You know you’ve watched too many toy documentaries when you start recognizing the interviewees.

“That’s the squirrelly guy who created Skeletor. Great artist, huge perv.” 

“Hey—that guy was also CEO of Sega. Stereotypical suit but there’s something about him. I just like him.”

“This guy insists He-Man was his idea. Seems like a tool.”

All these guys—and they’re 99% guys1—are enjoying a second career talking about their glory days as plastic salesmen. It’s a nerdier version of 80s heartthrobs signing headshots on the convention circuit. But it’s also charming, because these 60 and 70-year-olds are still enthusiastic about the toys they created, ones that live on in my memories. 

I discovered this documentary genre by accident. Netflix suggested The Toys That Made Us, a show that delves into the history of iconic toy lines like Star Wars, He-Man, and Barbie.2 The Venn diagram of coverage neatly aligns with my favorite toys; it’s a completely filled-in circle. Netflix knows me too well at this point. 

You wouldn’t think the origin of mass produced plastic would be fascinating, but it actually is! There’s the simple nostalgia of seeing my old toys, and remembering, but the show also smartly waters down facts with some hilarious editing and a willingness to poke fun at the interviewees. 

Since exhausting the interesting episodes—ick: Star Trek toys… not now, not ever—I discovered a slew of similar documentaries on Tubi. Again, accidentally. I wouldn’t necessarily recommend the Tubi options. If you’re toy-curious or inclined toward nostalgia, hit up The Toys That Made Us. They’re genuinely great. The Tubi documentaries are longer and drier. Not a great combo. But worthwhile if you find yourself feeling really nostalgic, as I did recently.

I blame it on the holidays. 

It’s impossible for me to enjoy Christmas now without reflecting on years gone by. Maybe it’s the fact that I got many of my favorite toys for Christmas, but anytime I think of childhood, I always end up thinking about my toys. That might sound sad or something, I don’t know. My opinion on such things is skewed: I was the kid who thought nothing of sitting in my room all day and playing with my toys. In the summer, my dad forced me to go outside. I took my toys with me.

As much as my toys meant to me, their fate is sorta tragic.