It has been 40 years since The Real Ghostbusters animated toy line launched in 1986. As production and sales declined in the later years of the series, well-preserved figures in their original packaging have become harder to find, with the Ecto-Glow variants drawing particular attention from collectors.
The initial release included the four main Ghostbusters, Slimer, and the Stay Puft Marshmallow Man, along with the Firehouse playset and the Ecto-1 vehicle. The five-inch action figures of the era had limited articulation and didn't always closely resemble their animated counterparts, but they allowed kids to recreate their favorite scenes.
The line ran from 1986 to 1991, spanning ten waves of releases. While many different looks for the main characters were introduced, not every ghost from the animated series was made into a toy.
Some unproduced prototypes have fetched up to around $40,000, but these prices do not reflect the market value of standard toys. Consumers looking for vintage-style figures have other options: Hasbro has released The Real Ghostbusters Classics line featuring reissues of older designs, and Mondo has produced new character figures.