Zapf Creation

Zapf Creation is a toy company based near Coburg, Germany which specialises in the manufacture of multi-functional dolls. Its franchises have become very popular around the world; among its successful creations are Baby Born,[1] Annabell[2] and Chou Chou.

Company

Zapf Creation AG develops, manufactures and sells multi-functional dolls in Europe, Asia, New Zealand and South America. The products are primarily aimed at girls between the ages of two and eight. The company was founded in 1932 and is based in Rödental, near Coburg in Germany.[3]

Products

Most of the Zapf Creation products are baby and toddler dolls, and these are occasionally used to teach future parents the lifeskills they will need.

Baby Born

Introduced in 1991, Baby Born is often considered to be the most lifelike of the series due to the numerous functions that the doll can perform. These include crying, urinating and being quietened by a pacifier which makes the dolls eyes shut in later versions. All these actions can be performed without the use of batteries making it possible to bathe the doll. The most recent version includes nine functions and eleven accessories. Earlier versions included a Musical Potty and a magical Ice Cream which can make the mouth of the doll all messy. Varieties of this model include boy, girl and ethnic girl, each anatomically correct and having its own color style for hair and skin.

  • Pick Me Up!: A battery operated doll with hair, that has touch sensors all around the doll.

My Little Baby Born

This range of dolls are smaller versions of the Baby Born doll made for younger children.

  • My little Baby Born: Doesn't have the functions the bigger Baby Born does, but is a good cheap alternative for young children.
  • I can Swim: This doll has a special sensor, and when placed in water the doll can swim around. It requires batteries, unlike the other Baby Born dolls.
  • First Love: It is a squishy, and more softer version of the My Little Baby Born made for more younger children.
  • Hold my Hands: Pressing this doll's hands makes it sing a lullaby.
  • Interactive Twins: Comes with 2 dolls, who can both interact with each other.

Baby Annabell

Perhaps the most famous of Zapf's products, Baby Annabell comes with a variety of accessories and has a large product line which includes extra articles, outfits and pieces of furniture. The main function performed by the newer dolls (Version 3 or newer) is to let it drink water and when it cries, the water can come out of its eyes, making it look like the doll has Tears, and also to use the toilet. This doll could perhaps be classed as a "modern autonomous doll". Much like with Baby Born, the doll comes in Girl, Brother and Ethnic girl versions.

  • Version 1 (2002): Same as the "Rock a Bye Chou Chou" doll, except it sucks its bottle and can open and close its eyes when doing it.
  • Version 2 (2004): Similar to version 1, but more Interactive and has different sounds.
  • Version 3 (2005): This is more interactive than the Version 1 or 2, and is the first version to cry real tears and drink real water.
  • Version 4 (2007): This version can turn its head when hearing sound or if its name is said. But nonetheless performs the same actions as the previous versions. It also makes some of the same neutral sounds as Version 3.
  • Version 5 (2009): It cannot turn its head, but can interact with a sheep toy which can make sounds and make the baby happy.
  • Version 6 (2011): This is more bulky and heavy than the last 5 versions, mainly due to the fact it can move its arms. It wasn't received very well by buyers due to it not being very interactive. It also cannot cry real tears unlike the last 4 versions.
  • Version 7 (2012): This doll goes back to being like Versions 3-5, likely due to the negative feedback of the Version 6. It can cry real tears again and drink water again.
  • Version 8 (2013): Identical to Version 7, but with some extra accessories.
  • Version 9 (2014): Also identical to version 7 and 8.
  • Version 10 (2016): This is the first major change to the doll since Version 7, as this doll can wee in it's potty and can wet its nappy. This version has a different design than the previous dolls, but does make the same sounds.


My First Baby Annabell

This range of dolls are smaller versions of the Baby Annabell doll made for younger children.

