cover of episode Toyetic

Toyetic

2024/3/13
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Eric Malinsky
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Roman Mars
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Roman Mars总结了1984年科幻和奇幻领域的繁荣，以及变形金刚和忍者神龟等系列作品的出现和影响。Eric Malinsky探讨了玩具和媒体之间相互影响的关系，以及里根政府放松管制政策对玩具产业的影响。他还分析了美泰公司He-Man的成功案例，以及玩具公司如何尝试将玩具与媒体内容相结合。Isaac Elliott Fisher阐述了toyetic的概念，以及玩具设计和内容创作需要高质量才能成功。Bob Budiansky讲述了他参与变形金刚漫画创作的经历，以及孩之宝公司如何将漫画作为玩具营销的工具。Andrew Farago讲述了忍者神龟的创作过程，以及其意外的成功。Kevin Eastman和Peter Laird讲述了他们创作忍者神龟的经历，以及Playmates公司如何将忍者神龟推向玩具市场。他们还讨论了在创作过程中与玩具公司合作的经验，以及商业决策方面存在的差异。 Roman Mars, Eric Malinsky, Isaac Elliott Fisher, Bob Budiansky, Andrew Farago, Kevin Eastman, and Peter Laird discussed the rise of the "toyetic" phenomenon in the 1980s, focusing on the Transformers and Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles franchises. They explored the complex interplay between toy design, marketing, and media production, highlighting the successes and challenges of creating and maintaining these iconic brands. The discussion covered topics such as the creative process, the business decisions involved, and the lasting impact of these franchises on popular culture. The speakers also reflected on the changing landscape of children's entertainment and the evolving relationship between toys, media, and advertising.

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This year marks the 40th anniversary of a lot of landmarks in pop culture, especially sci-fi and fantasy. So many franchises were born in 1984. Some came to define the genre or invent new genres. The great podcast Imaginary Worlds) noticed this and produced a three-part series about 1984's Cambrian explosion of creativity that  landed on the big screen, the small screen, bookstore shelves and, of course, the toy store.

In this episode we learn about at two iconic franchises that launched in 1984: Transformers and Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles. They came from opposite ends of the business spectrum. Transformers was a top-down marketing synergy between American and Japanese toy companies along with Marvel Comics to compete against He-Man -- another TV toy behemoth. Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtle would eventually rival them in cultural dominance, but it began with two indie comic book creators making a black and white comic as a lark. But Turtles and Transformers both ended up wrestling with similar questions around what happens when you put the cart before the horse in creating content to sell products.

Toyetic)