Review and images by Suspsy; edited by bmathison1972
Behold, I give you the biggest shark toy in my possession, the great white (Carcharodon carcharias) from Folkmanis! I came across this magnificent puppet in a local toy store more than fifteen years ago. I was in my mid-twenties at the time, single without any children, and the price tag was a hefty $89.99 Canadian. But, I reasoned to myself, here was a toy that I would have gone absolutely bonkers over as a boy, and if I didn’t snap it up now, I’d likely come to regret the decision later on. So I bought it and it turned out to be a truly great move. I kept it on plain sight on my bed and far from garnering any ridicule from peers, it actually proved to be very popular with women and at parties. No joke, this shark could tell some rather hilarious stories if it could speak for itself. I also brought it with me to work a few times and the children there adored it. It was a good teaching tool. Currently it’s a resident at my parents’ home, and my sons regularly play with it whenever they come to visit.
From the tip of its nose to the end of its caudal fin, this great white measures no less than an entire metre in length. It is amply stuffed with material so that it can serve as a regular plush toy as well as a puppet. Indeed, it makes for a fairly decent pillow. Its main colours are, of course, dark grey and white. The white section is made of white velvety material while the dark grey is smooth and shiny polyester. The beady black eyes are made of solid plastic. Opening the huge mouth reveals dark brick red-coloured tissue with a dark brown wool throat. And lining this mouth are plastic of white teeth. These teeth are solid enough to be pointy, but also bendable enough not to cause any injury. They are mounted in two rows on the upper and lower jaws, and they definitely look delightfully dangerous!
Gill slits are represented by three rows of stitching on either side of the shark. I’m sure most readers are well aware that real great whites have five gill slits on either side, but it’s not a big deal. The stout pectoral fins are swept back and the dorsal fin is tall, triangular, and not prone to flopping to one side. The caudal fin does flop down at the base of the tail, presumably so that one can simulate a swimming motion by waving the shark from side to side. There’s even a visible cleft on the upper part of the caudal fin, which is a nice touch. The pelvic fins are altogether absent, but again, I don’t consider that a big deal considering this is a plush puppet.
This puppet has two hand slots on its belly. Presumably you’re supposed to manipulate it with both hands, but I’ve always found it rather awkward and unnecessary. The rear slot, which I don’t use, is meant for moving the back half of the shark’s body. The front slot is much more fun, as it allows you to open and close the shark’s lower jaw with your thumb. There are also plastic rings inside the slot for moving the eyes around. And finally, you can stick your hand right out through the shark’s throat, grab a smaller undersea puppet or any small plush toy for that matter, and then pull it back into the shark’s mouth and right down its throat!
This great white shark puppet is a truly magnificent beast, ferocious in appearance, well crafted, and quite durable. Anyone will have an absolute blast playing with it, no matter what their age is. Sadly, Folkmanis discontinued it some years ago, so I’m afraid you’ll have to scour eBay or other online stores if you want one, and it surely will cost a pretty penny. For myself, I’m truly grateful that I came across it all those years ago. I hope future generations of my bloodline enjoy it every bit as much. 🙂
The gap between the rows of teeth is somewhat unsettling but it’s a fantastic puppet none-the-less.