With somewhere around a thousand Marvel Minimates figures released over the years (no, seriously–there’s right around a thousand), it might seem like there’s not a lot of fresh directions for Diamond Select Toys to take the mini figures line in. But in a real surprise move, it was announced today that there actually is a new frontier of untapped potential for Marvel Minimates. An all-new line of Minimates Marvel Animated figures is on the way–and it’s exclusive to Walgreens!

Considering the massive number of Minimates Marvel figures that have been released since DST started the line, it’s a bit shocking to realize that Diamond Select/Art Asylum have never really ventured into the realm of the Marvel Animated Universe before.

But hey, what better time to move in that direction than now, what with a triumvirate of successful cartoons (Avengers Assemble, Ultimate Spider-Man and Hulk Agents of S.M.A.S.H.) currently airing, and the sure-to-be hit Guardians of the Galaxy coming soon?

The animated style extra-tall Groot Minimate is one of the highlights of this assortment. This is shockingly only the second time DST has released a Groot figure in any line, with the other being the Guardians of the Galaxy movie Minimates Groot figure released last year. Minimates that include an extra piece to increase their height are always a treat (and I’m a big GOTG fan), so I’m looking forward to this figure.

Packed into the two-pack with Groot are the animated Minimates Star-Lord and Rocket Raccoon figures. The Star-Lord Minimate looks near-exactly the same as his movie figure, but I think Peter Quill is popular enough to warrant another Minimate on the market.

Meanwhile, we’re getting another non-poseable, mini Rocket Raccoon Minimates figure. I understand wanting to stick to scale, but if DST can produce Sentinels that are the same 2″ size as a regular character, I don’t see why we’re condemned to keep getting this non-articulated Rocket Raccoon figures.

Non-surprisingly, Captain America will be headlining the first Minimates Avengers Assemble two-pack. Not a lot to say about this figure–we’ve had about a billion Captain America Minimates over the years, and this is another (necessary) one.

The first Minimated Animated Hulk figure will come packed with Captain America: Hulk. I really, truly hope that we’re going to get actual Hulk and the Agents of SMASH Minimates, because animated Minimate figures of A-Bomb, Skaar and Red Hulk are just too cool to never see the light of day.

The exclusive set most likely to drive hardcore Marvel collectors to their local Walgreens stores, however, is the Ultimate Spider-Man cartoon-based pack of Agent Venom and Spider-Man 2099 Minimates. Both these characters have been done in non-animated Minimate form previously, but those aren’t the cheapest or easiest figures to obtain, so I expect this to be the hottest and hardest-to-find set from this first wave of Walgreens Minimates.

I don’t think anyone will be surprised to see an Ultimate Spider-Man figure appear in this first series of animated universe figures, and given the popularity of the Ultimate Spider-Man cartoon, I have no doubt plenty of folks will be wanting this figure. Can a two-pack with Iron Spider and Miles Morales be far behind…?

Easily the most surprising inclusion in this wave is that of the only villain: Electro. Diamond Select Toys released both Amazing Spider-Man 2 movie and comics-based Ultimate Electro Minimate figures last year, and both of them were huge shelf-warmers in stores.

I guess that DST is looking to complete the Electro set, though, because an animated-version Ultimate Spider-Man Electro Minimate will be the sole villain included with the first wave of Walgreens Exclusive Minimates. But hey–he’s packed with the first-ever animated Ultimate Spider-Man Minimates figure, so he’ll sell (probably).

Walgreens stores will officially release their Marvel Minimates Animated exclusive wave on September 4, 2015. If that date sounds familiar, it’s because there will be a, uh… ‘few’ other toys coming out on 9/4 as well–it’s the release date for all Star Wars Episode VII The Force Awakens merchandise! September 4th also happens to be my birthday, so make sure to write down the date and, you know… send presents.

How do you feel about Diamond Select Toys starting a new line of Animated Marvel Minimates figures that’s exclusive to Walgreens stores? Are you excited to start collecting new versions of iconic Marvel characters, or are you satisfied with the comic and movie Minimates that DST has been releasing for the past decade-plus?