By: Revanche

UglyDolls are better than real dolls

March 27, 2008

BoyDucky and I discovered this weirdly cute toy a few years ago at his first foray into my Mecca (San Diego Comic Convention). He was smitten, and promptly bought hundreds of them as gifts for his family and friends. It was probably his most memorable discovery from that Con and validated my insistence that he should give Con a chance because it was not ALL about comic books, manga and anime.

We’ve been on their mailing list ever since, and still fondly read emails about new colors and characters being introduced to the UglyDoll pantheon as a doting aunt and uncle might read family newsletters.

The UglyDolls have quickly spread from Con to specialty stores, and then to mainstream stores. I felt such sentimental pride when I saw an UglyDoll in a SanRio store: awww … they’re making it in the real world! And a dash of, “I remember when they were just a booth at Con.” Today I read an article about UglyDolls extolling their appeal to boys, and was surprised to realize that it’s an article in the New York Times. How’s that for validation? Good on you, creators of UglyDolls!

I love them because they’re soft and squishy, and practically stuffed animals but they’re not the usual bear or bunny. And real dolls creep me out. Something about their eyes. There’s nothing creepy about the rakish, sewn on, XXs for eyes these dudes have.