iZ is an electronic musical toy released by Zizzle in September of 2005. The iZ allows its users to manipulate music by twisting particular parts of the toy as well as add pre-recorded sound effects from a connected audio device. It also functions as a dancing speaker, similar to the iDog.
iZ was designed by Roger Shiffman, who also designed the Furby, Poo-Chi, and Giga Pets toys.
Design[]
iZ has an abstract, creaturelike design with two twistable ears, two movable eyes, a light-up nose and a touch-sensitive appendage at the top of its head called a "flicker". There are five buttons on its round, colorful belly. The iZ has three legs that do not generate any input, but simply serve to allow the iZ to stand.
It measures approximately 12 inches in height and comes in five different color schemes:
- Red and Yellow
- Blue
- Green and Orange
- Purple and Lime Green
- Chrome and Orange
- Chrome with Red with D on Button
Modes of Operation[]
One of the primary modes of operation of the iZ toy is by connecting an audio device through an audio jack. Its audio output comes from a built-in speaker. While audio is playing, the iZ acts as a speaker but occasionally overlays its own sound effects. While the overlays are playing, the iZ moves its eyes and its nose lights up.
The iZ has three modes of operation without a connected audio device: Play, DJ, and WZIZ FM.
Play mode allows the user to compose their own music by manipulating its inputs. Each ear corresponds to one audio track, the belly controls the drum track and tempo, and the flicker can be hit for iZ to generate sound effects. iZ randomly adds witty comments or radio noise to the track.
In DJ mode, iZ evolves the track itself by changing one feature of the track at a time. If the user doesn't like the current music iZ outputs, the belly can be pressed to force iZ to instantly make a change. However, no other input in this mode leads to any change in the track. A small sound is played when an input is activated, however.
In WZIZ FM mode, iZ creates a completely new track every time it makes a change and inserts a noise to simulate the tuning of radio stations between the tracks. If you adjust the ears, which function like an antenna, you make iZ create a new random track instantly.
McDonald's toys[]
iZ McDonald's toys in all 18 colors
McDonald's put iZ in happy meals as a promo with 18 toys in the USA, 6 toys in the UK, 4 toys in Brazil and Mexico, and 7 in Australia. The toys can make music and/or light up.
iZ Cartoon[]
In 2006, Zizzle and DIC Entertainment created a direct-to-video cartoon called iZ and the Zizzles. The trailer could be viewed on the Zizzle website, and two episodes were made: a pilot and a second episode titled "Will the Zizzles Sizzle or Fizzle?", the latter of which has only been found as a Romanian dub. The English audio for the second episode has yet to be recovered and thus currently stands as partially-found media.
Gallery[]
