Furby vs Gremlin: A Nostalgic Showdown of Iconic Toys and Pop Culture Phenomena

Remember the fuzzy, big-eyed creatures that took the late 90s by storm? Furbies became the must-have holiday toy that parents scrambled to find on store shelves. But many noticed an uncanny resemblance to another beloved character – Gizmo from the hit 1984 movie “Gremlins.” This similarity wasn’t just in our imaginations. It led to a fascinating legal battle between toy giant Hasbro and Warner Bros. studio that resulted in one of the most interesting toy crossovers in history. Join me as we explore the surprising connection between these two iconic characters that defined different decades of pop culture.

Origins: Toy Innovation vs. Horror-Comedy Film Lore

Gremlins burst onto the scene in 1984 as a horror-comedy film produced by Steven Spielberg and directed by Joe Dante. The lovable character Gizmo, a Mogwai, captured hearts with his big eyes, oversized ears, and fuzzy appearance. The film became a massive hit, grossing $148 million in the US alone and spawning a sequel in 1990.

Fast forward to 1998, when Tiger Electronics (later acquired by Hasbro) released the Furby – an interactive electronic pet that quickly became the must-have toy of the holiday season. With its owl-like appearance featuring massive eyes, big ears, and a furry body, many consumers immediately noticed similarities to Gizmo from Gremlins.

The resemblance wasn’t just superficial. Both creatures featured similar mannerisms, sounds, and even had a certain innocent charm that made them irresistible. This similarity didn’t go unnoticed by Warner Bros., who owned the rights to the Gremlins franchise.

The Legal Battle: When Toy Design Meets Movie Character

A 1998 news report covering the settlement between Hasbro and Warner Bros.

In late 1998, shortly after Furby’s debut, Warner Bros. took notice of the similarities between the popular toy and their beloved Gizmo character. Rather than a prolonged legal battle, the two companies reached a settlement that would forever link these two pop culture icons.

According to Variety magazine, Hasbro paid Warner Bros. an “undisclosed seven-figure sum” to settle the lawsuit. The settlement also included an agreement to redesign future Furby toys to make them less Gremlin-like. This made the original 1998 Furbies instant collectibles, as their design would soon change.

Joe Dante, director of Gremlins, confirmed this in a 2015 Reddit AMA when he stated: “Producer Mike Finnell and I noticed a certain similarity between Furby and Mogwai, and pointed it out to Warner Bros. Soon there was a Gizmo Furby for sale and, no doubt, some settlement money changed hands.”

What makes this legal settlement particularly interesting is that instead of just ending with a payment and redesign, it resulted in a creative collaboration that would delight fans of both properties.

The Gizmo Furby: When Rivals Become Partners

The limited edition Gizmo Furby released in 1999 as part of the settlement

In 1999, as part of the settlement agreement, Hasbro and Warner Bros. partnered to release a special limited edition Gizmo Furby. This wasn’t just a Furby painted to look like Gizmo – it was an officially licensed product that featured the actual voice of Gizmo (Howie Mandel) and was designed to closely resemble the beloved character from the films.

Only 250,000 Gizmo Furbies were produced, making them rare collectibles today. Unlike standard Furbies, the Gizmo version had arms and legs, a mouth instead of a beak, and other distinctive features that made it instantly recognizable as the Gremlins character.

The Gizmo Furby spoke its own language called “Gizmo” (rather than the standard Furby’s “Furbish”), but like regular Furbies, it could learn English phrases over time. It also featured special Easter eggs, including getting hiccups when manipulated in certain ways – a clever nod to the Gremlins films.

Design & Features: Cute Robot vs. Mischievous Monsters

The internal components of a 1998 Furby showing its advanced (for the time) technology

Furby’s Technical Marvel

• Electronic pet with sensors that responded to touch, light, and sound
• Started speaking “Furbish” and gradually “learned” English phrases
• Featured moving parts including eyes, ears, and beak
• Could communicate with other Furbies via infrared sensors
• Required batteries and had no off switch (much to parents’ dismay)

Gizmo alongside the transformed evil Gremlins showing the stark contrast

Gremlins’ Cinematic Magic

• Gizmo was a practical puppet created by special effects master Chris Walas
• Had three important rules: no bright light, no water, no feeding after midnight
• Breaking the rules transformed cute Mogwai into destructive Gremlins
• Featured in two films that blended horror, comedy, and family entertainment
• Voiced by comedian Howie Mandel with distinctive sounds and limited vocabulary

While both creatures shared visual similarities, their purposes were quite different. Furby was designed as an interactive toy that simulated learning and created a bond with its owner. Gizmo, meanwhile, was a fictional character whose purpose was storytelling – teaching responsibility through the consequences of breaking rules.

