The year is 1983 and your child really needs a new plush companion. What can a loving parent do?
Who would’ve thought — Lotso (AKA Lots-o’-Huggin’ Bear) is the perfect solution! Check out this vintage commercial for the jumbo pink teddy bear that was recently uncovered on YouTube, conveniently embedded below:
After watching "Lotso, Lotso, Lots-o’-Huggin’ Bear" you’re probably thinking one of two things: "I didn’t know Lotso was a classic toy!" or "How did Upcoming Pixar fall for this?"
Well, as convincing as this commercial is, after a little digging around it’s clear that this advertisement is a super clever and amazingly executed viral video made by Pixar! Yup, featured here is the Toy Story Collection Lotso that was revealed earlier this year at the NY Toy Fair! Or is it…?
You decide! What are your thoughts on this vintage Lotso ad?
Last modified: April 24, 2010
I think this is a pretty cool advertisement and brilliant video editing/ marketing by PIXAR to make it look as authentic as possible. I hope they decide to do more of these commercials for other toys (like Dolly).
I agree. I think this is brilliant!
Oh, great. Now that jingle’s stuck in my head. 😛
They do have a knack for marketing, don’t they?
Cool stuff indeed!
How’d you know it’s from Pixar?
That is a cliche 80’s kids toy commercial. And it’s hilarious!!
almighty- Honestly, I don’t. But knowing them, they’re all about viral marketing and they know how to do it well. Look up Huggin’ Toys and you’ll find nothing. It’s a safe assumption. If anything else, Disney Consumer Products made it. 🙂
I liked that a lot! Made me a little nostalgic and they did a good job making the footage quality feel vintage. If this were real, it’d be the kind of thing I’d show my mom and she’d say “I remember that commercial!”
—Leirin
Brilliant!
Honestly, I don’t think Pixar has anything to do with this. I kind wish they did, but I don’t think so. Please tell me if I’ve missed something, but I can’t find anything on the video that would be a reference to pixar or TS3. It’s likely a real toy from the 80’s (and yes, it can be real even if you can’t find it from the web). Maybe I’m wrong.
(Btw. talking about marketing. A lot of sites are referring to this story that “The people over at Pixar Planet were able to confirm that it was in fact just another example of what the brilliant minds at Pixar are capable of coming up with”)
I remember those days. Lotso made bushy eyebrows popular back then. I hope bushy eyebrows comeback in fashion. I never got into bushy eyebrows, but my sister did.
Hmm… to the anonymous that said this is possibly a real commercial from the 1980s, I would have to say that isn’t true.
Lotso is an original character created by Pixar for TS3.
This reminds me of a secretive marketing scheme to promote the television show “House” that showed no affiliation to the show or to FOX.