Mattel is bringing back one of its most nostalgic maker toys with a modern twist. Decades after children used the original ThingMaker to create Creepy Crawlers, flowers, mini-dragons, and other small toys with heated molds, the company has reimagined the idea for a new generation.
According to KSDK, Mattel ThingMaker is returning as a $299.99 family-friendly 3D printer created in collaboration with Autodesk. The updated device combines nostalgia with modern design tools, allowing users to create small toys, jewelry, robots, dinosaurs, and other figures through a mobile app before sending them to print.
The Classic Toy Gets A Modern 3D Printing Upgrade
The original ThingMaker arrived in the 1960s, long before most families imagined having anything close to a 3D printer at home. Children created toys by pouring liquid plastic into molds, then heating and cooling the designs. The new version keeps the spirit of hands-on creativity but replaces the old process with digital templates, app-based design, and standard PLA filament.
The ThingMaker app works on iOS and Android and lets users build items with drag-and-drop parts. They can choose templates, adjust colors, and see how movable parts may behave before printing. For safety, the printer door locks automatically once printing begins, which helps make the device more suitable for families. Mattel designed the printer for users ages 13 and up, though the small printed parts are rated as safe toys for children ages 3 and older.
Mattel Hopes To Make Home 3D Printing More Accessible
Home 3D printers have often struggled to attract everyday families. Many models have seemed too expensive, slow, or complicated for casual users. Mattel is approaching the category from a toy and consumer electronics angle, hoping the familiar ThingMaker name can make the technology feel less intimidating and more playful.
The company plans to release the printer in the fall, with preorders starting earlier on Amazon. Printing will still require patience, since a small ring may take about 30 minutes, while a larger toy could take six to eight hours. Still, the idea of designing a toy before bedtime and waking up to a finished creation carries the same kind of magic that made the original Mattel ThingMaker memorable. The company has not yet confirmed whether users will eventually print Barbie, Hot Wheels, or other famous Mattel toys, but it has hinted that its iconic brands could become part of a longer-term plan.
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