Labubus have taken over the world. But in Japan, where cute characters are a long-held institution, consumers aren’t as convinced. https://www.japantimes.co.jp/life/2025/08/23/lifestyle/labubu-characters-chiikawa-japan-hello-kitty/?utm_medium=Social&utm_source=mastodon #life #lifestyle #labubu #themeparks #toys

TIL a toy company released a line of Independence Day toys in the late 90s; each toy included a different "mission disk" floppy with a little game on it for windows 3.1
toy collector @eisnerguy1 managed to collect all 11 of the toys and uploaded disk images to IA 🙏
https://archive.org/details/iD4_Independence_Day_Mission_Disks
TIL a toy company released a line of Independence Day toys in the late 90s; each toy included a different "mission disk" floppy with a little game on it for windows 3.1
toy collector @eisnerguy1 managed to collect all 11 of the toys and uploaded disk images to IA 🙏
https://archive.org/details/iD4_Independence_Day_Mission_Disks

Finally saw the Fantastic 4 movie tonight, and really enjoyed it. But came home and dug this vintage item out of my storage. Barely remembered having it. (Spoilers ahead) Was this movie like 80 percent based on this box set? Herbie, Franklin, and Doctor Doom with removable mask!
#FantasticFour#doctorDoom#actionFigures #toys #dejavu #marvel #mcu #marvelMovies
Finally saw the Fantastic 4 movie tonight, and really enjoyed it. But came home and dug this vintage item out of my storage. Barely remembered having it. (Spoilers ahead) Was this movie like 80 percent based on this box set? Herbie, Franklin, and Doctor Doom with removable mask!
#FantasticFour#doctorDoom#actionFigures #toys #dejavu #marvel #mcu #marvelMovies
This holiday season, U.S. parents may have to make an extra pit stop — not for toys, but for the batteries that power them, as manufacturers pare down on frills and packaging to cut costs amid rising tariffs. https://www.japantimes.co.jp/business/2025/07/24/markets/toy-batteries-tariff-war/?utm_medium=Social&utm_source=mastodon #business #markets #toys #manufacturing #us #donaldtrump #trade #tariffs

You don't see toys like this around anymore. The Atomic Energy Lab set was available from 1951 to 1952 and sold for a whopping $50.
"The set came with four types of uranium ore, a beta-alpha source, a pure beta source, a gamma source, a spinthariscope, a cloud chamber, an electroscope, a geiger counter, and a manual."
More here 🤯:
https://interestingengineering.com/culture/radioactive-toy-deemed-world-most-dangerous
You don't see toys like this around anymore. The Atomic Energy Lab set was available from 1951 to 1952 and sold for a whopping $50.
"The set came with four types of uranium ore, a beta-alpha source, a pure beta source, a gamma source, a spinthariscope, a cloud chamber, an electroscope, a geiger counter, and a manual."
More here 🤯:
https://interestingengineering.com/culture/radioactive-toy-deemed-world-most-dangerous

Someone submitted a LEGO Idea of the “this is fine” meme and I’m here for it.
Don’t know LEGO Ideas? People can submit ideas for kits and anyone can vote for them. If they reach a target number of votes they can make it into production.
They got the votes. 👀
https://beta.ideas.lego.com/product-ideas/68f53992-92b0-4701-984a-a25f867ee17f
Someone submitted a LEGO Idea of the “this is fine” meme and I’m here for it.
Don’t know LEGO Ideas? People can submit ideas for kits and anyone can vote for them. If they reach a target number of votes they can make it into production.
They got the votes. 👀
https://beta.ideas.lego.com/product-ideas/68f53992-92b0-4701-984a-a25f867ee17f
Whether a child or an adult, Lego appeals to all ages — and its expansive world is the key to its growth engine. https://www.japantimes.co.jp/business/2025/06/30/companies/lego-japan-kidults/?utm_medium=Social&utm_source=mastodon #business #companies #lego #michaelebbesen #toys #children