Weeble

For the Flash animated series, see Weebl and Bob.

Diddy Wishingwell figure in top of Weebles Barn Dance playset

Weebles is a trademark for several lines of children's roly-poly toys originating in Hasbro's Playskool division on July 23, 1971. Tipping an egg-shaped Weeble causes a weight located at the bottom-center to be lifted off the ground. Once released, gravitational force brings the Weeble back into an upright position. Weebles have been designed to have a variety of shapes, including some designed to look like people and like animals, among others.

The popular catchphrase, "Weebles wobble, but they don't fall down", was used in advertising during their rise in popularity in the 1970s and during the relaunch in the 2000s. It also appeared in the 2010s relaunch.

The Weebles 1971-2011 Price Guide and Index Book lists and shows every Weeble model made over the past 40 years. There are 21 peelable / 83 regular / 12 tumbling = 116 Weebles in total including all egg shaped sizes and variations made during 1971-1983. In 2010 Hasbro started making a new line of larger egg-shaped Weebles and had produced 42 new Weebles as of July 2011.

A wide range of accessories were available for the Weebles including vehicles, buildings and furniture. Some sets had a theme to them, such as the Weebles circus set.

Design principle

Diagram of the principles of operation of a Weeble. The grey material is of a higher density than the red material, causing the centre of mass of the object (labelled C) to be very low. This means that when the Weeble is wobbled, as in position B, the centre of mass will be on the other side of the pivot point (where the Weeble is in contact with the ground), and so gravity will cause it to return to an upright position.

A Weeble is shaped like an egg—in order for the physics principles to work as intended, the shape must have a bottom which is a more or less smooth (unfaceted) hemisphere (to allow the Weeble to roll) and from the central vertical axis the shape must be nearly cylindrically symmetrical (that is, any plane cut through the vertical axis line must produce close to the same profile). Next, the shape must be filled with two basic types of unmixed solids, and the volume of the lighter solid must be greater than that of the heavier solid. Next, the overall shape must have constant positive curvature. Next, the relationship between the heavy solid and the light solid must be such that any orientation of the object off of the vertical axis line must cause the object's centroid to raise and to become offset. Lastly, the object must have only one position in which it can achieve stable mechanical equilibrium.

Combining these characteristics produces a basic Weeble. In theory, it is not possible to have a Weeble with a centroid that is too low to achieve a stable mechanical equilibrium.

List of playsets

Numerous playsets were made and marketed in the USA throughout the 1970s including a Haunted House, Treehouse, Camper, Playground, Marina, Circus, Fun House, Mickey Mouse Club Set, Western Theme Set, Weekender and others. Playsets often came with certain figures, though these could also be purchased separately.

There are 44 Weebles sets that include at least one Weebles figure and a vehicle, or larger sets made between 1972-1982.

A new line of Weebles was created in 2004 that were not egg-shaped but rather shaped like different animals. These were produced for a couple of years.

Weebleville (2004–2005)

• Weebleville Town Center
• Weeschool
• Wegetable Stand
• Weebles Barn Dance
• Weehicles (four sets)
• Weemobile
• Wescue Wagon
• Weegoaway Camper
• Weebly Wobbly Tree House
• Figures
• Mini Weebles Pals (larger figures)

Storybook World (2006)

• Hansel and Gretel's Wobbly Adventure
• Jack and Jill's Wobbly Adventure
• Goldilocks' Adventure Cottage
• Cinderella Carriage
• Weebly Knight & Ogre Adventure
• Weebalot Castle
• Figures

New Generation (2010–present)

• Musical Treehouse
• Wobble-Go-Round
• Figures
• Weebles on the Bus
• Bobblin' Boat
• Wobblin' Wings
• Turnin' Whirlin' Racers
• Turn 'n Tumble Home
• Rock 'n Wobble Playground

Cultural references

• In the 1977 episode of the Britcom series Are You Being Served? entitled "A Change Is as Good as a Rest," Weebles were satirized by generically referring to them as "Wibbly Wobblies."
• There is a reference to Weebles in the song Daydreaming by the British trip hop act Massive Attack.
• In Friends episode "The One with the Boobies" (Season 1, episode 13) Rachel says "It wasn't just the Weebles, but it was the Weeble Play Palace".
• The Insyderz track "Weebles" chorus on their 1997 album Motor City Ska says " We're like Weebles, we wobble but we don't stay down"
• In comedian Daniel Tosh's DVD special Daniel Tosh: Completely Serious, he mentions Weebles.
• The nineteenth episode of the third season of Veronica Mars is named "Weevils Wobble But They Don't Go Down".

See also

• Weebl and Bob
• Okiagari-koboshi
• Daruma doll
• Gömböc