The Toys That Made Us -- Netflix docuseries -- 12/22/17
11-18-19, 10:09 AM
#176
DVD Talk Limited Edition
11-18-19, 10:14 AM
#177
DVD Talk Legend
Re: The Toys That Made Us -- Netflix docuseries -- 12/22/17
I like the topics, but I find the editing a little annoying. The quick cuts back to a person saying the same thing over and over is just irritating. I want information, not dumb editing gimmicks.
11-18-19, 11:06 AM
#178
Re: The Toys That Made Us -- Netflix docuseries -- 12/22/17
I had a feeling My Little Pony's episode would touch upon Bronies.
11-19-19, 09:24 PM
#179
DVD Talk Hero
Re: The Toys That Made Us -- Netflix docuseries -- 12/22/17
I don't understand why they glossed over stuff with Legos and now with TMNT. There's more stuff out there about these 2 topics and they didn't cover them properly. The TMNT one basically skipped the stuff from the late 90's and glossed over the stuff from 2000 and on. It's also weird to see them talk very positively about the latest reboot when in fact it has been really panned by fans and critics alike. It's apparently so bad, that Nickelodeon is already going back to the drawing board to make another reboot.
Still, there was something very interesting in the doc that I don't believe it has been discussed anywhere else. Kevin Eastman and Peter Laird had kept very privately the dissolution of their business and friendship. I had the privilege to have had dinner with both of them (separately) and talked to them about Turtles and other stuff but out of respect, never brought up their situation in any of my conversations. Today, while watching this episode, I found out that:
1- Peter Laird had sole control of the Turtles since the late nineties and was the sole owner when he sold the property to Nickelodeon. Until today, I thought Kevin Eastman was part of the sale and half of the money from it.
2- It was Kevin who basically ruined their relationship and became estranged from Peter for years. Everyone knew there was a fallout but no one knew why.
Both of them are really great guys and I hope they can really make amends and work together in the future.
I was a little disappointed that the wrestling episode basically focused on WWF/E and WCW with a little sprinkle of ECW. They basically dismissed the REMCO wrestling figures which have become as popular in the collector's market as the old WWF ones. REMCO had an amazing lineup of figures that includes a who's who of AWA, NWA and other territories. I remember getting the Ric Flair, Larry Zbysko double pack as a kid as well as the Road Warriors. I also have the hard to find Carlos Colon vs Abdullah the Butcher double pack too. REMCO was also the first one to release Rockers (Shawn Michaels and Marty Janetty) action figures. They also didn't talk about how much money the WWF wrestlers made out of those LJN toys. The royalties from these figures was so great that it became a recruiting point for Vince to entice wrestlers from other territories to come work for him.
As for future episodes, they can tackle Marvel and DC toys separately. DC has tons of stuff going back to the late 30's. Marvel has stuff going back to the mid 60's. They can also do an episode about happy meal toys.
Still, there was something very interesting in the doc that I don't believe it has been discussed anywhere else. Kevin Eastman and Peter Laird had kept very privately the dissolution of their business and friendship. I had the privilege to have had dinner with both of them (separately) and talked to them about Turtles and other stuff but out of respect, never brought up their situation in any of my conversations. Today, while watching this episode, I found out that:
1- Peter Laird had sole control of the Turtles since the late nineties and was the sole owner when he sold the property to Nickelodeon. Until today, I thought Kevin Eastman was part of the sale and half of the money from it.
2- It was Kevin who basically ruined their relationship and became estranged from Peter for years. Everyone knew there was a fallout but no one knew why.
Both of them are really great guys and I hope they can really make amends and work together in the future.
I was a little disappointed that the wrestling episode basically focused on WWF/E and WCW with a little sprinkle of ECW. They basically dismissed the REMCO wrestling figures which have become as popular in the collector's market as the old WWF ones. REMCO had an amazing lineup of figures that includes a who's who of AWA, NWA and other territories. I remember getting the Ric Flair, Larry Zbysko double pack as a kid as well as the Road Warriors. I also have the hard to find Carlos Colon vs Abdullah the Butcher double pack too. REMCO was also the first one to release Rockers (Shawn Michaels and Marty Janetty) action figures. They also didn't talk about how much money the WWF wrestlers made out of those LJN toys. The royalties from these figures was so great that it became a recruiting point for Vince to entice wrestlers from other territories to come work for him.
