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'{{Distinguish|Play Mobile}} {{Infobox |name = |bodystyle = |title = Playmobil |titlestyle = |above = |abovestyle = |imagestyle = |captionstyle = |image = [[Image:Playmobillogo.JPG|200px]] |caption = The Playmobil logo |image2 = |caption2 = |headerstyle = |labelstyle = |datastyle = |header1 = General information |header2 = |label2 = Manufacturer |data2 = [[Brandstätter Group]] |header3= |label3 = Era |data3 = [[1975]] - present |header4= |label4 = Category |data4 = Plastic figures |header5= |label5 = Country of origin |data5 = [[Germany]] |header6 = |label6 = Commercial? |data6 = Yes |header7 = [[#Themes|Sets]] |label8 = |data8 = [[Image:Playmobilcitylife.JPG|200px]]<br/>Playmobil's "City Life" set |header9 = |label9 = [[#Current|No. of available sets]] |data9 = 32 |header10 = |label10 = [[#Discontinued/Not Available|No. of defunct sets]] |data10 = 20 |header11 = [[#External links|External links]] |label12 = [[Website]] |data12 = [http://www.playmobil.com Playmobil.com] |belowstyle = |below = }} '''Playmobil''' (pronounced ''play-mo-beel'') is a line of toys produced by the [[Brandstätter Group]] (geobra Brandstätter GmbH & Co KG), headquartered in [[Zirndorf]], [[Germany]]. New products and product lines developed by a 50-strong development team are frequently introduced by Brandstätter. Some of these, such as promotional products, are only produced in limited quantities. For example, Playmobil introduced limited edition sets with the [[logo]]s of seven different airlines, sold only aboard [[flight]]s and in [[duty-free shop]]s. These practices have given rise to a sizable community of collectors. Collector activities extend beyond collecting and free-form play with Playmobil and include customization, [[miniature wargaming]], and creation of photo stories and [[stop motion]] films. Playmobil people are approximately 3 inches tall and are a 1:24 scale, or G scale. ==History== [[Hans Beck]] (1929&nbsp;&ndash; 2009) is often called "The Father of Playmobil." Beck received training as a [[Cabinet (furniture)|cabinetmaker]] but worked simultaneously on [[model airplane]]s, a product he pitched to the company geobra Brandstätter. The owner of the company, [[Horst Brandstätter]], asked him to develop toy figures for children instead. <!-- Deleted image removed: [[Image:PlaymobilonElMundosupplement.JPG|thumb|Playmobil on the cover of a magazine supplement to ''[[El Mundo (Spain)|El Mundo]]'', a [[Spain|Spanish]] newspaper. The title is "Life as a couple is no game".]] --> Beck spent three years developing what became Playmobil. Beck conducted research that allowed him to develop a toy that would not be too complex but nevertheless flexible. Playmobil hands were capable of gripping and holding objects. The toy, at 7.5&nbsp;cm tall, would also fit in a child's hand and its facial design would be based on children's drawings (large head, big smile, no nose). "I would put the little figures in their hands without saying anything about what they were," Beck remarked. "They accepted them right away&nbsp;... They invented little scenarios for them. They never grew tired of playing with them."[http://csmonitor.com/cgi-bin/durableRedirect.pl?/durable/1997/10/07/home/home.1.html]. Earlier figures had arms of one piece and another piece for the legs. Later sets allow hand rotation. The [[1973 oil crisis]] made it possible for Playmobil to be considered a viable product. Rising oil prices imposed on Geobra Brandstätter, for whom Beck worked as [[Head of Development]], demanded that the company turn to products that required less solid plastic material (during the 1960s, the company had been producing [[hoola-hoop]]s and large plastic toys). In 1974, the company put the series on show in its display rooms. Initial visitors were reluctant to accept the toy. Nevertheless, the toy was shown at the International Toy Fair in [[Nuremberg]], which was taking place that same year. The toy remained popular with children. A [[Netherlands|Dutch]] firm subsequently agreed to buy a whole year's production. Playmobil began to be sold worldwide in 1975. Playmobil [[pop-up book]]s, in which buildings and settings corresponded to the height of actual Playmobil figures, were sold for a time, as well as a