History Creator / Hasbro

In 1991, Hasbro purchased Tonka, which gained them not only the truck line, but Creator/{{Kenner}} Products (one of their main competitors) and the Parker Brothers board game line, including ''TabletopGame/{{Monopoly}}'' and ''TabletopGame/CandyLand'', as a complement to Milton Bradley, a 1984 purchase. Tonka, through Kenner, also had the toy rights to ''Franchise/StarWars'', a property which would prove valuable for the company. As part of Hasbro, Kenner would go on to re-ignite the ''Transformers'' brand in 1996 with ''WesternAnimation/BeastWars''. In 1998, Hasbro bought Galoob, maker of ''Star Wars'' Micro Machines, so that they would have exclusive toy rights to the franchise.

* ''Creator/MarvelComics''

In 1991, Hasbro purchased Tonka, which gained them not only the truck line, but Kenner Products (one of their main competitors) and the Parker Brothers board game line, including ''TabletopGame/{{Monopoly}}'' and ''TabletopGame/CandyLand'', as a complement to Milton Bradley, a 1984 purchase. Tonka, through Kenner, also had the toy rights to ''Franchise/StarWars'', a property which would prove valuable for the company. As part of Hasbro, Kenner would go on to re-ignite the ''Transformers'' brand in 1996 with ''WesternAnimation/BeastWars''. In 1998, Hasbro bought Galoob, maker of ''Star Wars'' Micro Machines, so that they would have exclusive toy rights to the franchise.

* ''WesternAnimation/{{Shrek 2}}''

In 1991, Hasbro purchased Tonka, which gained them not only the truck line, but Kenner Products (one of their main competitors) and the Parker Brothers board game line, including ''TabletopGame/{{Monopoly}}'' and ''TabletopGame/CandyLand'', as a complement to Milton Bradley, a 1984 purchase. Tonka, through Kenner, also had the toy rights to ''Franchise/StarWars'', a property which would prove valuable for the company. As part of Hasbro, Kenner would go on to re-ignite the ''Transformers'' brand in 1996 with ''WesternAnimation/BeastWars''.

As a media entity, the company reach its peak in 2007, when the MichaelBay-directed ''Film/{{Transformers}}'' film was released. The success of the film (and its two sequels) enabled Hasbro to increase its mass media exposure, including film versions of ''[[Film/GIJoeTheRiseOfCobra G.I. Joe]]'' and ''Film/{{Battleship}}''. In 2010, Hasbro and Discovery Communications would launch TheHub, whose launch programming included ''WesternAnimation/MyLittlePonyFriendshipIsMagic'', which stumbled upon massive interest from [[PeripheryDemographic older men]], and ''WesternAnimation/TransformersPrime'', a mere success within the core demographic of the franchise.

Hasbro, based in Pawtucket, Rhode Island, is a global leader in the toy and games industry, and perhaps the leader in integrated [[MerchandiseDriven toy-based]] entertainment. The company was founded in 1923 as a textile remnant factory and expanded into toys in the 1940s. It's first big success was Mr. Potato Head, which arrived in 1952 In 1965, Hasbro launched the action figure with ''Franchise/GIJoe''. In 1982, Hasbro launched the ''A Real American Hero'' sub-franchise, and with it, pioneered a new multimedia strategy as comics and an animated TV series became hugely successful, thanks to the storytelling work of MarvelComics and its animation division. Hasbro and Marvel then duplicated their success with ''Franchise/MyLittlePony'' that same year, which was a hit with girls, and in 1984 with ''The Franchise/{{Transformers}}'', using toys re-purposed from two Japanese toylines. ''WesternAnimation/{{Jem}}'', Hasbro's 1986 attempt to compete with {{Barbie}} in the doll market, failed, although the cartoon gained a cult following. The ''Maxie'' line and its animated series ''WesternAnimation/MaxiesWorld'' were only slightly more successful than ''Jem''. Hasbro's next attempts to create action figure/cartoon franchises, ''WesternAnimation/{{Inhumanoids}}'' and ''WesternAnimation/{{Visionaries}}'', also got cult followings but weren't as successful as ''G.I. Joe'' or ''Transformers''.

