Toys through time

Teys Through Time ENDURING ENTERTAINMENT Toys are magical. They're playthings for kids and sources of nostalgia for grown-ups. We all remember our favourites - but some have changed quite a lot since they were first released. Join us on a journey through the history of some of the world's bestselling toys. 'Only the best is good enough' LEGO COUNTRY OF ORIGIN: DENMARK + Over the years, LEGO has become one of the most instantly recognisable – and profitable – toys in the world. However, the brand has changed quite heavily since its inception in 1932. Recent sales £28.6 billion In 2014, the brand reported sales of 28.6 billion pounds. In the first interim of 2015, revenue was up 18% from the same period last year. The brand has quadrupled its revenue in less than 10 years. Fun FACT! Approximately 19 billion LEGO elements are produced each year. That's 36,000 every MINUTE 1930s 1940s LEGO was formed in 1932 by Ole Kirk Kristiansen with 6-7 employees, his company came to be called "Lego, derived from the Danish phrase leg godt, which means "play well! LEGO produces 200 different plastic and wooden toys. This includes the Automatic Binding Brick, a forerunner to the moden LEGO brick. 1950s 196os The word LEGO is officially registered in Denmark following the rebrand of the Automatic Binding Bricks to LEGO bricks. The LEGO brick's interlocking LEGO expands into overseas markets, selling throughout the world. The first LEGOLAND opens in Denmark. principle is invented. LEGO 1970s duplo 1980s The production ranges are split into clear lines. The DUPLO rabbit logo is created. More advanced technical sets areintroduced with interconnecting plastic rods and parts, later the line is renamed Technic Lego. The brand's product range continues to expand and Ole Kirk Kristiansen is inducted into the Toy Industry Hall of Fame. 199os 2000s Large new product ranges are released, The company announces a large including LEGO deficit in 2003, but builds itself MINDSTORMS, Other Licenses back up. It grows to almost 5,000 employees by 2006 and celebrates LEGO Star Wars and. LEGO Rockraiders. • Harry Potter • Marvel& DC • The Lond of The Ringsand The Hobbit • Indiana Jones • Pirates of the Caribbean Non-Denmark based 50 years of the LEGO brick in 2008. By 2014, LEGO is the second largest toy manufacturer. LEGOLAND parks are opened. 2010s LEGO MOVIE The LEGO Movie debuts to huge box office numbers. A 1:1 scale model of a Star Wars X-Wing Fighter is created from over 5 million bricks, the largest LEGO model ever created. Fun FACT! If Lego MiniFigures were a race, they'd be the most populous on the planet. .there are more than 4 billion figures. Then & Now - Evolution of the Minifig Modern MINIFIG Early FIGURES 'If you can dream it you can be it' BARBIE COUNTRY OF ORIGIN: USA E Mattel's Barbie, or Barbara Millicent Roberts, debuted in 1959 at the New York Toy Fair and has since grown into arguably the most famous doll ever made. She has held numerous careers, thousands of outfits and won the hearts of millions of children. At one potnt there was approximately one Barble doll sold every three seconds tround t vorld. Recent sales £1.3 billion Due to competition from Disney's Frozen, Barbie sales fell in 2014 – but Budie still sold around £1.3 billion. Fun FACT! Totally *Hair The best-selling Barbie doll ever was the 1992 Totally Hair doll. Popular because the doll's extra- long hair reached all the way to her toes. 1950s 196os The original Barbie doll debuts at the New York Toy Fair and the first Barbie's boyfrlend Ken is released. Barbie commercial airs. The original range of vintage dolls were 115 Inches tall and wore a zebra-style swimsuit. Mod Barbies are all the rage, with Far Out Barbie wearing bright colours and cool accessories. 1970s 1980s The Mallbu Barble range is released, sporting a tan. The introduction of rival The first black Barble malibu Barbie British doll Cindy doll is introduced. fails in the States. 199os 2000s Barbies in this period took inspiration from Farrah Fawcett and had flowing blonde hair with large toothy smiles. Barble actually split from Ken in 2004. 