Latest news with #CalicoCritters
Fast Company
21-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Fast Company
‘Self-expression should be celebrated': Sylvanian Drama spills into real life as TikTok creator faces lawsuit
The internet-famous TikTok account Sylvanian Drama is now at the center of a real-world legal battle, as its creator faces a lawsuit from the brand behind the toys. If you're unfamiliar, Sylvanian Drama features Calico Critters acting out wild, often dark storylines involving kidnappings, drug abuse, and murder. One of its most viral videos, titled 'My marriage is falling apart,' has amassed 22.1 million views. A top comment calls it 'shakespearean.' Thea Von Engelbrechten, based in Kildare, Ireland, launched the account in 2021. She later dropped out of university as the account exploded in popularity (it now has 2.5 million followers) and has since collaborated with brands like Netflix, Burberry, and Sephora. But in April, the drama left TikTok and landed in court. Epoch Company—the parent brand of Sylvanian Families— filed a copyright lawsuit in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York, as first reported by the Irish Independent. The company accuses Von Engelbrechten of copyright and trademark infringement, as well as unfair competition. According to the complaint, 'Defendant is 'working to build Sylvanian Drama's own brand image' as an advertising and content creation service provider at the expense of Epoch's goodwill it has built over decades,' Vulture reports. Epoch states that TikTok had removed some videos following a Digital Millennium Copyright Act notice issued in October 2023. However, after failing to reach a lasting agreement with Von Engelbrechten, the company wrote that it 'had no choice but to file this lawsuit.' The case underscores a broader issue: the legal risks creators face when centering content around trademarked brands. Epoch is seeking statutory damages of up to $150,000 per infringed work, in addition to profits generated by the Sylvanian Drama account. A pre-trial conference is scheduled for August 14, during which both legal teams will explore settlement options or prepare for trial. Von Engelbrechten has not publicly addressed the lawsuit, and Sylvanian Drama has not posted on any platform since January. (Fast Company has reached out to her for comment.) Meanwhile, fans have flooded the account's pinned videos with messages of support. 'Someone make her a go fund me,' one commenter wrote. Creator Jeffrey Men, creator of the toy company Fancy Teddy, tells Fast Company, 'Self-expression should be celebrated, not suppressed. As a small, creator-led brand, I stand with anyone reimagining what toys can mean.'
The Irish Sun
21-07-2025
- Entertainment
- The Irish Sun
What happened to Sylvanian Drama on TikTok? The legal fight over controversial viral clips explained
A VIRAL TikTok account that featured toys getting drunk, doing drugs and committing violence is reportedly at the centre of a legal battle. 1 Epoch is suing Sylvanian Drama for infringing its copyright The social media account, which has frequently gone viral for its darkly comedic skits featuring the small toys, mysteriously went quiet this year after it landed in legal hot water with the toys' maker. It is now being reported that Sylvanian Drama, which has 2.5 million followers on TikTok and 1 million on Instagram, is being sued for copyright infringement, trademark infringement and unfair competition. Why is the lawsuit only being reported now? Epoch's lawsuit, filed in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York on April 7, initially went unnoticed but drew attention last week when some outlets reported on the situation. It came after reporters noticed months of silence from the account. READ MORE IN NEWS The lawsuit, first reported by The Irish Independent, added that the site also uses a copyrighted image as Sylvanian Drama's social media profile picture. CCTV captures moment toy-loving boy crawls into claw machine The company claims that Thea Von Engelbrechten has been 'doubling her efforts to exploit Epoch's copyrights and trademarks for her own commercial gain' despite the company's attempts to work the issue out amicably. Sylvanian Families, also known as Calico Critters in the United States and Canada, are felt dolls in the shape of cute, anthropomorphized animals. They were first released in Japan in 1985. Most read in The Sun How did Sylvanian Drama become so popular? The creatures range from bunnies and kittens to squirrels and more, all with wide, black eyes and tiny clothing. The videos on Sylvanian Drama, all of which feature Calico Critters, often rack up millions of views each. Von Engelbrechten began posting Sylvanian Drama videos in 2021, when she was a 19-year-old multimedia student at She told The Tab in a 2023 interview that her videos were meant to parody shows like 'Gossip Girl' and 'Pretty Little Liars.' 'I'm always surprised that I'm not already canceled for the stuff that I do,' she said. 'I don't mean any harm and also … a lot of the issues that I joke about are problems in my own life. 'There's a lot of stuff about weight and dieting and people struggling with that, and that's all just me joking about myself. So I'm not making fun of anyone.' Inspiration for content As reported by the BBC, the court document states that in an interview with influencer marketing company Fohr, Von Engelbrechten said her inspiration for the storylines came from "cringey TV shows and early 2000s comedy". She added: "I'm also really inspired by my cats because they are extremely sassy and self-obsessed and can be so cute, but they also have no morals when it comes to killing other animals. 'I try to embody that with the Sylvanians." Asked why she thought her videos were so popular she told Fohr: "Maybe it's because it's coming from the voice of a 22-year-old who struggles with the same things as [they do]. 'I have a lot of storylines about insecure people, diet culture, toxic men, and sustainability, which I think other girls my age are also thinking a lot about." Do you have a Sylvanian Families toy worth up to £500 in your house? Anyone who grew up in the 80s will remember the cute Sylvanian Families toys - and some could now fetch you a pretty penny on eBay. The furry animals come in neat family sets (mum and dad, son and daughter), all with old-fashioned outfits, jobs and homes. The cute characters were first introduced in the UK back in 1985, after being designed by Japanese firm Epoch. And it seems like the older and rarer your models, the more they might now be worth online. Last year, a collector sold a rare Japanese doll from 2003 for a whopping £500 - almost five times its auction start price of £99. Another vintage Sylvanian teddy bear from the 1980s sold for £456. A date has been set for August 14 for a pre-trial conference. This is when legal teams from both sides will meet to explore settlement options or prepare the case for trial. Von Engelbrechten and Epoch have yet to respond to press requests for comment.
