- 2 days ago
Step back into a time of Saturday morning cartoons and brightly colored plastics! Join us as we revisit the iconic playthings that shaped a generation, from cuddly companions to high-tech gadgets (for the time!). These were the must-have items that filled our bedrooms and fueled our imaginations. Get ready for a massive wave of nostalgia as we remember the toys that made the 1980s truly unforgettable.
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00:00It is a world transformed, where things are not what they seem.
00:04It is the world of the Transformers.
00:07Welcome to Ms. Mojo, and today we're looking at the toys that define childhoods in the 1980s.
00:14The toy doesn't necessarily need to have debuted in the 80s, so long as it was prevalent during that decade.
00:20Remember how very excited you were getting me as a holiday gift?
00:23And then you left me when you got a fancy computer.
00:27Number 20. Micro Machines.
00:30For much of its existence, Hot Wheels has led the way in the miniature toy car department.
00:34During the late 80s and into the 90s, though, Micro Machines gave the competition a run for their money.
00:40Each one has dramatic details, terrific trims, dependents, styling, precision paint jobs, working wheels,
00:43Micro Machines cars of S variety, including Lamborghini, Trans Amp, Corvette, 4x4, Blazer, pickup, charger, and many more.
00:47One of the most successful productions from Galoob, Micro Machines wasn't limited to cars,
00:52but also trains, boats, aircraft, and even tanks.
00:56In addition to vehicles, the brand produced detailed playsets.
01:00Which eventually extended to movies like Star Wars and Terminator 2?
01:04For the characters from the movie, an unstoppable T2 action!
01:07We're out of control!
01:08Hasta la vista, baby!
01:10We miss the days when R-rated movies inspired children's toys.
01:13We also miss seeing John Machida Jr., the fast-talking spokesman who got us pumped about these tiny toys.
01:19Whether for playtime or booby-trapping the house, Micro Machines proved that big things could come in small packages.
01:26You guys give up, or you're thirsty for more?
01:29Number 19. Glow Worm
01:31Glow Worm is huggable, snuggable, lovable, your child's goodnight friend!
01:38Does a nightlight count as a toy?
01:40We guess if it's in plush form and you don't need to plug it in.
01:43For kids who were afraid of the dark, Glow Worm is one bed bug that you didn't mind.
01:47Actually, the doll looked more like a noseless person wearing snug, worm-like pajamas, making it feel less like an
01:54insect.
01:54They would even introduce a Glow Baby, pretty much erasing the bug factor for anyone with entomophobia.
02:00Glow Baby's tired, Mommy.
02:02Goodnight, Glow Baby.
02:03Goodnight, Susie.
02:05Glow Worm, Glow Bug, and little Glow Baby.
02:09While Glow Worm brought many children comfort as they drifted to sleep, there were some safety concerns regarding the chemicals
02:16used in its head.
02:17That said, you're probably better off getting your kid a new Glow Worm, rather than passing down the one you
02:23grew up with.
02:24Let's give Glow Worm and Glow Cricket a ride.
02:27Yes, Glow Worm and Glow Cricket a ride.
02:30Get her a Glow Bug.
02:31Goodnight, Glow Friend.
02:33Number 18. My Pet Monster
02:35It's weird how we were afraid of monsters living under our beds, yet we didn't mind cozying up to a
02:41monster in bed.
02:42Maybe that's because My Pet Monster was equal parts protector of things that go bump in the night.
02:47He's bigger than big.
02:48When he fights battles, he always wins.
02:50And he's your friend, Tip.
02:52Introduced in 1986, this monster had all the attributes one would expect.
02:57Blue fur, horns, sharp teeth, etc.
03:00However, he was far more huggable than your typical beast.
03:03My Pet Monster plays all day.
03:05Tough.
03:05Awesome.
03:06Looking great.
03:07And all your friends were wanting them for their friends, too.
03:09The doll was also distinguished from breakaway orange handcuffs, which kids could try on as well.
03:14If you have fond memories of the toy, chances are you likewise remember the live-action direct-to-video movie
03:20and short-lived animated series.
03:22Hey, neat trick. Can you do that with rabbits?
03:25Gee, thanks, Mr. Hinkle. I've been looking all over for that.
03:28Honestly, we had more fun inventing our own stories with our pet monster.
03:32Number 17. Pogo Balls
03:43For generations, children have played with balls and pogo sticks.
03:47It just makes sense to merge them into one.
