figure: Fisher Price Little People: The Beatles Yellow Submarine

Fisher-Price first offered its Little People in a 1959 Safety School Bus pull toy. Made of wood and lithographed paper, the figures helped small children imagine big adventures. These stylized figures populated a variety of play sets that encouraged youngsters to explore the world beyond their homes and to imagine themselves at school or the airport, at the service station or the amusement park, and at the zoo or a faraway (and wonderfully noisy) farm. Fisher-Price has offered a number of play sets with their little figures over the years. In 2019, Fisher-Price released special edition celebrity Little People, which included WWE, The Beatles, and KISS.

In order to fulfill their three-picture contract for United Artists, The Beatles created an animated film, "The Yellow Submarine" in 1968. The movie tells the story of Pepperland, a peaceful place beneath the sea. Pepperland is invaded by the Blue Meanies who can't stand the beauty, happiness, or music of its inhabitants. The Blue Meanies turn the inhabitants to stone, however, one manages to escape in a yellow submarine, travels to Liverpool, and enlists The Beatles to help. While the psychedelic visuals appealed to adults, the film worked for every generation and has become a cult classic.