My Buddy Doll
© Playskool
Batteries Not Included
By: Carlos MejiaDate: Monday, January 08, 2007
Toy commercials are synonymous with the toys themselves. Let’s face if it weren’t for the commercials we probably wouldn’t have known what to do with the toy itself. With endless catchy jingles, lighting quick cutaways and even faster talking narrators, toy commercials offered children the excitement of their favorite hero right into the palms of our tiny hands. Below is just a small taste and reminder of a few memorable toy commercials that are sure to bring you to your youth. There’s only 10 classic toy commercials here, but sound off and tell us what commercials still tickle your cerebrum today.
G.I. Joe with Kung-Fu Grip by Hasbro
Without a doubt the most classic toy commercial of all time, Adventure Team G.I. Joe captured the imaginations of thousands of children across the nation thanks to its unforgettable Kung Fu Grip action. The figure was so memorable that the doll has been re-released in its original form at Hot Topic stores across the country. Relive the fuzzy haired magic.
http://www.hasbro.com/gijoe
G.I. Joe Snow Cat by Hasbro
No one did toy commercials bigger or better in the 80s than G.I. Joe. With characters near the hundreds and with half of those characters having their own vehicles, there was no end to our obsession with these little plastic men (sorry mom). Here in the Snow Cat commercial, Hasbro gives fans more action than a regular episode of G.I. Joe.
http://youtube.com/watch?v
He-Man Snake Mountain by Mattel
While you were drooling over Snake Mountain’s built in microphone and speaker system the narrator promptly says “You put the mountain together” and “Batteries are not included.” That probably didn’t stop you from crying until an adult got the mountain to shut you up. If only Prince Adam was so lucky.
http://youtube.com/watch?v
Lite Brite by Milton Bradley
This is proof that anything could be turned into a toy and sold to children. I cannot remember even playing with this useless board of lights. All I remember is that damn song! Just what exactly was the point of Lite Brite? Turn on what sort of magic with colored lights? Make a sign to say goodnight? I guess using a pen and some paper was overrated.
http://youtube.com/watch?v
Micro Machines by Galoob
I don’t remember my days of playing with Micro Machine and I don’t really hear any childhood stories about them. What I do remember was the fast talking John Moschitta in the commercials. Apparently the 80s had a high demand for this fast talking actor as he worked in various Fed-Ex ads and did the voice of Blurr in Transformers The Movie. Fast-talking was huge in the 80s!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v
Transformers Omega Supreme by Hasbro
Bigger certainly was better in the 80s as this Omega Supreme was so huge—there’s barely enough time in the commercial to show you the entire thing. As if the huge size is not awesome enough, Omega can actually waddle which I’m sure comes in handy when facing Decepticons.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v
Stretch Armstrong by Cap Toys
Stretch Armstrong could be twisted, bended and turned any you wanted, as long as you had someone else pulling the putty with you. The commercial nearly guarantees that Armstrong could be put into any position without even breaking, but selling stretchy rubber and making it apart of someone’s childhood, now there’s a stretch!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v
Energized Spider-Man by Remco
This commercial of the Spider-Man action figure from the late 70s shows the slow moving excitement that the web head deals with on a regular basis. Also we learn in this commercial that Spider-Man has a Spider-Copter because web slinging in the city is not very discreet.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v
WWF Ring by Hasbro
What’s better than getting a chance of reenacting your favorite WWF wrestling (now WWE) match with action figures of your favorite wrestlers? Well playing with them in a wrestling ring of course. What really makes this commercial great is hearing a fast talking—questionably drugged up Rowdy Roddy Piper narrating the action.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v
My Buddy by Playskool
The only reason I included this commercial is because I want to torment you all with the jingle from the ad. After all my hours research in finding these commercials I came across My Buddy and had that song stuck in my head the entire time while making this article. It’s my gift to all of you.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v
