Prompt Cast
The History and Popularity of Action Figures
TLDR This podcast episode explores the history of action figures, from the inspiration behind their creation to their rise in popularity. It also discusses the challenges faced by iconic action figure brands like G.I. Joe and the impact of deregulation on advertising to children.
Timestamped Summary
00:00
The podcast episode is about the history of action figures, including how they were inspired by Barbie and the success of the doll industry, and how Stan Weston and Don Levine came up with the idea of calling them "action figures."
05:56
G.I. Joe debuted in 1964 and was the first action figure, with the original doll having 21 moving parts and being the collective name for all four armed forces dolls.
11:51
GI Joe initially faced challenges due to the Vietnam War, but was rebranded as an adventurer and continued to be produced until a company named Migo filled the gap when production stopped.
18:04
Mego filled the void left by GI Joe by releasing a line of action figures based on superheroes, including characters from both DC and Marvel, and they were incredibly successful, establishing themselves as the leader in the action figure market.
24:13
Mego declined the Star Wars brand and allowed Kenner to pick it up, which turned out to be a huge mistake.
29:53
The GI Joe cartoon and action figures were a huge hit in the 1980s, and their success was largely due to the lack of regulation on advertising to children, which allowed for the marketing and selling of toys through cartoons.
36:04
The deregulation of advertising to children in the 1980s allowed toy companies and cartoons to collaborate and profit off of each other, resulting in the creation of cartoons like GI Joe and Transformers that were designed to sell toys rather than provide quality storytelling.
41:44
Action figures became increasingly popular in the 1990s, with the release of Transformers, Marvel and DC figures, and action figures based on movies, TV shows, and even politicians, and some companies intentionally release limited edition figures with defects to increase their value in the collectors market.
47:50
Action figures are designed by sculptors who create a skeleton out of wire and then mold the body shape and head shape of the character, often sculpting the arms, legs, and head separately, before attaching them and adding details like hair and clothing, with the entire process taking about two weeks.
53:16
The process of making action figures involves making molds, deciding on the type of molding process to use, assembling the figure, adding finishing details, and packaging and shipping.
58:43
The hosts discuss their own experiences collecting cards and mention some rare and valuable Star Wars action figures.
01:04:29
The hosts discuss the value and rarity of certain Star Wars action figures, including a Boba Fett figure that was never released in stores and a double telescoping lightsaber figure that is considered one of the most valuable.
01:10:28
The hosts discuss their experiences with a micro lending website called Kiva and encourage listeners to join their team and donate money to help those in need.
Categories:
Society & Culture
