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How many outdoor activity products have been developed in the latter part of the twentieth century? Not many, my friend: the Aerobe (the deadly unusable frisbee rip-off); Nerf weaponry; swing-ball; the ‘taser’ (more for grown-ups). All pretty poor options and none of which will ever become internationally renowned sports – like yer footy or (gulp) golf.
But one little gem will survive. Just like those dinos in Jurassic Park, it had to evolve in order to procreate. The brain-urchin of one Scott Stillinger, it was originally designed as something little kids could throw and catch without getting harsh bonks on the head. Produced using the same principles as the classic Blue Peter pom-pom (cord wrapped around two adjacent cardboard discs then snipped around the circumference- shazam!) Koosh’s densely packed centre kept it flying, while the rubber spaghetti fronds on the outside reduced blood-letting and window smashing scenarios. Stillinger formed OddzOn and went into mass production.
For ten years the air was thick with flying fibrous rubber things. Then, like other trends, it should have died to be usurped by a new fun plastic pretender. But Koosh changed, transformed and adapted – it left the playground to the yo-yos and the bounce-boards, and headed off for weirder things.
In 1996, the farm got bought by big toy-boys Hasboro. They kept up the sporty end of Koosh still, but the twisted genius move was to start taking all it’s big cartoon and movie franchises and Koosherise them. They gave Koosh thick plastic arms and legs. They gave head and tail. Now when a movie comes out, they make Kooshes of the characters. Go check out Jar-Jar the Koosh! Be amazed by the Flintstones’ John Goodman Koosh! – all look like regular toys subjected to intense period in a comedy spin-dryer. Fluffy poodles the lot of ‘em.
Brilliant – a toy that started life as the safest throw in town is now the dumbest looking (in a good way!) most dangerous object on the shop shelf. Hold it in your hand – it’s hard plastic appendages means it’s going to hurt, but the feel of the soft Kooshy fronds triggers something deep down in your brain. It..must..beÂ…THROWN! Smash! - there goes that precious Ming vase, Ouch! – Timmy gets an eye out, nice work Scotty boy.
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