With 2023 coming to a close I'm once again looking back at the action figure releases we amassed through the year and thinking through what tops the list for me in terms of figure releases. The first line of figures I'm looking at will be the Mattel Jurassic Park/World assortments ranging from their awesome Hammond Collection line to a little bit of their mainline stuff sprinkled in there as well. So with it being a pretty great year for Dinosaur collectors, these are my top 5 favorite Mattel Jurassic Park/World figure releases of 2023!
Honorable mention: Brachiosaurus
When the Hammond Collection line began I was doubtful that the Brachiosaurus would ever be made in the line due to its size, but here we are only two years into the line and we have a fully articulated, epic looking Hammond Collection Brachiosaurus from the original film! It is definitely a marvel on the shelf, commanding a nice present and the articulation really elevates it from previously releases not only of its species but of other sauropods as well! I wish the flexible neck articulation worked a little better, but otherwise I'm very happy with this release and I'm curious to see if other film sauropods will eventually be realized in the Hammond line as well!
5. Elasmosaurus
Easily the best prehistoric marine creature that Mattel has released up until this point, the Elasmosaurus has some great sculpting work, lovely paint apps across the figure, and articulation worked in that matches the capabilities of the real life creature. Namely, the inability to lift its head/neck upward which I thought was a great piece of realism.
4. Metriacanthosaurus
There isn't anything especially outstanding about this fairly standard looking therapod that Mattel released in the Hammond Collection line, but the figure is so well put together that I couldn't resist posing it every chance I got. It came out in the wave where Mattel was beginning to make changes to the way they approached the line, reflected in smaller feet, and a more pleasant looking teeth set up. The paint applications for this creature's stripes is great to look at as well, especially with the splash of orange on the nose.
3. Irritator
Coming out in the same Hammond Collection wave as Metriacanthosaurus, the Irritator was a very odd introduction into the line given that it has no place in the film universe which is where the Hammond Collection has otherwise taken its inspiration. It is one that I'm very happy to have in the line though! I love any spinosaurid that Mattel wants to put out, with the ridged spine, and webbed tail. The headsculpt is one of my favorites in the line as well, with the very cool paint apps of black splash, and the red head ridge, not to mention one of the widest maws in the line when the jaw articulation is fully utilized.
2. Ankylosaurus
An earlier release from Hammond Collection this year, and one of my most anticipated figures in the line of all time, the Ankylosaurus is still one of my favorites to come out! I may be a bit biased, given that this dino was one of my top tier favorite dinosaurs of all time growing up! I think it came out very well, with a beautiful shell of armored plates, a hefty tail club, and a pretty nice headsculpt as well. My only qualms with the figure would be the unpainted toe nails, and the unpainted cheek spikes; however, my excitement for having such an otherwise great Ankylosaurus figure outweighs these complaints!
1. Carnotaurus
The latest release from the Hammond Collection, and possibly the best so far, the Carnotaurus came out just in time to make my 2023 list and represents everything great about what this line can be! The updated feet size, glass eyes, the new teeth arrangement, and sharper paint apps throughout! It has all of the advancements the line has been making, and comes together for a gorgeous looking therapod for the line! The red and black color scheme has never looked better, and it has been a blast to pose around! If I could make one change it would be the shorten the arms a bit more, but otherwise I hope all future Hammond Collection releases follow in the Carnotaurus' lead!
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