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In the Spring of 2005, I got a
call from Ken Forsse, Teddy's creator. It was a call
I had been waiting for and looking forward to for a long time.
Teddy was coming back.
In mid 2006,
BackPack Toys re-released Teddy Ruxpin. It was the first time in
nearly a decade that Teddy had been available brand-new, and the
first time since Worlds Of Wonder had ceased production that Teddy
had been produced in the high quality the character and fans
deserved.
The new Teddy uses Mp3 cartridges instead of
cassette tapes to animate the Illiop, and his eyes, fur and
exteriors are also the highest quality. BackPack Toys' also
re-designed the toy's controls, making him easier to use, less prone
to damage, and much safer for small children than previous versions.
In addition, Ken Forsse personally re-worked the original storybooks
and art giving Teddy a more uniform look and clarifying the
storyline throughout.
Teddy has also returned to the
national pop culture scene. He was featured in a national TV
advertising campaign in 2006 and in 2007 and 2008 was the spokesbear
for "Love Our Children USA" along with actor Cameron Mathison.
For the first time in 20 years, Teddy is also available in
home video, as the successful toy release (and thanks to you fans
who signed our home video petition) helped convince DVD
producers to bring back "The Adventures of Teddy Ruxpin"
Teddy is also more eco-friendly than before, using smaller
battiers with a longer battery life (AA)
Teddy maintains the
size of the previous two releases, although the original Teddy was
really only that big to accomodate the hardware, which with the
advance of technology, has shrunk allowing Teddy to be more of a
kid-friendly size.
Because Teddy no longer operates a
cassette player, the longevity of the BackPack version should also
succeed that of the WoW version, meaning your Teddy Ruxpin purchase
of 2008 could very well last the better part of the 21st century.
Teddy is back... and I hope more releases and merchandise
are to follow. Do the legacy of the character a favor and buy yours
today at Amazon.com or at TeddyRuxpin.com
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