Noddy Soft Toy

Enid Blytons Noddy and Big Ears soft toys and plush beanies. Talking bump the dog and more. Sly Gobbo Tessie Tassie Plod.
Offically licensed plush soft toys in hand puppets, and beanies

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THE HISTORY OF NODDY

Enid Blyton's Noddy is one of the most recognisable icons in British culture. Noddy books of all shapes and sizes have been produced -strip, tall, giant, tiny, pop-up, big and board- all took their place alongside the regular Noddy Library. In roughly a twenty year period between his conception and Enid's death, 154 books of various shapes and sizes graced the shelves of the bookshops. When a child wasn't actually reading it was possible to pass the time from breakfast to bedtime with a mountain of merchandise. Even when sleeping our children could still be in a Noddy nightdress or pyjamas, tucked in bed with Noddy sheets beside a Noddy bedside lamp, which when turned on would reveal both Noddy wallpaper and curtains.

Noddy began when David white the managing director of Sampson low and company ltd, was keen to begin a new series of books with Enid Blyton. He wanted to create a popular character for younger children with bright and colourful illustrations.

David met Enid at his Mayfair office to show her sample work by a number of illustrators.

Enid selected the Dutch artist Eelco Martinus ten Harmsen van der Beek who had provided a few illustrations for her book the Fourth holiday book published in July 1949. She insisted on meeting the artist before considering ideas for the new series. Beek traveled from Amsterdam (Holland) for the arranged meeting with Enid and and within two hours they had imagined Noddy goes to Toyland through words and sketches. A collaboration was enthusiastically agreed, with Enid and Van der Beek each receiving a 5 per cent royalty. Enid usually got 15 per cent, but accepted a lower rate because the books were going to be heavily illustrated in colour. within four days Enid had sent off her first two Noddy book manuscripts to David white with the accompanying note:

' I have finished the first two little Noddy books and here they are. I have written them with a view to give van der Beek all the scope possible for his particular genius - toys - pixies, goblins, Toyland, brick-houses, dolls houses, toadstool houses, market-places - he'll really enjoy himself ! I don't want to tell him how to interpret anything because he'll do it much better if he has a perfectly free hand - but as Noddy ( the little nodding man ), big-ears the pixie, and Mr. and Mrs. tubby ( the teddy bears ) will probably feature in further books, and will be "important" characters as far as these books are concerned, id be very glad if he could sketch out these characters and let me see roughs'.

Beek worked quickly and soon Enid had received the first of many beautiful illustrations. Both of Enid's daughters remember their mother unpacking the artwork with great delight. Enid would lay them out in the lounge. Van der Beek she said had created Noddy and his environment exactly as she had visualised them.

The first book Noddy goes to Toyland was published in November 1949 and was immediately popular, far exceeding expected sales. further Noddy books followed, Noddy's success was recognised by the evening standard ( newspaper) who contracted Enid to write a Noddy strip with illustrations by Beek. ( these stories / illustrations were later to became the books which made up the Noddy boxed sets of books).

Noddy merchandise was soon to follow, Toy and Games of many descriptions many of which can be seen in the Noddy merchandise section on this web site.

In 1954 Enid agent George Greenfield encouraged her to write a Noddy pantomime. it took her just two weeks the scripts were passed on to producer Bertie Meyer, who quickly employed Andre van Gyseghen as director, and Philip Green as composer for the music. Robert Tyndall designed the sets. Bookings were made for matinees over the Christmas period at the Stoll theatre, which has the largest capacity in London.

It sold out for every performance during the pantomime season of 1954-5 and for the next six years enjoyed full houses at a variety of theatres.

It seemed now that a progression into television would be the next step for Noddy Enid was very enthusiastic about her " little nodding man" being chosen to feature in one of the first puppet shows on the new British commercial television station. Noddy made his debut in September 1955 and proved to be very popular. The idea of Noddy puppets soon hit the Noddy merchandise market being sold by Pelham puppets amongst others.

It is reputed that by Christmas 1958, over twenty million books had been sold in Britain and Australia, There were more than fifty licensees of Noddy merchandise in great Britain selling hundreds of products. today's figure suggest that over 120 million copies of Noddy books have been sold worldwide in many languages.

Though not as popular as in the 1950s and 60s Noddy still has his followers in 1998 he appeared in a 40 part series on American television, where real children and new characters were introduced. Noddy merchandise is still available world wide but lacks the style of his original creator. Noddy's new owners have recently made a new digitalised Noddy series to be screened in the future, so hopefully this will lead to further companies investing and ensuring Noddy remains in the public eye.