Toy Sleuth: It’s a Big, Big World

Minis and Scary Staplers Fight for the Spotlight

By Mark Zaslove
November 2007

TDmonthly Magazine’s Toy Sleuth got a yen for travel, so we scoured the globe for the latest and greatest toys, some of which are so “latest” they’re still on the drawing boards.

From Germany to Japan to who-knows-where, these internationally designed doodads will reach the stores of America with a “different” way of looking at things.

So put on your armchair adventurer’s hat to see some toys that “aren’t from around here.”

MyMiniGolf Set by DEFACTO.GMBH

MyMiniGolf Set by DEFACTO.GMBH Created by a group of Munich industrial designers (think Eero Aarnio meets kids’ birthday party), this build-and-play mini-golf set is all neon-glow plastic and tough shots ― sort of the autobahn of the back nine. It includes 13 obstacles (from curves to bridges to loop-de-loops), one club, two balls and a scorecard. “We are working on a smaller version for early 2008” explained Hannes Weber, one of the designers and partners of defacto.GmbH. And it’s not just for indoors, he said: “We have tried it out some million times, and it works perfectly. You can play on every even surface such as grass, concrete, tarmac, wood floor, carpet or ice. My favorite is the ‘Acapulco,’ and it’s also the toughest one.” 9/25/2007 (MSRP: $231.00; Age: 4 and Up)

USB R/C Mini Cooper by SOLID ALLIANCE

USB R/C Mini Cooper by SOLID ALLIANCE Japan-based SolidAlliance is known for its USB oddities (such as USBSquid and USB Sushi, for example), and now they’ve combined the computer outlet with a Mini Cooper, made it radio-controlled and added a recharging garage to boot. Individuals can drive it right into the garage and it charges itself in less than 10 minutes. As the company’s Kita Aizawa explained, “It is a very good toy. It goes fast, and I have played with it. Everyone should like it.” 9/25/2007 (MSRP: $30.00; Age: 8 and Up)

Killer Stapler of Caerbannog by What on Earth

Killer Stapler of Caerbannog by What on Earth When is a stapler not a stapler? When it’s also the Killer Stapler of Caerbannog (based on the Killer Bunny of Caerbannog from the “Monty Python and the Holy Grail” movie). Staplers are dangerous enough, but now comes the most dangerous stapler of all. Made of plastic and armed with the usual-sized staples, this is a conversation piece whether brought to school or into the office. Matt Sanders, secretary of the Holiest of Grail Movie Watching Society has ordered the stapler and had this to say: “That's the most foul, cruel and bad-tempered rodent you ever set eyes on! He's got huge, sharp – eh – he can leap about — look at the bones!” 10/8/2007 (MSRP: $24.95; Age: 8 and Up)