15 Things You Didn't Know About The Toy Story Movies
7. Toy Story Saved ‘Etch A Sketch’
Although
they were unable to get the naming rights to some of the toys, most of the
characters in the movie are based on real figures. In fact, the slinky dog,
which Slinky was based on (obviously), was the only toy not in production at
the time of the film’s release.
Many of the toy manufacturers saw a boost in sales following the release of Toy Story and owe a lot to Pixar, none more so than The Ohio Art Company.
The Ohio Art Company, the manufacturers that produce ‘Etch A Sketch’ toys, were in financial trouble throughout 90s and were almost bankrupt by the end of the decade.
However, after the release of Toy Story 2 in 1999, which included another cameo from ‘Etch’, the manufacturers saw a 20% increase in sales, which was enough to save the company from going under.