Scottish Sun
21-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Scottish Sun
What happened to Sylvanian Drama on TikTok? The legal fight over controversial viral clips explained
Social media account has frequently gone viral for its darkly comedic skits featuring Calico Critters TOY BATTLE What happened to Sylvanian Drama on TikTok? The legal fight over controversial viral clips explained Click to share on X/Twitter (Opens in new window) Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) A VIRAL TikTok account that featured toys getting drunk, doing drugs and committing violence is reportedly at the centre of a legal battle. Sylvanian Drama, launched by Irish content creator Thea Von Engelbrechten, is being sued by Japanese company Epoch. Sign up for Scottish Sun newsletter Sign up 1 Epoch is suing Sylvanian Drama for infringing its copyright The social media account, which has frequently gone viral for its darkly comedic skits featuring the small toys, mysteriously went quiet this year after it landed in legal hot water with the toys' maker. It is now being reported that Sylvanian Drama, which has 2.5 million followers on TikTok and 1 million on Instagram, is being sued for copyright infringement, trademark infringement and unfair competition. Why is the lawsuit only being reported now? Epoch's lawsuit, filed in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York on April 7, initially went unnoticed but drew attention last week when some outlets reported on the situation. It came after reporters noticed months of silence from the account. The lawsuit, first reported by The Irish Independent, added that the site also uses a copyrighted image as Sylvanian Drama's social media profile picture. CCTV captures moment toy-loving boy crawls into claw machine The company claims that Thea Von Engelbrechten has been 'doubling her efforts to exploit Epoch's copyrights and trademarks for her own commercial gain' despite the company's attempts to work the issue out amicably. Sylvanian Families, also known as Calico Critters in the United States and Canada, are felt dolls in the shape of cute, anthropomorphized animals. They were first released in Japan in 1985. How did Sylvanian Drama become so popular? The creatures range from bunnies and kittens to squirrels and more, all with wide, black eyes and tiny clothing. The videos on Sylvanian Drama, all of which feature Calico Critters, often rack up millions of views each. Von Engelbrechten began posting Sylvanian Drama videos in 2021, when she was a 19-year-old multimedia student at Dublin City University. She told The Tab in a 2023 interview that her videos were meant to parody shows like 'Gossip Girl' and 'Pretty Little Liars.' 'I'm always surprised that I'm not already canceled for the stuff that I do,' she said. 'I don't mean any harm and also … a lot of the issues that I joke about are problems in my own life. 'There's a lot of stuff about weight and dieting and people struggling with that, and that's all just me joking about myself. So I'm not making fun of anyone.' Inspiration for content As reported by the BBC, the court document states that in an interview with influencer marketing company Fohr, Von Engelbrechten said her inspiration for the storylines came from "cringey TV shows and early 2000s comedy". She added: "I'm also really inspired by my cats because they are extremely sassy and self-obsessed and can be so cute, but they also have no morals when it comes to killing other animals. 'I try to embody that with the Sylvanians." Asked why she thought her videos were so popular she told Fohr: "Maybe it's because it's coming from the voice of a 22-year-old who struggles with the same things as [they do]. 'I have a lot of storylines about insecure people, diet culture, toxic men, and sustainability, which I think other girls my age are also thinking a lot about." Do you have a Sylvanian Families toy worth up to £500 in your house? Anyone who grew up in the 80s will remember the cute Sylvanian Families toys - and some could now fetch you a pretty penny on eBay. The furry animals come in neat family sets (mum and dad, son and daughter), all with old-fashioned outfits, jobs and homes. The cute characters were first introduced in the UK back in 1985, after being designed by Japanese firm Epoch. And it seems like the older and rarer your models, the more they might now be worth online. Last year, a collector sold a rare Japanese doll from 2003 for a whopping £500 - almost five times its auction start price of £99. Another vintage Sylvanian teddy bear from the 1980s sold for £456. A date has been set for August 14 for a pre-trial conference. This is when legal teams from both sides will meet to explore settlement options or prepare the case for trial. Von Engelbrechten and Epoch have yet to respond to press requests for comment.