2010s After character debut in Toy Story 2, Barbie becomes a lead in Toy Story 3. Then & Now 1950s 2010s ORIGINAL MODERN BARBIE BARBIE Fun FACT! Over the course of her life, Barbie has held over 150 different careers represented by diffaerent figures. Barbie has been an astronaut, cowgirl, nurse, surgeon, aerobics instructor, rock star and an army ranger. 'More than meets the eye' TRANSFORMERS COUNTRY OF ORIGIN: USA/JAPAN In 1984 two toy lines Diaclone and Microman owned by Japanese company Takara were brought to America by Hasbro and rebranded as Transformers. Bolstered by animated films and later big budget adaptions, transforming toys have been a staple for children ever since. Recent sales £0.95 billion Hasbro reported strong sales in 2014, with sales of boy's toys up 22% for a total revenue of £0.95 billion pounds. This revenue was largely bolstered by the Transformers: Age of Extinction franchise. Fun FACT! The generation 1 form of villain Megatron caused some secur ity issues, as his transformed version was a Walther P38handgun. 1980s Hasbro launches the first 21 toys that include Optimus Prime, Megatron, 1990s Bumblebee, Jazz and Starscream. Transformers: Generatlon 2 is The animated television series of the released. These are recolours of Same name debuts. New Dinobots and the early figures, heralding a new Constructicons models are released, Generation 2 animated TV series. many with battery-operated features. In 1986, Transformers: The Movie, The first BotCon, a Transformers fan convention, is held. Was released, making nearly 6 million at the box office. The TV series Transformers: Beast Wars is released, spawning a toy line the following year. 2000s Beast Machines are introduced asa follow- up to Beast wars. The Robots in Disguise 2010s Transformer line is introduced based on the anime TV series. It brought the series full Transformers: Dark of the Moon circle, but some classic characters were re- movie is released in 2011. engineered with Optimus Prime becoming a Fire Truck. The toys celebrate their 20th anniversary. In honour, the Transformers Universe line is released. Transformers: Age of Extinction movie is released in 2014. The live-action Transformers film is released in 2007, and with it a selection of new toys. TANE FORMERS Transformers Revenge of the Fallen movie is released in 2009. Then & Now Film- Inspired FIGURE 1980s 1ST GEN TOY Fun FACT! In the same year the Michael Bay directed film £297m franchise launched, Transformers toy sales reached Thenew films may have divided fans of the 80s toys and cartoon, butthe original G1 toys are still being re-produced and sold today. HOT "Go with the winner' WHEELS COUNTRY OF ORIGIN: USA Founded in 1968, Hot Wheels are the die-cast car models that have graced the kitchen table of many homes around the world. Recent sales 5% growth Despite an overall fall in revenue, Mattel's Hot Wheels brand grew 5% in 2014. $6,200 Fun FACT! A boxed 1968 set of redline cars sold for $6,200 on eBay 196os 1970s The brand was founded in 1968 and 16 castings were released. The cars were hugely successful from the beginning and more new releases emerged in 1969. These are now Despite a slight slump in 1972 and 1973, the brand came back with a new slogan "Flying colours'. The new paintwork designs helped to revitalise sales. collectors' items. HotRHees 198os A huge decade for the toys, the 1980s Saw Hot Oneswheels introduced and 1990s McDonald's including the toys in their Happy Meals. Collector's conventions began to be held. The brand introduced helicopters and, in 1995, the toy range was split into series. The brand signed a deal in 1999 to produce licenced Formula 1 cars. 2000s A new generation of designers began to work on the toys. Lots of new models are released including ranges like Malnline, Hot 100, Faster Than Ever and Reallstix. The brand also released three animated films, most recently Team Hotwheels: The Origin of Awesome! Then & Now 1960s Modern MODEL CAR MODEL CAR Fun FACT! HotWheelshas grown to incorporate all vehicle types, and