If you were a weird kid like me who was so obsessed with their Polly Pocket collection they’d just stare at the details in awe — The church doors open! — you’re going to love this.
The ’80s and ’90s versions of the toys that now have their own empire were the real deal, little clamshell abodes for Polly and her wildly swallowable friends that featured tiny details and limited places for the figurines to stand up on their own. Creator and apparently awesome dad Chris Wiggs quite literally built the first Polly Pocket in a powder compact for his daughter, Kate, in 1983.
Since then, the compact style has changed a little since Mattel bought them from Bluebird Toys. But UK toy review site The ToyZone thought they’d have a bit of nostalgic fun and recruit CGI artist Jan Koudela to bring Polly’s original style back for a hypothetical collection of images of Polly Pocket toys inspired by films and TV series we watch now. Koudela used 3D-modelling through Cinema4D software along with Photoshop to create the images, all with that plastic sheen.
Sadly, you can’t buy these as toys, but I’d seriously consider shelling out for these little versions of the Byers’ house from Stranger Things, Monica’s apartment from Friends, or the big old house in Wes Anderson’s The Royal Tenenbaums. The tiny version of the Overlook hotel in The Shining has its own tiny hedge maze. Check ’em out.
Stranger Things
Look at the tiny alphabet light wall.
Image: Jan Koudela / the toy zone
The Simpsons
‘The Simpsons’ house looks the most like the original Polly Pockets.
Image: JAN KOUDELA / THE TOY ZONE
The Royal Tenenbaums
The tent!
Image: JAN KOUDELA / THE TOY ZONE
The Lord of the Rings
The tiny One Ring would be waaaay too small to do any damage, right?
Image: JAN KOUDELA / THE TOY ZONE
The Shining
All work and no play makes that tiny hedge maze 11/10.
Image: JAN KOUDELA / THE TOY ZONE
Friends
Monica’s apartment and a tiny Central Perk.
Image: JAN KOUDELA / THE TOY ZONE