03:49Okay, we admit that it sounds like a weird combination, but pogo balls were arguably easier to master than their
03:55stick counterparts.
03:56While they were invented in the late 60s, pogo balls wouldn't explode into popularity until the mid-80s.
04:02Stop! It's a hot new look and a bigger bounce.
04:05It's got the bigger bounce you're after.
04:08Pogo Balls, yeah!
04:09Resembling Saturn or a flying saucer, these toys consisted of a ring wrapped around a ball.
04:15They were a bit like hippity hops, although these required you to stand while bouncing around.
04:20This made them better for exercise, and probably more dangerous, too.
04:24Even if you were a reckless bouncer, there's no denying that pogo balls had us jumping for joy.
04:30Pogo Balls
04:37Number 16. Jem
04:39Of all the franchises that captured the youth zeitgeist during this era, Jem and the Holograms was perhaps the most
04:45distinctly 80s.
04:47The clothes, the hair, the neon, what other decade could give us this product?
04:52Look at those clothes!
04:58And they're real!
05:03Outrageous! There's enough gear here to start a dozen rock groups!
05:06Reflecting a generation that also grew up on MTV, Jem was the missing link between a music video and Saturday
05:13morning cartoon.
05:14Coinciding with the animated series, Hasbro also naturally produced a toy line.
05:19I love the way they look in their outfits!
05:21Truly outrageous!
05:22And they're all taller than Barbie!
05:24That shit's close to the concert!
05:26The dolls often came with some sort of music tie-in, like a cassette tape.
05:30Now, that's what we call Brilliant Synergy, which was fittingly the name of Jem's computer.
05:35Whether you were more drawn to the fashion or the music, Jem was totally outrageous.
05:40Eat your heart out, Barbie and the Rockers!
05:42Head over heels and bangles and baggies!
05:46The Rockers dress exactly as they breathe!
05:52Stuffed animal toys have existed since at least the late 19th century.
05:56You wouldn't think they'd ignite much fanfare by the late 20th century.
06:00Pound puppies stood out for a few reasons, however.
06:03Give me a name! I'll call you Freckle!
06:05Lots of pound puppies need your love!
06:07Ask for me, Petey!
06:09And when they're this lonely and this lovable, one more is always welcome.
06:13It wasn't just the wide eyes or flopping ears, although that did greatly contribute to the cuddle factor.
06:18What really left kids wanting to take these puppies home was the adoption certificate that came with them.
06:23Now you're really one of the family.
06:26Pound puppy, you're my one and only puppy love!
06:29Yeah, it might not have been a legitimate legal document, but to little kids, that piece of paper meant something.
06:35It was physical proof that this puppy was your responsibility.
06:39Be it a pound puppy or a pound purry, if you were a cat kid, the paper made it feel
06:44like more than a toy.
06:45Lots of love and hugs and lots of kissing.
06:48Pound purry, you need someone you can purr about.
06:52Number 14. Popples.
06:55A soft fuzzy ball that turns into a friend.
06:58The fun keeps spilling and the laughing never ends.
07:01The 80s proved to be a golden era for teddy bears, as you'll find throughout this list.
07:06Since all animal stuffies are inherently cute, mass-marketed teddy bears needed an extra gimmick to draw in the elder
07:12millennials.
07:13For Popples, it was a pom-pom-topped tail and a pouch that enabled them to be converted into a
07:18ball.
07:19Imagine if a Care Bear and a Transformer had a baby.
07:22Actually, don't, because that's a disturbing mental image.
07:25Ugh, too late.
07:26Hi, Bonnie!
07:34What are you doing here?
07:35In their ball form, Popples could also function as a pillow, making them all the more appealing for bedtime.
07:42From sports Popples for recess to pocket Popples for those traveling extra lightly,
07:47it's clear why these bears popped in popularity.
07:49Squeeze the small, you want them all.
07:53Pop goes the pop.
07:54Number 13. The Real Ghostbusters.
07:57Something strange in the neighborhood.
08:02Who you gonna call?
08:04Ghostbusters!
08:06Ghostbusters was already a decade-defining franchise by the time the hit animated series premiered.
08:12In terms of toys, The Real Ghostbusters is where playtime peaked.
08:15Have no fear!
08:17Vanky, Steph, and Spangler are here!
08:19So are these ghosts!
08:21They've got egg-o-plans!
08:23We've been goofed!
08:24Of course, there were mainstays like Stay Puft and Slimer,
08:27where the movies only had so many characters that could inspire toys.
