Home's Boov

These figures are for the new DreamWorks Animation film Home.  In this movie, Earth is invaded by an alien race called the Boov.  The Boov change colors depending on their "mood."  Almost all of these 18 figures are depictions of the main character Oh (voiced by Jim Parsons) in his various emotional colors.  The three exceptions are a calico cat named Pig, a generic Baby Boov, and the leader/antagonist Captain Smek (voiced by Steve Martin). The film opens in theaters on March 27, 2015.

The 18 figures are made by Kid Designs, and are sold singly in blister packs. They range in size from 1.75 to 2 inches, depending on how extended their antennae are.  They are made of a medium-hard, semi-pliable plastic that is common to many figures. While they lack any articulation, the plastic and paint is top quality.  They cost $4 each.

The default "mood" of  a Boov corresponds to either purple or pink.  Here is what we learn about their emotional states based on the 15 colored Boov figures: 

Blue = Doubtful or Sad

Green = Naughty or Grumpy

Yellow = Shocked or Frightened

Orange = Excited or Silly

Red = Angry (only one figure)

Bright Pink = Bashful or Loving

Light Pink = Happy or Cool

Purple = Joyful or Fascinated

Fortunately, the expressions of my favorite figures corresponded with my favorite colors, so I probably can live without attaining the full set.  The full set is $72 after all.  I should also mention that they couldn't resist that seemingly obligatory toyline gimmick of labeling this "First Series" -- so, if these do well, we can expect even more figures in the future. 

Critter Sitters

Critter Sitters are these new figures by Ja-Ru. This is a company which has been making cheap (and very often derivative) toys since 1961.   According to their website, Ja-Ru is the leading supplier of "impulse toys" around the world.  They distribute in 35 countries.  Hopefully these Critter Sitters will make it to Ecuador and Peru -- where they must be absolutely hilarious. 

The name Critter Sitters could suggest just about anything.  Cute kitties and puppies?  Nope. Cute guinea pigs? Guess again. Maybe the 1980s toy series of anthropomorphized animals in cute T-shirts? No, not this time.

I mean, they are cute -- don't get me wrong.  But they're styled after freaking headhunters!  They're like shrunken heads, voodoo dolls, and Norfin Trolls all in one. Let's make a toyline that reflects cannibalism and ritualized violence.  Seriously -- let's do it.

The body of a Critter Sitter is made of hard, hollow plastic.  It is 1.5 inches tall (not including the hair).  They have strong magnets inside their bodies (down at their feet) allowing them to connect to a metal-embedded "contact disc." As the young girl on the package shows, you can put the contact disc under your shirt -- with the Critter Sitter on the outside -- and walk around with him on your shoulder.  It's the exact same gimmick as the recent toyline Shoulder Buddies.  Hey wait a second, didn't the Shoulder Buddies have that wild troll-hair too?  Yep.  I told you Ja-Ru toys are derivative.  Except, unlike Shoulder Buddies, the Critter Sitters are neon-colored zombie cannibals!

They come in four different colors.  From what I can tell, there are seven different sculpts.  My goal is to find each sculpt in green.  As you can see, I have three so far.  I also got one of each of the other sculpts (in each of the other colors), so you can see what they look like.  You can also see the simple-but-loud packaging, typical of Ja-Ru and other "impulse toy" companies.  If you come across the other four sculpts in green, please let me know.  They are currently at TRU and cost $2 each.  They may also be available at other fine retailers where cheap toys are sold. 

Minecraft Minifigures S2

A mere four months after releasing Series 1, Mattel returns with another set of sixteen Minecraft minifigures. Series 2 is called the Stone Series, whereas Series 1 was called the Grass Series.  Exactly as the first time: Four figures are exclusive to carded 3-packs, while another four figures are exclusive to blind-boxed single-packs.  The other eight figures are available in both package types.

Electrified Creeper, Wither, Zombie, Zombie Pigman

Bats, Chicken, Ocelot, Iron Armor Steve

Magma Cube, Silverfish, Villager, Fishing Steve
These are exclusive to the 3-packs.

Tamed Wolf, Steve with TNT, Zombie Horse, Saddled Pig
These are exclusive to the blind-box 1-packs.

I have to commend Mattel.  Sometimes I think they are the only toy company actually interested in making money -- at least in a way that does not completely exploit their fans.  

First, they got Series 2 out fast.  You have to strike while the iron is hot. Toy fads are fleeting.  A year or even six months is too long to wait on something like this, especially if you are trying to warrant the release of Series 2 based on the measured success of Series 1.  Get Series 2 out there ASAP.  Simply seeing a Series 2 immediately increases the desirability of Series 1.  

Second, they gave us a unique selection of characters.  Some are derivative or repaints, but that is the nature of the franchise.  Overall, the selection is interesting.  I am looking forward to Series 3.

Third, they made the set easy to acquire.  I do wish they would not double-up figures in package types.  However, most companies would have put all 16 in blind-boxes or some other convoluted system forcing fans to buy many duplicates.  There is, in fact, a way to get the whole set with

no duplicates.  Buy the four 3-packs, and then just buy the four blind-boxes coded for the exclusive figures.  I have included the box codes (look for the code stamped into the bottom of each box) for each figure.  This is also the way to get duplicates of only the figures you like for mob building.

