ZhuZhu Pets

ZhuZhu Pets (Mandarin pronunciation: [tʂú tʂú], formerly known as Go Go Pets in the UK) is an American line of plush robotic hamster toys created by Cepia LLC in 2009.[1] Multiple spin-off toy lines, including ZhuZhu Puppies[2] and Kung Zhus,[3] have been released.

ZhuZhu Pets
Inventor(s)Russ Hornsby
CompanyCepia LLC
Universal Pictures
CountryUS
Availability(2009-2013) (2017-2018)–(2024-)
Official website

History
Pipsqueak ZhuZhu Hamster

ZhuZhu Pets were created by Russ Hornsby for his St. Louis company, Cepia LLC.[4] The name comes from Mandarin zhūzhū (Chinese: 猪猪), meaning "little pig." In late 2009, Cepia employed only 16 people in the U.S. and 30 in China.[5]

The original ZhuZhu Pets are nine different characters, with names including Chunk, PipSqueak, Mr. Squiggles, and Num Nums. There are various accessories for creating customized hamster habitats.[6] ZhuZhu Pets can be put in either of two play modes: "nurturing mode," in which they coo and purr, or "adventure mode," in which they explore their habitat and respond to various stimuli.[7]

ZhuZhu Pets were a craze during the 2009 holidays. They originally retailed for $9 USD, but for a time they sold for over $100 because of shortages.[4][5]

In December 2009, testing done by the consumer organisation GoodGuide was initially thought to have found more than the allowed level of the toxic, silvery metalloid antimony in the Mr. Squiggles toy.[8] After a review, regulators from the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission said that the toy was within the "very protective" standard.[9] GoodGuide subsequently issued an apology saying that their testing methods (which checked for surface toxins) were different from the federal standards (which check for soluble toxins.)[9][10]

Cepia encourages collecting of ZhuZhu Pets.[11] Exclusive pets have been released in collaboration with Hallmark, Build-A-Bear Workshop, and Toys "R" Us. In early 2010 a set of new characters was released, including the Rockstar pets (Roxie, Ryder, Pax, and Kingston), inspired by the children of celebrities such as Angelina Jolie and Gwen Stefani.[11] In mid-2010, the Kung Zhu line of battling hamsters was released, aimed at boys age 8–12. In December 2010, the ZhuZhu Princess series was released, as was a line of sixteen Burger King toys. Also released in 2010 were the first edition of ZhuZhu Babies, which are not electronic or plush, but plastic toys articulated with a small ball under their belly. The second 2011 edition of ZhuZhu Babies included motors. A clone of Zhu Zhu Pets emerged during 2010 called Furry Frenzies, which featured other animals. This inspired Zhu Zhu Pets to release non-hamster spinoff lines starting in 2011 when several dog breeds of Zhu Zhu Puppies were introduced. They are plush robotic puppies that move around and bark. In 2012, a safari line called Zhufari, a line of ponies called Zhu Zhu Ponies, and four Happy meal toys were released that were based on Quest for Zhu that were only sold in some countries excluding The U.S. The franchise was quietly discontinued sometime in 2013.

In 2015, Cepia LLC planned to reboot ZhuZhu Pets with a new look, but was then scrapped for it to then be rebooted in 2017.

Zhu Zhu Pets was rebooted when an animated series, now known as The ZhuZhus, debuted as "Polly and the ZhuZhu Pets" on September 12, 2016 on the Disney Channel in the United States. Starting February 2017, Spin Master showcased the ZhuZhu Pets franchise in a toy fair with new toy designs,[12] based more on the TV series. In 2018, ZhuZhu Pets got discontinued again.

In May 2023, Cepia LLC filed a trademark for 'ZhuZhu'. This was all discovered in June 2023 when the ZhuZhu Pets website changed from their recent reboot in 2017, to a blank screen with text reading "All New ZhuZhu Coming Soon" (Any URLs to zhuzhupets.com or related pages will redirect to the site with the new written text or a 404 Not Found error). The tab header on the website also reads "New Zhu Zhu Soon". Someone from Cepia confirmed that 'the rumors are true' of ZhuZhu Pets coming back. In August 2023, someone else from Cepia has confirmed that Zhu Zhu Pets will be officially returning in 2024 for their 15th anniversary. On September 2023, Cepia uploaded a video showing the first new Zhu Zhu Pets line for 2024 called 'Zhu Zhu Aquarium'. It'll be first showcased in the New York Toy Fair 2023.

Video games

In 2010, the first ZhuZhu Pets video game was released for Nintendo DS,[13] iPhone,[14] and PC.[15] The sequel, ZhuZhu Pets 2: Featuring The Wild Bunch, was also released for Nintendo DS [16] and Wii,[17] as well as ZhuZhu Pets: Kung Zhu for Nintendo DS.[18] In 2011 ZhuZhu Princess: Carriages & Castles[19] a game based off Quest for Zhu, ZhuZhu Babies and ZhuZhu Puppies[13] were released for Nintendo DS. ZhuZhu Princess: Carriages & Castles is a reskin of the first DS game and ZhuZhu Babies is a reskin of the DS version of ZhuZhu Pets 2: Featuring The Wild Bunch.