08:31The show blew the roof off, just as Walter Peck released the ghosts from the containment unit.
08:36In addition to the Ghostbusters themselves,
08:38Kenner produced creatively creepy toys that could slime, transform, and gross us out in a good way.
08:44It's a shame that a lot of these inventive figures never made their way into the live-action movies.
08:49For those who grew up with the toys, though, Busting never felt better.
08:53Tombstone Tackle!
08:54He's no hero!
08:56He's wanted!
08:57Ex-cop!
08:58He's not on your side!
09:00To catch these ghosts, you need the real Ghostbusters!
09:03Number 12. Rainbow Bright.
09:05What do I have to do to get that kid to look at the rainbow?
09:09Yes, he would feel fine if he could see the rainbow.
09:12Hey, down there!
09:15Look up!
09:16As her name suggests, Rainbow Bright encompassed every color under the sun,
09:20but Hallmark cards and toy licensors mainly saw green as they slapped her face on a plethora of merchandise.
09:26While Rainbow Bright has spanned multiple decades,
09:29she shined brightest in the 80s when Mattel produced the first generation of toys.
09:33Oh, she's beautiful!
09:36Look at her hair!
09:37And her purple star!
09:39And shiny dress!
09:42Rainbow Bright, you make me happy!
09:44Be it a Rainbow Bright, Starlight, or Puppy Bright doll,
09:48these toys always made playtime more colorful.
09:50Well, unless you preferred playing with the villainous Murky and Lurky,
09:54who were admittedly the best characters.
09:56For those who sought to collect all of a rainbow's colors, though,
09:59you could decorate your room with these dolls to the point it looked like the inside of a Crayola box.
10:04I'm Rainbow Bright, and I have the power of the rainbow to make everybody happy!
10:09I'm lurky, and a lips can't make me happy!
10:12With my purple star and my horse, Starlight,
10:14Wow!
10:15Wow!
10:16I can make you happy and bright!
10:18Number 11, G.I. Joe, A Real American Hero.
10:21It's snake-stopping season,
10:24and we're going hunting with a G.I. Joe Raider!
10:26G.I. Joe is a toy that traces back to the 60s.
10:32In the 80s, though,
10:34a real American hero redefined the brand for a new generation,
10:38putting the action back an action figure.
10:40Man, the battle tent!
10:41A real American hero!
10:44I've located Cobra!
10:45We've captured a Cobra officer!
10:47Put him in the stockade!
10:48Way to go, Joe!
10:49Fire!
10:50Taking a page from Kenner's success with the Star Wars toys,
10:53the Joes were scaled down to 3.75 inches.
10:57While the figures got smaller,
10:59the roster became increasingly larger
11:01with the additions of fan favorites like Snake Eyes.
11:03The vehicles and playsets became more ambitious as well,
11:06a standout being the G.I. Joe Defiant Space Shuttle.
11:10Again, you could see the Star Wars influence,
11:12which is far from a bad thing.
11:13War is hell,
11:15but going on missions with your Joes was all fun and games.
11:18Lawyers, marauders, to the rescue!
11:20Hey, eh!
11:21Go, Joe!
11:22Nobody beats G.I. Joe!
11:23G.I. Joe slaughters, marauders!
11:26Equalizer, Armadillo, and Blinks,
11:28figures sold separately.
11:29Nobody beats G.I. Joe!
11:31Yo, Joe!
11:32Number 10, He-Man and She-Ra.
11:35By the power of Grey the Skulls!
11:40He-Man!
11:42He-Man!
11:44He-Man!
11:47He-Man!
11:47He-Man!
11:47He-Man!
11:48Masters of the Universe was the 80s franchise
11:51that managed to have both a male and female protagonist for kids to idolize.
11:55While many popular toys were created because of the popular TV and film properties they were affiliated with,
12:01in this case, the opposite was true.
12:03We're paying $4 million to these movie companies,
12:06and we never earn out their royalties.
12:07Clash of the Titans and Flash Gordon were horrible losers.
12:11We should just do it ourselves.
12:13Mattel sought to recreate the success scene with the Star Wars merchandise
12:16and created a line of toys they hoped would sell big.
12:19They nailed it with He-Man and the rest of the crew.
12:22And the success of the action figures brought on an animated series,
12:26as well as a She-Ra spinoff and a live-action film in the 80s.
12:29Hey, man!
12:31Victory!
12:32Victory!
12:39Number 9.
