Originally Posted By SuperDry <<< Though Sallie Mae is missing the skirt and sensible heels. : / >>> I don't know about heels, but Shellie Mae definitely has a variety of skirts - it's just that they're sold separately.
Originally Posted By SuperDry <<< So then the bear sez, "I can't eat a thing. I'm stuffed." /rimshot/ >>> Ug!
Originally Posted By crazycroc I think the only way Duffy will get popular here is if it has the appeal that the "Meeko" from Pocahontas had with the plushy crowd.
Originally Posted By CuriouserConstance When you think back to what those Tokyo promotional Disney videos were like, Duffy actually seems normal.
Originally Posted By Dr Hans Reinhardt Isn't the demographic of TDLR's audience overwhelming female? If so, then I guess this craze is understandable.... not to stereotype young Japanese women, of course
Originally Posted By SpokkerJones "This bear craze thing at TDLR is inexplicable. I mean c'mon, seating your stuffed bear at a table and ordering it food?? Get real." Of course that's ridiculous, but I'll put up with it if TDS is a few yards away.
Originally Posted By Sweeper This is never going to translate into a success in American culture. And I don't want my American women talking with little girl voices and giggling constantly! I don't get the Japanese obsession with keeping grown women acting like little girls AND buying childish bears...Yikes!
Originally Posted By Sara Tonin I don't know...remember several years ago the 'send your stuffed animal to camp' thing? It was really popular for awhile.
Originally Posted By SpokkerJones "I don't get the Japanese obsession with keeping grown women acting like little girls" Please look at your own nation's quirks before you criticize another. I don't get the American obsession with turning teenage girls into sex starlets. Miley Cyrus' gyrating crotch is mainstream. Mainstream! So we shouldn't be talking about other countries.
Originally Posted By WorldDisney <<This is never going to translate into a success in American culture. And I don't want my American women talking with little girl voices and giggling constantly! I don't get the Japanese obsession with keeping grown women acting like little girls AND buying childish bears...Yikes!>> I've had a few Japanese girlfriends in the past and friends and NONE of them would ever act like this or react to this bear like in that video. My ex gave me enough crap for liking Disney as much as I did lol. I wont pretend to speak on this with authority, but this is more of a subculture kind of thing. Yes, Disney is in the mainstream there, but the super-feminine character obsession certainly doesnt apply to everyone. Many people look down on it there just like people who look down on the super sci fi and Disney geeks and many other subcultures in America as well. That said, sure that kind of thing flies much more in that culture than it would in most other countries. But not everyone subscribe to it either.
Originally Posted By DlandDug The Disney Bear was, indeed, a major bust over here. When the plush appeared in stores at Disneyland, we were sort of baffled, until it was explained that it had been "a big hit" at Walt Disney World. (Or so we were told!) Here's the official US version of The Disney Bear Story: "One Night before the Park opened, Mickey was sitting by the castle. The rest of his friends had not arrived yet, so Mickey brought along his favorite teddy bear to keep him company. Mickey was so excited to be in such a magical place that he wished he had somebody to explore the park with. Suddenly, Tinker Bell flew down out of the starry sky and saw Mickey sitting there with his stuffed friend. She had heard Mickey's wish and sprinkled the bear with Pixie Dust. The Pixie Dust filled the bear and he miraculously came to life! Mickey was so excited and happy that he gave his bear a hug. As soon as Mickey hugged the bear a magical Mickey head shaped impression appeared on the bear's face, forever bonding him with Mickey." <a href="http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=350279932586" target="_blank">http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISA...79932586</a> Well, that was the story that marketing devised, but despite what some here will tell you, the mindless consumers of all things pixie dusted turned up their noses. I recall last seeing bins of Disney Bears at the liquidators a couple of years ago. Who knew that these cast-offs are now fetching hundreds of dollars on eBay...!
Originally Posted By DlandDug Oops. Forgot the last panel of the storybook! It ends with the words: "From that moment on, Mickey had a very special friend to share all his magical memories." The end.
Originally Posted By WorldDisney Well after reading your post of how this bear was born Dug, just tell me the truth people, is it wrong with wanting to shoot Duffy in the face with a shotgun? I'm not saying I WOULD do it, I'm just saying is there anything wrong with fantasizing about it?
Originally Posted By SuperDry See folks? DlandDug has proved my point! The Disney Bear as he's appeared at DL and WDW is NOT Duffy. Do you see any mention of Duffy in the backstory, or the screenshots of the material in the eBay listing? Now, it may be true that he's coming to DCA come October, but at least for now, Duffy resides solely at TDS.
Originally Posted By WorldDisney So its just Duffy with an alias, point is he is just as annoyingly cut from the same cloth and makes people want to do violent things. I get your point about WDW having a different name, so maybe they wanted to 'start fresh' in Japan with a new one. Now that he's hypnotized every fanboy/girl there, he's going to be shoved down the throats of probably every Disney resort in time as his power and influence takes over. I'm hoping 'Duffy mania' ends quick or people may lose it! I hate this bear with a passion!!!
