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Playmates Toys

Playmates Holdings Limited
FormerlyPlaymates Industrial
Company typePublic
SEHK: 869
IndustryToy industry
Founded1966; 58 years ago (1966)
FounderSam Chan Tai-ho
Headquarters
Hong Kong
,
China
Key people
To Shu Sing (chairman)
Websiteplaymatestoys.com

Playmates Toys Limited is a Hong Kong toy company. The company was founded in Hong Kong in 1966 by Sam Chan Tai-ho as Playmates Industrial, manufacturing dolls for other companies.[1] In 1975, Playmates began marketing their own line of pre-school toys, and in 1977 opened an American subsidiary in Boston. Another subsidiary was founded in California in 1983; in 1984 the company went public.[2]

The company's first big success was in 1986, with the marketing of a tape-playing, electronic robot doll named Cricket.[2] In 1989, the company marketed Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles action figures which sold extremely well.[2] Success of the two led to a golden era from 1990 to early 1993.[3] In 1990, Sales reached US$4.13 billion and net profit HK$1.21 billion.[3] In 1995 the company suffered a loss of HK$97.59 million.[3]

Proprietary brands

  • Amazing Dolls
  • Amazing Pets
  • Hearts For Hearts Girls
  • Kinder-Garden Babies
  • Nano Pets[4]
  • R.E.V.s
  • Waterbabies
  • WOW Pals
  • Yo Stick
  • Struts
  • Ooglies
  • Kuroba
  • Tiny Toes
  • BFF Best Friends Forever
  • The Addams Family
  • Austin Powers Vocalizers

Tie-in media toys

Playmates Toys has often been under contract as a licensee to produce toys, fashion dolls, games, and other merchandise coinciding with popular film and television media. Examples of media that Playmates has produced toys for includes Atomic Betty, Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, Star Trek, Ben 10, Godzilla, Frozen, Miraculous Ladybug, Pikwik Pack, and others. They were made in cooperation with various international media production companies, including Canadian company Nelvana and American companies such as Disney, DreamWorks Animation, and Nickelodeon.[5]

Playmates Interactive Entertainment

Playmates Interactive Entertainment Inc., which makes video games, was founded in 1994 as a subsidiary of Playmates Toys Holdings, the parent company of Playmates Toys.[6] It is co-located with the United States branch of Playmates Toys in La Mirada, California.[6] In September 1996, Playmates Toys' US branch and Playmates Interactive Entertainment relocated their headquarters, including 50 employees to Costa Mesa, California.[6] At the same time, Gary Rosenfeld and Chris Archer joined the company as vice-president of business affairs and producer, respectively.[6] In August 1997, Playmates Interactive Entertainment's president, Richard Sallis, resigned and was succeeded by Ron Welch.[7][8] Playmates Interactive Entertainment was defunct by May 2000.[9]

References

  1. ^ "History". Playmates Toys.
  2. ^ a b c Ward, Arthur (2020). Action Figures: From Action Man to Zelda. Crowood. ISBN 9781785006883.
  3. ^ a b c Tsang, Denise (7 September 1996). "Battle ends in court for not-so-friendly Playmates". South China Morning Post. Retrieved 25 March 2023.
  4. ^ "Nano Babies Go Up Against Tamagotchi and Gigi Pets". Electronic Gaming Monthly. No. 97. Ziff Davis. August 1997. p. 26.
  5. ^ "Playmates Toys: History". playmatestoys.com. Playmates Toys. Retrieved 30 October 2021.
  6. ^ a b c d Johnson, Greg (17 September 1996). "Playmates Toys to Move Offices to O.C." Los Angeles Times.
  7. ^ Johnston, Chris (26 April 2000). "Konami, Playmates Appoint New Presidents". GameSpot.
  8. ^ Johnson, Greg (8 August 1997). "President of Playmates Toys and Sister Company Resigns". Los Angeles Times.
  9. ^ Nutt, Christian (2 May 2000). "Toshinden Subaru (Import) Review". GameSpot.
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