Hall of Fame
I
t was only this year that the company Restoration Games secured more than $2 million via a Kickstarter project to reboot the '80s classic Fireball Island. While, given the rising popularity of both retro and board gaming, it comes as little surprise that the project quickly shot to success on the crowdfunding site, it also speaks volumes of the heritage that of the original game's licensors and co-licensor ofthe remake, Anjar, left behind it almost 40 years ago. Now celebrating its 50 anniversary in the toy inventing space Anjar is ready to look back over those wonder years and muse on where the industry is heading next. We chat with Anjar's Jonathan Becker. Could you tell us the history of Anjar? How did it all come to be? Anjar was founded by my father, James R. Becker, the 71st inductee into the Toy Industry Hall of Fame. The name is an acronym for Jim’s four sons: Arto, Neil, Jonathan and Roger and his daughter, Nancy. The company was founded in 1968, after Jim departed Lakeside Toys (subsequently purchased by MB), which he ran for several years. Lakeside was a great place for Jim, where he could bring his talents for developing products, as well as tapping into the talents of other professional inventors and designers that he had come to know over his years in the toy business. Jim began in the toy industry shortly after WWII when he left the army and started
as a salesman with the toy jobber Schranz and Bieber. Jobbers were the equivalent of a wholesaler/distributor today, and an important part of the supply chain through the 1950’s and early 1960’s. As a salesman, Jim used a very interesting and unique method of showcasing his products: he converted a trailer into his travelling showroom and, travelling with the trailer towed behind his car, sold toys to the State Parks (big customers in those days) and retailers through the region
What was the first big hit to emerge from the company? How did this put you on the map? Among Jim’s earliest, and probably best known products, was Othello. Anjar represented the Japanese company, Tsukuda Original, for licensing Othello around the world outside of Japan. The game emerged within a few years of its introduction as one of the most successful licensed games and, with over 50 million pieces now sold in every conceivable format in over 70 different countries, is the most successful licensed abstract strategy game in history. Among Jim’s most notable products: Gumby & Pokey Bendy’s, Barrel of Monkeys, The Betsy McCall Fashion Designer, ... and hundreds of others that he developed and marketed at Lakeside Toys and, earlier, at Amsco. Other notable products created and licensed by Anjar include Fireball Island, Nerf Ping Pong, Grabbin' Dragons, Flipsiders and Breaking Point, all of which sold over one million pieces. It’s an expansive portfolio, what successes took you by surprise? With over 75 years of toy experience between us, we think we know a potential ‘hit’ when we see one. However, since so many factors contribute to whether an item
54 | toy news |November 2018