My girls are OBSESSED with stuffed animals. It’s their favorite type of toy to play with and mama’s favorite thing to buy them, so that works out quite well, I think! With the exception of minor changes (like the current large, sparkly eyes that adorn many plushies), though, it really is a classic toy with little variation. And that can mean that for some kids, it’s rather boring.
But a team of animators and designers from Silicon Valley recently came up with something truly unique: why not make some plush friends that were also put together via magnets, which meant that different body parts could be switched out in order to make new creations?
Meet Animoodles! We were sent Iris Unicorn and Hazel Sloth to check out, and my kids very quickly picked up on the fact that these animals can actually stick to certain surfaces thanks to the magnets on their backs. So I frequently find them hanging out on our steel front door. 🙂
They have squealed and giggled and delighted over all the combinations they can make with Hazel and Iris, and of course those combination could get even more wild with the addition of a few more Animoodles (other current offerings include Randy Orangutan, Miguel Frog, and Brady Lion, and hopefully more are to come!).
When I learned about the concept, I thought it sounded fun but I was worried that the magnets would be bothersome and/or that the parts of the plush would simply be too stiff and the animals wouldn’t be at all soft and cuddly. I’m very pleased to say that I was mistaken! Yes, they are less cuddly than something without magnets in it, but I’m quite surprised by how little that actually impacts the overall look and feel of the Animoodles. I think it’s a great design and my kids are certainly enjoying them and already asking to add to their collection.
Each character can be purchased here and the price is set at $25.
If you have stuffed animals fans at home but you’d like to try something just a little outside the box, I can tell you from experience that Animoodles will be greatly enjoyed.
Bill says
This is a copied and unoriginal idea. A product called “Swapets” was for sale on QVC, Walmart, and Amazon prior to 2016 when Animoodles was thought of according to the founders story, and was the exact same thing. They came with 2 stuffed animals per pack. You can still find the product for sale on Ebay. Furthermore, a patent was filed on this same toy back in 2009.