The Toys That Built America

Name: The Toys That Built America
Released: 2021-11-28
Rating: 7.1

2021 · 20m · TMDB 7.1/10 (8 votes)

Against the backdrop of major events in American history like the Civil War and the Great Depression, "The Toys that Built America" tells a different story—one that brings toys to the forefront as driving forces behind untold cultural and economic shifts.

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About The Toys That Built America

Status: Returning Series
TMDB rating: 7.1/10 from 8 votes
Seasons: 3
Episodes: 26

Seasons and episodes

The latest season with aired episodes is shown first. Specials are kept separate.

Latest aired season

Season 3

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S3 E1Oct 15, 202341 min

Transforming Toy Invasion

In 1983, underdog company Tonka sets out to bring a game-changing toy from Japan to America: the transformable robot. But they're soon confronted by industry giant, Hasbro, who has its own competing toy line. It's a true David vs. Goliath story, as both race to rule this new frontier.

S3 E2Oct 22, 202341 min

Mind Game Masters

Before World War II, board games are mostly simple, but postwar peace and prosperity reveals a demand for more challenging pastimes. After decades of struggle, three different innovators break the mold to release games that combine fun with an intellectual challenge: Scrabble, Clue and Yahtzee.

S3 E3Oct 29, 202341 min

Video Game Visionaries

Thanks to the industry-defining innovations of three men through the creation of games like Super Mario Brothers, The Legend of Zelda, and Pokémon, Nintendo goes from a struggling playing card company to a video game juggernaut.

S3 E4Nov 5, 202341 min

Game Night Legends

In the 1970s, the board game industry was aimed almost entirely at children, until a literal game changer came along in Trivial Pursuit; redefining the possibilities for adult fun, it opened up a whole new genre.

S3 E5Nov 12, 202341 min

Mighty Mutant Mayhem

The Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles high kick their way into the action figure market in the late 1980s, opening the door for a new kind of martial arts toy. But their place at the top is soon challenged by a mighty morphin phenomenon that takes the world by storm.

S3 E6Nov 26, 202341 min

Old Games, New Twists

As toys become increasingly complex in the early 1970s, two unconventional inventors risk their homes and careers to bring revolutionary twists to classic games; together, Uno and Connect Four unleash a wave of family-friendly games.

S3 E7Dec 3, 202341 min

Happy Accidents

Two chance discoveries in the 1950s turn mundane industrial materials into legendary toys; Etch A Sketch and Play-Doh will rake in billions for decades to come, but not everyone will reap the rewards.

S3 E8Dec 10, 202341 min

The Santa That America Built

Santa Claus is one of the most beloved figures -- and famous faces -- on Earth, a symbol of hope and goodwill for all; this is the story of the creative minds, brands, and major events that shaped the image of jolly ol' St. Nick.

S3 E9Dec 10, 202320 min

90's Fad Toys

From Furbys to Pogs, the 1990s were full of unforgettable fad toys; it was a decade where old school toys like Beanies Babies went head-to-head with high-tech wonders like Tamagotchi, and parents would do anything to get their hands on them.

S3 E10Dec 10, 202320 min

Hottest Wheels

From the velocipede to the Schwinn Stingray, or even pedal cars to Power Wheels, viewers will roll their way through the history of the hottest toys on wheels and the surprising stories behind their creations.

S3 E11Dec 17, 202320 min

The Prank Toy Race

For six decades two silly, but savvy entrepreneurs--S.S. Adams and H. Fishlove--turned their love of a good joke into a booming prank toy industry. Their heated rivalry produced hundreds of tricks and gags that entertained generations of Americans.

S3 E12Dec 17, 202320 min

Most Valuable Toys

From Lionel Trains to video games, for the right collector our cherished childhood toys can be worth millions! Over the last three decades, people have paid some truly outrageous prices to get their hands on that elusive toy they always wanted.