:Playmates Toys
{{Short description|Hong Kong toy company}}
{{Use British English|date=December 2018}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=December 2018}}
{{Infobox company
| name = Playmates Holdings Limited
| logo = Playmates Toys logo.png
| former_name = Playmates Industrial
| type = Public
| traded_as = {{SEHK|869}}
| industry = Toy industry
| founded = {{Start date and age|df=yes|1966}}
| founder = Sam Chan Tai-ho
| hq_location_city = Hong Kong
| hq_location_country = China
| key_people = To Shu Sing (chairman)
| website = {{URL|https://playmatestoys.com/|playmatestoys.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.{{cite web |url=https://playmatestoys.com/corporate/history/ |title=History |website=Playmates Toys}} 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.{{cite book |last1=Ward |first1=Arthur |title=Action Figures: From Action Man to Zelda |date=2020 |publisher=Crowood |isbn=9781785006883}}
The company's first big success was in 1986, with the marketing of a tape-playing, electronic robot doll named Cricket. In 1989, the company marketed Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles action figures which sold extremely well.
Proprietary brands
{{div col}}
- Amazing Dolls
- Amazing Pets
- Hearts For Hearts Girls
- Kinder-Garden Babies
- Nano Pets{{cite magazine |title=Nano Babies Go Up Against Tamagotchi and Gigi Pets |magazine=Electronic Gaming Monthly |issue=97 |publisher=Ziff Davis |date=August 1997 |page=26}}
- R.E.V.s
- Waterbabies
- WOW Pals
- Yo Stick
- Struts
- Ooglies
- Kuroba
- Tiny Toes
- BFF Best Friends Forever
- The Addams Family
- Austin Powers Vocalizers
{{div col end}}
Tie-in media toys
Playmates Toys has often been contracted or granted licensing rights 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,{{Cite web |last=Ball |first=Ryan |date=2004-06-07 |title=Breakthrough Introduces Atomic Betty to Playmates |url=https://www.animationmagazine.net/2004/06/breakthrough-introduces-atomic-betty-to-playmates/ |access-date=2025-02-10 |website=Animation Magazine |language=en-US}} Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, Star Trek, Ben 10,{{Cite web |title=CN relaunches Ben 10, appoints Playmates as master toy |url=https://kidscreen.com/2015/06/08/cn-relaunches-ben-10-appoints-playmates-as-master-toy/ |access-date=2025-02-10}} Godzilla, Frozen,{{Cite web |last=PYMNTS |date=2022-01-26 |title=Mattel and Disney Launch Multi-Year Global Licensing Deal for Princess and Frozen Lines |url=https://www.pymnts.com/news/retail/2022/mattel-and-disney-launch-multi-year-global-licensing-deal-for-princess-and-frozen-lines/ |access-date=2025-02-10 |website=PYMNTS.com |language=en-US}} Miraculous Ladybug,{{Cite web |last=Zahn |first=James |date=2024-01-18 |title=Exclusive: Ooh La La — Playmates Toys Unveils Miraculous Ladybug Paris Heroez Playset |url=https://toybook.com/exclusive-playmates-toys-miraculous-ladybug-paris-heroez-playset/ |access-date=2025-02-10 |website=The Toy Book |language=en-US}} Pikwik Pack, Power Rangers (in partnership with Hasbro),{{Cite web |last=ShadowRay22 |date=2024-04-22 |title=Hasbro and Playmates Toys Enter Strategic Relationship to Produce and Distribute Power Rangers Product Globally Starting In 2025 |url=https://morphinlegacy.com/2024/04/hasbro-and-playmates-toys-enter-strategic-relationship-to-produce-and-distribute-power-rangers-product-globally-starting-in-2025/ |access-date=2025-03-24 |website=Morphin' Legacy |language=en-US}} and others. These were made in cooperation with various international media production companies, including Canadian company Nelvana and American companies such as Disney, DreamWorks Animation, and Nickelodeon.{{cite web |title=Playmates Toys: History |url=https://playmatestoys.com/corporate/history/ |website=playmatestoys.com |publisher=Playmates Toys |access-date=30 October 2021}}{{Non primary source needed|date=March 2025}}
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. It is co-located with the United States branch of Playmates Toys in La Mirada, California.{{cite web |url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1996-09-17-fi-44810-story.html |title=Playmates Toys to Move Offices to O.C. |first=Greg |last=Johnson |date=September 17, 1996 |website=Los Angeles Times}} In September 1996, Playmates Toys' US branch and Playmates Interactive Entertainment relocated their headquarters, including 50 employees to Costa Mesa, California. At the same time, Gary Rosenfeld and Chris Archer joined the company as vice-president of business affairs and producer, respectively. In August 1997, Playmates Interactive Entertainment's president, Richard Sallis, resigned and was succeeded by Ron Welch.{{cite web |url=https://www.gamespot.com/articles/konami-playmates-appoint-new-presidents/1100-2467139/ |title=Konami, Playmates Appoint New Presidents |first=Chris |last=Johnston |date=April 26, 2000 |website=GameSpot}}{{cite web |url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1997-aug-08-fi-20444-story.html |title=President of Playmates Toys and Sister Company Resigns |first=Greg |last=Johnson |date=August 8, 1997 |website=Los Angeles Times}} Playmates Interactive Entertainment was defunct by May 2000.
References
{{Reflist}}
External links
- {{Official website|https://playmatestoys.com/}}
{{Superhero toy lines}}
Category:Companies listed on the Hong Kong Stock Exchange