Editing Weeble

{{Short description|Toy produced by Playskool}}
{{For|the Flash animated series|Weebl and Bob}}
[[File:Weebles Diddy Wishingwell.jpg|thumb|right|Diddy Wishingwell figure on top of Weebles Barn Dance playset]]
'''Weebles''' are a range of children's [[roly-poly toy]]s that was introduced in 1971<ref>{{Cite web |last=Muir |first=John Kenneth |date=2016-06-26 |title=45 Years Later: Weebles Wobble but They Don't Fall Down |url=https://flashbak.com/45-years-later-weebles-wobble-but-they-dont-fall-down-63318/ |access-date=2024-07-11 |website=Flashbak |language=en-US}}</ref> by the US toy company [[Playskool]], which is now owned and marketed by [[Hasbro]] as part of the Playskool brand. They are [[egg (biology)|egg]]-shaped toys designed with a weighted bottom-center. When tilted, the center of mass is raised, and upon release, gravity returns the toy to its original upright position. Weebles have been designed with a variety of shapes, including some designed to look like people or animals.

The [[catchphrase]] "Weebles wobble, but they don't fall down" was used in advertising during their rise in popularity in the 1970s and during successive relaunches in the early 2000s. The line was coined by advertising executive J. Mitchell Reed in his Madison Ave Office.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Gurley |first=R. J. |date=2023-07-09 |title=Weebles Wobble But They Don't… |url=https://medium.com/bouncin-and-behavin-blogs/weebles-wobble-but-they-dont-2c16ca031df8 |access-date=2024-07-11 |website=Bouncin’ and Behavin’ Blogs |language=en}}</ref>

In the [[United Kingdom]], Weebles were manufactured and marketed by [[Airfix]] under licence from 1973 until Airfix's collapse in 1981.<ref>{{cite book |last=Ward |first=Arthur |title=The Other Side Of Airfix: Sixty Years of Toys, Games & Crafts |date=2013 |publisher=Pen and Sword |isbn=978-1-4738-2231-3 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=VLLNDwAAQBAJ&q=airfix%20weebles&pg=PT115 |access-date=26 December 2020 |ref=airfix}}</ref>

In 2023, [[PlayMonster]] acquired an international licence from [[Hasbro]] to manufacture and sell Weebles.<ref>{{Cite web |title=PlayMonster weebles and wobbles into new licenses |url=https://kidscreen.com/2023/03/29/playmonster-weebles-and-wobbles-into-new-licenses/ |access-date=2024-07-11}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Hartsock |first=Bug |date=2023-03-28 |title=PlayMonster and Hasbro Expand Partnership, Relaunch Weebles |url=https://toybook.com/playmonster-hasbro-expansion/ |access-date=2024-07-11 |website=The Toy Book |language=en-US}}</ref>

==Design principle==
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[[Image:weebleprinciple.jpg|right|350px|thumb|Diagram of the principles of operation of a Weeble. The grey material is of a higher density than the red material, causing the center of mass of the object (labelled C) to be very low. This means that when the Weeble is wobbled, as in position B, the center of mass will be on the other side of the pivot point (where the Weeble is in contact with the ground), and so gravity will cause it to return to an upright position.]]
Weeble is shaped like an egg. In order for it to work as intended, the shape must have a bottom which is a more or less smooth (unfaceted) [[wikt:hemispheres|hemisphere]] (to allow the Weeble to roll) and from the central [[Cartesian coordinate system|vertical axis]] the shape must be nearly [[Rotational symmetry|cylindrically symmetrical]] (that is, any plane cut through the vertical axis line must produce close to the same profile).<ref name=":0">{{Cite web |last=Hartman |first=Eric James |date=2023-01-21 |title=Weebles Wooble - Or Do They? |url=https://americanmemorylane.com/2023/01/21/weebles-wooble-or-do-they/ |access-date=2025-05-13 |website=American Memory Lane |language=en-US}}</ref> Next, the shape must be filled with two basic types of unmixed [[solid]]s, and the [[volume]] of the lighter solid must be greater than that of the heavier solid.<ref name=":0" /> Next, the overall shape must have [[Constant curvature|constant positive curvature]].<ref name=":0" /> Next, the relationship between the heavy solid and the light solid must be such that any orientation of the object off of the vertical axis line must cause the object's [[centroid]] to raise and to become offset.<ref name=":0" /> Lastly, the object must have only one position in which it can achieve stable [[mechanical equilibrium]].<ref name=":0" />