Hasbro, based in Pawtucket, Rhode Island, is a global leader in the toy and games industry, and perhaps the leader in integrated [[MerchandiseDriven toy-based]] entertainment. The company was founded in 1923 as a textile remnant factory and expanded into toys in the 1940s. It's first big success was Mr. Potato Head, which arrived in 1952 In 1965, Hasbro launched the action figure with ''Franchise/GIJoe''. In 1982, Hasbro launched the ''A Real American Hero'' sub-franchise, and with it, pioneered a new multimedia strategy as comics and an animated TV series became hugely successful, thanks to the storytelling work of MarvelComics and its animation division. Hasbro and Marvel then duplicated their success with ''Franchise/MyLittlePony'' that same year, which was a hit with girls, and in 1984 with ''The Franchise/{{Transformers}}'', using toys re-purposed from two Japanese toylines. ''WesternAnimation/{{Jem}}'', Hasbro's 1986 attempt to compete with {{Barbie}} in the doll market, failed, although the cartoon gained a cult following. The ''Maxie'' line and its animated series ''WesternAnimation/MaxiesWorld'' were only slightly more successful as ''Jem''. Hasbro's next attempts to create action figure/cartoon franchises, ''WesternAnimation/{{Inhumanoids}}'' and ''WesternAnimation/{{Visionaries}}'', also got cult followings but weren't as successful as ''G.I. Joe'' or ''Transformers''.

As a media entity, the company reach its peak in 2007, when the MichaelBay-directed ''[[Film/{{Transformers}} film]]'' was released. The success of the film (and its two sequels) enabled Hasbro to increase its mass media exposure, including film versions of ''[[Film/GIJoeTheRiseOfCobra G.I. Joe]]'' and ''Film/{{Battleship}}''. In 2010, Hasbro and Discovery Communications would launch TheHub, whose launch programming included ''WesternAnimation/MyLittlePonyFriendshipIsMagic'', which stumbled upon massive interest from [[PeripheryDemographic older men]], and ''WesternAnimation/TransformersPrime'', a mere success within the core demographic of the franchise.

In 1991, Hasbro purchased Tonka, which gained them not only the truck line, but Kenner Products (one of their main competitors) and the Parker Brothers board game line, including ''TabletopGame/{{Monopoly}}'' and ''TabletopGame/CandyLand'', as a complement to Milton Bradley, a 1984 purchase. Tonka, through Kenner, also had the toy rights to ''Franchise/StarWars'', a property which would prove valuable for the company. As part of Hasbro, Kenner would go on to re-ignite the ''Transformers'' brand in 1996 with ''WesternAnimation/BeastWars''. As a media entity, the company reach its peak in 2007, when the MichaelBay-directed ''[[Film/{{Transformers}} film]]'' was released. The success of the film (and its two sequels) enabled Hasbro to increase its mass media exposure, including film versions of ''[[Film/GIJoeTheRiseOfCobra G.I. Joe]]'' and ''Film/{{Battleship}}''. In 2010, Hasbro and Discovery Communications would launch TheHub, whose launch programming included ''WesternAnimation/MyLittlePonyFriendshipIsMagic'', which stumbled upon massive interest from [[PeripheryDemographic older men]], and ''WesternAnimation/TransformersPrime'', a mere success within the core demographic of the franchise.

In 1991, Hasbro purchased Tonka, which gained them not only the truck line, but Kenner Products (one of their main ciompetitors) and the Parker Brothers board game line, including ''TabletopGame/{{Monopoly}}'' and ''TabletopGame/CandyLand'', as a complement to Milton Bradley, a 1984 purchase. Tonka, through Kenner, also had the toy rights to ''Franchise/StarWars'', a property which would prove valuable for the company. As part of Hasbro, Kenner would go on to re-ignite the ''Transformers'' brand in 1996 with ''WesternAnimation/BeastWars''. As a media entity, the company reach its peak in 2007, when the MichaelBay-directed ''[[Film/{{Transformers}} film]]'' was released. The success of the film (and its two sequels) enabled Hasbro to increase its mass media exposure, including film versions of ''[[Film/GIJoeTheRiseOfCobra G.I. Joe]]'' and ''Film/{{Battleship}}''. In 2010, Hasbro and Discovery Communications would launch TheHub, whose launch programming included ''WesternAnimation/MyLittlePonyFriendshipIsMagic'', which stumbled upon massive interest from [[PeripheryDemographic older men]], and ''WesternAnimation/TransformersPrime'', a mere success within the core demographic of the franchise.

