McFarlane Toys set the standards when it comes to sculpting likenesses and creating complex and cool action figures. It appears that while creating toys for the animated blockbuster Shrek (see 'Shrek's Strong Opening'), the sculptors also managed to indulge in a few in-jokes and also to create some variants that will undoubtedly be of interest to collectors. Pictured above, the knight in the Wrestlin' Shrek playset has a variant featuring Todd McFarlane's face under the mask. Here are a few other choice examples courtesy of the McFarlane Update:
There are two different versions of the 6-inch Shrek figures. One has an open mouth and one is smirking. They are two entirely different head sculpts.
The open-mouthed 6-inch Shrek features two different dental paint jobs. During the first couple of weeks of production Shrek was allowed to have pearly white teeth with no separation. Later in the run the teeth were made dingier and given more separation.
Director Andrew Adamson
Lord Farquaad's Mascot from the line of 6' figures has the face of Shrek film director Andrew Adamson under the huge Farquaad mask.
The 6-inch Princess Fiona figures come with two completely different sets of accessories. One comes with rocks with eggs frying on them, a handkerchief, stick and a skewer with a rat on it. The other Fiona comes with the bird, a nest, a tree stump, and a big branch. Both figures are the same, only the accessories have been changed to protect the innocent and give toy collectors a challenge.
During the early part of the production the 6-inch Fiona figure had a counter-sunken head, which was elongated and made more elegant later in the run.
Shrek represents McFarlane Toys first-ever master toy license, which means that Shrek toys are all over the mass market, but McFarlane Toys obviously brought its 'collector's' market mentality to bear on this project. Not only are the sculpts and playsets far more elaborate in design and execution than typical movie tie-in figures, the sculptors obviously had fun creating these variants, which will no doubt engage some toy collectors, while enraging others.