Uglydolls
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Uglydolls are a collection of designer toys created by independent toy designers David Horvath and Kim Sun-min. Uglydolls were first released in 2002, and are distinguished by an aesthetic that balances traditional cuteness with ugliness. In 2006, Uglydolls were awarded the Specialty Toy of the Year award by the Toy Industry of America [1].
Contents |
[edit] Products
The first commercially available Uglydolls were 12" plush, handmade by Kim Sun-min in 2002; since then, 7" Little Uglys, 24" Giant Uglys, 4" plush keychains, and 7" vinyl Uglys have been introduced. Although the plush dolls are still handmade, their production has been moved to mainland China. As each plush doll is handmade, each features slight variations, which enhances their appearance of uniqueness. Each doll includes a small tag describing the character's distinctive persona.
Uglydolls are sold primarily at independent and specialty toy retailers, rather than in mainstream outlets; exceptions to this are Tower Records and FAO Schwarz. David Horvath has stated that the decision to sell the toys through specialty retailers was meant to both reflect the independence of the brand from major toy manufacturers, and to emphasize the importance of specialty retailers in designer toy culture.
[edit] Characters
There are twenty (and counting) Uglydoll characters, and their personas are as varied as their designs:
- Babo makes up for in love what he lacks in mind power.
- Big Toe is very busy, but he will take care of everything; just watch.
- Bop 'N' Beep love to do everything together.
- Chuckanucka worries about pretty much everything under the sun. he is so cute in orange
- Cinko is very shy and quiet but has a good sense of humor. He is terrified of water.
- Ice-Bat lives in an ice cave or inside an ice box; he wants to hang out with you, preferably upside down.
- Jeero just wants to hang out with you. Don't ask him too many questions.
- Moxy is a real get-up-and-go Ugly.
- OX is not a very good listener, but he puts his ears to use in other ways. Tuck them into your shirt and take OX for a stroll.
- Peaco is very shy, on the outside; on the inside, he is a wild man (you can see it in his eyes). He is the least popular of the uglydolls.
- Target is the grandfather of the Ugly Dolls, which is why he has hair and a few extra limbs.
- Toodee is curious about everything. If he had a nose, it would be in everything. What’s this? What’s that?
- Tray is the brains of the Uglydolls; in fact, she has three brains, one for each blue eye. The reason her eyes are so blue is because she eats so many blueberries.
- Uglydog does not like to beg, sit, or stay.
- Uglyworms want power. The power to do great and wonderful things. They want your power.
- Wage is a hard worker, just like you.
- Wedgehead sees things the way you see them but, has to stand on his head to do so.
On 17 January 2006, the toy website Plastic and Plush reported that Target would become the first of the original Uglydolls to be retired, or indefinitely cease production. Also it is rumored that Cinko may be the second Uglydoll to be retired.
In February 2007 at the New York Toy Fair, a series of new UglyDolls was announced for 2007. These include:
- Abima
- Big Toe
- Deer Ugly
- Gato Deluxe
- TooDee
- UglyWorm
- Sailor Babo
All new Uglydolls are being produced in Little, Regular, Giant, and Keychain sizes except for Sailor Babo which will only be produced in Little and Giant Size since this was the Uglycon mascot and was exclusive in its regular size - see below for more information on limited editions.
[edit] Variants and Limited Editions
Limited Editions
- Green Wedgehead (Super 7 Store exclusive) edition of 100
- Blue Ox (KidRobot exclusive ) edition of 100
- Green Cinko (FAO exclusive ) edition of 300
- Orange Ice Bat (Giant Robot exclusive ) edition of 200
- Red Tooth Wedgehead edition of 200
- Halloween Ice Bat (Super 7 exclusive) edition of 75
- Uglycon Wage (Uglycon exclusive) edition of 100
- Sailor Babo - Regular size (Uglycon exclusive) edition of 50
- Sneak Preview Mini Uglydolls - These Uglydolls were the first Little Uglydolls and they were produced in limited quantities for the San Diego Comic Con. They are the same color as their regular size versions.
- Secret Mission Uglydolls - Original Uglydolls were produced in a black color version for the 2006 San Diego Comic Con. All versions except Ice Bat were exclusive to the show. They were produced in regular and little sizes.
The 2004 series of "Little Uglys" included Uglydolls in different colors
- Lilac Babo
- Aqua Blue Cinko
- Royal blue Ice Bat
- Yellow Jeero
- Pink OX
- Orange Tray (with one of her three eyes red, two of them white)
- Gray UglyDog (with a yellow eye)
- Red "Minimum" Wage.
- Magenta Wedgehead.
Starting with Moxy and Chuckanucka in 2006, the "Little Uglys" were made in the same color as their 14" counterparts. There is a new set of variant colors planned for 2007-08.
In 2005, a special all-green 14" Wage was released as "Green Wage." Sold at Tower Records, proceeds from this limited edition went towards relief efforts for the 2004 tsunami.
[edit] Relationships
In addition to names and personas, Uglydolls are also attributed relationships with each other. Target is the grandfather of the Uglydolls, and Cinko is the younger brother of Target. Moxy is OX's little sister. OX and Wedgehead are best buddies, while Bop is friends with Wedgehead, and Beep is friends with OX. Peaco and Cinko are cousins. Wage is best friends with Babo. Jeero is considered to be "wise" (because of his red nose) so the other Uglydolls ask him questions. Tray is also wise, her three brains are powered by blueberries. Tray and Moxy are the only girls.
[edit] Events and Appearances
Human-sized Ice-Bat and Wage mascots have appeared at the San Diego Comic Con. Ice-Bat appears briefly in the 2005 film adaptation of Chris Van Allsberg's book Zathura, while OX appears briefly in the 2005 film Yours, Mine and Ours. Jeero appears in the music video for Kasabian's song Cutt Off. Wage appears in the first episode of the television series Surface. Babo appears in the photograph on the back of Jennifer Weiner's novel, Goodnight Nobody. The life-sized Comicon Wage and Ice-Bat mascots also appear in an episode of HBO's Entourage, showcasing the convention.
The first Uglydoll convention, called Uglycon, took place 9 December 2006 at Giant Robot 2 in Los Angeles. The event included two limited pieces: Birthday Wage, in an edition of 100, and Sailor Babo, in an edition of 50. Sailor Babo was the mascot for the event.
