Madballs History: The Rise, Fall, and Comeback of 80s Gross-Out Toys!

Step into the world of Madballs-the 80s gross-out toy phenomenon that captivated a generation. In this video, I dive deep into the history of Madballs, from their inception by Amtoy and Those Characters from Cleveland, a subsidiary of American Greetings, to their iconic legacy today.
I’ll take you on a journey through Series 1 and 2, featuring unforgettable characters like Oculus Orbus, Slobulus, Hornhead, Bash Brain, Skull Face, Screamin’ Meemie, Freaky Fullback, Argh, Snake Bait, Lock Lips, Swine Sucker, Bruise Brother, Wolf Breath, Splitting Headache, Fist Face and more. We’ll explore the incredible Super Madballs (including my first-ever Madball, Touchdown Terror) and the ingenious Head Poppers. You’ll also see rare gems like the Madballs Roller Cycle and learn about the bizarre world of knock-off Madballs, including those crazy monster baseball bats.
Discover how Kidrobot, Just Play, Darkstar, Art Asylum, and Premium DNA revived and reimagined Madballs for new generations, along with unique collectibles like Blackdots Sofubi Japanese coin banks and Frozen Culture Madballs.
With all toys shown from my personal collection and including vintage commercials, this passion project celebrates what made Madballs so special and why they still resonate with fans today.
Inspired by Ed's Retro Geek Out, Froggy Flips & Slimehouse TV
Buy Deflector DC Madballs Protective Cases here!
deflectordc.co...
Check out all my Toy Hunt videos here:
• Vintage Toy Heaven: Ex...
Get In touch - [e-mail]
Instagram / toyoverdose
Facebook / toyoverdose
Logo by Deadgoodtees | Go buy a shirt:
www.deadgoodtee...
#Madballs #80sToys #ToyHistory #RetroCollecting #GrossOutToys #VintageToys #KidRobot #JustPlay #PremiumDNA #AmericanGreetings #ThoseCharactersFromCleveland #ArtAsylum #ToyCollector #80sNostalgia

[@strashn8or716]

Excellent video! You definitely are keeping the nostalgia for these alive!

[@ToyOverdose]

@@strashn8or716 Thankyou buddy 🙏

[@PaulB19677]

Wow, what a collection. Now I want them. Cheers mate.

[@yvonnefoster8181]

Enjoyed your narration of this video , can tell you really love them ! You have a great collection there

[@ToyOverdose]

Thankyou for the kind words 🙏

[@RetroSlacker]

every day is another day I'm being pulled into the world of Madballs! cant get enough and yet I still own none of them lol great video!

[@ToyOverdose]

They are out there! Keep asking they'll come to you. Appreciate you watching bud 🙏👍

[@RetroSlacker]

@ToyOverdose yea trying to manifest my destiny lol I just almost never seen them at shops or shows

[@dalewoodham2588]

Hi mate, met you both at the NEC today, i showed you my mad ball ( snake bait) after watching your video im collecting them, also brought a case to put it in, in your video link, thanks mate keep up the mad ball videos.

[@ToyOverdose]

Hello my friend! Sorry i didnt get a chance to talk much today, i saw the Snake Bait he was mint! That case is a good purchase, its gonna look great. Buying madballs gets addictive 😂 Appreciate the support!

[@JuStChRiS006]

Great watch . I'm sure froggy would appreciate this.

[@liamcarvet8374]

Great video need one on your madball collection! Think ive still got my lock lips head popper and a blurp ball have to dig them out now. Cheers

[@nathannewton8528]

Really sick collection, love your content, I'm from the US KY, I lov3 watching ur videos, ed's retro geek out and TSOT joe from lecistar, me and my brothers would throw these at each other as hard as we could, madballs was liked by me and my 3 brothers, definitely grails to me, 👋🤘

[@ToyOverdose]

Thankyou for watching! Madballs were definately made to throw at each other 😂

[@CheltenhamVintageToys]

very nice video mate

[@MissRipples]

Great video. How you feel about mad balls is exactly how I feel about goosebumps. Being a 90s kid, I got a few mad ball hand me downs, but they already had a foot in the grave. I always thought, though, goosebumps mad balls would have been sick.

[@ToyOverdose]

@@MissRipples That would of been a sweet crossover 😎

[@265308]

Thanks 4 making this! Its like a last min Xmas present. hahahahaha bad ass!

[@ToyOverdose]

@@265308 Thanks for watching, my friend 🙏👍

[@Dollthusiast87]

Wow, excellently crafted video. Greay to actually see your mad balls!!! I would love for you to did a "toy fair video" as I struggle to find these fairs?! A video with all upcoming shoes you plan to visit. Whats your next "collection" you will go full throttle for???

[@ToyOverdose]

Thankyou for the kind words. I'm not sure what im going to get into next. I still like Mask and the A team. But also thinking about Street Sharks. Do you collect anything?

[@ZeroCoolBoss]

Great Vid! I find it bizarre that i never came across Madballs, at all. I'm an 80s kid but never saw them, nor did any friends have them, did they just miss my part of the UK out?!

[@ToyOverdose]

@@ZeroCoolBoss A few of my friends dont remember them either!

[@Realsuperdoctor3]

I had every single Mad Ball that was ever released the first one I had was Oculus Orbis it was made by Acamas Toys it was a hollow pvc ball with a unique smell I wanted a Mad Ball after seeing them in the TV advert naggin my gran to buy me one of them later they were sold in the likes of Woolworths and John Menzies in 85 onwards also the slimeball versions with a packet of slime, I also was aware of the super mad balls which I eventually got all three but there was this huge bargain bin in Boots filled with mad balls on top was Touchdown Terror but it was burst but I wanted it but never got it, but then my local shop got the official Mad Balls the foam versions which I always thought they were fakes but they weren't I got all the head poppers as well as the roller cycle. Since the Mad Balls are 40 years old next year a toy company should reissue them as exactly as they were in 85 and 86.

[@ToyOverdose]

Sounds like you have had quite the history with Madballs! Thanks for watching 👍

[@robpatchett9636]

Nice video. Please answer something I've been wondering about for a long time: I had oculus orbis when i was young (as well as other madball stuff). I'm sure he was hollow and made of a very durable vinyl type material. But these days, it seems that everbody says that madballs were made of foam. Which is correct?

[@ToyOverdose]

From what i understand, the first series of madballs were a harder vinyl type material. Apparently parents complained that they were causing injuries due to be being too hard so they changed them all to the foam material! Someone else might know a bit more on it, but thats my understanding...

[@robpatchett9636]

​@ToyOverdose Makes sense. Thanks for the reply. I definitely prefer the harder vinyl for longevity. I also had the big football and American football, and wolf, slobulous and bruise brother head poppers. Now I just have the premium DNA crackhead and oculus. Keep up the good work dude.

[@mitchhull6763]

Very cool video. Takes me back. I have an option to buy eight 1986 MadBalls still in package, just sure what to offer. Any ideas?

[@ToyOverdose]

Thanks man! Im guessing they are all series 2. There's been an influx of those, i think someone found a container somewhere. If you are buying all 8, i wouldn't pay more than £100 a piece. If you are buying just one or two, no more than £120 a piece. They are on the internet for sale for 80ish, just gotta find them 👍

[@mitchhull6763]

@ nice, going to an auction this weekend. Went through 600 photos and knew exactly what they were when I saw them.

[@rystoysandstuff5834]

❤

[@ToyOverdose]

🤜🤛❤