|
A series of plush toys inspired by love letters between an American man and a Korean woman has become a huge hit with sales of more than 100 million units. The toys are called Ugly Dolls and are the creation of illustrator David Horvath, 36, and his wife Kim Sun-min, 30.
With their iconic big heads and short legs, Ugly Dolls became famous after Hollywood celebrities including Robin Williams, Christina Aguilera, Ashlee Simpson and Paris Hilton said on TV they would give them as gifts to family and friends.
The dolls were also used as props in the film "Mr. Magorium's Wonder Emporium" starring Dustin Hoffman and featured on NBC's "Today Show." U.S. newspapers and magazines have interviewed Horvath and Kim.
 |
|
David Horvath and his wife Kim Sun-min pose with Ugly Dolls inspired by their love for each other.
|
 |
|
The dolls are a product of their love. The couple met at Parsons School of Design in 1997, but Kim returned home to Korea upon graduation in 2001. They kept in touch and their relationship flowered by mail. Horvath, meanwhile, worked on his dream of creating toys better than Barbie or Power Rangers. He created some characters and contacted several toy companies, but found no success.
Discouraged, Horvath sent a letter to Kim with an illustration of a character with an angry face, prominent underbite and an ill-fitting apron. Kim sewed up a plush version of the character for Horvath as a Christmas gift, and "Wage," the first Ugly Doll, was born.
A friend of Horvath who runs a character shop in New York happened to see the doll and suggested selling them and in 2003 they began mass producing the dolls in China. The couple worked on new characters and designs together and have so far created 26 characters, including the second one "Babo." Each character has a different story. "Cinko" hates water, "Peaco" is very shy, and "Ice-Bat" turns everything he touches into ice.
Ugly Dolls now sell for US$20 apiece in some 20 nations including Canada, Norway and Sweden. In Korea they have become available at character shops in Apgujeong and Gangnam since late last year.
The success of the business enabled the two to meet more often, traveling between Korea and the U.S. They finally got married in Seoul in November 2005 and now have a baby girl.
Living in Yongin, Gyeonggi Province, the couple plans to create new Ugly Doll characters -- six every year -- and work on illustrations for children's books and animations.
(englishnews@chosun.com )
|
