'The Art of The Toys That Made Us' Brings the Nostalgia to Kickstarter
- Jul 25
- 3 min read
July 24th 2026
The popular series The Toys That Made Us has transported viewers back to their childhood with a look at iconic toys and franchises. Fans can now take that nostalgia further with a two-volume artbook set from Oni Press and The Nacelle Company, The Art of The Toys That Made Us, which can be backed now on Kickstarter.
The crowdfunding campaign began earlier this week and had a funding goal of just $5,000, which has be massively surpassed with funding siting at over $70,000. This makes the funding of The Art of The Toys That Made Us: Volume One and The Art of The Toys That Made Us: Volume Two a huge success, with another 26 days to go until the campaign ends on August 21st.
Each volume will have approximately 250 pages of details not included in the show, as well as concept art, marketing art, designs, and more for classic toys. They come as 10" x 12" hardcovers that backers can order separately or together in a slipcase.
The two volumes will share the exciting look at the toy and people involved, dividing them up between the books. The Art of The Toys That Made Us: Volume One includes the following;
Barbie
Biker Mice from Mars
Hot Wheels
Masters of the Universe
Polly Pocket
Roboforce
Wild West C.O.W.-Boys of Moo Mesa
Volume Two features these classic toys;
Barnyard Commandos
G.I. Joe
Mighty Morphin power Rangers
My Little Pony
Nerf
Power Lords
Sectaurs
Transformers
The Kickstarter also offers a hardcover volume NacelleVerse comics across more than 400 pages, covering the first year of releases that features the following;
Nacelleverse 0
Roboforce 1-3
Biker Mice from Mars 1-3
Sectuars 1-3
Power Lords 1-3
Wild West C.O.W.-Boys of Moo Mesa 1-4
Other items available include a wallet, pins, stickers, toy stands, a hat, and more, allowing backers to choose from a selection of add-ons and various bundles when backing the project. It's always good to see publishers take full advantage of the Kickstarter platform as Oni Press and Nacelle are doing here, giving people a good reason to back the project and get some exclusive extras that won't be available in future retail releases.
This is an interesting book set for toy enthusiasts that are looking to get a deeper dive into brands featured on the show, as well as a way to enjoy the artwork that helped create and market them. 'Art of' books like this for physical products are much less common in the artbook world, perfect for a group of people that are almost certainly collectors by nature.
For those that don't know, The Toys That Made Us is a documentary series on Netflix that explores the history, legacy, and stories behind some of the most iconic toy franchises. Just like the book, it shares a look at branding, development, marketing, and more, allowing the creators and fans to highlight what made the toys so special. The show has episodes for Star Wars, Barbie, He-Man and the Masters of the Universe, Transformers, G.I. Joe, Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, and many other classics, giving viewers a trip down memory lane.
If you enjoyed the show and want a deeper dive into the toys, you can back the campaign and secure copies of the the books, as well as the NacelleVerse comic hardcover, on the Kickstarter here - The Art of The Toys That Made Us
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