Background
The Topobots are the latest series of wood toys from Geared For Imagination’s Topozoo line. While we’ve seen various animals and dinosaurs in the past, this series is made up of four special robots: Herobot, Piratebot, Rockbot, and Vampbot.
As can probably be surmised from their names, each wooden 3-D toy puzzle combines a popular character (especially amongst kids) with a robot. Every Topobot is made up of four interconnecting pieces, each one painted in a single color.
The Facts
Topobots
Series: Topozoo
Manufacturer: Geared For Imagination
Material: Recycled Wood
Dimensions: Around 12"tall
Points of Articulation: Zero
Designs: Herobot, Piratebot, Rockbot, Vampbot
Pricing: $9.99 each
Packaging
The packaging is fairly simple. Every Topobot come packaged on a recycled cardboard backing, and the toy is held in place by clear plastic. All that means is that you can recycle the recycled packaging.
Our Opinion
I have a three-year-old son. Little boys of that age appear to be obsessed with a few specific things: cars, construction equipment, nature (bugs and animals), and robots. Not surprisingly, the moment I opened the package from Geared For Imagination, he wanted to bust open one of the Topobots.
Each figure is made up of four pieces. There are two body pieces and two legs. The body pieces work in conjunction with each other to give depth and changes in color (since each piece is painted one solid color) using the cut holes. Also, there are some pieces (Piratebot’s eye and Vampbot’s heart) where it appears a router – I’m sure they have something much more advanced – has been used to give you a view of the base wood.
As far as playing, it’s fun for kids to be able to put them together and take them about. That also makes it easy for storing them. My son did take advantage of me by constantly asking me to attach the Piratebot’s leg. I’m assuming that, if you wanted to, you could just glue the whole thing together.
As far as characters, I like 3 out of the 4 (sorry Rockbot). I’d probably rank them Vampbot, Herobot, Piratebot and then Rockbot. But kids should be able to relate with each one, as they’re all types of characters they see in cartoons every day.
For collectors, I know there are some folks out there who collect wooden toys. Remember The Good Wood Gang from Friends With You and StrangeCo? Blamo Toys has released several wooden toys. And a lot of Gary Ham and Scott Tolleson’s creations are made of (or started out as) wood. I’m sure there are plenty of others.
And less than $10.00 is the perfect price for a toy such as this.
You can pick one up at the following:
Geared For Imagination: $9.99 each