== List of playsets ==
Numerous playsets were made and marketed in the US throughout the 1970s including a [[Haunted House]],<ref>{{cite web| url= https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=QedtWlEPoyM |archive-url= https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211212/QedtWlEPoyM| archive-date=2021-12-12 |url-status=live| title=1970's Weebles Haunted House Commercial| publisher= spuzzlightyeartoo| date=17 November 2012|access-date=24 November 2017|via=YouTube}}{{cbignore}}</ref> [[Treehouse]],<ref>{{cite web| url= https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2rpcY7NGVxU |archive-url= https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211212/2rpcY7NGVxU| archive-date=2021-12-12 |url-status=live |title= 1970s Weebles Treehouse Commercial | publisher =spuzzlightyeartoo|date=19 September 2011|access-date=24 November 2017|via=YouTube}}{{cbignore}}</ref> [[Tarzan]],<ref>{{cite web| url= https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=wJYBW0FSUYE |archive-url= https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211212/wJYBW0FSUYE| archive-date=2021-12-12 |url-status=live|title= Weebles Tarzan Jungle Hut Set Commercial |publisher= spuzzlightyeartoo| date=27 September 2011|access-date=24 November 2017|via=YouTube}}{{cbignore}}</ref> [[campervan|Camper]],<ref>{{cite web| url= https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cDf83tS-kxE |archive-url= https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211212/cDf83tS-kxE| archive-date=2021-12-12 |url-status=live|title= 1970's Weebles Camper Commercial |publisher =spuzzlightyeartoo|date=8 October 2011|access-date=24 November 2017|via=YouTube}}{{cbignore}}</ref> [[Playground]],<ref>{{cite web |url= https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rxOh_HSboc4 |archive-url= https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211212/rxOh_HSboc4| archive-date=2021-12-12 |url-status= live| title= Commercial for Weebles Playground| publisher =spuzzlightyeartoo|date=20 September 2011|access-date=24 November 2017|via=YouTube}}{{cbignore}}</ref> [[Marina]],<ref>{{cite web|url=https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=-l7sphiJffo |archive-url= https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211212/-l7sphiJffo| archive-date= 2021-12-12 |url-status=live|title=1970's Commercial for Weebles Marina |publisher=spuzzlightyeartoo|date=17 November 2012|access-date=24 November 2017|via=YouTube}}{{cbignore}}</ref> [[Circus]],<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4293jP2KWTk |archive-url= https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211212/4293jP2KWTk| archive-date=2021-12-12 |url-status=live| title= Commercial for Weebles Circus Toy| publisher= spuzzlightyeartoo| date=20 September 2011|access-date=24 November 2017|via=YouTube}}{{cbignore}}</ref> [[Fun House]],<ref>{{cite web| url= https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ob-LM4XELLI|title=1977-1978 Romper Room Tumblin' Weebles Fun House TV commercial|last=D Heine|date=18 August 2012|access-date=24 November 2017|via=YouTube}}</ref> [[Mickey Mouse Club]] Set,<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=593G1_kji-4 |archive-url= https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211212/593G1_kji-4| archive-date= 2021-12-12 |url-status=live |title= Commercial for Weebles Mickey Mouse Club Set| publisher=spuzzlightyeartoo| date=20 September 2011|access-date=24 November 2017|via=YouTube}}{{cbignore}}</ref> [[Mickey Mouse]] [[Magic Kingdom]],<ref>{{cite web| url=https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=ozcSLpQ0WY8 |archive-url= https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211212/ozcSLpQ0WY8| archive-date=2021-12-12 |url-status=live |title= Mickey Mouse Magic Kingdom (Commercial, 1977)| publisher=The Museum of Classic Chicago Television; FuzzyMemories.TV|date=23 September 2017|access-date=24 November 2017|via=YouTube}}{{cbignore}}</ref> [[westerns|Western]] Theme Set, Weekender and others.  Playsets often came with certain figures, though these could also be purchased separately.

The ''Weebles 1971–2011 Price Guide and Index'' lists and shows every Weeble model made over the preceding 40 years. There are 116 Weebles in total (83 regular; 21 peelable; 12 tumbling) including all egg-shaped sizes and variations made during 1971–1983. In 2011 Hasbro started making a new line of larger egg-shaped Weebles and had produced 42 new Weebles by July 2011. A wide range of accessories was available for the Weebles, including vehicles, buildings and furniture. Some sets had themes, such as the Weebles circus set.{{Citation needed|date=July 2024}}

There are 44 Weebles sets that include at least one Weebles figure and a vehicle, or larger sets made between 1972 and 1982.

A new line of Weebles was created in 2004 that were not egg-shaped but rather shaped like different animals.  These were produced for a couple of years.

===Weebleville (2004&ndash;2005)===
'''Source:'''<ref name= "WEEBLES_browse">{{cite web| url= http://www.hasbro.com/playskool/weebles/default.cfm?page=browse | title = Weebles – browse| publisher = Playskool| website= hasbro.com| accessdate = }}</ref>
*Weebleville Town Center
*Weeschool
*Wegetable Stand
*Weebles Barn Dance
*Weehicles (four sets)
*Weemobile
*Wescue Wagon
*Weegoaway Camper
*Weebly Wobbly Tree House
*Figures
*Mini Weebles Pals (larger figures)

===Storybook World (2006) ===
'''Source:'''<ref name="WEEBLES_browse"/>
*[[Hansel and Gretel]]'s Wobbly Adventure
*[[Jack and Jill]]'s Wobbly Adventure
*[[Goldilocks]]' Adventure Cottage
*[[Cinderella]] Carriage
*Weebly Knight & Ogre Adventure
*Weebalot Castle
*Figures

=== New Weebles (since 2011) ===
* Musical Treehouse
* Wobble-Go-Round
* Figures
* Weebles on the Bus
* Bobblin' Boat
* Wobblin' Wings
* Turnin' Whirlin' Racers
* Turn 'n Tumble Home
* Rock 'n Wobble Playground

==In popular culture==
* In 1975, the [[Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade]] introduced a balloon of the standard Weeble design, which lasted until 1978. Almost 20 years later, [[balloonicle]]s with the Weebles characters Tibbey, Tooey, and Bumpus made their debut.<ref>{{Cite web|title= What Thanksgiving Was Like the Year You Were Born|date=November 11, 2020|url=https://www.goodhousekeeping.com/holidays/thanksgiving-ideas/g4869/100-years-of-thanksgiving/|archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20210509015856/https://www.goodhousekeeping.com/holidays/thanksgiving-ideas/g4869/100-years-of-thanksgiving/|website=[[Good Housekeeping]]|archive-date=May 9, 2021|access-date=December 10, 2021|first=Hannah|last=Doolin}}</ref>

== See also ==
* [[Weebl and Bob]]
* [[Okiagari-koboshi]]
* [[Daruma doll]]
* [[Gömböc]]

==References==
{{Reflist}}
{{Hasbro}}

[[Category:1970s toys]]
[[Category:Toy figurines]]
[[Category:Hasbro products]]