Puppetoys Inc.

245 Million Years in the Making

Puppetoys Inc. and Prehistoric Puppets are the brainstorm of Michael Maddi, a union make-up artist with almost thirty years of work from films such as "Friday the 13th" and "Home Alone 2" to heading the make-up dept. at NBCs "Saturday Night Live" to sculpting X-Men for Toy Biz to digital animation for "Dr. G show" on Discovery. Combining the techniques and materials of traditional effects for film, Michael has produced one of the most realistic dinosaur toys available on the market today. Getting ready for his first Toy Fair and hoping to be a part of TDmonthly Magazine’s Toy Frenzy! documentary, Michael tells his story in his own words.

I originally designed, fabricated and patented this 19 years ago. But as a kid with no manufacturing experience or Internet, it was difficult and too costly to get the project off the ground.

OPPORTUNITY FALLS THROUGH

Eighteen years ago someone with experience in the toy industry was referred to me to help me get my dinosaur project off the ground. They were able to get me a meeting with the largest toy-store chain at that time. I walked into the meeting with the dinosaur on my arm and at first sight they ordered 1,700 of them, which were going to debut in one of their biggest-selling locations.

Upon receiving the news, my backers froze like a deer in headlights and did not have a clue as to where to go from there. Without money or direction, I walked away a frustrated young man and went back to doing effects for movies. That was then … Youth is truly wasted on the young!

GETTING BACK ON BOARD

Today with innovative new materials, great discoveries in paleontology and the Internet (Oh, did I mention a 4-year-old son that loves dinos?), I realized this is the right time to bring this toy to market.

In the age of video games where you are tied to a console, I want to exercise the imaginations of kids again. These dinosaurs have the flexibility to be moved in ways most dinosaur toys could never be posed. You can film them and make your own movies right on your computer.

REBIRTH OF A DINOSAUR

In late 2006, I started re-designing the concept through sculptures with painstaking detail. I went through one prototype and had to redesign and re-sculpt and re-paint yet again before I came to this final design. My design received a patent for the re-invention of this type of puppet.

While working on the creative side, I realized I needed to find the right manufacturer. With the use of the Internet, I found a manufacturer that understood my concept and had the same passion for dinosaurs and toys as I do. I had to redesign the mold for the manufacturer so they could make their aluminum molds to produce it.

FINDING THE RIGHT MOLD

It was touch-and-go for a while; they had never approached something like this before. They were so unsure whether they could produce it or not, and they did not charge me for the mold until they produced one that I liked.

I was told that in this business it was a first for a manufacturer to build the mold first without charging me a cent just to see if they could produce them for me. In my opinion, it was quite honorable.

Over the next year, I would sculpt and mold during the day and design the box and logos at night. My passion for this idea consumed me. To date, out of pocket expenses to get production ready and to attend Toy Fair ‘08 are somewhere in the $20,000 to $25,000 range, not counting the time fabricating four different working prototypes and all the graphic design. That could have easily cost me another $50,000 to $60,000. Or at least that’s what I would have charged to do that.

A FIRST FOR EXTINCTION

These dinosaurs are truly the first of their kind. They’re made of super-soft foam that’s highly detailed and realistically painted. Their range of motion is only limited to the puppeteer’s imagination.

Kids love them! Adults love them, too! They will entertain and educate children all over the world as to how these massive beasts might have looked, moved and fought. These were designed to rival the quality of today’s movie and documentary effects.

So slip one on and watch them come back from extinction! And remember, they are for ages 4 to extinct.

Triceratops Puppet by PUPPETOYS INC.

Triceratops is a 26” long full-body glove. A tank-like plant eater with plated armor, he sports three soft foam huge flesh piercing horns on his head for protection against meat eating predators. As with all Prehistoric Puppets, he is fully flexible down to his swishing tail! A great learning and role playing puppet for ages 4 to extinct. Made of a super soft molded polyurethane foam realistically painted. Inventor Michael Maddi pointed out to TDmonthly that Puppetoys make great characters in little kids' home videos. Launch date: February 2008. ( Watch Video) 12/21/2007 (Age: 4 and Up)

Ceratasaur Puppet by PUPPETOYS INC.

This dinosaur is a 32”-long, full-body glove puppet. Ceratasaur is a stealth, forest-dwelling meat eater with three boney horns and razor-like soft foam teeth. As with all Prehistoric Puppets, he is fully flexible down to his swishing tail! He comes with his own stand for play or display and is a great learning and role-playing puppet for ages 4 to extinct. The product is made of a super-soft, molded polyurethane foam, and is realistically painted. 12/21/2007 (Age: 4 and Up)

Spinosaurus Puppet by PUPPETOYS INC.

Is a 32” long full body glove puppet. Spinosaurus is a fierce meat eater with an alligator head with shorter spike-like soft foam teeth and large fin on his back. As with all Prehistoric Puppets he is fully flexible down to his swishing tail! And he comes with his own stand for play or display! A great learning and role playing puppet for ages 4 to extinct.

Made of a super soft molded polyurethane foam realistically painted. 12/21/2007 (Age: 4 and Up)

Tyrannosaurus Rex Puppet by PUPPETOYS INC.

Is a 32” long full body glove puppet. Tyrannosaurus Rex is a menacing meat eater with long spike-like soft foam teeth. As with all Prehistoric Puppets he is fully flexible down to his swishing tail! And he comes with his own stand for play or display! A great learning and role playing puppet for ages 4 to extinct.

Made of a super soft molded polyurethane foam realistically painted. 12/21/2007 (Age: 4 and Up)