Uglydoll is a brand which began as a collection of best selling toys created by creators David Horvath and Sun-Min Kim. The Uglydoll line was first launched in January 2001, and are distinguished by an aesthetic that balances traditional cuteness

Cuteness

Cuteness is the appeal commonly associated with neoteny.- Cuteness effects :Humans respond favorably to a neotenized appearance A neotenized appearance elicits sympathy from humans as well as protective urges...

 with perceived ugliness. In 2006, Uglydolls were awarded the Specialty Toy of the Year award by the Toy Industry of America.

History

The name of the brand is actually UGLYDOLL with no "s" at the end. It started in October 2001 with a letter David Horvath wrote to Sun-Min Kim just after she had to move away due to a student visa expiring, long before they were married. That letter had a cartoon of his character Wage at the bottom saying: "Working hard to make our dreams come true so we can be together again soon" next to it. That dream was to tell stories through books and toys. As a surprise gift Sun-Min sewed a doll of Wage, and sent it to David in the mail. David showed Wage to his pal Eric Nakamura, owner of the Giant Robot

Giant Robot (magazine)

Giant Robot is a bi-monthly magazine of Asian and Asian American popular culture founded in 1994. It was initially created as a small, punk-minded magazine that featured Asian pop culture and Asian American alternative culture, including such varied subject matter as history, art, music, film,...

 magazine and store, who thought David was pitching him a product and immediately ordered a few more for his shop. David wrote to Sun Min asking her to sew more, while sending emails with stories about Wage, Babo and Ice-Bat's first ever adventure, soon to become Chilly Chilly Ice-Bat. The stuffed animals come in a normal size, a "little ugly", "Jumbo", or a clip-on.

Products

As they are handmade, each doll features slight variations enhancing the dolls' uniqueness. Note that even though they are all handmade, they are considered retail editions. Collectors refer to handmade Uglydoll as those made by Sun Min Kim.
They also include a small tag describing the character's distinctive personality.
There are also Uglydoll books, keychains, clocks, clothing, blankets, stationery, tin toys, action figures, and of course, dolls.

Appearances in popular culture

In the 2007 film Mr. Magorium's Wonder Emporium

Mr. Magorium's Wonder Emporium

Mr. Magorium's Wonder Emporium is a 2007 film written and directed by Zach Helm. The film stars Dustin Hoffman as the owner of a magical toy store, and Natalie Portman as his store employee.-Plot:...

, some Uglydolls were seen in the store, and were animated to dance near the end of the film.

On her first day of school in 2009, Sasha Obama, U.S. President Barack Obama

Barack Obama

Barack Hussein Obama II is the 44th and current President of the United States. He is the first African American to hold the office. Obama previously served as a United States Senator from Illinois, from January 2005 until he resigned following his victory in the 2008 presidential election.Born in...

's daughter, wore a Babo's Bird keychain on her backpack.

A Coldy-Holdy Ice Bat is seen in FAO Schwarz in the 2011 film "The Smurfs".

Film

In May 2011, it was announced that an animated feature film is being developed by Illumination Entertainment

Illumination Entertainment

Illumination Entertainment is an American film production company, founded by Chris Meledandri in 2007. It is owned by Universal Studios and based in Santa Monica, California. It is best known for its 2010 animated feature Despicable Me.- History :...

, the production company known for animated hit Despicable Me

Despicable Me

Despicable Me is a 2010 American computer-animated 3D comedy film from Universal Pictures and Illumination Entertainment that was released on July 9, 2010 in the United States. The film features the voices of Steve Carell, Jason Segel, Russell Brand, Julie Andrews, Will Arnett, Kristen Wiig, and...

.

Uglydoll characters

2001-2005

• Wage (Male) And Minumum Wage (Male)
• Babo (Male)
• Target (Male)
• Jeero (Male)
• Coppee (Male, Discontinued)
• Ice Bat (Male)
• Cinko (Male)
• Bee Fee (Male, Discontinued)
• Boo Boo (Male, Discontinued)
• Tray (Female)
• OX (Male)
• Uglydog (Male)
• Bop 'n' Beep (Males)
• Wedgehead (Male)

2006

• Chuckanucka (Male)
• Moxy (Female)
• Peaco (Male)

2007

• Abima (Male)
• Big Toe (Male)
• Deer Ugly (Male)
• Gato Deluxe (Male)
• TooDee (Male, Discontinued)
• Uglyworm (Any Gender)

2008

• Babo's Bird (Male)
• Plunko (Male)
• Poe (Male)
• Puglee (Female)
• Ugly Ghost (Male)

