Released in 1971 by Hasbro/Romper Room, Weebles were a series of small, egg-shaped figures that quickly became one of the company’s most popular toy lines for more than 10 years.
A Weeble was distinguished by its uncanny sense of balance, captured in the advertising jingle, “Weebles wobble but they don’t fall down.” The approximately 3-inch-tall toy would automatically return to an upright position when pushed in any direction, thanks to a counterweight in its plastic base. To accentuate the line’s roly-poly (and somewhat mesmerizing) wobble, Weebles were brightly coloured and all had smiling faces.
Children could collect an entire Weeble family, including a Weeble Mom, Dad, brother, sister, baby, and family dog. As the line grew in popularity, Hasbro released more than 100 different Weebles — a mix of people, animals, and licensed characters.
Weebles World also contained numerous Weeble-centric playsets, including a Weeble Tree House, Haunted House, Circus, Playground, Car, and Camper. All the playsets came with Weeble-sized elements, such as vehicles, furniture, and accessories that accommodated the toys’ oval shape.
Weebles eventually disappeared from store shelves in the early 1980s. In 2011, the re-appeared in a slightly larger form, thanks to a brand reboot from Hasbro. In 2019, Weebles were named one of Time magazine’s All-TIME 100 Greatest Toys.
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