The Test of Time - Lines that are still around

[ludevig]

Very recently i have noticed something strange at toy aisles everywhere. The majority of toys aimed at boys are very similar to those of my youth. And it is not little amounts of these figures either, whole sections of an aisle are dedicated to them too.

TMNT
GI Joe
Transformers
Wrestling Figures
Star Wars
Marvel
Batman

Is it just franchises that sell or is it because these toys actually had more imagination to them and that's why they are still around?

Some of them are 25th anniversary figures while Star Wars is now at 32 years since the first figures came out. Some things truly do stand the test of time.

[spockoda]

These franchises also seem to be able to reinvent themselves every few years as well. The ones that can't or didn't do a very good job of that don't survive at regular retail, such as Masters Of The Universe.

[burningdoom]

I think the reason is simple. All the franchises you named have one or more of the following STILL going on for them: Comics, movies, or cartoons.

-Nate-

[mrjayberry]

Expanded base of collectors/I think parents are more likley to buy the kids toys they played with as a kid. Most of those franchises can depend on both the kids wanting them and collectors buying them.

[captmiloman]

I was checking out the action figure section at the local Wal-Mart and saw the SW figures alongside Playmates current ST line. Then on the other side there were Hasbro's Marvel Universe & Kenner's DC Universe lines. No wonder I feel like a kid again. The GI Joe stuff was there, too. For someone who grew up in the 70's, this was a sight to behold. Should've used the camcorder on the cell phone to shoot video. That would've been good Youtube material. All we need is the return of Evel Knievel & his stunt cycle, Daring Derry & her trick cycle, Micronauts, Battlestar Galactica, Planet Of the Apes, Action Jackson, the Adventure People, & Turbo Tower Of Power back into toy isles. Of course that could hurt the secondary market.

[dom]

Some lines just last I guess. Im sure there will be more rebirth`s over the next few years.

[beckley]

Ugh, and The Power Rangers. No offense to any fans, but I was hoping those would have gone away by now.

[BoogDoc7]

Part of it is that some of the products are what the companies have ALWAYS done well with. GIJoe, Barbie, and Hot Wheels/Matchbox are particular examples of something those companies have a fairly set formula that just needs a little modern-day tweaking on some basic ideas:

Boys like army figures.
Girls like dolls.
Cars are cool.

One other point. Basic Hot Wheels and Matchbox prices have hardly moved in the past 10-15 years.