Category: toys

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American Girl Introduces a Doll With Hearing Loss

It’s really important for children with disabilities to see themselves in pop culture, whether it’s movies, music, TV – or even the toys and dolls they play with. That’s why this announcement from American Girl should make a lot of kids and parents very happy. American Girl rang in 2020 with a new doll, and this one, for the first time ever, has a hearing impairment.

And the new doll is also American Girl of the Year.

Meet Joss Kendrick. Joss’s story is that she hails from Huntington Beach, California, and that she is “a fierce athlete born with hearing loss and a passion for surfing and competitive cheer.”

Joss was born deaf in her left ear and she wears a hearing aid in her right ear. The company said about Joss, “Whether she’s on her surfboard or in the gym, Joss shows girls the importance of trying new things, pushing past stereotypes, and being a good team player.”

The new doll was introduced with the help of Caroline Marks, a 17-year-old surfer who is looking to make a mark at the 2020 Summer Olympics in Tokyo as part of the U.S. Women’s Surfing team (I didn’t even know surfing was an Olympic sport). Marks said, “I’m so excited to be a part of the Joss launch and share her message that passion and hard work can really take a girl places—even to the Olympics.”

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Happy times 🌞

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As part of the launch of the new doll, American Girl donated $25,000 to the Hearing Loss Association of America (HLAA).

This is a great move by Mattel and American Girl!

Congratulations and good luck to Caroline Marks at the 2020 Summer Olympics!

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The #Barbiesdarksecrets Hashtag Will Leave You Smirking About Your Favorite Toy Doll’s Misadventures

Oh, Barbie…

Barbie is sweet, innocent, wholesome, and all-American, right?

Well, I’m sorry to say that those perceptions are about to change in a major way. Because Barbie has taken a turn to the dark side. And it’s all because of the #BarbiesDarkSecrets hashtag that has gone viral.

Oh, Barbie, where did it all go so wrong…?

1. I knew it…

2. She has a bad temper.

3. Very timely…

4. Going downhill. Big time.

5. Well, that’s pretty dark.

6. Worship her…

7. Just like Hannibal Lecter.

8. Two-faced Barbie.

9. She does look very youthful.

10. OH MY GOD. Barbie!

Do you think you can add to this bad Barbie phenomenon?

Share some of the other things that this famous bombshell blonde has done in our comments! Let’s get weird!

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The craze for collecting toy…

The craze for collecting toy soldiers began with the French in the 18th century. When Napoleon Bonaparte planned his military campaigns, he used models made by Lucotte, a toy soldier maker, to show the positions of his armies. One day he handed a few of the figures over to his son to play with.

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LEGO Is Running Completely on Renewable Energy…Three Years Ahead of Schedule

We hear a lot of hot air from big corporations and companies about how they plan on doing wonderful things for the environment, but a lot of it just seems to go nowhere. That’s why what LEGO has accomplished is pretty incredible.

The folks at LEGO originally set a goal of 2022 for their production facilities to run completely on renewable energy, but here we are 2019 and the company has already reached its goal, three years early.

The company was able to reach their goal because of the completion of an offshore wind farm that sits in the Irish Sea. The company actually built a giant wind turbine out of 146,00 LEGO pieces to celebrate the great achievement.

Bali Padda, CEO of LEGO Group, said, “We work to leave a positive impact on the planet and I am truly excited about the inauguration of the Burbo Bank Extension wind farm. We will also continue to work to inspire children around the world by engaging them in environmental and social issues.”

LEGO also has a fully-functional wind turbine set with plant-based bricks for kids (and adults) to play with and learn from.

The bottom line is that renewable energy is not only good for the environment but it’s also good for business. We can only hope that other huge companies will take note and follow LEGO’s lead. LEGO has 42 offices around the world and brings in over $2 billion in sales annually in the U.S. alone.

I’d say that’s a pretty good model to follow, wouldn’t you?

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Mattel Has Launched a Gender-Neutral Doll Collection

Long gone are the days when a child’s only options were the standard Barbie and Ken. And dolls got even more inclusive recently when Mattel, the company that makes Barbies, launched a gender-neutral doll collection.

This new line of toys from Mattel is meant to erase existing preconceived notions about what gender means and how it is ingrained into us from a very young age. Kim Culmone, the Senior Vice President of Mattel Fashion Doll Design said, “Toys are a reflection of culture and as the world continues to celebrate the positive impact of inclusivity, we felt it was time to create a doll line free of labels.” The line is called Creatable World.

Creatable World

In our world, dolls are as limitless as the kids who play with them. Introducing #CreatableWorld, a doll line designed to keep labels out and invite everyone in. #AllWelcomeShop now: http://bit.ly/CWMattel

Posted by Mattel on Tuesday, September 24, 2019

First off, the dolls come in a variety of skin colors. They can be styled with a variety of hairstyles, different clothes, and accessories such as sunglasses. TIME magazine noted that the “lips are not too full, the eyelashes not too long and fluttery, the jaw not too wide. There are no Barbie-like breasts or broad, Ken-like shoulders.”

