Creature from the Black Lagoon (Little Windups by Azrak Hamway)

Not since the beginning of time has the world beheld terror like this! Centuries of passion pent up in his savage heart! Terrifying monster ravages mankind!

And so reads the tagline for Universal’s Creature from the Black Lagoon. Released in 1954, Creature from the Black Lagoon was, like all the Universal monster movies, a special effects triumph. Starring a creature dubbed “Gill-man”, the film required a convincing costume of a fish-monster that could be worn underwater. The result was one of the most iconic creature designs in cinema history and my favorite Universal monster design. Notably, the iconic Gill-man was designed by Disney animator Milicent Patrick but not surprisingly for the decade she received little credit for it. But this probably isn’t the best review subject to get into the production of Creature from the Black Lagoon because although the toy represents the Gill-man it is hardly a serious take on the monster.

This is a wind-up toy, but unlike your conventional wind-up toys it has the added perk of emitting sparks from its mouth while it walks along. Called Little Windups, this toy and others like it were originally produced by Azrak Hamway (AHI) in the 1970’s. Also produced were a T. rex and King Kong, and in the case of King Kong and the Gill-man they were officially licensed too. I have the King Kong one that I’ll share here as well, eventually.

The Little Windups have been reissued over the years, and this one was repackaged as a “Wind-Up, Walking, Sparking Swamp Creature” by Accoutrements in the 90’s. Actually, that’s what my copy is as the original 70’s versions have toes cut into their feet that later versions don’t have.

My late father had some of these toys when I was a kid and I actually have an old VHS recording he did of them walking about. For that reason, I found myself struck with nostalgia when I happened upon this Gill-man at a local antique shop. I didn’t purchase it initially but after a week of it gnawing away at me, I decided to go back for it. A year later I noticed the same Gill-man toy sitting on Dennis Nedry’s computer in Jurassic Park, making me even more happy that I went back for it.

The toy is squat and egg-shaped with a toothy grimace and angry eyebrows. His clawed hands rest on his chest. Ridges are sculpted down his face and grooved gill flaps run from the top of his head down along his cheeks. Plate-like armor runs down his body, and a ridge runs along the midline of his back. Aside from the chest the rest of his body has a bumpy texture. Scutes run along his fingers and fins are sculpted along his forearms. The toy is painted pale green with dark green bands running down his sides and down the middle of his back.  His eyes and eyebrows are black, and his lips and claws are red.

This toy is easy to find on eBay and is listed between $15-35. Highly recommended for collectors of wind-up toys, vintage novelties, and Gill-man enthusiasts.