In 1991, Hasbro purchased Tonka, which gained them not only the truck line, but the Parker Brothers board game line, including ''TabletopGame/{{Monopoly}}'' and ''TabletopGame/CandyLand'', as a complement to Milton Bradley, a 1984 purchase. Tonka, thru Kenner also had the toy rights to ''Franchise/StarWars'', a property which would prove valuable for the company. As part of Hasbro, Kenner would go on to re-ignite the ''Transformers'' brand in 1996 with ''WesternAnimation/BeastWars''. As a media entity, the company reach its peak in 2007, when the MichaelBay-directed ''[[Film/{{Transformers}} film]]'' was released. The success of the film (and its two sequels) enabled Hasbro to increase its mass media exposure, including film versions of ''[[Film/GIJoeTheRiseOfCobra G.I. Joe]]'' and ''Film/{{Battleship}}''. In 2010, Hasbro and Discovery Communications would launch TheHub, whose launch programming included ''WesternAnimation/MyLittlePonyFriendshipIsMagic'', which stumbled upon massive interest from [[PeripheryDemographic older men]], and ''WesternAnimation/TransformersPrime'', a mere success within the core demographic of the franchise.

Hasbro, based in Pawtucket, Rhode Island, is a global leader in the toy and games industry, and perhaps the leader in integrated [[MerchandiseDriven toy-based]] entertainment. The company was founded in 1923 as a textile remnant factory and expanded into toys in the 1940s. It's first big success was Mr. Potato Head, which arrived in 1952 In 1965, Hasbro launched the action figure with ''Franchise/GIJoe''. In 1982, Hasbro launched the ''A Real American Hero'' sub-franchise, and with it, pioneered a new multimedia strategy as comics and an animated TV series became hugely successful, thanks to the storytelling work of MarvelComics and its animation division. Hasbro and Marvel then duplicated their success with ''Franchise/MyLittlePony'' that same year, which was a hit with girls, and in 1984 with ''The Franchise/{{Transformers}}'', using toys re-purposed from two Japanese toylines. ''WesternAnimation/{{Jem}}'', Hasbro's 1986 attempt to compete with {{Barbie}} in the doll market, failed, although the cartoon gained a cult following. The ''Maxie'' line and its animated series ''WesternAnimation/MaxiesWorld'' were only slightly more successful as ''Jem''. Hasbro's next attempts to create action figure/cartoon franchises, ''WesternAnimation/{{Inhumanoids}}'' and ''WesternAnimation/{{Visionaries}}'', got cult followings but weren't as successful as ''G.I. Joe'' or ''Transformers''.

Hasbro, based in Pawtucket, Rhode Island, is a global leader in the toy and games industry, and perhaps the leader in integrated [[MerchandiseDriven toy-based]] entertainment. The company was founded in 1923 as a textile remnant factory and expanded into toys in the 1940s. It's first big success was Mr. Potato Head, which arrived in 1952 In 1965, Hasbro launched the action figure with ''Franchise/GIJoe''. In 1982, Hasbro launched the ''A Real American Hero'' sub-franchise, and with it, pioneered a new multimedia strategy as comics and an animated TV series became hugely successful, thanks to the storytelling work of MarvelComics and its animation division. Hasbro and Marvel then duplicated their success with ''Franchise/MyLittlePony'' that same year, which was a hit with girls, and in 1984 with ''The Franchise/{{Transformers}}'', using toys re-purposed from two Japanese toylines. ''WesternAnimation/{{Jem}}'', Hasbro's 1986 attempt to compete with {{Barbie}} in the doll market, failed, although the cartoon gained a cult following. The ''Maxie'' line and its animated series ''WesternAnimation/MaxiesWorld'' were only slightly more successful as ''Jem''. Hasbro's next attempts to create action figure/cartoon franchises, ''WesternAnimation/{{Inhumanoids}]'' and ''WesternAnimation/{{Visionaries}}'', got cult followings but weren't as successful as ''G.I. Joe'' or ''Transformers''.

quoteright:350:http://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/Hasbro_890.PNG]]

