, one figure might generally look dirtier and have black marks over parts of their body, giving it the appearance of having been burnt. This is an indication that a TMNT figure is fake.
You should also look at the knee plates. A real figure will tend to have different shades of brown in the plates (may be a reddish or orangey brown) and overall appear more nuanced, whereas a bootleg may only have one shade of dark brown.
Shading
Shading is another giveaway to indicate that a TMNT is fake. You’ll notice that the bootleg ones are generally much lighter than the real figures.
Dots
When differentiating real vs bootleg TMNT NECA figures, a critical feature to look out for when make your comparison is the dots.
You should notice some subtitles in exactly what the spots on each figure look like. The bootleg figures will typically have very defined, specific spots. But a genuine would have different shades of dots, may more nuanced and don’t look like they’ve been plastered onto the figure as an afterthought.
You’ll also notice, for example, that the right upper thigh on some of the fake TMNT figures doesn’t have any black dots (although, Donnie’s leg might have some).
Perhaps the easiest way to tell if a TMNT figure is fake is to look straight at the upper right thigh. But, then again, this won’t necessary always be your key. Some real NECA TMNT figures may not have spots on that body part either.
Articulations
Another key thing to look for is not in the figures’ appearance, but in their articulations (i.e. their ability to move particular limbs). The arms, legs, feet, hands and neck on a fake figure may not be able to move in all the directions that a real one can.
One articulation to look for may be the turtle’s ability to very slightly from its shell. More accurately, the shell is slightly loose and you can bend it away from the back of the neck.
This extra point of articulation may not necessarily exist in the shell of a fake TMNT. If that’s the case, you won’t be able to move the shell back.
Facial expressions
Have a close look at the face of your Ninja Turtle figure and you might notice some irregularities in their expressions that could give rise to a fake flag.
For example, a real TMNT NECA figure may (but not necessaily) generally be looking straight ahead or in one general direction. A fake one, however, may be appear cross-eyed – one eye may be looking to the left while the other eye may be looking straight ahead or in another direction altogether.
Very often, it will be very small subtleties that will signal the difference between a fake and a real TMNT figure.
Need an expert to make a real vs bootleg TMNT comparison?
If you want an expert professional assessment of your Ninja Turtle figures, get in touch with our team here at TAG Collectibles.
We’ll look at your turtles with an eagle eye, and let you know if you’ve got your hands on a precious genuine gem or a bootlegged mimic. We can also give you an appraisal, so you know how much you expect your action figure to sell for.