July 24, 2004

By: Marian Lorenz
Website: http://www.1st-in-toys.com

World Premiere of Three New Aquapet Characters June 14 at Toys R Us stores in New York and Los Angeles

Three new Aquapet characters will spend the summer on the coasts of America before making their world-wide debut this fall. Beginning on June 14, limited quantities of Bunni, Kadet and Stinga Aquapets will be offered exclusively at Toys R Us stores in the New York and Los Angeles areas.

Aquapets originated in Japan and quickly became a top-selling collectable toy. Wild Planet introduced the original three Aquapets to Europe and Canada with tremendous success earlier this year. After shipping more than one million units to these territories in the first three months, Wild Planet made plans to introduce Aquapets to America.

This spring, 100 Toys R Us stores quickly sold through their Puku, Miku and Tu quantities. Verifying that the U.S. would also embrace these collectable critters, this sampling generated a demand that exceeded production plans.

Based on the rapid sales of the first three characters, we’ve ramped up production to maximum quantity, and that still is not enough to stock the new pets nationwide, explains Dave Scanlin, vice president of worldwide sales for Wild Planet.

It looks like we have a real phenomenon on our hands with Aquapets, says Ralph V. Giuffre, senior vice president of marketing for Wild Planet. It’s rare that a toy takes off across continents simultaneously. And while it creates supply challenges, it is not a bad problem to have. These new characters are even more intricate than the first bunch and we’re eager to bring them to the public, even if it can only be in a limited capacity.

Unlike other virtual pets that are flat and two-dimensional, exist on screens, require constant attention and eventually die, Aquapets are floating, dancing, three-dimensional creatures that react to sounds made by their owners and their buoyant buddies. They chirp with nods of approval in response to proper care and reward their owners with delightful songs in appreciation of praise and affection.

Living happily afloat in their small aquatic chambers, each Aquapet character has its own look, sounds, songs and story. Have an AquaParty with two or more pets and watch them sing and dance for each other! These affordable energetic friends have a sleep mode, because even the most attentive owners need rest.

While the suggested consumer age on the Aquapet box reads '5+,' many adults admit to being infatuated and fascinated with these lifelike little pets seeking love and attention.

About The Author:

Marian Lorenz is a successful author and regular contributor to http://www.1st-in-toys.com.  Find fun kids educational toys and children’s wooden toys you enjoyed as a child.