Manekochan Reviews: Sheep
Plush Through the Years

Manekochan

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The “large sheep” was not alone in 2009. He had a little companion sheep. Standing at only 8 inches tall and retailing for $5.99, the “small sheep” followed the same scaled down pattern as the “large sheep”, though it did come out a little plumper and, because of this, is less prone to rolling over. I liked the little guy, so, admitting to myself that I was apparently now a sheep collector, I bought him to add to my collection.

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The sheep were repeated again in 2010. That year saw the “large sheep” and “small sheep” grazing (pun intended) the shelves of Target, and, despite Vault’s insistence that I needed more sheep for my flock, I passed them up. But, ultimately, Target thwarted my attempts to keep my money yet again.

The “Sheep” came back in 2011. Standing at 8 inches, this “sheep” was the “small sheep” body from 2009. They’d made some improvements: the fur was a soft, beautiful plush, the price dropped to $4.99, and the face was, somehow, cuter than its predecessors’. The effect is downright adorable and makes for a sheep that looks less like a sheep and more like a very confused bunny/sheep hybrid. It’s dangerously cute and liable to make you think of words like “lolloping” as you imagine it trying to move.

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I’ve gotten used to the fact that my sheep will never be matching. At first, it was bothersome, but, over the years, the different sizes and furs have given me a diverse collection. Like a real flock, they’re not all alike. That being said, where’s my black sheep?

Finally, Wal-mart, not to be outdone by Target, released their own sheep in 2009. It’s roughly the same size as the (not really)“large sheep”. It’s not very pleasant to touch, being made of a short wooly material that seems to stick to your hand.

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The wool is softer than the wooly material on the other sheep and also a brighter white. Its ears do not have wires in them and its eyes seem larger than the other sheep’s. Their lighter irises make the pupil pop and give this sheep a somewhat psychotic look on his face. The sheep itself also seems less full, as if they cut back on the fill inside it. Like the (allegedly) “large sheep”, the Walmart sheep is thinner than the others and prone to falling over. This makes for some bothersome clean up if you happen to be outside. Everything sticks to its fur. Eventually, I had to give up picking dead leaf bits out of it or give up on the shoot.

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All in all, I’m fairly pleased with Target’s collection of seasonal sheep. Though the prices have gone up and come back down again, they’ve remained reasonable and are less than you’d pay for similar sized animals at a toy store or a specialty store. The quality has remained consistent even if they’ve pared down the size. The Walmart sheep, on the other hand, is a bit of a let down. I bought one simply to compare it to my Target sheep, but the differences, while minor, are still crucial. You can feel the inferiority of the sheep when you touch it and you can even see it in its obvious stitching. If you’re just looking to get into collecting these guys now, skip Walmart and head to your local Target. You’re probably out of luck on the larger sizes, but, if the patterns continue as they have, the little sheep should be making an appearance next year.

I hope you enjoyed my Sheep review and anxiously await what I have cooked up for tomorrow!

-Manekochan

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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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