11 Fascinating Facts About Furby

Have you completed your holiday gift list? A quarter-century ago, shoppers were queuing up for Furby—the interactive, fluffy companion that became a holiday sensation in 1998, driving massive sales for Hasbro. While it was a hit for many, not everyone was thrilled with the toy. Discover more with these 11 intriguing details.

1. A U.S. intelligence agency prohibited Furby.

The National Security Agency was among those unimpressed by Furby, enforcing a ban at its Maryland facility. According to a 1999 CNN report, officials feared the toy might capture and potentially replay sensitive information—possibly in its unique language, Furbish.

2. Over 100 phrases can be spoken in Furby's unique language.

Furbish is the native tongue of Furby, which begins with pure Furbish and slowly incorporates English through interaction. A 2005 dictionary translating English to Furbish listed 121 terms, such as diamond (“ay-koo”), monster (“moh-moh”), and whassup? (“doo-oo-tye?”). Ah, the nostalgia of the '90s.

3. Creators worried it might appear overly feminine.

While Furby was mainly aimed at young girls, Tiger Electronics, its creator, aimed to make it appealing to boys too. Their solution? Equipping Furbies with the ability to burp and fart.

4. A significant attempt was made to hack them.

In 1999, engineer Peter van der Linden launched the “Hack Furby” challenge, offering $250 to anyone who could reprogram a Furby. Tiger Electronics had deliberately made this challenging by sealing key components in epoxy. This was partly to avoid the fate of Playskool’s Talking Barney, which was easily hacked to utter curse words.

5. Worries about Furby’s security aren’t confined to the ‘90s.

In 2016, Hasbro launched the Furby Connect, which utilized an internet-linked mobile app to engage with its surroundings. UK consumer group Which?, collaborating with security firm Context, cautioned that weak security protocols could allow hackers to turn the toy into a spying tool.

6. They still fetch high prices online.

If you own a Furby with a misprinted label, consider listing it on eBay, where rare editions with such errors have sold for up to $500.

7. There’s a wide variety of special Furbies.

Hasbro didn’t limit itself to standard Furbies. Between 1998 and 2002, they introduced unique versions like Wizard Furby, Santa Furby, Jester Furby, President Furby, Kid Cuisine Furby, and Hi-C Furby. In 2015, they unveiled an $80 Star Wars-themed Furby named “Furbacca.”

8. Hasbro faced a lawsuit over Furby’s similarity to a Mogwai.

After Furby’s 1998 Toy Fair debut, Tiger Electronics designers intentionally reduced the size of its ears to minimize its similarity to the Mogwai from Warner Bros.’ Gremlins films. However, this wasn’t enough to prevent a lawsuit from Warner Bros., who sued Hasbro for trademark infringement in late 1998. Hasbro settled, reportedly paying Warner Bros. a seven-figure sum and agreeing to redesign the toy.

9. A Furby movie was once in the works.

This wasn’t in 1998 but in 2016, when Bob Weinstein revealed at the American Film Market that The Weinstein Company was developing a live-action/CGI hybrid film about the fluffy creatures. “We believe this can appeal to all audiences, not just serve as a 90-minute advertisement,” stated Hasbro executive Stephen Davis.

10. A TV movie about Furby exists.

While plans for a movie have been delayed, you can enjoy Furby Island, a 45-minute TV special about a girl and her family who journey to Furby Island and must rescue its inhabitants from the evil Doctor Conquest. (The visuals are somewhat unsettling.)

11. The latest Furby model costs just $10.

One of the newest Furbies set to release is the Furblets Ooh-Koo Mini Friends—compact Furby toys designed to clip onto backpacks, allowing kids to take them anywhere. Priced at only $10, these Furblets are perfect as holiday stocking stuffers. With their musical features and vibrant colors, they can even harmonize with other Furblets, making them a fun addition to your holiday shopping list.

This article, originally published in 2017, has been revised and updated for 2023.