Children have always loved making their mark on their prized possessions, and companies tapped into that with the Doodle Bear in the 90s. It was a washable, customizable plushie that kids could draw on with special washable markers, wash clean in the laundry, and color all over again.
It was invented by Ed Kaplan, who founded ‘EKA Associates, ’ which was a toy invention studio, and he based it on the idea from the 50s and 60s when folks would autograph stuffed toys to celebrate special events. Kids definitely loved this idea, but there’s probably a reason why it isn’t as popular anymore.
Every generation invents weird things, and the 90s were no different, because we got something called the Koosh Ball. It was a toy ball made of rubber strands around a steel-bound core. It got its name from the "koosh" sound it made when it landed in one’s hand.
Since its original release, many different kinds have come out, including the ‘Koosh Kins,’ which featured a set of six characters and appeared in a four-part comic book miniseries released by Archie Comics.
It’s easy to romanticize the 80s and 90s because so much time has passed, and nostalgia tends to bring up the best memories. There were definitely many things about the past that weren’t that great, but that doesn’t mean we can’t enjoy the books, movies, toys, and inventions that made those decades marvelous.
Which decade was your favorite and why? We’d love to hear your stories from that time and memories as well.
