In 1986 McDonald's restaurants sold Muppet Babies PVC figures that came with removable vehicles. The set included Baby Kermit, Baby Piggy, Baby Fozzie, and Baby Gonzo. These toys proved to be extremely popular in their day, so much so that within a year (in '86 or '87) McDonald's reissued them and added Baby Animal to the set. According to Muppet Wiki Baby Animal was only available in Canada. However the Muppet Wiki information is inaccurate as it states that there were only two sets of figures released in North America when there are in fact three. Muppet Wiki also states that Baby Animal was included with the first release of the figures however that is not the case. He was not released until the second go around when the toys were reissued.
The Muppet Wiki page also claims that the Canadian Baby Gonzo figure was barefoot and the American Baby Gonzo had shoes. This is also inaccurate as the figure with no shoes is from the first series and the figure with shoes is from the second series. Both figurers were sold in Canada therefore the figure with shoes is not exclusive to the United States. As I live in Ontario, Canada I don't know if the figure without shoes was sold in the US or not. Although this second "reissued" set appeared to be the same toys as the first series, they were in fact slightly different re-sculpts of the figures. I've shown comparisons of all the figures further below. In 1990 McDonald's offered a third set of Muppet Babies figures, however this time a completely new set of figures and vehicles was produced.
A fourth set of Muppet Babies toys was issued in 1993 but it was only available at McDonalds restaurants in Europe. This set featured the same four characters. Fozzie Bear is attached to his vehicle which I suspect is a friction toy. I'm not certain if the other figures could be removed from their vehicles or not. The vehicles were reused from the Garfield and Hanna-Barbera series of toys that had previously been released in North America, but made in different colours.
The second series of McDonalds PVC Figures from 1986 or '87 with the addition of Baby Animal.
This is a large pin button that staff at McDonalds restaurants wore to promote the return of the Muppet Babies figures, which is why the button says "They're Back" at the top. Baby Animal is featured in the front of the other figures because he was a new addition to the set. The button is dated 1986 which suggests that the second series was available in '86 rather than '87.
Here are 3 of the 4 paper inserts that came in the baggies with the figures. They're dated 1986. The same inserts were used for the first and second series. On the far left is Baby Piggy from the second release in an unopened baggie. Below is the opposite side to show the toy still in the bag.
Series 2 Baby Piggy in an unopened baggie. The insert card is dated 1986.
The third series of McDonalds PVC Figures from 1990.
Here are the inserts for the third series of Muppet Babies figures which are dated 1990.
Each of the vehicles from the third series was made with a pivot joint at the center that allows the vehicle to turn left or right. However, this feature doesn't work very well when the figure is sitting on the vehicle because it either knocks the figure off or cannot be turned with the figure in place, depending on which vehicle it is. All of the vehicles can be hooked together to form a train.
All three of the Baby Kermit figures, L to R: series 1, series 2 and series 3
The series 1 figure is slightly smaller than the series 2 figure. Series 1 has smaller irises than series 2, and series 2 has the irises painted more toward the top of the eye. The red inside the mouth is lighter for series 1 and the blue necktie detail is painted to be thinner. Series 3 Kermit is sitting rather than standing. Below is the side view.
You can see that Kermit's foot for series 1 is quite smaller than series 2, as is the whole figure.
All three of the Baby Piggy figures, L to R: series 1, series 2 and series 3
All three figures are in a sitting position which can make them confusing to identify.
The shape of Baby Piggy's face and the bow on her head is quite different between the series 1 and series 2 figures. The series 3 figure is much larger than the others and the feet are wider apart which prevents the figure from fitting into the pink car. Only series 1 and 2 figures can fit in the car.
Side view
The bows on Baby Piggy's head are quite different on all three figures.
Series 1 Piggy doesn't have a bow on her back.
All three of the Baby Fozzie figures, L to R: series 1, series 2 and series 3
Series 1 and series 2 figures appear to be identical in size and shape, however a closer look shows that the feet are shaped differently. The series 1 figure also has deeper lines on the cheeks to accent his smile. The series 1 figure has larger dots on the bowtie while the irises on the series 2 figure are larger and closer together. The series 3 figure is sitting rather than standing.
Side view
All three of the Baby Gonzo figures, L to R: series 1, series 2 and series 3
All are in a sitting position which makes them more complicated to identify.
The series 1 figure is the easiest to identify because it's the only one without shoes and the strands of hair are bigger. Series 2 and series 3 figures are shaped quite differently and the third figure is much larger than the others.
Side view
Baby Animal and his wagon from series 2. Both are marked 1986.
Side view
In 1986 when series 1 was available, McDonalds produced two PVC figures for younger children who could not play with the regular toys due to the small pieces. The above figure of Baby Kermit on roller-skates is one of these figures, the other figure is Baby Piggy on roller-skates which I don't have. I assume these figures would have also been reissued with series 2.
In 1994 McDonalds released a series of toys under the title "All Time Favourites" which included a variety of licensed characters that had previously been featured in their own McDonalds toy series. Each character was presented as a toy that could be hooked together to form a 15 car train set. Baby Kermit and Baby Piggy were featured on toy number 11 from the set. Above is the toy in a sealed baggie next to one that is loose. When the toy is rolled forward Kermit and Piggy spin around. The base that they are on is designed to look like a record player.
The toy has five wheels on the bottom. The wheel in the center is the one that makes the figures spin around.
The 15 characters in this series include:
1 Ronald McDonald
2 Barbie
3 Hot Wheels
4 E.T.
5 Sega Genesis with Sonic the Hedgehog
6 Little Mermaid
7 101 Dalmatians
8 Cabbage Patch Kids
9 Tonka Truck
10 Berenstain Bears
11 Baby Kermit and Baby Piggy
12 Snoopy
13 Animaniacs
14 Bugs Bunny
15 McDonalds Happy Meal Guys: Hamburger, Fries and Soft Drink
