The 1980s brought many new trends to American toy design. This decade saw the introduction of highly popular action figures, a trend that would continue throughout the 1990s. Many brands of toy blaster guns, robot toys, and cars were all introduced during this decade, some of which would become huge sellers and make their way onto many toy shelves across the country.
The most popular toys from this decade are still available today and can often be found at garage sales or flea markets for bargain prices. Many of these toys have seen heavy use over time as children’s playthings, but many others have remained in pristine condition. These toys also hold very nostalgic value for many people who grew up in the 1980s.
Here are some popular girl toys from the 80s:
Care Bears
These plush teddy bears were extremely popular during the 1980s. They were created in 1981 by the American Greetings Corporation, first as a cartoon used in greeting cards and then developed into plush toys, and have become one of the most famous toy lines ever created. Over 40 million Care Bears were reportedly sold through the course of the 1980s. The toy line even started an animated TV series featuring the bear characters.
Jem and the Holograms Dolls
These dolls were made by the American company Hasbro and were one of the most popular doll lines of the 1980s. The Jem and Holograms Dolls made their first appearance in 1982, but it wasn’t until 1986 that they became extremely popular. Their popularity led to a successful cartoon series featuring the characters, also running through the 1980s, as well as a film adaptation that premiered in 2015.
Strawberry Shortcake Dolls
These dolls were created by American Greetings Corporation in the 1980s and were popular among children. They had many different doll versions, including Strawberry Shortcake, Plum Pudding, and Ginger Snap. The dolls featured their own TV cartoon series that originally ran all through 1980 until 1985.
Roller Skates
While this sticks as the odd one out compared to the others, as it is not a figurine or a doll, it is still worth mentioning that roller skates were extremely popular during the 1980s. There were even roller skate wheels in the early 1980s that came with a skateboard, so they could be used together. These days, roller skates are still made and sold by companies such as Roller Derby and Moxi, and have become an integral part of many people’s childhood memories.
Cabbage Patch Kids Dolls
These dolls were incredibly popular during the 1980s and are still very sought after by collectors. They were first produced in 1982 by Coleco Industries, and became one of the longest-running lines of dolls in the US. They’ve been tweaked throughout the years, having one such version that included a voice chip, for example.
Their popularity led to the creation of many sequels, including a TV series that ran from 1984 until 1999, including many Christmas specials.
