Additionally -- after a brief explanation of the four generations -- we have identified some related Dudes not in the main line.
G1 - Generation One (2000-2002)
All figures without arms.
The initial concept was a humorous take on the already-popular hobby of fingerboarding. Characters were created to look like fingers who could essentially ride the fingerboards. The earliest figures resembled fingers with their own feet, faces, clothing, and accessories. You have probably already noticed the fingernails on the backs of their heads -- a detail maintained throughout the evolution of the toyline. Some even "held" weapons and accessories that were just kind of glued to their finger-bodies despite having no actual arms.
You will find some G1 figures with magnetic feet and some without. Crew 1 thru Crew 3 (the first 23 figures) were initially released in 2000 with simple holes in their feet that fit into plugs on the boards. We call these plug feet and plug boards. X-Concepts realized magnets were a winning gimmick and re-released these characters with magnetic feet (and ferrous boards) in 2001. The newer figures typically have slightly different paint jobs, but they are still G1 whether they have magnets or not (since they have no arms).
Even more interesting than the lack of magnets, is that these non-magnetic Dudes were released with skateboards that did not roll. It is pretty weird, really. The board plugs into the figure, and it has no play-value at all. You can't even roll it. We do not collect the boards, but we have to note how bizarre it is for a company (already making fingerboards) to create a line of toys with miniature boards that can't even roll.
In fact, the three characteristics that would come to define the toyline were all absent in the beginning (namely; boards that roll, magnetic feet, and bendable arms). Super weird. Needless to say, they probably never would have made it to 165+ characters if these features had not been implemented.
The first generation (figures without arms) consists of the original #1-88, four redesigns among #1-88, plus the original Cluckers (#99), Mikey (#117), Phinger Tut (#119), and a non-numbered character called "Tag." This makes 96 unique G1 figures.
The numbering system was not introduced until Crew 10, meaning that around 60 characters had been produced before the numbering system was retroactively added. Also, the numbering system was added in a way that would allow it to mask the chronology of the figures already released. So, when numeration first appeared on the Crew 10 packaging it featured #3, #6, #59, #79, #82, and #85. Random-but-not-random marketing nonsense.
A couple gimmick-based sub-themes were included in G1, the most notable being Hot Feet which were brightly-colored variant figures with light-up boards. Other color-variants came from alternate waves, multi-packs, and the "deluxe" accessory packs.
It is also interesting to note that all 12 dudettes (the female characters) are from G1. Not a single dudette was deemed profitable enough to remake -- or, hey, maybe introduce a new female character, for that matter -- in the entire course of the toyline. In other words, of 165+ characters, only 12 are female -- and none of them have arms.
Just remember that any armless figure is from G1. Next.
G2 - Generation Two (2003)
All figures with non-bendable (static) arms.
You can imagine how much feedback X-Concepts must have gotten from fans and parents. Cool looking toy, but where are its arms? I mean, basically you look at any G1 figure and you can't help but wonder why it has no arms. Yeah, okay, it is supposed to be a finger. But -- it has feet, and a face, and a hat, and is somehow holding a sword -- what? Please just give it some arms!
So that's just what they did. Now the fingers have fingers.
Before the concept was completely revamped, some figures were given static arms. Some sculpts are exactly the same as G1, but now they have arms. For these, arms were literally added to the G1 sculpts. Notice that the molds are identical including the (c)2001 or (c)2002 copyright. Other sculpts are exactly the same as the G3 figures, but the arms do not have metal wire inside and cannot be bent or posed. If you look at the backside of the arms, you will see that there are no small holes to allow the metal to "breath" -- in other words to bend and expand without tearing the plastic.
Having been produced for only about a year (and seemingly in limited quantities), the G2 figures are some of the hardest to track down. You sometimes notice them because they stand out like a sore thumb (haha, pun) -- they have their arms in really weird poses that you badly want to adjust (like you would a G3 figure), but you simply cannot. I guess the idea was to give them poses that might make them look like they were caught frozen in the middle of cool skating tricks. But without boards (and especially compared to the G3 bendy-arm figures), the poses chosen just look really strange.
The first series of trading cards also came out in 2003, and they oddly feature images of some characters with arms and some without. Even weirder, some characters featured in the second series of trading cards (2004) still had not been given updated artwork (with arms). Sloppy stuff.
