Sylvanian Families

From ToyReview

What are Sylvanian Families?

Sylvanian Families Character

Sylvanian Families are a collectable range of small animals, beautifully designed with their own individual features, homes and accessories. Each figure belongs to a different family and they all live together in 'Sylvania'. Their homes are beautifully designed and each family has an endless choice of furniture and accessories to decorate it with. Sylvanian Families teach young children traditional family life and togetherness. Oakwood Manor, Willow Hall and Bramble Cottage are playhouses with such incredible detail - it's easy to get lost in the world of Sylvania! Sylvanian figures are fully poseable and all dressed in hand-made clothing and they can be collected as individuals or in family sets.

Different families all have their own individual characters. Grey Bear Family, for example, features Preston and Forrest (the herbal doctor of Sylvania), Honeysuckle and Ashley Evergreen. The Duck Family consists of Bill and Wanda Waddlington, who are Mayor and Mayoress of Sylvania. The Hound Dog Family features Hubert Alan, Hatty, Dennis and Esme Huckleberry. The Brown Rabbit Family is very musical and characters include Rusty and Herb, Ginger and Hollie Wildwood. There are many families living in Sylvania, and new ones continue to be introduced.

History of Sylvanian Families

Sylvanian Families were first introduced in 1985 in Japan by Epoch. Tomy then introduced the figures into the USA and Canada soon after. It wasn't until 1987 that the Sylvanian Families were available in the UK and Ireland. By 1988 the Sylvanian Families cartoon was popular in both the UK and the USA. Sylvanian Families won 'The Toy of the Year' award, presented by the British Association of Toy Retailers (BATR), three years running (1987, 1988 and 1989).

However in 1990, Sylvanian Families were no longer available in the USA and Canada, though they were being sold in many other countries across the world. Sylvanian Families were then re-introduced to the USA and Canada by Tomy in 1993; they were launched under the new name of 'Calico Critters'. Distribution ceased again in the USA and Canada in 1996, and by 1998 Sylvanian Families also stopped being distributed in the UK and Ireland.

Fortunately, in 1999 Sylvanian Families were re-introduced into the UK and Ireland by Flair. At the same time, Calico Critters were also re-introduced in the USA and Canada by International Playthings. Popularity of the characters has remained high, especially with young girls in the UK. Currently there are about 700 unique Sylvanian figures, however there are an estimated 1,400 figures if all the variations are included. There is a huge range of furniture and accessories to fill the Sylvanian homes with, new Bathroom and Kitchen sets are available and new furniture for the Sylvanian babies is also available.

Character

Appearance of the figures

Each individual is a small, beautifully detailed animal character. All are different colours reflecting the real life animals, e.g. the Duck Family is yellow and the Rabbit Family is brown. Each character has their own facial features, and only if they belong to the same family will these features be the same. Some figures were released with open hands in the UK, however some remained flat handed. Generally, Japanese figures are slightly bigger than their UK equivalents and there have been some variations in colour noticed. All the clothes are hand made and individual to each character, thus adding to the appeal of the characters as collectables. Not only are the figures available to buy, but the homes, furniture, transport and accessories are all available too. The detail in all the toys is beautiful and Sylvania is a place of imagination for all young children, and adults too!

Sylvanian Families Reviews

• Sylvanian Families Honey Fox Family

Links

• Sylvanian Families Website
• Sylvanian Families Collectors
• The Toy Chest - Sylvanian Families Collector Centre

User Reviews

Comment by Abbie, Saturday 21st March 2009
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Sylvanian families are simply the best toy in the whole world!! The're soooooooo cute! I mean you can't say that the're tacky either! They are great. I highly reccommend them!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Comment by osheana, Saturday 21st March 2009
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i love sylvanians so much there the best thing in the world

Comment by CATILINA, Monday 16th March 2009
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SYLVANIAN FAMILIES ARE THE BEST THINGS EVER! i PRACTICALLY WORSHIP THEM

Comment by Miss Piggy, Friday 20th February 2009
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I think sylvanians are the cooliest things in the world. They are such beautifully detailed figurines and their clothes are so pretty. The houses you can get for them are amazing fun to play with once you have some sylvanians to put in it. My fav families are the pig family and the Cottentail family but really, I like them all !!!!!!!!!!!!!

Comment by Abbey, Thursday 5th February 2009
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sylvanians are the best toys in the world!!! they are so cute thats what i think, and i'm 11! i have quite a few now because they are so so sweet!!!!!!!!!

Comment by abbie, Thursday 15th January 2009
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i luv sylvanians

Comment by linda b, Thursday 18th December 2008
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hi im linda and my daughter has a very big intrest in sylvanian families , i was wondering if anybody knows where i can buy the japanese magazines for sylvanian families , i need the clothes patterns from them . cynthia the animals you are talking about were made buy a different company i think they may be called forrest friends , i believe they are delisted

Comment by badwolf, Sunday 30th November 2008
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OMG!!!! Sylvanian Families are the best!!! I'm almost 13 but i still play with my sylvanians. I just love the things you can get for them! I somethimes make clothes for them but it's hard! I LOVE SYLVANIAN FAMILIES!!!

Comment by samantha, Saturday 15th November 2008
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hi im sam as u know i like sylvanian families

Comment by Cynthia Turner, Wednesday 12th November 2008
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Hi, What are the animals such as elephants tigers crocodiles hippos and rhinos sold on ebay as Sylvanians?They are very collectable but are not seen to buy as new in the shops.

Comment by coco456, Sunday 5th October 2008
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myself(11) and my sister(7) have been collecting sylvanians for 3 years now, and we have still more to collect!!! they are beautifully detailed and the pieces are sooo cute!!!! if i had to rate them, i'd give them 1000/10!!!! if you are going to buy sylvanians, don't get them too young, because my sister was 4 when she got her 1st house and didnt play with till she was 5!!! i love myt sylvanians and i'll keep them 4 ever!!!! xoxox coco456

Comment by Guest, Sunday 7th October 2007
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These are perfect gifts for girls of all ages. I mean, they are just so cute. Look at them!