Top 10 Animated Shows Where the Toys Were Better Than the Show
You begged for the toys. Then you rewatched the show as a grown-up. Oh no.
Some cartoons were made to tell stories. Others were made to sell toys. And sometimes the toys were so good, the show couldn't keep up.
REAL: in the U.S., rules limiting toy-based cartoons were loosened in the early 1980s, and a wave of shows built around toy lines followed. Here are ten where the toys won.
10. Street Sharks (1994)
The toys: big, chunky figures with chomping jaws. The show: half-shark brothers fighting crime, with stiff animation and a lot of puns. Verdict: the toys were what you wanted the show to be.
9. M.A.S.K. (1985)
The toys: cars that turned into battle vehicles, with figures in removable masks. The show: the same three plots, over and over. The villains were called VENOM. That's about all we remember. Verdict: the toys gave you endless possibilities. The show gave you reruns.
8. Biker Mice from Mars (1993)
The toys: poseable mice on motorcycles that really rolled. The show: motorcycle-riding mice fighting… business executives. Kids did not care about business executives. Verdict: the toys were cool. The show was a dad joke on wheels.
7. Mighty Max (1993)
The toys: tiny, detailed playsets shaped like monster heads, with traps and hidden rooms. The show: a kid with a magic cap. Surprisingly dark, and hard to follow. Verdict: the toys let you make your own stories, and they were better ones.
6. He-Man and the Masters of the Universe (1983)
The toys: muscle-bound heroes and Castle Grayskull, the playset everyone wanted. The show: the same transformation scene every single episode. Skeletor was hilarious, though, and a meme before memes existed. Verdict: the show was a commercial. The toys were legendary.
5. Beast Wars: Transformers (1996)
The toys: Transformers that turned into animals, with tricky, satisfying transformations. The show: early computer animation that looks rough today, but surprisingly strong writing. Verdict: the toys ruled, and the show was better than it looked.
4. G.I. Joe (1985)
The toys: a giant army of figures, vehicles and bases. Cobra had the best designs. The show: laser battles where nobody got hurt, and Cobra Commander yelling more than plotting. Verdict: the toys were the real adventure.
3. Transformers: Generation 1 (1984)
The toys: sturdy robots in disguise. The show: fun, but the animation was all over the place. REAL: The Transformers: The Movie (1986) killed off Optimus Prime. RUMOR: fans have long believed it was to clear old toys off shelves and make room for new ones. Either way, kids were heartbroken, and Optimus came back. Verdict: the toys were the franchise.
2. Pokémon (1997)
The toys: cards, figures, plush, Poké Balls, Pokédexes, everything. The show: Ash spent 25 years trying to be the very best. REAL: he finally became World Champion in 2022. Verdict: the show is fun. The toys (and the cards) are a whole universe.
1. Zoids (1999)
The toys: motorized animal-mechs that actually walked. Incredible designs. The show: we mostly watched for the battles. Verdict: the toys deserved an award. The show deserved a better script.
Final thoughts
When a show exists just to sell toys, the toys usually win. The best shows, the ones we still love, tell a story first.
What's the best toy line with a not-so-great show? Tell us in the comments.
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