Netflix’s Toys That Made Us to take on turtles and ponies
David Farnor | On 24, Jul 2018
Netflix’s Toys That Made Us will return for more episodes, and now, we know the tiny plastic figures that will star in it.
For the casual to the hardcore collector, the documentary series is an international journey through parts of our history and culture that’s been shaped by popular toys, from Barbie and Star Wars to GI Joe.
We described the show as a “veritable treasure chest of trivia and unexpected commercial insight” in our review of the first season.
“Talking heads happen, but so do re-enactments, Photoshopped pictures and an opening credits sequence that parodies old toy cartoons with a gloriously cheesy grin. All that and a big helping of novel and rejected toy figures that collectors may not have heard of? This entertaining, informative documentary series is a Toy Story for all the family.”
It’s the perfect blend of nostalgia and nerddom that will appeal to a crowd a Sa Diego Comic-Con, so it’s no surprise that the streaming giant’s programme had its own panel at the event last weekend, welcomed by an audience of cheering toy collectors.
Along with the initial pitch video used to win a commission from Netflix, the panel screened some unused interviews and other comedy clips. The main takeaway, though, was finding out which toys would get the TV treatment next.
After Season 1 kicked off with Star Wars and He-Man, Season 2 widened its horizons to include LEGO and Hello Kitty, alongside Star Trek and Transformers. At the panel, the show’s creators confirmed that the next batch of four episodes will feature Power Rangers, My Little Pony, Wrestling and Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles.
These new instalments will also take the show beyond its order of eight episodes (split into four-part seasons) and into ongoing documentary status – you can expect Netflix to keep making Toys That Made Us for some time to come.
Netflix renews The Toys That Made Us for Season 2
30th March 2018
Netflix has ordered a second batch of The Toys That Made Us.
For the casual to the hardcore collector, the documentary series is an international journey through parts of our history and culture that’s been shaped by popular toys, from Barbie and Star Wars to GI Joe.
We described the show as a “veritable treasure chest of trivia and unexpected commercial insight” in our review of the first season.
“Talking heads happen, but so do re-enactments, Photoshopped pictures and an opening credits sequence that parodies old toy cartoons with a gloriously cheesy grin. All that and a big helping of novel and rejected toy figures that collectors may not have heard of? This entertaining, informative documentary series is a Toy Story for all the family.”
The show’s renewal marks the streaming giant’s growing commitment to non-scripted TV, with a number of other factual series also given a second season order, including Dope (returning on 20th April), Drug Lords, Nailed It! and Netflix’s reboot of Queer Eye.
“These series are indicative of what we’re trying to accomplish for Netflix unscripted: working with world-class producers to create the best unscripted shows on television,” Bela Bajaria, vice president of content at Netflix, said in a statement. “These series elevate the genre with innovative takes on familiar formats. They deliver immersive and nuanced stories. They elicit so many emotions from viewers, from tears of laughter to tears of joy – and that’s just Queer Eye.”