In 1983, LJN in partnership with TSR, released a series of Advanced Dungeons & Dragons toys. Not only were the toys amazing, but so were the commercials they released to support them.
Those LJN figures were some of the best of the era if you ask me. Even though the articulation is a little limited when compared to some other lines, the design and coloring is amazing and so detailed. And each figure was so different from each other, similar to say the Super Powers line. They weren't copies from the same mold, like many of the He-man figures.
My brother gave me some of the ones he had saved from our childhood, my intention is to clean them up and repair what I can to make them display worthy.
I had a couple of these figures back then and really loved how detailed they were. Considering how massively popular D&D was back then, I'm surprised that Ljn didn't market them more. I actually don't remember ever seeing commercials for them on TV back then. I just happen to notice then one day while in a toy store at the mall and bought a couple of them with my allowance. The strange thing is that looking back, it seemed that the D&D toys disappeared as quickly as they appeared for some reason. Back then it seemed like D&D was everywhere. There was the Intellivision games and even the amazing animated show on TV, not to mention the attention it drew on the news. That alone would make a good story too. Even the toys for Clash Of The Titans had a longer run, to this day I still regret not getting the Kraken back then. Ljn really had a great opportunity with that line of toys and sadly didn't market it the right way.
The commercials and print ads were few and far between. It was a crowded field, but I think you are right, with better marketing, they could have gone further.
Those LJN figures were some of the best of the era if you ask me. Even though the articulation is a little limited when compared to some other lines, the design and coloring is amazing and so detailed. And each figure was so different from each other, similar to say the Super Powers line. They weren't copies from the same mold, like many of the He-man figures.
My brother gave me some of the ones he had saved from our childhood, my intention is to clean them up and repair what I can to make them display worthy.
I have a bunch of them, and they held up surprisingly well. Glad you are going to put yours on display.
You gotta love that cuddly neo-otyugh, my favorite.
One of my favorites as well!
https://www.retroist.com/p/dungeons-dragons-monster-cards-neo-otyugh
I had a couple of these figures back then and really loved how detailed they were. Considering how massively popular D&D was back then, I'm surprised that Ljn didn't market them more. I actually don't remember ever seeing commercials for them on TV back then. I just happen to notice then one day while in a toy store at the mall and bought a couple of them with my allowance. The strange thing is that looking back, it seemed that the D&D toys disappeared as quickly as they appeared for some reason. Back then it seemed like D&D was everywhere. There was the Intellivision games and even the amazing animated show on TV, not to mention the attention it drew on the news. That alone would make a good story too. Even the toys for Clash Of The Titans had a longer run, to this day I still regret not getting the Kraken back then. Ljn really had a great opportunity with that line of toys and sadly didn't market it the right way.
The commercials and print ads were few and far between. It was a crowded field, but I think you are right, with better marketing, they could have gone further.