Top Five Toy Companies and their Most Iconic ToysTop Five Toy Companies and their Most Iconic Toys
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From Barbie to Hot Wheels and LEGO, discover the five large toy companies that have shaped the playtime of generations.


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Toys
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A Brief Look at the History of Toys

Spinning top
Image by Luisella Planeta LOVE PEACE 💛💙 from Pixabay


Toys have existed since the beginning of time as educational and creative tools for children, with roots stretching back thousands of years. The oldest toy found is a spinning top in King Tut’s tomb from around 3,000 years ago.

The wooden Yo-Yo, first mentioned in Ancient Greece in 500 BCE, the kite, with its origins in China, and clay animal figures on wheels in India from about 2,500 BCE, are examples of toys from antiquity.

But with the rise of the toy industry in the 20th century, these playthings evolved dramatically, becoming more sophisticated and technologically advanced.

Toy businesses are constantly innovating and bringing to life products to engage and delight children and adults, showing no signs of slowing down in the years to come.

In this article, we will look at the major players in the toy business and their most cherished products of all time.




Top 5 Toy Companies (+1) and Their Most Popular Toys

Whether it is a board game, a doll, or an action figure, it comes with no surprise that the following toy companies are the most successful since they have created the most classical and beloved toys. We have enjoyed at least one toy made by them.

Here we go.



——–Mattel——–

Mattel


Mattel spans generations. With a wide range of products, it provides children with endless possibilities and experiences to explore their creativity and imagination. Established in 1945, this company is the largest toymaker in the world.


Famous products:

Barbie, Fisher-Price, and Hot Wheels.


Barbie
Fisher-Price
Hot Wheels


These are other toys in the Mattel brand portfolio:

Disney Princess, Frozen, High School Musical, Mulan, Pocahontas, American Girl, Hannah Montana, and Monster High.

Rugrats, SpongeBob SquarePants, Bugs Bunny, Despicable Me, Minions: the Rise of Gru, He-Man and the Masters of the Universe, Kung Fu Panda, The Lion King, Tarzan, Monsters Inc, Toy Story, The Simpsons, and Avatar action figures.


Mattel portfolio


Justice League, Superman, Wonder Woman, Batman, DC Universe Classics, DC Super Hero Girls, Ghostbusters, Halo, Jurassic Park – World, Naruto, Cars, Dragon Ball Z, and Fast & Furious.


Mattel portfolio
Mattel portfolio


UNO, and Matchbox.





——–Lego——–

Lego logo
Photo by Jida Li on Unsplash


Lego is known for its classic interlocking-brick building sets, which it started producing in 1949. Lego’s products are designed to encourage creative play, problem-solving skills, and inspiration in children.

The company has likewise produced licenced products based on films and television shows, such as Star Wars and Harry Potter. Let’s not forget Legoland, amusement parks located in Denmark, Germany, Italy, Belgium, the UK, the US, China, South Korea, Japan, the United Arab Emirates, and Malaysia.


Legoland
Photo by Aiva Apsite on Unsplash


Biggest Lego sets ever

Art World Map, Eiffel Tower, Titanic, Colosseum, Star Wars Millennium Falcon, Star Wars AT-AT, Harry Potter Hogwarts Castle, Real Madrid Santiago Bernabéu Stadium, Ninjago City Gardens, and Creator Expert Taj Mahal.


Lego Eiffel Tower
Lego Colosseum
Lego Star Wars Millennium Falcon
Lego Harry Potter


Lego also offers several themes such as Architecture, Batman, DC, Disney, Pixar’s Lightyear, Frozen, Jurassic World, Avatar, Super Mario, Minecraft, Marvel, Minions, Spider-Man, Stranger Things, amongst others.


Legos
Photo by Vlad Hilitanu on Unsplash




——–Hasbro——–

Hasbro, abbreviation of Hassenfeld Brothers, is an American corporation that has been creating iconic entertainment experiences for over 90 years – action figures, games, dolls, play sets, and more. They pride themselves on inspiring the joy of play for kids of all ages.


Hasbro logo


Famous products

Monopoly, Mr Potato Head, Play-Doh, Flubber, Twister, My Little Pony, Transformers, G.I. Joe, Nerf, Baby Alive, M.A.S.K., Peppa Pig, Easy Bake, Micronauts, and Furby.


Hasbro brands


Toys and models of Star Wars, Marvel, Power Rangers, Playskool, and Tonka are other fruits of this important and profitable company.


Play-Doh
Hasbro Star Wars
Hasbro Marvel
Habro Peppa Pig


Hasbro has other toy categories such as action battling, dolls and plush, pets, action figures and collectibles, electronic toys and games, sports and outdoor play, arts and crafts, vehicles, creative and pretend play, in addition to parts and refills.


Hasbro brands




——–MGA——–

MGA logo


MGA Entertainment Inc., Micro-Games America Entertainment, is a manufacturer of children’s toys and entertainment products founded in 1979. It is the fourth largest toy firm in the field, and the second biggest private firm after Lego.


MGA Toys


Isaac Larian, founder and CEO of MGA, said ‘kidulting’ – adults driving demand for certain toys – is what is growing the toy business today.


Famous products

Bratz


Bratz


L.O.L. Surprise!


LOL Surprise


Rainbow High


Rainbow High


Shadow High


Shadow High


Lalaloopsy


Lalaloopsy




——–Jakks Pacific——–

Jakks Pacific logo


Launched in 1995, Jakks Pacific is a leading designer and manufacturer of action figures, dolls, play sets, vehicles, plush, and more. This American company is dedicated to providing innovative products that inspire creativity in children and adults.


Jakks brands
Jakks brands


Famous products

Disney Princess Style Collection, Disney Encanto, Disney frozen, Apex Legends, Sonic the Hedgehog, Air Titans, K.O. Corral, Super Mario and Gremlins action figures


Sonic
Super Mario
Disney Princess

At the same time, JAKKS sells Black+Decker play sets such as electric power drills, junior carpenter tool sets, My First Tool Box, Tool Belt sets, chainsaws, jackhammer power tools, mega tool sets, construction dress-ups, carpenter dress up, and a tool trunk with 100 pieces.


Black+Decker




——–Giochi Preziosi——–

Giochi Preziosi logo


Giochi Preziosi is an Italian company headquartered in Milan, Italy. Formed in 1978, GP has become one of the leading European toy manufacturers in recent years, with a presence in over 60 countries worldwide. The firm produces a variety of products, including traditional toys and games, as well as new and ingenious products such as robotic pets, construction sets, and more.


Famous products

Cicciobello, Magic Mixies, Topo Gigio, Little Live Pets, Dino Ranch, DinoFroz, Laser X, Pinocchio, Cocomelon, and Spybots.


Giochi Preziosi Cicciobello
Giochi Preziosi Topo Gigio
Giochi Preziosi Dinofroz
Giochi Preziosi Pinocchio
Giochi Preziosi toys
Giochi Preziosi toys
Giochi Preziosi toys
Giochi Preziosi toys




Toy companies keep investing in new technologies, product lines, and marketing strategies to make sure they stay at the top of their game. This shows how important creativity and innovation are.

The big three, Mattel, Hasbro and Lego, dominate the market, with Mattel and Hasbro at the helm. Although it is impossible to predict who will remain at the forefront in the future, there’s no doubt they will continue to bring toys for generations to come.


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