The world’s greatest toy photographer has released a brand-new collection of images showing iconic characters in incredible stunt-style action scenes.

Mitchel Wu, 60, spends hours creating imaginative scenarios to bring well-known toy figures to life before capturing the moment on camera.

He often positions them in playful and amusing poses as if they were being shown on the big screen, instead of from his home where he sets the stage using intricately designed backdrops.

For each of his amazing pictures, Mitchel shares behind the scene photos showing how some of his images are created - often using compressed air canisters, flour and firecrackers to imitate motion.

Mitchel’s incredible work caught the interest of big brands including Marvel, Disney, Hasbro and Nickelodeon who asked him to stage scenes involving the world’s most loved characters.

The photographer, from Los Angeles, said: “No matter who you are, we all played with toys when we were kids, but as you get older it becomes part of the distant past.

"To be able to revisit that joy and wonder that you get from toys as an adult has been so wonderful.

"As soon as I took those first toy photographs, I realised that this was the career for me.

“I try to create a story in reality based on what I have in my head, and toys are the perfect medium for telling stories and that is why this job is so rewarding.”

Among the never-before-seen images are Woody and Buzz Lightyear making an escape by an exploding rocket in Toy Story, a near-miss with a dinosaur by The Flintstones, and Star Wars stormtroopers being thrown through the air by Yoda.

Each set is perfectly created as if it were being used in the films the characters belong to, while finishing touches bring the background to life.

"Most of my work is driven by nostalgia of course, toys that I have played with, or that my daughter Angie who is now 21 played with as a child,” said Mitchel.

"My daughter loved Toy Story and we watched those films over and over, so that is why the Toy Story characters often feature.

"I have friends who are the same age as me that are quite rightly thinking about retirement right now, but I honestly feel that this is my niche, and I am being more creative than ever before."

Mitchel began photographing toys in 2015, after going out with his nephew to photograph a pair of Star Wars Storm Trooper action figures.

He fell in love with the process, and soon made toy photography his full-time job, creating comedic, heartwarming and action-packed scenes which delight fans around the world.

Mitchel said: “I create and craft stories through toy photography – capturing the illusion of motion and emotion where none exists.

“I am committed to providing an unparalleled experience for my clients while creating images that build brand awareness in a fun, engaging manner.”

The fun images look almost 3 dimensional as they burst from the screen with the help of tips that Mitchel has learned through the years. A quick bust of compressed air captured at the right moment will create a sense of motion in the still image.

These include a speedy Hot Wheels car soaring through a doughnut, and Barney Rubble and Fred Flintstone flying through the air as they are hotly pursued by a T-rex.

In another of the stunning images Mitchel used firecrackers in his backyard to depict Toy Story's Woody and Buzz taking part in a risky blast-off.

One of his shots shows Kermit the Frog channelling Indiana Jones as he leaps across a canyon made from garden stones, and in another scene, dust flies into the air as the Super Mario Brothers spot that an angry Donkey Kong is approaching.

Mitchel said: “'For me, it's always been about telling stories, and letting that drive the image.

“One of the most challenging things about toy photography is how to tell a story in just one frame.

“But I love that challenge, of trying to get motion and emotion in an image where there isn't any.”

When Mitchel graduated from college he planned to become a professional illustrator for books, magazines and posters, but his career ended up diverting into product development.

But in the early 2000s, after enduring the death of his beloved brother, and a job he disliked, Mitchel decided that it was time to get back to being truly creative.

He added: “Almost all of my images are personal. I’m constantly creating new images for me, so that I can experiment with new techniques for when clients do get in touch.”

The world’s greatest toy photographer has released a brand-new collection of images showing iconic characters in incredible stunt-style action scenes.

Mitchel Wu, 60, spends hours creating imaginative scenarios to bring well-known toy figures to life before capturing the moment on camera.

He often positions them in playful and amusing poses as if they were being shown on the big screen, instead of from his home where he sets the stage using intricately designed backdrops.

For each of his amazing pictures, Mitchel shares behind the scene photos showing how some of his images are created - often using compressed air canisters, flour and firecrackers to imitate motion.

Mitchel’s incredible work caught the interest of big brands including Marvel, Disney, Hasbro and Nickelodeon who asked him to stage scenes involving the world’s most loved characters.

The photographer, from Los Angeles, said: “No matter who you are, we all played with toys when we were kids, but as you get older it becomes part of the distant past.

"To be able to revisit that joy and wonder that you get from toys as an adult has been so wonderful.

"As soon as I took those first toy photographs, I realised that this was the career for me.

“I try to create a story in reality based on what I have in my head, and toys are the perfect medium for telling stories and that is why this job is so rewarding.”

Among the never-before-seen images are Woody and Buzz Lightyear making an escape by an exploding rocket in Toy Story, a near-miss with a dinosaur by The Flintstones, and Star Wars stormtroopers being thrown through the air by Yoda.

Each set is perfectly created as if it were being used in the films the characters belong to, while finishing touches bring the background to life.

"Most of my work is driven by nostalgia of course, toys that I have played with, or that my daughter Angie who is now 21 played with as a child,” said Mitchel.

"My daughter loved Toy Story and we watched those films over and over, so that is why the Toy Story characters often feature.

"I have friends who are the same age as me that are quite rightly thinking about retirement right now, but I honestly feel that this is my niche, and I am being more creative than ever before."

Mitchel began photographing toys in 2015, after going out with his nephew to photograph a pair of Star Wars Storm Trooper action figures.

He fell in love with the process, and soon made toy photography his full-time job, creating comedic, heart warming and action packed scenes which delight fans around the world.

Mitchel said: “I create and craft stories through toy photography – capturing the illusion of motion and emotion where none exists.

“I am committed to providing an unparalleled experience for my clients while creating images that build brand awareness in a fun, engaging manner.”

The fun images look almost 3 dimensional as they burst from the screen with the help of tips that Mitchel has learned through the years. A quick bust of compressed air captured at the right moment will create a sense of motion in the still image.

These include a speedy Hot Wheels car soaring through a donut, and Barney Rubble and Fred Flintstone flying through the air as they are hotly pursued by a T-rex.

In another of the stunning images Mitchel used firecrackers in his backyard to depict Toy Story's Woody and Buzz taking part in a risky blast off.

One of his shots shows Kermit the Frog channelling Indiana Jones as he leaps across a canyon made from garden stones, and in another scene dust flies into the air as the Super Mario Brothers spot that an angry Donkey Kong is approaching.

Mitchel said: “'For me, it's always been about telling stories, and letting that drive the image.

“One of the most challenging things about toy photography is how to tell a story in just one frame.

“But I love that challenge, of trying to get motion and emotion in an image where there isn't any.”

When Mitchel graduated from college he planned to become a professional illustrator for books, magazines and posters, but his career ended up diverting into product development.

But in the early 2000s, after enduring the death of his beloved brother, and a job he disliked, Mitchel decided that it was time to get back to being truly creative.

He added: “Almost all of my images are personal. I’m constantly creating new images for me, so that I can experiment with new techniques for when clients do get in touch.”