Skippin' and a Boppin'
Of all the toys I begged my parents for, the "Skip It" might be one of the stranger ones. I wanted one so badly, my grandma got me one to have at her house in California so I could use it while I visited her. The Skip It is such a simple toy - you attach it to your foot and swing it around/jump over it with the other foot. It tricked me into hours of exercise and fresh air, so it was probably for the best.
The jingle on the ad was so catchy - I still remember every word and sometimes get it stuck in my head randomly 20+ years later. One interesting thing I see is that this commercial was created in 1991, and that was the year I was born. So this commercial was still very much alive when I was 6 or 7 years old.
This commercial was from the early 90s, there were certainly video games and tv shows contending with children's attention (as there are now), but I remember in the 90s playing with toys more than children seem to now. This may be because I don't have my own children - but I work with them and they almost exclusively talk about video games and watching TV. I have a hard time believing that the Skip It would be popular nowadays.
1. Who created this message?
This commercial was created by Tiger Toys Inc. which is now known as Tiger Electronics. They are an American toy manufacturer.
2. What creative techniques are used to attract my attention?
The jingle for sure, it would get stuck in my head and make me think about wanting a skip it. I remember thinking it was really cool that there was a counter on it that showed you how many times you skipped with it on too, which the ad highlighted. The video also showed kids having fun with the skip it outside, and these were all kids that looked like me.
3. How might different people interpret this message differently than me?
Adults would probably not be interested in this toy and could be irritated by the jingle. In hindsight, I imagine some people would see this advertisement and think "that's it?". The toy doesn't do a lot, and requires a lot of physical movement.
4. What viewpoints or world views are included or left out of this message?
This commercial only features white, able-bodied children. Children from other backgrounds and cultures are left out of this message. Also, there are children who may not be able to use the toy due to disabilities or health reasons.
5. Why is this message being sent?
This message is being sent to sell their product. Tiger Toys Inc. created a catchy jingle, a fun montage of kids playing with their toy, and a unique toy that got you moving.