The 1990s were a treasure trove of wild and imaginative toy lines. The decade had a rather extreme attitude throughout its pop culture, as well as a deep and oddly strange love for neon colors. While most think of Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles when it comes to toy lines with a 1990s attitude and edge, a somewhat forgotten (but uber-nostalgic) corner of the market belonged to Street Sharks.
This fin-tastic franchise combined over-the-top action figures, an animated series, and a hearty dose of 1990s to create one of the most unique brands of the decade — one that has stood the test of time for many fans, making it a very desirable collector’s line.
Let’s dive into the franchise’s origin story and then get to the good stuff — the figures.
The Street Sharks Origin Story
Street Sharks was the brainchild of toy manufacturer Mattel. Known for classics like Barbie and Hot Wheels, Mattel took a chance on a new action figure line aimed squarely at boys. The company also partnered with DIC Entertainment to create a companion animated series that could introduce these street heroes to the masses, a practice inspired by the previous decade’s Mount Rushmore of toy lines — He-Man, G.I. Joe, Transformers, and M.A.S.K. (and dozens of others that tried to replicate their success to no avail).
Joe Galliani was working at Mattel and was asked by David Siegal, a licensee, to conceptualize a toy line — as well as a cartoon to draw interest in the toys — that he could sell to Mattel. He created the idea of using sharks as the core concept, using the inspiration of TMNT as far as humanoid mutations. TMNT had mutated turtles. Street Sharks had mutated sharks.
According to Mental Floss, Galliani didn’t have a hard time selling the Mattel executives on the concept. Once they heard the word sharks, the executive in charge of toy lines geared towards boys didn’t need to hear much more. Galliani didn’t even have to finish his pitch. The executive interrupted him and said, “We want it. We’ll take it.” Galliani said it was the best meeting he ever had.
The line was brought to the 1994 Toy Fair, using a then-unknown New York actor going by the name of Vin Diesel to sell the line.
The Street Sharks line grossed $40 million in its first full year of production in 1995, beating out another icon of the time — Mighty Morphin Power Rangers.
The Original Street Sharks Figures
Series 1 (1994)
The first series had the figures boxed in shark cages. You could also get two versions of each figure — Standard or Metallic. Standard offered a normal character paint job while Metallic figures were painted with metallic paint.
Big Slammu
Blades (aka Streex)
Dr. Piranoid
Jab
Ripster
Slash
Slobster
Series 2 - (1995)
Once the second wave hit, the shark cage boxing was gone. 1995 showcased two waves of figures — some new characters, as well as original characters with slightly different molds, action features, and accessories.
Killamari
Moby Lick
Ravenous Ripster
Rox
Streex (formerly Blades)
Series 3 (1995)
The success of the first two waves continued with five more figures — including the only humanoid character.
Evil Repteel
Jet Pack Jab
Power-bite Piranoid
Radical Bends
Slugger Slammu
Series 4 (1996)
Mantaman
Moto Streex
Pool Shark Ripster
Super Slammu
Turbo Jab
Night Fighters (1996)
The ensuing figures after the initial four series of figures transitioned from box packaging to carded figures with blisters. The new packaging marketed the carded line as Mega Heroes, but they were nothing but repacked versions of previously released characters.
Hydrofire Jab
Stingshot Streex
Trapjaw Ripster
Space Force (1996)
This was the final series of figures from the original Street Sharks line. For current collectors, these are also the most difficult to find. By this time, the line’s success was waning and it’s usually the last line of figures that end up being the most collectible for so many lines (including Kenner’s 1983-1985 Power of the Force Star Wars line).
Battle Claw Streex
Evil Draxx
Powerarm Ripster
Steeljaw Jab
Mail-Away Exclusive
Mega Ripster
Street Shark Vehicles
What action figure toy line would be great without some awesome vehicles?
Mecho-Shark
Rip Rider Motorcycle
Shark Force Jet
Shark Force Tank
Sharkopter
Sharkruiser 4x4
Slobster-Zooki
Streex (Wire-Controlled)
Sources and Image Credits: Toyzinger and Mental Floss
The Street Sharks faded into obscurity for years until children of the 1990s grew up and began searching for that nostalgia drip. The original line has crept up into must-have lists for collectors. But they're hard to find.
Look no further than The Toys of Our Lives for a select few Street Shark treasures! Come get them before they're gone.
Ken Miyamoto is the Toys of Our Lives Content and Collections Manager. He has also worked in the film industry for nearly two decades, most notably as a studio liaison for Sony Studios and then as a script reader and story analyst for Sony Pictures.
He has many studio meetings under his belt as a produced screenwriter, meeting with the likes of Sony, Dreamworks, Universal, Disney, Warner Brothers, as well as many production and management companies. He has had a previous development deal with Lionsgate, as well as multiple writing assignments, including the produced miniseries Blackout, starring Anne Heche, Sean Patrick Flanery, Billy Zane, James Brolin, Haylie Duff, Brian Bloom, Eric La Salle, and Bruce Boxleitner, the feature thriller Hunter’s Creed, and many produced Lifetime thrillers. Follow Ken on Instagram @KenMovies76