Slappy has spent decades trying to escape from the pages of Goosebumps. Trick or Treat Studios has now made the questionable decision to give him a permanent address in the real world — possibly yours.
Standing approximately 25 inches tall, this officially licensed dummy has a moveable mouth, soft limbs and glow-in-the-dark eyes. In other words, he is far more interactive than anybody needs Slappy to be.
Who Is Slappy?
R. L. Stine introduced Slappy in the 1993 book Night of the Living Dummy. Slappy saves his own awakening for the closing sting, then returns throughout the series as a smart-mouthed wooden menace with an alarming refusal to stay put.
Scholastic has described Slappy as appearing in more Goosebumps stories than any other character. His appeal is easy to understand. A ventriloquist dummy might already look as though he is waiting for the room to empty before moving; Slappy simply confirms the suspicion, then adds a string of carefully crafted insults.
Your Very Own Slappy
Most character collectibles ask for a little shelf space. This one looks as though he might ask for the good chair! The Trick or Treat Studios’ Slappy is full-sized in ventriloquist-dummy terms measuring about 25 inches from head to toe and eight inches across the shoulders.
That gives him enough presence to dominate any Goosebumps display without taking up the floor space of a mannequin. Sit him beside the books, place him in a display case or give him a chair at Halloween. Slappy is sure to own whichever space he occupies ready to unnerve visiting guests. Just don’t be surprised when you find yourself checking to see if his head has moved. That’s Slappy for you.
Full-Sized Ventriloquist Dummy
What separates this Slappy Ventriloquist dummy from other collectible figures and statues is his working mouth. Trick or Treat Studios describes Slappy as a fully functional ventriloquist dummy, with rear puppeteering access and a moveable mouth. He can take part in a performance routine or simply look intimidating while judging everybody from up on a shelf.
Take a ‘peak behind the curtain’ at what makes Slappy tick when he isn’t looking and you will find a neat space in his back in which you place your hand to reach his controls. A long pole attached to his heads gives you the ability to rotate his head while a small switch can be operated up and down to control Slappy’s mouth. With a little bit of practice you can hone your ventriloquist skills and have Slappy chatting away in no time. Whether encouraging him to speak is a wise move remains to be seen.
Looks and Details
This version of Slappy takes its cue from the books rather than copying one particular screen appearance. Slappy has swept dark hair, high eyebrows, wide eyes, bright lips and the familiar dummy grin. His tailored outfit includes a suit, white shirt, red bow tie and dark shoes: smart enough for a family performance, right up to the point when the family starts disappearing.
Sculptor Alexander Ray has captured the important part of Slappy’s look. He is instantly recognisable and never remotely friendly. Durable plastic gives the figure its shape, while soft limbs help him hang and sit like a traditional dummy instead of a rigid action figure.
Glow-in-the-Dark Eyes
Slappy’s eyes glow in the dark. It is a simple feature, but also the one most likely to make somebody switch the light back on and reconsider the room’s seating plan.
By day, the eyes complete Slappy’s look. After dark, they become the first sign that the corner of the room is not quite empty. That makes Slappy especially effective in a Halloween display or haunted-house scene, where one quiet stare can provide more menace than some fancy animatronics that flash and repeat the same scream every thirty seconds. When the lights go out, Slappy is watching!
Displaying Slappy
For a Goosebumps collector, Slappy is an obvious centrepiece. A few Goosebumps books around him establish the theme, while the full-sized body adds height and shape that a row of smaller figures cannot provide. He also fits naturally among Zombie Pit’s broader horror collectibles, particularly collections with a weakness for dolls, puppets and anything whose eyes seem to follow visitors.
Slappy at Halloween
Think of the enormous fun you could have with Slappy at Halloween! Practice your Slappy voice in advance and you can own the screams at the party. Kids will love to listen to Slappy telling stories, just don’t spook them too much! We haven’t seen Slappy dance but we’re pretty sure he could cut a dash on the dance floor, with the right partner of course. Whether Slappy is awake and talking, sitting in an armchair, watching over a party table or high on a shelf looking down on people, Slappy is sure to be a big hit with party goers at Halloween.
Anyone needing a bit of Halloween inspiration can check out our Zombie Pit 100 Halloween decoration ideas.
Background Information
This Slappy Dummy Prop is made by Trick or Treat Studios under an official Goosebumps licence. It was sculpted by Alexander Ray and carries the model number TTSP115. It is a detailed replica of the most infamous ventriloquist dummy in YA horror history inspired by the Goosebump books by R. L. Stine.
What You Get
Slappy Dummy
One full-sized Slappy ventriloquist dummy, approximately 25 inches tall and eight inches wide at the shoulders. The durable plastic body has soft limbs and comes dressed in a tailored suit, white shirt, red bow tie and shoes. Slappy is quite the snappy dresser. Evil has standards, even when it lives on a bookcase.
Moveable Mouth and Rear Access
The mouth is designed to move during puppeteering, with access through the back. You can also rotate his head using the pole which runs from his head down into his body.
Glow-in-the-Dark Eyes and Window Box
The eyes glow after the lights go out, improving Slappy’s chances of winning any staring contest. Slappy arrives in an illustrated Goosebumps: Night of the Living Dummy window box. If you are a collector, or want to keep Slappy boxed up for your own reasons, this makes an attractive presentation for the ‘Slappy in captivity’ display.
Goosebumps Slappy Dummy Verdict
Slappy is big enough to dominate a shelf, detailed enough to please a Goosebumps collector and functional enough to do more than stare. The moveable mouth and turning head enable you to bring Slappy to life and make him a main attraction; his menacing, glowing eyes are the final bit of bad judgement of which we thoroughly approve!
Budding ventriloquists will find the mechanism in Slappy sufficient to entertain or menace onlookers. Professionals should note that the lack of moving eyes, eye brows and eye lids is more than compensated for by the Goosebumps reputation that precedes this stylish bundle of menacing mayhem. For display, Halloween and Goosebumps nostalgia, this fellow is very hard to ignore. Especially after dark.
Give Slappy the chair, turn out the light and enjoy the nostalgia. If the chair is empty in the morning, we were never here!
Zombie Rating
4.5 out of 5 Zombies
Goosebumps: Slappy steals all the books
And finally, if you need reminding of just how menacing Slappy can be, here is a clip from his Goosebumps movie where that vexing ventriloquist’s villain reveals he is back to create more menacing mayhem…