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Uglydolls are a line of toys created by independent toy designers David Horvath and Sun-Min Kim. The toys have been steadily increasing in popularity since their introduction in 2002, due to their unique "ugly" aesthetic, endearing characters, and wide appeal to all ages. In 2006, the toys were awarded the Specialty Toy of the Year award by the Toy Industry of America *.
History
The idea for the Uglydoll characters came from David Horvath and Sun-Min Kim. In an interview in issue 42 of Giant Robot Magazine, Horvath related how he would write letters to Sun-Min Kim while she was away in Korea and sign them with a drawing of the orange character who would become Wage. The first plush toy was a handmade Christmas present made by Sun-Min for David of Wage. Upon showing the doll to a friend at Giant Robot (an independent toy store in Los Angeles), Horvath managed to unintentionally pitch the doll as a product, and the business was started.
Products
The first commercially available Uglydolls were 12" plush toys, handmade by Sun-Min Kim in 2002. Since then, 7" "Little Uglys", 4" plush keychains, 24" "Giant Uglys" and 7" Vinyl Uglys have been introduced. The plush dolls are still handmade, however production is now done in China. Being handmade, each doll tends to have slight variations from others like it, which can add to a sense of uniqueness. Each doll comes with a small tag describing the character's distinctive personality.
The toys are sold primarily at independent and specialty toy retailers, but not in mainstream toy stores such as Toys "Я" Us. The major exceptions to this rule are Tower Records and FAO Schwarz, both of which sell the toys. David Horvath has stated in an interview with Giant Robot Magazine (Issue 42), that the decision to sell the toys exclusively through specialty retailers was meant to both reflect the independence of the brand from major toy manufacturers, and underscore the importance of specialty retailers in independent toy culture.
Characters
There are 13 collectible Uglydoll characters. 12 are currently available as toys, with a 13th, Chuckanucka, being released in August, although it seems to exist before then through some online shopping networks.
On January 17, 2006, the toy website Plastic and Plush * reported that Target would become the first of the original Uglydolls to "retire," or indefinitely cease production.
The Uglydoll characters are:
Wedgehead: Wedgehead sees things the way you see them... okay, he has to stand on his head to do so, but still...
OX: 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... Babo: What Babo lacks in mind power he makes up for in love...
Cinko: Cinko is very shy and quiet but has a funny sense of humour...
Target: Target is the Grandpa of the Ugly Dolls, which is why he has hair and some extra limbs...
Jeero: Jeero just wants to hang out with you...
Tray: Tray is the brains of the bunch. In fact, she has three brains, one in each lump...
Wage: Wage is a hard worker, just like you...
Ice bat: Ice Bat lives in an ice cave, inside an ice box...
Uglydog: Uglydog doesn't like to beg, sit or stay...
Bop N' Beep: Bop n' Beep love to do everything together...
Moxy: Moxy is a real get up and go Ugly...
Chuckanucka: Available in August.
Relationships
Cinko is the younger brother of Target, although in The Kinko Five he is depicted as Target's cousin.
Moxy is OX's little sister.
Events
Ice bat and Wage made an appearance at a costume convention in San Diego in 2004. People had dressed as the 'dolls' to supposedly promote the toys. Apparently they had clumsily approached the visitors and then hugged them. With the exception of Ice Bat and OX (from Yours, Mine and Ours), Ice Bat is also in Zathura. (He is on a kid's shirt, as well as gets hit with a meteorite and explodes)no other Ugly Doll appear in any movies or comic books themselves, but were featured along side other well known fictional persona who have. These included heroes from Star Trek, Wonder Woman, X-Men, and the Hulk.
External links
"Uglydolls"