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01-08-2013, 02:28 PM | #1 |
Crimson Guard
Join Date: Apr 2011
Location: Working/Living/Playing in film and tv land in the city of Los Angeles
Posts: 1,265
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I'm curious if any one has any real information (not just speculation and opinion) on how well GI Joe performed against other 80s brands during the 80s/early 90s both in terms of toys, cartoons, and just as a brand in general. I feel like in terms of 80s toy lines and 80s toy cartoons at that time most people agree the big three for boys were GI Joe, Transformers, and He-Man, but does anyone have any numbers to support that or anything concrete that would indicate which of those 3 were bigger/more watched/had more toy sales/had the biggest year/was more successful at that time/etc. I'd like to know what kind of numbers there were for all three of these brands. Also, how did the sales/ratings success of these three compare to other 80s brands/phenomena such as Ninja Turtles or the shorter but unbelievably phenomenal Cabbage Patch Christmas Craze?
And again my question isn't about which we like better or think was more successful based on our own limited perspective nor which brand is more successful now (clearly Transformers). I'm looking for real info or success indicators. And I guess when it comes to this question I'm really interested in not just Joe's numbers but all 3 brands so I could also compare Transformers to He-Man, or He-Man to Ninja Turtles, etc. So does anyone have any real info or stats? |
01-08-2013, 02:35 PM | #2 |
Sprite Viper
Join Date: Jul 2009
Location: Maplewood, MO
Posts: 482
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i'm not sure how easy it would be to find sales/ratings/etc. numbers at this point. hell, i feel like it could go either way that even hasbro still has that data... i could be wrong though.
that said, i would also love to see some kind of information like this.
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"Cast them into eternity! Scatter their bones at my feet!" ~Cobra Commander |
01-08-2013, 02:40 PM | #3 |
Sprite Viper
Join Date: Jul 2009
Location: Maplewood, MO
Posts: 482
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Hasbro: Information from Answers.com
i just found this, though it doesn't have much in the way of numbers, it's still an interesting read.
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"Cast them into eternity! Scatter their bones at my feet!" ~Cobra Commander |
01-08-2013, 02:43 PM | #4 |
Mortal Enemy
Join Date: Nov 2008
Location: Site B
Posts: 32,666
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Ball in cup crushed GI Joe every year.
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01-08-2013, 02:50 PM | #5 |
Iron Grenadier
Join Date: May 2011
Location: Lawrenceville, NJ
Posts: 663
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You want real facts on Hisstank? Are you f*cking nuts?
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01-08-2013, 02:50 PM | #6 |
Sprite Viper
Join Date: Jul 2009
Location: Maplewood, MO
Posts: 482
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....and without neon and spring loaded missiles.
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"Cast them into eternity! Scatter their bones at my feet!" ~Cobra Commander |
01-08-2013, 03:00 PM | #7 |
Crimson Nerd
Join Date: Dec 2008
Location: Virginia
Posts: 12,579
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My not entirely reliable, half-remembered facts and figures goes something like this (bearing in mind that specific numbers for specific lines are proprietary information so the toymakers usually don't put them out except in broad, general statements):
Transformers, obviously, has had the longest run, effectively remaining on toy shelves in some form or another continuously since its debut in the 80's. Generation 2 was the low point, however. In terms of the initial "geewun" (G1) run, it crashed pretty hard after the movie. I don't know for sure, but I think 86 was probably the biggest year for Transformers? Masters of the Universe hit huge its' first couple years, but died off almost as quickly (it was already falling fast when the movie hit). I don't know if it was ever the "top seller" for a year (maybe '84?) G.I. Joe, from my understanding, had its' biggest year in '85, but its decline from that peak was much slower than Masters of the Universe. It did start to drop off sharply towards the early 90's, then got a "boost" from the first Gulf War that coasted it through the last few years until the ARAH run was finally nixed. TMNT was huge in the late 80's/early 90's as well. Not sure on the numbers but I'm pretty sure they were the #1 action figure brand of that timeframe, at least until Power Rangers rolled into town. Then a couple years later the second run of Star Wars began and they've largely ruled the roost since then. However TMNT has stayed a pretty constant presence on shelves pretty much ever since as well. Dunno the exact numbers, but in terms of major boys' toy lines and total lifetime sales, I'd imagine the rankings are: 1. Star Wars 2. Transformers 3. G.I. Joe 4. TMNT 5. Masters of the Universe I would add the caveat that it's entirely possible this ranking is incorrect (TMNT might be ahead of Joe, and I don't have a clue where Power Rangers might fit in), and my dates may well be off. |
01-08-2013, 03:08 PM | #8 |
Crimson Guard
Join Date: Sep 2007
Posts: 1,167
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I'll have to look it up, but the book "Mastering the Universe" has some really interesting info about toy sales in the 80's. I think Masters of the Universe may be much closer to the top, actually. Though it had a shorter retail life, it holds a lot of records in the years that it was big.
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01-08-2013, 03:10 PM | #9 |
Crimson Nerd
Join Date: Dec 2008
Location: Virginia
Posts: 12,579
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Quote:
I'll have to look it up, but the book "Mastering the Universe" has some really interesting info about toy sales in the 80's. I think Masters of the Universe may be much closer to the top, actually. Though it had a shorter retail life, it holds a lot of records in the years that it was big.
But again, I really have no idea where the hard numbers are concerned. Most of that information isn't terribly easy to dig up. |
01-08-2013, 04:16 PM | #10 |
Hisstank.Com General
Join Date: Sep 2007
Location: San Francisco Bay Area
Posts: 5,841
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I know that in the mid 2000's Toy Biz's Spider-Man line was the number one action figure line. The only other tidbit I remember hearing was that in 1985 (I think) GI Joe outsold every other toyline, including Barbie, and it was the first toy to do that.
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