2009

• Trunko (Possibly Female)
• Fea Bea (Male)
• Winkolina (Female)
• Mr. Kasoogi (Male)
• Mrs. Kasoogi (Female)
• Turny Burny (Males)
• Uppy (Male)

2010

• Cozymonster (Male)
• Flatwoodsey (Unknown)
• Jrumpy (Male)
• Ket (Male)
• Mynus (Female)
• Mij (Female)
• Nandy Bear (Male)
• Ninja Batty Shogun (Male)
• Picksey (Male)
• Pointy Max (Male)
• Tutulu (Male)
• Uglybot (Male)
• Wippy (Male)

2011

• Basheeshee (Male)
• Brip (Male)
• Dave Darinko (Male)
• Groody (Male)
• Suddy (Female)
• Ugly Charlie (Male)
• Brad Luck (Male) (As Citizen 1)
• Nopy (Male) (As Citizen 2)
• Meetso (Male) (As Citizen 3)
• Quippy (Female) (As Citizen 4)
• Querit (Male) (As Citizen 5)
• Sour Corn (Female) (As Citizen 6)
• Heu Googeuy (Male)
• Ikoy Yoki (Male)
• Tub Nubury (Possibly Male)
• Hib Eyebye (Female)
• Niimah (Female)
• Brip Drip (Male)
• Jiker (Female)
• Croudy (Male)
• Gerry Berry (Male) (As Citizen 7)
• Thumb Crumba (Male) (As Citizen 8)
• Langis (Male) (As Citizen 9)
• Gleno (Male) (As Citizen 10)
• Wrey Wrinko (Male) (As Citizen 11)
• Zoltan Zolto (Male) (As Citizen 12)
• Indrid (Male) (As Citizen 13)
• Jay Jdizzy (Male) (As Citizen 14)
• Big Brenny (Male) (As Citizen 15)
• Glary Glen (Female) (As Citizen 16)
• Jayberry (Male) (As Citizen 17)
• Small Timer (Male) (As Citizen 18)
• Recky (Male) (As Citizen 19)
• So Greeno (Male) (As Citizen 20)

Limited Editions
2003-2006

• Green Cinko - FAO Exclusive
• Green Wage - Tower Records Exclusive
• Blue Ox - Kidrobot Exclusive
• Rare Handmade Yeti - Gama-Go Exclusive
• Green Wedgehead - Super 7 Exclusive
• Halloween Ice Bat - Super 7 Exclusive
• Thawed Ice Bat - Giant Robot Exclusive
• Sneak Preview Little Uglydolls - SDCC Exclusive
• Sailor Babo - Uglycon 1 Exclusive
• Secret Mission Uglydolls - SDCC Exclusive
• Red Tooth Wedgehead

2007

• Ice Lodge Uglydolls - SDCC Exclusive

2008

• Abima Uglycon Tokyo Collection
• Akihabara Pink Ice Bat
• Blue Abima
• Ice Bat Uglycon Tokyo Collection
• Poe Uglycon 3 NYC Collection
• Sea Sick Sailor Babo
• Sleepy Chilly Ice Bat

2009

• Coldy Holdy Ice Bat - FAO Exclusive
• First Mate Trunko - SDCC Exclusive
• Hidden Poe - NYCC Exclusive
• OX Collection
• Ket (pink) - Kitson Exclusive

2010

• Big Toe Collection
• Blue Nandy Bear - Learning Express Exclusive
• Ket at Night (dark blue) - Kitson Exclusive
• Long Time Ago Ice Bat - Giant Robot Exclusive
• Red Flatwoodsey - FAO Exclusive
• Uglycorn - SDCC Exclusive

2011

• Uglycat - Japan Exclusive
• Cookie Dream Babo - SDCC Exclusive
• Cookie Chef Babo - Redemption Certificate Exclusive
• Holiday Uglydog - FAO Schwarz Exclusive

2012

• 10th Anniversary Wage

Action figures

2009

• Wage
• Babo
• Ice-Bat
• Jeero
• Ox
• Wage
• Wedgehead
• Red Tooth Wedgehead
• Glow-in-the-Dark Ice-Bat line

2010

• Big Toe
• Peaco
• Poe
• Trunko
• Uglydog
• Uglyworm

2011

• Babo's Bird
• Kaiju Ice-Bat
• Ket
• Nandy Bear
• Ninja Batty Shogun
• Pointy Max

External links

• Official Website
• David Horvath's Blog