In recent years, millennial parents have voiced their grievances about gender stereotypes in toys, and it seems like big companies such as Mattel are listening. The new, gender-neutral dolls are 11″ tall and they sell for $29.99 each. The official slogan for the new product is “A doll line designed to keep labels out and invite everyone in.”

It will be interesting to see how these products are received by the public and if other companies will follow Mattel’s lead. Stay tuned.

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A Young Girl Asked for Green Army Women and the Toy Company Listened

You probably played with those famous little green Army men at one point or another – especially if you’re a male. But the Army men toy game was recently turned on its head when BMC Toys, the company that manufactures those little green guys, received a letter from a 6-year-old girl from Arkansas.

The little girl, Vivian Lord, sent a letter to the company that read, “My name is Vivian. I am six years old. Why do you not make girl army men. Some girls don’t like pink, so please can you make army girls that look like women? I would play with them every day and my friends would too!”

And the folks at BMC Toys took notice and decided to do something about it.

Posted by BMC Toys on Saturday, September 7, 2019

The President of BMC Toys, Jeff Imel, said, “It was a heartfelt letter. And it reminded me of being a kid and always wanting that toy that you couldn’t get in the gumball machine. So I really looked into it.”

Imel said the company did some research and decided to produce a line of female soldier toys that will be available by Christmas 2020. The new female army toys will come in four poses.

Imel said, “What’s been really surprising to me is how many women have contacted me since Vivian’s story aired on national television to say they wish they had little Green Army Women when they were children back in the ’60s.”

Posted by BMC Toys on Monday, September 2, 2019

It wasn’t an easy decision either. Imel is the only full-time employee at BMC and he explained the process: “I have to pay the sculptor. I have to pay the tooling. I have to make a down payment on production. If it’s coming from China, it’s on a boat for five weeks. By the time you figure out the cost of everything involved in making an original set of plastic toy figures in this size,” he said. “It starts around the cost of a modest new car.”

Imel added, “Every kid wants to be the hero of their story. It shouldn’t be up to us to decide who the hero is. Girls should be able to connect to the toys just as much as boys do.”

It may be pricey, but it will obviously be worth it once these toys hit the market. And it’s all due to young Vivian Lord’s decision to step up and write a letter. I have a feeling this girl is going to be a real trailblazer!

I can’t wait to see what the toys look like when they’re completed!

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Toy and Game Company Hasbro Now Owns Death Row Records — Snoop Dogg, Dr. Dre, Tupac and MR. Potato Head?

You just never know what companies are going to consolidate/merge/buy each other out, etc. Which can lead to business, usually pretty dry, sometimes making big headlines for weird, weird stuff.

Like this!

Snoop Dogg, Dr. Dre, Tupac…Mr. Potato Head?

Hasbro, the toy and game company behind such favorites as Monopoly, Transformers, G.I. Joe, and My Little Pony, now owns Death Row Records, the notorious gangsta rap record label that was founded in 1991 by Dr. Dre, Suge Knight and The D.O.C.

How’s that for a mashup?

Death Row was absolutely HUGE in the 1990s – at its peak, it was raking in $150 million a year. Eventually, Death Row had a very public fall from grace, and Suge Knight is now serving a 28-year prison sentence.

So how exactly did this transaction come to be?

Here’s the deal: Hasbro purchased Entertainment One, which owned the Peppa Pig franchise, but it also had an enormous music division. Part of their music empire included the back catalog of Death Row Records, which declared bankruptcy back in 2006. Entertainment One acquired the back catalog in 2013.

But now it’s in Hasbro’s hands!

Hasbro CEO Brian Goldner said of the deal, “The acquisition of eOne adds beloved story-led global family brands that deliver strong operating returns to Hasbro’s portfolio and provides a pipeline of new brand creation driven by family-oriented storytelling.” That’s one way of looking at it.

People on Twitter couldn’t help themselves and just had to weigh in on the purchase. I mean, the possibilities are endless, don’t you think?

This story and the tweets that emanated from it bring me much happiness…

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There’s a Vincent Van Gogh Action Figure That Comes with Removable Ears

Vincent Van Gogh’s life story, the tribulations, the mental illness, and especially the story of him cutting off part of his own ear, continues to fascinate art lovers all over the world.

That’s why this Van Gogh action figure is so amazing! Today is Art Day launched a Kickstarter campaign back in 2017 to help fund the Van Gogh figure, and now they are readily available for the public to buy. Yay, Kickstarter!

The figure comes with not one, but two, detachable ears.

Photo Credit: Amazon

It may not be historically accurate, but hey, we’re allowed to have a little fun once in a while, aren’t we?