7NEWS
21-07-2025
- Entertainment
- 7NEWS
Why the viral Sylvanian Drama soap operas have gone quiet online
The social media account Sylvanian Drama, which has frequently gone viral for its darkly comedic skits featuring small, anthropomorphic animal toys, mysteriously went quiet this year after it landed in legal hot water with the toys' maker. Epoch, the Japanese company behind the toys, sued the account's creator earlier this year, claiming that she has been 'doubling her efforts to exploit Epoch's copyrights and trademarks for her own commercial gain' despite the company's attempts to work the issue out amicably. Sylvanian Families, also known as Calico Critters in the United States and Canada, are felt dolls in the shape of cute, anthropomorphised animals. They were first released in Japan in 1985. The creatures range from bunnies and kittens to squirrels and more, all with wide, black eyes and tiny clothing. Online, Irish content creator Thea Von Engelbrechten has taken the adorable creatures and given them backstories with mature themes, putting them in real-world scenarios that aren't as innocent or family-friendly as the dolls themselves appear to be. Her Sylvanian Drama page has 2.5 million followers on TikTok and 1 million on Instagram. The videos, all of which feature Calico Critters, often rack up millions of views each. In these soap opera-style clips, the critters might be getting drunk, doing drugs, committing violence or doing other unsavoury things. Loading TikTok Post Epoch's lawsuit, filed in the U.S District Court for the Southern District of New York on April 7, initially flew under the radar but drew attention online last week when some outlets reported on the situation after noticing months of silence from the account. The Irish Independent was the first to report the lawsuit. The company accused Von Engelbrechten of copyright infringement, trademark infringement and unfair competition. It stated that she has been prominently featuring Calico Critters products in videos without permission, including for commercial purposes by advertising for other brands' goods and services. The lawsuit added that she also uses a copyrighted image as Sylvanian Drama's social media profile picture. Von Engelbrechten declined to comment. Attorneys for Epoch did not immediately respond to a request for comment. The lawsuit underscores the potential tensions that can arise when creators use branded materials as drivers of their content. Early gaming creators faced similar legal pushback when using copyrighted games and characters in their videos, for example. The case against Sylvanian Drama is the latest to highlight how the creator economy straddles the line between user-generated content and copyright protections. Von Engelbrechten's account has become so popular in recent years that some on the internet have begun to associate the toys with the Sylvanian Drama account more than the official Sylvanian Families or Calico Critters brands. In its lawsuit, Epoch wrote that Von Engelbrechten has caused 'irreparable injury to Epoch's goodwill and reputation', noting that the brand was originally intended to engage children. Von Engelbrechten began posting Sylvanian Drama videos in 2021, when she was a 19-year-old multimedia student at Dublin City University. She told The Tab in a 2023 interview that her videos were meant to parody shows like Gossip Girl and Pretty Little Liars. 'I'm always surprised that I'm not already cancelled for the stuff that I do,' she said. 'I don't mean any harm, and also … a lot of the issues that I joke about are problems in my own life. There's a lot of stuff about weight and dieting and people struggling with that, and that's all just me joking about myself. So I'm not making fun of anyone.' The account hasn't posted on any of its platforms since January. Its latest video was a paid partnership promoting Squid Game shortly after the release of the hit Netflix show's second season. The lawsuit noted that Sylvanian Drama has similarly advertised for the likes of Kate Spade, Sephora, Burberry, Hilton and Taco Bell. Epoch claimed in its complaint that TikTok had previously removed allegedly infringing videos from its platform after the company served a Digital Millennium Copyright Act notice in October 2023. But because it was not able to work out a permanent resolution with Von Engelbrechten, Epoch wrote, it 'had no choice but to file this lawsuit' this year. The company, which demanded a jury trial, sought an order declaring that Von Engelbrechten infringed its copyrights, as well as an order prohibiting her from infringing any copyrights in the future. It also asked for damages of up to $US150,000 ($A230,250) for each copyrighted work infringed, plus all profits made by Von Engelbrechten as a result of the alleged infringement. According to a court document this month, however, Epoch and Von Engelbrechten are now 'actively engaged in settlement discussions' and planning to submit a joint letter with a proposed plan to move forward. Von Engelbrechten has until August 8 to respond to the lawsuit, with the initial pretrial conference slated for August 14.
