Plastic Galaxy: The Story of Star Wars Toys

source: Plastic Galaxy: The Story of Star Wars Toys

Aside from the awful cringy editing with dutch angles, glitter effects, and a presenter who obviously wasn't up for the task this doc still shows some amazing history behind the Star Wars toys. I gives some good insight into the production of the very first toys by Kenner Toys and their troubles, but also has a lot of collectors talk about how they got their toys, how it felt to get them and basically what the experience was like back in 1977. And those are the best elements of the doc. If you can look beyond the few negatives this doc is still a must/fun watch for any star wars toy fan/collector., or just someone who is interested in toy culture in 1977.

PLASTIC GALAXY: THE STORY OF STAR WARS TOYS uses the vintage toy collectors themselves to help chart the history of the films and their merchandise. It showcases STAR WARS' unexpected, gargantuan success, ushering in the action figure explosion. In retrospect, it's astonishing that no one but the Kenner toy company was interested in making the movie tie-in toys. However, it's clear that in the 1970's, no one believed that the film(s) would be around long enough to make toys worthwhile. As it became more obvious that a phenomenon was underway, the quality of the toys improved. In addition to the collectors, the toy designers and artists tell their stories. Snippets of the original commercials are also included. Anyone of a certain age will enjoy this trip down memory lane. Others may wonder what all the fuss is about. Personally, I loved every minute of it...

Although I was never a big Star Wars toy collector when these first toys were released I did purchase various early items as new and have displayed them ever since. Includes a few sets such as Jabba's throne room and the characters inhabiting that space in the film as well as Max Rebo Band, the original giant walker toy (still works) a few of the 12 inch dolls and other bits. I never realized how much research and work went into these 'toys' until viewing Plastic Galaxy. Very entertaining, educational and very well done! Brings a whole new dimension to me as a sci-fi collector in general and also a Star Wars fan/collector. The quality of the production/DVD is simply beautiful to watch. 3 thumbs up!!!

I didn't expect much with "Plastic Galaxy" because I figured I'd done all the research over the years and knew the story. But it sucked me right in and even had a few things to teach. It's crowd-funded and brief (a quick 70 minutes), and that unassuming nature adds to its charm. They do a pretty good job tracing the toy line's history from inception to the mid-nineties rebirth, which includes touching on the actual company. It's really cool that they actually shot outside the Kenner building in Cincinnati (would've been nice to go inside, but you can't fault them for that - were the company still in Cincy, we probably would've gotten inside access). There's some interview material from actual Kenner employees (even Lucasfilm's in-house aficionado Steven Sansweet's involvement bolsters the movie's credibility), but the movie rests mostly on insight from private collectors. The good news is that these are not just resale-value hunters - they're actual childhood fans; people who who played and grew up with these figures. These testimonials have heart. All in all, it's a pretty well done movie for the budget. It's fun for those who love this stuff and accessible for those who are new to the game. 8/10

It's astonishing how a collector can remember his very first Star Wars toy, and I totally struggle to remember mine, let alone the ones I had- because unfortunately, I broke them or grew out of them. This film is pretty much for the people who wish they hadn't conformed to "growing up" and being able to see all these toys again. During the film, I was like "did we have that one?", or "we used to own him/her/it". It was great to see all these collectors display their collections, and accurately know the history of it. So many Christmases I've forgotten which toys I unwrapped, whether it was He-Man, GI Joe, or Star Wars, and the worlds you created with them all. Maybe I was a little too young for Star War toys initially, as I do remember my first GI Joe. But, I digress. This documentary is interesting for the fans, and the kids who collected these toys, but it also gives major insight into the history of Kenner's acquisition of the products, and how they mass-produced them. It was great to see the designers feel satisfied with their creations upon a generation of children, as well as explaining the history of a certain toy like Boba Fett for example, or attempts at toys- the R2-D2 train was a terrible idea, but it was interesting to see. If you are a Star Wars, or a toy-collector; then this documentary is for you. Documentaries are usually pretty good, and when it's based on a fun topic, then it's especially good. ***½ out of *****!

If you have been into these toys for any length of time, you won't learn much from this movie. They make up for it by having people you never heard of talk about their childhoods. This is just for hardcore fans.

Documentary focusing on the creation of the original Star Wars toy line by Kenner and the subsequent collecting fandom that has sprung up around it over the last 40 years. Not a lot of new info here for the seasoned vintage era collector (like myself), but interviews with former Kenner employees do offer a peek behind the curtain of the creation of a legitimate pop culture phenomenon in its own right, and featured collectors show off their impressive and drool-worthy collections. Strictly for the Star Wars fan; particularly the collector or those who grew up with these toys in the 70s/80s.

Trailer—Plastic Galaxy: The Story of Star Wars Toys

Plastic Galaxy: The Story of Star Wars Toys