Mini Anamontronic Show.

[cbrooney]

I always wished that Showbiz may toys like the Rock-a-fire stage. I would have loved to have duplicate replicas of the RAE like the Billybob seen in the collectables section. I would have loved a miniture 3 stage version of the RAE. I wonder if Aaron Fetcher could still make one these days, and how much it would cost. I would be willing to pay for something like that.

[pizzacam]

Well you can still get the Mini Billy bobs from I think Snap...

[cbrooney]

Really? How much do you think he would charge for one, and what's his e-mail address?

[ChuckEZone]

I wouldn't know about pricing, but you can reach Snap at snapperard@aol.com

[Shiney Happy Jenn]

There WAS plans to release an entire line of mini RAE animated figures...the Mini Billy Bob figure was to be the first in the series. There was also a Mitzi and a Fatz slated for release, but plans were shelved when it was discovered that the final product was far to delicate and fragile for kids.

There is a entire cellar full of Mini Billy Bob animatronic dolls and their mini stages at CEI. Whole shelves are filled to the top with dozens of these figures, all still boxed up. It's a darn shame these were never released to the public through the resturants gift shops, as i know a lot of folks would have loved to have bought one. It would have been a huge hit as around the time they were originally going to be released Teddy Ruxpin had just taken the world by storm and animatronic toys were THE hot commodity.

Such a shame the project was shelved.

[captslappy]

Actually I think there are a limited number of prototypes at CEI but from what I understand only a few test samples of the stages were made and the majority of the figures do not have stages or bases. It is just the doll without the base. The wiring hangs from the figures and they are usable if someone were to connect the correct electronics to them. From what I understand there was only one working prototype and it apparently disappeared many years ago back when there was still a full staff at Creative. Mitzi and Fatz were apparently on the drawing board. I assume at least Dook and Beach Bear would eventually have been made as well. Looney and Rolfe and Earl are questionable. Earl and Looney probably would have been too tiny to do. Cost was another huge consideration besides the fact they were delicate.

[djsmurf]

Hey, I have the Billy bob with the base, but it isn't connected to anything. I was told it would connect to a billy bass but ive been afraid to tamper with it.

[cbrooney]

I know that I have many questions you guys, but this fasinates me so please bare with this simi-childish behavior...but do you think that Aaron could have some of these put together or made today for the right price? Or do you think this was merely a brainchild of his the anamontronics were made by other companies?

[YoungCaliHottie]

since he has so many... i wonder if he'd be willing to part with some of them? XD

[looneybird78]

I think I still have another Mini Billy Bob stashed away. If you are interested in him email me off board damon.breland@gmail.com

And yes Chris I have heard the Billy Bass rumor too... But just like you am to afraid to mess with it. I do belive that Menutia did it at one point though... but you can only get 2 movements max out of that! :(

[lildook]

better not sell that other billy there looneybird! :-P

[Shiney Happy Jenn]

There is dozens of dolls at CEI all boxed but The Captain is correct in saying that all of these are not "complete" sets...meaning, they do not run or have stages. There are a few stages left and on display there which is very cool. Orignally the Mini Billy Bob was supposed to be like a Teddy Ruxpin: simply tell stories and sing songs. Later it was decided that it would have more appeal if you could hook him up to your computer or video player and interact with him. Aaron was SO ahead of his time back then with this...interactive toys like this are just now coming into the mainstream! Genuis really when you think about it..

Anyway, these Billy figures could be hooked up to your computer and with a simple program he would run and teach children things in a interactive way. Remember a few years back in the mid-90's we had the interactive Barney plush doll? It was a large animated plush that ran off of your vcr when you played a special video program that came with him...or something like that. I don't recall the details now..but i remember when it came out i immediately thought it was a Billy doll rip-off! Ha ha!!

The idea was that Billy could read and sing, or teach your child spelling, math, etc. while hooked up to this at home . I have a copy of a original mini catalog that explained and covered all of this....i'd talk more about it if i had it in front of me. Perhaps one of our readers can shed more light on this..but the Mini Billy Bob definately was slated to have a much wider use then simply for entertainment purposes.

Oh and yes, there were plans to include a mini Looney figure as well. I restored a Mini Looney head last year, but i beleive the ones that do exsist are just prototypes. I have never seen any finished or any with electronics inside.

I'm sure if you contacted Aaron he would maybe consider selling you a Mini Billy. Please keep in mind that more then likely it would just be the animated figure doll...and not a operating or complete set with a stage, etc. Hey it's worth a try....

I had a Mini Billy once....and he is definately a very cool item. From what i've been told, the orignal prototypes were hand built by Aaron himself and the following duplicates that now fill CEI were all built in China for mass distribution.

[YoungCaliHottie]

think you can share that mini catalog?

anyone have pics of the mini billy?

[cbrooney]

Does anyone have Aaron's e-mail address?

[YoungCaliHottie]

dont know for sure. i think its aaron@robotsandgames.com

i would ask him about this... but now that i look at my account... im broke. lol. ill ask him when i actually have $. lol

[captslappy]

aaron.fechter@gte.net

[Shiney Happy Jenn]

I will have to dig for the catalog....it's more like a 5/6 page flyer stapled together but it shows drawings of the prototype systems and ideas that were being considered at the time. I was stunned when i saw how much MORE there was originally planned for these when i saw this. Aaron gave it to me when i visited CEI this past fall along with one of the slick professional booklets advertising the Mini Billy. Very nice promo item that was given out at the IIAPA Conventions he would attend to attract business and put the word out about his awesome shows and animatronics.

There is a photo of the Mini Billy doll in the "Showbiz Collectibles" section of this very site. I think it's under the "Misc" section.....

[YoungCaliHottie]

oh ya! thanks

ive seen that pic before...

:)