so called "kids" shows...

[CliffHanger2]

Right. Adult disposable income goes a long way. Modern day Transformers commercials are aimed at kids, but there's a pretty big and dedicated base of adult collectors who have a community of modders, 3d print sculpters, decal artists, painters, etc, or those who simply want to collect to recapture their youth or to even decorate their homes, especially as the mainline toys are getting closer and closer to what the 80s cartoon models looked like at more affordable prices thanks to better engineering.

By the same token, free-to-play or cheap video games and TikTok are way more accessible for children because the cash barrier is a lot smaller.

Sure, these aren't cleanly defined circles and you'll see adults and kids playing in both groups, but as long as there's interest, there's incentive to broaden the appeal as much as possible.

Exactly, some of these toys even come labeled for "Adult collectors". So it does get kinda fuzzy but yeah the target group for these shows and products is pretty wide.

[OopsIdiditagain]

Kids shows can have depth and tackle serious themes too (see Avatar the Last Airbender, Hey Arnold and Courage the Cowardly dog). Teletubbies isn't even a kids' show, it's for toddlers.