Continuing our ‘Community Collectibles’ series on The Platform we’re celebrating the 40th Anniversary of the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles with this iconic spin on the adidas classic ‘SHELLtoe’. It was only right we reached out to @jagveer_chahill to take a look at his collection of toys, figures and collectibles leading up to the launch.

Tell us about yourself.

Hi all, my name is Jag. I am currently studying all things crime and behaviour through Criminology at university but that’s not what you’re here to read about. I work for an independent toy and collectibles store within the Midlands, but some of you may know me for my love of sneakers and streetwear.

So, this series focuses on items that people collect. We know you collect shoes, but could you share with us what else you collect?

Toys, toys and more toys!!! I’ve been a collector of toys, figures and collectibles in general for a long time now. They’ve always been a big part of my childhood and this continued as I have grown up. The journey started with classic 80s lines like TMNT, G.I.JOE and He-Man which captured my attention as a child, but then extended to toys from TV shows and movies from my childhood. Star Wars, Marvel Comics, the 04’ Batman animated show, 03’ TMNT show and A.T.O.M Action Man just to name a few.

First and foremost, are they toys or action figures?

This is a big question… ultimately action figures were regarded as a toy, being marketed towards a younger audience within the 80’s and particularly in the 90’s. But have then changed audiences since the birth of collector focused figure lines. If we are talking about vintage lines like the original Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles then they are definitely toys through and through, from gimmicks to accessories and play value. They are absolutely designed to be a toy that kids could engross in. I refer to vintage lines as being toys and more contemporary offerings as action figures, as the design philosophy behind them has changed.

NECA, Mattel and Hasbro are all examples of companies that produce action figures derived from comics, TV and movies, aimed at adult collectors. Action figures often now have less emphasis on play value for kids and instead focus on articulation, detail and accuracy.

This evokes a lot of nostalgia for us from our childhood. It’s quite unusual, wouldn’t you agree? How did you develop an interest in it and what specifically are you seeking?

Absolutely tons of nostalgia… in the same way you see a pair of sneakers retro that you wore when you were younger. I wouldn’t say it is unusual, companies have understood that there is a large audience of people who would pay to have significant toys from their childhood back on shelves and new figures/collectibles from older properties or movies that didn’t get a toy line back in the day. The market is massive, with artists now getting involved.

Collecting for me started through my dad. He’s a big 80’s kid, Saturday morning cartoons and Action Man were his thing. They were a massive part of his childhood, being the root for his love of He-man, G.I. JOE, Silverhawks and more.

He wanted me to live that same childhood and who was I to complain, these cartoons absolutely captured my attention. So much so that TMNT and G.I. JOE became my two favourites, and of course I wanted the toys of all the cool characters.

Christmases and birthdays were the main events. My dad had found out about Toybiz’s line of Marvel Legends by stumbling across a random wave of them in ToysRUs, they were way ahead of their time. I had Iron Man and Baron Zemo and Captain America at first which I eventually broke, but I think he wanted to collect all the other characters more than me. By 2010 the spare room was filled with them. The newest line that came out around 2007 was the G.I. JOE 25th Anniversary figures which I remember getting a few of, I much later found out he had them imported from America much like the Marvel Legends, and the surprise was a set of 2003 TMNT turtles, from Woolworths. Now looking back, I think my dad secretly enjoyed living out his childhood for the second time.

Whilst growing up my fondness for these brands and properties grew, from simply watching them as a kid to wanting every character I liked. eBay USA was our best friend, with UK stores being rather lacklustre for finding cool stuff.

How many toys do I have? I’ve not counted, but probably way too many lol

What's the oldest?

A 1979 boxed Edison Giocattoli Thur Fantastic Flash Pistol, which was gifted to me by a very good friend.

What are the differences or unique aspects of these items, and which is the most expensive you own?

There have been so many variations of toys from properties over the years. TMNT is one of those properties where you can apply the Ninja Turtles to lots of different scenarios and there will be a toy for it. There’s themed sports, military and movie turtles just to name a few. As well as different factory production runs that meant some turtles had softer head sculpts. You can’t forget about the gimmicks either, from using their shells as storage containers for extra accessories to transforming turtles, if you can think of it, Playmates have made it! There are also exclusive sets to different countries and some toys had minor changes to paint or card artwork from country to country. These have become incredibly collectable now.

Some of the harder to find items within my collection are the 40th Anniversary Action man collector set and a 1985 French version of Rio Blast, from He-Man and the Masters of the Universe.

Currently, what toy do you have your eye on?

The Nacelle Biker Mice from Mars figures. They are a new release for 2024, but what a great TV show that was and still is.

Favourite piece?

Really tough question… I can narrow it down to a few. The ThreeZero 1/6 Rambo First Blood figure, Foil Card G.I. JOE 25th Anniversary Commando Snake Eyes or the NECA Mirage TMNT 4 Pack.

At Offspring, we greatly value our Community. Has this shared interest connected you with like-minded individuals across the globe? We’d love to hear more about it.

Without a doubt. I have spoken to and met a lot of collectors at Toy Fairs such as Sandown and Birmingham which take place a few times a year. However, this is not limited to just the UK. Social media, the use of Instagram and dedicated groups has helped me interact with international collectors, particularly within America to aid me when looking for specific pieces and advice on where to find them. There is a vast international collector community looking out for each other, and it transcends just collecting toys.

Do you have any interesting stories or discoveries to share?

One of my more recent finds which is a vintage Rio Blast toy, came from a customer at work. He purchased some newer He-Man figures but noticed I had struck up a conversation about them with a keen interest in the brand. We had a chat and he let me know he had a ton of vintage toys; we exchanged details, and it turned out that he had an overseas version of that particular character that I’d been looking for.

So, what do you think about the adidas TMNT Shelltoe shoes? They’ve also put a lot of effort into the packaging.

I’m a fan. The detail work behind the design especially is really cool as a TMNT fan to see, with there being elements of the Superstar that have been adapted to fit the theming. The turtle shell design on the shelltoe of the Superstar is a very subtle way to reference the iconic brothers and very fitting. If you know pay close attention and have seen the turtle shells you can instantly recognise it. The adidas detailing on the heel is also in the Mirage Comic font, which is fantastic, a great way to pay homage to the indie comic that birthed turtle mania! There are meticulous details placed across the whole shoe… red mask dubre, which symbolises all four turtles as they appear in the Mirage comics with the same red mask, they didn't have coloured masks until the 80’s cartoon. Not forgetting the pizza themed insoles, designed after the Ninja Turtle’s favourite food. The colourway is recognisable to me, tributing the original Eastman and Laird design for the turtles.

That box is amazing. Similar to the adidas Star Wars collaboration pairs of the past. As a toy collector I really enjoy seeing the Blister packaging, it references the original toy line which also had blister cards.

The packaging for the NECA 2008 Mirage turtles, was the first time there was ever an action figure representation of this design.

The dark and moody black and white panels which cover the card convey the essence of the indie comic and its serious tone. A far cry away from the light-hearted approach to the classic cartoon, which was set to appeal to a larger audience and far more friendly for a kid’s toy line. The inclusion of the comic is vital. The source material is the reference piece behind this pair. I am glad it is rightly included with them, perhaps introducing a new audience to the birth of the TMNT brand, with the artwork looking as good as ever. The packaging is brilliant, and the Shelltoes are a proud way to celebrate 40 years of TMNT!

Favourite sneaker in your collection?

It’s always tough to nail it down to one shoe. As of now, I am really enjoying the Cargo Khaki Undefeated Air Terra Humara. Fantastic colourway, material usage and build.

The adidas TMNT Shelltoe launches on the 22nd of March.