Sony is continuing to develop their relationship with Hasbro, and with “Candy Land” and “Risk” still actual movies that are in active development, the studio and toymaker and intellectual property owner are adding more toy to the lineup of Toy brands being turned into films. Remember Kenner’s Stretch Armstrong. I wooner will they resurrect Kenner’s Robot Man, I would.
As as a former Kenner and Tonka engineer and executive, I remember many planning sessions on Kenner entertainment products developed from 1975 – 1986 and Tonka from 1986 all the way to Hasbro. Just for the record it happened like this, General Mills Toy Group became Kenner Parker which was acquired by Tonka which was acquired by Hasbro. Kenner was always an entertainment company, pioneering licensing, leveraging animation and more. Hasbro has taken the entertainment side of the business to another level and I applaud them for it.
I digress, let’s get back to the Tonka Truck Movie, there are a few things that must be in this movie. I am listing them below, Sony, Hasbro call me we can help make this movie more original, true to its heritage and more entertaining.
Lake Minnetonka
Japan Commercialism background
Tonka’s relationship with Bandai
Tonka’s relationship with SEGA
Steel Monsters
Tonka Polistil
Tonka Mexico
Tonka Trucks & Elephants
These are just a few from memories of working on all of these and more as well as a walk down memory lane of my toy and catalog collection of the last 35+ years of American Toy history. I knew I would never leave toys from the first day I walked into Kenner Products or as Bernie Loomis used to say “We are in the Children’s Entertainment Business”
Tonka Truck the Movie
The bright yellow Tonka Truck that found its home in sandboxes, backyards and the hearts of so many children and dads will now be turned into an animated movie. Tonka Trucks were and still are sturdy, reasonable replicas of construction equipment that basically every little boy had at one time or another. Dads and Granddads fondly recall the awesome all-steel versions of the earliest iterations that were durable (though prone to rust like real trucks). We Want Our Tonka Steel Trucks!
The movie will be co-produced and distributed by Sony Pictures Animation and co-produced by Adam Sandler‘s Happy Madison company.  Adam Sandler, Call me.  Sandler loves toys and children’s entertainment they are also behind “Candy Land” with Sandler doing the writing.  The bottom line is toy companies are entertainment companies and the Steiner Family, (What’s Up? Corky) Bernie Loomis, Joe Mendlesohn, Dave Mauer, Bruce Stein, Pat Feeley and Alan Hassenfeld, I have learned much and I continue to be proud and honored to have worked with you to be part of America and the World’s Children Entertainment/Toy history.
