I was at a baby shower for some friends this past weekend, and while the endless parade of cute clothes and recieving blankets will no doubt see their use, there’s one present that truly stuck out. It was a baby doll — but not just any baby doll. This one was wearing a hat made from the skin of Yo Gabba Gabba’s Brobee, had the ears of what appeared to be Gizmo, and had been somehow fused inside of the sea turtle from Finding Nemo. It was a brilliant, charming, horrifying creation called a Franken Toy.
Franken Toys are unique works of art created by a Hamilton-based artist Rachel Peters. Rachel takes a variety of stuffed animals, disassembles them, and then makes amazing — and slightly macabre — new toys by stitching together different body parts. This can lead to everything from the cutesy (JackJackceratops) to the downright bizarre (Half and Half).
The current offering of dolls ranges in price from $24.95 to $74.50. Is it a steep price to pay for $3 worth of toys from Valu Village stitched together? Absolutely. But it’s also a wholly unique piece of art that you’re not going to find anywhere else.
If you’re looking to give a one of a kind, totally unique gift to the friend on your list who loves things that are a little …eccentric, then these are pretty much guaranteed to satisfy. Check out Franken Toys on Etsy.
These things are hideous! You would have to be insane to pay $1 for these, let alone the prices she’s charging. Weird!!!
denise
wat.
Also: if I found out someone spent 24–75 dollars on one of these abominations instead of useful things my broke-ass could use I would be very upset.
Wow i don’t think any kids out there would actually like these toys very.
I guess Im the only one that thinks these are cute. I would never pay for them but I might make them at home. i really like the jack jackceratops. I often buy random 80’s stuffed toys at value village and my kids get bored with them. I’m thinking fraggle-smurf-muppet-brite. I love etsy but i find myself just using people ideas. I don’t have the kinda money people want for their art.
encourage your kids to think outside the box:)
I think they’re creepy and inappropriate for youngsters. Any reasonable parent should worry about what kind of nightmares these creatures could cause their children. Peters has an artisticly sick mind.
I’m not sure the target audience are the readers of this blog. We’re all about saving and getting value, so I wouldn’t think many of the readers would drop $50 on a hybrid, used stuffed animal.
It reminds me of Sid’s toys on toystory, and we all know how demented that kid was. Im gonna guess thats where she got her idea from in the first place.
Sally, that’s exactly what I was thining ( Toy Story) I would NEVER buy my friend or enemy one of those ..things.
I would love some of these! Some are a little too creepy, but some other ones are super charming and very creative! There used to be a store in Montreal that would take your child’s drawings (think 4–5 year olds) and turn them into soft toys! They were amazing!
I think they’re kind of cool and creative. Its art, not to everybody’s taste, but thats art! That said, I don’t think children are necessarily the target audience either. I love the idea Andrea mentioned about making stuffed animals from a kid’s drawing. That one might make a good at-home project if you’re the crafty sort.
I wouldn’t consider this art lol. Unless a bag of garbage got run over by a truck is also a form of art…
These are all kinds of wrong. Not ‘cool’ different — just disturbing. Ick!
^ Which made me giggle since your a “chicken” “dog”
The birth of mickey scares me.
stupid idea
Love this! I can think of some gothy friends who would love these things. I definitely don’t think the target audience of the toy products are children at all, it’s for people who looooooove the macabre, eccentric, and insane. You know, fans of horror films, readers of Edgar Allen Poe and H.P. Lovecraft. OR, those who just love wacky art, even if many of you don’t think it’s art. Art is art. Art just is. I wouldn’t buy one of these.…but try to make one of my own with cheap toys from Value Village. Think a hermaphrodite Barbie/Ken doll.….the possibilities are endless! Besides, childrens’ toys has become such a huge marketing scam, plying children with flashy lights, loud sounds, and shittily made toys that were made BY CHILDREN in sweatshops. I think this can be seen as a fun way of expressing that kind of outrage at how children these days are manipulated by child psychologists hired by corporations to “figure out what kids want”. Plus, it’s always neat to have a prop with which to horrify people with.
^ Espresso I follow your comment and opinion until you talk about childrens toys made in sweatshops.
These toys are the same sweat shop toys your speaking of except for this person has collected them and cut them up to make new strange figures. But these toys were originally intact and made by what means you speak of then.
http://www.the-leaping-lamp.com/images/mutant-toys.jpg
I love these toys! I was the woman who was lucky enough to receive the Yogaggagetties for a shower present. It was one of the BEST things we got!
Me and my husband were so excited to get it. Our child will have a toy that no other child in the whole world will have.
I feel al little sorry for the people who cannot see this as art and unique. Just goes to show how different people are. If all you want is tickle me Elmo, by all means turn your children into mindless consumer drones. You are the ones paying for it in the end. As for us we can’t wait to see our child playing with her unique toy.
Also who ever said these had to be for kids. Adults like toys to, or at least I do. I may get AlphaGetties for myself.
Hah!
I think this is a great idea! What a fun way to combine your favourite parts of your old toys! I don’t think this is made for kids, although I think some kids with wacky humour would sure get a kick out of it. It sure would be a conversation starter!
There’s no blood, no gore, no sexual innuendo, no violence implied… and look at that extra embroidery on some of them! Obviously the artist takes her time with each one, they’re not just slapped together…which is probably where the price comes in.
I see it as a group of ragtag orphan toys recreated into something more than what they were.
It’s only the stuff of nightmares if you dream in cartoons.…in which case I would love to meet you!
I think the reactions to these toys are very interesting. Some of you people seem to be genuinely horrified/offended at these creations… would you rather have your children play with Bratz, and learn how to become well dressed whores? Or perhaps typical male machismo ultra-violent toys, or latently homosexual wrestling dolls?
These Franken toys certainly aren’t for anyone devoid of a sense of humour, or an appreciation of the bizarre. But to suggest that they would warp some child’s fragile little mind or give them nightmares? Please. My fragile litte mind was warped long before I ever had the pleasure of owning a Frankentoy.