Minimates

{{short description|Toy line}}

Minimates are a block-styled miniature action figure originally created by Art Asylum in 2002, and released by Diamond Select Toys as of 2007. The basic Minimate figure design has a {{convert|2|in|abbr=on}} tall humanoid body with 14 points of articulation. Released in both specialty stores as well as mass-market retailers, Minimates are made for both kid-friendly and adult-oriented properties. The toys are primarily based on licenses from a wide range of comic books, television series, movies, and video games. The longest-running series of Minimates is based on Marvel Comics, with over 85 waves of figures released to date.

History

Image:Spider pack03.png

Designed and produced by New York City-based sculpting and design house Art Asylum, Minimates began in 2002 with multiple lines of 3" Minimates based on several different licenses. These included Dark Angel, Star Trek, Kung Faux, Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon, and the films of Bruce Lee, along with a Rock line featuring KISS, Rob Zombie, Ozzy Osbourne and Alice Cooper. The 3" Minimate line also included several blank or promotional Minimates. These usually bore the logo of a specific company and were used as giveaways.

Following a partnership with Diamond Select Toys, a range of 2" Minimates based upon the Marvel Comics Universe was launched. The 2" Minimate body type began to be used in place of the 3" body type, and it was announced that the 3" range would be discontinued. In 2004, a Lord of the Rings line produced by Art Asylum and Play Along Toys added a third 2.5" tall body type to further illustrate the size differences of the various races of Middle-Earth.

In 2004, Art Asylum and Play Along launched their Minimate-based C3 ("Create Construct Customize") construction sets, which could be used to build vehicles and playsets from the DC Comics universe with a primary focus on Batman and the Justice League. The license terms limited the selling of the 2" DC Minimates to the construction sets, and the line failed to gain a foothold in the market. C3 was discontinued, and in 2006 DC Direct announced that they had picked up the DC Minimates line and would release their own figures in partnership with Art Asylum. That same year, non-construction-set vehicles were introduced to the brand, in lines based on the Speed Racer cartoon (from Art Asylum) as well as both the classic and modern Battlestar Galactica TV series (from Art Asylum and Diamond Select Toys).

In 2007, Art Asylum became a division of Diamond Select Toys,{{Cite web |title=Diamond Select Acquires Art Asylum - Raving Toy Maniac - The Latest News and Pictures from the World of Toys |url=https://www.toymania.com/news/messages/9319.shtml |access-date=2025-04-04 |website=www.toymania.com}} and the Minimates body type has since been applied to dozens of licenses from comic books (The Walking Dead, Invincible), TV (24, Star Trek), movies (Terminator 2: Judgment Day, Universal Monsters, Marvel Studios), animation (The Real Ghostbusters, Peter Pan) and video games (Halo, Tomb Raider, Marvel vs. Capcom 3). DST has also developed Minimates based on its own concepts, under the brands Calico Jack's Pirate Raiders, Minimates M.A.X., and Battle Beasts, which they acquired the trademark for in 2009.

Minimate Product Types

Most Minimates lines are sold as two-packs in assortments, or four-packs, both of which are available online or at local comic stores. Some were shared between Toys "R" Us or Walgreens and the specialty store market. Exclusive Minimates releases have been offered at major pop culture conventions, including San Diego's Comic-Con International, New York Comic Con and C2E2.

Due to license restrictions limiting all Marvel Minimates to the 2" scale, a range of four 8" unarticulated resin statues under the "Minimates Max" banner were announced for 2006 to represent larger-scale characters in the Minimate style. Because of the cost and unarticulated nature of the statues, the line was not well received and eventually cancelled. Only two of the four announced statues, Galactus and the Sentinel, were released.

The Minimates Vehicles line featured original ships and jets from the Calico Jack's Pirate Raiders and M.A.X brands alongside licensed vehicles from licenses such as Terminator 2: Judgment Day, Back to the Future and Knight Rider. Each assortment featured color variations between Toys R Us and specialty markets to differentiate between the two releases.

