Review - 2014 Puppy Surprise and Kitty Surprise

Puppy and Kitty Surprise are revivals of the beloved early 90s toy lines of the same names. If the current products follow suit, perhaps we'll even see updated versions of ponies, bunnies, and/or bears rejoining the 'Surprise' menagerie! :)

These toys feature a simplistic but nonetheless charming gimmick: the 'mother''s belly can be opened via Velcro to reveal a 'litter' of smaller plush. The exact number of puppies or kittens you receive is random--ranging from three to five--and variances in gender, patterns, colors, etc. keep the mystery entertaining.

The retro aesthetic was a major selling point for me; there's a certain 'look' to 80s/early 90s toy lines that's seldom found on modern shelves. Very rarely does a current franchise venture into the cute, pastel-rainbow world of yesteryear--and that's a shame. If--like me--you're feeling a bit nostalgic for those days of Popples, Jem, and Fairy Tails, these will fit the bill just fine.

In fact, this latest incarnation of the brand is virtually unchanged from the original--right down to the molded plastic faces! Even the packaging has a 90s feel to it (and also doubles as an adorable "pet carrier" for your toy). The major difference is in the quality of the plush; these newer dolls feature far softer, more 'clumping'-resistant plush than their predecessors.

Compare to the original toys, shown below (photo credit: Hasbro, provided by Pranceatron and Ghost of the Doll):

Bottom line: A charming, quaintly retro plush toy with a twist. Just Play did a wonderful job of recreating these classic toys, capturing nearly every detail of the originals. A worthy purchase for children and collectors alike!

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Review - Cutie Mark Magic Fashion Style Sunset Shimmer

This doll marks Sunset Shimmer's 'Fashion Style' debut. With the new 'Cutie Mark Magic' sub-print, the FS ponies have made the transition to all-plastic clothing, though the ponies themselves remain little-changed from the older waves.

Sunset Shimmer's body is a rich, amber-yellow--the same as her initial brushable release. Her mane comes in a nice, manageable roll, with curls throughout the tail. Her outfit is bright and bold, and oddly reminiscent of a stylized Wonderbolts uniform (at least IMO). As is often the case, Sunset's cutie mark is a central motif, and her sun-shaped earrings are nearly identical to those included with her first Equestria Girls release. Even if you're not a fan of the full outfit, these earrings, along with the necklace and barrette, look lovely as standalone pieces.

Her accessories are: top, skirt, four charms that can attach to the skirt, two earrings, goggles, a necklace, a barrette, and four boots.

The goggles ARE translucent, and her eyes are still visible when they are worn. Here she is in full bling...

...And here she is without:

Bottom line: Sunset Shimmer is a brilliant addition to the existing stable of FS ponies. ;) And with Daisy Dreams still to come, it's wonderful to see that Hasbro is expanding their line-up to include characters outside of the Mane Six and princesses. Whether or not you're a fan of her bold new ensemble, the pony beneath the bling is still well-worth the $16.99 USD.

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Review - Funko Pop! Dancing Baby Groot Figure

Guardians of the Galaxy was a superb film all-around. It had that perfect recipe that's seldom ever truly achieved in superhero cinema, and the mid-credits scene was the cherry that topped it off. Following GotG's debut, fans demanded that a toy or collectible be manufactured in the likeness of the lovable baby Groot, dancing within the confines of his flowerpot to the Jackson 5's "I Want You Back". The first manufacturer to answer this demand (though surely not the last) with anything larger than an inch-tall accessory is Funko, with this adorable, chibi-fied bobblehead.

Just so we're immediately clear: NO, IT IS NOT ELECTRONIC. This figure's dance repertoire consists only of head-bobbling (though he IS permanently posed mid-dance). So if you're holding out for an actual animatronic toy, you're probably best off waiting for a more elaborate model (I know I would end up buying both, lol).

That said, I LOVE my little Groot sapling (Grootling?), and he makes an adorable addition to my shelves.

The facial sculpt differs significantly from Groot's original, 'adult' Funko release. The indentations in the 'bark' are softer and shallower, and while the 'adult' Groot wears a rather stoic expression, this one dons an innocent, dimply smile with warm eyes. The simplistic face-up is very charming, and it's hard not to smile when you see its sweet expression. Suitably, baby Groot is also an inch or so shorter than his more matured counterpart.

We... are... Groot.

The body sculpt is very well done, even beyond the high standards I've come to expect from Funko's works. The paint is also quite good, with touches of spring green added in smooth gradients to the main body color. I also found no paint errors to speak of on mine!

Bottom line: When the demand hit, Funko jumped on the opportunity to produce the fan-favorite Baby Groot in toy form. The result is every bit as cute as could be asked for, and with an $8.99 USD price tag, it's a no-brainer for fans. It may not have all the smooth moves of its cinematic counterpart, but this gimmick-free figure definitely delivers. (Plus, I can't get the Jackson 5's "I Want You Back" out of my head, now. ;))

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