The Real Ghostbusters: Favorite Toys from the Animated Series
# The Real Ghostbusters: Favorite Toys from the Animated Series
Kenner introduced The Real Ghostbusters line inspired by the animated series of the same name, creating some of the most memorable toys of the 1980s.
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  ## John Wilson
  Read  by this author.
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10 Apr 2020
• 5 min read
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The animated series follows the continuing adventures of Dr. Peter Venkman, Dr. Egon Spengler, Dr. Ray Stantz, Winston Zeddemore, their secretary Janine Milnitz and their pet ghost, Slimer. Each episode generally featured the group trying to catch any number of ghosts, poltergeists and any number of other spectral baddies and fixing the troubles caused by their over-eager mascot, Slimer. Kenner Toys started a toy line for The Real Ghostbusters early on and continued through the run of the series. The DIC Entertainment designs for the show are a bit of a departure from those of their live action counterparts. The Classic Hero Figure of Egon Spengler from the first wave of toys shows one of the more extreme changes in a character’s look. Instead of the thick brown “fro” that Harold Ramis sported, the figure has a swirling blond pompadour on his head and he wears a bright red pair of glasses. The character wears a simple green jumpsuit with a black belt and boots but his Ecto-blaster is anything but ordinary. The blue Nutrona weapon has a swirling orange “energy beam” that extends outward from the wand and is attached to a Proton Pack. The figure comes with a Gulper Ghost figure.
One of the more unusual aspects of the toy business in the late '80s is that kids began to embrace toys that were a little gross. One of the earliest gross toys is the Ecto-Plazm Play Gel, a small bucket of viscous gel that came packaged in a small plastic can and was shipped with a tiny ghost character. The first batches of Ecto-Plazm came in a pink and purplish color but were later sent in red, yellow and blue. Although not the same color, the Ecto-Plazm was a great substitute for the slime that was left behind by our old friend Slimer and was able to be used with a large number of characters and vehicles.
The Fire House Headquarters of the Ghostbusters is an iconic and immediately recognizable part of the film franchise and was a huge part of the animated series as well, becoming a character in and of itself. The Kenner Fire House Headquarters playset was a multi-level fun site for the figures that came with its own can of Ecto-Plazm and a cage that you could pour it on your enemies from. It came with a removable Ghost Containment Unit for storing the miniature ghost figures. It also has a “Ghost Pursuit” fireman’s pole that runs the height of the building with a stand that allows you to raise and lower figures to the various levels.
There is an oft repeated and completely erroneous idea that boys don’t want to play with female action figures or characters. The Ghostbusters' sassy secretary Janine Melnitz didn't get any action figure until the fourth wave and in a wave later than the other characters received the "Fright Feature" treatment. As Fright Feature Figure: Janine Melnitz, Janine's eyes and glasses bug out, her jaw drops and her hair flips up when her arm is lifted over her head. She comes with a Tickle Ghost and carries a tease ray weapon.
The fifth wave saw the Ghostbusters branch out and embrace a set of classic monsters from the heyday of horror. Loosely based on a group of classic characters collectively called the “Universal Monsters”, the set has Dracula, The Wolfman, The Mummy, the Frankenstein Monster, Quasimodo and a zombie. Each has the word “monster” attached to their official name, possibly to avoid any legal issues. The Monster Figure: The Wolfman Monster is the classic bipedal wolfman dressed in a tattered dress shirt and jeans with a slightly askew tie. His large jaw opens wide and closes tightly, his head rears back and his arms open wide from his body.In what must have been one of the oddest pitch meetings of the line and the nightmare of every potty training child, the Ghost Figure: Fearsome Flush is a plastic replica of a toilet that, when rolled, produces yellow teeth and a long red tongue from the bowl and wild bloodshot eyes from the tank. The effect of this ghostly toilet is equal parts hilarious and frightening toy from the sixth wave of the Kenner toy line.
One storyline saw the Ghostbuster have to don spacesuits to entire the ghost dimension directly and that journey came with unusual abilities. The Super Fright Feature Figure: Winston Zeddemore sees the fan favorite character in a green and blue space suit with the Ghostbusters logo on the chest. Shockingly, his head drops down and his face appears in his chest with a long extended tongue. His companion ghost character is the humorously named Meanie Weenie and he carries an impressive weapon.
