![]() ![]() To retailers who were bitterly adamant against hearing the words "video game" after having survived the video game crash of 1983, WoW salesman Jim Whims distinctly recalled delivering an ultimatum: "If you want to sell Teddy Ruxpin and you want to sell Lazer Tag, you're gonna sell Nintendo as well. WoW became the exclusive distributor for the launch of the smash hit Nintendo Entertainment System, based on leveraging the undeniable strength of Teddy Ruxpin and Lazer Tag. Worlds of Wonder launched a series of safety messages for children, with different partners including firefighters and the United States Lifesaving Association. Actress Joanna Kerns served as Teddy's spokesperson shortly after its introduction, while at the height of her fame as Maggie Seaver on the ABC-TV sitcom Growing Pains. Other items produced by Worlds of Wonder for Teddy Ruxpin are the Answer Box and Picture Show. Other hand puppets are the larger Wooly What's-It, three interchangeable Anythings (This, That, The Other), Tweeg, and L.B. This includes two different versions of the bird-like Fobs (one orange, one purple) that are hand puppets with a sock-like, extendable neck. Then came the companion toy Grubby, different outfits for Teddy and Grubby, and several other non-animatronic companion toys and characters. Teddy Ruxpin was launched in 1985 by toy manufacturer Worlds of Wonder. Shortly after his debut, Teddy Ruxpin was dubbed the "Official Spokesbear for the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children" in 1985. The most recent version was produced by Wicked Cool Toys. ![]() Another version debuted in 1998 by Yes! Entertainment, and another version in 2006 by BackPack Toys, owned and operated by Robert Taylor. The cut rights were then sold to Hasbro, and produced again from 1991 to 1996. ![]() The first was Worlds of Wonder from 1985 until its bankruptcy in 1988. History Īfter the September 1985 debut, various toy makers have produced Teddy Ruxpin over the years. Early versions of the toy use three servo motors, but this was reduced to two and even one in later versions. The production eject mechanism was design by global design firm RKS Design. If a conventional audio cassette is played in either the second or third generation models of the original Teddy Ruxpin, this is detected and its right audio track is ignored and Teddy will not move. Grubby only works with the original WoW version of Teddy Ruxpin. This allows the two to engage in pre-recorded interactions. The data stream controls servomotors that move the eyes and mouth and can divert the audio signal to Grubby, the companion toy, by means of a proprietary cable. Teddy Ruxpin cassettes use the left track for audio and the right track for a control data stream. Teddy's extreme popularity in 1986 buoyed the controversial launch of the Nintendo Entertainment System, also distributed by Worlds of Wonder.Ĭonventional cassette tapes carry two audio tracks for stereo sound reproduction. A cartoon based on the characters debuted in 1986. The 2006 version was awarded the 2006 Animated Interactive Plush Toy of the Year award by Creative Child Magazine. Īt the peak of its popularity, Teddy Ruxpin became the best-selling toy of 19. Later versions have a digital cartridge in place of a cassette. employees, including Larry Larsen and John Davies. While the character itself was created by Ken Forsse, the talking toy was designed and built by Forsse’s Alchemy II, Inc. The toy's mouth and eyes move while he reenacts stories played on an audio tape cassette deck built into its back. Teddy Ruxpin is an animatronic children's toy in the form of a talking 'Illiop', a creature which looks like a bear. The BackPack Toys version of Teddy Ruxpin, released in 2006 ![]()
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