Playmobil

Playmobil is a line of plastic toys manufactured by the Brandstäter group (Geobra Brandstätter GmbH & Co KG) based in Zirndorf (Germany).

The base of these toys is a 7.5 cm high doll. Its moving parts are the head, arms and legs (and in some few cases, only one) and depending on their age also the dolls, in older dolls from 2014. These figures have a multitude of accessories, vehicles, buildings, plants and animals on the same scale that allow the creation of a large number of scenarios and situations in which the child takes control by giving movement and voice.

History

In 1876, Andreas Brandstäter founded the company in Fürth (Bavaria) to produce ornamental and safe articles. In 1921, the company mainly manufactured metal products such as telephones and cash registers. In 1954, it changed its production towards plastic, developing, among other things, some plastic toys such as cars or the famous hula hoop.

In 1973, in the midst of the oil crisis, the company decided that it must reduce the size of its products. Hans Beck, head of development at Geobra, had the idea of making smaller plastic vehicles than those the company manufactured with small figures. The engineer ended up focusing more on the figures themselves and their accessories. Hans Beck is unanimously recognized as the father of Playmobil.

The design of the Playmobil dolls was made by observing the drawings that children make: big head and eyes, smile, without details such as nose or ears... in short, a human figure but very simple. The figures are also the ideal size so that the child can keep them in his pocket. In this way, an always smiling figure is obtained that the child can easily manipulate and turn, using accessories, into an individual from any era or profession. The limit is only in the player's imagination. Unlike other human-shaped toys, Playmobils stand up easily, allowing for greater flexibility in play. In addition, their U-shaped hands very easily take accessories (weapons, tools, medical instruments and even toys), the head also has a special mark to exchange hats, headbands (ribbons to hold hair), and helmets.

The Playmobil include figures of adults, elderly people, children and babies. There are also all kinds of animals, including a model of Noah's Ark. For a long time the distinctive mark of adult female figures was the miniskirt; Later the long skirt was incorporated and one of the last modifications was to add breasts to the female figures.

There is a special line for children under three years old, called Playmobil 1.2.3., whose figures and objects have similar characteristics to the original series, but even more simplified. In this way small pieces, dangerous for minors, are avoided.

In 1974, Playmobil was presented for the first time at the Nuremberg show with great success.

During the 1970s and 1980s there were companies to which Playmobil gave its license to manufacture and market its products in certain countries, among others:

• Argentina: Antex.
• Australia: Kenbrite.
• Brazil: TROL in the 1970s and 1980s and Estrela in the 1990s.
• Spain and Portugal: Famosa, under the brand Famobil.
• United States: Schaper and Mattel.
• Greece: Lyra.
• Japan: YONEZAWA, NIHON and EPOCH.
• Mexico: Mattel and Aurimat.
• Peru: Playmobil: The Film (Intek Toy Store); Playmobil (Zeppelin Store). Previously the toy was marketed by Basa.
• United Kingdom: Marx Toys, under the PlayPeople brand.

Themes and Series

It has in its catalog with different series and themes among which are the classics: (Pirates, Knights, Western, Medieval, Professions, Fairies, Christmas, History, Victorian, Sports among others).

• 1.2.3 series (a series with less parts and less moving parts, for smaller children). At the beginning of the 1990s, almost twenty years after the creation of its first figures, Playmobil created a specially cared line for children between 18 months and 5 years. The Playmobil 1.2.3 dolls are really similar to the traditional, although somewhat simplified and above all much safer for the younger ones, as they are not dismountable. From the year and a half, children will be able to have fun with these toys and all their accessories designed as they do not contain puncture objects or small pieces.
• Dúo pack series
• Surprise envelope series (from 1 to 21)
• Playmo Friends Series
• XXL series
• Collectoys series
• Funko x Playmobil series
• Teddy Series
• Special series franchise (Ayuma, Novelmore, Dino Rise, Duck On Call, The movie, Super 4, EverdreamerZ, Pro.)
• Series Movie licenses and TV series (Back to the Future, Ghostbusters, How to Train Your Dreamwork Dragon, Heidi, Star Trek, Asterix and Obelix, Spirit, Team A, Scooby Doo, 007, fantastic car)
• Automotive Brand Licensing Series (Volkswagen, Porsche, Mercedes, Mini Cooper)
• Promotional series (these series are gifts that gave the companies for some event, or for making some purchase of their products, and even by drawing lots, being these exclusive packs, among them are those of "Yoplait, Milka, Telepizza, Blue competence, boilers Vaillant, Telefresco, Principe de Beukelaer, bank aleman Sparkasse, restaurants Karstadt, toys Star.

