This started to change in The New '10s due to a general pushback against the Darker and Edgier trends of the previous decades (despite the popularity of some grimdark TV-MA-rated shows on premium cable during the 2010s) without any intervention from Media Watchdog organizations nor from Moral Guardians, and cuteness in general is far more loved and accepted in the United States than it used to be in the past (it's hard to visit any supermarket these days without seeing a Minion's face on something, or merchandises from Adventure Time, The Amazing World of Gumball, We Bare Bears, or My Little Pony: Friendship Is Magic). Even Otaku resonated strongly with edgy and dark Anime like Neon Genesis Evangelion, Death Note, and Elfen Lied. And as for the 2000s, The War on Terror and Columbine Shootings left many in the United States confused, angry and traumatized, and many teenagers of the time were into violent and sexual media. In the case of the 90s, it was a cultural pushback against sanitized media of previous decades. In fact, for most of the 1990s and throughout the 2000s, Americans used to have a very low tolerance towards cuteness in any media that wasn't explicitly kid-oriented, which is in stark contrast to Japan. In comparison, the American culture, while not having any animosity towards it nowadays as they did back then, often tends to associate the bright, colorful, and innocent with childhood and immaturity, and generally has more of a preference towards works that are manly and edgy, or whatever that will make them look more mature and adult (and according to their culture, that usually translates to macho manliness or the feeling to crush all oppositions). The Japanese culture, in general, is very accepting of cuteness anyplace, and will take it in stride. This has to do with Values Dissonance and, to a lesser extent, Americans Hate Tingle. Sometimes this trope goes the other way, too: an American character may be made cuter for the Japanese release. This is often done to characters who were originally intended to be cute. Maybe it's as simple as adding Angry Eyebrows, or maybe the character's model is completely redone. They’re cute and comforting, ideal for Kirby fans of all ages.When a Japanese game is released Stateside, there's a tendency to make the box art, or even the character models, a little more hardcore. So Just Toys’ Kirby products are kid-tested and parent-approved. It wound up going into his bed with him, being treated like it was made of a soft material and not hard plastic. ![]() ![]() He did have a total meltdown night recently and he held one of the Kirby backpack hangers close. Sometimes he’d be super into it and carry the Kirby toy around with him all day. Returning to the theme of my kid cuddling with his new Ninja Kirby plush, my tactic with the selection of backpack hangers was to open one with him every few days. If you were to get these in stores, they’d likely be in a blind pack, but you can also order a full series box online if you just want all 10. Bandana Waddle Dee and Meta Knight also make an appearance in the set, too. The smaller plastic characters on the hangers are well-made, mostly featuring different Kirby forms, including Cutter Kirby, Ice Kirby, and Fire Kirby. Sure, the idea of a backpack hanger in our current world might seem weird, but having that little bit of Nintendo swag is fun. In addition to their growing line of plush, Just Toys also has backpack hangers. ![]() ![]() I’ve definitely seen squishier characters, but the build here isn’t bad. They’re sturdier toys but still soft to hold. In addition to the Ninja Kirby (which measures in at about 12”), they also feature large plush for Sword Kirby and Sleepy Kirby. Just Toys has the Kirby license and from what I can gather, they’re putting out good stuff (full disclosure: they sent us a few items from their collection). I had concerns he might be scared, but alas, he wasn’t. Not every stuffed toy gets that treatment and honestly, I was a little shocked: the Ninja Kirby has the angry Kirby eyes. When my son lovingly kissed his new Ninja Kirby plush on the head before he went to bed after the sizable comfy behemoth resided in his room for a few days, I knew it was something good. Mixture in some joyousness with comfort and cuteness and if all goes well, your kid will have a good time with it. Having a kid has made me more cognizant of the important aspects of toys and plush.
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |
AuthorWrite something about yourself. No need to be fancy, just an overview. ArchivesCategories |