A roundup of nostalgic toys for people born in the 2000s [Trends]
What toys were popular among your friends or at school when you were a kid?
Card games everyone gathered to play, cute animal character figures that were fun to display—maybe there are even some you “played like crazy but totally forgot the name of.”
In this article, we’ve rounded up toys that will feel nostalgic to those born in the 2000s—items that were all the rage back then.
It’s perfect for a trip down memory lane, or for rediscovering old favorites now that you’re an adult!
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A roundup of nostalgic toys for people born in the 2000s [Trends] (1–10)
Little Battlers eXperience
Danball Senki was released in 2011 as a title for the PlayStation Portable.
The franchise expanded simultaneously into anime, manga, and plastic model kits, and many may remember its innovative sales strategy of bundling a model kit with the game itself.
The model kits sold over 9 million units domestically and internationally, sparking a renewed plastic model boom.
The anime, which began airing in 2011, achieved high ratings and was broadcast overseas, including in the United States, where it enjoyed great success.
Perler beads
Despite the similar name, “bead ironing” is different from bead crafts where you string beads together.
It’s a play activity where you melt beads made for fuse beads—little pieces that look like short-cut straws—to create a single ornament or accessory.
I remember it being something girls tended to play with more.
Apparently, the toy originally comes from Denmark.
The pixelated look of fuse-bead ornaments is part of the charm; I remember being thrilled just to finish a dog or a fish.
These days there are even templates for Doraemon and Pokémon.
It’s made me want to pick up fuse beads again after a long time.
Shinkalion
Shinkansen Transforming Robot Shinkalion was created through a joint project by three companies: JR East Marketing & Communications, ShoPro (Shogakukan-Shueisha Productions), and Takara Tomy.
It’s a toy line in which Shinkansen trains—such as the E5 Series Hayabusa and the E6 Series Komachi—transform into giant robots, first released in 2015.
Before transforming, they can also be played with as Plarail trains, so many people likely remember playing with them in elementary school.
An anime adaptation began in 2018, turning it into a classic that gained many adult fans who watched it together with their children.
A roundup of nostalgic toys for people born in the 2000s [Trends] (11–20)
My Little Pony
My Little Pony is the franchise that won the hearts of girls with its colorful and adorable characters.
Created by Hasbro Studios in the United States in 1981, it features ponies, unicorns, pegasi, and more.
It was adapted into an animated series in the U.S.
starting in 1982, and by 2021 the fifth generation had aired, making it a long-loved property.
In Japan, it became popular around 2013 when merchandise sales were launched in tandem with the TV anime broadcast.
Drawing board
The “drawing board,” which lets you draw letters and pictures using a special pen and board, has long been loved as an educational toy for children.
It uses black iron powder and magnets, making it easy to erase and redraw what you’ve drawn—one reason for its popularity.
It also keeps hands clean, which is a nice bonus.
The most famous example is ‘Sensei,’ released by Takara Tomy in 1977, and in 2020 Monpoke, Pokémon’s first official baby brand, launched its own series of drawing boards.
nerf
Nerf is a toy shaped like a gun that fires sponge darts called “darts.” The trademark was registered by the American toy manufacturer Hasbro in 1990, and sales began in 1992.
There are a variety of series that can be enjoyed by both children and adults, and many people have been hooked since childhood.
They come in many forms—handguns, rifles, shotguns, machine guns—appealing to the inner boy.
There are also collaboration products with online games, attracting a wide range of fans.
Sylvanian Families
Sylvanian Families is a series of dolls and dollhouses created in 1983 by the Japanese toy manufacturer Epoch.
It’s a toy beloved around the world, including in the United States and the United Kingdom.
A 3D CG animated series was produced in 2007, and a traditional animation version followed in 2017, which, as of 2022, is still ongoing.
Attractions themed around Sylvanian Families have also been installed at amusement parks and shopping malls in various locations, so many people likely played with them during their childhood.