Santa Claus in Plastic: The Evolution of a Holiday Icon
For Gen X collectors, Santa Claus isn’t just a holiday icon — he’s a surprisingly rich part of toy history. While Santa has appeared in everything from plush dolls to ceramic figurines, action figures are where things get especially interesting. And thanks to a mix of nostalgia, pop‑culture crossovers, and modern collector lines, Santa has been immortalized by several manufacturers Gen Xers know well.
Below is a tour through the most recognizable Santa action figures, grounded in what today’s retailers and search results show is still widely available from major brands like McFarlane Toys, Figures Toy Company, and Papo.
McFarlane Toys Red One
McFarlane Toys: Santa With Attitude
If you grew up in the ’90s collecting Spawn figures or drooling over the hyper‑detailed sculpts in the McFarlane catalog, you already know the name. McFarlane Toys helped redefine what an action figure could look like — gritty, realistic, and sculpted like a miniature statue.
Today, McFarlane continues to produce holiday‑themed figures, including Santa‑adjacent characters like:
Red One Nick (6-inch figure)
Krampus (6-inch figure)
These aren’t your grandmother’s Santas. They’re stylized, dramatic, and unmistakably McFarlane — perfect for collectors who want a holiday display with some edge.
Figures Toy Company Santa Claus
Figures Toy Company: Retro Santa for the Mego Generation
For collectors who grew up with 8‑inch Mego figures in the ’70s and early ’80s, Figures Toy Company is a nostalgia powerhouse. They specialize in recreating that exact look and feel — cloth outfits, simple articulation, and bright, retro packaging. It’s a perfect throwback piece, especially for collectors who want their holiday shelf to look like a 1978 department store display.
Papo Santa Claus
Papo: A European Twist on Santa
While Papo is best known for fantasy knights, dragons, and wildlife figures, they also produce a Santa Claus figure that shows up in modern listings. It’s not an articulated action figure, but Gen X collectors who grew up with Schleich or Safari Ltd. will instantly recognize the style.
Papo’s Santa is great for dioramas, holiday villages, or collectors who appreciate hand‑painted detail.
For collectors, Santa action figures hit a unique sweet spot: they tap into the nostalgia of growing up with Santa toys throughout the ’70s, ’80s, and ’90s, even if those early versions weren’t true action figures. Modern releases from companies like NECA and McFarlane add serious display value, with detailed sculpts that look fantastic on a shelf. They also fit naturally into holiday traditions, since many collectors build annual Christmas displays where Santa figures take center stage. And because Santa has appeared across genres — from horror to sci‑fi to fantasy to retro‑styled lines — he’s become an unexpectedly versatile and collectible character.
Santa Claus action figures have come a long way — from simple retro dolls to highly detailed collector pieces. Whether you’re into McFarlane’s dramatic sculpts, Figures Toy Company’s retro charm, or Papo’s European craftsmanship, there’s a Santa out there that speaks directly to the collector spirit.