A carrying case that holds up to 36 Minimates was also produced, and comes with an exclusive figure. The first edition came with a Battle Beast, the second edition with a Pirate Raider, and the third, released in 2013, came with a silver 10th Anniversary Minimate.{{Cite web |title=Minimate Database: 10th Anniversary Minimates Collector's Case (#3) |url=http://www.minimatedatabase.com/pack.php?i=1142&n=10th+Anniversary+Minimates+Collector's+Case+(#3) |access-date=2025-04-04 |website=www.minimatedatabase.com}}

In 2015, a line of 4" Minimates-styled figures began under the name Vinimates. The figures had pre-posed bodies with articulated necks for a range of head movement, except in the DC Comics line where the heads were locked in place. Vinimates often shared licenses with Minimates, but some licenses were exclusive to Vinimates such as Caddyshack and The Rocketeer.

Media

In 2005, animation students at the DAVE School (The Digital Animation & Visual Effects School) produced Batman: New Times, featuring computer-generated Minimate characters, as a class project.{{Citation |last=Scheetz |first=Jeffery |title=Batman: New Times |type=Animation, Short, Action |url=https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0482900/ |access-date=2025-04-04 |others=Adam West, Mark Hamill, Courtney Thorne-Smith |publisher=DAVE School Students Productions}} New Times features is notable for its all-star cast including Adam West and Mark Hamill reprising their respective roles as the Batman and the Joker. The film was released as a download on the DAVE School website and was available as a free DVD. As a promotional item, a Batman Minimate was released to tie-in with the film.

In 2006, an animated X-Men movie in the same style as Batman: New Times was produced under the name X-Men: Darktide.{{Citation |last=Vaughan |first=William |title=X-Men: Darktide |date=2006-05-05 |type=Animation, Short, Action |url=https://www.imdb.com/title/tt2949494/ |access-date=2025-04-04 |others=Peter Jordan, Darren Pleavin, Russell Wait |publisher=DAVE School Students Productions, Marvel Entertainment}} Released on DVD as part of a box set containing Minimates of Magneto, Cyclops, Wolverine, and Juggernaut, the movie features those characters as well as Minimate versions of Storm, Beast, and Archangel.

Diamond Select Toys has also produced online stop-motion animation videos for its line of Walking Dead Minimates, and also its in-house brands, including Calico Jack's Pirate Raiders, Minimates M.A.X., and Battle Beasts.

Licenses (Current and Past)

class="wikitable"

|+

!Licence / Series{{Cite web |title=Minimate Database: Main List |url=http://www.minimatedatabase.com/mainList.php |access-date=2025-04-04 |website=www.minimatedatabase.com}}

!Sub-Licence(s)

!First Release

!Formats

24

|

|2007

|2" Minimates

Alice: Madness Returns

|

|2011

|2" Minimates

Alice Through the Looking Glass

|

|2016

|2" Minimates, Vinimates

Aliens

|Alien, Aliens, Aliens (Comic Books), Alien 3, Alien Resurrection, Alien Covenant

|2015

|2" Minimates, Deluxe Sets, Vehicles, Vinimates

All Elite Wrestling (AEW)

|

|2023

|2" Minimates, Deluxe Sets, Vinimates

Back to the Future

|Back to the Future, Back to the Future Part II, Back to the Future Part 3

|2007

|2" Minimates, Vehicles, Vinimates

Battle Beasts

|

|2013

|2" Minimates, Carrying Cases

Battlestar Galactica

|Battlestar Galactica (1978), Battlestar Galactica (2004), Battlestar Galactica: Razor

|2006

|2" Minimates, Vehicles

Beetlejuice

|

|2017

|2" Minimates, Vinimates

Beverly Hills Cop

|

|Unreleased

|2" Minimates

The Big Bang Theory

|

|2014

|2" Minimates

The Black Hole

|

|2019

|Vinimates

Bruce Lee

|

|2002

|2" Minimates (Unreleased), 3" Minimates, Vinimates (Unreleased)

