Little People is a toy brand for children ages 6–36 months and to ages 3 and up, originally produced by the American Toy company Fisher-Price, Inc. in the 1960s as the Play Family People. The current product line consists of playsets, mini-sets and accessories, books, CDs and DVDs focusing on various configurations of five characters named Eddie, Tessa, Mia, Koby, and Sofie. Mattel reports that over 2 billion Little People figures have been sold in over 60 countries.[1] In 2016, Little People was inducted into the National Toy Hall of Fame.[2]
The "Little People" name, registered and trademarked by Mattel and Fisher-Price in 1985, came from Mattel following the lead of consumers who referred to the early Play Family playsets as "those little people".[3]
History
Original Little People
Little People started in 1950 with the "Looky Fire Truck" and three round-headed fire men (attached permanently to the toy).[4][5] Following the success of this toy, Between 1952 and 1953, Fisher-Price developed the "Super-Jet" and "Racing Rowboat".[4]
Another early Little People precursor, the #959 "Safety School Bus", was introduced in 1959.[1][6] The set included a school bus together with six independent figures made out of tall slimmer pegs of cardboard tubes wrapped in lithographs simulating clothes. The toy gained instant popularity and other sets soon came out.
Little People Play Family
Sources
External links
- Interview with Bob Jourdian, Director of Product Development at Fisher-Price about the history and evolution of the Little People.
References
- Todd Coopee. Fisher Price Little People ToyTales.ca, 4 January 2016^
- Bill Chappell. Toy Hall Of Fame: Dungeons & Dragons, Little People Honored; So Are Swings the Two-Way, NPR, 10 November 2016^
- Tricia Cruz. Celebrating 50 years of "Little People"