12:40Strawberry Shortcake
12:42Strawberry Shortcake, my, she's looking swell!
12:45Cute little doll with a strawberry smell!
12:47She's a character created by a greeting card illustrator at the tail end of the 1970s
12:52that eventually became one of the most sought-after dolls of the next decade.
12:56So we're making an exception.
12:57The 80s were a time for scented everything,
13:00and Strawberry Shortcake and her gang of fruit-scented friends may have kick-started the trend.
13:05One pudding, how pretty!
13:06Thank you!
13:07Meet my friend Pete's Bless!
13:09Welcome!
13:09Cherry color, you're all dressed up!
13:11So's my friend Gooseberry!
13:13Strawberry Shortcake, you're a real party pleaser!
13:15Thank you, Katie!
13:16It's because my party guests are easy to please!
13:19If you were a little kid in the 80s, you just had to have one of these dolls.
13:23Even today, that artificial strawberry scent can bring you right back to the days
13:28when taking care of your dolls was the most important thing in the world.
13:32Strawberry!
13:33Raspberry!
13:34It's fun to comb strawberries hair!
13:36Small purple pie man!
13:37Cinnamon apple pie!
13:39And this is Apricot with bunny hopscotch!
13:41They're so delicious!
13:43Number 8.
13:44Teddy Ruxpin
13:58While the teddy bear had been around for decades by the time the 80s came along,
14:02kids back then were not quite accustomed to all of the high-tech playthings we had today.
14:07So the idea of a teddy bear that could talk?
14:09It was pretty much the coolest thing you could imagine.
14:11No one had ever seen a toy with realistic expressions talking directly to a child.
14:17Teddy's flew off shelves, parents paying $70 a pop.
14:21Teddy Ruxpin was the top-selling toy in both 1985 and 1986
14:25because kids just couldn't get enough of his engaging stories,
14:29even if he told the same ones over and over again.
14:33All he does is tell stories about friendship, caring, sharing.
14:38And he goes on adventures where the only thing he captures
14:42I would like you to meet some of my children.
14:44Is a child's imagination.
14:46Number 7.
14:47Little Tyke's Country Cottage
14:49Every toddler wants to play house.
14:51And what better way than with the Little Tyke's Country Cottage?
14:54It does seem a little strange that kids love to pretend to make phone calls and clean dishes
14:58when there were so many more exciting things to use your imagination for.
15:02The replicating mom and dad never really got old.
15:05Can you believe this thing?
15:06It's a hybrid.
15:08It comes in the classic red and yellow.
15:10We got a new coop too.
15:12Boys and their toys.
15:14Mm-hmm.
15:15We decided on the luxury model.
15:17It's the only way you could get this height.
15:19It's got a nice bounce to it.
15:21Did these plastic retreats actually improve our domestic skills?
15:25Probably not.
15:26But it sure was fun to chat with our friends and families
15:29through the openable doors and windows.
15:31Not to mention our stuffed animals.
15:33Does a tiger look right at me?
15:35But I'm the only one.
15:36Tigger, what's he doing?
15:37Tigger, be quiet.
15:38I just saw the most preposterous imposterator.
15:41Tigger, what's that love?
15:43Oh, nothing.
15:44I'm just talking to my teddies.
15:46Number 6.
15:47Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles.
15:52Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles.
15:54Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles.
15:57Heroes in a half shell.
15:59Turtle power.
15:59The Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles franchise got its start in the 80s with a comic book storyline,
16:04followed by the animated series, which launched in 1987.
16:08While the toys may have peaked in popularity in the 90s, any 80s kid who was ahead of the curve
16:13had a couple of these action figures in their playroom.
16:16What's going on here?
16:17It's the turtles giving the old foot soldiers the boot with their latest invention, the cheap state.
16:23Well, dudes on a roll.
16:24And look.
16:25Everyone had a favorite turtle, but you most likely owned all four turtle toys because of brilliant marketing on the
16:31part of the manufacturer.
16:32Chances are you also begged your parents for a Technodrome playset.
16:35Oh no, an ooze scanner, a brain scrambler, and mutant manacles.
16:40Can Leonardo rescue them?
16:42Sure hope so.
16:43Number 5.
16:44Fisher Price Tape Recorder.
16:46Long before iPods and MP3 players, we had to listen to our favorite tunes on cassettes.
16:52For kids, there was no hotter accessory than the portable Fisher Price Tape Recorder, which could also record content for
16:58you.
16:58It's got a really big button and a microphone that clips on so we can't lose it.
