In early 2017, author Blake Wright brought his new book, TOYS THAT TIME FORGOT, to Kickstarter. After the 30-day campaign the book was successfully funded, and in the early fall of that year the book was delivered to backers. Reaction to the book was extremely favorable. It showcased both unproduced toys from popular properties, such as Star Wars, Sectaurs and Earthworm Jim and complete lines that were never produced like Hasbroʼs Dark Crystal, Knickerbockerʼs Krull and Mattelʼs Fleas. The authorʼs goal was to both showcase the art and passion that went into these projects as well as showing readers something they had never seen before. There is no other book in the world like TOYS THAT TIME FORGOT… until now.
TOYS THAT TIME FORGOT VOLUME 2 sheds new light on a fresh range of boys toys projects that made it into development (some all the way to prototype stage), but for one reason or another did not make it to retail shelves, as well as those that did hit stores, but had plans for additional toys canceled.
Did you know that Galoob showcased an action figure line based on the 1984 film The Last Starfighter at that yearʼs Toy Fair? How about the canceled plans for Year 2 and 3 for Hasbroʼs Inhumanoids line? What
about Magic The Gathering… or Dinotopia?
Written and compiled by Wright, the 200-plus page, hardcover book will take an in-depth look at over 20 instances of toy lines that suffered these type of fates. Stories will be supplemented with supporting photographs of the production process, existing prototypes, control drawings used to create the sculpts, concept sketches and more. The stories (and supplemental materials) have come straight from the men and women that lived them — from inventors and sculptors to project managers and toy company
executives — as well as from the uber-collectors that seek out and showcase these materials.
Like the first book, TOYS THAT TIME FORGOT VOLUME 2 is an art/history book. It is not a guide designed to log each figure and each accessory in a static format. It presents these ‘lost’ toys in dynamic, eye-catching ways that showcase both the toys as art and their respective places in history. VOLUME 2, like its predecessor, is split into three sections: The Golden Age (1980s), Darker Times (1990s) and The Gilded Age (2000s). Each section will have entries representing a healthy mix of both licensed and inventor-based products… some of which again have never been seen by the public.
The TOYS THAT TIME FORGOT VOLUME 2 Kickstarter campaign is slated to kick off on February 6. As with the first volume, limited early bird pricing for the book is $45. Once the early bird copies are gone, the book will be $50. There is also special pricing available for retailers desiring multiple copies.
Stay on top of TOYS THAT TIME FORGOT on their facebook page and look for the Kickstarter later this week.