Films

Cepia LLC created The Dream Garden Company for 4 films[20] with distribution by Universal Pictures.[21] On September 27, 2011, the franchise's first full-length feature film Quest for Zhu was released straight-to-DVD. A second full-length feature film, The Power of Zhu, probably in the works and has a trailer,[22] potentially being released on DVD sometime in 2012 as well as a third film The Secret of Zhu that featured the voices of Brad Garrett and Ken Jeong[23] and fourth film Journey to GloE.[24] However, as of February 2014, no other films or even plans for films have been released for "The Power of Zhu", although it was completed and was "secretly distributed" to TV stations in France and Brazil under the title "Amazing Adventures of Zhu".[25][26]

See also

References
  1. "Zhu Zhu Pets: Toy successes hard to predict, but robotic hamsters got a craze rolling". Chicago Tribune. December 7, 2009. Archived from the original on December 13, 2009. Retrieved December 19, 2009.
  2. ZhuZhu Puppies Are Here! Commercial, retrieved March 5, 2022
  3. Breyer, Jackie (February 22, 2010). "Are you ready for Kung Zhu?". The Toy Book. Retrieved March 5, 2022.
  4. Vicki Mabrey; Kinga Janik (November 20, 2008). "Zhu Zhu Pets: Hamsters to Save Christmas?". ABC News.
  5. Anderson, Mae (November 27, 2008). "Robotic hamsters are holidays' unlikely new craze". Denver Post. Retrieved May 18, 2011.
  6. "Welcome to Zhu Zhu Pets Hamsters!". Cepia LLC. Retrieved November 21, 2008.
  7. "Welcome to Cepia LLC". Cepia LLC. Retrieved November 21, 2008.
  8. "Go Go Hamster toy Mr Squiggles is safe, Cepia insists". BBC News. December 7, 2008. Retrieved December 8, 2008.
  9. Chang, Andrea (December 8, 2008). "Zhu Zhu Pets are safe, U.S. agency says". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved May 18, 2011.
  10. "Group corrects statement about safety of hot toys". Associated Press. December 8, 2008. Retrieved June 3, 2010.
  11. Kavilanz, Parija (February 15, 2010). "Meet the new Zhu Zhu pets". CNN Money.
  12. Spin Master (September 13, 2016). "Spin Master and Cepia, LLC Sign Global Distribution Partnership".
  13. "Zhu Zhu Puppies Release Information for DS". GameFAQs. March 29, 2011. Retrieved May 18, 2011.
  14. "Zhu Zhu Pets Release Information for iPhone/iPod". GameFAQs. November 11, 2009. Retrieved May 18, 2011.
  15. "Zhu Zhu Pets Release Information for PC". GameFAQs. March 23, 2010. Retrieved May 18, 2011.
  16. "ZhuZhu Pets 2: Featuring The Wild Bunch Release Information for DS". GameFAQs. October 12, 2010. Retrieved May 18, 2011.
  17. "ZhuZhu Pets: Featuring The Wild Bunch Release Information for Wii". GameFAQs. October 12, 2010. Retrieved May 18, 2011.
  18. "Zhu Zhu Pets: Kung Zhu Release Information for DS". GameFAQs. November 16, 2010. Retrieved May 18, 2011.
  19. "Zhu Zhu Princess: Carriages & Castles Release Information for DS". GameFAQs. February 8, 2011. Retrieved May 18, 2011.
  20. "Cepia - Zhu Zhu Pets". www.cepia.com. Retrieved September 2, 2022.
  21. "Universal Pictures and Cepia LLC join forces for first-ever ZhuZhu Pets® global Marketing and Distribution DVD and TV Alliance" (PDF). August 18, 2016. Archived from the original on August 18, 2016. Retrieved March 1, 2023.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: unfit URL (link)
  22. The Power Of Zhu Trailer (Better Quality) (Cancelled ZhuZhu Pets Movie), retrieved September 1, 2022
  23. Hulu 2 - ZhuZhu Pets "Secret of Zhu", retrieved September 1, 2022
  24. "Journey to GloE". Splash Entertainment. Retrieved September 1, 2022.
  25. Gardner, Eriq (August 3, 2015). "Universal Sued for "Secretly" Distributing Children's Film Overseas". Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved January 2, 2018. Through its own investigation, Cepia learned that Universal International had distributed the Amazing Adventures of Zhu to at least two television broadcasters without Cepia's knowledge or approval." Cepia adds that the "unilateral actions were especially harmful" because the television airings in Brazil and France "destroyed the potential DVD/Blu-Ray market" and further, "led to its availability on the Internet for free download.
  26. MoonScoop, Dreamgarden, Zhu-Zhu Pets The Power of Zhu Full Movie (English Dub), retrieved September 1, 2022
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