Just remember that any figure with arms that cannot bend is from G2.
G3 - Generation Three (2004-2007)
Figures with bendable arms.
Additionally, they have magnetic feet and are marked (c)X-Concepts.
More figures are from this era than any other. This represents the heyday of TDD having mastered their core gimmicks: Magnetic feet, ferrous boards that also can roll, arms that can bend, tons of accessories and playsets, and of course the master toyline gimmick we call "collect them all" (replete with plenty of color variants and exclusives).
The initial G3 re-brand was called Evolution but also grew to include the sub-themes of Clash Cubes (figures with game-play accessories), Scuba Squad / Special Ops / Astro-Nots action packs (figures with additional magnets and lots of magnetic accessories), Dude Rides (vehicles), and the Zoods (small companion figures or pets).
G4- Generation Four (2008-2009)
Figures marked (c)Spin Master.
Some have magnetic feet, but most do not.
In 2007, Spin Master bought X-Concepts and the rights to all Tech Deck Dudes. They re-released many figures -- some with new paint jobs and some without. Only a few were re-released with magnetic feet and magnetic boards. All the newly designed characters lack magnets.
By 2008, Spin Master phased out the magnetic aspect altogether. Instead, they returned to the original "plug feet" idea. This brought the magnetic design element (or lack thereof) full circle from the earliest Crew 1 figures released eight years prior. This had certainly been enough time for consumers to realize that the magnets corrode, rust, deteriorate, and often just fall out -- no doubt becoming consumption hazards for pets and tiny children. Not to mention the fact that adding two rare-earth magnets to each figure (plus a ferrous strip to each board) was surely a costly endeavor. So long, magnets.
There are a couple less-noticeable differences made to most G4 figures that suggest Spin Master's attempt at reinventing the Dudes. Newly released figures now had "plug backs" in addition to their "plug feet." The dude can now carry his board on his back when not riding. This also allowed the figure to attach to pegs that were part of various playsets. G4 was also the only time that single-pack figures came with miniature diorama-pieces that could connect together. These were pieces of plastic that resembled concrete, dirt, grass, or sand -- depending on the theme of each series.
Overall, it is evident that Spin Master wanted to take the line from a simple collectible thrift-penny line of variant figures toward a play-based line of higher-priced accessories and gimmicks. Nothing is more evident of this desire than the Ripboards, the all-gimmick Trick Dudes, and the loaded-with-features playsets like the Vanformer and the Serpent of Doom.
Did Spin Master kill the Dudes by attempting so many changes to the toyline?
Or, were these changes a desperate attempts to reinvigorate an already dying brand?
Probably a little of both.
Anyway, G4 figures were packaged as the Street Crew (with the tagline "Ridiculously Awesome!") and were issued in thematic waves (movies, comic books, fantasy, etc). Although many G4 figures were released as color variants of G3 figures, Spin Master put no emphasis on creating variants of the new designs. Unlike the entire history of the toyline, the new G4 molds that Spin Master created had no variants. (There are two exceptions -- Bruce and Phinger Tut -- both had new G4 sculpts with one variant each.)
Several new characters were introduced in this era -- ranging from Clobber (#139) thru Mite (#164) -- before the line was phased out entirely. To Spin Master's credit, among these 25 figures are some of the absolute coolest parody figures. And hey, they are pretty easy to collect, since there is only one version of each.
No Tech Deck Dudes have been produced since 2009.
Spin Master continues to this day to make Tech Deck branded fingerboards only.
Other Tech Deck Dudes:
Creatures (2002)
The twelve figures in the Creatures line are part of the Tech Deck Dude enumeration, even though they were released within a separate series. Originally, I thought they were ret-conned (as #101-112) into the core toyline. Then I learned that they were given these numbers on their original packaging, even though the numbers of the regular Dudes had not yet gotten near #100. The wild designs of the Creatures still maintain the element of the "fingernail" on the backs of their heads. This allows them to fit in with the finger-figure concept of the other Dudes. Other than that, they are radically different. They are much larger, joint-articulated, and fantastically original. Their boards are also larger and uniquely designed.
Grimm Dudes (2002)
These twelve figures are bizarre incarnations of classic fairy tale characters, and they are not part of the TDD enumeration whatsoever. However, they are very creative, well-designed, and well-made. They seem more like small McFarlane or Mezco figures than anything from Tech Deck.
