1983 toy-related G.I. Joe TV Commercials
Featuring the G.I. Joe Headquarters Command Center. The MOBAT, HAL, VAMP, RAM and Dragonfly have cameos. All of the swivel-arm 1983 Joes and one captured Cobra Officer also have cameos.
Techniques include a cel animation intro and product shots in a natural play setting (outdoors). They did not use the traditional studio shot of the featured product at the end, instead they stayed with the outdoor setting. A custom song, children and voice over tell the story.
Notable: This is the first commercial to feature a custom song for the featured product.
Techniques include a cel animation intro and product shots in a natural play setting (outdoors). They did not use the traditional studio shot of the featured product at the end, instead they stayed with the outdoor setting. A custom song, children and voice over tell the story.
Notable: This is the first commercial to feature a custom song for the featured product.
Featuring the MOBAT (Motorized Battle Tank) and the RAM (Rapid Fire Motorcycle), and introducing Destro. Several of the swivel-arm 1.5 versions of the original 1982 G.I. Joes also have cameos.
Techniques include a cel animation intro, product shots in a natural play setting (outdoors), and a studio shot of the featured products (MOBAT with Steeler and Destro) at the end. A custom song, children and voice over tell the story.
Notable: Destro gets a nice star-glow effect composited over his shiny chrome dome, shown twice in this 30 second commercial.
Techniques include a cel animation intro, product shots in a natural play setting (outdoors), and a studio shot of the featured products (MOBAT with Steeler and Destro) at the end. A custom song, children and voice over tell the story.
Notable: Destro gets a nice star-glow effect composited over his shiny chrome dome, shown twice in this 30 second commercial.
Featuring the MOBAT (Motorized Battle Tank), the Dragonfly: Assault Copter (XH-1) and the VAMP (Multi-Purpose Attack Vehicle). Figures include Steeler, WIld Bill and Clutch.
Techniques include a long cel animation, a studio shot of the MOBAT, and outdoor product shots of the Dragonfly and the Vamp. The G.I. Joe cartoon's theme song and voice over tell the story.
Notable: This commercial lured kids into thinking the cartoon was coming on by using with the familiar theme song and intro animation for 23 seconds. The last seven seconds showed the toys portrayed in the cartoon as voice over told them the product names.
Techniques include a long cel animation, a studio shot of the MOBAT, and outdoor product shots of the Dragonfly and the Vamp. The G.I. Joe cartoon's theme song and voice over tell the story.
Notable: This commercial lured kids into thinking the cartoon was coming on by using with the familiar theme song and intro animation for 23 seconds. The last seven seconds showed the toys portrayed in the cartoon as voice over told them the product names.
Featuring the Skystriker: Combat Jet (XP-14F). Figures include Ace and Airborne.
Techniques include a cel animation intro, product shots in a natural play setting (outdoors), and a studio shot of the featured products (Ace and the Skystriker) at the end. Children and voice over tell the story.
Notable: The Skystriker is not quite the final product. This prototype features black rear fins and a larger, more pointed nose cone.
Techniques include a cel animation intro, product shots in a natural play setting (outdoors), and a studio shot of the featured products (Ace and the Skystriker) at the end. Children and voice over tell the story.
Notable: The Skystriker is not quite the final product. This prototype features black rear fins and a larger, more pointed nose cone.
Featuring the Polar Battle Bear (Skimobile). Figures include Cobra, Cobra Commander, and four of the new 1983 G.I. Joes: Gung-Ho, Airborne, Doc and Snow Job.
Techniques include a cel animation intro, product shots in a natural play setting (outdoors), and a studio shot of the featured products (Battle Bear and the four new Joes) at the end. Children and voice over tell the story.
Notable: This commercial introduced the new "two-handed battle grip" which allowed figures to hold their weapons with two hands. This feature was promoted with "NEW! Swivel-arm battle grip" on all 1983 figure packaging. "Swivel-arm battle grip" would remain on figure packaging through 1986. Cobra is still standing around in this commercial, with no vehicles of their own yet available.
Techniques include a cel animation intro, product shots in a natural play setting (outdoors), and a studio shot of the featured products (Battle Bear and the four new Joes) at the end. Children and voice over tell the story.
