Playmobil – a Timeless Icon of Children’s Toys
Researched by Lauren Kavanagh
Playmobil was created in 1974 by German inventor Hans Beck in response to the global oil crisis. His company, Brandstätter, asked him to design a toy that would use as little plastic as possible. Throughout its first year, Playmobil’s popularity grew gradually. However, Playmobil’s more than 50-year popularity began in 1975 when it started being distributed internationally. Roughly 2.2 billion Playmobil figures had been sold by 2009. Native Americans, knights, and construction workers were the first three Playmobil sets to be made available. These characters have since become mainstays of the toy line, together with other occupations like police officers and doctors, as well as pastimes and activities, with camping sets being especially popular. The enduring appeal of the Playmobil toy line has led to the creation of video games, TV series, and films over the years.
Mick kehoe’s collection of Playmobil figures demonstrate Playmobil as a timeless icon in the realm of children’s toys. His collection, which includes toys from the 1970s to the present day, provides insight into how the brand has remained stable over its more than 50 years of popularity. With toys that depict both realistic and fantastical characters, Mick’s collection exemplifies the range and diversity found in the toy line. The collection also demonstrates how the figures’ designs are consistent, enabling them to playfully interact with one another.
The design of the Playmobil figures has rarely strayed from its original 1970’s design. The size and shape of the figures themselves have not changed, despite the fact that the figures on sale now have more intricate clothing and a wider variety of visuals. Mick Kehoe’s collection includes figures from lines that were first introduced anywhere from the 1970s to the present, but only collectors with keen eyes would be able to tell, as their designs lack any characteristics that would identify a particular era. These toys’ timeless appeal enables the same figures to be cherished and handed down through the generations.
Toy companies have been historically known for attempting to captivate their young audiences through following trends and adopting new technologies in their products. However Playmobil’s parent company Brandstätter, have resisted the pull of incorporating newer technologies such as mechanised features and digital elements as they argued that this would go against Beck’s original concept of simplicity [The Guardian, 3/2/09]. This simplicity allows for figures and sets made in any year to be seamlessly played with alongside any other figure.
The inherent simplicity and timelessness of the toys is an integral part of Playmobil’s appeal, to children and parents alike. Brandstätter’s consistent choice to avoid incorporating new technologies and limiting brand tie-ins is intended to allow children to be more creative in their play, a choice that has been both praised and criticized throughout the brand’s life. Playmobil’s steady success over the last 50 years can be attributed to their decision to use simple, harmonious designs for both their play sets and figures. According to Jason Wilson’s article, The Playmobil Conundrum, “Playmobil may hold tighter to ideals of independent, imaginative narrative play”. Because Playmobil gives children the freedom to create their own worlds with their toys rather than depending on licensed characters and structured storytelling, this idea of allowing imaginative play is part of what makes these toys unique and appealing for many.
As Playmobil figures have not strayed far from their 1974 debut look, a portion of the line’s enduring popularity comes from nostalgia, adults who grew up playing with these toys buying them for children in their life, wishing for them to enjoy the toys as much as they did. Another example of this popularity is shown in the loyal collector base Playmobil has garnered, with people continuing to gain joy from these little figures into adulthood.
The brand’s potential for use in education is further evidenced by Playmobil’s ongoing popularity. As a child I was introduced to Playmobil through school, Playmobil sets were common toys in classrooms in my primary school. Egyptian pyramids, ancient Roman soldiers, and medieval villages are just a few of the historical toy lines that Playmobil has continuously sold. I have many memories playing with these sets as a child, and they helped spark my love for both history, as well as for Playmobil!
Mick Kehoe’s wonderful and diverse collection shows the true appeal of Playmobil toys. These figures display a vast diversity in accessories and outfits, outlining the evolution of the toy line throughout the past 5 decades. This collection also shows that even given these developments, the simplicity of Playmobil figures allows for them to assimilate with older figures, and gives children enough wriggle room to create their own stories and identities for their toys.
I took these pictures before researching the original figures, I grouped them in ways that I thought were visually appealing or with figures with similar appearances, after doing a bit of research on the figures I realised that I had grouped figures from the 70s with ones released in the past 10 years, this exemplifies the truly timeless nature of the figures through the variety of Mick’s collection.
- Connolly, Kate. “Playmobil’s German Inventor Hans Beck Dies Aged 79.” The Guardian, 3 Feb. 2009, www.theguardian.com/world/2009/feb/03/playmobil-inventor-hans-beck-dies.
- Wilson, Jason. “The Playmobil Conundrum.” The New Yorker, 9 Oct. 2015, https://www.newyorker.com/culture/culture-desk/the-playmobil-conundrum
Playmobil
Invented by Hans Beck, the ‘Father of Playmobil’, playmobil is a line of toys that have been produced by Geobra Brandstätter GmbH & Co KG in Germany since 1974.
The signature Playmobil toy is a 7.5 cm (3.0 in) tall and 1:24 scale) human type figure with a smiling face.
A wide range of accessories, buildings, vehicles, and animals, are also part of the Playmobil line.
Playmobil toys are produced in themed series of sets as well as individual special figures and playsets. Collector activities extend beyond collecting and free-form play to include customisation, miniature wargaming, the creation of photo stories, stop motion films and home videos.
Child’s homemade Playmobil film of a daring, snowy mountain top, helicopter rescue! 1990s, Co Dublin. Credit/copyright: Museum of Childhood Ireland, Músaem Óige na hÉireann
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Playmobil