The figure comes in a box decorated with replicas of Van Gogh’s famous paintings, Sunflowers and The Starry Night. Lil’ Vincent is made of PVC and stands five inches tall.

Today is Art Day has branched out and now produces a bunch of other amazing action figures in addition to Van Gogh.

We have Frida Kahlo:

Posted by Today Is Art Day on Saturday, July 6, 2019

Salvador Dalí:

Posted by Today Is Art Day on Saturday, May 11, 2019

Leonardo da Vinci:

Posted by Today Is Art Day on Monday, April 15, 2019

And Einstein!

And if you want to paint your own, you can also buy the Vincent Van Gogh DIY action figure.

Posted by Today Is Art Day on Tuesday, April 30, 2019

They make other figures as well so take a look at their page and do some exploring!

Get your hands on the Van Gogh figure from Amazon for $29 and check out their other products as well.

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LEGO’s New “Stranger Things” Set Literally Goes to the Upside-Down

Netflix’s hit show Stranger Things will release its third season on July 4, 2019. The series has a pretty rabid fan base that can’t get enough of the show. They always want more – more merchandise, more news, more behind-the-scenes info.

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JULY 4

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Well, ST fans, I’m here to share some good news with you. LEGO has teamed up with Netflix and launched a new toy set featuring 8 character figures, the Byers’ house…and the Upside Down.

Take a look at this, it’s pretty amazing.

You can see from the video above that the detail in this set is really extraordinary. The launch was announced at LEGO stores in London and New York City, and you can order the set from the LEGO online shop HERE. The set costs $199.99 and has 2,287 LEGO pieces.

You know you want a LEGO replica of Chief Hopper’s police cruiser, don’t even try to deny it.

This commercial for the Stranger Things LEGO set has a pretty awesome vintage, 1980s feel to it.

The Byers house is shown in incredible detail, with Will’s room all decked out, “Have you seen me?” flyers plastered on the walls, a dining room, and the alphabet wall from Season One (it lights up!) among other things. Then you can flip that house upside and get…The Upside Down! Which is totally awesome in its own right!

I bet you can’t wait to get your hands on this and play for days on end – am I right?

Are you excited for the new season of Stranger Things? What are your predictions? Sound off in the comments!

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12 Toys from the 1980s That Will Blast You Straight to the Past

There’s no disputing that the 1980s were an iconic time – hair, rock, and fashion, sure, but mostly it was the toys that set our childhoods apart from the others. They might have been liable to kill us, but man…they were awesome.

If you’re in the mood for a quick hit of nostalgia, take a scroll through these 12 toys – the likes of which we’re not likely to see again.

#12. Voltron

Photo Credit: RC Toy Memories

What’s not to love about 5 robotic lions that combined to form a gigantic, sword-toting robot? Nothing, that’s what.

#11. He-Man (Masters of the Universe)

Photo Credit: Pinterest

These uber-masculine, sword-toting action figures were popular enough to spawn comic books, two feature films, and three television series, all within the same decade.

#10. Nintendo Entertainment System

Photo Credit: Nintendo

They weren’t the first, but many 80s kids will argue with game series like Zelda, Mario, and Final Fantasy, NES was the best 80s gaming had to offer.

#9. Glo Worms

Photo Credit: Blogspot

I brought these up a few months ago and no one remembered them, but these toys with light-up worm bodies and human heads were a massive hit in the 8os.

#8. Cabbage Patch Kids

Photo Credit: YouTube

Though they were introduced in the 1970s, it was the 1980s that had Cabbage Patch Kids flying off shelves.

#7. Jem

Photo Credit: YouTube

Before there was Hannah Montana, there was Jem – a teenager who lived a double life as a holographically-enhanced rock singer named Jerrica. Both sported amazing 80s fashion, of course.

#6. Strawberry Shortcake

Photo Credit: Vermont Country Store

I myself had a sleeping bag featuring the little lady, but the dolls and other items that smelled like strawberries were seriously the best.

#5. Popples

Photo Credit: Pinterest

Why just have a stuffed animal when you could have a stuffed animal that zipped into a furry ball? Two toys are always better than one, right?

#4. Rainbow Brite

Photo Credit: Wharble

What little person doesn’t harbor a fantasy of riding a white unicorn across a glittering rainbow? All of us – and Rainbow Brite let us live out our dreams through her adventures.

#3. Star Wars Everything

Photo Credit: Vulture

We are the original Star Wars generation, and we owned everything from action figures to sleeping backs and a whole bunch of crap in between.

#2. My Little Pony

Photo Credit: MLP Merch

They were officially branded in 1982, and the line of horses featuring different colored manes and an array of decorations on their rumps have hardly fallen in popularity since.

#1. Transformers

Photo Credit: Nothing But Nostalgia

The cartoon manifested in the 80s, and even though the most recent iteration is more high-tech and fancy, ours were just as awesome.

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