IHSS Blog -- Childhood Toys

 

Katie Vojvodic 

Mr. Roddy 

IHSS A 

5 October 2020 


The Art of Tsum Tsum


    That's right, ladies and blokes and non-binary folks, Disney found yet another way to appeal to our nostalgia and trick us into exchanging our entire bank account just for a few little plushies. Disney Tsum Tsums-- originally from Japan, but released in America in 2014-- are stackable pill-shaped plushies that come in many different characters from Disney's vast repertoire. They come in many sizes, ranging from 3.5 inches ("mini") to 20.1 inches ("mega"). The moment my sister Riley and I walked into the Disney Store and laid our eyes on the entire wall of the tiny Tsum Tsums, we just had to have them. But why? What was it about the little Tsums that drew us in?

    Well, for one thing, the toys were the subject of pretty much every other commercial broadcasted on Disney Junior. According to the ads, the most alluring qualities of the Tsum Tsums were two things: their stackability (ability to be stacked in a tower, fortress, wall, etc.) and their collectability (everyone wanted to collect the most Disney characters; it was extremely competitive). However, my little sister and I were drawn by something different-- we used Tsum Tsums to play make-believe. For us, the toys weren't just decorative collectibles-- they were our favorite Disney characters come to life. Of course, we already had figurines and dolls of our favorite characters, but these ones were softer, cuter, and more mobile (did I mention that they could stack?)

    Riley and I would spend hours making up stories for the Tsum Tsums, giving each of them a personality and pizazz that went beyond just their original characters. With every new Disney movie release, a new set of Tsum Tsums would appear. Once Disney started producing Tsum Tsum shorts on Disney Channel (mini-shows that showed Tsum Tsums, now animated, getting into trouble and just being cute and stuff), their popularity increased. I think by the time Riley's and my Tsum Tsum obsession fizzled out, we had over a hundred of the things. It just goes to show you that people (even teens) will buy anything if it's round and soft and reminds you of your childhood.


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