series of [[comic books]], [[coloring book]]s, and [[puzzle]]s. Playmobil has been a successful toy line for more than 25 years and they have been a major competitor to [[Lego]] toys. Examples of directly competing toys in both their product line are not hard to find. Within the limitations of the Playmobil toy world, the Playmobil toys are usually realistic, and present accurate representations of arms, armor, costumes, and tools from a recognizable time period. Especially notable for a fine attention to detail are the modern construction and city life toys (cars, cranes, fire-engines, trains, boats, etc.). Playmobil toys are specifically aimed at children from the ages of six to twelve. The company believes that older children tend not to play with these types of toys and so it has resisted creating toys from other, less well-known, historical time periods. However, many adults own or collect Playmobil and make [[Playmobil #Playmobil movies|movies]] with the toys.{{Fact|date=May 2009}} System X is a line of building products for Playmobil. It consists of wall-like pieces, roof pieces, floor pieces, blocks, and connecting pieces.{{Fact|date=June 2008}} == Figures and licensing == The first Playmobil sets were themed around [[Indigenous peoples of the Americas|Native Americans]], [[construction worker]]s and [[knight]]s. The first construction worker set included a [[wheelbarrow]], a [[road roller]], ten [[traffic cone]]s, as well as three crates holding 18 bottles of [[beer]]. <ref>[http://women.timesonline.co.uk/tol/life_and_style/women/the_way_we_live/article3831553.ece The dark ages - Times Online<!-- Bot generated title -->]</ref> A number of different companies were licensed throughout Europe and Latin America to produce and distribute Playmobil figures. In Spain, figures were produced by the leading dollmaker [[Famosa]], and marketed as "los clicks de Famobil". Spanish package marked the quantity of male dolls (''clicks'') and females (''clacks''). Females are distinguished by hairstyle and a wider chestpiece suggesting a skirt. Greek figures were produced during the 1970s by a company called [[Lyra]]. In Argentina Playmobil is licensed by Antex, for distribution in all South American markets. Previously Playmobil was licensed through a number of different companies, including Brazil's [[Troll]], [[Estrela (company)|Estrela]], [[Industria de Brinquedos do Amazonas]] and Peru's [[BASA]]. From 1976 to 1980, Playmobil was licensed by [[Louis Marx and Company]] in the United Kingdom and sold under the brand name '''Playpeople'''. In 1982, [[McDonald's]] in the United States ceased distribution and promotion of Playmobil at its restaurants after tests showed that the toy failed to comply with [[Consumer Product Safety Commission]] tests designed to prevent children under three from choking on dangerous items (The Playmobil toys, however, were not involved in any reported choking incidents). The five Playmobil toys that were to be distributed nationwide included a Sheriff, Indian, Sheriff's Horse, Umbrella Girl and Farmer. Approximately 10 million of the Sheriff and Indian Playmobil toys were actually distributed from October 22 through November 1, 1982. McDonald's customers with children under three who received these toys were advised to discontinue their use and return the toys to a McDonald's in exchange for a [[McDonald's products|dessert]], a cone, or a refund. Over the years, some proposed sets have included [[coolie|Chinese Railroad Workers]] and a [[gravedigger|Grave Digger]] for the Western theme, as well as a Medieval [[Torture]] Room. Prototypes were made. However, these sets were considered insensitive and inappropriate for young children, and were never released.<ref>[http://www.collectobil.com/guide/faq03.html#prototypes Collectobil - FAQ part 3 - Assortment Questions<!