Playmobil

Playmobil (pronounced "play-mo-beel") is a line of toys produced by the Brandstätter Group (geobra Brandstätter GmbH & Co KG), headquartered in Zirndorf, Germany. more...

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 logos of seven different airlines, sold only aboard flights and in duty-free shops. 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.

History of Playmobil

Hans Beck (b. 1929) is often called "The Father of Playmobil." Beck received training as a cabinetmaker but worked simultaneously on model airplanes, 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.

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 cm, 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....They invented little scenarios for them. They never grew tired of playing with them.". Earlier figures had arms of one piece and another piece for the legs. Later sets allow hand rotation and independent leg and foot movement.

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