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REFRYING BEANIES\THESE BABIES MAKE FOR FOUL FURRY
FRIENDS

The Ottawa Sun June 29,1999

There's Splat the Road Kill Cat. A cute little devil if you ignore the tire treads on his sunken back.

Then there's Donnie Didn't Duck, the beheaded fowl. Perhaps Preamie the Premature Chickie -- its head sticking up from a yolk -- will crack you up.

They are the Meanies, manufactured by The Idea Factory in New York as a nasty spoof on the popular Beanie Babies.

'TOILET HUMOUR'

"It was all good-natured toilet humour, but to our surprise it really struck a nerve," said Grace Anonuevo, the Idea Factory's marketing manager.

Target customers were boys aged seven to 12, but Meanies are popular with parents, grandparents, teens and "frustrated husbands who are sick of their wives buying Beanies," Anonuevo said.

Meanies have become a big hit in the U.S. since they were introduced in 1997.

"You either love Meanies or you hate them," said Bryan Drachenberg, a Daupin, Man., store owner.

"By far the most popular one is Splat the Road Kill Cat. For some strange reason cat lovers and cat haters buy them."

'DISGUSTING'

"Some were cool, some were downright disgusting like the Pukin' Toucan and the Velocicrapper, and some I couldn't figure out what they were trying to get at," said self-styled toy expert Rob Warren.

One series of Meanies includes MooDonna (pointy metal bra on its udder) and Jerry Stinger (bee with Jerry Springer's head).

"Jerry Springer is a big fan of ours," Anonuevo said.

"We gave him some this past Christmas to give away as presents."

© Copyright 1999 from The Ottawa Sun