The technical achievement of Furby was remarkable for 1998 – it contained more computing power than the Apollo 11 mission that landed humans on the moon. Meanwhile, Gizmo represented the pinnacle of practical effects in 1980s cinema before CGI became dominant.

Cultural Legacy: 90s Toy Craze vs. 80s Movie Phenomenon

The cultural footprint of both Furby (left) and Gremlins (right) across different media

Modern Relevance: Reboots and Nostalgia Trends

The 2023 Furby reboot (left) and Gremlins: Secrets of the Mogwai animated series (right)

Both Furby and Gremlins have experienced remarkable staying power, finding new audiences decades after their initial releases. This longevity speaks to the strong emotional connection people formed with these characters.

Hasbro has consistently revived the Furby brand for new generations. The 2023 Furby reboot features advanced voice recognition, Bluetooth connectivity, and over 600 responses – a far cry from the relatively simple technology of the 1998 original. Yet it maintains the core appeal: a cute, interactive companion that responds to care and attention.

Meanwhile, Warner Bros. has carefully managed the Gremlins IP, releasing the animated prequel series “Gremlins: Secrets of the Mogwai” in 2023. The series explores Gizmo’s origins and his first meeting with a young Mr. Wing (the shopkeeper from the original film). Rumors of a proper Gremlins 3 film continue to circulate, with original director Joe Dante occasionally providing updates.

Both properties benefit from millennial nostalgia, as the generation that grew up with these characters now has purchasing power and children of their own. This creates a perfect market for reboots that appeal to both parents’ nostalgia and children’s desire for engaging characters.

A collector’s showcase of vintage Furby and Gremlins merchandise showing their enduring appeal

Fan Base: Collectors vs. Cult Film Enthusiasts

Furby collectors (left) and Gremlins cosplayers (right) showing the different fan communities

The fan bases for Furby and Gremlins have evolved in fascinating and distinct ways over the decades. Furby has developed a dedicated collector community that seeks out rare models, international variants, and especially the limited edition Gizmo Furby. Some collectors maintain working collections of dozens or even hundreds of Furbies.

The internet has enabled these collectors to connect, with forums and social media groups dedicated to trading, restoring, and modifying Furbies. Some tech-savvy fans even hack and reprogram vintage Furbies to give them new capabilities – a practice known as “Furby modding.”

Gremlins, meanwhile, maintains a cult film following that celebrates its unique blend of horror, comedy, and practical effects. The franchise is a staple at horror conventions, with fans creating elaborate Gremlin costumes and collecting rare production memorabilia.

What’s particularly interesting is where these fan communities overlap – the limited edition Gizmo Furby serves as a bridge between toy collectors and film enthusiasts, making it especially valuable to both groups.

Custom modified Furbies with Gremlins-inspired designs showing fan creativity

Fascinating Trivia: Things You Didn’t Know About Furby and Gremlins

Behind-the-scenes Gremlins puppetry (left) and early Furby prototype designs (right)

Conclusion: Who Wins the Nostalgic Showdown?

Furby and Gizmo side by side – competitors turned companions

In the battle of Furby vs Gremlin, there’s no clear winner – and perhaps that’s the most beautiful part of this story. What began as a potential copyright infringement evolved into a collaborative relationship that gave fans something special: the limited edition Gizmo Furby that honored both properties.

Furby revolutionized interactive toys and created a template for electronic pets that continues to influence toy design today. Gremlins, meanwhile, helped define a unique tone in 1980s cinema that blended horror and comedy in ways that continue to inspire filmmakers.

Both have demonstrated remarkable staying power, finding new audiences decades after their debuts. The fact that both received major revivals in 2023 – a new Furby model and the Gremlins animated series – speaks to their enduring appeal across generations.

Perhaps the real winner is nostalgia itself – that powerful emotional connection we form with the characters and toys that defined our childhoods. Whether you were a Furby kid in the late 90s or grew up watching Gremlins on VHS in the 80s, these cultural icons continue to bring joy and spark memories decades later.