Super 7 Ultimates 2003 TMNT Donatello Review

Quick answer: The Super 7 Ultimates 2003 TMNT Animated Donatello is a strong, show-accurate 5.5-inch action figure with excellent articulation and beautiful cel-shaded paint. It loses points for a light accessory count, a head that sits low on the neck, and stress marks that show up at the joints with repeated posing. At $54.99, it's a good buy for 2003 Turtles fans who plan to display it rather than play with it.

At Infinite Collectibles in Paducah, KY, we've been waiting on this one. Our co-owner Adam Martin put the figure through a full hands-on test for the Infinite Reviews YouTube channel, and this post breaks down everything he found: the packaging, the sculpt, the joints, the accessories, the problems, and a side-by-side with Super 7's classic toy-based Donatello.

Super 7 Ultimates 2003 TMNT Donatello: Key Specs and Takeaways

Figure	Donatello, 2003 TMNT animated series
Manufacturer / Line	Super 7 Ultimates (with Nickelodeon)
Height	Approximately 5.5 inches
Price	$54.99
Series origin	Based on the 2003 cartoon animation, not the 2003 toys
Packaging	Window box with color-burst backdrop; Ultimates and Super 7 branding; ages 14+
Includes	Alternate head, bo staff, goggles, shell cell, swappable sweatbands, fists, open hands, and weapon-gripping hands
Best for	Display-focused collectors and 2003 TMNT fans

• Best features: cel-shaded paint, double-hinged elbows and knees, hidden joints, shoulders that raise high, and a bo staff that holds well.
• Biggest drawbacks: stress lines at the joints, a head that sits a bit low, and a light accessory count for the price.
• Our verdict: a home run for 2003 fans, with a "buyer beware" on joint wear.

Unboxing: Super 7 Ultimates Packaging

The Donatello arrives in the newer Super 7 Ultimates box style, with a clear window and no overlay, so you can see exactly what you're getting. A color burst sits behind the figure, with the Ultimates and Super 7 logos and the "ages 14 and up" label.

The box art leans into the cartoon. The front carries the tagline "the fierce fixer with the bold bow staff," and the side panels show a city skyline worked into a turtle-shell pattern, plus the 2003 logo on top. The back has a large piece of series art and a second head shot, but no character bio. Past Super 7 releases often included one, but Adam didn't mind the omission: the box looks great as is.

The window also gives away something early. There's a lot of empty space behind the figure, which hints at a lighter accessory loadout than usual for Super 7.

Figure Design, Paint, and Scale

Out of the package, Donatello measures about 5.5 inches tall. Scale is one of the things Adam is most curious about as this new 2003 line develops, so expect more on that as additional turtles arrive.

Cel-Shaded Paint

The paint is the standout. The green has a light base with darker green highlights that fade around the body, repeated down the legs and along the sides, which gives the figure that cel-shaded cartoon look. The shell is a single bright color, taken straight from the animation.

Animation-Based, Not Toy-Based

Adam also collects Super 7's other TMNT line, which is based on the vintage action figures. This one is built from the 2003 animation instead of the 2003 toys, and that's a noticeable change in colors, proportions, and overall look.

Head Sculpt

The head sculpt has a friendly, slightly smiling expression that fits the character. The one complaint is placement: the head snaps down a little too low on the neck. Adam prefers it sitting slightly higher, though he notes that's a personal preference and not an accuracy issue.

Super 7 Donatello Articulation Breakdown

Super 7 advertised new articulation on this release, and it delivers. This is one of the best-articulated turtle figures Adam has handled.

• Head and neck: a dumbbell-style joint at the top of the neck, plus a moving base, gives extra range. He can look up and down a modest amount (limited by the shell) and side to side, with 360° rotation.
• Shoulders: a redesigned shoulder with a hinge and a ball that spins all the way around. It lifts noticeably higher than older releases, and there's full rotation at the bicep.
• Elbows: a two-part design with hinges at both the back and the forearm, giving much deeper bends than previous releases. The sweatband helps hide the cut. There's also a forearm swivel.
• Wrists and hands: 360° wrist rotation, and the gripping hands also tilt up and down for weapon poses.
• Torso: no crunch joint, which makes sense for a shell. The shell is a soft, pliable plastic that stays out of the way, and a lower joint allows side-to-side movement. He can also reach across his body nearly all the way, which is great for martial-arts poses.
• Hips and legs: the legs go out to a full split-style kick, forward very far, and back a limited amount (it's a turtle). There's a thigh swivel at the ball joint.
• Knees: two articulation points, like the elbows, for plenty of range.
• Calves and ankles: a calf swivel, a tight back-and-forth ankle rocker, and a forward-facing pin for ankle swivel.

There are no visible pins on the figure. The bands hide all the joints, which keeps the look clean and on-model.

One Tip for Owners

The forearm swivel has a front and a back. If it's lined up wrong, the elbow won't bend properly. Check the orientation before you flex it.

Quality Control Concerns: Stress Marks at the Joints

Adam's biggest criticism isn't the design, it's the plastic. Over time, stress lines and light scraping marks appeared around the joints, and they got worse every time the joints were flexed. All he did was pose the figure. He didn't play with it.

