The 80’s are back!
How can we inject the charm and appeal of vintage toys into the modern toy landscape?
OBJECTIVE:
Bring a defunct toyline back to life with a fresh and revitalized appeal.
ONE ICONIC TOYLINE.
In January 1987, Cincinnati-based toy company Kenner introduced "THE REAL GHOSTBUSTERS" toyline. These figures included 'fright features' mechanisms that transformed them from ordinary objects and people into grotesque monsters in a matter of seconds.
While these figures were released before my time, they've ignited my imagination, making me wonder: what if they were to make a comeback?
RE-ISSUE VS RE-INVENTING.
In fact, these toys made a comeback in 2020 when Hasbro re-released several of the original figures. These recreations stayed true to the originals, successfully reigniting interest in the line.
But what if they took it a step further and introduced brand-new action figures with that same nostalgic feel, ushering in a new era for the toyline?
Source: Hasbro 2020
What Made the Originals Special?
Before creating new figures for the line, it was crucial to analyze what made the originals so iconic. I made it a priority to include certain innate qualities of the original toyline into my designs.
DEVELOPING NEW FIGURES.
As a starting point, I began brainstorming which ordinary objects and daily appliances could potentially become fun monsters through creative transformations.
It was important to me that these ideas would have appeal not only to fans of the original line but also to a new generation of kids.
3 DIRECTIONS.
I focused on three ideas that I found to be the strongest, primarily because they are all objects that both children and adults recognize or interact with on a regular basis.
WASHER + DRYER
GARBAGE CAN
COFFEE MAKER
BRINGING THE FIGURES TO LIFE.
Initially, the focus was on constructing the basic forms and ensuring that all the parts would fit together for the transformations. The priority then shifted to taking these forms and sculpting over them, giving them more character and personality.
PHYSICAL PROTOTYPES.
I resin-printed and assembled fully functional prototypes, enabling me to test the overall interaction a user might have with the toy. This process allowed me to innovate and introduce new features.
FINAL RENDERS.
These designs aimed to capture the transformations, colors, and thrills that made the originals so magical - introducing fans to a new era of THE REAL GHOSTBUSTERS toyline. I drew inspiration from Hasbro's colorful backdrops, making the presentation feel just as authentic as an official release.
WASHER + DRYER
COFFEE MAKER
GARBAGE CAN
As a final exercise, I experimented with a concept for how these figures might appear on a blister card, with the goal of paying tribute to Kenner's original 80s packaging.
PACKAGING.
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