-- Bot generated title -->]</ref> There are however sets including ghosts and a mummy containing a skeleton. In 2004 [[BMW]] licensed the familiar Playmobil look and feel to release an exclusive [[BMW Z4]] done in Playmobil scale. It also came with two Playmobil passengers. Originally, the only way to get one of these Z4s (available in deep red or blue) was to take a test drive at a BMW dealership in Germany. Shortly thereafter, versions in a pale yellow or [[eggshell blue]] were available in European toy stores. Though not manufactured by Playmobil, they were officially licensed. A similar product is still available on BMW's website for $35.00 used. === Bootlegs and unauthorized figures === In 1978, [[Schenk]], a Hungarian firm, began reproducing [[Copyright infringement|bootleg]] Playmobil figures. They had not received any authorization or license from Geobra Brandstätter. Schenk produced exact copies of the original toy, though some sets were modified to create new types of sets, usually military, from Hungarian history. Thus, Schenk produced the [[Hussar]] (Huszár), from the period of the [[Revolutions of 1848 in the Habsburg areas|Hungarian War of Independence]] and the Hungarian hussar series (Magyar huszár sorozat). Other sets included the [[Austria]]n soldier (Osztrák), [[Ottoman Empire|Turkish]] soldier (Török), [[William Tell]] (Tell Vilmos), and the [[Hunyadi]] series (Hunyadi sorozat). Schenk figures, like the early Playmobil figures, do not have moveable hands. But unlike the Playmobil horses, the Schenk horses do not have moveable heads. Schenk figures also bear different colors from their Playmobil counterparts. They were also made with inferior plastic. Following the collapse of [[communism]], a 1995 court ruling forbade the manufacture and distribution of the Schenk figures. The owner of Schenk, Károly Schenk, was allowed to sell of his remaining toy figures only in Hungary until March 1996. However, Schenk bootlegs may still be available in toy shops in Hungary. A famous and rare collection of Schenk reproductions was created by [http://www.tricornejock.com/Photos_Schenk.html Tricornejock]. Bootleg sets also have been manufactured in China. These sets are not marketed as Playmobil, though they are identical in terms of appearance (but not in regards to quality). Sets include a "Noshery" (fast food eatery), "Pirate Island", and medieval figures.[http://www.playmofriends.com/forum/index.php?topic=617.0] ==Distribution== New Playmobil sets are released over a two year period, with the non-export markets getting new sets first, then the export market a year later. This is done so that Playmobil will only have to make one mold for each new piece, and still be able to manufacture the initial stock of the new set. This first stock is what initially stocks store shelves, then Playmobil just makes smaller quantities just to refill store shelves. In order to release the new sets to the entire world, Playmobil would need to buy two of each mold. Eventually, as production for the piece slows down, the second mold would be useless. <ref>[http://www.collectobil.com/guide/export.html Export/Non-Export Markets- Collectobil]</ref> <br /> '''Non-Export Market:''' *Germany *Austria *Switzerland *Belgium *The Netherlands *Luxemburg *Denmark *Sweden *Norway '''Export Market:''' *Worldwide == Themes == ===Current=== {{Col-begin}} {{Col-2}} *1-2-3 *Adventure *Airport *Animal Clinic (Vet) *Christmas *Circus *City Life *Construction *Dollhouse *Dragons (to be released in 2009 in non-export market, 2010 in the export market) *Egyptians *Fairy Tale *Farm *Ghost Pirates (to be released in 2009 in non-export market, 2010 in the export market) *Horse Farm *Hospital {{Col-2}} *Knights *Leisure *Magic Castle *Modern Living *Pirates *Police *Rescue *Romans *School (to be released in 2009 in non-export market, 2010 in the export market) *Special *Sports *Superset *Transport Port *Transport Train *Wedding *Water Zoo {{Col-end}} ===Discontinued/Not Available=== {{Col-begin}} {{Col-2}} *Antarctic *Color *Easter *First Smile *Gifts *Grocery *Halloween *Jungle *Old Houses *Outdoor {{Col-2}} [[Image:Playmobilhotdogvendor.JPG|thumb|right|The hot dog vendor set, which is currently not available.]] *Micro *Playmospace *Racing *Space *Steck Castles *Television *Traffic *Train *Waterworld *Winter Sports {{Col-end}} == FunParks and FunStore == {{Confusing|section|date=February 2009}} The FunParks and FunStores are at the following places: * [[Athens]], [[Greece]] * [[Ħal Far]], [[Malta]] * [[Palm Beach Gardens, Florida]], USA * [[Paris]], [[France]] * [[Zirndorf]], Germany * FunStore Woodbridge, [[New Jersey]], USA * FunStore Playmobil, [[Brazil]]<ref>http://www.mftoys.com.br Fun Store in Brazil.