Stikbot from Zing is an innovative tech toy that uses a stop motion app to create, animate and share original videos

Stikbot Social Media Sharing Toy From Zing Hits Market -- Innovative Tech Toy Uses App to Create, Animate and Share Original Stop-Motion Videos

Zing, the toy company famous for outdoor active play products, takes a giant step into a new arena with the launch of Stikbot, the stop-motion animation star and one of the first social media sharing toys to hit the market.

Developed with creativity and imagination in mind, Stikbot turns kids into moviemakers. "Stikbot is an innovative toy that combines the use of social media with a traditional toy," says Adrienne Appell, Director of Strategic Communications at the Toy Industry Association. "It's a fun new way to engage older kids and infuse play into social media platforms they're already using. Stikbot is truly cutting edge and has addressed a new avenue that is fast becoming today's new 'traditional play pattern.'"

Stikbot features:

• An easy-to-pose figure with suction cup hands and feet that adheres to almost any flat surface.
• A free mobile app, StikBot Studio (available on iOS and Android), which allows users to snap individual photos and stitches them together into a film. Built-in sound effects and music that can be added to the video, along with custom recorded sound and music.
• Download to users' camera roll and an easy upload to social media.

"Social media is where today's 'conversations' are happening," says Josh Loerzel, vice president of sales at Zing. "We wanted to break ground and create something new and totally different in toys; with the launch of Stikbot we've found a niche in the intensely competitive toy industry. By investing heavily in creating original and inspirational content, we are able to stay ahead of the game."

Zing is hosting a Stikbot video contest with $20,000 in cash prizes starting September 7th. (http://www.stikbot.toys/contest/).

Stikbot is available in a studio pack, including 2 Stikbot figures and a tripod ($9.99 retail), and a single pack, including one figure ($4.99 retail) with 7 different color options. They can be found at Amazon.com, Fred Meyer, K-Mart, Target, Toys R Us, Walmart and Zing's online shop.

The TV campaign begins airing on August 24th and was primarily shot using the Stikbot Studio app and an iPhone. For more information visit http://www.stikbot.toys, or find Stikbot on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, Vine and YouTube.

SOURCE Zing