New additions to the National Toy Hall of Fame are seen in an undated photo provided by the National Toy Hall of Fame. Little green army men, along with the Rubik’s Cube and bubbles, were announced Thursday, Nov. 6, 2014, as the newest additions to the National Toy Hall of Fame in Rochester, N.Y.ROCHESTER, N.Y. – It’s mission accomplished for little green army men.
The molded plastic must-haves for generations of pretend soldiers were inducted into the National Toy Hall of Fame on Thursday, along with the 1980s stumper Rubik’s Cube, and bubbles.
The trio of toys takes its place alongside other classics including Barbie, G.I. Joe, Scrabble and the hula hoop after beating out nine other finalists including Fisher-Price Little People, American Girl dolls and My Little Pony.
The tiny monochromatic heroes have been around since 1938, with ups and downs along the way. Their popularity waned during the Vietnam War but they became big-screen stars with the 1995 Pixar movie “Toy Story” and several manufacturers continue to produce millions of them every year.
“Over the years, these toys have remained popular because they are lightweight, simple to transport in buckets or pails, fun to blow up, easy to replace,” said curator Patricia Hogan, who noted how some were inevitably melted under a magnifying glass in the sun. “But most of all because they inspire open-ended play.”