Aaahh Real Monsters (toys)

Aaahh Real Monsters was a cartoon series launched by Nickelodeon just before Halloween in 1994. The show ran for four seasons, ending in December 1997, it centered around three monsters, Ickis, Oblina and Krumm, who attended a school for monsters under a city dump, where they would learn to scare humans.

In 1995, Mattel produced a small line of figures based on the tv show. Although the show had a strong following, the toys were never a huge success. This is possibly partly due to lack of advertising, as well as not much variation from Mattel. They didn’t even produce a single playset for the toys during its run.

Despite a fairly popular TV show, and video games released on the SNES and Sega Genesis, after just one year, the toy-line was cancelled. In total, just twelve Aaahh Real Monsters characters existed.

Ickis was the main anti-hero, in the cartoon his method for scaring humans was his ability to grow bigger. However, due to his large ears he was often confused with a bunny rabbit.

The Ickis box states: “Ickis’ eyes turn blood red and his fangs gleam razor sharp! He’s under your bed or hiding in the dark. Tilt his head back to see him at his best!”

Open Ickis mouth and he would show his fangs, while his eyes would turn from white to red.

Krumm is the short, smelly and very hairy friend of Ickis and Oblina. He holds his eyes in his hands as they are detached from his face/body.

The Krumm box states: “Krumm’s a real eye catcher who believes in the power of positive stinking! Sniff at you own risk! Put his eyeballs in his mouth and give him a squeeze. His eyes bug out and pop back in his palms.”

The Krumm toy would not only stink, he would also spit his eyes out if you gave him a squeeze.

Oblina is a female character that is friends with both Ickis and Krumm. She often bickers with Ickis, however, she is also the brains of the three.

The Oblina box states: “Feared and fearless, Oblina is one of the Academy’s most creative scarers. She gives nightmares a bad name! Slide button on her back up and see why she was voted most likely to scare!”

By sliding the button on the back of the toy she would open her mouth wide, revealing her sharp teeth.

The Gromble is the intimidating and strict headmaster of the monster academy that Ickis, Krumm and Oblina attend.

Referred to as ‘The Gromble’, ‘Gromble Sir’ and ‘Mr. Gromble’, Gromble was a teacher you didn’t mess around with.

The Gromble box states:

“#1 The Gromble is always right!
#2 The Gromble’s homework is horror!
#3 The Gromble is the headmaster of disaster! Here’s what you do – Pop the student in his mouth then push his tail down and watch him chew!”

As the box states, you simply put the student inside The Gromble’s mouth, then push down his tail and watch it chew the student up.

Strangely, Mattel chose not to use any other Aaahh Real Monsters characters that appeared in the show. Numerous major and minor recurring characters were available to choose from, however, they were never released. Instead, Mattel chose to create eight other monsters, none of which were ever in the show.

Little is known about Spoink and Groink as these two never actually appeared in the show.

The Sproink & Groink box states: “These two really know how to project themselves! But it’s Groink who always shoots off his mouth, especially when Sproink is in it! For maximum velocity and ferocity, shove Sproink down Groink’s throat, punch Groink, and watch the terror fly!”

As it states on the box, you simply place Sproink in the mouth of Groink. Squeeze or ‘punching’ Groink will make Sproink fly out.

Werfel never appeared in the show, however, the monster was known to attend the Monster Academy and loves to eat bugs.

The Werfel box states: “Werfel has a monstrous appetite for worms, a fast and slippery prey! Yet they’re well worth the effort for their squishy, gullet-gagging taste! Hold each end of string and pull in opposite directions to watch him scurry for his supper!”

Pulling on the string would simply make Werfel look as if he is eating bugs.

Scarfer is another Aaahh Real Monsters character never to appear in the actual show. He is supposed to be a wolf-like monster who goes to the Monster Academy.

The Scarfer box states: “Worms, slugs and bugs – Scarfer is the gourmet of the group. He’ll eat anything, even if he knows where it’s been! To see what I mean: Bring a spoonful of bugs near his mouth, dump bugs inside when he opens wide, turn leg to recycle bugs!”

Simply place the small bugs in Scarfers mouth, turn his leg and he will poop out the bugs.

Poomps is a water-squirting toy who never actually appeared in the show. This one-eyed monster is covered in spikes from which water will squirt.

The Poomps box states: “This bumpy lump of a monster showers unsuspecting victims with slime. Squeeze and release under water to fill his slime spines. Now give him a pump and watch the water jump!”

As the box states, simply place the toy under water, take it out, give it a squeeze and water will squirt from its spikes.

Splug is another water-squirting toy that never actually appeared in the show. Not much is known about Splug, however, the box states:

“Splug lives in a pool of drool and leaves a trail of ooze wherever he goes! Squeeze and release under water to fill his drool glands. Now give him a squish and watch him slobber.”

Splug, just like Poomps, can be filled with water and squeezed to squirt water from his body.

Snarfle is the third and final water squirting character, as with the other two, he never appeared in the show.

The Snarfle box states: “When he runs, he pours! And, if he starts to sneeze… stand back! Squeeze and release under water to fill his “sinus” cavities. Now give him a squoosh to blow his nose!”

Simply place Snarfle under water to fill, then simply squeeze to spray water from his nose.

Kaluga is one of the two ‘Inside-Out Flipper’ toys, again, they never appeared in the show.

The Kaluga box states: “A sight for sore eyes, Kaluga is ugly inside and out! You won’t believe how ugly until you flip his lid to reveal his inner monster!”

By flipping Kaluga inside out you turn the monster from an eyeball into a squid. You can see the eyeball form in the boxed photo at the top of the page.

Haluga is the second of the ‘Inside-Out Flipper’ toys, this blue monster with black hair never appeared in the show.

The Haluga box states: “One thing about Haluga – This monster has a lot of guts and is not afraid to show them! To turn your stomach, turn his inside out!”

Turning Haluga inside out exposes his trash-filled guts. You can see his original form in the boxed photo at the top of the page.

While only twelve Aaahh Real Monsters toys existed, a few other pieces of merchandise were made available. This included dolls of the three main Aaahh Real Monsters characters, flashlights and a few other pieces.