Top 5 Tuesday: 5 TOY LINES THAT NEED TO MAKE A COMEBACK!

When I'm not working, I like researching promotional materials from the 80s and 90s. There was so much work put into these 30-second commercials. From elaborate sets to special effects like stop motion, 3D graphics, and multi-colored laser beams, it was easy to promote toy lines and products to children. Add creative storytelling to the mix, and you got yourself an iconic commercial/jingle that everyone will remember. 

Since toy companies have been competing with the rise of video gaming consoles, smart phones, and iPads, several franchises lack the production and promotion of creative and quality toys. Toy commercials don't put out much effort as it used to back in the 80s and 90s, and most toy companies suffer from the lack of engagement. 

So on this list are the top 5 toy lines that didn't succeed against the test of time, but should be brought back to life!

5. G.I. Joe

Since the Stephen Sommers movies and G.I. Joe: Renegades, not much has gone out from Hasbro besides Transformers and Nerf. You can say that the box office flops caused Hasbro to lose money in promoting their toys. However, the franchise is still going strong with its own line of ongoing comic book issues, crossovers with Transformers, and its own convention. Formerly a famous and iconic toy line, G.I. Joe is now reduced to online exclusives, digital/print stories, and empty toy aisles. I may have not been a die-hard fan of G.I. Joe, but I do appreciate the toyline, cartoons, and characters enough to warrant them a recommendation for some sort of comeback whether it’s a limited run of action figures and vehicles or a new cartoon series to get back into the swing of things.

4. M.A.S.K.

With their reappearance into IDW comics, the famous heroes, villains, and vehicles of M.A.S.K comes back to a future generation. Only limited to comic books, the iconic toy line of masked/ helmeted figures utilizing vehicles that transform from one vehicles to another would make for cool toys for kids to play with. Considering that some franchises are being used for Lego sets, M.A.S.K could allow Lego permission to use their designs to create new toys while keeping the idea of transforming vehicles and molds of interchangeable helmets.

3. Gobots

Yes, Transformers became the more successful toy line out of the two, and bought the rights to all materials related to Gobots, but Gobots still has a fanbase. People fondly remembered Gobots being cost effective, easy to transform, and creative with their characters. Despite parodies and satire of the Tonka toy line throughout the years, it was time for them to make a comeback. In some shape or form, they did. Independent/ Third party toy companies already made figures from the toy line with better articulation, details accurate to the their cartoon counterparts, and IDW comics created a new story centered on Gobots without the Transformers intervention. Aside from the third party companies making Gobot toys, Hasbro has the opportunity to crank out more of these figures as a “classics” or updated line. Not only will Hasbro have an opportunity to make more products, but also, it will appeal to both fanatics and a new generation of children.

2. Street Sharks/ Extreme Dinosaurs

When Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles and Battle Toads were a rage back in the late 80s, toy companies scrambled to produce the next big anthropomorphic action figure. Luckily for Mattel, they were ready to step up to Playmates’ challenge. Street Sharks and Extreme Dinosaurs were two toy lines that combined creatures/ animals with human features. Since children were interested in dinosaurs and animals, this line hoped to cater to those interests. Both Street Sharks and Extreme Dinosaurs had promotional tie-ins, including animated television series. While they lacked in certain areas, both toy lines presented impressive sculpts with great detail, creative color schemes, and cool gimmicks like transformation, telescopic vision, and chomping/ punching/ slamming action. Alas, TMNT continued to be on top while Street Sharks and Extreme Dinosaurs went into obscurity. Hopefully the people at Mattel would break these guys out of the vault and into toy aisles everywhere!

1. Dino Riders

What happens when a toy company combines the Masters of the Universe and Jurassic Park? You get Dino Riders! Hard to believe that this toy line did not succeed considering that children were all about dinosaurs, space age tech, and war. Mattel thought about creating a toy line where two space-faring factions waged war with each other, using dinosaurs as their tanks, jets, and command centers. The dinosaur toys were considered to be the most accurate depictions at the time, the action figures were colorful and creative, and there was enough playability with putting on or taking off the dinosaur’s weapons and armor. Despite a short-lived TV series and limited comic book run, Dino Riders secured a huge fan base throughout the years. Many people, including myself, wish for this toy line to make a comeback.