Halloween Costume Filter: Hobbes plush in Toronto?

October 26, 2009 10:27 AM

Where can I get a Hobbes or Hobbes-lookalike plus toy in Toronto this week? I just made the last minute decision to go as Calvin & Hobbes for Halloween, where can I find an appropriate stuffed tiger on short notice? Bonus points for help with other costume elements, thanks!
posted by JPDD to clothing, beauty, & fashion (11 comments total)

Not that this will be much help, but the creator of Calvin and Hobbes never allowed the licensing of his characters for anything outside of some calendars, so a plush Hobbes doesn't exist as far as I know (unless it's a bootleg of some sort!). Good luck in your search! :)
posted by Hanuman1960 at 10:35 AM on October 26

Tigger is like a goofy Hobbes and would play a good stand-in. You could Sharpie his nose black for a closer resemblance.
posted by Static Vagabond at 10:36 AM on October 26

Best bet is to find a generic striped orange stuffed tiger at a toy store or something. As Hanuman said, Hobbes as we know and love him doesn't exist in stuffed tiger form.
posted by zizzle at 10:38 AM on October 26

This won't solve your immediate problem but your question brought up some good memories.

My grandfather was a huge fan of Calvin and Hobbes and decided to make a stuffed Hobbes for himself. None of us thought he'd be able to do it because he was an expert woodworker while it was my grandmother was the one who sewed and quilted. It took him more than a year but he made himself one and then I think two more. He passed away a couple of years ago and now my grandmother and I both have a stuffed Hobbes on our beds. I don't know who else in the family has one, but they're wonderful and I'm not just saying that because my grandfather made them. If I had a picture, I'd post it, but I don't.

Good luck on your search.
posted by sciencegeek at 11:06 AM on October 26 [1 favorite]

If you search for the "Classic Pooh" version of a plush Tigger, you get more a generic tiger, which might be good enough for you. Example.

I don't know if you have Build-a-Bear franchises in every mall in Toronto like we do in the states, but they have tigers as well.

Ganz/Webkinz has a tiger and those things seem to be sold everywhere.
posted by mikepop at 11:27 AM on October 26

I first started reading this I thought, well, 17th century English garb might be a little tough to come across...

Exactly what I thought, too. But on reading [more inside], I second the Tigger idea. Nobody'll get the difference, anyway.

You can put a goldfish bowl on his head if you like, for space-tiger. But you'll need some of those 1950's style laser pistols, then. Pew pew.
posted by rokusan at 11:31 AM on October 26

In case you can't find the Hobbes, an alternative idea is to go as either StupendousMan or Spaceman Spiff. (both of which, yes, I did as a kid)
posted by ropeladder at 1:08 PM on October 26

I know he's not plush, but worst case scenario you could papercraft a Hobbes. Maybe with some poster board you could make one who's strong enough to hold up for an entire party.
posted by harperpitt at 1:19 PM on October 26

If you can't find a plush Hobbes, why not print off a picture of from the comic strip and tape it to a piece of foamboard and carry it around? Something like this?

Or you could make one. Cut off, stuff and handsew a foot from an orange sock for the head and stuff the leg part for the body, cut another orange sock in half and sew and stuff for the arms, legs and tail. Then get some white and black felt for the chest, markings and face and glue on with hot glue. You could do it in these last five days before Halloween. Good luck!
posted by KathyK at 1:43 PM on October 26 [1 favorite]

I'd use a Tigger. Tigger's nose is pink, so color it black.
And Hobbes has those puffy cheeks, so get a set of white earmuffs and attach the muffs to Tigger's muzzle. Or glue on circles of white fun fur.
Also, for a Calvin costume I'd wear black pants reeeeeally low on my thighs, and a really long red&black T-shirt to mimic Calvin's weird long-torso proportions.
A female pal dressed in similarly low pants as Susie Derkins would be fun, too.
posted by twistofrhyme at 9:59 PM on October 26

I was just in WalMart at the Dufferin mall, saw some perfect stuffed tigers, and hoped I was right in remembering this question was Toronto based.

They're in a cage type thing in the middle of the floor in the toy section, fairly large and only 10 bucks! They are quite Hobbes-like!
posted by yellowbinder at 11:30 AM on October 27