  • My First Baby Annabell: Doesn't run on batteries, and doesn't have the features that the main doll has, but is still a good alternative for younger children.
  • Time to Sleep: This doll can be used to practise sleeping. It can sleep and close its eyes, and then after a short while it can wake up.
  • Newborn: It is a squishy, and more softer version of the My First Baby Annabell made for more younger children.
  • Baby Moves: This doll can move its arms and legs, just like a little baby.
  • Learns to Walk: A re-release of Chou Chou Learn to Walk under the Baby Annabell brand.

Chou Chou

Chou Chou is another doll manufactured by Zapf Creation. It is designed to be very realistic, having accessories to support role playing for children. Baby Chou Chou is sometimes used to teach young girls, in particular, about various stages of a baby's life including the first tooth and minor ailments, though most dolls are just played with.

Mommy Make Me Better Chou Chou

Models include "Mommy Make Me Better" Chou Chou, "Love Me" Chou Chou, "Be Happy" Chou Chou, and "Rock-A-Bye" Chou Chou, which was named the number one doll in the Duracell Kids' Choice Toy Survey in the US in 2001.[4] This doll comes in a variety of types and has many lifelike functions.

  • Baby Chou Chou/Giggling Chou Chou: Squeezing the body makes the doll laugh. Unlike other Zapf dolls the expression is more in the shape of a grin.
  • Mommy Make Me Better: Comes in a yellow cap and baby girl outfit. This doll becomes unwell and the owner needs to make it better. Its heartbeat can be heard and it can be given medicine when it has a fever. It makes sounds such as slurping.
Mommy Makes Me Better Chou Chou.
  • Love Me Chou Chou: Comes in a pink baby cloths with attached hood. This doll can kick its legs when it is upset, open its mouth, crying and laughing sounds as well as slurping sounds when given a drink. It comes with an electronic necklace that the owner can wear, and whenever the baby cries and the user holds it, it cheers up and might even laugh!
Love Me Chou Chou
  • Chou Chou My First Tooth: This doll represents a slightly older baby. When it develops a tooth, the doll cries and the owner has to make it feel better. It also makes other baby sounds such as laughing and slurping.
  • Talking Chou Chou: This version of Chou Chou can talk! It utters basic phrases in English and Spanish and has sensors when to detect compatible accessories. It is available in normal and Ethnic Girl variants.
  • Rock A Bye Chou Chou: This Chou Chou doll is different from the others as it can do features seen on the other Zapf dolls. It can be fed its bottle, goes to sleep and cries when woken up. It is also sold as the first version of Baby Annabell, except Baby Annabell makes sucking noises when it drinks its bottle.
  • Learn to Walk Chou Chou: This doll can crawl by itself and can be encouraged to walk by holding its hand. The doll can trip up and cry when crawling, but it can try again.[5]

Sam and Sally

Similar to other dolls of their size out today, Sam and Sally are quite large dolls at around 63 cm (25 in) each which means that they can either be dressed in the provided outfits or in real baby clothes of their size (0–3 months and 3–6 months fit the dolls).

Annabell Tween

The Annabell Tween line of dolls come in many versions, each wearing different outfits. These dolls are aimed toward older girls.

References

  1. ↑ Crofton, Ian; Ayto, John (2007). Brewer's Dictionary of Modern Phrase & Fable: 2nd Edition. London: Cassell. p. 48. ISBN 0-304-36809-1.
  2. ↑ "Zapf Creation Shares Slide on 2004 Profit Slump, Dividend Cut". 2005-02-16. Archived from the original on 2008-08-04. Retrieved 2008-08-04.
  3. ↑ "Zapf Creation AG (ZPF.DE)". Yahoo! Finance. Retrieved 2015-02-22.
  4. ↑ "Parents Flocking to Toy Stores Across the Country To Buy Lifelike Doll That Cries, Snores and Sleeps". PR Newswire. New York, NY. 21 November 2001. Retrieved 5 October 2009.
  5. ↑ "Learn to Walk Chou Chou". TheToyShop.com. Retrieved 2015-02-22.
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