YooHoo & Friends is a line of stuffed toys, created by plush toy and gift manufacturer Aurora World. Introduced in 2006 as plush animals, the toys are based on animals, many endangered species, from around the world. There is also an animated television series in development.[1]
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Inspired by a bush baby, the first YooHoo & Friends toys introduced were five and eight-inch plush animals with big eyes and long, soft tails. The off white color plush animal bodies featured yellow, pink, purple or turquoise colors, primarily around the eyes and as color rings on a solid grey tail. The company expanded the line beginning in July 2007 to include Valentine's and graduation themed YooHoos, eventually leading to the launch of Easter, Halloween and holiday-themed YooHoos.[2] The company continues to expand its merchandising and licensed products worldwide. Items include educational books, umbrellas, apparel, bedding, room decor and accessories for children, as well as stationery and giftware.[1] Except for the keychain toys, YooHoo & Friends plush animals make sounds when squeezed.
The 2D animated series, YooHoo & Friends, was created to educate children about protection and preservation of the environment and encourages parents and their children to appreciate friendship, harmony, honesty and courage. Totaling 52 episodes, the show first aired in South Korea on the Korean Broadcasting System network and is scheduled to be released through Al Jazeera the United Arab Emirates, Detskiy in Russia and BBC World News in Croatia. Developed in 2007, the YooHoo & Friends characters are a species who, along with their habitat where they grow "Trees of Life", are at risk of extinction because of worsening environmental conditions. When a "Tree of Life" seed is accidentally blown away to Earth, the characters go on adventures to find the magical seed, avoiding danger and receiving help from new friends made along the journey. The five main characters are Yoohoo the Bush Baby, Roodee the Capuchin Monkey, Pammee the Fennec Fox, Lemmee the Ring-tailed Lemur and Chewoo the Red Squirrel. The show will be coming to America in April 2011 with a new storyline of the animals originally being environmentally destructive executives transformed by Father Time (voiced by Flavor Flav) to atone for their misdeeds.[1]
Yoohoofriends.com is an interactive website where visitors can learn more about the YooHoo & Friends characters, endangered animals and their habitats. Yoohoofriends.com registrants can play games, download wallpapers, calendars and coloring sheets, in addition to sending e-cards and adopting YooHoo & Friends.[3]
Aurora World, Inc. filed a federal copyright lawsuit against competitor Ty Inc., alleging Ty's Beanie Boos infringe on YooHoo & Friends. Among Aurora's claims: Ty is in violation of the Copyright Act, Lanham Act, section 17200 of the California Business and Professions Code; common law misappropriation; and common law unfair competition. Ty contends it did not intend to sell "Cleo" and "Bubblegum" in the United States. Ty also advised the court that the company had ceased sending out display racks and sell sheets containing images of "Cleo" and "Bubblegum".[4]
Aurora's court documents include comparisons of YooHoo & Friends characters with "Bubblegum" and "Cleo" Beanie Boos. Through its court filings, Aurora says, "Ty's unlawful imitations of the YooHoo & Friends products and blatant infringement are damaging Aurora, not only by causing actual confusion and likelihood of confusion in the marketplace...but also by diminishing the value of the YooHoo & Friends products by diluting their distinct and unique nature and erroneously associating them with Ty rather than Aurora." A pre-trial is scheduled to begin on December 20, 2010.[4]