Luke Skywalker's TaunTaun - Star Wars Vintage Edition

Presenting Luke Skywalker's TaunTayn from the Star Wars Empire Strikes Back Vintage Edition toy series.

Alright, a scene where Luke Skywalker activates his lightsaber while riding a rearing TaunTaun probable never happened, but you have to admit it looks cool - though I think you can get away with doing this in Star Wars Battlefront and Star Wars Battlefront II.

Now there are actually several subspecies of this repto - mammal distantly related to the Kybuck and indigenous to the planet Hoth. The specific subspecies used as both a pack animal and a scout-mount by the Rebel Alliance is the Giant TaunTaun.

Tauntauns are omnivorous and have - get this - scaly skin covered in fur, lack mammary glands, give birth to live young (Which they fed by regurgitating a milky substance), and are warm blooded. So they're part Frilled-Lizard, part Kangaroo - yes Marsupial are mammals.



Tauntauns are extremely well adapted for the harsh, cold environment of the planet Hoth. They have clawed wide feet for better grip, swiveling ears to help better detect ambushing Wampas, thick blubber - as Luke Skywalker found out the hard way, chambered lungs with dual nostrils that help to warm the air they breath before entering the blood stream, AND the ability to excrete waste in the form of an oily substance through their skin pores, resulting in.... well a tremendous stink (Which Han Solo commented on when he was surprised by just how bad they smelled on the inside).

Personally I'm not sure what could have possessed people to decide to go ride a horse, so I'm not sure what possessed the rebels to say "Hey! I'd like to ride of those!" Especially since they stank and are ill-tempered - they liked to spit. But I suppose seeing something with the ability to sprint at 90 kilometers-per-hour on the icy surface of Hoth made a lot of people go, "Yes! I want to ride that!!!!" 

What's to like about the Star Wars Empire Strikes Back Vintage Edition Luke Skywalker's Tauntaun?

Before we say anything, we have to say that the Star Wars Vintage Edition Luke Skywalker's Tauntaun, DOES NOT Come with Luke Skywalker (Bummer). You have to get the Star Wars Vintage Edition Luke Skywalker on your own - which is what I did.

What you get instead is a very highly-detailed - love how the frozen ice detail and dirt was worked into the Tauntaun's exterior - he even has a shorn off horn -  with.... average articulation (He could stand to have some more leg articulation, but then he is top heavy) and a removable saddle and bridle.

Here's the Star Wars Vintage Tauntaun without his tack:

Personally I do not think his tail is long enough or heavy enough to act as a counterbalance. 

Here's the Star Wars Vintage Edition Tauntaun with his tack:

Unlike the Power of the Force Tauntaun, the Star Wars Vintage Edition Tauntan does not have a button on the back that you can press so that his legs moved - also made it very hard to pose him. I prefer him this way. Especially when you can get such great poses out of the Tauntaun with Luke Skywalker astride.

Here's Luke Skywalker just cruising along on his Tauntaun at 90kph:

Luke sees something and draws his blaster, the Tauntaun steadie itself by spreading his legs into a wider stance - note how, despite not having any knee or hip joints, the Tauntaun just keeps standing? That's because of the amazing articulation in the figure's ankles.

Luke then decides to charge the enemy with his lightsaber ablaze:

What's NOT to like about the Star Wars Empire Strikes Back Vintage Edition Luke Skywalker's Tauntaun?

The original Kenner Tauntaun back in the 1980 had spring loaded "trap doors" on the top and on the bottom. Since toy articulation was not high at the time and the characters could not splay their legs to ride the Tauntaun, you simply slid the character into the trap door on the saddle portion of the Tauntaun, the character's open legs were already pre-molded onto the saddle. Conversely, if you wanted to see Luke Skywalker snug inside a Tauntaun, flip the Tauntaun and shove him inside where the sun don't shine. The 1982 Tauntaun replaced the lower trap-door with rubber lips.

Strangely, the Star Wars Empire Strikes Bask Luke Skywalker Tauntaun has what looks like a cut-out portion on his belly. It's roughly the size of an action figure and I have no doubt that you can fit a figure inside. But it's glued in place and won't open. But then maybe it's because a lot of people don't remember that it was not Luke Skywalker's Tauntaun that was sliced open, but Han Solo's. So maybe Han Solo's. 

Also half the time, despite my best efforts, the Tauntaun will keel over. He's top and forward heavy and the tail doesn't help with his balance at all. It would have been nice if his feet had peg holes to help with him standing.

And lastly, despite definitely having a ton more of articulation over the original 1980, 82 and Power of the Force Tauntauns, I think his articulation can still be improved. My biggest problem with his articulation was the inability to make his head look down - especially when he's rearing. 

This particular Star Wars Empire Strikes Back Vintage Edition Luke Skywalker's Tauntan was purchased on Amazon from Buy 4 Less UK for US$ 29.76 plus shipping.

A definite wonderful piece that I just need to tack into place.