{"id":48980,"date":"2016-09-08T08:44:19","date_gmt":"2016-09-08T15:44:19","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.entertainmentearth.com\/news\/?p=48980"},"modified":"2019-03-05T18:00:38","modified_gmt":"2019-03-06T02:00:38","slug":"history-of-star-trek-toys-part-4","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.entertainmentearth.com\/news\/history-of-star-trek-toys-part-4\/","title":{"rendered":"To Boldly Play: A Warp-Speed History of Star Trek Toys (Part 4)"},"content":{"rendered":"

The (mercifully unused) lyrics Gene Roddenberry wrote for Alexander Courage\u2019s The Original Series theme prophesy that this \u201cstar trek will go on forever.\u201d Fifty years later, it shows no signs of ending\u2014but our history of Star Trek<\/em> toys must.<\/p>\n

We\u2019ve seen the earliest model kits and Mego dolls<\/a>. We saw the movie-related toys come to market<\/a> in fits and starts. Most recently, we saw Star Trek <\/em>hit big at toy stores everywhere with Playmates Star Trek<\/em> action figures and starship replicas<\/a> throughout the \u201890s.<\/p>\n

In 1998, diminishing sales led to the cancellation of Playmates\u2019 license. But when director J.J. Abrams\u2019 rebooted, lens-flare filled 23rd century came within scanning range, Trek<\/em> toys tried to make a comeback\u2014starting where they had successfully gone before, three decades earlier: fast food restaurants.<\/p>\n

Have It Trek<\/em>\u2019s Way: The 2009 Burger King Promotion<\/strong><\/h2>\n

While Star Trek<\/em> (2009) was in theaters, Burger King distributed 16 different plastic toys, each about two to three inches tall: eight character figures (sculpted in \u201csuper deformed\u201d style, oversized heads atop small bodies), six \u201cchunky\u201d vessels, a communicator, and a tricorder. Each toy featured voices or sound effects straight from the new movie\u2019s soundtrack.<\/p>\n

\"Image:

Source: TrekMovie.com<\/a><\/em><\/p><\/div>\n

These Star Trek<\/em> toys<\/a> were part of the first major fast food merchandising push since 1984\u2019s Star Trek III<\/em> drinking glasses, also at Burger King (unless you count the buck-off coupons at Del Taco for Star Trek: Nemesis<\/em> in 2002 – I wouldn\u2019t). How much the promotion helped drive the movie\u2019s considerable box office is anyone\u2019s guess, but it did help put Trek<\/em> squarely back in the spotlight.<\/p>\n

Playmates Trek, Take Two<\/strong><\/h2>\n

A renewed license in hand, Playmates planned on having the major piece of the revived Trek<\/em> toy action. The crown jewel in its new line was a toy Enterprise<\/em>. A full 14 1\/2-inches, stem to stern, its bridge \u201cdome\u201d doubles as a button that activates strobe lights, sound effects, and dialogue clips.<\/p>\n

The ship looks fantastic on its translucent Starfleet Delta display stand, but it really begs to be held in excited kids\u2019 hands as they race around the backyard, exploring strange new worlds (or at least terrorizing the family dog).<\/p>\n

Playmates also released 3-3\/4 and 6-inch articulated and accessorized action figures, as well as four 12-inch collector figures in cloth and vinyl costumes like the Mego figures of old. But ultimately Trek<\/em> toys from Playmates were delayed, and then canceled.<\/p>\n

Hasbro Treks Into Darkness<\/strong><\/h2>\n

Hasbro got the nod to manufacture toys for Star Trek Into Darkness <\/em>(2013). Its Enterprise<\/em> had do-it-yourself appeal. The 432-piece Kre-O construction measures 18-inches when assembled, and was the first Kre-O set with lighted parts (warp nacelles and photon torpedo launcher). The top of the saucer section swings open to reveal the bridge, ready to be manned by your \u201cKreons\u201d (miniature articulated figures).<\/p>\n

\"kreoprise\"

Source: TrekMovie.com<\/a><\/em><\/p><\/div>\n

Other Kre-O releases included a light-up Klingon Bird-of-Prey, three light-up building playsets, and four \u201cmicro-build\u201d ships with light-up display stands. Commendation to Hasbro for getting so many illuminated toys out of a film with \u201cdarkness\u201d in the title!<\/p>\n

Hasbro and Bad Robot co-produced a stop-motion short that shows the Kre-O Enterprise<\/em> and its Kreon crew in action:<\/p>\n