huge playsets. Mattel has recently released a new line of 11 Disney licensed toys for the upcoming Star Wars: The force awakens film. "There's only one Nerf' NERF COUNTRY OF ORIGIN: USA Nerf guns have been bringing flying foam action to households for over four decades. Whether you love them or hate them, they've easily withstood the test of time. Recent sales + boys toys Nerf played a large part in helping to bolster Hasbro's increase in boys toys sales in 2014. Fun FACT! The Nerf N-Strike Elite Hail-Fire Blaster fires darts at 50mph - that's as fast as an adult lion! 196os 1970s The inventor of Twister, Ryan Guyer, collaborates with Parker Brothers to launch the Nerf Ball, dubbed 'the world's first indoor ball' The iconic Nerf football is released. It had a thick outer covering to help it behave like a football. The brand experimented with foam games like ping pong and table hockey. 198os The Blast-A-Ball was released in 1989, a cannon that fired golf ball- 199os sized foam missiles with hand- pumped air pressure. Hasbro acquires Parker Brothers parent company, Tonka, and immediately begins investing in the Nerf line. The Nerf Bow 'n' Arrow is released to great success. 2000s The Nerf Sharp Shooter is the first Nerf The Nerf Ballzooka became battery- blaster to fire foam darts. powered and heralded a new era. An array of more technical, manually operated blasters enter the marketplace. Chain-fed Vulcan EBF-25 fires screaming whistler darts. 2010s NERF Rebelle Nerf XLR discs are invented and used in models. They are small, mini-Frisbees that can travel great distances. The Rebelle line makes its debut in 2013, a range of dart blasters designed with females in mind. Then & Now 1980s Modern NERF RIVAL BLAST A BALL RIVAL Fun FACT! In the past 4 years, Nerf has sold enough darts to circle the globe four times. х4 Sources telegraph.co.uk/finance/newebysector/retailandooneumer/11681976/Frozen-LEGO-and-video-games-boost-the-strugging-UK-toy-sectorto- staggering-growth.html economist.com/blogs/schumpeter/2013/09/toy-industry LEGO.com/en-us/aboutua/LEGO-group/the_LEGO_history/1950 LEGO.com/en-gb/aboutus/news-room/2015/february/LEGO-group-2014-annual-results LEGO.com/en-gb/aboutus/news-room/2015laeptamberfinterim-reeult LEGO.gizmodo.com/5019797/everything-you-always-wanted-to-know-about-LEGO barbieprojectweebly.oom/timelina.html usatoday30.usatoday.com/exp/barbia/barbie.html theverge.com/2014/2/3/5373766/barbie-unrealistio-proportione-dsfended-by-mattel-designer barbiemedia.com/about-barbiefast-facts-by-the-numbers.html cbenewa.com/news/lassales-plunge-can-barbie-atay-relavant comingsoon.net/movies/newe/518105-transformers_timeline_1984_present fortune.com/2014/10/20/hasbro-transformers-ealee/ mentalfloss.com/article/83718/15-super-facts-about-transformers hotwheek.wikia.com/wiki/ History_of_Hot_Wheels battlegrip.com/hot-wheele-ad-from-1970-life-magazine-ad coloribus.com/adsarchive/prints/hot-wheels-toye-check-17356255/ news.mattelcom/news/mattel-reports-fourth-quarter-and-full-year-2014-financial-results blogamarketwatch.oom/behindtheetorefront/2014/02/28/watch-out-LEGO-barbie-hot-wheele-are-coming-for-a-bigger-piece-of-your-pie/ terapeakcouk/blog/2014/04/08/terapesk-trende-measuring-themarket-for-hot-wheele-on-ebay/ mentalikss.com/article/26916/brief-history-nerf-or-nothin wired.com/2012/09/how-nerf-became-worlde-best-purveyor-of-big-guns-for-kide/ ew.com/articla/2013/02/08/haebro-introduces-nerf-rebele-line-for-girls-starting-with-the-heartbreaker-bow-exclusive nerf.wikia.com/wiki/1993 mommaknowsbeetblog.com/2013/1O/nerf-rebella blasterlaba.com/2014/01/opirion-on-what-hasbro-hath-wrought/ besicnerf.com/2014/01/29/australia-gets-prices-release-months-for-fall-2014-nerf-blasters/ fortune.com/2014/10/20hasbro-transformers-sales/ thrilistcom/gear/15-awesome-nerffacts-nerf-trivia-facts-and-history www.bbc.couk/news/business-23968860 enwikipedia.org/wiki/Lego Disz, Jesus (23 May 2013). "This Incredible Full Scale Lego X-Wing k the Largest Model In History". Gizmodo. Retrieved 24 May 2013. courtesy of www.houseoffraser.co.uk © creative commons