Description: A Japanese skill toy
Main Pitch: "Sharpen balance, reflexes and creativity"
Main Offer: $14.99 for one
Bonus: Glow-in-the-dark version (separate fee)
Brand: Wham-O
Marketer: IdeaVillage
Watch the spot
Although the names are similar, this is nothing like the 2010-2011 hit Fushigi. That toy was simple in concept -- a magic gravity ball -- and only difficult in execution. Put another way: It didn't get complicated until you got it home. On TV, it looked like anyone could make it levitate.
By contrast, this toy looks very complicated from the first seconds of the commercial. It's almost the product's USP. The explanation is complicated, and the gadget looks complicated. The results are also less magical. (No levitation here.) Bottom line: I can't see kids pestering their parents for this one.
