{"id":31087,"date":"2019-05-01T21:02:07","date_gmt":"2019-05-02T01:02:07","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/cinema-crazed.com\/blog\/?p=31087"},"modified":"2019-05-01T21:02:07","modified_gmt":"2019-05-02T01:02:07","slug":"tv-on-dvd-the-toys-that-made-us-seasons-1-2-dvd","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.cinema-crazed.com\/blog\/2019\/05\/01\/tv-on-dvd-the-toys-that-made-us-seasons-1-2-dvd\/","title":{"rendered":"TV On DVD: The Toys That Made Us: Seasons 1 & 2 (DVD)"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"\"<\/a>Nostalgia entertainment is about as popular as ever and modern streaming services and networks are banking on the fascinating topics that can be mined from the mementos of pop culture. One of the most entertaining documentary series to be brought to the popular Netflix service has been by Brian Volk-Weiss\u2019s \u201cThe Toys That Made Us.\u201d While most studios would cut corners by merely making a series that relies on \u201cRemember this?\u201d and \u201cRemember when\u2026?\u201d what \u201cThe Toys That Made Us\u201d instead does is examine the importance and relevance of iconic toy lines from the eighties and nineties.<\/p>\n

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Through a ton of examination and historical research, the series traces the invention of toy lines that completely shook pop culture to its core, and how they\u2019ve managed to affect not just pop culture but culture in general. While many of the toy lines presented came with the idea of cashing in on children, most of these products helped give birth to new generations of artists, creators, and even pushed other companies to be better and work hard to dominate the market on toys. Season 1 and 2 doesn\u2019t pander to the eighties crowd, thankfully, taking a look at a broad range of toys that were important, and made history.<\/p>\n

Examined in season one are the surprise success of \u201cStar Wars\u201d and how it revolutionized movie merchandise, the surprising back story of the invention of \u201cBarbie,\u201d the unique origins of \u201cHe-Man,\u201d and how \u201cG.I. Joe\u201d took off after being re-invented. The good thing about this series is that even if you\u2019ve never played with a Barbie, or have zero interest in He-Man, their stories are so fascinating and absolutely entertaining that you\u2019ll find yourself coasting through every episode of the series without ever getting bored. Suffice to say I watched every episode of season one, even Barbie. There\u2019s so many interesting tidbits, especially from the \u201cStar Wars\u201d episode and how it fueled a massive race from other companies to compete with its inevitably blockbusting toy line.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>There\u2019s also discussion on the pre-order debacle with the cardboard play set, the mythical Boba Fett figure with the shooting missile, and how much the merchandise has evolved since 1977. Season 2 discusses the weird history of \u201cStar Trek,\u201d the often unknown origin of \u201cTransformers\u201d and how they originated as two separate toy lines, how \u201cLEGO\u201d copied a popular brand and won, and the massive fandom of \u201cHello Kitty.\u201d Both seasons provide a wealth of fascinating information and unique tales of race for our hard earned dough and the ability to take once old fashioned toy lines and re-invent them for a new generation (G.I. Joe). Even if you\u2019re not a nostalgia buff and just want to learn something about pop culture, \u201cThe Toys That Made Us\u201d is downright entertaining.<\/p>\n

Both seasons are featured on the DVD Screen Media. I wish the seasons came on Blu-Ray with a lot more features, but for folks anxious to re-visit the series without Netflix, this is you go to. The DVD set features deleted scenes and interviews from the \u201cStar Trek\u201d episode, and there is a small featurette with series creator Brian-Volk Weiss.<\/p>\n

In Stores May 7th<\/sup>.<\/strong><\/p>\n