What is this monster in my house

April 12, 2009 4:41 PM

Does anyone know what this bizarre stuffed animal monster is?

So, my fiancee found this thing at a thrift store in Boulder, Colorado maybe 10 years ago. The people at the store didn't know what it was, and thought it was so weird they gave it to him for free. We're trying to figure out once and for all what the heck it is, and if it's something we really need to keep around the house.

It's got long bendy arms so you can hang it on your shoulders (as a backpack?), and there's a zip-open pouch on its back.

Apparently there was a girl at his high school who was really in to Anime, who had one in a different color, so we suspect maybe it's Japanese?

Bonus points: Anybody want a terrifying stuffed animal monster?

posted by gueneverey to grab bag (8 comments total)

My first thought was that it was one of the monsters from Where the Wild Things Are, but a quick perusal of the book disproved that.
posted by oozy rat in a sanitary zoo at 5:54 PM on April 12

Wow, I completely also thought that it was from Where the Wild Things Are. Weird that it's not. It's definitely familiar, though. Something else that Maurice Sendak illustrated?

Is it a Muppet? Or maybe a monster that Jim Henson et al did for a non-muppet movie, like Labyrinth or Neverending Story?

I know this isn't an answer, but I'm hoping that it triggers the memories of oozy rat or someone else.
posted by thebazilist at 6:41 PM on April 12

It reminds me of something from Toy Vault, similar to this plush, transformable werewolf - but I can't seem to find that specific critter. (I'm a casual fan of their Cthulu line of plushies, and of H.P. Lovecraft's works in general, but that doesn't look like anything specific I could name.)
posted by GJSchaller at 7:05 PM on April 12

Is there a tag anywhere on the creature--even inside its pouch?
posted by PhoBWanKenobi at 7:42 PM on April 12

Maybe Ask Dr. Toy?
posted by WCityMike at 8:05 PM on April 12

I looked for tags inside and out, but there's only a very useful "Made in China, Polyester, Dry Clean Only". Can you imagine what the dry cleaner would think if someone brought this thing in!
posted by gueneverey at 8:06 PM on April 12

I don't know what it is, but it is awesome.
posted by KAS at 6:15 AM on April 13

^_^ What an adorable creature!

I also considered the book Where The Wild Things Are, but the colors are definitely wrong. However, on that note, have you considered looking for books using such characters? It looks like a.) the type of thing that was made to accompany a form of media such as a book or little known movie, or b.) something someone made for kicks.
posted by Nox at 10:17 AM on April 26