Tomopop Review: GIANTmicrobes Stocking Mini Microbe Box

6:00 PM on 12.04.2011   |   Natalie Kipper

I am a rather large GIANTmicrobes fan (as you may have gathered from my recent review of their Skin and Bone Cell plushes). So, it should come as no surprise that I was happy to see receive a lovely stocking-shaped box filled with microbes dressed in their holiday finest, all set to decorate the tree as ornaments. The five microbes found in this gift box are the dust mite, an amoeba (a personal favorite), a red blood cell, salmonella and penicillin. 

Do these plush ornaments make it to the "nice list?" Or do they have little microbe-sized lumps of coal in their future? Hit the jump to find out!

Plush Name: Christmas Stocking Mini Microbe Box
Plush Maker: GIANTmicrobes by Drew Oliver
Retail Price: US$24.95
Available at: GIANTmicrobes online store

Okay, Santa's elven minions could not have designed a better gift box for these plushes. With the faux-needlepoint font on the cardboard stocking's "cuff" and the high-quality pictures depicting the microbes contained within, I honestly felt a little guilty about unpacking the plushes. Word of advice: get over the guilt and open the dang box. 

Let's start off with my favorite of the five ornaments, shall we? The amoeba plush ornament is decked out in yuletide green and red. The 2 and half inch fellow even has cute lil' earmuffs and a tiny scarf! That alone should put in you in a jolly holiday mood (unless you are, you know, pre-Ghost-of-Christmas-Future Ebenezer Scrooge). The loop used to attach the plush to the branch of a tree is made of a shiny golden foil-covered string. It didn't look like it would break or that the gold would flake, either. The loop was of a good enough length to fit just about any branch you would think to hang it on, a little more than 3 inches from the plush to the top of the loop. 

Next in list is this precious plush: the dust ,ite, dressed as a reindeer (complete with a red nose). In length, he is about 3 inches from his shiny nose to his plushie behind. The loop of golden string is the same length as the amoeba's (I think it is standard for the entire box). This plush nearly beat out the amoeba for my favorite of the set because of its brilliant seasonal costume. The reindeer get-up just suits the dust mite so perfectly. I never thought I would say that but, thanks to GIANTmicrobes, I have come to realize this new truth. 

The third in the lineup is the salmonella ornament, and it comes with some mistletoe embroidered on its side. How thoughtful! The silken red cords attached to this 3-inch tall microbe are securely fastened and show no signs coming free from tugging. Although it does give it the slight appearance of a punk rocker. Or a rooster.

And now, the red blood cell makes his holiday appearance. On the front of the 2.5-inch tall plush are tiny embroidered snow flakes, which are a nice contrast to the crimson fabric. There isn't much to say about this microbe but that isn't necessarily a bad thing. It is simple and doesn't need much of an explanation. I wish I could say the same thing about next ornament, however.

After viewing all of the other witty plush ornaments, the penicillin leaves me scratching my head. What is with the shiny pom-poms? I get that they are Christmas colors but are they supposed to be something? Plus, the blue of the microbe's "body" seriously clashes with the green, red, and white. This one is easily the weakest link in the set. 

On the whole, I give the GIANTmicrobes Stocking Mini Microbe Box my Jolly Holiday Seal of Approval (patent pending). Penicillin aside, the plush ornaments are clever in their design and would make a great gift or decoration. 

[A big thanks to GIANTmicrobes for supplying us with this review sample!]