Wacky WallWalker

Before its introduction in the United States, Ken Hakuta received in the mail several sticky octopus-like toys from his mother, who lived in Japan.

They were intended for his children, but Hakuta found himself fascinated with the toy, which was called Tako (Japanese for "octopus") in Japan.

Their popularity was mediocre, until Nina Hyde of The Washington Post wrote a feature story on them.

[4] The popular toy was featured in the 1983 animated Christmas special Deck the Halls with Wacky Walls, starring the voices of Daws Butler, Tress MacNeille, and Marvin Kaplan.

[7] In Toy Story 3, the character Stretch, voiced by Whoopi Goldberg, is based on a Wacky Wallwalker.