Webkinz and the Little Petshop Meet the Unimal

Neatorama reader Jake Gorst wrote:

My 10 year old daughter Rebecca did this stop-motion animated video using my Nikon D60 and a few of her toys. She puts it all together on her iMac (my old machine). Rebecca also did another YouTube video called "Littlest Pet Shop – The Dance" – which has had over 42,000 views already. She’s putting me to shame.

When I was her age I had a Kodak Brownie 8mm camera and was thrilled if I got to show the films to my class. Times have changed. Its a rush to be able to teach my daughter how to do stop-motion – and see her take to it like this.

The "Unimal" is a fun little plastic toy designed by H.E. Babcock in 1950 as part of an effort by the Grange League Federation to teach children about agriculture and where their food comes from. When you press down on its back a bell rings and it lays either an egg, a pound of butter, a ham, a hot dog or a bottle of milk. This toy was featured in my documentary "Farmboy". We have a few of them here. Hours of fun!

Ten years old and already much more talented than me! Thanks Jake!