Friday, June 29, 2018

RIP Toys R Us!

As Toys R Us closes its doors we look back at some of the memorable and exclusive Muppet related goodness the iconic toy store has brought us over the years.



If that wasn't enough, we've even sprickled the article with Toys R Us Muppet ads!


The Blues Brothers 



In 1980, The Blues Brothers featured a chase scene in a mall with a Toys R Us store. Before being driven through, Fisher Price's Muppet and Sesame Street plush were prominently featured with a patron even asking the clerk "Do you a have Miss Piggy?"

You can watch the entire scene below:





Best Friends Plush


In 2002, Fisher-Price made a line of Sesame Street exclusive Toys R U plush. Each toy featured two characters, sewn together.


Tuxedo Kermit

Palisades' Tuxedo Kermit Action Figure was sold exclusively through ToyFare Magazine and Toys R Us in 2002 as well. 




Charity Appearances



Kevin Clash and Elmo appeared at the 2003 Toys R' Us Children's Fund.



Animated Storybooks
The 2008 Sesame Street 
Animated Storybooks Flutter By, Butterfly and Imagine... A Wish for Grover were originally Toys R Us exclusives.

 





CD Samplers
A Sesame Street Christmas Carol CD Sampler was released with A Sesame Street Christmas Carol exclusively through Toys R Us 
in 2006.


The Muppet Whatnot Workshop
From 2009 - 2015 Toys R Us owned and operated FAO Schwarz, and in 2008 opened The Muppet Whatnot Workshop, where you could create your own Muppet



Brooke Shields Builds her own Whatnot


Not only did FAO Schwarz have an entire Muppet section dedicated to the Whatnot Workshop, beginning in October 2011, Whatnot kits were also sold exclusively at FAO Schwarz and Toys R Us. 
In 2011, FAO branded Muppet puppets could also be found at Toys R Us locations. 



After FAO closed, some Toys R U locations sold The Muppet Whatnot Workshop bags!




Minimates
In 2015, The Toys R Us carried an exclusive Formal Kermit and Piggy Diamond Select Minimates set.
In 2015, Toys R Us also carried a regular and  "Lab Accident" Bunsen and Beaker 
Minimates sets.




2016 saw the release of two exclusive Pigs in Space Minimates sets...



as well as a Tuxedo Kermit and Animal 
Minimates set. 






Garthim 
Funko's Dark Crystal Garthim ReAction figure was a 2017 Toys R US exclusive.




Sprocket
And last but not least, right before Toys R US announced they were closing in the spring 2018, they released this exclusive Funko Pop! of Fraggle Rock's Sprocket . 


In addition to these exclusives, Toys R Us sold all kinds of other Henson related toys and games over the years featuring characters from Sesame Street, Fraggle Rock, The Dark Crystal, Labyrinth, Muppet Babies, Bear in the Big Blue House, Dinosaur Train, The Wubbulous World of Dr. Seuss, The Muppets, and more.  





As Toys R Us goes out of business, we are reminded that not only we not want to grow up, but we'll always be Toys R Us kids. 

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