Long suffering Louis Tully, nebbishy Gozer victim and later team accountant, didn’t get the figure treatment until the eighth wave of the Kenner line but they did manage to give him his own powerful weapon and a ghost to vanquish. The Power Pack Hero Figure Louis Tully wears a green jumpsuit with the pants legs tucked into his socks. His bandoliers hold calculators strapped to his chest. His Power Pincher weapon is a long set of extended arms attached to a harness. The set up is perfectly created to grab the accompanying Vapor Ghost.
Credit: Kenner Collector
Although it wasn’t the first time that the famous car of the Ghostbusters was created and this version was never actually used in the cartoon, the Ecto-1A action vehicle is an homage to the car used in the second live action film and uses that film's logos. Ecto-1A is an incredible toy with a lot of bells and whistles that elevate it above the other portrayals. It comes with two great weapons. On the roof is a Swiveling Battle Seat that fits one of the action figures and a giant Ghost Claw comes out of the back to of the car to grab and reel in ghosts. The car is covered in Ecto-Plazm splatters to make it look like the car has been in battle.
The final wave of figures saw the Ghostbuster practically become ghosts themselves. The Ecto-Glow Hero Figure Peter Venkman shows the wise cracking front man of the group as a spectral glow in the dark figure. He has an interchangeable standard head and a glow in the dark one. The figure has his name and green and blue lines to break up the glowing body. Even his Proton Pack  and Nutrona Blaster glow in an eery white as does the fearsome looking spiderghost that accompanies the figure. All and all, one of the best figures of Peter in the line.
The success of the series, the toy line and even the live action films all revolve around one important emotion: pure, unadulterated fun. The franchise took things that should have been scary and pointed and laughed at them with the mantra “I ain’t afraid of no ghost!” The double negative aside, it is an empowering statement to take the fear out of the situation. This isn't to say that the premise was a ridiculous idea. Ghostbusters fully believed in the world it built and was never short on danger and thrills but the greatest thing is that it was just fun for the sake of fun and that kind of thing will never stop appealing to the kid in each of us.
You can catch *The Real Ghostbusters* now on .
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## The Many Transformations And History Of Barbie
In 1956, American businesswoman Ruth Handler was vacationing in Germany with her
husband and two children. There she came across a fashion doll of an adult
character called Bild Lilli.
* Caitlyn Walz
9 Apr 2020 • 6 min read
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The Many Transformations And History Of Barbie
# The Many Transformations And History Of Barbie
  ## Caitlyn Walz
9 Apr 2020
• 6 min read
In 1956, American businesswoman Ruth Handler was vacationing in Germany with her husband and two children. There she came across a fashion doll of an adult character called Bild Lilli. Lilli, based on a comic-strip character from the newspaper "Bild",was a confident career woman working her way to the top. This was exactly what Ruth had been looking to create for her young daughter, Barbara, after she noticed the girl assigning adult roles to her paper dolls. During that time, most dolls were portrayals of babies. Ruth shared her ideas for an adult doll with her husband, a co-founder of , and other Mattel directors. None of them were interested in the concept; that is, until she showed them Lilli. In this article, we'll revisit the past seven decades to share the history of Barbie.
### **1950s Barbie**
Mattel Barbie (1959)
With the help of Mattel engineer Jack Ryan, Ruth redesigned the Lilli doll and named her Barbie, after her daughter. Barbie Millicent Roberts made her first public appearance on March 9, 1959 at the American International Toy Fair as a "Teen Age Fashion Model". Approximately 350,000 dolls were sold in the first year, and Barbie is still the top-selling doll of all time. The original Barbie doll donned a black and white stripe swimsuit, red lips and fingernails, and black high heels. The stylish figure was available in blonde or brunette.
### **1960s Barbie**
The 1960s brought great change to the world, and Mattel followed suit with their doll designs. Barbie traded in the movie star glamour of the 1950s for the classic sophisticated style of First Lady Jackie Kennedy, including her bouffant hair. This look is especially evident in Barbie Red Flare from 1962. After the first female astronaut, Valentina Tereshkova, joined the Soviet space program in 1963, Mattel joined in the space exploration excitement with Barbie Miss Astronaut. Released in 1965, the doll sought to teach children that any career was possible for them. Barbie took a swing at the British Mod fashion in 1968 with Barbie Smasheroo, who sported a colorful mini-dress, fur coat and hat, and red go-go boots. Barbie’s friend Christie debuted in 1969 and is the first African American Barbie doll to have unique features and use a different face mold than the white dolls.