Hasbro, based in Pawtucket, Rhode Island, is a global leader in the toy and games industry, and perhaps the leader in integrated [[MerchandiseDriven toy-based]] entertainment. The company was founded in 1923 as a textile remnant factory and expanded into toys in the 1940s. It's first big success was Mr. Potato Head, which arrived in 1952 In 1965, Hasbro launched the action figure with ''Franchise/GIJoe''. In 1982, Hasbro launched the ''A Real American Hero'' sub-franchise, and with it, pioneered a new multimedia strategy as comics and an animated TV series became hugely successful, thanks to the storytelling work of MarvelComics and its animation division. Hasbro and Marvel then duplicated their success with ''Franchise/MyLittlePony'' that same year, which was a hit with girls, and in 1984 with ''The Franchise/{{Transformers}}'', using toys re-purposed from two Japanese toylines. ''WesternAnimation/{{Jem}}'', Hasbro's 1986 attempt to compete with {{Barbie}} in the doll market, failed, although the cartoon gained a cult following. The ''Maxie'' line and its animated series were only slightly more successful as ''Jem''. In 1991, Hasbro purchased Tonka, which gained them not only the truck line, but the Parker Brothers board game line, including ''TabletopGame/{{Monopoly}}'' and ''TabletopGame/CandyLand'', as a complement to Milton Bradley, a 1984 purchase. Tonka, thru Kenner also had the toy rights to ''Franchise/StarWars'', a property which would prove valuable for the company. As part of Hasbro, Kenner would go on to re-ignite the ''Transformers'' brand in 1996 with ''WesternAnimation/BeastWars''. As a media entity, the company reach its peak in 2007, when the MichaelBay-directed ''[[Film/{{Transformers}} film]]'' was released. The success of the film (and its two sequels) enabled Hasbro to increase its mass media exposure, including film versions of ''[[Film/GIJoeTheRiseOfCobra G.I. Joe]]'' and ''Film/{{Battleship}}''. In 2010, Hasbro and Discovery Communications would launch TheHub, whose launch programming included ''WesternAnimation/MyLittlePonyFriendshipIsMagic'', which stumbled upon massive interest from [[PeripheryDemographic older men]], and ''WesternAnimation/TransformersPrime'', a mere success within the core demographic of the franchise.

Hasbro, based in Pawtucket, Rhode Island, is a global leader in the toy and games industry, and perhaps the leader in integrated [[MerchandiseDriven toy-based]] entertainment. The company was founded in 1923 as a textile remnant factory and expanded into toys in the 1940s. It's first big success was Mr. Potato Head, which arrived in 1952 In 1965, Hasbro launched the action figure with ''Franchise/GIJoe''. In 1982, Hasbro launched the ''A Real American Hero'' sub-franchise, and with it, pioneered a new multimedia strategy as comics and an animated TV series became hugely successful, thanks to the storytelling work of MarvelComics and its animation division. Hasbro and Marvel then duplicated their success with ''Franchise/MyLittlePony'' that same year, which was a hit with girls, and in 1984 with ''The Franchise/{{Transformers}}'', using toys re-purposed from two Japanese toylines. ''WesternAnimation/{{Jem}}'', Hasbro's 1986 attempt to compete with {{Barbie}} in the doll market, failed, although the cartoon gained a cult following. The ''Maxie'' line and its animated series were only slightly more successful as ''Jem''. In 1991, Hasbro purchased Tonka, which gained them not only the truck line, but the Parker Brothers board game line, including ''TabletopGame/{{Monopoly}}'' and ''TabletopGame/CandyLand'', as a complement to Milton Bradley, a 1984 purchase. Tonka, thru Kenner also had the toy rights to ''Franchise/StarWars'', a property which would prove valuable for the company. As part of Hasbro, Kenner would go on to re-ignite the ''Transformers'' brand in 1996 with ''WesternAnimation/BeastWars''. As a media entity, the company reach its peak in 2007, when the MichaelBay-directed ''[[Film/{{Transformers}} film]]'' was released. The success of the film (and its two sequels) enabled Hasbro to increase its mass media exposure, including film versions of ''[[Film/GIJoeTheRiseOfCobra G.I. Joe]]'' and ''Film/{{Battleship}}''. In 2010, Hasbro and Discovery Communications would launch TheHub, whose launch programming included ''WesternAnimation/MyLittlePonyFriendshipIsMagic'', which stumbled upon massive interest from [[PerpheryDemographic older men]], and ''TransformersPrime'', a mere success within the core demographic of the franchise.

