POP-UP DETAILS:

  • MADE BY: The Pop-Up Toys were produced and released by the Imperial Toy Corporation
  • PRODUCT NUMBER: Pop-Up Toys are listed as 'No. 7263' & No. 7264' in the Imperial toy catalog (7278 & 7279 for the Individual Box)
  • MANUFACTURED IN: All Imperial toys, including Pop-Up Toys, were manufactured in Taiwan
  • COPYRIGHT DATE: The copyright date on the Pop-Up Toys packaging reads 1986
  • PRODUCT DIMENSIONS: Each Pop-Up Toys package measures 5" x 8" (w x h). The Pop-Up measures 2 1/2" x 4 1/4" (w x h)
  • COMPLETE SET: A complete set of Pop-Up Toys consists of 48 different figures

Below are scans of the Pop Up sections from the 1986 Imperial Toy Catalog which includes detailed product information and item descriptions:

Pop Up "Assortment A" Product Details
Pop Up "Assortment B" Product Details

The Pop-Up release from Imperial Toys was unique for a number of reasons. Aside from Cheap Toys (and the Galloob prototypes), this is as close to an 'official' Garbage Pail Kids figure released during the 80's. In fact, these figures frequently appear on auction sites without their trashcans by people assuming they were standalone figures.

Pop Up (disassembled)

Another reason the pop-ups are unique is the decision by Imperial Toys to release them in four different phases. This is the only Imperial Toy to be released with the addendum "Assortment A" and "Assortment B" in the Imperial catalog. Furthermore, each assortment was released in two different packaging styes for a combined four product numbers. Below are pictures of the common cardboard-backed packaging which featured 'how-to' instructions on the front of the packaging, and a picture-checklist on the back. To build a complete set of 48, one must acquire BOTH 'a' AND 'b' names for the Pop-Up! (Example: There is an Adam Bomb AND Blasted Billy)

Pop-Up (front)
Pop-Up (back)

Below are scans of the Display Box Pop Up sections from the 1986 Imperial Toy Catalog which includes detailed product information and item descriptions:

Pop Up "Display Box Assortment A" Product Details
Pop Up "Display Box Assortment B" Product Details

The other method of distribution was a large counter-top display which held 36 pop-up toys. The pop-ups were in an individual 'display' box roughly the same size as the pop-up themselves. This method of packaging is extremely rare, and only a handful are known to exist in collections around the world. The image checklist took up both the back of the packaging as well as the sides of the box, and the instructions were moved to the bottom of the box:

Display Box (front)
Display Box (bottom/ back)