Top 10 2000's Toys We Loved

  If Beanie Babies were the hottest stuffed animal trend of the 90s, then Webkinz were their natural successor. A cuddly creature for the technological age, Webkinz weren’t just simple stuffed animals like your parents played with. Each one came with a “Secret Code” that gave kids the ability to actually play with their pet online, as well as in real life. Webkinz were kind of the best of both worlds, like having your Tamagotchi or Neopet come to life. Not to mention - they were ridiculously adorable.    

  This series of dolls may have been shortlived, but that doesn’t mean we’ll forget them anytime soon. Dolls never go out of style, but marketers are always looking for new ways to convince kids that theirs is the coolest. Diva Starz featured the large heads and smaller bodies that eventually became the norm for the decade, but also had the ability to talk. When McDonald's introduced the Mighty Kids Meals in 2001, Diva Starz was actually one of the first lines of toys that accompanied the meal.    

  This was one of those trends that somehow transcended age and gender in order to reach peak popularity. The original concept was created in Japan in 2002, but Silly Bandz didn’t actually make their way to the US until many years later. It was only in 2009 that this trend really took off, proving that sometimes it’s the simplest things that can really make people crazy. These stretchy and colorful elastic bands came in a variety of shapes, spurring on a deep seated desire to collect as many as you could. You know a toy has really taken off when schools start to ban them, and that’s exactly what happened with Silly Bandz.    

  Many companies tried to profit off of the digital pet trend started in the 90s, because there were always going to be parents out there who were not going to give into their kids’ wishes for a puppy. One iteration of this that stood out from the rest was the Aquapet. These cute creatures were suspended in water and used technology to recognize voices and alter their behavior based on the sounds around them. The Aquapets could sing and dance, and would escalate their enthusiasm when you played with them more.    

  Many of the toys that achieved great popularity in the early 2000s were based on new technology, and this one was no exception. RoboSapien was a humanoid robot that featured a surprising amount of abilities, some of which were pre-programmed and some of which the user could control. In fact, there are a total of 67 commands that it can be given. And unlike many of the entries on this list, RoboSapien has actually experienced some longevity, with the company continuing to produce updated versions of the toy even today.    

#5: Poo-Chi  

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There have been a whole lot of robotic pets produced since the technology became available, but the most memorable for kids of the early 2000s was undoubtedly Poo-Chi. The toy was initially released in 2000, and, despite its spike in popularity, was discontinued only two years later. There were a number of spinoffs, though, ranging from robotic cats to dinosaurs. These electronic puppies were programmed to “sing” a number of songs and their eyes lit up to a sometimes alarming effect. They may not exactly have been realistic, but when you couldn’t get a real dog, it was the next best thing.    

  This is one example of a toy that was actually released before the year 2000, but still saw the majority of its popularity later. Betty Spaghetty was initially launched in 1998, as a doll with removable parts and interchangeable outfits. Her rubbery hair let you try out different hairstyles without making a permanent commitment. She had two girlfriends and a sister, so you could collect the whole gang. In 2016, it was announced that Betty Spaghetty would be making a comeback for a whole new generation of doll lovers.   
  

  Lego is great and all, but if you wanted something more involved, Bionicle was the perfect solution. With a target audience a few years older than the typical Lego user, this line of construction toys helped to revive the brand’s image at a time when it was in a slump. Unlike many other offerings from the Lego Group, Bionicle actually had a complex and deep backstory, to enhance the playing experience. Situated in a sci-fi world, these cyborg toys had their own lore that contributed to the longevity of their popularity.    

  Let it rip! This nostalgic toy doesn’t seem like it’s going away anytime soon. Though it was initially released in 2000, the Beyblade franchise has morphed and expanded over the years into a multi-media franchise. The tops were originally cross-promoted with a Japanese manga, and you probably wouldn’t have thought they could possibly take off in the toy world. But while these modern spinning tops started off as a simple game, they eventually developed into a series of TV shows, while the game itself expanded to become far more complex.     Before we unveil our top pick, here are a few honorable mentions.   ZhuZhu Pets     Cindy Smart     My Scene    

#1: Bratz

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  Every generation needs a doll to be emblematic of the decade, and for kids coming of age in the early 2000s, that was Bratz. Their heads are big and their bodies are small, causing potentially even more body image confusion than Barbie, but despite the many controversies surrounding the dolls and their production, they were a resounding success. The franchise has gone through peaks and lulls in the years since it was first introduced, but even today Bratz dolls are still on the market. Love them or hate them, you can’t deny their icon status.