</ref> * [[Orlando, Florida]], [[USA]] - closed in [[2007]]. == Movies == *[[Secret of Skull Island]] (To be released in [[Autumn]] [[2009]]) == Video games == * ''[[Alex Builds his Farm]]'': A game for young children helping Alex throughout the farm. * ''[[Hype: The Time Quest]]'': When Hype is cast back into time by an evil Black Knight he must strive hard to find the jewels that will take him forward through time, Gogoud, a magician, also plays a part in the story by helping Hype. * ''[[Laura's Happy Adventures]]'': A magical adventure set in and around the Playmobil Doll's House that begins when Laura discovers an enchanted diamond in her grandfather's rock collection. == Playmobil in art == * German artist [[Loka Daun]] and Austrian art group [[monochrom]] created [http://www.monochrom.at/spezialeinheit/ "Bio Squad"], a satirical photo series dealing with [[biological warfare]]. * New York City-based artist Nick Musaelian created [http://nickmusaelian.com "The Little Nietzsche"] paintings in which Playmobil people act out Zarathustra's words. == Cultural references == * The Brazilian [[soap opera]] ''Bang Bang'' featured an opening sequence with toys that clearly resembled Playmobil's Old West collection (which were very popular in [[Brazil]] during the 1980s). *A very popular comedy in [[Greece]], ''Sto Para Pente'' (2005–2007), also used Playmobil-like characters, which resembled the leading actors in the opening sequence. *''[[Robot Chicken]]'' episode 216 included a Playmobil sketch including the "Playmobil Mansion" and a character appearance by [[Hugh Hefner]], who also lent his voice. * In the movie ''[[Searching for Bobby Fischer]]'' there are some scenes with Playmobil in it. * [[Venus Hum]] made a video for their song, [http://venushum.com/sections/media/videos/fightfolo.mov "Fighting For Love"], with Playmobil characters in it. * The biggest hit song by the band ''[[Boyzvoice]]'' in the Norwegian [[mockumentary]] ''[[Get Ready to be Boyzvoiced]]'' is ''We Are the Playmo-men'', in which the band members sing about being Playmobil men. == See also == * [[Kubrick (toy)]] * [[Minifigure]] ==References== {{reflist}} == External links == {{Commons|Playmobil}} * {{en icon}} [http://www.playmobil.com/index.html Playmobil official homepage] * {{de icon}} [http://www.claudia-schott.de/ Claudia Schott Collectorpage] * {{en icon}} [http://www.collectobil.com/ Collectobil] * {{en icon}} [http://www.gardenwargaming.com/ Gardenwargaming.com] * {{en icon}} {{de icon}} {{es icon}} {{fr icon}} [http://www.tricornejock.com/phpBB3/index.php International Forum of Playmobil®] * {{fr icon}} [http://perso.orange.fr/ludoplaymo/ Ludoplaymo] * {{en icon}} [http://www.millionaireplayboy.com/toys/playmobil.php MillionairePlayboy.com] playmobil articles * {{en icon}} [http://www.playmoblog.com/ Playmoblog] Playmobil news with a USA focus * {{de icon}} [http://www.circusoliver.de/ CIRCUS OLIVER] One of the largest PLAYMOBIL collections with a circus theme * {{es icon}} [http://www.playclicks.com/ Playclicks] Spanish collectors forum and articles * {{es icon}} [http://www.aesclick.com/ Aesclick] Spanish Association of Playmobil Collectors === History of Playmobil sources=== * [http://www.best-german-gifts.com/playmobil-toy.html Playmobil Toys Article] * [http://csmonitor.com/cgi-bin/durableRedirect.pl?/durable/1997/10/07/home/home.1.html Ruth Walker "One Man's Tiny Plastic Universe," Christian Science Monitor, 1997] * [http://www.corporate.basf.com/en/stories/wipo/playmobil/story.htm?id=iMIuq8DPRbcp1hM The swashbuckling Playmobil pirate captures children's imaginations] * [http://www.keepkidshealthy.com/recalls/toys/82046.html McDonald's Voluntarily Stops Playmobil Promotion And Recalls; November 3, 1982] * [http://www.collectobil.com/guide/schenk.html Schenk Bootlegs Playmobil in Hungary] [[Category:Playmobil|*]] [[Category:Toy companies]] [[Category:Toy train manufacturers]] [[Category:Companies of Germany]] [[Category:1975 introductions]] [[ca:Playmobil]] [[cs:Playmobil]] [[da:Playmobil]] [[de:Playmobil]] [[es:Playmobil]] [[fr:Playmobil]] [[he:פליימוביל]] [[lb:Playmobil]] [[hu:Playmobil]] [[nl:Playmobil]] [[ja:プレイモービル]] [[no:Playmobil]] [[nn:Playmobil]] [[pt:Playmobil]] [[ru:Playmobil]] [[fi:Playmobil]] [[sv:Playmobil]]'