Notable: This commercial introduced the new "two-handed battle grip" which allowed figures to hold their weapons with two hands. This feature was promoted with "NEW! Swivel-arm battle grip" on all 1983 figure packaging. "Swivel-arm battle grip" would remain on figure packaging through 1986. Cobra is still standing around in this commercial, with no vehicles of their own yet available.
Featuring the APC (Amphibious Personnel Carrier). Figures include dozens of Cobras and G.I. Joes introduces two of the new 1983 G.I. Joes: Tripwire and Torpedo.
Techniques include a cel animation intro, product shots in a natural play setting (outdoors), and a studio shot of the featured products (APC and dozens of G.I. Joes) at the end. Children and voice over tell the story.
Notable: This commercial shows off many of the APC's features, such as its amphibious undercarriage, removable roof, and 28 figure loading capacity. Cobra is still standing around in this commercial, with no vehicles of their own yet available.
Techniques include a cel animation intro, product shots in a natural play setting (outdoors), and a studio shot of the featured products (APC and dozens of G.I. Joes) at the end. Children and voice over tell the story.
Notable: This commercial shows off many of the APC's features, such as its amphibious undercarriage, removable roof, and 28 figure loading capacity. Cobra is still standing around in this commercial, with no vehicles of their own yet available.
Featuring the Cobra H.I.S.S. (High Speed Sentry Cobra), the Wolverine (Armored Missile Vehicle) and the VAMP (Multi-Purpose Attack Vehicle). Figures include Cobra, Cobra Officer, Destro, Cover Girl and Clutch.
Techniques include a cel animation intro, product shots in a natural play setting (outdoors), and a studio shot of the featured products (Wolverine with Cover Girl and H.I.S.S. with driver) at the end. Children and voice over tell the story.
Notable: Finally, Cobra has a tank! The Cobra's seem overjoyed to have their own ground vehicle, and they credit Destro as "a genius" presumably for building the H.I.S.S. This commercial shows off the Wolverine's tow rope feature when the VAMP tows it to safety.
Techniques include a cel animation intro, product shots in a natural play setting (outdoors), and a studio shot of the featured products (Wolverine with Cover Girl and H.I.S.S. with driver) at the end. Children and voice over tell the story.
Notable: Finally, Cobra has a tank! The Cobra's seem overjoyed to have their own ground vehicle, and they credit Destro as "a genius" presumably for building the H.I.S.S. This commercial shows off the Wolverine's tow rope feature when the VAMP tows it to safety.
Featuring the Cobra F.A.N.G. (Fully Armed Negator Gyrocopter), the Dragonfly: Assault Copter (XH-1), and the RAM (Rapid Fire Motorcycle). Figures include Major Bludd, Gung-Ho, Wild Bill and Stalker.
Techniques include a cel animation intro, product shots in a natural play setting (outdoors), and a studio shot of the featured products (Wild Bill and the Dragonfly) at the end. Children and voice over tell the story.
Notable: Although the Cobras had already fled, the Joes ditch the RAM to show off the Dragonfly's working winch feature. Funny stuff.
Techniques include a cel animation intro, product shots in a natural play setting (outdoors), and a studio shot of the featured products (Wild Bill and the Dragonfly) at the end. Children and voice over tell the story.
Notable: Although the Cobras had already fled, the Joes ditch the RAM to show off the Dragonfly's working winch feature. Funny stuff.
Featuring the Falcon (G.I. Joe Attack Glider) and Viper (Cobra Command Attack Glider). Figures include tan Grunt and Viper Pilot.
Techniques include product shots in a natural play setting (outdoors), and a studio shot of the featured products at the end. Children and voice over tell the story.
Notable: The gliders in this commercial vary greatly from the final product. The construction technique used to attach the vertical fins, the paint patterns, and the missing plastic cannons are clear differences. This is the earliest commercial I've found that doesn't feature animation.
Techniques include product shots in a natural play setting (outdoors), and a studio shot of the featured products at the end. Children and voice over tell the story.
Notable: The gliders in this commercial vary greatly from the final product. The construction technique used to attach the vertical fins, the paint patterns, and the missing plastic cannons are clear differences. This is the earliest commercial I've found that doesn't feature animation.
Notice anything else interesting about these spots? Let me know what I missed via Facebook or Twitter and I'll incorporate your insights!
