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Playmates Toys Limited is a Hong Kong toy company. The company was founded in Hong Kong in 1966 by Sam Chan Tai-ho as Playmates Industrial, manufacturing dolls for other companies.[1] In 1975, Playmates began marketing their own line of pre-school toys, and in 1977 opened an American subsidiary in Boston. Another subsidiary was founded in California in 1983; in 1984 the company went public.[2]
 | |
| Formerly | Playmates Industrial |
|---|---|
| Company type | Public |
| SEHK: 869 | |
| Industry | Toy industry |
| Founded | 1966 |
| Founder | Sam Chan Tai-ho |
| Headquarters | , China |
Key people | To Shu Sing (chairman) |
| Website | playmatestoys.com |
The company's first big success was in 1986, with the marketing of a tape-playing, electronic robot doll named Cricket.[2] In 1989, the company marketed Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles action figures which sold extremely well.[2] Success of the two led to a golden era from 1990 to early 1993.[3] In 1990, Sales reached US$4.13 billion and net profit HK$1.21 billion.[3] In 1995 the company suffered a loss of HK$97.59 million.[3]
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- Amazing Dolls
- Amazing Pets
- Hearts For Hearts Girls
- Kinder-Garden Babies
- Nano Pets[4]
- R.E.V.s
- Waterbabies
- WOW Pals
- Yo Stick
- Struts
- Ooglies
- Kuroba
- Tiny Toes
- BFF Best Friends Forever
- The Addams Family
- Austin Powers Vocalizers
Playmates Toys has often been under contract as a licensee to produce toys, fashion dolls, games, and other merchandise coinciding with popular film and television media. Examples of media that Playmates has produced toys for includes Atomic Betty, Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, Star Trek, Ben 10, Godzilla, Frozen, Miraculous Ladybug, Pikwik Pack, and others. They were made in cooperation with various international media production companies, including Canadian company Nelvana and American companies such as Disney, DreamWorks Animation, and Nickelodeon.[5]
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Playmates Interactive Entertainment Inc., which makes video games, was founded in 1994 as a subsidiary of Playmates Toys Holdings, the parent company of Playmates Toys.[6] It is co-located with the United States branch of Playmates Toys in La Mirada, California.[6] In September 1996, Playmates Toys' US branch and Playmates Interactive Entertainment relocated their headquarters, including 50 employees to Costa Mesa, California.[6] At the same time, Gary Rosenfeld and Chris Archer joined the company as vice-president of business affairs and producer, respectively.[6] In August 1997, Playmates Interactive Entertainment's president, Richard Sallis, resigned and was succeeded by Ron Welch.[7][8] Playmates Interactive Entertainment was defunct by May 2000.[9]
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