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The Hugga Bunch

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TypeAction figures
CompanyKenner
CountryUnited States
Availability1985–

The Hugga Bunch was a 1980s toy line from the Kenner, Parker Brothers companies and Hallmark Cards. Starting in early 1985,[1][2] the companies manufactured the Hugga Bunch dolls, each of which held a smaller doll called a "huglet" in their arms.[3] During that year, the line generated over US$40 million in sales.[4]

The title characters in the franchise lived in a place called "Huggaland".

Film

The Hugga Bunch
Written byDavid Swift
Directed byGus Jekel
Country of originUnited States
Original languageEnglish
Production
BudgetUS$1.4 million[5]
Original release
Release1985 (1985)

The toys inspired The Hugga Bunch, a 1985 television film produced by Filmfair Communications.

Written by David Swift and directed by Gus Jekel, it earned a Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Visual Effects. Produced for US$1.4 million, it was the most expensive TV special ever produced at the time.[5] Along with a making-of special, it was released on VHS, LaserDisc and Beta by Vestron Video's Children's Video Library.[6] To date, it has not been released on DVD and/or Blu-ray.

Plot

In the film, a girl travels through her mirror into HuggaLand to find a way to keep her grandmother—the only one who knows how to hug—young.

Cast

  • Gennie James - Bridget Severson
  • Natalie Masters - Grams Severson
  • Terry Castillo - Huggins
  • Tony Urbano - Hugsy
  • Aarika Wells - Queen Admira
  • Carl Steven - Andrew Severson
  • Susan Mullen - Janet Severson
  • Mark Withers - Parker Severson
  • Kelly Britt - Aunt Ruth
  • Richard Haydn - Bookworm (voice)

A Day Full of Hugs

Also in 1985, Parker Brothers released an album. Singers included Jonathan Edwards, Bradley Kane, Russell Horton, Michael Mark, Jessica Craven, Merle Miller, Terry Teszor, John Henry Kurtz, Stephen and Tom Chapin.

Song Songwriters
Everybody Needs A Friend Tom and Stephen Chapin
All Kinds of Hugs Tom Chapin, John Forster and Stephen Chapin
Smiling Again John Forster
The Choose-Up Song John Forster, Stephen and Tom Chapin
Through the Mirror Stephen Chapin, Tom Chapin and John Forster
March to the Bookworm's House Tom and Stephen Chapin
The Bookworm's Book Stephen Chapin, Tom Chapin and John Forster
The Hug-A-Lug Song Johnny Talon and Don Specht
Shrugs Are Like the Measles Tom Chapin, John Forster and Stephen Chapin
Love to Share John Forster

References

  1. ^ Haynes, Kevin (June 18, 1985). "Licensing show spurs vendors, but retail turnout disappoints". Women's Wear Daily (WWD) (149). Fairchild Publications: 15.
  2. ^ Haynes, Kevin (March 11, 1985). "A matter of character". Women's Wear Daily (WWD) (149). Fairchild Publications: Y50.
  3. ^ "Pound Puppies, Hugga Bunch to seek plush stardom". Discount Store News (24). Lebhar-Friedman Inc.: 41 February 18, 1985.
  4. ^ "Hugga Bunch". Forbes. 140 (10–14): 192. 1987. In 1985 Kenner Parker sold about $40 million worth of its Hugga Bunch doll, good for a new toy. Sad to say, Kenner Parker manufactured dolls valued at $60 million.
  5. ^ a b "Hugga Bunch". Television/Radio Age. 33. Television Editorial Corp.: 49 1985. Retrieved September 3, 2010.
  6. ^ "These Hugs Are Worth Millions!" (Advertisement). Billboard. Vol. 97, no. 51. VNU/Nielsen Business Media. December 21, 1985. p. 35. Retrieved September 3, 2010.
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