Skate Crew (2002-2004, 2009)
These were figures made to represent the mascot-type characters of four major skateboard companies: Blind, World Industries, Pig, and Toy Machine. 53 different figures were made as part of this line. These are also quite creative and detailed. They are not part of the main TDD enumeration. Go to this page for more information.
Disney (2005)
In a very odd licensing partnership -- that apparently went nowhere -- Tech Deck made two Disney characters into Dudes and sold the figures (with boards, of course) as Disney Store exclusives. The only two characters that I know of are Mickey Mouse and Stitch. I am 99% sure that these two are, in fact, the only two. Strange. If you know of any others in this unusual series, please let me know. At any rate, they are not part of the TDD enumeration.
Zoods (2005-2007, 2009)
The Zoods are small companion-figures most often resembling unusual pets that might be humorously appropriate for the Dudes with which they accompany. They are very well-designed and well-painted (especially considering their size and the tendency for much of the TDD output to be re-paints or re-sculpts of existing characters). The zoods are refreshingly original and somewhat hard to find. They are part of the mainline TDD "universe." For example; the pirate Woody (#027) has a parrot zood named Roscoe (#027z).
In the initial run, 12 zoods were issued in each Series 1-3, then 6 more per Series 4-7. This means a total of 60 characters were given zoods. For Series 1 only, all 12 Dudes and Zoods were also issued within three different color-variant 2-packs, meaning that each zood in Zoods Crew 1 was once available in four different colors. That is an additional 36 variant zoods bringing the total to 96.
In 2009, Spin Master issued four more Dudes with Zoods as oversized pull-back racers, somewhat, reviving the idea (at least momentarily). Counting these, the total number of actual zoods (and variants) is an even 100 figures.
There are also a handful of small creatures that came with the G3 Action Packs (Scuba Squad, Special Ops, and Astro-Nots) that are understandably mistaken for zoods. These are unnamed creatures that were issued before the zoods were created. Finally, there are at least three more companion figures in the G4 Street Crew series that are also unnamed (and also not truly zoods). All of these will be identified in time.
**Note: I am still trying to identify all the Dudes and Zoods in Series 6 and 7.**
Pee Wee (1999)
This was a Tech Deck property that came out right before the Dudes. They were characters attached to skateboards with the gimmick known as "pull back racers." They did not detach from their boards at all. Each figure came with a unique set of obstacles to perform a certain stunt. From what I can tell, there were twelve characters made to ride skateboards and an additional three on snowboards. Though not parody figures, they did have funny names like Hands Stanley, Radical Ronnie, and Shreddin' Freddy. In the US, they were distributed by Playmates Toys, and in Asia by Bandai.
Tech Deck Pros (2010)
This was a Tech Deck property that came out directly after the demise of the Dudes. Spin Master released figures of several professional skateboarders in a size and style somewhat similar to TDD. Well, not really. They were larger and were made of a harder plastic. They lack bendable arms, but the do have shoulder, neck, and hat articulation. I can understand wanting to add professional boarders to the Dudes line. But that is not what they did at all. They threw out all the design elements that made the dudes consistent, collectible, and popular. They even threw out the name too. Spin Master completely killed the Dudes in favor of these dumb figures. The Tech Deck "Pros" did not catch on whatsoever and pretty-much "warmed the pegs," as we say.
The Pros (2003)
Let me go ahead and mention these guys. They are not Tech Deck Dudes at all, but you see them in TDD collections quite often. They were produced by Toy Zone, Inc. They came out in the G2 era of the Dudes, have magnetic feet, and are the same size as TDD. They have arms (but no articulation) which was consistent with G2 Dudes. The sculpts are pretty goofy and do not look like the skateboarders they are supposed to represent. There are six in the set: Kerry Getz, Colt Cannon, Caine Gayle, Danny Way, Kareem Campbell, and Rob Dyrdek.
Eventually, I will also make entries for the non Tech Deck toylines that are similar in concept. Some notable skateboard-related toylines that came both before and after the dudes include: Smack-Ups, Savage Mondo Blitzers, Monster Shredders, Weird Ohs, Wild Grinders, Grommets, etc
But for now, that's all folks.
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