Toys in the 80sThe
Smurfs spawn a tidal wave of cute clones: Monchichis, Snorks, Popples,
etc. Rainbow Brite and My Little Pony fly high, Jem steals some of
Barbie's thunder, He-Man leads the Masters of the Universe to victory,
and Transformers prove there's "more than meets the eye." Rubik's Cubes
give smart kids their day in the spotlight, while Cabbage Patch Kids
reduce grown men and women to savage shopping mall beasts. The Teenage
Mutant Ninja Turtles make Cowabunga a household word, and G.I. Joe is
repurposed for the 80's as a "Real American Hero." Nintendo brings home
video games back from the grave, then shrinks them down to hand-held
Game Boy size at the decade's end. |