Hatchimals are quite popular among Americans in 2016. It was one of the toy crazes in that year with celebrities including Chrissy Teigen posting several videos of her getting a Hatchimal in Instagram and Snapchat.
Created by toymaker Spin Masters, Hatchimal immediately became 2016's popular holiday season "it-toy." From its name Hatchimal, you probably figured out that it hatches from an egg. So, from an egg, a plush, chubby little creature hatch.
But what are Hatchimals? Why is it so popular in 2016? Here are some of the things you probably didn't know about Hatchimals.
1. Hatchimals Really Hatch
Hatchimals really hatch, and just like a real egg, it will only hatch once. According to the toy's website, hatching the egg takes around 10 to 40 minutes, as per Pocket-Lint. You'll have to rub, touch, and tap the egg to hatch it.
Once the Hatchimal is ready to come out, it will peck its way out. You can help it come out by peeling away some parts of the shell. Prepare for the surprise, as you won't know what kind of Hatchimal you'll have until it's out of its egg.
2. Hatchimals Have Five Stages of Life
According to Pocket-Lint, Hatchimals have five stages of life. The first stage is the egg. The egg must be nurtured in order for it to move to its next stage which is hatching. Once hatched, you'll get a baby Hatchimal that you must cuddle and feed.
It will then grow to become a toddler that you must teach how to walk and talk. And the last stage is the kid that you must play games with it. While your Hatchimal is in full size when it hatches, it will develop new abilities as it gets older.
You have to help your Hatchimal grow in every stage, from hatching out of the egg to becoming a kid. You will have to nurture it and interact with it by petting it, rubbing it, playing with it, cuddling it, and feeding it.
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3. The Eye Color of Hatchimals Changes
The eye color of the Hatchimal changes, and each eye color has a different meaning. You are required to perform specific actions for each eye color in order to ensure a healthy and happy Hatchimal.
According to The Verge, the Hatchimal's eyes change color to indicate how it feels. The eyes turn red if it's mad, purple if it's hungry, orange if it needs to burp, and so on. Rainbow eyes appear when a new stage is unlocked.
4. You Can Teach Your Hatchimals to Walk and Talk
You can teach your Hatchimal perform various activities such as walking, talking, and playing. To teach it how to talk, all you have to do is press and hold its belly while you speak, then, it will repeat what you've said.
When you press its belly repeatedly, its eyes will flash white. When you clap once, the Hatchimal will move forward. When you clap twice, the Hatchimal will spin. However, be cautious of clapping twice too many times as spinning can make a Hatchimal sick.
5. Hatchimals Don't Connect to an App
Unlike other interactive pets available, Hatchimals don't connect to an app, as per YAYOMG. It means that it's all about spending time together with your Hatchimal and enjoying it without being connected to a screen.
Since you can do a lot of things with your Hatchimal, an app is not necessary to enjoy your experience.
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