1988:

NEWBORN TWIN PONIES

After the big success of the Newborn Twin Ponies in 1987, Hasbro introduced six more pairs of cuties onto the scene in 1988. These would be the last set of newborn twins to ever be made, though the newborn theme would continue on into later years.

The above image comes from the year 6 United States insert, and has been horribly butchered by me!

As with the first set, not all of the six sets were sold in the United Kingdom. Hasbro chose three to release here - one unicorn set, one pegasus set and one earth pony set. Each set of twins was also given a different name in the UK from the United States release, and it is these names that are given for the links on the right of this page.

Newborn Twins 1988, (UK Insert, UK release)

The three chosen sets appeared on the collectafile insert which, though dated 1987 actually featured more ponies from the 1988 release. Each was pictured here with correct UK names.
Although the front of the box appears to have largely matched the North American box style for this year, the back of the box was remodelled to feature in larger form the images of the three twin sets sold in the UK - each with their UK names. Unfortunately this box is extremely hard to find, and the box I have is incomplete, so I don't know how the art might have been modified on the side flaps or the bottom front. All I can say for sure is that the rainbow, featuring Fluffy and Fleecy, is the same as on my American boxes, as is the colour of the box (pale blue).

Front flap of the UK box (matching US box)
(From Tuggles & Toddles' UK Box)

As can be seen by the image below, the rocker for Tuggles and Toddles is different in colour from the one pictured in the insert. Both versions have been found in the UK in connection with this twinset, so it seems likely that both versions (and maybe the aqua and yellow version, too) were sold, just like in the North American release.

1988 Newborn Twin box art (UK)
(from TUGGLES & TODDLES' UK box)

Another sign of the similarity/recycling involved in the packaging of these twins relates to the stories. Comparing the UK story for Tuggles and Toddles with the US one for Sticky and Sniffles, they are basically the same except for a change in the name and the replacing of "mama" with "mother" in the UK text. It seems likely the same happened with the other twins, too.