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Barbie Color Magic released in 1966 allowed kids to be creative with the style of their doll. Color Magic crystals and a small paint sponge were provided, and could change the color of Barbie’s hair and outfit. This doll is considered to be the most expensive vintage Barbie because of its rarity.
Mattel "Color Magic Barbie" Doll, 1966
### **1970s Barbie**
During the '70s,  changed her look again to fit the style of the times. Her perfectly coiffed hair became long and straight with the 1971 introduction of cool casual California girl, Malibu Barbie. The feminist movement had a hand in Malibu Barbie’s new face sculpt: her eyes faced forward for the first time. The same year, the funky spirit of the era was captured with Live Action Barbie. The doll came with a battery powered stage that made her appear to dance as she sang along to the included record. In 1972, the first Barbie with usable hands was released. Busy Barbie "with Holdin' Hands!" could hold her accessories, which consisted of a portable TV, record player, telephone, drink tray, and travel case. The doll also wore the popular maxi skirt, rather than the mod mini skirt of the '60s.
1970s Barbie dolls
In preparation for the upcoming Winter Olympics the following year, several Olympic athlete Barbies were created in 1975, including a gymnast, figure skater, and skier with ski village.
The glittery disco flair of the '70s was reflected in Superstar Barbie from 1977. The iconic doll featured bright blue eyeshadow, glossy pink lips, and fuller hair. Her chic pink dress and boa completed the super look. Superstar Christie wore a matching ensemble in yellow.
### **1980s Barbie**
The decade began with the introduction of Mattel's first black and hispanic dolls to be named Barbie. Black Barbie wore a fierce red gown and an afro hairdo. Her box accurately stated "She's Black! She's Beautiful! She's Dynamite!" Hispanic Barbie wore a traditional red skirt with white blouse, and had long, shiny black hair. Her box declared "She's a Barbie doll just for you!", making girls with dark hair and dark eyes feel represented.
1984 brought the "We Girls Can Do Anything!” campaign with the release of Day To Night Barbie, a businesswoman who could easily change outfits and be ready for her date with Ken right after work. Though Barbie had many careers since her debut, the campaign renewed the idea that girls could do anything they set their mind to. In the '80s, Barbie became an elementary school teacher, actress, aerobics instructor, U.S. Army officer, rock star,  Ambassador, and more.
### **1990s Barbie**
Barbie was busy in 1992, working on her rap career with Rappin' Rockin Barbie, and running her first presidential campaign with the Barbie For President dolls. The same year, Mattel released the top-selling Barbie doll ever. Totally Hair Barbie boasted 10.5 inches of crimped golden locks and rocked the flashy fashion of the early 1990s. The soft, casual style that came later in the decade was reflected in Cool Blue Barbie, with friends Extreme Green Skipper, Purple Panic Christie, and Perfect Pink Teresa. The gang wore long sleeve crop tops under corduroy overalls and included a dye to add colored streaks to their hair.  Barbie and friends underwent physical changes in 1998 with the Really Rad line. The dolls had smaller busts, bigger waists, and flat feet perfect for Doc Martens.
Mattel "Really Rad Barbie" line, 1998
### **2000s Barbie**
For the new millennium, Barbie got something she'd never had before: a bellybutton. Jewel Girl Barbie, Christie, and Teresa had athletic physiques, a bendable waist, and more natural makeup. In 2009, Barbie celebrated her 50th birthday with a party at her Malibu Dream House, complete with celebrity guests, and her first ever fashion show. Several commemorative dolls were released, including , and  whose gown was made up of images of Barbie through the years.
### **2010s Barbie**
In 2010, Mattel created a line of non-articulated dolls for adult collectors called Barbie Basics. The first wave included 12 dolls of different ethnicities, hair styles, and head sculpts.
The era brought many careers to Barbie's life, including computer engineer, news anchor, architect, and yet another presidential candidacy. Once again,  instilled in girls that they could do whatever they dreamed of with the hashtag campaign #unapologetic.
In 2016, Mattel released three groundbreaking new doll types: curvy, tall, and petite. Part of the  line, the dolls come in  do, and sport the latest fashions and hairstyles.
The most famous doll in the world has come a long way from her original design, and I hope to see  continue to evolve!
## The Real Ghostbusters: Favorite Toys from the Animated Series
10 Apr 2020 • 5 min read
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