Uglydolls, whose motto is 'Cuteness and ugliness have never had such a good relationship', are a collection of designer toys created by independent toy designers David Horvath and Sun-Min Kim. 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].
Icebat: 12" Uglydoll, 7" Little Ugly, and 4" keychain.
Products
Teen magazines such as J-14, School Chic, M and Popstar have recently considered Uglydolls stylish. The first commercially available Uglydolls were 14" plush, handmade by Sun-Min Kim in 2002; since then, 7" Little Uglys, 24" Giant Uglydolls, 4" plush key chains, and 7" vinyl Uglydolls have been introduced. Although the plush dolls are still handmade, their production has been moved to mainland China. As they are handmade, each doll features slight variations, enhancing the dolls' uniqueness. Each doll also includes a small tag describing the character's distinctive personality.
Uglydolls are primarily sold at independent and specialty toy stores rather than in mainstream outlets. Recently, however, they have appeared at more mainstream stores such as Nordstrom, Urban Outfitters and other large national chains.
Characters
There are twenty (and counting) Uglydoll characters, and their personalities are as varied as their designs:
- Abima is out of control! He has one arm in your cookie jar and an idea what to do next, which probably involves bouncing off the walls and knocking over your expensive stuff (he only knocks over expensive stuff). He's protective and will look out for you. Are you afraid of the dark? So is Abima! Abima's favorite cousin is Wage. Maybe he's your cousin, too.
- Babo makes up for in love what he lacks in mind power. He may need love, guidance and some parenting, so take him with you whenever possible! Keep your cookies and money on the highest shelf, too.
- Babo's bird is a bird who's taken a liking to Babo and thinks Babo is his mommy. Even though Babo hates birds for stealing his cookie crumbs, he doesn't have the heart to shoo this particular bird away.
- Big Toe is very busy, but he will take care of everything, just watch. He may seem slow, but he's always one step ahead... especially when it comes to eating the food you've been saving. He has the scoop on the all the latest info., but he'd like to know what's up with you.
- Bop 'N' Beep love to do everything together, such as arguing over what movie to watch. Bop gets along with Ox (they see things X to X), while Beep thinks Wedgehead really knows his stuff.
- Chuckanucka worries about pretty much everything under the sun, from what would happen if they stopped making CDs to what would happen if the mailman tries to deliver his new Ugly earmuffs while he's in the bathroom.
- Cinko dislikes water but his cousin loves to dance in water which is peaco.
- Deer Ugly lives in the forest, but wants to see the world. He wants you to write him real letters with real paper. How would you begin such a letter? "Deer Ugly!"
- Gato Deluxe is a real sweetheart who knows he's all that, big time. Try not to stare when he walks down the street!
- Ice-Bat lives in an ice cave, inside an ice box. He wants to chill out with you, preferably upside down. Whatever he touches turns to ice, but he can still warm your heart.
- Jeero just wants to sit on the couch with you and eat some snacks. Don't ask him too many questions (he doesn't know anything). He loves to exercise, and his favorite routine is, "One! Done! Donut run!."
- Moxy is Ox's younger sister and a real get-up-and-go Ugly. Her antennas pick up party signals from far and wide. She wants to take care of your problems. See how messy your room is? No problem!
- OX is named after the symbols for "hug" and "kiss." He's not a very good listener, but he puts his ears to good use in other ways. Tuck them into your shirt and take OX for a stroll. OX loves magic, and his favorite trick is turning your stuff into his stuff. Wedgehead is his best buddy. Don't forget to keep your wallet in a safe, because before you know it, it will belong to OX.
- Peaco is very shy on the outside. On the inside, though, he's a wild man . He watches you dance in your room with all three of his eyes. He loves water dancing so no one can see him (shy, remember?), much to the distress of his cousin, Cinko.
- Poe is an Ugly Dragon who has left the safety of his caverns to pursue his dreams, particularly a dream of a big scoop of chocolate ice cream. Although Poe and other Ugly Dragons can fly, he prefers to use any vehicle that allows him to sit down while moving.
- Plunko is a business man. He has his own tire shop and has lots of ideas, some of which are actually his. He's the Uglydoll to know because of his connections, and if you go into business with him, he'll only want 100% of your love and even less of your money.
- Puglee is really smart. She's figured out that people who get good grades end up with good jobs, so if she wants to avoid having a job, she needs to flunk. Only an F-minus will do! Unfortunately, Puglee loves to read, spell, and count. No matter how hard she tries, she still pulls straight A's!
- Target is the grandfather of the Uglydolls, which is why he has hair and a few extra limbs. He is often caught bailing other Uglydolls out of trouble, only to get them into more sophisticated forms of mischief. Target is Cinko's older brother. More recently, Target has shown up with a new suntan.
- TooDee is curious about everything. If he had a nose, it would be in everything. What’s this? What’s that? TooDee's questions drive Jeero up a wall. If he asks you all sorts of questions, try to keep a straight face when you pretend to have all the answers. TooDee loves Grape Drink, hence his purple color.
- 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. She sometimes talks Babo into getting blueberry pie for her. Unfortunately, Babo often brings back rocks, sticks, and other inedible things.
