The second volume of Blake Wright's "Toys That Time Forgot" book series is starting to arrive for the initial kickstarterbackers.
This volume once again takes a look at Palisades famed Muppet line and includes some rare sketches of unproduced items and photos of prototypes that never made it to production included a set of Muppet's Wizard of Oz figures.
While the book is not available at retail or Amazon, you can order a copy from Big Bad Toy Store or directly from the author via their facebook page:
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 StorybooksFlutter By, Butterfly and Imagine... A Wish for Grover were originallyToys 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.
Another Muppet related crowdsourcing project is looking for funding.
This time it's "Toys That Time Forgot" a (hopefully) upcoming book by Blake Wright that looks at unproduced toy lines.
The book would be a "first-of-its-kind art book highlighting a series of "lost" toy projects, mainly action figures, spanning three-plus decades."
Written and compiled by journalist Blake Wright, the 200-plus page hard cover book will take an in-depth look at over 20 instances of toy lines that suffered these type of fates. Stories are supplemented with supporting photographs of the production process, existing prototypes, control drawings used to create the sculpts, concept sketches and more. The stories (and supplemental materials) have come straight from the men and women that lived them — from inventors and sculptors to project managers and toy company executives.
The book's foreword will be written by Jordan Hembrough (aka The Toy Hunter), owner of Hollywood Heroes and vintage toy guru for over a quarter century.
Two unproduced Muppet lines are featured are Hasbro's original 1982 Dark Crystal and Palisade's 2005 Sesame Street action figures.
Tim Clarke who worked on both The Dark Crystal and the unproduced toy line will share his stories working on the toys in the book.
Some of the perks can bee seen below included a print of an original charcoal for Hasbro's unproduced Skesis figure, and a lithograph of Alex Ross' Wizard World exclusive Super Grover (Update: gone).
According to their kickstarter page, the book is 95% complete and the funds will be used for printing.
If you'd like to see the stories behind these unproduced toys see the light of day consider contributing here.
It's hard to believe, but July 14th marked the 15th anniversary of Muppets From Space.
With Comic Con revving up in San Diego, for today's Throwback Thursday we'll look at Palisades' "Invisible Spray Fozzie" action figure.
The figure was aComic Con exclusive in 2002 and marked many firsts, and not just for the Palisades action figure line. Even though it was based on the series 2 Fozzie mold, it was actually released before that series, making this the first Fozzie in the line.
"Invisible Spray Fozzie" was also not just the first Palisades figure specially based on a Muppet movie, but also the first widely released non-happy meal toy from Muppets From Space that wasn't a book, puzzle, or magic slate.
The figure came in this specialty designed box and included a Rubber Duckie (officially not Ernie's, unofficially absolutely Ernie's ) and an invisible magnetic hat.
