Revealing About Bobbleheads
Revealing About Bobbleheads
What’s in a name? If it were diferrent would they still be the same? When talking About Bobbleheads, the answer is a resounding “yes”.
This Revealing About Bobbleheads article explores briefly the backstory of the amusing nodding caricature dolls that we know and love today and provides illustrations.
About Bobblehead Origins
Earliest bobblehead was a big wooden head on a stick. Photo courtesy of The Metropolitan Museum of Art
Bobbleheads are dolls with disproportionately large heads connected to the body with a spring so that when it encounters movement, the big head bobbles up and down.
People having dolls with accentuated heads dates back to prehistoric times when they were used to convey messages and they were made only of a wooden head attached to a stick.
Paper Mache Puppet Bobbleheads
Then in the late 1700s in Europe and Asia, heads formed out of either wood, leather, or paper mache were attached to a stick or a string and they were called puppets.
These stick puppets, however, had a broader purpose. These puppets were used to not only convey thoughts, they were also used to recite religious rituals, protest leadership, and exploit goods.
Later in the late 1800s, The people in Germany came up with ceramic dolls that had spring-connected moving heads which they used for amusement and called them “bobbers” or “nodders”.
About Bobbleheads in Pop Culture
By the 1920s, “bobble” head dolls were produced in the USA in small quantities as collector’s items and were referred to as bobbleheads, nodding heads, wobblers, and bopping heads.
The concept of bobbleheads as we know them today really gained traction during the 1950s and 1960s when they were made to resemble well-known athletic personalities.
In 1960, the San Francisco Giants and the New York Yankees produced the first baseball-themed bobbleheads featuring important players like Mickey Mantle and Willie Mays.
They became a staple in fan culture. A few years later, bobbleheads extended beyond sports and were being made to resemble movie, TV, and political figures as well.
Having a more diverse range of bobbleheads on the market to choose from broadened their appeal which attracted collectors with different interests and passions.
As the popularity of bobbleheads surged, manufacturers sought more durable and cost-effective materials. This led to the adoption of plastic as the primary material.
Crafting bobbleheads from plastic offered the advantages of being lightweight, moldable, and less susceptible to damage compared to papier-mâché.
In addition, using plastic material to make the bobbling head dolls was cheaper which meant the manufacturers were able to produce them in larger quantities.
Vintage Ceramic Bobbleheads
About Bobbleheads Memorabilia
By 2000, these caricature bobble headed dolls were being distributed as collectible memorabilia and consumer purchase incentives. The fast-food industry was quick to pick up on this trend.
In 2004, McDonald’s collaborated with DreamWorks and introduced a series of bobblehead toys featuring characters from the movie “Shrek 2” as part of their Happy Meal promotions.
Animated characters transformed into playful bobbleheads not only captured the essence of the film but also added a fun and collectible element to the dining experience.
The promotion was a massive success, as kids and even some adults were drawn to the allure of collecting these quirky animated and wobbly figures.
By now distributors copyrighted their own term for these dolls such as Funko’s Wacky Wobblers, NECA’s Head Knockers, NoveltyToy’s Bobbers, and Adams Apples’ Bopp’n’ Heads.
About Bobbleheads Collecting
Thanks to the widespread availability of information online and the growing popularity of collecting them, consumers were getting to know even more About Bobbleheads.
Social media platforms, online forums, and dedicated collector communities played a significant role in fostering an enthusiasm and shared knowledge About Bobbleheads.
Having information easily available has enabled consumers to compare different designs and make informed choices to build collections that align with their preferences.
To this day, their popularity remains high. And no matter what name is used to refer to them, there’s one thing About Bobbleheads everyone can agree on, they’re amusing.
About Bobbleheads In Our Store
Our Collectibles Store has a wonderful selection of bobbleheads. Brands include Marvel, Disney, Lakers, Hanna-Barbera, Coca-Cola, Dr. Suess, Pez, and many more.
You can check them out by visiting our Toys and Games Collectible Bobbleheads page. Here are just a few:
Mickey Mouse
An adorable rare Disney Resorts collector’s item that was a joint venture with Kellogg’s and Keebler Foods.
Cat In The Hat
A retired 2003 collectible 7″ Funko Wacky Wobbler of the famous pesky feline from the Cat In The Hat movie
Derek Fisher
A professional NBA Lakers #2 Point Guard who won five championships with the Los Angeles basketball team
Rick Fox
A professional NBA Lakers #17 Small Forward who won three championships with the Los Angeles basketball team
Spider-Man
A NECA collectible 7″ bobblehead of the Marvel superhero Spider-Man released in 2002 with the movie
Wild Things
A collectible Where The Wild Things Are Comic-Con glow-in-the-dark limited edition 7″ Funko Wacky Wobbler
Sprite Boy
A collectible 7″ Funko Wacky Wobbler based on Coca-Cola’s first mascot used in their earliest advertisements
Pirate Pez
A limited production collectible 7″ retired Funko Wacky Wobbler that’s also a Pez candy dispenser
Jack Osbourne
A collectible 7″ bobber of the son of famous heavy metal singer Ozzy Osbourne distributed by NoveltToy in 2002
This concludes Revealing About Bobbleheads. We hope you enjoyed reading this Revealing About Bobbleheads article. For more content from our store, just click on the following links:
Collectibles Videos
Watch entertaining videos on our YouTube Channel about collectibles and collecting
Assessing Collectibles
An article with 15 quick tips to help collectors assess the value of collectibles
Collectibles News
Stay current in the world of collectibles by visiting our Collectibles News Digest
All character names and likenesses as well as company names and brand logos are trademarks™ or registered® trademarks of their respective holders, including such references which may not display the ™ and/or ® symbol. Their use does not imply any affiliation with or endorsement by them.