The 80s
The Smurfs spawn a tidal wave of cute clones: Monchichis, Snorks, Popples, etc. Rainbow Brite and My Little Pony fly high, Jem steals some of Barbie's thunder, He-Man leads the Masters of the Universe to victory, and Transformers prove there's "more than meets the eye." Rubik's Cubes give smart kids their day in the spotlight, while Cabbage Patch Kids reduce grown men and women to savage shopping mall beasts. The Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles make Cowabunga a household word, and G.I. Joe is repurposed for the 80's as a "Real American Hero." Nintendo brings home video games back from the grave, then shrinks them down to hand-held Game Boy size at the decade's end. |

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