As for future episodes, they can tackle Marvel and DC toys separately. DC has tons of stuff going back to the late 30's. Marvel has stuff going back to the mid 60's. They can also do an episode about happy meal toys.
Once I made peace with that, it was easier watching them.
12-28-19, 03:09 PM
#180
Suspended; also need updated email
Re: The Toys That Made Us -- Netflix docuseries -- 12/22/17
Another great series though i glossed over the My Little Pony one. The bronies thing (and worse) has scarred me for life (not my personal involvement, lol just the concept that there are grown men who do sexual acts with My little ponies)
Power Rangers and Wrestling were my favourites but Ninja Turtles was interesting too. So many companies involved in wrestling over the years.Figures made for some very obscure wrestlers
For all of these toys, it's scary how much there is to collect.
Power Rangers and Wrestling were my favourites but Ninja Turtles was interesting too. So many companies involved in wrestling over the years.Figures made for some very obscure wrestlers
For all of these toys, it's scary how much there is to collect.
02-26-20, 08:52 AM
#181
Suspended; also need updated email
Re: The Toys That Made Us -- Netflix docuseries -- 12/22/17
https://www.inverse.com/article/6109...etflix-renewal“Season 4 has not been greenlit,” he makes clear. “We need everyone to watch and watch again. That’s what Netflix cares about, as many eyes as possible. To get Season 4, we need everybody to watch all 12 episodes at least once.”
Should that happen, “Season 4 would include Matchbox, Cabbage Patch Kids, Smurfs, NERF. I’d love to do a Dungeons & Dragons episode. I’d love to do fast food toys. But you gotta watch us to get more.”
Should that happen, “Season 4 would include Matchbox, Cabbage Patch Kids, Smurfs, NERF. I’d love to do a Dungeons & Dragons episode. I’d love to do fast food toys. But you gotta watch us to get more.”
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story (02-27-20)
02-26-20, 07:39 PM
#182
DVD Talk Godfather
Re: The Toys That Made Us -- Netflix docuseries -- 12/22/17
How much Smurf merch was there? I had some small vinyl figures and stuffed animals and still drink out of the drinking glass from McDs (or BK, can't recall). I watched the show every Saturday morning but I just don't recall a ton of toys or playsets.
02-26-20, 08:57 PM
#183
DVD Talk Reviewer/Moderator
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Re: The Toys That Made Us -- Netflix docuseries -- 12/22/17
Yes, but there were about 5.1 billion variations of the small figures anyway.
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story (02-27-20)
02-27-20, 10:54 AM
#186
02-27-20, 11:13 AM
#187
DVD Talk Hero
Re: The Toys That Made Us -- Netflix docuseries -- 12/22/17
It's kind of crazy that Netflix's expectation is for people to watch all the episodes. This is the very definition of the kind of show where people will pick and choose the topics they're interested in.
02-27-20, 03:32 PM
#188
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Re: The Toys That Made Us -- Netflix docuseries -- 12/22/17
Unless there’s something I don’t know, none of those four subjects really have anything interesting about them.
02-27-20, 07:10 PM
#189
Re: The Toys That Made Us -- Netflix docuseries -- 12/22/17
I can't believe I haven't watched this series.
I remember my cousin having those small Smurf PVC figures. I didn't know they were this big toy line. I though they were from a Happy Meal or some plastic nick nacks they picked up at an office store.
Cabbage Patch Kids were huge and again, I remember my cousins getting in on the craze. I always thought they were ugly. But I guess the appeal was the different versions and the birth certificates.
I guess the reason I haven't watched this show is because I've looked up all this stuff years ago on the internet and already know the gist of this stuff. Not to mention Toyfare magazine would do specials on various old school toy lines as well.
Musclemen? Actually it was M.U.S.C.L.E.
And Transformers...there's too many books, YouTube videos, and websites that give you all the info.
But getting interviews with the makers is a big plus. I want to check out the story on Galoob's Star Trek The Next Generation toy line. As a kid I always thought it looked better than the later Playmates one, since Playmates gave them somewhat He-Man like torsos and poses. Galoob's looked more realistic and natural. It's a shame the line didn't do well. Maybe it was partly because the show was still too new.
I remember my cousin having those small Smurf PVC figures. I didn't know they were this big toy line. I though they were from a Happy Meal or some plastic nick nacks they picked up at an office store.
Cabbage Patch Kids were huge and again, I remember my cousins getting in on the craze. I always thought they were ugly. But I guess the appeal was the different versions and the birth certificates.