Hasbro, based in Pawtucket, Rhode Island, is a global leader in the toy and games industry, and perhaps the leader in integrated [[MerchandiseDriven toy-based]] entertainment. The company was founded in 1923 as a textile remnant factory and expanded into toys in the 1940s. It's first big success was Mr. Potato Head, which arrived in 1952 In 1965, Hasbro launched the action figure with ''Franchise/GIJoe''. In 1982, Hasbro launched the ''A Real American Hero'' sub-franchise, and with it, pioneered a new multimedia strategy as comics and an animated TV series became hugely successful, thanks to the storytelling work of MarvelComics and its animation division. Hasbro and Marvel then duplicated their success with ''Franchise/MyLittlePony'' that same year, which was a hit with girls, and in 1984 with ''The Franchise/{{Transformers}}'', using toys re-purposed from two Japanese toylines. ''WesternAnimation/{{Jem}}'', Hasbro's 1986 attempt to compete with {{Barbie}} in the doll market, failed, although the cartoon gained a cult following. The ''Maxie'' line and its animated series were only slightly more successful as ''Jem''. In 1991, Hasbro purchased Tonka, which gained them not only the truck line, but the Parker Brothers board game line, including ''TabletopGame/{{Monopoly}}'' and ''TabletopGame/CandyLand'', as a complement to Milton Bradley, a 1984 purchase. Tonka, thru Kenner also had the toy rights to ''Franchise/StarWars'', a property which would prove valuable for the company. As part of Hasbro, Kenner would go on to re-ignite the ''Transformers'' brand in 1996 with ''WesternAnimation/BeastWars''. As a media entity, the company reach its peak in 2007, when the MichaelBay-directed ''[[Film/{{Transformers}} film]]'' was released. The success of the film (and its two sequels) enabled Hasbro to increase its mass media exposure, including film versions of ''[[Film/GIJoeTheRiseOfCobra G.I. Joe]]'' and ''Film/{{Battleship}}''.

Hasbro, based in Pawtucket, Rhode Island, is a global leader in the toy and games industry, and perhaps the leader in integrated [[MerchandiseDriven toy-based]] entertainment. The company was founded in 1923 as a textile remnant factory and expanded into toys in the 1940s. It's first big success was Mr. Potato Head, which arrived in 1952 In 1965, Hasbro launched the action figure with ''Franchise/GIJoe''. In 1982, Hasbro launched the ''A Real American Hero'' sub-franchise, and with it, pioneered a new multimedia strategy as comics and an animated TV series became hugely successful, thanks to the storytelling work of MarvelComics and its animation division. Hasbro and Marvel then duplicated their success with ''Franchise/MyLittlePony'' that same year, which was a hit with girls, and in 1984 with ''The Franchise/{{Transformers}}'', using toys re-purposed from two Japanese toylines. ''WesternAnimation/{{Jem}}'', Hasbro's 1986 attempt to compete with {{Barbie}} in the doll market, failed, although the cartoon gained a cult following. The ''Maxie'' line and its animated series were only slightly more successful as ''Jem''. In 1991, Hasbro purchased Tonka, which gained them not only the truck line, but the Parker Brothers board game line, including ''TabletopGame/{{Monopoly}}'' and ''TabletopGame/CandyLand'', as a complement to Milton Bradley, a 1984 purchase. Tonka, thru Kenner also had the toy rights to ''Franchise/StarWars'', a property which would prove valuable for the company. As part of Hasbro, Kenner would go on to re-ignite the ''Transformers'' brand in 1996 with ''WesternAnimation/BeastWars''. As a media entity, the company reach its peak in 2007, when the MichaelBay-directed ''[[Film/{{Transformers}} film]]'' was released. The success of the film (and its two sequels) enabled Hasbro to increase its mass media exposure, including film versions of ''G.I. Joe'' and ''Film/{{Battleship}}''.

Hasbro, based in Pawtucket, Rhode Island, is a global leader in the toy and games industry, and perhaps the leader in integrated [[MerchandiseDriven toy-based]] entertainment. The company was founded in 1923 as a textile remnant factory and expanded into toys in the 1940s. It's first big success was Mr. Potato Head, which arrived in 1952 In 1965, Hasbro launched the action figure with ''Franchise/GIJoe''. In 1982, Hasbro launched the ''A Real American Hero'' sub-franchise, and with it, pioneered a new multimedia strategy as comics and an animated TV series became hugely successful, thanks to the storytelling work of MarvelComics and its animation division. Hasbro and Marvel then duplicated their success with ''Franchise/MyLittlePony'' that same year, which was a hit with girls, and in 1984 with ''The Franchise/{{Transformers}}'', using toys re-purposed from two Japanese toylines. ''WesternAnimation/{{Jem}}'', Hasbro's 1986 attempt to compete with {{Barbie}} in the doll market, failed, although the cartoon gained a cult following. The ''Maxie'' line and its animated series were only slightly more successful as ''Jem''. In 1991, Hasbro purchased Tonka, which gained them not only the truck line, but the Parker Brothers board game line, including ''TabletopGame/{{Monopoly}}'' and ''TabletopGame/CandyLand'', as a complement to Milton Bradley, a 1984 purchase. Tonka also had the toy rights to ''Franchise/StarWars'', a property which would prove valuable for the company.

