Manekochan Reviews: Sheep
Plush Through the Years

Manekochan

As some of you may have already heard, Noisy has finally, and I do mean finally, ended his affiliation with ItsAllTrue.net. He hasn’t posted in weeks and Vault just couldn’t keep him onboard, not after missing so many deadlines in a row. We’re sad to see him go, but after nearly five years, it was time. Now Vault can’t run the place by himself, though he’s been trying, so I, Manekochan, have been asked volunteered to step in to help my pseudo-hubby and take over Noisy’s reviewing duties for the time being (I don’t know what the heck is going to happen with the checklists though…Hrm).

I’m kicking off the Manekochan era with a review I wrote some time ago, one very near & dear to my heart, and one that never seemed to find a free spot on the schedule in the previous administration. Who’s in charge now, buddy?! Oh yeah!! This is my review about Plush Sheep ™.

sheep1

Over the years, Target has become one of my favorite retailers thanks, in no small part, to their fun seasonal section. Their Halloween stuff is always fun, interesting, and a downright benchmark for other stores to follow. Every year has a theme and it’s always something interesting. But what of their other holiday selections? How about during another of my favorite times, Easter?

The Target Easter section always beckons with its pastel colored candy and its pounds upon pounds of chocolate. It’s practically impossible to pass up and, one year, they got me good and have, apparently, been able to continue the getting. Back in 2005, there appeared a round and fuzzy little creature that intrigued me. I had to take it home with me.

sheep2

The first Sheep ™*, aptly named “sheep”, was released in 2005 as part of a line of stuffed animals simply for the Easter section. The sheep is about 14 inches tall and is a pretty good sized critter. He’s soft and squishy, much like his later brethren and just look at that face! Could you say no to that face? The ears contain a small wire that is bendable to achieve maximum cuteness and the feet are nicely spaced allowing the sheep to stay upright most of the time. The original Sheep™’s fur is a very soft fiber with a corkscrew twist. It is a very bright white that almost seems to shine. This sheep is truly a beauty and retailed for the price of $9.99.

*Editor’s Note: seriously, I’m just doing this for fun. They’re not really trademarked.

sheep3

There was a gap in Sheep™ for a bit. I’m not entirely sure, but I believe they repeated the original “sheep” for 2006 and then either had no sheep for 2007 or repeated the original “sheep” again. In 2008, the “wooly sheep” appeared on the shelves. Using the same body, and the same price point of only $9.99, the wooly sheep sports a dense wooly coat. This coat, while still soft, is not really pleasant to touch. The face, unlike the first sheep, is a plush acrylic. The ears have lost their wire. After the original “sheep”, “wooly sheep” was a bit of a disappointment to my flock, but I was happy to get another sheep and tolerated the variations.

sheep4

With the disappointing changes to “wooly sheep”, I wondered if budget constraints were getting to Target. My fears were not laid to rest with the release of the “large sheep” in 2009. Standing at only 12 inches, the “large sheep” is a scaled down version of the original “sheep” and “wooly sheep” pattern with the same materials and budget constraints. No wires here, no nice fur. He’s also a tad bit thinner than the other sheep which makes him prone to falling over. During the pictures, even the smallest wind would knock this little guy around. With a price point of $9.99, he seems like a bit of a rip compared to the other two sheep.  Continue to page 2…

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Manekochan

33 thoughts on “Manekochan Reviews: Sheep
Plush Through the Years”

  1. Alas, poor Noisy! I knew him, Manekochan; a fellow of infinite jest, of most excellent fancy…

    Wait a minute. Tomorrow is April 1st, right? 8)

  3. Shame about Noisy. He used to be really on the ball, but once Mattel started paying him to post positive reviews of utter crap, I knew his days were numbered.

    We all know the reason Battle Armor Faker got made was because Toy Guru was having a feud with Geoff Johns over adding a biography for a non-canon MOTUC Bola Launcher and Noisy backed TG’s side, ignoring that the Bola Launcher was a Kenner specialty.

    Once Toys R Us voided their secret contract to mass-retail the MOTUC line, Toy Guru patched up his tiff with Johns and they went on to create all that other stuff. How’s that Battle Armor Faker taste NOW, Noisey? Like ashes? Blue ashes of shame?

    I welcome our new IAT Overlords. 😉

  4. wait, I’ve got BOXES full of DW I could be reviewing for the site if Noisy’s gone!
    The only problems being, they’re buried in storage 40 miles away and I really only have my pod to take pics with. Don’t make me come down there with them!
    Or are any of you coming up here this wkd for WW ComicCon StL?

    as for the sheep?
    ….I’ll be in my bunk.

    (WHAT? I grew up on a farm!)

  5. I ain’t goin up there for no wizard world. Those prices are a crime. A crime!
    Also, I ran out of money.

    1. I know, but just about every other nerdfest this year has been cancelled except Archon (so far). 🙁

      1. I have a table when I go. If I were going for fun it would be one thing but, for me, it’s a minimum of about $800. 😛 Yark.

    1. Noisy banned MLP reviews about the time he banned Monster High on here. 9_9; Not that… Vault bought any anyway. CURSE THEM AND THEIR NON-SHOW-ACCURATE PONIES!

  9. Now THIS is what I’m talking about! Ever since Matty pulled the plug on DC Universe Classics, I’ve been looking for the next big thing to spend all my money and time on, and it looks like I’ve finally found it! Sheep! Where’ve you been all my life?? The only way I could love it more is if I was Scottish, and that kinda lovin’ is illegal in these parts. But hey, “when in Greece…” Right? RIGHT?!?
    As for Noisy’s departure? Well, good riddance to bad rubbish, I say. Still, he seemed like a good guy, so let’s wish him well in his future endeavors, shall we? Manekochan, I look forward to more of your reviews (involving sheep, hopefully), and have a wonderful April Fool’s Day!

    1. tooo cuuuute!

      and BibleGirl!
      that last group shot is like some convention cosplayers making nice to a special needs girl, while being ever so slightly creeped out = even better!

  16. I will shyly admit that I own two of these sheep. Although mine are over 30 years old. They were props from my mother’s store. She gave them to me on a whim and named them Baa and Baaah. I’ve never been able to get rid of them.

    I was surprised they are still making thee things.

  19. I had one of the big Target sheep 6 or 7 years ago. I believe it was the “Wooly Sheep” but I can’t remember the exact inch size. It looks like the largest of the flock you posted. When my wife and I moved to our house in 2010, we must not have brought him with us, but have no memory of intentionally leaving him behind. Every year since, I’ve searched the internet and ebay for one of those original huge sheep and have never found one. I even wrote a post about it on my website a year or two ago (there’s a picture of the one I had on there, maybe you’ll know exactly which it is.) It’s so cool that you still have the whole lineup in such good shape. I’ve never been able to bring myself to buy one of the small ones because I always wanted to find another big one.

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