80s Kid Merch
Description: Popples were plush toys manufactured between 1986 and 1988. Each toy had a pouch on the back that could be inverted, so the character rolled into the pouch and resembled a brightly colored ball. Popples resembled colorful animals with long, pompom-tipped tails. The name "Popple" is a reference to the popping sound they make when unfolding themselves from such a ball, or pulling objects from their pouches. In the cartoon series of the same name, Popples commonly pulled large items from their pouches that could not possibly fit inside. In the "Popples Alley" episode, one of the Popples' human friends looks inside one of their pouches and sees numerous objects floating in a large void.
Description: The Great Space Coaster was a live action children's television show that was broadcast in first-run syndication from 1981 to 1986. The show was about three young singers who are brought to a habitable asteroid in space called Coasterville by a clown named Baxter who pilots the "space coaster," a roller coaster-like spaceship. The asteroid is populated by strange-looking, wise-cracking puppet characters such as Goriddle Gorilla, Knock Knock the Woodpecker, Edison the Elephant, and Gary Gnu (host of "The Gary Gnu Show"). Baxter is forever on the run from M.T. Promises, a nefarious ringmaster who plans to re-capture Baxter and return him to the circus he worked at before he escaped. Each episode ended with a different life lesson.
Description: Paperboy is a legendary 1985 arcade action game developed by Atari Games, where players take on the role of a BMX-riding paperboy delivering newspapers for The Daily Sun along a suburban neighborhood route. Known for its unique handlebar-style arcade controller, the game challenged players to complete a full week of deliveries—accurately tossing papers to subscribers while dodging hazards like cars, dogs, and runaway tires. Bonus points were awarded for vandalizing non-subscribers’ homes, adding a mischievous twist to the gameplay. Despite its steep difficulty curve, Paperboy became a fan favorite and was widely praised for its innovative controls and isometric graphics. The game was ported to home consoles and PCs in 1986
Description: Herself the Elf was an early '80s line of mother nature themed dolls that included not only Herself the Elf, but also Snowdrop, Meadow Morn, Willow Song, and Wood Pink. They all had their own magical powers and magic wands with which to use their powers, which were unique to each respective elf. In addition to the dolls and their three playsets (a house, a shower, and a vanity), a number of books, records, and even a cartoon was developed. The backstory was as follows: "Herself the Elf lives in a magical land tucked in a forest where tall trees stand. It's where birds and bees live happy as can be, with all kinds of animals great and small... 'cause Herself the Elf takes care of them all."
Description: Five Alive was a line of fruit juice blends created in the late '70s, so if you're an '80s kid, you undoubtedly consumed some at one point. Both the name and the five colors of the logo referred to the five fruit juices each variety contains. Marketing for Five Alive featured the slant rhyme catchphrase “get a taste for life”. Starting in 1981, Five Alive was released in traditional juice box cartons alongside the 12 and 16 oz. cans of frozen concentrate. By the '90s, Five Alive was no longer available in the U.S. market and not long after that it had disappeared from international markets as well.
Description: Jolt Cola was a carbonated soft drink originally made by The Jolt Company of Rochester, New York. From the outset, Jolt’s marketing strategy centered on the caffeine content, billing the drink as a means to promote wakefulness, including a slogan of “All the sugar and twice the caffeine.” The highly caffeinated beverage was targeted towards students and young professionals, stressing its use as a stimulant in a similar manner as energy drinks. Jolt Cola is featured in the 1995 movie ‘Hackers’ as the hosts of a pirate television broadcast claim to be sponsored by the beverage and advertise Jolt Cola as “the soft drink of the elite hacker.”
Description: Space Ace is a LaserDisc based video game released in December 1983. Like its predecessors, it featured film-quality animation played back from a LaserDisc. Gameplay required the player to move the joystick or press the fire button at key moments in the animated sequences to decide the hero's actions. There is also the occasional option to either temporarily have the character transform into his adult form or remain as a boy with different styles of challenge. The arcade game was a commercial success in North America, but was unable to achieve the same level of success as its predecessors.
Description: Chaotic magic, questionable aim, and plenty of style. For 80s and 90s nostalgics raised on misfired spells, clumsy heroes, and cartoons that ran on fun, not logic. If you’ve ever laughed more at the fail than the win, this design gets you. Because the best characters are rarely the perfect ones.
Description: Jolt Cola was a carbonated beverage initially produced by The Jolt Company, based in Rochester, New York. From its inception, the marketing approach for Jolt emphasized its high caffeine content, promoting the drink as a means to enhance alertness, encapsulated in the slogan “All the sugar and twice the caffeine.” This highly caffeinated drink was aimed at students and young professionals, highlighting its role as a stimulant akin to energy drinks. Jolt Cola made an appearance in the 1995 film ‘Hackers,’ where the hosts of a pirate television broadcast claimed sponsorship by the drink, promoting it as “the soft drink of the elite hacker.”
Description: "Dinosaucers, an iconic '80s cartoon, aired 65 episodes in one action-packed season. Set on Earth, it follows the battle between heroic anthropomorphic dinosaurs, the Dinosaucers, and the villainous Tyrannos from the planet Reptilon, who aim to conquer Earth. With the help of a group of kids called the Secret Scouts, the Dinosaucers defend the planet in this unforgettable animated series loved by fans of all ages."
Description: Gremlins (1984)** is a cult-classic American black comedy horror film that blends festive cheer with chaotic mayhem. Directed by Joe Dante and produced by Steven Spielberg, the story centers on Billy Peltzer, a young man who receives an unusual pet called a Mogwai. But when certain rules are broken, the adorable creature multiplies and unleashes a horde of mischievous, destructive monsters just in time to terrorize his small town on Christmas Eve. Drawing from World War II-era folklore about gremlins causing mechanical mishaps, the film became a pop culture phenomenon. Despite controversy over its violent scenes, *Gremlins* captivated audiences with its dark humor and iconic creature design—fueling massive merchandising success with toys.
