Most Iconic Action Figure Lines: A Journey Through Toy History
Action figures have played a significant role in the longevity and success of many beloved franchises. These toys allow children to bring their favorite characters to life through play and enable adults to collect and showcase pieces that evoke nostalgia and fandom pride.
From the 1970s to today, various action figure lines have captured the imagination of both young and old. Iconic toy lines such as those based on superheroes, sci-fi characters, and wrestling icons have become staples in the toy industry. These toy lines often come with detailed figures, vehicles, and playsets that continue to hold a special place on shelves and in the hearts of collectors.
1. G.I. Joe Has More Successful Toy Lines Than Successful Films
G.I. Joe action figures have been around since the early 1960s, starting with the iconic twelve-inch figures. These figures gained immense popularity, leading Hasbro to scale them down and create even more variations. By the 1980s, a television series boosted their fame, expanding marketing opportunities significantly.
The toy line continued to evolve throughout the 1990s. Smaller lines like Eco-Warriors and Sky Patrol emerged, inspired by G.I. Joe comics. Despite declining trends in other areas, G.I. Joe toys continued to thrive. The characters, from Snake Eyes to Cobra leaders, kept fans engaged. Figures like Destro, Storm Shadow, and Firefly became staples of many collections.
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While G.I. Joe movies have seen mixed success, the toy lines have consistently performed well in sales. Figures like Torpedo, Doc, and even animals like Timber the wolf, showed the line's creative range. With a nearly endless pool of ideas, G.I. Joe action figures maintain their legendary status among collectors and new fans alike. Star Wars became a significant hit with adults in the late '70s, but Kenner's action figures turned it into a favorite among children, too. Launched in the late '70s and continuing into the mid-'80s, these figures were extremely successful. Kenner couldn't keep up with the demand for Star Wars figures, even a year after their release. During this period, Kenner produced hundreds of different Star Wars figures. These toys, especially those with their original card backs, remain highly valued today. Iconic characters like Darth Vader were among the most popular figures, contributing significantly to the overall sales and cultural impact of the series. Transformers: Generation 1 remains a favorite among fans and collectors. Launched in 1984, these figures continued their popularity long after the cartoon series ended in the U.S. To keep the excitement alive, Hasbro introduced figures like Powermasters and Pretenders from Japanese anime. Spanning seven years, the original Generation 1 toys reigned until they were succeeded by Beast Wars and Beast Machines. Despite the passage of nearly four decades since the original series aired, Hasbro frequently revives Generation 1 designs. They often release updated versions of iconic characters, including favorites like Optimus Prime, to capture both nostalgia and new interest. Power Rangers toys were a huge hit among '90s kids. Saban's toy line included everything from action figures of the Rangers to the iconic megazords. These toys brought the TV show to life, allowing kids to recreate their favorite scenes. These toys captured the spirit of the show, offering fans of all ages something special. Kenner saw major success with The Real Ghostbusters toy line. Unlike the original Ghostbusters movie, the toy line was based on the animated series. Over six years, ten waves of action figures were released. These included different versions of the Ghostbusters, new enemies, and various vehicles. Kenner also introduced kid-sized weapons, allowing children to feel like real Ghostbusters. This product line featured some unique items, like the Ecto-Plazm Play Gel and iconic characters such as Egon Spengler. The series became a favorite among fans and collectors, solidifying Kenner’s place in toy history. Gundam has remained relevant for decades due to its model kits, or Gunpla. Serving as a backbone, these kits drew many older fans while captivating new ones with each season. From the early Universal Century, the franchise highlighted new mecha designs regularly, influencing how mecha series were developed over the last forty years. Often, mid-season updates to mecha appeared just as new kits hit the market, keeping interest high. Today, every new season still puts a strong emphasis on Gunpla, even spawning series like Gundam Build Fighters that's centered around these model kits. This connection between media and merchandise keeps Gundam thriving. In the late '80s, Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles rapidly climbed the ranks to become a top-selling brand, thanks in large part to Playmates Toys. The original 1987 cartoon underwent significant changes, but kids loved it anyway. Playmates capitalized on this by producing a wide array of new toys. By their third series, Playmates was creating unique action figures like "Leo, the Sewer Samurai." Fans eagerly collected them and enjoyed elaborate playsets that allowed them to create their own Turtles adventures. Today, many of these toys have become valuable collector’s items, making it worthwhile for fans to revisit their collections. The My Little Pony toy line, debuting in 1982, sprang from a re-imagining of the less popular My Pretty Pony. Hasbro found success by adding appealing features to the toys like fruity scents and glow-in-the-dark elements. He-Man and the Masters of the Universe cartoon appeared alongside a popular toy line, directly advertising new items in almost every episode. Kids were captivated by He-Man's adventures in Eternia, where he and various warriors battled the evil Skeletor. This meant a wide range of action figures was available for fans to collect. Additionally, the toy line featured items like the kid-sized Power Sword and the large Castle Grayskull playset. The series' success was clear by the end of its second season, having generated an impressive $500 million in sales. This massive success shows how influential and beloved Masters of the Universe and its characters became. ToyBiz played a crucial role in shaping X-Men toys throughout the 1990s. With the success of X-Men: The Animated Series on Fox Kids, ToyBiz seized the opportunity to bring to life the characters from both the show and the comics. Even before the cartoon, ToyBiz had been creating Marvel Superheroes figures, but the popularity of the X-Men series shifted their focus. The action figures released by ToyBiz included not only characters but also vehicles like the Blackbird and the creatively named Mutant-cycle. These toys became a staple for fans, reflecting various aspects of the X-Men universe they loved. The company managed to capture the essence of the characters, making them recognizable and cherished by a generation. The detailed designs and the wide range of figures ensured that fans had a vast collection to choose from, solidifying ToyBiz's legacy in toy history.2. Kenner's Star Wars Toys Generated Hundreds Of Millions Of Sales
3. Transformers Generation One Is The Toy Line Hasbro Keeps Bringing Back
4. Mighty Morphin' Power Rangers Created Toys For Every Type Of Power Rangers Fan
5. The Real Ghostbusters Created More Toys With The Cartoons Than The Films
6. Gundam's Model Kits Are The Reason The Series Has Been Around For So Long
7. Playmates Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles Helped Make The Franchise Into A Massive Success
8. My Little Pony's Toy Line Created The Television Series
9. He-Man Generated Half A Billion Dollars In Sales
10. ToyBiz X-Men Defined The Look Of X-Men Toys For A Generation
