In Cincinnati, a modest toy company embarked on its most ambitious licensing endeavor yet, birthing a toy franchise that would ultimately become the most commercially successful in the industry's history.

The allure of a provocative German doll sparked a profound transformation in the world of children's playthings. Inspired by its design, the co-founder of Mattel irrevocably altered the landscape of dolls for young girls.

Those who spearheaded the resurgence of a faltering action figure brand recount the sweeping ascent and subsequent decline of a once-colossal business.

More than fifty years ago, a team of toy marketers, credited with the origin of the term "action figure," conceived a novel type of doll specifically for a male audience.