Bubbleman: Difference between revisions
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'''Bubbleman''' is a premium dispenser only available through a mail-in | '''Bubbleman''' is a premium dispenser only available through a mail-in offer. | ||
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==Background== | ==Background== | ||
[[File:Bubbleman lineup.png|thumb|Bubbleman lineup]] | |||
Bubbleman, featuring a pink head with large round cheeks and a puckered mouth, was originally designed for a never-released line of PEZ bubble gum. | Bubbleman, featuring a pink head with large round cheeks and a puckered mouth, was originally designed for a never-released line of PEZ bubble gum. In 1994, gray-market PEZ dealer Steve Glew (a.k.a., the PEZ Outlaw) and his son visited a PEZ factory in Slovenia and brought home a pair of Bubbleman prototypes, which they sold for $800 a piece.<ref> | ||
“BUBBLEMAN ORIGINS.” ''PEZ Outlaw Diary'', April 30, 2020. | “BUBBLEMAN ORIGINS.” ''PEZ Outlaw Diary'', April 30, 2020. | ||
https://pezoutlaw.blogspot.com/2023/05/bubbleman-origins-netflix.html | https://pezoutlaw.blogspot.com/2023/05/bubbleman-origins-netflix.html | ||
(accessed February 9, 2026). | (accessed February 9, 2026). | ||
</ref> In 1996, PEZ USA began offering the lime green Bubbleman as a mail-order exclusive, | </ref> In 1996, PEZ USA began offering the lime green Bubbleman as a mail-order exclusive, expanding the range in 1997 to include four additional stem colors (pink, fuchsia, yellow, and blue).<ref> | ||
“Bubbleman.” ''PEZ.com''. | “Bubbleman.” ''PEZ.com''. | ||
https://us.pez.com/products/bubbleman | https://us.pez.com/products/bubbleman | ||
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https://us.pez.com/products/bubbleman-2 | https://us.pez.com/products/bubbleman-2 | ||
(accessed February 9, 2026). | (accessed February 9, 2026). | ||
</ref> | </ref> Later, a regular Bubbleman with a darker green hat and stem was released, and in 2014, a white Bubbleman with a black hat was produced for the Japan PEZ Gathering; these are the two rarest Bubbleman dispensers. A number of test pieces, including a gold Bubbleman, are also known to exist. | ||
==Variations== | ==Variations== | ||
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{| class="wikitable" | {| class="wikitable" | ||
! Series/Version !! Year released !! Head !! Stem color(s) !! Patent No. | ! Series/Version !! Year released !! Head !! Stem color(s) !! Patent No. | ||
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| 7.5 | | 7.5 | ||
|} | |} | ||
==Interesting Information== | ==Interesting Information== | ||
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==Licensed Products== | ==Licensed Products== | ||
* [[Bubble | * [[Bubble Wand]] (S.R.M. Co, Inc.) | ||
* [[Party Favors]] (Tara Toy Corporation) | * [[Party Favors]] (Tara Toy Corporation) | ||
* Ball Chain Mascot (Kenelephant Co., Ltd.) | * Ball Chain Mascot (Kenelephant Co., Ltd.) | ||
Latest revision as of 21:33, 11 February 2026
Bubbleman is a premium dispenser only available through a mail-in offer.
Dispenser Information
Background
Bubbleman, featuring a pink head with large round cheeks and a puckered mouth, was originally designed for a never-released line of PEZ bubble gum. In 1994, gray-market PEZ dealer Steve Glew (a.k.a., the PEZ Outlaw) and his son visited a PEZ factory in Slovenia and brought home a pair of Bubbleman prototypes, which they sold for $800 a piece.[1] In 1996, PEZ USA began offering the lime green Bubbleman as a mail-order exclusive, expanding the range in 1997 to include four additional stem colors (pink, fuchsia, yellow, and blue).[2] The neon lineup was introduced in 1998,[3] followed by the crystal set in 1999.[4] In 2001, a glow-in-the-dark version was sold for a limited time.[5] Later, a regular Bubbleman with a darker green hat and stem was released, and in 2014, a white Bubbleman with a black hat was produced for the Japan PEZ Gathering; these are the two rarest Bubbleman dispensers. A number of test pieces, including a gold Bubbleman, are also known to exist.
Variations
| Series/Version | Year released | Head | Stem color(s) | Patent No. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Regular | 1996/97 | pink; lime green hat | blue, fuchsia, lime green, pink, yellow | 4.9 |
| ???? | pink; dark green hat | dark green | 4.9 | |
| Neon | 1998 | pink; neon green hat | neon green | 4.9 |
| pink; neon orange hat | neon orange | 4.9 | ||
| pink; neon pink hat | neon pink | 4.9 | ||
| pink; neon red hat | neon red | 4.9 | ||
| pink; neon yellow hat | neon yellow | 4.9 | ||
| Crystal | 1999 | clear crystal; neon green hat | neon green | 4.9 |
| blue crystal; neon green hat | neon orange | 4.9 | ||
| green crystal; neon green hat | neon pink | 4.9 | ||
| red crystal; neon green hat | neon yellow | 4.9 | ||
| yellow crystal; neon green hat | neon red | 4.9 | ||
| Glow-in-the-dark | 2001 | glow-in-the-dark; lime green hat | neon pink | 4.9 |
| Japan PEZ Gathering | 2014 | white; black hat | white w/stem printing | 7.5 |
Interesting Information
Bubbleman was the first dispenser to be sold via mail-in premium offer.
Licensed Products
- Bubble Wand (S.R.M. Co, Inc.)
- Party Favors (Tara Toy Corporation)
- Ball Chain Mascot (Kenelephant Co., Ltd.)
- Key Charm (IWAYA Co.,Ltd.)
References
- ↑ “BUBBLEMAN ORIGINS.” PEZ Outlaw Diary, April 30, 2020. https://pezoutlaw.blogspot.com/2023/05/bubbleman-origins-netflix.html (accessed February 9, 2026).
- ↑ “Bubbleman.” PEZ.com. https://us.pez.com/products/bubbleman (accessed February 9, 2026).
- ↑ “Bubbleman – Neon Variation.” PEZ.com. https://us.pez.com/products/bubbleman-1 (accessed February 9, 2026).
- ↑ “Bubbleman Crystals.” PEZ.com. https://us.pez.com/products/bubbleman-crystals (accessed February 9, 2026).
- ↑ “Bubbleman – Glow in the Dark.” PEZ.com. https://us.pez.com/products/bubbleman-2 (accessed February 9, 2026).