At $54.99, that's disappointing. Adam says he's never had a serious break on a Super 7 figure, though he has had them get very loose over time, so he avoids forcing joints. Since this Donatello is going to be a shelf piece for him, he can live with it, but collectors who like to re-pose often should know what to expect: this plastic can form stress marks.

Accessories: What's Included (and What's Missing)

This is where the figure is lightest. For $54.99, the accessory count is lean.

• Hands: fists with nice detailing and hinges, open hands, and the weapon-gripping hands. The open hands pair well with the fists for martial-arts poses.
• Goggles: well done, with yellow detailing, a good fit, and a bug-eyed look. Slide them under the sweatband and drag them down over the eyes for a welding pose. They don't stay put well, but it looks great.
• Bo staff: excellent. The colored tape on the handle matches the series, where each turtle's weapon has its own color (Leo's blue, Raph's red, Mikey's orange). It has a wood-style casting, holds securely in the hand, and stores in a soft, rubbery slot on the shell.
• Alternate head: a quizzical, slightly angry expression. Adam likes it, but it has the same low-seating issue as the main head.
• Sweatbands: different styles that can be swapped and posed in different directions. In the cartoon, Donnie's bands were long and blown out, and these can recreate that anime-influenced look.
• Shell cell: a show-accurate gadget that appeared often in the series, but neither the gripping hands, the fists, nor the open hands can hold it, and there's nowhere on the figure to store it. Adam called it a needless pack-in.

What We Wish Was Included

Adam's wishlist: more Donatello-specific gear, such as a welding torch tip or stinger, since Donnie was always working on the Battle Shell, and a spinning bo staff effect piece, similar to the spinning-nunchuck effect parts that come with some Michelangelo figures.

Comparison: 2003 Animated Donatello vs. Classic Super 7 Donatello

Adam compared the new figure to Super 7's other Donatello, which is based on the vintage toy line. For context, he also keeps his full original 2003 toy set, and a NECA '87 cartoon Donatello nearby.

Feature	2003 Animated Donatello	Classic Toy-Based Donatello
Height	About 5.5 inches	Closer to 6 inches (with the alternate head on)
Elbows and knees	Double-jointed, much deeper bends	Single joint
Shell	Noticeably bigger and deeper	Smaller
Color style	Animation coloring, cel-shaded	Vintage toy coloring
Bo staff	Shorter, with colored tape	Longer, with a cool wood sculpt

On the bo staffs, Adam says the sculpt on the classic Donatello's is better, and its length is better too. His ideal would be the 2003 staff's colored tape on that longer, better-sculpted staff.

Pros and Cons

Pros

• Cel-shaded paint that closely matches the cartoon
• Outstanding articulation, including double-hinged elbows and knees
• No visible pins; all joints hidden by bands
• High-lifting shoulders and the ability to reach across the body
• Great bo staff that holds securely
• Swappable sweatbands and a fun alternate head

Cons

• Stress lines and scraping at the joints with repeated posing
• Head sits a bit low on the neck
• Light accessory count for $54.99
• Shell cell can't be held or stored

Final Verdict: Is the Super 7 Ultimates 2003 Donatello Worth $54.99?

Yes, with caveats. For fans of the 2003 series, the paint, the sculpt, and the articulation make this a fantastic display piece, and Adam calls it a home run. If you're picky about accessories, or you plan to pose your figures constantly, the light pack-in and the joint wear are worth weighing first.

Adam plans to collect the whole series. He says if you're a Turtles fan, especially a 2003 fan, you'll get your money's worth.

Frequently Asked Questions

How tall is the Super 7 Ultimates 2003 TMNT Donatello?

It's about 5.5 inches tall, slightly shorter than Super 7's classic toy-based Donatello, which is closer to 6 inches.

How much does the Super 7 Ultimates 2003 Donatello cost?

The price reviewed here is $54.99.

What accessories come with the figure?

Fists, open hands, and weapon-gripping hands, an alternate head, goggles, a bo staff, swappable sweatbands, and a shell cell.

Is this figure based on the 2003 toys or the 2003 cartoon?

The cartoon. It uses the colors and look of the 2003 animated series, unlike Super 7's other TMNT line, which is based on the vintage action figures.

Does the figure have quality control issues?

Adam saw stress lines and scraping marks forming around the joints with repeated flexing. Display-focused collectors may not mind, but frequent posers should be aware.

Can Donatello hold the shell cell?

No. None of the included hands can hold it, and there's no place on the figure to store it.

How does the articulation compare to older Super 7 TMNT figures?

It's a clear step up. Elbows and knees are double-jointed, the shoulders lift higher, and there are extra joints at the neck, forearms, and calves.

Shop TMNT and Collectibles in Paducah, KY

Infinite Collectibles is your Paducah, KY home for action figures, comics, trading card games, and pop culture collectibles, open seven days a week at 3215 Irvin Cobb Dr #103. Browse our toys and collectibles online at www.infinitecomicsandcollectibles.com, and watch the full Donatello review on the Infinite Reviews YouTube channel.

Are you Team 2003 or Team Classic? Tell us in the comments.

#InfiniteCollectibles #CollectWithInfinite #TMNT #Super7 #Donatello