NameThatToyFilter

September 25, 2009 3:57 PM

What is this type of toy called (and where can I buy one)?

A recent Metafilter (and BoingBoing) post linked to the Gabe Askew fan video for Grizzly Bear's "Two Weeks". My question is about a type of toy that appears roughly between the 2:22 and 2:25 mark. It's like one of those figures used by artists for modeling the position of limbs of human figures, but there are elastic strings running through the sections, so that when one presses a button on the bottom of the base, the figure collapses.

My questions:

1a) What is this type of toy called?

1b) Is there a good source for buying these? I'd be happy with the plain jane model, but I'd be interested in seeing other, customized versions as well.

2)  While we're at it, what is the articulated human body model used by artists called?

posted by UrineSoakedRube to media & arts (11 comments total)

2) Artist's mannequin.

I don't know what the toy is called, but here is another example.
posted by fire&wings at 4:03 PM on September 25

I don't know what they're called, but I've found them in the toy department at Cost Plus.
posted by corey flood at 4:06 PM on September 25

I don't know where you are, but I would check art supply stores in your area first. My local art supply has a good variety of these.
posted by Avelwood at 4:12 PM on September 25

Avelwood -- I actually do have an artist's mannequin (thank you fire&wings), and I want to get one of the other type. Or did you mean that as an answer to 1b?
posted by UrineSoakedRube at 4:18 PM on September 25

Believe it or not, Ikea sells these. Last time I was there at least they could be found in the frame and art section.
posted by DieHipsterDie at 4:21 PM on September 25

It appears to be called a "push toy" or "push button toy".
posted by Lyn Never at 4:25 PM on September 25

I think this is what you're talking about:

http://reviews.ebay.com/Kohner-Push-Puppets-Thumb-Puppets-amp-Collapsing-Puppets_W0QQugidZ10000000000845261
posted by fresh-rn at 4:26 PM on September 25

DieHipsterDie> Believe it or not, Ikea sells these.

Okay, I should have been clearer (and my apologies to all of you for not making this clearer): I have an artist's mannequin (although I should see if I can get a few thousand in bulk so I can live out my totalitarian dictator fantasies), and I am interested primarily in buying the toy mentioned in 1a and shown in the Grizzly Bear video.

corey flood: thank you, that's a good fallback position, and if I can't buy one online, I'll break down and go to my nearest Cost Plus to see if they have one. But I am at least as interested in finding out what they are called as in buying one.
posted by UrineSoakedRube at 4:29 PM on September 25

fresh-rn: Yes! I know this is a somewhat trivial use of AskMeta, but this had been driving me crazy for a while. The sixth link on Google for "collapsing puppets":

Around the world they are called a variety of names - Wakouwa, Push-Up Button Puppet, Collapsing Toy, Thumb Puppet, Wackelfigur, Wackelfiguren, Wackeltiere, Wackeltier, Drückmännchen, Drücktier, Drückerfigur, Drukfigur, Drukpoppetje, Mackaci Figurky, Pupazzi, Figurine en Bois ......... and the list goes on and on and on...

Thank you all -- as I said, this had been driving me crazy. I chalk this up to incipient senility (I'm 38, and I advise you all never to get old), but whenever I can't remember the name for something, I get a little bit nuts. I credit Metafilter for easing me back from the edge whenever this happens.
posted by UrineSoakedRube at 4:36 PM on September 25

There is a wakouwa that has a shield at Petra Toys, but the sword looks longer than the one in the video.

This site seems to be the end-all and be-all of push puppets. This person also seems to know her wooden push puppets.
posted by jeanmari at 5:02 PM on September 25

Push puppets! (Or push button toy or button puppet - there are tons of names for the damn things.) I collect them. My favorite sources are ebay and pushpuppet.com. Locally I have the best luck with independent card and toy shops. It's also easier to find them this time of year because it seems like the makers really like to sell Halloween and Xmas versions.

Target sometimes carries them in the bargain spot area at the front of the store OR in an end cap in the toy section.
posted by fluffy battle kitten at 7:16 PM on September 25