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THE JAPANESE COMPANY behind the Sylvanian Families toy line has dropped its US lawsuit against a young Kildare woman whose soap-opera-style videos of the cutesy figurines became an online phenomenon.
Epoch Company Ltd., which launched Sylvanian Families in Japan in 1985 and sells them in the United States under the Calico Critters brand, had sued Irish content creator Thea von Engelbrechten in April in a New York court.
The ‘Calico Critters’ are tiny velvety-bodied animals – rabbits, mice, moles, bears, beavers, badgers, pigs, penguins – dressed in modest clothes and sold in sets as families, alongside wholesome accessories like picnic baskets and vegetable patches.
In its complaint, Epoch accused von Engelbrechten of copyright infringement, trademark infringement and unfair competition, alleging she had built a lucrative advertising business using the toys without permission.
The company claimed her accounts, titled ‘Sylvanian Drama’, promoted other brands including Kate Spade, Marc Jacobs, Burberry, Netflix, Sephora and Taco Bell, while prominently featuring Calico Critters dolls, accessories and even an official marketing image as her profile picture.
Epoch argued that the “irreverent and borderline” humour in her videos was damaging to the “wholesome” image it had cultivated for decades.
Von Engelbrechten’s videos parodied shows like Gossip Girl and Pretty Little Liars, all while tackling unhinged storylines like drug abuse, kidnapping, and toxic families.
The dramatic content often depicted the pastel-hued woodland animals wearing fake eyelashes, brandishing guns, or embroiled in plotlines about drugs, divorce and murder.
Anything from Sylvanian Drama https://t.co/YOk8tgtApf pic.twitter.com/zmdGJk1Cs4
— Tenore Contraltino 🌟 (@SolarWindChime) March 26, 2023
The toys, Epoch said, are designed to encourage children’s imagination and are widely used in schools and daycares.
Von Engelbrechten, who started the series in her bedroom during the 2021 Covid lockdown, has previously described her work as parody inspired by Desperate Housewives.
She quickly amassed a huge following (2.5 million on TikTok and one million on Instagram) and landed high-profile brand deals.
On Instagram, Sylvanian Drama caters for a significant following of celebrities, including Irish singer CMAT, actress Lily Gladstone and actor-comedian Bowen Yang.
Some of her videos have been viewed tens of millions of times.
Her content went quiet in January, prompting speculation among fans that the legal fight had forced her to stop.
But last Friday, Epoch filed a notice voluntarily dismissing all claims “without prejudice,” with each side covering its own legal costs.
No details of any settlement were disclosed.
Hours earlier, von Engelbrechten posted to Instagram for the first time in months, telling followers she would be changing her account’s name and profile picture on 19 August, and asking for suggestions.
Fans responded with ideas ranging from “Not Sylvanian Drama” to “Cancelled Critters.”
It’s currently unclear whether she will be able to continue using the dolls in her skits under new terms.
Some experts had speculated the dispute could end in a licensing deal, though neither side has confirmed any agreement.
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