Buck Rogers

|Buck Rogers in the 25th Century

|2015

|2" Minimates

Caddyshack

|

|2017

|Vinimates

Calico Jack's Pirate Raiders

|

|2011

|2" Minimates, Vehicles

Celebrity Death Match

|

|2003

|3" Minimates

Charm City Cakes

|

|2008

|2" Minimates

Comic Book Heroes

|Battle Beasts, Chew, Hack / Slash, Ninjak, Revival, Shadowman

|2016

|2" Minimates

Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon

|

|2002

|3" Minimates

Cthulhu

|

|2018

|Vinimates

Dark Angel

|

|2002

|3" Minimates

The Dark Tower

|

|2017

|2" Minimates, Vinimates

DC Comics

|

|2004

|2" Minimates, 2.5" Minimates, Construction Sets, Vinimates

DC Comics Animated Series

|The Batman, Justice League, Teen Titans Go!

|2004

|2" Minimates, Vinimates

DC Comics Films

|Aquaman, Batman Returns, The Dark Knight, The Dark Knight Rises, Justice League, Shazam!, Wonder Woman

|2017

|Vinimates

DC Comics Television Series

|Arrow, Gotham, The Flash, Supergirl

|2015

|2" Minimates, Vinimates

DC Comics Video Games

|Batman: Arkham Asylum, Injustice 2

|2018

|Vinimates

Desperately Seeking Susan

|

|2008

|2" Minimates

Dollars Trilogy

|A Fistful of Dollars, For a Few Dollars More, The Good, The Bad, and the Ugly

|2008

|2" Minimates

Dragon Age

|

|2015

|2" Minimates

Dungeons & Dragons

|Dungeons & Dragons (TV Series)

|2023

|2" Minimates

Elf

|

|2017

|2" Minimates, Vinimates

The Expendables

|The Expendables, The Expendables 2

|2012

|2" Minimates

Femme Fatales

|Darkchylde, Dawn, Lady Death, Tarot

|2011

|2" Minimates

Forbidden Planet

|

|2017

|2" Minimates, Vinimates

G.I. Joe

|

|2021

|2" Minimates

Ghostbusters

|Ghostbusters, Ghostbusters II, Ghostbusters (2016), The Real Ghostbusters, Ghostbusters: The Video Game

|2009

|2" Minimates, Vinimates

The Godfather

|

|Unreleased

|2" Minimates

Godzilla

|

|2014

|2" Minimates, Vinimates

Grimm Fairy Tales

|

|2015

|2" Minimates

Halo

|Halo: Combat Evolved, Halo 2, Halo 3, Halo 3: ODST

|2010

|2" Minimates, Vehicles

Indie Comics

|Dawn, Kabuki, Magdelena, Witchblade

|2005

|2" Minimates

Invader Zim

|

|2018

|Vinimates

The Iron Giant

|

|2017

|2" Minimates, Vinimates

It

|

|2019

|Vinimates

iZombie

|

|2016

|2" Minimates

John Wick

|John Wick (film)

|2019

|2" Minimates (Unreleased), Vinimates

Kill Bill

|Kill Bill: Volume 1, Kill Bill: Volume 2

|2014

|2" Minimates

Kingdom Hearts

|

|2018

|2" Minimates, Vinimates

KISS

|

|2002

|3" Minimates

Knight Rider

|

|2012

|2" Minimates, Vehicles

Kung Faux

|

|2003

|3" Minimates

The Lord of the Rings

|The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring, The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers, The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King

|2004

|2" Minimates, 2.5" Minimates, 3" Minimates

Lost in Space

|

|

|2" Minimates, Vinimates

Marvel Animated Series

|Avengers Assemble, Guardians of the Galaxy, Iron Man and Hulk: Heroes United, Marvel's Spider-Man, Ultimate Spider-Man, What If...?

