History of Action Figures

The "action figures" a term first coined by Hasbro in 1964, to market their GI Joe figure to boys who will not play with dolls. G.I. Joe's first military-themed 11.5-inch figure proposed by marketing and toy idea-man Stan Weston. This show changed clothes with various uniforms according to different purposes. In a move that would create global popularity for this type of toy, Hasbro also licensed the product to companies in other markets.

This license has a different combination of uniforms and accessories are usually identical to those produced for the U.S. market by Hasbro, along with some sets that are unique to the local market.

The Japanese have at least two instances in which Hasbro licensee also issued sublicenses for related products. For example, Palitoy (UK) issued a sublicense to Tsukuda, a company in Japan, to manufacture and sell the accessories Palitoy Action Man in the Japanese market. Takara also issued a sublicense to Medicom for the manufacture of action figures.

Takara, still under license by Hasbro to make and sell GI Joe toys in Japan, also manufactured an action figure incorporating GI Joe torso for Henshin Cyborg licensed-1, using transparent plastic revealing cyborg innards, and the chrome head and cyborg feet. During the oil supply crisis of the 1970s, like many other manufacturers of action figures, Takara was struggling with the costs associated with making a big 11 ½ inch figures, So, a smaller version of the cyborg toy was developed, standing at 3-3 / 4 inches high, and was first sold in 1974 as Microman. Microman line is also new in the use of interchangeable parts. This lays the foundation for both the smaller size and action figure toy robot transformation. Takara began producing characters in the Microman line with increasingly robotic features, including Robotman, 12 "robot with room for a Microman pilot, and Mini-Robotman, a 3-3/4" version Robotman. These toys also featured interchangeable parts, with emphasis placed on the transformation and combination of characters.

In 1971, began boring a license and making American Marvel and DC comic book superhero, who had a very successful sales and are considered highly collectible by many adults today. They finally brought Microman toy line to the United States as the Micronauts, but boring eventually lost control of the market after losing the license to produce Star Wars toys in 1976. The license is lost, not because of boring do not realize the potential of the franchise, but because the people who can sign the license outside the city [citation needed]. Star Wars people then visited other companies located in the same building (200 5th Ave. NY, NY). This company Kenner. [3] The success of broad line Kenner Star Wars 3-3/4 "toy made sizes, small new industry standards Instead of a single character with clothes changed for different applications. The line of toys, including a team of characters with special functions. Led by Star Wars-themed sales, collection of action figures quickly became a secondary business to a multi-million dollar film studio.

From 1972 to 1986 there is the famous line of action figures Big Jim is produced by Mattel. Source : Wikipedia