Bandai plans BeetleBorgs boys’ toy line
Toy maker Bandai UK is to launch a toy version of the Big Bad BeetleBorgs, the network TV action series soon to appear on GMTV.
Bandai, which produces the top-selling Power Rangers toys, says the new range will go on sale in July. The launch will be supported by a 1m advertising campaign.
Bandai marketing director Rosie Bayles says the range will be the strongest entrant in the boys’ toys market.
But she says BeetleBorgs are unlikely to be as big as Power Rangers. “Launches like that only come around every five to ten years and we have been incredibly lucky to have had the last two with Power Rangers and Ninja Turtles.”
The BeetleBorgs TV series is currently being shown on the Fox Network, but GMTV has secured the broadcasting rights.
The launch of Power Rangers in the summer of 1994 was so successful that Bandai was forced to pull its TV ad campaign for that Christmas because of fears that demand would be too great.