|2013

|2" Minimates

Marvel Cinematic Universe

|Marvel Cinematic Universe: Phase One, Marvel Cinematic Universe: Phase Two, Marvel Cinematic Universe: Phase Three (not including Spider-Man: Far From Home), Black Widow

|2008

|2" Minimates

Marvel Comics

|

|2003

|2" Minimates

Marvel Films

|The Amazing Spider-Man, The Amazing Spider-Man 2, Deadpool, Ghost Rider (Unreleased), Logan, Punisher: War Zone, Spider-Man 3, The Wolverine, X-Men: Days of Future Past, X-Men: First Class, X-Men: The Last Stand, X-Men Origins: Wolverine

|2006

|2" Minimates

Marvel Television Series

|Daredevil, Iron Fist, Jessica Jones, Luke Cage

|2016

|2" Minimates

Marvel vs Capcom 3

|

|2011

|2" Minimates

Mass Effect

|

|2014

|2" Minimates

Maximum Zombies

|

|2011

|2" Minimates

Mighty Morphin Power Rangers

|

|2022

|2" Minimates

Mobile Action Xtreme (M.A.X.)

|

|2010

|2" Minimates, Carrying Cases, Vehicles

The Munsters

|

|2012

|2" Minimates, Vehicles

The Nightmare Before Christmas

|

|2015

|2" Minimates, Vinimates

Pathfinder

|

|2014

|2" Minimates

Peter Pan

|

|2013

|2" Minimates, Vehicles

Pirates of the Caribbean

|Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Men Tell No Tales

|2017

|2" Minimates, Vinimates

Plants vs. Zombies

|Plants vs. Zombies: Garden Warfare

|2014

|2" Minimates

Platoon

|

|2008

|2" Minimates

Pulp Fiction

|

|2014

|2" Minimates

Rebel Moon

|

|2024

|2" Minimates

Rock n' Roll

|Alice Cooper, Iron Maiden, Ozzy Osbourne, Rob Zombie

|2002

|3" Minimates

The Rocketeer

|

|2020

|Vinimates

Rocky

|

|2007

|2" Minimates

The Silence of the Lambs

|

|2008

|2" Minimates

Sin City

|

|

|2" Minimates

Skybound

|Invincible, Thief of Thieves

|2013

|2" Minimates

SModCo

|

|2015

|Vinimates

Sonic the Hedgehog

|

|2019

|2" Minimates, Vinimates

Sony Playstation

|Jak and Daxter, Ratchet and Clank, Resistance, Uncharted 2: Among Thieves

|2011

|2" Minimates

Speed Racer

|

|2006

|2" Minimates, Vehicles

The Spirit

|

|2009

|2" Minimates

SpongeBob SquarePants

|

|2015

|2" Minimates

Star Trek

|Star Trek: Deep Space Nine, Star Trek: Enterprise, Star Trek: First Contact, Star Trek: The Next Generation, Stark Trek: The Original Series, Star Trek: Voyager, Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan

|2002

|2" Minimates, 3" Minimates

Street Fighter II

(featuring Darksiders)

|

|2006

|2" Minimates

Street Fighter x Tekken

|

|2012

|2" Minimates

Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles

|Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles (Comic Book), Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles (1987), Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles (2012), Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: The Last Ronin

|2014

|2" Minimates

Terminator 2: Judgement Day

|

|2009

|2" Minimates, Vehicles

ThunderCats

|

|2012

|2" Minimates

Tomb Raider

|Tomb Raider (2013)

|2013

|2" Minimates

Transformers

|

|2021

|2" Minimates

Universal Monsters

|Bride of Frankenstein, Creature From the Black Lagoon, Dracula, Frankenstein, The Hunchback of Notre Dame, The Mummy, The Wolf Man

|2010

|2" Minimates

Valiant Comics

|Bloodshot, X-O Manowar

|2015

|2" Minimates

View Askew

|Clerks, Comic Book Men, Jay and Silent Bob Strike Back, Tusk

|2014

|2" Minimates

The Walking Dead

|

|2012

|2" Minimates

Watchmen

|

|2017

|2" Minimates, Vinimates

The X-Files

|

|2016

|2" Minimates, Vinimates

References

{{reflist}}