If you were a kid in the ’60s, ’70s, or ’90s, you probably remember Creepy Crawlers—the make-your-own-bugs toy that managed to feel like a science experiment and craft project in one. With the smell of melting Plasti-Goop and a little oven that could probably burn your hand off, it was the kind of toy that made you feel like you were getting away with something.
The original Creepy Crawlers debuted in 1964, released by Mattel under the name “Thingmaker.” The concept was simple: pour colored “Goop” into metal molds shaped like bugs, snakes, lizards, and more, then heat them up in a small electric oven until they solidified. Kids loved it. Parents were… hesitant. But even with the risk of third-degree burns, the toy line thrived through the late ’60s and into the early ’70s. Eventually, though, growing safety concerns and stricter regulations led to the line being discontinued.
After its run in the ’60s and ’70s, Creepy Crawlers faded out, mostly due to increasing concerns over safety. But by 1992, ToyMax brought it back with a modern twist for a new generation. This updated version swapped the metal molds and high heat for safer plastic molds and a lightbulb-powered “Magic Maker” oven. The Plasti-Goop came in wild neon colors, glow-in-the-dark varieties, and even color-changing formulas. The whole thing felt perfectly at home in the world of early ’90s toys—loud, messy, and built to grab your attention.
The commercials reflect that shift. The original ’70s ad played more like an eerie PSA, complete with a sing-songy jingle and haunting atmosphere that made the toy seem like a forbidden ritual. The ’90s spot, on the other hand, went all in on excitement: wild colors, fast edits, and kids shouting like they were in a monster truck rally. Both ads captured the spirit of their time, and both left an impression in totally different ways.
In 1994, riding the wave of toy-to-TV synergy, Creepy Crawlers made the jump to animation. Saban Entertainment produced a cartoon loosely based on the toy, following a boy named Chris who gains the ability to create living bug-creatures using a special machine. The show only lasted one season and was a flash in the pan, adding to the ’90s mania of trying to turn every toy into a series, whether or not it needed one. And it’s one more weird little footnote in the long, surprisingly twisty history of this franchise.