Find this sequence and look only at the last letter:

3174MOBM = Chicken

3174MOBN = Ocelot

3174MOBO = Iron Armor Steve

3174MOBP = Zombie

3174MOBQ = Electrified Creeper

3174MOBR = Zombie Pigman

3174MOBS = Bats

3174MOBT = Wither

3174MOBU = Steve with TNT*

3174MOBV = Saddled Pig*

3174MOBW = Zombie Horse*

3174MOBX = Tamed Wolf*

*Exclusive to blind-box 1-packs.

There you have it.   Series 1 information is here.

Love Potion Pop Fizz

Pop Fizz is one of the most interesting Skylanders because he's nothing but an endorsement for the use of performance enhancing drugs.  All his power comes from the "magic potion" that he constantly drinks.  His "beast mode" is nothing but a tweaker frenzy.  Well, this Valentine's Day he mixed up a particularly potent batch and became Love Potion Pop Fizz.  VH-1 takes a behind-the-scenes look at the troubling past three years of this addict's life in "Skylanders: Downfall."

Fateful First Drink Pop Fizz (2012)

Full Endorsement Pop Fizz (2012)

Big Gulp Pop Fizz (2013)

Fizzy Frenzy Pop Fizz (2014)

Love Potion Pop Fizz (2015)

Love Hugs

Love Hugs are 2-inch figures made by The Hug Factory. They are designed to look like handmade clay figures that you'd pay $30 for on Etsy.  However, they are indeed mass-produced, made-in-China, painted resin for 1/10th the price.  They come glued to little folded-paper stands that have both a cutesy poem and and a convenient to-you-from-me spot to write some names.  The Hug Factory makes dozens of versions for all kinds of holidays, occasions, and occupations. 

Love Hugs have been around since 1996 -- in fact, several of these sculpts have (c) 1996 stamped into their backsides. I have only encountered them in real life one time. Walgreen's took a chance on them for Valentine's back in 2012.  I ended up having 11 different figures given to me -- from all 11 of my lovers!  Haha, just kidding.  No one loves me.  Also, apparently, no one loves Love Hugs. On February 15th (approximately) I bought all 11 for pocket change.

Sincerely, though, I think they are cool.  I like the consistency of design, the details in the assortment, the retro-pseudo-homemade look, and their positive messages.  I've torn them apart from their poems to take these pictures. Granted, these are not really intended to be toys, but I wanted to let them live anyway.

Love Hug #1 -- Flowers

Love Hug #2 -- Framed Photo

Love Hug #3 -- Balloon

Love Hug #4 -- Chocolates

Love You Hug -- Ribbon

Cupid Hug -- Arrows

Valentine Hug -- Present 

Red Hot Hug -- Flames

Well, technically, that's all the Love Hugs -- because the rest are Kisses.  As you have noticed, Hugs have no arms.  Kisses -- also lack arms -- but they have feathers!  They basically look like Sy Snootles.  Pucker-up!
 

Kiss #1 -- No Pupils

Kiss #2 -- Glasses

Sexy Kiss -- Rose

It seems that the 12th one in what I am calling "the Valentine's series" is called a Love Bug Hug.  It's another fully painted Hug (like my favorite, the Red Hot Hug) that has little antennae making it kinda look like an insect (or an alien). It must have been the most popular one at Walgreen's the year that they carried these. I can get it through the Hug Factory website for $3.75 plus another $5.75 shipping.  Maybe I will do that. Or maybe my Valentine will order it for me.

Ha!

Lego Love

Party Animals

Party Animals are collectible toys made by Moose of Australia and distributed in North America by Spin Master.  They came out in 2011 and were the girls toy equivalent of the Mighty Beanz. 

Party Animals are hard-plastic bears wearing rubber costumes.  The bears are about 1-inch tall and the costumes are about 1.5 inches.  The bear/costume combos are always the same and they each have a cute name.  The bears are dressed as people, other animals, food, and inanimate objects.  Besides being cute and girly, I always thought there was something odd about bears masquerading as squirrels and surfboards and scissors and such.

There were ten groups with seven figures each.  These were available in blind-bags and multi-packs.  The groups were: Safari, Farm, Pets, Beach, Fantasy, Beauty, Arts & Crafts, Fast Food, Fruits, and Sweet Treats.  Five additional figures were available in playsets.  A final twelve figures were available as connecting pairs in carded two-packs.  So that puts a total of 87 figures in Series 1.

There was a briefly released Series 2 which saw an extremely limited distribution.  This series featured much more interesting costumes including Halloween monsters and Travel related objects and landmarks.  I don't think there were as many figures in the second series, though I am unsure, and I don't have a checklist.

Originally I was only going to post the heart-shaped connecting pair called "Friend & Forever" (above) as a Valentine's Day treat.  After thinking about how cute/weird they are, I decided to post a few more, especially the other connecting pairs because they're all kinda Valentiny. 

Lucky & Sunny

Romeo & Juliette

Fifie & Frizz

Cubs & Nook

Pom Pom & Hank

some nekkid bears

Pedro the Taco and Rocco the Pizza
somehow seems racist, no?

Fries with That Shake

just kidding -- it's Chips and Shakes

Fries and Shake gettin' nekkid

and the Chompies move in!

Chompy Valentine's Day!