Emoticons, which are short for “emotive icons,” have a special charm that captivates us all. Honestly, we adore them just as much as our children do! Can you picture modern conversations without them? They’ve woven themselves into the fabric of online communication and self-expression, making it nearly impossible to envision a world devoid of emojis. The fascination with these little symbols has spilled over into many types of media and products. Riding the wave of emoji enthusiasm, Fun 2 Play Toys has embraced this digital trend by launching their Emojiez line, bringing these cherished characters to life.
Emoji and Emoticon History
Here’s a little background on Emoticons and Emoji. These icons have been around for quite some time. If I recall correctly, it was Professor Scott Fahlman, a computer scientist at Carnegie Mellon University, who created the first sideways smiley face, which we now refer to as an emoticon. Interestingly, he was only compensated a modest $45 for his design.
In the 1990s, Shigetaka Kurita developed the initial prototypes for emoji after realizing that words alone (or Kana in Japan) weren’t sufficient for effective communication. The term “emoji,” which translates to pictograph in Japanese, coincidentally resembles the English words “emotion” and “emoticon.”
Jumping ahead to 2015, there was a notable surge in the use of the term “emoji,” leading Oxford to acknowledge its significance in popular culture. This might explain why Oxford Dictionaries selected the emoji as the Word of the Year for 2015—no joke! That same year, it was revealed that Sony Pictures Animation was working on a feature film centered around emojis, with a release date set for August 11, 2017, for “The Emoji Movie.” Nowadays, emojis have gained such immense popularity that companies like Fun 2 Play Toys are capitalizing on this trend with their Emoji merchandise line called Emojiez.
The Emojiez are Here
Emojiez offer a wide range of styles, such as Plushiez (available in large and medium sizes), Plushi Palz (plush clips for backpacks), Slap Bandz (fun slap bracelets), All-Starz (3.75″ vinyl figures), Squishiez, Eraserz (functional erasers), and Buddiez, which are part of the mini-collectible trend. There are also stickers and more!
Many items from the Emojiez collection make excellent stocking stuffers.
Squishiez are tiny plastic toys that live up to their name, being squishy and perfect for use as pen toppers.
Eraserz features classic characters that not only look great but also function as actual erasers.
Plushiez come in two sizes: 6″ and 14″, making them wonderful additions to your child’s room decor. If you’re involved in a Secret Santa gift exchange, consider giving a poop emojiez!
Among all the emoji series, Buddiez stand out as the most distinctive. This line includes twelve original characters, each accompanied by trading cards that share their names and stories. Buddiez are affordably priced, with single foil packs available for $1.99 at Toys R Us Canada. The surprise of discovering which character you’ll get adds to the fun, and your kids will surely want to collect them all, including Smelvin, who may stink but is undeniably lovable.
About Fun 2 Play Toys
Fun 2 Play Toys is a dynamic group of people with the same goal, ‘Bring fun and laughter’ to the end consumer. The company delivers wacky and unique toy products to the market. Given the success of the Emojiez line, Fun 2 Play Toys is planning to release many more items in the near future. Look for additional Emojiez products in 2017.
These are too cute! Would make great gifts!
oh my gosh what fun! these would definitely make a great stocking stuffer. emoijez have become so popular