Posts Tagged ‘Weirdo Toys’

Ring Around the Weirdo

Monday, August 23rd, 2010

Do you have any semi-lame toys lying around? Like these guys – the Bubbly Chubbies.

(Click to enlarge)
Bubbly Chubbies

The only reason I keep them around is because they are recalled Teletubbies knockoffs. Wouldn’t it be great if you could easily transform such cutesy-ass characters into something mildly disturbing?

You know, something like this?

(Click to enlarge)
Bubbly Chubbies with monster faces

Well, apparently you, can. All you need are some cheap-ass monster face rings.

(Click to enlarge)
Monster Face Rings

These rings look like something you could find in those cheapy, import toy catalogs… like Oriental Trading Company.

I bought these rings on eBay, and once I’d received them, I realized I can instantly transform my “normal” toys into “weirdo” toys with the most minimal of effort. This transformation took very little time and money… About 5 seconds and 5 bucks. I just grabbed a ring. popped it over a toy’s head and voila! Instant weirdo.

I really love the look of the new and improved Bubbly Chubbies. Now they look more like “Grubbly Chubbies.”
(Click to enlarge)
Grubbly Chubby

This Chubby is now a wonky-eyed viking guy with high blood pressure and a pink, marshmallow body.

(Click to enlarge)
Grubbly Chubby

And we have a your standard screaming skull Chubby…

(Click to enlarge)
Grubbly Chubby

and we top it off with the always classic gore gag… the dangling eyeball Chubby.

After seeing how great these guys turned out, I figured I’d try the remaining rings on some other figures I had lying around.

(Click to enlarge)
Monster Kermit

This vintage Kermit figure becomes a naked, bug-eyed screamer.

(Click to enlarge)
Devil

The blue guy from “Voltron,” King Zarkon, becomes Satan in his formal wear.

(Click to enlarge)
Monster Ovion

And the green, alien guy from “Battlestar Galactica,” Ovion, becomes some weird raving, alien lunatic.

(Click to enlarge)
Ovion, King Zarkon and Kermit

With that last one though, I have to admit – Ovion looks cooler and weirder without the ring/mask.

(Click to enlarge)
Toys with Monster Rings

So, that’s about it. I just thought I’d share what originated as a cheapy, weird ring impulse buy actually ended up making some mildly interesting characters for my toy shelves at work.

You guys have any quick ring-faced figures you wanna share? I’d love to see ‘em.

• Buy an Ovion figure on eBay!

• Buy a King Zarkon figure on eBay!

• Buy a vintage Kermit figure on eBay!

• Buy Monster Rings on eBay!

Santa Claus by Kohner Bros.

Wednesday, December 23rd, 2009

Hey folks! Merry Christmas! (I would say “Happy Holidays,” but I don’t feel like being politically correct today.)

Don’t worry, all you non-Christmasy types. I’m only focusing on the commercial side of the holiday. That’s right –Santa Claus!

(Click to enlarge)
Santa Push Pupper

Wow, this isn’t the jolly ol’ Santa we all know and love. This looks more like the homeless, mentally disturbed Santa we’ve always feared.

All the signs are there – wandering eye, disheveled clothes, bloody nose. Damn. Looks like he’s been stumbling through the streets of the North Pole for well over a week.

He is the perfect stocking stuffer for the weird toy lover in your family (who is probably you).

(Click to enlarge)
Santa Push Pupper Santa Push Pupper

What we have here is a vintage Santa Claus Push Puppet by Kohler Bros. I think it was released in the 1960s. (No wonder Santa looks like hell. He’s been lost on the Island of Misfit Toys for the past 40+ years.)

(Click to enlarge)
Santa Push Pupper

I’m sure you’ve seen toys like this before. For those unfamiliar with push puppets, they are basically miniature, marionette-type of toys whose segmented body parts are held together by string which is tied taut to a solid platform encased in a cylindrical base.

(Click to enlarge)
Santa Push Pupper

Once you “push” on the platform inside the toy’s base, it releases the tension of the string, resulting in the sporadic movement of the character. If given enough pressure, all of the body parts will fall limp.

Sheesh. That written description of a push puppet was a bit overkill. I think a quick video will more quickly express what I’m talking about.

Merry Christmas folks! Enjoy your food, drink, family, friends and whatever else it is that you do. I hope Santa leaves something weird in your stocking.

Buy Push Puppets on eBay!