Classic toys have been making a big comeback in recent years and the Weebles—a preschool toy line that initially entered the market in the 1970s—has now been given a 21st-century update courtesy of a partnership between Jazwares and Hasbro. There are presently six Weeble characters in the new series—all of which have names that start with “W”—and a clubhouse playset that offers a number of activities.
The “All New Weebles” series was initially developed in 2015 and launched in the fall of 2016. While Jazwares understood the importance of maintaining aspects of the classic brand that made it popular four decades ago, they also recognized that the line needed to be updated to fit the needs of modern-day kids. “We wanted to update the Weebles with diverse personalities and with the key values of today,” explained Heather Turner, Marketing Director, Jazwares. “The new Weebles are resilient, kind, independent and fun. Just like the preschoolers of the today, Weebles may wobble but they don’t fall down. Basically, the message behind this franchise is that children—or people of any age, really—may face different challenges but the lessons of trying again and learning from your mistakes are for every generation.”
The latest version of the Weebles have a new look, a new story and even a new town. Their new design features more figural bodies, wider eyes and more expressive faces that make them more enticing to children. Of course, their line of playsets is also innovative. The new “Weebles’ Wonder Club” playset is based on the classic treehouse but with brighter colors and various interactive features such as a slide, drop through door, look-out spot and many more, encouraging hours of imaginative play. The treehouse playset also features Willie Weebles’ dog, Buster. Additionally, each character has a unique personality and different interests. “All new animated episodes are in production to share the stories of Willow, Winnie, Wally, Winston, Wendy and Willow,” Heather Turner declared. “They are online right now via the ‘Official Weebles’ channel on YouTube.”
The Weebles line will only expand in 2017 when the company releases ‘Weebles On-The-Go’ vehicles. “It has been enormously rewarding to add new meaning to this toy line,” proclaimed Heather Turner. “Weebles is the only brand where the emotional and physical characteristics come together in a larger message. To create this series, we did an in-depth review of past lines and paired that with inspirational concepts for today. It is a truly fun and exciting project to work on as we add modern day touches to a timeless brand.” In the forthcoming months and years, Jazwares aspires to grow the entire line to include additional characters (friends, families, even pets), stories, playsets and more. “We will always continue sharing the Weebles’ values of resiliency, kindness, optimism and more but as preschoolers grow and evolve so will the stories of the Weebles,” Heather stated.
Meagan J. Meehan is a published author, poet, cartoonist and produced playwright. She pens columns for the Great South Bay Magazine, Examiner and AXS. She is also a stop motion animator and an award-winning abstract artist. Meagan holds a Bachelors in English Literature and a Masters of Communication. She is an animal advocate and a fledging toy and game designer.
We use cookies on our website to give you the most relevant experience by remembering your preferences and repeat visits. By clicking “Accept”, you consent to the use of ALL the cookies.
This website uses cookies to improve your experience while you navigate through the website. Out of these cookies, the cookies that are categorized as necessary are stored on your browser as they are essential for the working of basic functionalities of the website. We also use third-party cookies that help us analyze and understand how you use this website. These cookies will be stored in your browser only with your consent. You also have the option to opt-out of these cookies. But opting out of some of these cookies may have an effect on your browsing experience.
Necessary cookies are absolutely essential for the website to function properly. This category only includes cookies that ensures basic functionalities and security features of the website. These cookies do not store any personal information.
Any cookies that may not be particularly necessary for the website to function and is used specifically to collect user personal data via analytics, ads, other embedded contents are termed as non-necessary cookies. It is mandatory to procure user consent prior to running these cookies on your website.