Aquapet
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 "Tu" AquaPet in 2024 | |
| Manufacturer | Wild Planet |
|---|---|
| Released | February 2004 |
Aquapets are interactive electronic toys that were introduced in the US in 2004 by Wild Planet. They were originally created by Japanese company Sega Toys, under the name Puku Puku Angel (Japanese: ぷくぷくエンジェル).[1]
They consist of a transparent, water-filled case housing a thumb-sized figure, and a base with a microchip, microphone, and speaker to register and respond to sounds made by kids or by other Aquapets. Each character has its own look, sounds and songs and responds with movement and melody. The more a child plays with their Aquapets, the more songs they will perform and the livelier they will become.
The first three characters of the original Aquapets (Miku, also referred to as Kiko; Puku and Tu) were sold exclusively at Toys R Us stores[2] starting in February 2004.[3] By April of that year, the initial three figures were joined by three new characters (Kadet, Bunni and Stinga) to complete "Wave 1" which were available in mass and specialty stores across the country.
In October 2004, six new characters were released. "Wave 2" consisted of: Lugi, Fanga, Bebe, Pizzazz, Tabi and Blotto. In January 2005, "Wave 3" was released which included Floptopus, Snorkl, Squirt, Fuego, Likabee, and Peegee. "Wave 4" was released in August 2005, and it included Bertie, Purkle, Spangle, Dilly, Skinker, and Fizzie. "Wave 5" was the final "wave" of Aquapets. It was released in April 2006, and it included Pachinko, Harf, Zot, Zmooch, Fretta, and Kitzi.
In 2005, the spinoff LiquiFreaks were released. They work similar to Aquapets with two buttons, feed and zap. Another spinoff was released in 2006 called Dino-Mites, with a light in the tube that glows. They work similar to Aquapets and LiquiFreaks, but lack a microphone.
In March 2011, Wild Planet released New Aquapets - redesigned and reprogrammed versions of eight characters from previous collections, Bebe, Bertie, Bunni, Fizzie, Fretta, Harf, Puku and Squirt.[4] New Aquapets live in tear-drop shaped cases and play three new interactive games: Memory Moov (a memory sequence game), Aqua Speed (a quick reflex challenge), and Bubble Boogie (a dancing game). In late 2011, "Wave 2" of the New Aquapets were released; consisting of Tu, Miku (renamed to Muki), Purkle, Likabee, Zmooch, and Kitzi.