REVIEW: Scare Me Nots – Guardian Gus and Valiant Valerie

Background

ScareMeNots™ are plush creatures designed to take the “scary” out of monsters in more ways than one. Soft, cuddly, and appealing, they are perfect bedtime companions for all children. However, for kids with nighttime fears, ScareMeNots™ offer an extra sense of protection and comfort. Their special features allow them to ward off those scary things that hide in all the usual places (under the bed, in the closet, behind the drapes)—and in the unusual places as well!

The plush line is made up of six different characters: Defender Dave, Fearless Fred, Guardian Gus, Protector Patty, Valiant Valerie and Watchdog Wally. For purposes of our review, we’ll be taking a look at Gus and Valerie.

The Facts  

Guardian Gus
Series: Scare Me Not
Manufacturer: Innovative Toys
Material: Polyester plush
Height: 26” (including tail)

Valiant Valerie
Series: Scare Me Not
Manufacturer: Innovative Toys
Material: Polyester plush
Height: 28” (including tail)

Tag

The rather large green tag has a pair of photos of the Scare Me Not plushies in protective mode – checking under the bed and hanging out by the closet. Inside, the tag not only has information about the toy line, but it also has a rather lengthy description about the character you purchased.

Our Opinion

Clearly, the demographic for this line is children 10 and under. While they may appeal to plush collectors, I only know of a few 30+ year olds who are scared of monsters living under their beds (and they’re more rats and cockroaches than actual monsters). But that’s where these plushies differ from others on the market. They look like monsters…but they’re supposed to help fend off monsters.

Each plush has a long tail with Velcro on it. This allows the child to either hang the Scare Me Not’s tail on a closet doorknob or put the tail under a mattress to help protect them from Howie Mandel. (You knew I had to make one Little Monsters reference in this review)

Both of the Scare Me Nots we received jogged our memories a little. Valerie reminds me of Baby Sinclair from the early 90’s ABC show – Dinosaurs, while Gus looks a little like Pale Man (with eyes on his hands) from Pan’s Labyrinth.

Out of the two characters, I would choose Guardian Gus as my favorite. I’m looking at these through the eyes of an adult – although some might disagree with that – and Valerie appears to be directed towards young kids.

And that’s really where these should be über-popular. Kids will love these large plush characters. Parents will love that their kids will have some piece of mind from “scary monsters”. And plush collectors will love that they can hang a Scare Me Not on the doorknob of their toy room.

You can pick one up at the following:

ScareMeNot.com: $24.99 ea.

Scare Me Not Grades:

Plush Quality: 7/10
Stitching: 8/10
Material: 7/10
Softness: 8/10
Packaging/Tag: 7/10
Cuteness: 8/10
Fun Factor: 9/10
Value: 8/10

Guardian Gus: 8.6/10
Valiant Valerie: 8.2/10