- Uglydog does not like to sit, fetch, roll over, or any of that stuff. Beg? No thanks! Uglydog loves to help out, though. His dream is to stand on his tail and be just like you... except for the waking up early part.
- Uglyghost can be found way out by the back exits of Uglytown, and you might be lucky enough to see him if you camp there. When he says "Boo! Boo!", is that some sort of scare tactic or is he telling you his name? Maybe it's Karaoke night. Hard to tell. Ugly Ghosts make good friends if you can befriend one. Try to leave some sweet snacks under the bed.
- Uglyworm wants power. The power to do great and wonderful things. Uglyworms want your power. They marvel at the things you can do, and they know you're bluffing when you think you can't do something. Some Uglyworms are sneaky, some are crafty, and all are hungry... for knowledge. Like where do you keep the carrot cake?
- Wage is a hard worker, just like you. He works at the local Super-Mart, although the Super-Mart people don't realize it. He wears an apron to best serve his customers. Wage was the original Uglydoll, inspired by a character that David Horvath drew on his many mushy "I Miss You" letters to his wife, Sun-Min Kim.
- Wedgehead sees things the way you see them, but has to stand on his head to do so. He's handsome, too. What do you mean he looks pathetic? Just look at that charismatic posture! He is working with OX to prove that humans really exist. The proof is in the snacks. Have any?
On 17 January 2006, the toy website, Plastic and Plush, reported that Target and Cinko would become the first of the original Uglydolls to be retired, or have their production indefinitely stopped. It turns out that Cinko was not retired, due to David Horvath's new and improved Cinko that became available in stores in April, 2008. Target also came back, reincarnated as an orange Suntan Target. Poe, Ugly Ghost, Puglee, Plunko, and Babo's Bird have all been introduced sporadically in 2008 as well.
All new Uglydolls are being produced in Little, Regular, Giant, and Key chain sizes except for Sailor Babo, who is only available as a 7" Little Ugly in the regular line. He was the 2006 UglyCon mascot and was available there only in the 14" size, and in very limited quantities. See below for more information on limited editions.
- Green Wedgehead (Super 7 Store exclusive) edition of 100
- Green Wage - (Tower Records exclusive) issued for Tsunami relief.
- Blue Ox (KidRobot exclusive ) edition of 100
- Green Cinko (FAO exclusive ) edition of 300
- Orange Ice Bat (Giant Robot exclusive ) edition of 200
- Red Ice Bat (Japan exclusive ) edition of 100
- Red Tooth Wedgehead (50 stores each received 4) edition of 200
- Halloween Ice Bat (Super 7 exclusive) edition of 75. Same black Icebat as the ComicCon edition only with an orange
cape.
- Gama go yeti (Gama go exclusive/handmade} edition of 50.
UGLYCON EXCLUSIVES
- Uglycon Wage (2006 LA Uglycon exclusive) edition of 100, although a production overage resulted in an unknown number being sold at regular retail stores, so the edition is larger than 100.
- Sailor Babo - Regular size (2006 LA Uglycon exclusive) edition of 50
- Sleepy Chilly Icebat (2007 UglyCon San Francisco show exclusive) 3 different color variations, each made as an edition of 200, only 180 were released at Uglycon. (Version 1 - Grey with green wings and blue hat / Version 2 - Brown with pink wings and green hat / Version 3 - Pink with blue wings and red hat) much anticipated Uglycon II SF Exclusives. These are the special holiday Ice-Bats from David Horvath. Plush figures with colorful wings and cone hats.
- Various colorways of the uglydolls, along with non-production uglydolls, are present at the Uglycon shows as well
SDCC EXCLUSIVES
- 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.
- Ice Lodge Uglydolls - 2007 SDCC exclusive white versions of the Uglydolls.
- sleepy chilly ice bat (blue) Comic con 2008 (sdcc exclusive) edition of 400
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Events and Appearances
- Human-sized Ice Bat and Wage mascots have appeared at the San Diego Comic Con.
- Ice-Bat appears brieflyalong with Wedgehead in the 2005 film adaptation of Chris Van Allsberg's book Zathura with Ice-Bat being a plushie and Wedgehead being on a shirt, while OX appears briefly in the 2005 film Yours, Mine and Ours.
- 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 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.
- The life-sized Comicon Wage and Ice-Bat mascots also appear in an episode of HBO's Entourage, showcasing the convention. Tray, as a Little Ugly, appeared in the Red Jumpsuit Apparatus's music video for Face Down.
- Many Uglydolls can be seen in the 2007 film Mr. Magorium's Wonder Emporium. They are animated, and may be seen to be walking around the toy store, particularly near the end of the film.
- Ox appears in the 2005 film Undiscovered.
- Wage and Uglydog appear briefly in the 2007 film The Last Mimzy.
- Ice-Bat appears briefly in the 2007 film Enchanted.
- Gato Deluxe, Uglyworm, and Chuckanucka appear on the set of the weekly video podcast (vidcast) Tekzilla.
- Jeero, Ox,and Wedgehead appear briefly in different scenes from the 2007 film Year of the Dog.
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External links
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