I wonder sometimes what workers in Chinese factories cranking out cheap plastic toys for American consumers must think of us.Take, for instance, Frankie the Fish, an animatronic signing fish based on a popular McDonald’s TV commercial. Just like in the commercial, the mechanized plastic fish signs a techno ditty about wanting a McDonald’s Filet-O-Fish sandwich. It features the refrain “Give me back that Filet-O-Fish” over a simple beat and music. (See the original commercial from last year on YouTube as well as this year’s follow-up ad.)
Frankie the Fish (see above photo) was being sold my local Walgreen’s store for $19.99. It’s produced by Gemmy Industries Corp. of Coppell, Texas, and manufactured in China. Gemmy describes itself as “a groundbreaker in the fields of novelties and animation.”
Gemmy is behind the Big Mouth Billy Bass that inspired the Filet-O-Fish commercial, as well as Pete the Repeat Parrot. Plus, it was the originator of Airblown Inflatables, those inflatable holiday lawn decorations you see around Halloween and Christmas.
I’m sure Gemmy will keep Chinese factory workers employed and befuddled for years to come.
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