Long before there were streaming options that allow you to skip commercials or the ability to pause a show and return to it later, there was something called a commercial. And children of the ’80s are all too familiar with them. In fact, we bet you can recite the most popular jingles of the decade if you heard a few bars. Here, we take a look back at some of the most memorable kids’ product commercials of the 1980s — from toys to games and food.
Cabbage Patch Kids
- Released in 1983 by Coleco Industries
- Hundreds of millions of dolls sold
- “They’re one of a kind. They’re Cabbage Patch Kids.”
- See the full commercial here.
Capri Sun
- Arrived in the U.S. in 1979
- Introduced in Europe in 1969
- Great tasting fun when you punch open one
- See the commercial here.
Transformers
- Released in 1984 by Hasbro / Takara
- The original Trasnformers line (G1) ran from 1984-1990.
- “Robots in disguise”
- See the full commercial here.
Giggles Cookies
- Launched in the 1980s by Nabisco
- Peanut butter and fudge cookies
- Cookie with a laughing face design
- See the commercial here.
My Little Pony
- Released in 1983 by Hasbro
- Originally called “My Pretty Pony”
- Generation 1 was active 1983-1992. Generation 5 was launched in 2021.
- See the full commercial here.
He-Man and the Masters of the Universe Action Figures
- Released in 1981 by Mattel
- Direct competition with Star Wars figures
- “He-Man, He-Man”
- See the complete commercial here.
Simon
- Released in 1979
- Short-term memory game
- Cost $24.95 (equivalent of $117 today)
- See the commercial here.
Teddy Ruxpin
- Released in 1985 by Worlds of Wonder
- Electronic storytelling bear
- Bestselling toy in 1985-1986
- See the commercial here.
OREO
- Originally released in 1912 by National Biscuit Company (now Nabisco)
- “Twist, lick dunk”
- Oreos and milk
- See the commercial here.
Wendy’s: Where’s the Beef?
- Commercial premiered in 1984
- Clara Peller was 81 years old when she grumbled the famous “Where’s the beef?” line
- The line earned Wendy’s and the commercial a beloved spot in pop culture history
- See the commercial here.
Golden Grahams
- Commercial premiered in 1988
- Remake of The Turtles’ “Happy Together”
- There were multiple versions of the Happy Together campaign song
- See the commercial here.
Chef Boyardee Tic Tac Toes
- Commercial premiered in 1986
- Similar to Spaghettios but with tic-tac-toe marks
- Tic Tac Toes were revived in the 1990s but had a short run
- See the commercial here.
Hungry Hungry Hippos
- Released in 1978 by Milton Bradley
- A top family game in the 1980s
- 2-4 players compete to get the most marbles using their hungry hippo
- See the commercial here.
Monchhichi
- Toy originated in Japan in 1974
- Available in “boy” and “girl” dolls
- “Oh so soft and cuddly”
- See the commercial here.