figure: Poopsie Sparkly Critters

MGA Entertainment’s line of Poopsie Sparkly Critters came packaged in a blind box designed as a soda can. Consumers were instructed to pop open the soda can, spin the inside chamber, and unbox surprises including an animal figure such as a kitten, zebra, poodle, monkey, panda, or dragon. MGA Entertainment touted “Feed Sparkly Critters water with their unique drink can to find out if they spit or poop slime. Transform slime by adding Unicorn Magic, Unicorn Shimmer, and ultra-rare Unicorn Sparkle!” In 2018, the toy industry saw a significant increase in toys related to potty humor. Some critics thought that this was perhaps a result of the popularity of the smiling poop emoji on the iPhone, while others associated the trend with the new generation of parents raised on “South Park’s” Mr. Hankey and “The Simpsons.” Lawrence Cohen, PhD, author of “Playful Parenting,” noted that the strong sensory experience of using the bathroom combined with the “hush-hush privacy and secrecy” created an opportunity for off-color humor and for children to get a rise out of adults.