Playmobil: authorized and unauthorized figures

In 1978, Schenk, a Hungarian company, began to pirate Playmobil figures. It did not have any authorization or license from Geobra Brandstätter. Schenk produced exact copies of the original toy, although some sets were modified to create new ones, usually military ones, taken from Hungarian history. Thus, Schenk produced the Hussar (Huszár), from the period of the Hungarian War of Independence and the series of Hungarian hussars (Magyar huszár sorozat). Other sets included the Austrian soldier (Osztrák), the Turkish soldier (Török), William Tell (Tell Vilmos), and the Hunyadi series (Hunyadi sorozat). The Schenk figures, like the first Playmobil figures, do not have movable hands. But unlike Playmobil horses, Schenk horses have fixed heads. The Schenk figures wear different colors from their Playmobil counterparts and were made from lower quality plastic as well.

After the fall of communism, the courts decided in 1995 to prohibit the manufacture and distribution of Schenk figures. They allowed Schenk's owner, Károly Schenk, to sell the remaining toy figures only in Hungary until March 1996. However, it is still possible to find these pirated reproductions manufactured by Schenk available in Hungarian toy stores.

In 2006 and 2007, reproductions of sets were manufactured in China and sold in Europe. These sets are not marketed as Playmobil, although they are almost identical in appearance (not quality). These include a front loader truck (box), a forklift (box) and some gentleman sets (blister).

Playmobil amusement parks

The company has theme parks (fun parks) where you can enjoy games inspired by Playmobil and with these toys. They exist in Greece, Malta, the United States, France and Germany.

Video games

Several video games inspired by different Playmobil worlds developed by Playmobil Interactive have been published:

• Laura and the diamond secret - For Game Boy Color and PC. A magical adventure in a small city inspired by the Victorian Mansion of Playmobil.
• Alex builds his farm - For PC. Children's Adventure at Playmobil Farm.
• Hype - The Time Quest - For Game Boy Color, PlayStation 2 and PC. An adventure game over time in a medieval world of Playmobil.
• Playmobil: Pirates on board: For NDS. Child video game with adventures starring the clicks on board a pirate ship: battles, duels, rescues. The mission is to rescue the mermaid princess from the clutches of the most feared buccaneer of the seas, the Barbarossa Corsary. Distributed by Planet DeAgostini Interactive in Spain.
• Emergencies Laura and Álex to rescue - For PC and Macintosh. Children's graphics adventure in which two Playmobil children (Laura and Álex) carry out missions collaborating with firefighters. Distributed in Spain by Micronet.
• The Treasure Hunt - For PC and Macintosh. Child graphics adventure in which two Playmobil children have to get a pirate treasure. Distributed in Spain by Micronet.
• - For PC and Macintosh. Children's graphics adventure starring two Playmobil children who have a mission to help in a play. Distributed in Spain by Micronet.
• The Dragon Fortress - For PC and Macintosh. Children's graphics adventure in which a young squire should become a gentleman and win a medieval tournament. Distributed in Spain by Micronet.
• Playmobil: Knights, the King's magical sword: For NDS. Child video game with adventures starred by a young hero Playmobil who has to free the realm of darkness and the evil wizard Flimflam.
• Circus: Everyone to the track!: For Wii. First game on the Playmobil circus series. Up to 8 participants in dozens of fun games that make the most spectacular circus numbers.
• Playmobil Top Agents: For NDS. Game inspired by the series of secret agents of Playmobil. A band of evildoers threatens to conquer the world using the "Cápsulas del Caos" and the "Espid Team" tries to avoid it. As the only agent capable of defeating them, the player must confront the band to imprede their terrible ambitions.
• Playmobil Cazafantasmas: A video game for android and IOS based on the mythical saga of the 80s that made that generation enjoy so much, choose a character and hunt the ghosts that are at your base of operations to subsequently lock them up.

Associationism

The popularity of Playmobil figures has led to the creation of various associations of fans and collectors in the countries where they have been marketed, which organize exhibitions, fairs and other events related to the brand; In Spain there are two, Aesclick and Somosclicks. The first of them co-organized the exhibition held in Barbastro (Huesca) in 2010, which achieved the world record for the number of figures exhibited, with 68,808.

Labeling and legislation

Playmobil received criticism for failing to comply with consumer regulations in Catalonia since the labeling was not in the Catalan language as stipulated by law. 25,000 Catalan consumers mobilized to ask not to be discriminated against and for the company to comply with the regulations in the same way as it did with the rest of the European regulations on linguistic labeling obligations.

Distribution

New Playmobil sets are released over a two-year period, where countries that do not require export obtain them first for one year, and then distribute them to export markets a year later. This is done so that Playmobil only has to make one mold for each new piece, since it is an expensive process, and thus be able to manufacture the initial stock of the new set. This first stock is what is initially sold on store shelves; Playmobil then manufactures smaller quantities to satisfy the demand necessary to be exported. To produce enough sets and release them to the entire world at the same time, Playmobil would need to have two molds of each piece, thus increasing manufacturing costs.

Countries that do not require export:

• Germany
• Austria
• Switzerland
• Belgium
• Netherlands
• Luxembourg
• Denmark
• Sweden
• Norway

Export markets:

• The rest of the countries not listed above.