Micropets dance into record books

TINY model pets that sing, dance and even look grumpy when told to entered the record books yesterday as the smallest toys of their type in the world.

Measuring just 3.5cm (1.3ins) high, Chumsley the cat, Sprocket the Dalmatian and the others in the Tomy MicroPets collection have become the latest toy craze for young children, selling nearly one million items since their launch in August.

Now Guinness World Records has awarded them the title “the world’s smallest self-powered sound activated toy”.

In all there are 10 individually designed characters currently available, including monsters aimed at boys and “cute ones” like bears for the girls, said Sally Plumridge, marketing director of Tomy UK.

Using sound recognition technology, the toys respond to hand claps and voice commands, can sing, walk, flash their eyes and show either happy or grumpy moods.

Ms Plumridge said the huge success of these toys which have been in the top five sellers for several months, was down to their “magical” quality.

“Kids love micro things, they love technology and they love to see innovation in a way that’s magical and these pets are really magical,” she said.

Seven-year-old Jessica McConkey enjoyed playing with the toys for the first time yesterday.

“I like the Dalmatian and I wrote to Father Christmas for one,” she said.

The monster characters are being fazed out after Christmas but a new range of MicroPets will be available early next year.

The toys appeal to students and many adults have also written to say how much they enjoy them. Kim Lacey, a researcher at Guinness World Records, said: “Everybody has been playing with them in the office.”

Guinness World Records expert Dave Hawksett said: “As the worlds of technology and toys collide Guinness World Records is constantly discovering impressive innovations and congratulates those tireless Tomy technicians for finally creating the toy they dreamed of as kids.”