White Pig Family (Silvan Animal Family)

Sylvan Animal Family

The Silvan Animal Families toy line is produced San Jin Toys, based out of China. These infrequently pop up on eBay alongside their companion toy line, Happy Family. These toys are inferior in quality and are cheap and cute enough for a child to play with. 

Toy Line: Silvan Animal Family
Company: San Jin Toys
Country: CN
Year Introduced: 2010
Frequency: Uncommon

Version:
CN, Silvan Animal Family

Figures in Series:
White Pigs, Brown Wild Pigs (or Boars), White Mice, Guinea Pigs, Beagle Dogs, Brown Beavers, Grey Beavers, Brown Bears, Pandas, and Brown Rabbits, Grey Bears, Peach Pigs

Official Names & Bios: 
N/A

Accessories: 
N/A

How I Got Mine: 
This family was purchase from eBay US.

Extra Info:
N/A

Names and bios I have created for this family:

Sowfield
Mother Celeste, gathers mushrooms
Father Edison
Sister Pygmalion
Brother Hamlet

Review

The Price

Silvan Animal Families usually sell for about $6 - $10 USD on eBay. I purchased the White Pigs for $6.

The Package

The package is cheap standard cardboard with a plastic window and a plastic inner sleeve. The family does not include a pamphlet of any kind. The box is very easily bent and usually arrives this way due to poor shipping practices. The figures themselves are not hurt, so this is alright with me. This box is a large step up in design than San Jin's first toy line, Happy Family. The company has included a nice picture of all of their figures on the back of the box and a logo of some sort. The quality is still cheap, and is reflected by the price. As usual, some translations are not correct. On the package, San Jin's first toy line, Happy Family, are also featured. These have different molds than the new Silvan Animal Families.

The Figures

The figures are of equivilent size to Sylvanians, though are not of equal quality. Over all, Silvan Animal Families have made an effort to upgrade their quality since being Happy Families. The flocking has improved, though some can flake off at the joints. The plastic is more substantial, too. They are still held together with screws in the back, but they also have a hole in between the screws. I assume it is either a mold mark, or a spot they can hold the figure while flocking it. The clothing is also an improvement, but it's not quite right yet. The father's shirt barely tucks into his suspendered pants and the brother doesn't even have a shirt. It is disappointing to see that the mother's dress is the exact same thing as the Happy Families that came before. The cloth itself has a different feel, but even the trim is the same. The velcro holding the clothes together isn't sewn properly and it tends to "flap' open, even though it has been shut. 

The Conclusion

Silvan Animal Families are a clear knock-off of Sylvanian Families - even in name. While not completely awful, these figures are cheap and cheaply made. These would be great for children who are hard on their toys and whose parents aren't willing to spend good money on Sylvanians that will mostly likely be damaged. It is both good and bad to see San Jin Toys continue with its flocked animal doll line. On the one hand, less costly toys that are similar to Sylvanian Families are a nice option for families who don't have the luxury of spending a lot on these types of dolls. The down side is that as companies try to compete with a name brand and customers keep buying the alternative, it has the potential to drive quality of the main brand down to keep within competition. Sylvanian Families have a strong histoy, so dispite these knock-offs, I don't see any harm.

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