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Friday, December 11, 2009

Old toys and cartoons return: Which favorite would you want your kid to play with?

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Frightened of failing in this rough economy, toy makers are relying on revamped old classics to win the hearts of today’s youths instead of risking time and money on the development of new toys. With a modern Strawberry Shortcake leading the pack, other characters to follow include Barbie’s little sister Skipper, P.J. Sparkles, and G.I. Joe. All will be receiving makeovers along with anniversary editions of Transformers and classic board game Candy Land.

Launching a new toy is expensive, and there's no guarantee of success,” claims the Wall Street Journal. “For example, Mattel is estimated to have spent more than $1 million on advertising and design for Flavas, a hip-hop doll line introduced in 2003 to compete with MGA Entertainment Inc.'s popular Bratz line. But the dolls never sold well, and Mattel discontinued them the next year.

Though I only vaguely remember P.J. Sparkles, the tiara-wearing doll that lights up and has a dress than transforms into pajamas, I love the idea of bringing back some of my old favorite toys and presenting them to a new generation. Perhaps toy makers are playing on such nostalgia in hopes parents will buy their kids the toys they once played with themselves.

Some favorites I’d love to see brought back: Rainbow Brite, Jem, She-Ra and Glo Worms. Which of your old toys do you wish you had saved? And which of your favorite toys would you love to see introduced to a new generation of kids? [WSJ]

Related: toys, strawberry shortcake, rainbow brite, nostalgia, kids, jem, g.i. joe, barbie

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From the Community…

Comments 11-20 of 87
  • KerryQ's Avatar
    Posted by KerryQ Tue Mar 10, 2009 5:41am PDT

    She-ra!! But I don't see it happening, they already tried and failed to bring back He-man. I do think girls need more strong female cartoon role models. They only good one right now is Kim Possible. And she would be much cooler if she had a sword. :-)

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  • Patient_Vengeance's Avatar
    Posted by Patient_Vengeance Tue Mar 10, 2009 6:48am PDT

    One of the first toys I ever bought my daughter when she was a baby was a glo worm... fond memories!

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  • Amanda's Avatar
    Posted by Amanda Tue Mar 10, 2009 7:16am PDT

    As it goes for games, Gloworms and light brights are cool, And all the cartoons from the 90's Nickelodeon shows.. rugrats, cat-dog, wild thornberries, Pete and pete.

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  • MrsKlingonPasadena's Avatar
    Posted by MrsKlingonPasadena Tue Mar 10, 2009 8:03am PDT

    When I was a kid I had everything Holly Hobby. Also Wonder Woman and She-Ra were my idols!

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  • Brown Eyed Girl's Avatar
    Posted by Brown Eyed Girl Tue Mar 10, 2009 8:52am PDT

    I would like to see Smurfs again. I still have 3 stuffed one's from when I was a child... also the game kerplunk (if they don't already make that). HAHA! They also came out with some teeny tiny babies, a set of 5, (I think they were called Quints) that were palm sized with 3 girls and 2 boys. All had bottles and combs and I believe they could pee their little diapers which would show a number on them. ? Does anyone remember these? I use to play with them as babies for my Barbie's.

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  • Candice's Avatar
    Posted by Candice Tue Mar 10, 2009 8:56am PDT

    My Little Ponies! I love see those in the stores along with Care Bears!

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  • jules's Avatar
    Posted by jules Tue Mar 10, 2009 9:00am PDT

    Thundercats, HO! Yess, I'm not even a parent yet, and I'm so excited about this.

    Instead of really complicated, powered, internet-savvy toys, let's bring back some that require imagination!!! Like Trolls. And the REAL My Little Ponies (not the new ones they're making now). And Care Bears (what better role model for kids than superheroes whose job it is to be NICE to people!!!).

    OOH, and Hungry Hungry Hippos . . . I could go on.

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  • Jezabel's Avatar
    Posted by Jezabel Tue Mar 10, 2009 9:32am PDT

    One big catch about 80s toys was the TV tie-in they had. Seriously if you were a child during that decade try to remember a toy you had that didn't have a cartoon on TV. With the expection of Barbie, probably not too many, although there were some. It was pretty revoultionary at the time (and controversal). However when they tried to revive some of the same toys in the 90s and early 2000s they didn't have too much success, possibly due to the lack of a cartoon.

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  • TexasLady's Avatar
    Posted by TexasLady Tue Mar 10, 2009 11:22am PDT

    I remember this ballerina doll I played with at my Grandma's house...Dancerina Ballerina Doll. She had a crown and you pushed the stick up and down, then she'd spin and dance. I loved her. I also loved a skating doll. But the ballerina was the best.

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  • Apple's Avatar
    Posted by Apple Tue Mar 10, 2009 12:28pm PDT

    I totally wanted to be smurfette, that may sound a little hookery... but I thought she was the coolest. Yes, I loved Jem too! She touched her earring and her outfit changed... pretty cool. I wish Mattel would bring back some of the jobs they sent oversees to the US. What do you think about that?

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