CONTACT: Elaine
Kollias,
Folkmanis,
Inc.
800.654-8922
elaine
@
folkmanis.com
FOR IMMEDIATE
RELEASE
FOLKMANIS LOOKS
TO FARM AND
FANTASY FOR 2003
INSPIRATION
Newest Puppet
Innovations
Expected to
Become Top Picks
(EMERYVILLE,
CA—November 21,
2002) Featuring
lovable friends
from the
farmyard and
the fantasy
world, the 2003
line-up from
FOLKMANIS®
PUPPETS—the
world’s leading
puppet maker—is
sure to enchant
and engage
children and
adults alike.
Building on a
25-year
tradition of
award-winning
and best-selling
puppets,
Folkmanis will
introduce 22 new
items in booth
#1833 in the
Jacob K. Javits
Convention
Center for the
100th
Annual American
International
Toy Fair in New
York February
16-19.
“Our
award-winning
design team has
outdone itself
yet again,” says
Judy Folkmanis,
co-founder and
creative
director. “The
2003
introductions
embody our
25-year
commitment to
excellence in
creating both
realistic and
fanciful puppets
that will spark
the imaginations
of people of all
ages for many
years to come.”
Children love
playing
peek-a-boo and
adore cute,
cuddly bunnies,
so FOLKMANIS has
combined these
two favorites
into one
wonderful toy.
The RABBIT IN
WATERING CAN
is an adorable
brown bunny
hiding inside a
soft, safe,
fabric watering
can made of
brass- and
aluminum-look
fabrics. The
bunny is holding
a fabric carrot
so that the
puppeteer can
pretend this
fuzzy critter is
munching on his
favorite snack.
Easy to operate
and fun to play
with, the
12-inch tall
Rabbit In
Watering Can is
appropriate for
ages 3 and up
and has a
suggested retail
price of $24.
Just as no farm
is complete
without a dog,
neither is a
Folkmanis puppet
collection.
Following years
of award-winning
canine
companions,
Folkmanis
introduces its
17-inch
BORDER COLLIE
which is
sure to become
another
nationwide
favorite.
Right off the
working farm and
into a young
child’s heart,
Border Collie
has super-soft,
black-and-white
faux fur; the
amazing and
distinctive
Border Collie
bicolored eyes;
a movable mouth;
and floppy
ears. After a
long day on the
farm, this
Border Collie is
in a relaxed
position and is
perfect for any
dog lover age 3
and up. Border
Collie has a
suggested retail
price of $36.
Off the farm and
into
fantasyland,
Folkmanis has
three wonderful
puppets sure to
spark the
imaginations of
all who pick
them up.
Hercules’ famous
flying horse
PEGASUS
sails into the
Folkmanis
fantasy
collection with
his soft, white
plush body;
sculpted, shiny
white wings; and
pretty,
pearlized
hooves. This
20-inch beauty
has realistic
long doll hair
for added play
value. He is
the perfect
choice for every
young princess
or Hercules age
3 and up.
Pegasus has a
suggested retail
price of $52.
Following on the
wings of last
year’s
award-winning
finger puppet
Fairies,
Folkmanis makes
a splash this
year with the
MERMAID FINGER
PUPPET.
This six-inch
beauty of the
deep features a
simple
two-finger
operation—the
index finger
works the head
and the thumb
works the fin.
Donning a
lavender swim
top to
coordinate with
her iridescent
tail, this
finger puppet
has super-long
braided hair and
violet eyes.
Although
representative
of the sea, the
Mermaid is meant
for on-land play
and is suitable
for ages 3 and
up. Mermaid has
a suggested
retail price of
$10.
On a more
natural note,
but none the
less fantastic,
the BLINKING
GREAT HORNED OWL
is a wise choice
for every
aspiring
wizard. A
mechanism inside
the puppet
allows the
puppeteer to
“blink” the
owl’s eyes as
well as turn its
head 360
degrees. Long,
black plush
presents a
dramatic look
for this
mysterious
creature of the
night. Standing
14” tall, Great
Horned Owl is
ideal for ages 5
and up and has a
suggested retail
price of $50.
The very latest,
and largest,
addition to the
Folkmanis family
of
ultra-realistic
animals is the
GREAT WHITE
SHARK, a
33-inch long
king of the
deep. Grey “wet
look” lycra
covers him head
to tail, except
for his soft,
white velour
belly and black,
moveable eyes.
A huge mouth
holds two rows
of custom-molded
plastic teeth
that lead to his
unique
“swallowing”
throat--great
for gulping down
goodies. The
puppeteer’s hand
enters from the
shark’s belly,
with a second
pocket to flip
his tail as he
dives into the
depths. Just
scary enough to
delight a child,
GREAT WHITE
SHARK has a
suggested retail
price of $60.
Folkmanis®
Puppets are
recommended for
ages 3 and up
and are
available at
specialty toy
and gift stores,
including: FAO
Schwarz,
science/nature
museums, zoo and
aquarium gift
shops, thousands
of independent
toy and gift
stores, and
specialty
retailers
nationwide and
in over 15
countries around
the world. BABY
FOLKMANIS®
puppets are
appropriate for
all ages, birth
and up. You can
also find
Folkmanis®
Puppets online
at Amazon.com.
For more
information call
Elaine Kollias
at 800.654-8922
or go to
www.folkmanis.com
.
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