Toy Machine

Toy Machine is an American skateboarding company established by Ed Templeton in 1993. Templeton is an artist and professional skateboarder who grew up in Huntington Beach, CA. He skated for New Deal between 1990 and 1992 and later formed two short-lived companies with Mike Vallely before founding Toy Machine. From its outset, Toy Machine established itself as an influential voice in skateboarding, with an emphasis on satiric critique. Templeton creates all of the company’s artwork, including its classic characters: the sect, monster, and devil cat.

In 1994 — after releasing Toy Machine’s debut video Live! — Templeton sought to develop a new team. He recruited Jamie Thomas, Brian Anderson, Elissa Steamer, Donny Barley, Mike Maldonado, and Chad Muska, and began work on what would become 1996’s Welcome to Hell. Widely regarded as one of skateboarding’s most influential videos, Welcome to Hell endures as a touchpoint for generations of skateboarders for its creativity, legendary slam section, and timeless skating.