Zimmiz are, essentially, a plush alien body with an opening leading to a pocket where your iPod Touch or iPhone can be inserted after downloading the Zimmiz app. Your iPhone or iPod Touch serves as the face of this fun creature and app runs continuously while the toy is being played with. While it may seem kind of strange that the app makes up a substantial amount of the toy’s playability, it allows the Zimmiz to be completely customizable and interactive, unlike any other app compatible toy on the market.

Designed for children ages 4 and up, Zimmiz can be customized to suit any preference. The app allows kids to change the color of Zimmiz eyes and skin as well as the shape of its nose, eyes, lips and signature birthmark. Zimmiz laugh when tickled, fall asleep when tired, blow bubbles with their  gum and even repeat what you say. Zimmiz can even read their special digital books to your child via the iPad. With over 300 in-app facial animations, its almost like Zimmiz have come to life. The plush Zimmiz body sports pose-able hands, arms, and antenna to allow for further customization.
Once I got the phone in and opened the app, I got to customize Zimmi the alien from his eye color to the shape of his nose. I began talking to it before I realized it didn’t respond to noise. I tapped his birthmark as instructed and he sneezed boogers all over the screen, which I then wiped off. Getting up from the couch and carrying Zimmi to my kids in the playroom coaxed all sorts of noise out of the little fella, including a request for a hug. The kids’ reactions to Zimmi was lukewarm.

Obviously Zimmi won’t accommodate an iPad, which is what my kids use to play apps.  The toy itself is kind of expensive at almost $25, and exclusively available on the creator’s website or at Build-A-Bear retail outlets.  I was successful in downloading the app on the iPad and it was just as interactive without the plush toy housing, and I wondered about the necessity of the toy itself.