Sonny Angel

Sonny Angel is a line of cherub figurines created by Japanese toy manufacturer Toru Soeya, the CEO of the Japanese company Dreams. The character's name is derived from Soeya's nickname, 'Sonny.' Sonny Angels are sold in blind boxes, featuring different headgear and occasionally different outfits in various collections. The slogan of Sonny Angel is, "He may bring you happiness."

Sonny Angels are often purchased as collectibles. Some Sonny Angels are resold for far more than their original retail value and are often exchanged or resold at trading events.

Origins

Sonny Angel was launched on May 15, 2004. The figurine started out as an 18-centimeter (7-inch) doll and was inspired by the character Kewpie. Sonny was later transformed into a 7-centimeter (3-inch) mini figure and is now sold in over 33 countries.

Some Sonny Angel collections include a mini figure named Robby, described as Sonny's best friend. Robby can camouflage and can change outfits with Sonny. In collections containing a Robby figure, the probability of obtaining Robby is lower compared to Sonny collection; with 1 out of every 144 figures being a Robby.

In media

News articles

Sonny Angel was featured in The New York Times on April 6, 2023. The article was titled "Why Do People Love This Tiny Doll?" and described Sonny as a "fictitious 2-year-old cherub designed to be a tiny companion for working women in their mid-20s dealing with the stresses of adulthood." The article followed a Sonny Angel meetup in Washington Square Park, where people met to trade and bond over their love of Sonny Angel. The event was sponsored by the Torine clothing line, such as those of Calico Critters.

Television

Sonny Angel was featured in a Challengers-inspired sketch on a season 49 episode of Saturday Night Live, hosted by pop singer Dua Lipa, which aired on May 4, 2024.

Collaborations

Donna Wilson

Sonny Angel collaborated with Donna Wilson, an award winning designer for her distinctive use of color and pattern, to create the Creature series. The series includes 12 kinds and 1 secret. The collaboration was released on June 28th, 2022 in Japan.

Casetify

Sonny Angel collaborated with Casetify and was released all around the world on July 19th, 2024. This release included phone cases, a phone charm, and a blind box containing a phone case and its matching Hipper. The products used Sonny Angel Hippers from the best-selling Harvest series.

Mini Figure (Regular Series)

Sonny Angel has a continuous collection known as the "Regular" series. These series are available for an extended period. Each series contains twelve listed Sonny Angels, depicted on the box, along with a secret Sonny and Robby. The series was updated in 2018 and 2019, with minor changes to Sonny and updated packaging, but the characters have largely remained unchanged. There are currently nine Regular Series, and they are as follows:

Animal Series 1

The twelve listed are Rabbit, Elephant, Panda, Sloth, Tiger, White Bear, Cockerel, Dalmatian, Frog, Koala, Monkey, and Owl. The secret Sonny is Chipmunk. The Robby is green.

Animal Series 2

The twelve listed are Mouse, Lesser Panda, Hedgehog, Fawn, Duck, Cow, Chameleon, Uribou, Skunk, Sheep, Reindeer, and Pig. The secret Sonny is Kappa. The Robby is pink.

Animal Series 3

The twelve listed are Parrot, Rhinoceros, Snake, Toy Poodle, Zebra, American Shorthair, Chihuahua, Crocodile, French Bulldog, Giraffe, Lop Ear Rabbit, and Macaw. The secret Sonny is a Unicorn. The Robby is orange.

Animal Series 4

The twelve listed are Hippopotamus, Horse, Lion, Peacock, Shiba Inu, Alpaca, Anteater, Buffalo, Calico Cat, Cheetah, Goat, and Gorilla. The secret Sonny is Dragon. The Robby is light blue.

Flower Series

The twelve listed are Rose, Cherry Blossom, Poppy, Sunflower, Cactus, Morning Glory, Lily Bell, Hydrangea, Pansy, Carnation, Acorn, and Tulip. The secret Sonny is Bee. The Robby is purple.

Fruit Series

The twelve listed are Raspberry, Peach, Orange, Pear, Strawberry, Grape, Watermelon, Melon, Durian, Dragon Fruit, Pineapple, and Apple. The secret Sonny is Seed Leaf. The Robby is yellow.

Marine Series

The twelve listed are Shark, Jellyfish, Dolphin, Seal, Seahorse, Whale, Clownfish, Shell, Penguin, Manta, Blowfish, and Starfish. The secret Sonny is Turtle. The Robby is dark blue.

Sweets Series

The twelve listed are Cream Puff, Cupcake, Fruit Tart, Ice Cream, Jellybeans, Konpeito, Pancake, Popcorn, Pudding, Candy, Cookie, and Strawberry Shortcake, The secret Sonny is Cook. The Robby is pink.

Vegetable Series

The twelve listed are Carrot, Tomato, Garlic, Zucchini, Onion, Radish, Green Pepper, Eggplant, Bok Choy, Corn, Cauliflower, and Cabbage. The secret Sonny is Mushroom. The Robby is turquoise.

Mini Figure (Hipper Series)

Sonny Angel Hippers provide a new way to integrate these cute figures into your daily life. The Hippers come with an adhesive tape on the front in order to stick to the back of an electronic device or any other flat surface. Each series include twelve listed Hippers shown on the blind box. There are currently four Hippers Series and they are as follows:

HIPPERS (2021)

The twelve listed are Rabbit, Elephant, Panda, Lion, Pig, Sheep, Koala, Fawn, Lop Ear Rabbit, Duck, Mouse, and Giraffe.

HIPPERS Harvest Series (2022)

The twelve listed are Apple, Carrot, Pineapple, Strawberry, Pear, Cherry, Grape, Mushroom, Tomato, Melon, Radish, and Eggplant.

HIPPERS Dreaming Series (2022)

The twelve listed are Rabbit, Elephant, Panda, Lion, Pig, Sheep, Koara, Fawn, Lopear Rabbit, Duck, Mouse, and Giraffe.

The Dreaming Series uses the same twelve from Hippers released in 2021, but with designs are different. The Dreaming Series uses pastel colors and each Hipper has their eyes closed.

HIPPERS Looking Back Series (2024)

The twelve listed are Monkey, Rabbit, Fawn, Duck, Crocodile, Mouse, Sloth, Hamster, Cat, Koala, Elephant, French Bull Dog.

All the Hippers in the Looking Back Series are facing backward, as opposed to looking forward like every other Series.

Mini Figure (Limited Series)

Sonny Angel Limited Series do not have known set release dates but are typically released every couple months. The series contains multiple figures and may have Robby’s. Some of the Limited Series are seasonal drops, such as the Valentines and Christmas release, while others just follow a theme, such as Bug’s World or Refreshing Cold Drinks. The drops are considered Limited as they may only ever be dropped once, never again, and or might be re-released sometime in the future.