Hasbro, based in Pawtucket, Rhode Island, is a global leader in the toy and games industry, and perhaps the leader in integrated [[MerchandiseDriven toy-based]] entertainment. The company was founded in 1923 as a textile remnant factory and expanded into toys in the 1940s. It's first big success was Mr. Potato Head, which arrived in 1952 In 1965, Hasbro launched the action figure with ''Franchise/GIJoe''. In 1982, Hasbro launched the ''A Real American Hero'' sub-franchise, and with it, pioneered a new multimedia strategy as comics and an animated TV series became hugely successful, thanks to the storytelling work of MarvelComics and its animation division. Hasbro and Marvel then duplicated their success with ''Franchise/MyLittlePony'' that same year, which was a hit with girls, and in 1984 with ''The Franchise/{{Transformers}}'', using toys re-purposed from two Japanese toylines. ''WesternAnimation/{{Jem}}'', Hasbro's 1986 attempt to compete with {{Barbie}} in the doll market, failed, although the cartoon gained a cult following. The ''Maxie'' line and its animated series were only slightly more successful as ''Jem''. In 1991, Hasbro purchased Tonka, which gained them not only the truck line, but the Parker Brothers board game line, including ''{{Monopoly}}'' and ''CandyLand'', as a complement to Milton Bradley, a 1984 purchase. Tonka also had the toy rights to ''Franchise/StarWars'', a property which would prove valuable for the company.

Hasbro, based in Pawtucket, Rhode Island, is a global leader in the toy and games industry, and perhaps the leader in integrated [[MerchandiseDriven toy-based]] entertainment. The company was founded in 1923 as a textile remnant factory and expanded into toys in the 1940s. It's first big success was Mr. Potato Head, which arrived in 1952 In 1965, Hasbro launched the action figure with ''Franchise/GIJoe''. In 1982, Hasbro launched the ''A Real American Hero'' sub-franchise, and with it, pioneered a new multimedia strategy as comics and an animated TV series became hugely successful, thanks to the storytelling work of MarvelComics and its animation division. Hasbro and Marvel then duplicated their success with ''Franchise/MyLittlePony'' that same year, which was a hit with girls, and in 1984 with ''The Franchise/{{Transformers}}'', using toys re-purposed from two Japanese toylines. ''WesternAnimation/{{Jem}}'', Hasbro's 1986 attempt to compete with {{Barbie}} in the doll market, failed, although the cartoon gained a cult following. The ''Maxie'' line and its animated series were only slightly more successful as ''Jem''. In 1991, Hasbro purchased Tonka, which gained them not only the truck line, but the Parker Brothers board game line, including {{Monopoly}} and CandyLand, as a complement to Milton Bradley, a 1984 purchase. Tonka also had the toy rights to ''Franchise/StarWars'', a property which would prove valuable for the company.

Hasbro, based in Pawtucket, Rhode Island, is a global leader in the toy and games industry, and perhaps the leader in integrated [[MerchandiseDriven toy-based]] entertainment. The company was founded in 1923 as a textile remnant factory and expanded into toys in the 1940s. It's first big success was Mr. Potato Head, which arrived in 1952 In 1965, Hasbro launched the action figure with ''Franchise/GIJoe''. In 1982, Hasbro launched the ''A Real American Hero'' sub-franchise, and with it, pioneered a new multimedia strategy as comics and an animated TV series became hugely successful, thanks to the storytelling work of MarvelComics and its animation division. Hasbro and Marvel then duplicated their success with ''Franchise/MyLittlePony'' that same year, which was a hit with girls, and in 1984 with ''The Franchise/{{Transformers}}'', using toys re-purposed from two Japanese toylines.

Hasbro, based in Pawtucket, Rhode Island, is a global leader in the toy and games industry, and perhaps the leader in integrated [[MerchandiseDriven toy-based]] entertainment. In 1965, Hasbro launched the action figure with ''Franchise/GIJoe''. In 1982, Hasbro launched the ''A Real American Hero'' sub-franchise, and with it, pioneered a new multimedia strategy as comics and an animated TV series became hugely successful, thanks to the storytelling work of MarvelComics and its animation division. Hasbro and Marvel then duplicated their success in 1984 with ''The Franchise/{{Transformers}}'', using toys re-purposed from two Japanese toylines.