NBC News
20-07-2025
- Entertainment
- NBC News
Why the viral Sylvanian Drama soap operas have gone quiet online
The social media account Sylvanian Drama, which has frequently gone viral for its darkly comedic skits featuring small, anthropomorphic animal toys, mysteriously went quiet this year after it landed in legal hot water with the toys' maker. Epoch, the Japanese company behind the toys, sued the account's creator earlier this year, claiming that she has been 'doubling her efforts to exploit Epoch's copyrights and trademarks for her own commercial gain' despite the company's attempts to work the issue out amicably. Sylvanian Families, also known as Calico Critters in the United States and Canada, are felt dolls in the shape of cute, anthropomorphized animals. They were first released in Japan in 1985. The creatures range from bunnies and kittens to squirrels and more, all with wide, black eyes and tiny clothing. Online, Irish content creator Thea Von Engelbrechten has taken the adorable creatures and given them backstories with mature themes, putting them in real-world scenarios that aren't as innocent or family-friendly as the dolls themselves appear to be. Her Sylvanian Drama page has 2.5 million followers on TikTok and 1 million on Instagram. The videos, all of which feature Calico Critters, often rack up millions of views each. In these soap opera-style clips, the critters might be getting drunk, doing drugs, committing violence or doing other unsavory things. Epoch's lawsuit, filed in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York on April 7, initially flew under the radar but drew attention online last week when some outlets reported on the situation after noticing months of silence from the account. The Irish Independent was the first to report the lawsuit. The company accused Von Engelbrechten of copyright infringement, trademark infringement and unfair competition. It stated that she has been prominently featuring Calico Critters products in videos without permission, including for commercial purposes by advertising for other brands' goods and services. The lawsuit added that she also uses a copyrighted image as Sylvanian Drama's social media profile picture. Von Engelbrechten declined to comment. Attorneys for Epoch did not immediately respond to a request for comment. The lawsuit underscores the potential tensions that can arise when creators use branded materials as drivers of their content. Early gaming creators faced similar legal pushback when using copyrighted games and characters in their videos, for example. The case against Sylvanian Drama is the latest to highlight how the creator economy straddles the line between user-generated content and copyright protections. Von Engelbrechten's account has become so popular in recent years that some on the internet have begun to associate the toys with the Sylvanian Drama account more than the official Sylvanian Families or Calico Critters brands. In its lawsuit, Epoch wrote that Von Engelbrechten has caused 'irreparable injury to Epoch's goodwill and reputation,' noting that the brand was originally intended to engage children. Von Engelbrechten began posting Sylvanian Drama videos in 2021, when she was a 19-year-old multimedia student at Dublin City University. She told The Tab in a 2023 interview that her videos were meant to parody shows like 'Gossip Girl' and 'Pretty Little Liars.' 'I'm always surprised that I'm not already canceled for the stuff that I do,' she said. 'I don't mean any harm and also … a lot of the issues that I joke about are problems in my own life. There's a lot of stuff about weight and dieting and people struggling with that, and that's all just me joking about myself. So I'm not making fun of anyone.' The account hasn't posted on any of its platforms since January. Its latest video was a paid partnership promoting 'Squid Game' shortly after the release of the hit Netflix show's second season. (The lawsuit noted that Sylvanian Drama has similarly advertised for the likes of Kate Spade, Sephora, Burberry, Hilton and Taco Bell.) Epoch claimed in its complaint that TikTok had previously removed allegedly infringing videos from its platform after the company served a Digital Millennium Copyright Act notice in October 2023. But because it was not able to work out a permanent resolution with Von Engelbrechten, Epoch wrote, it 'had no choice but to file this lawsuit' this year. The company, which demanded a jury trial, sought an order declaring that Von Engelbrechten infringed its copyrights, as well as an order prohibiting her from infringing any copyrights in the future. It also asked for damages of up to $150,000 for each copyrighted work infringed, plus all profits made by Von Engelbrechten as a result of the alleged infringement. According to a court document this month, however, Epoch and Von Engelbrechten are now 'actively engaged in settlement discussions' and planning to submit a joint letter with a proposed plan to move forward. Von Engelbrechten has until Aug. 8 to respond to the lawsuit, with the initial pretrial conference slated for Aug. 14.
