4. Wild Wacky Action Bike (1999)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LtoZf_KfKLI Tapping into the 90s re-appropriation of 1950s-lore, Wild Wacky Action Bike features a heightened version of an idyllic American neighbourhood. Juxtaposed with the garish colours of the product itself, the visuals are reminiscent of Tim Burtons Pee Wee Herman or Edward Scissorhands for their almost hallucinogenic portrayal of suburbia. The advertisements jingle is also very much a reflection of the times, marrying the infectiousness of a classic jingle with the sensibility of the decades grunge rock. (As you may have realized by now, I am being a little facetious. Wild Wacky Action Bike is not a real toy commercial, or a real toy, unlike the other entries on this list. I was concerned this article may become a little too dry or academic and was hoping to inject a little humour into the proceedings. We will now return to the real toy commercials.)