RIP Chan Tai-ho

[IndigoErth]

So we've got a twofer, as the Playmates guy who gave us the TMNT figures and had just as big of a hand in making the Turtles so beloved has also passed.

So thank you too, Mr. Chan Tai-ho.


https://sg.news.yahoo.com/hong-kong-...105426930.html

Hong Kong tycoon Chan Tai-ho – the founder of Playmates toymaker which gave the world the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtle action figures – died on Thursday aged 87.

His wife called police after a domestic helper found Chan unconscious in bed at his luxury flat at Altadena House, Barker Road on The Peak shortly before 12.30pm.

He was taken to Ruttonjee Hospital in Wan Chai, where he was declared dead at 1.20pm, police said.


The company set up a network of distributors in the United States in 1978 to sell a range of dolls and preschool toys marketed under the Playmates brand name.

In 1984, Playmates Holdings became the first toy company to list on the Hong Kong stock market.

The company’s greatest successes came in the 1980s with its Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles figures, as well as Baby Crawl-Away and Cricket dolls. It also produced figurines from The Simpsons and Star Trek television shows.

The action figures from the comic book and television show, which chartered the adventures of four anthropomorphic turtles named after Italian Renaissance artists, was launched in 1988 and went on to become one of the most successful brands in the history of the toy industry, according to the company’s website.

[ZariusTwo]

Wise and Ho in the same week

[Papenbrook]

He brought joy to so many people.

Rest well, Chan Tai-ho.

[oldmanwinters]

I think he genuinely had a love for the franchise... I'm sure it helps that it was the line that put Playmates on the global map.

For those of you who ascribe to that "Death comes in Threes" theory (stupid because people die every minute across the world) Kevin Eastman was kind enough to give a social media shout-out to both Wise, Chan Tai-ho, and Luis Alfonso Mendoza (who voiced Leonardo in a Mexican dub):

https://twitter.com/kevineastman86/s...50534830268416

[triplexxx]

Enjoy heaven Chan Tai-ho & Luis Alfonso Mendoza, thank you for contributing to the success of a franchise which has brought so much joy in many lives. Also, thank you Kevin Eastman for honoring all these men who helped bring life to yours and Peter Laird's creation.

[MikeandRaph87]

Originally Posted by ZariusTwo

Wise and Ho in the same week

Yeah, its eerie.The Toys That Made Us came out in perfect time.

[Voltron]

I remember him from the Toys That Made Us episode. I was amazed at what an awesome job he did. Seemed like a pretty awesome dude.

It's a shame to lose someone responsible for a lot of childhood memories.

[Darth Knuckles]

What an awful week it's been! To lose someone who was in charge of making my favorite toy line of all time is very sad. It was some of the most fun I had as a kid going to the store and looking for new figures on the pegs. Thanks a lot for that. R.I.P. Chan Tai-ho.

[pferreira]

This is depressing.