17:03The main feature of the product's branding seemed to be the fact that it was sturdy and kids couldn't break
17:07it,
17:08which was probably a good idea because otherwise our parents never would have trusted us with such cutting-edge technology.
17:14The brand also made another two of our favorite toys from the era, Grow With Me 123 Roller Skates and
17:20Medical Kit.
17:21Complete with everything a young doctor needs to practice, including a stethoscope that really works.
17:27I think I hear something.
17:30Oh no, one of his feet's just broken.
17:33Here's the thermometer.
17:35I'll go in a shot.
17:36I'll get a kiss to make him better.
17:39Number 4.
17:40Care Bears.
17:41Every day can be a Care Bear day.
17:43You can play in a caring way.
17:46Welcome to our treehouse, love love bear.
17:48You too, fun time bear.
17:51Ride your shine, bedtime bear.
17:53Just like Strawberry Shortcake, the Care Bears' origins can also be traced back to greeting cards.
17:58Like many other franchises before and after, the Care Bears had that gotta-have-em-all mentality attached to them.
18:05You didn't want just one of the bears in your stuffed animal collection.
18:08It started with the original 10 Care Bears, including favorites like Good Luck Bear, Love-a-Lot Bear, Tender Heart
18:14Bear, and Wish Bear,
18:16all of whom had a special symbol on their tummy to tell them apart.
18:19Well, what do you know?
18:21The rainbow rescue beam worked.
18:24See?
18:24We just needed a little luck.
18:26Number 3.
18:27My Little Pony.
18:29My Little Pony.
18:30My Little Pony.
18:31I take her wherever I go.
18:34My Little Pony.
18:36My Little Pony.
18:38Oh, I love her so.
18:40Any kid who grew up in the 80s can undoubtedly still remember the feel and smell of a My Little
18:45Pony toy.
18:46They fulfilled your wish of having a real-life pony of your own, without all the mess and expense.
18:51Not to mention, they came in a rainbow of fun colors.
18:54My Little Pony.
18:56Waterfall.
18:57Has a rainbow and a sun and a little duck too.
19:00The 80s were a simpler time when just sitting and brushing through your pony's hair was enough to keep you
19:05entertained.
19:05In fact, the world of My Little Pony has seen a resurgence in popularity in the early 21st century,
19:11with an entire community of grown men pledging fealty to the brand.
19:15Right now, I am cosplaying Pinkie Pie.
19:17Pinkie Pie is my favorite pony of all of them, so.
19:20She's the reason why I got into the show to begin with.
19:23Because of her laughter, her fun-going attitude, nothing brings her down.
19:27Basically, I like that attitude.
19:29Number 2.
19:30Transformers.
19:32Decepticons are attacking our launch site.
19:33Where's Prime?
19:34He's on Cybertron.
19:36It's up to you, Ultra Magnus.
19:37Autobots, Transformers!
19:39Long before the action-packed Michael Bay movies hit the silver screen,
19:4380s kids got to play with actual Transformer toys that were the height of awesomeness.
19:47Whether you had Optimus Prime, Megatron, or one of the other Autobots or Decepticons,
19:52you could have hours of fun with these toys in either car or robot form.
19:57The Transformers.
19:58More than me, me, me, I.
20:01The Transformers.
20:05Somehow, even decades later, that catchy jingle and slogan from the commercial can still get stuck in our heads.
20:11Despite the franchise being revived, we'll still think of these characters in their original 80s iterations.
20:17Autobots wage their battle to destroy the evil forces of the Decepticons.
20:24Number 1.
20:25Cabbage Patch Kids.
20:26You're a pal.
20:28You're the only one.
20:29I love you.
20:31They're each one of a kind.
20:33They're Cabbage Patch Kids.
20:35You can give them all your love.
20:37These dolls were so popular that they actually caused riots in the lead-up to the holiday season in 1983,
20:44when the demand for them was so high that stores couldn't keep enough in stock to satisfy customers.
20:49Unlike many other dolls, Cabbage Patch Kids were actually marketed at both boys and girls,
20:54which served to effectively double their popularity.
20:57They really tried to up the authenticity of these dolls,
20:59offering each one with a birth certificate and official adoption papers,
21:03making you feel like each one was truly unique.
21:06There's no one else like you.
21:08Cabbage Patch Kids.
21:09Exhibi Roberts' Cabbage Patch Kids.
21:12Which toy did you play with the most in the 80s?
21:14Let us know in the comments.
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