Toy links
The history of Kenner.
Parts 2, 3 and 4.
The history of The Six Million Dollar Man toys.
By Analog Toys. (YouTube, 17:22)
1975 Kenner The Six Million Dollar Man catalogue.
1976. 1977. 1978.
Bernard Loomis interviewed.
“I first saw the show on the air—I thought it was ‘toyetic’ as hell and I personally went out to Universal and made the deal. It changed the licensing business.”
Loomis looks for more licenses.
“One day in 1976 he noticed a brief item in the Hollywood Reporter about a movie that was being made. Loomis had never heard of the director, but he liked the title …”
Henshin Cyborg Henshin Sets.
These included Chojin Sets (featuring original character designs Birdman, Fishman and Beetleman) and Henshin Sets (featuring tokusatsu heroes).
Cyborg Rider.
Henshin Cyborg transforms from action figure to vehicle. (See also.)
Cyborg Jaguar.
The ancestor of Microman Titans Dober Machine and Microchange Microcassette Robo Jaguar/Transformers Ravage.
Android A.
The 1974 successor to Henshin Cyborg also came in Chojin and Robot forms and fought against the Aliens Zone, Zeros and Jagra.
The English Cyborg.
Denys Fisher scaled down and sold the Takara Henshin Cyborg, Alien and Android A figures in its Cyborg line. (See also.)
On Takara.
“In 1970 … Takara licensed G.I. Joe from Hasbro, but Japanese kids weren’t amused by a U.S. military hero.”
Takara’s New G.I. Joe.
The Japanese Joe’s head, redesigned by Takara’s doll designers, resembled Licca-chan’s boyfriend, Wataru-kun.
Takara New G.I. Joe timeline.
When Japanese boys clamoured for a foe for Joe, you’ll never guess what Takara came up with in 1971. (See also.)
Seigi no Mikata.
New G.I. Joe transforms into henshin heroes. (Click on the yellow arrows.)
New G.I. Joe transforms into Henshin Cyborg.
Takara SF Land begins.
Larry Hama action figure.
“Larry Hama has been many things: a storyteller, illustrator, rock musician, storyboard artist, actor, and the creative force behind the 1980’s leading action figure line.”
Larry Hama interviewed.
“I think I wrote just about every file card for the Joes except for Crystal Ball which was written by Stephen King’s son.”
30 G.I. Joes modeled after real people.
“… Sneak Peek’s file card listed the character’s name as ‘Owen S. King’ for famed novelist Stephen King’s son.”
Sgt. Slaughter interviewed.
“… I saw a little boy with my Triple T Tank in his hand, and he was looking at it. So I went up behind him and I tapped him on the shoulder. He looked up at me, looked at the box, looked up at me again, dropped the box and he ran.”
How Teddy Roosevelt became an action figure.
“At its peak in the 1980s, Hasbro estimated that two out of every three boys between the ages of 5 and 11 owned a G.I. Joe action figure.”