Although she didn’t say a word in ‘A Matter of Loaf and Death’, and although she was actually quite reserved in showing her emotions, Fluffles left an impact on every viewer who saw her in action. Indeed Nick Park has said he considers her the only character (apart from Shaun!) who could return in a Wallace and Gromit adventure full-time – usually he likes to leave them in each individual film. Therefore every company that makes a piece of Fluffles merchandise has a tough task with such a strong character to live up to.
Not only has Rainbow Designs risen to this challenge but I think they have gone even further. This isn’t just a great Fluffles toy, it’s one of the best pieces of Wallace and Gromit merchandise in their massive history of products. Every part of this entire toy is bristling with life, it’s the perfect design.
Starting with her head you get the most wonderful fluffy material making up her hair and ears – great to touch but perfectly representing the original look of Fluffles. Possibly the biggest challenge, and thus biggest success, of the whole piece comes next in the shape of her nose. It’s just perfect – pointing up everso slightly, with a hard black piece for her actual nose. Her eyes are also the perfect size, with eyelashes sewn into the head – yet they still look lifelike. How they have achieved such a great effect is beyond me completely!
The pink collar with diamond effect (made using very shiny thread) works brilliantly, before we come to the excellent design of her body. Packed with padding perfectly (a tough job, as anyone who enjoys arts and crafts will probably know!) it provides a strong base for Fluffles, with a smooth section of material between her two fluffy sections. In an inspired move her arms and legs are then left floppy with no stuffing at all – and this is what makes her so perfect. The combination of a firm centre, fluffy material, and floppy appendages is what makes this work so well!
Really I’ve gone into every detail here now – but there’s a good reason for that. Every detail is so perfect I just want to impress on you how essential this toy is!
The design is so excellent that Fluffles appeals to every single person who has seen her on film (and even those who haven’t!), regardless of whether you have ever bought a Wallace and Gromit product before. My own sister, who enjoys Wallace and Gromit but doesn’t have any interest in their products, fell so in love with Fluffles that she had to have one of her own! Don’t miss this wonderful toy – there’s nothing more I can say!
