What To Watch
7 Movies & Shows Inspired by Real Toys You Can Buy
Once you’ve worked your way through Transformers BotBots, you probably need something else to watch.
By Casey Suglia
March 5, 2024
7 Movies & Shows to Watch After ‘Transformers BotBots’ - Netflix Tudum
The toys of your childhood encouraged you to dream big and act out fantastical scenarios. Whether you pretended to be a Power Ranger fighting off the evil villains or pretended to prance around the land of Equestria as a My Little Pony, these toys inspired you to have fun.
It’s no wonder that some of our favorite — and our kids’ favorite — toys have led to animated or live-action screen adaptations. From Transformers BotBots to Rainbow High, we’ve rounded up some classic (and non-classic) toy-inspired movies and shows that prove there’s still room to dream and play.
My Little Pony: Friendship Is Magic
What it’s based on: My Little Pony toys — little plastic ponies with colorful manes and tails — which first hit shelves in the early 1980s.
What it’s about: When Princess Celestia sends her star pupil, unicorn Twilight Sparkle, to Ponyville to improve her socialization skills, Twilight Sparkle quickly meets five new friends who learn to work together in harmony.
Also, check this out: With four seasons and dozens of episodes under its belt, My Little Pony: Friendship Is Magic is a sweet look at making friends through the eyes of My Little Pony toys, which parents might have played with as kids. Now they can pass that down to their kids in this series that puts friendship at the forefront.
LOL Surprise: The Movie
What it’s based on: L.O.L. Surprise! dolls, which have large, round, saucerlike eyes and are equipped with accessories that go perfectly with their own personalities.
What it’s about: Royal Bee and Queen Bee are two sisters (and dolls) who enlist the help of their super stylish doll friends to make their first movie together, which spans different genres.
Also, check this out: Launched in 2016, L.O.L. Surprise! dolls are a relatively newer toy on this list. But if you have little ones who love surprise toys (where they don’t know what they’re going to get at first glance), then you’re probably very familiar with this line already.
Barbie Big City Big Dreams
What it’s based on: Barbie dolls, which were first introduced to the world in 1959 and allowed little ones to play pretend in a completely new way.
What it’s about: Malibu Barbie heads to New York City to attend a performing arts program for the summer. While there, she meets Brooklyn Barbie, and the two soon discover that they share more than just a name — they also have the same interests and become fast friends.
Also, check this out: Barbie has held over 200 jobs since her debut, but being a performing arts student, like in Barbie: Big City, Big Dreams, might be one of her most unique.
Rainbow High
What it’s based on: A brand of colorful fashion dolls, also called Rainbow High, which launched in 2020.
What it’s about: Rainbow High is a performing arts school, and the students are very talented. But when they come together, they have to let their true colors shine in this two-part series.
Also, check this out: These collectible dolls each represent a different color in the rainbow, which also happens to suit their unique personalities. They’re visually appealing, creative and focused on performing? Now that’s fun.
Monster High: Electrified
LEGO Ninjago: Masters of Spinjitzu
What it’s based on: The absolutely iconic toy bricks made for building anything in your wildest dreams, Legos.
What it’s about: This series focuses on four ninja warriors — Kai, Zane, Cole and Jay — who fight foes in Ninjago City and embark on new quests, helping each other out when times get tough.
Also, check this out: Lego Ninjago is not only based on the toy bricks, but more specifically, the Lego Ninjago toy line, which focuses on the world of small Lego ninjas battling evil.
The Toys That Made Us
What it’s based on: Toys like Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, Transformers, Barbie and G.I. Joe, just to name a few.
What it’s about: Once the kids go to sleep, you can learn all about some of your favorite toy lines in The Toys That Made Us, a series that focuses on the history of some of the most iconic toys to grace Target shelves, well, ever. This documentary series focuses less on the talking toys and more on how they came to be, so the kiddos might not be as interested as they would be in a show featuring talking dolls.
Also, check this out: If you’re looking to get just a bit nostalgic about your childhood and the toys that inspired your imagination growing up, then The Toys That Made Us will certainly scratch that itch.
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