I guess the reason I haven't watched this show is because I've looked up all this stuff years ago on the internet and already know the gist of this stuff. Not to mention Toyfare magazine would do specials on various old school toy lines as well.
Musclemen? Actually it was M.U.S.C.L.E.
And Transformers...there's too many books, YouTube videos, and websites that give you all the info.
But getting interviews with the makers is a big plus. I want to check out the story on Galoob's Star Trek The Next Generation toy line. As a kid I always thought it looked better than the later Playmates one, since Playmates gave them somewhat He-Man like torsos and poses. Galoob's looked more realistic and natural. It's a shame the line didn't do well. Maybe it was partly because the show was still too new.
02-28-20, 04:49 PM
#190
Re: The Toys That Made Us -- Netflix docuseries -- 12/22/17
I've watched every episode of this series, even when the toy being discussed doesn't interest me, and I still enjoyed every episode. I hope they get greenlit for another season.
I get the disinterest in a possible Smurfs episode, but even if you weren't a fan of them as a kid, the story behind their creation is interesting. And that's the main thing the producers of this show are interested in -- popular toys with interesting stories. They've said there are successful toy lines they probably won't cover because there's not an interesting story behind them, which would make a boring episode.
I get the disinterest in a possible Smurfs episode, but even if you weren't a fan of them as a kid, the story behind their creation is interesting. And that's the main thing the producers of this show are interested in -- popular toys with interesting stories. They've said there are successful toy lines they probably won't cover because there's not an interesting story behind them, which would make a boring episode.
02-28-20, 11:33 PM
#191
DVD Talk Hero
Re: The Toys That Made Us -- Netflix docuseries -- 12/22/17
Cabbage Patch Kids was peak toy mania. I remember that Christmas well - parents were paying double and triple retail for one because they were hard to get unless you knew someone on the "inside." Still have no idea why they got so popular that one year.
02-29-20, 12:19 AM
#192
Moderator
Re: The Toys That Made Us -- Netflix docuseries -- 12/22/17
My mom made us Cabbage Patch Kids. You could buy the plastic heads with yarn hair as well as patterns to sew the bodies and clothes. We got them for Christmas and I immediately named mine Han because of course.
02-29-20, 07:00 AM
#193
Re: The Toys That Made Us -- Netflix docuseries -- 12/22/17
06-19-20, 01:07 AM
#194
DVD Talk Limited Edition
Re: The Toys That Made Us -- Netflix docuseries -- 12/22/17
Has anyone else started watching "A Toy Store Near You"? There's two episodes so far on Amazon Prime and Youtube. Not the exact same kind of content as TTTMU...the episodes so far deal with how the toy stores are affected by the pandemic. They do show some toys and give some background info on them though.
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tanman (06-23-20)
06-19-20, 06:44 AM
#195
DVD Talk Platinum Edition
Re: The Toys That Made Us -- Netflix docuseries -- 12/22/17
I didn't know it was out, nice to know it's free on YouTube. Thanks for the heads up
06-23-20, 04:38 AM
#196
DVD Talk Hall of Fame
Re: The Toys That Made Us -- Netflix docuseries -- 12/22/17
I got the impression from recently watching the entire series that it's an extremely low-budget series. Netflix isn't breaking the bank producing it. It also appears the series creator takes on many hats making each episode. I don't think a huge team is producing the series.
https://www.inverse.com/article/6109...etflix-renewal“Season 4 has not been greenlit,” he makes clear. “We need everyone to watch and watch again. That’s what Netflix cares about, as many eyes as possible. To get Season 4, we need everybody to watch all 12 episodes at least once.”
Should that happen, “Season 4 would include Matchbox, Cabbage Patch Kids, Smurfs, NERF. I’d love to do a Dungeons & Dragons episode. I’d love to do fast food toys. But you gotta watch us to get more.”
Should that happen, “Season 4 would include Matchbox, Cabbage Patch Kids, Smurfs, NERF. I’d love to do a Dungeons & Dragons episode. I’d love to do fast food toys. But you gotta watch us to get more.”
06-23-20, 03:40 PM
#197
DVD Talk Hero
Re: The Toys That Made Us -- Netflix docuseries -- 12/22/17
Most of the costs would involve flying a film crew out to each interviewee and paying for those expenses. It's obliquely referenced when viewing the special features.
