Boglins Are Back! Find Out All About Them Here

Big in the ‘80s, the retro hand puppets have clawed their way back into pop culture, and they’re better than ever. Find out all about them in this guide!

Some things are better left in the ‘80s. Shoulder pads and perms, we’re looking at you. Other things, we’re happy to have part of a retro revival tidal wave that’s sweeping the globe. And, riding the crest of that wave are the Boglins.

In case you don’t remember them, Boglins are hand puppets with moveable eyes and mouths. And, they come in super cool ‘crate’ packaging, complete with bars, which ties into their backstory.

So, with that in mind, what is the story of the Boglins? We’ll break it down for you now.

History of the Boglins

In their mythology, Boglins come from a swampy bog that time forgot. The idea is that they’ve been discovered, popped in cages, and shipped out to the civilised world… where they cause more chaos than a Labrador’s tail wagging over a table full of coffee cups.

But, where do they really come from?

The simple answer to that questions is: the mind of Tim Clarke. He’s the creator of the Boglins, and he got the idea for them while working on puppet shows like The Dark Crystal and Fraggle Rock.    

Clarke thought that it would be super cool to bring that sort of puppetry to the toy world. But, given that it was the ‘80s and monster comedy/horror was in (think Gremlins and Ghostbusters), he decided to create puppets that would be awesomely gross. Enter the Boglins.

After some development, these sensational swamp-dwellers hit the shelves of toy shops. And then flew straight off them. Yep, from 1987 to 1989, the Boglins sold huge numbers in the USA. Then, they took on Europe, Japan, and Australia, dominating like a touring band.

Boglins paved the way for Mini Boglins, which actually ended up in cereal boxes. And, they looked like they couldn’t be stopped. But, advertising slowed and, by the mid ‘90s, Boglins had gone off the boil.

But, then, retro became cool.

In 2020, Boglins saw a revival. These awesome puppets came back for our hands. And, they didn’t just appeal to retro fans and nostalgic collectors, they were instant hits with modern toy fans who just loved their creepy awesomeness.

About the Boglins

Going back to the mythology… or Bogology, as it was called on the backs of the original boxes. In the Boglin canon, there was a field scientist who studied the Boglins in their natural habitat. And, he noted that the three large species of Boglins seemed to have their own, unique personalities.

Boglin King Drool was noted as being the craziest of them all. So, if there’s mischief to be made, Drool is likely the one at the front of the queue.

Boglin King Dwork is the joker of the pack. The field notes weren’t extensive, but we’re assuming he’s more into practical jokes than sarcastic quips. But, anything’s possible.

Boglin King Vlobb was observed as being the smartest of the Boglins. Again, we can’t be sure, but we think this refers to his superior intellect rather than his penchant for wearing tuxedos around the swamp.

Types of Boglins

It seems the Boglins have been prospering in their swamp. Evolving, even. So, in addition to the original Boglins, we have Golden Horned Kings and Red-Eyed Kings, both of which are only available at Menkind.

So, let’s have a look at each evolution.

Original Boglins

oglins King Drool Hand Puppet

These Boglins are picture perfect revivals of the original Boglins. They have moving eyes and moving mouths. Plus, they come in their original crate/cage boxes, which have holes in the bottom so you can use the Boglin while it’s still in its cage. 

Golden Horned Boglins – Only at Menkind

Boglins Golden Horned King Vlobb Hand Puppet 

Golden Horned Boglins still feature the Boglin Kings Drool, Dwork, and Vlobb. And, they still have moving eyes and mouths and cage boxes. But, what sets these Boglins apart is the golden crest on the tops of their heads, making their horns look like crowns. 

Red-Eyed Boglins – Only at Menkind

Boglins Red-Eyed King Dwork Hand Puppet

Again, the Red-Eyed Boglins have the same features as the original Boglins. Working eyes and mouths? Yes. Cage box? Yep. But, these ones have red eyes. And we’re not talking about the bloodshot eyes you see on cross-timezone travellers. We’re talking about red irises, as opposed to green. They also have coloured bands across their eyes, which the other Boglins don’t have.

Get your Boglins at Menkind

Boglins are fantastic for a walk down memory lane… or a trudge through memory bog, to be more accurate. They’re also great gifts for modern kids who think gross things are amazing (so, like, all of them). So, whether you’re enjoying the retro revival or looking for unique toys, come to Menkind for Boglins.

Check out our Boglins collection!