Product Description

Is it live or is it Elmo Live? For the first time ever, in this truly life-like creation, Elmo really appears to be speaking as his mouth opens and closes just like a muppet. His mannerisms are right on target and his head bobbles back and forth as he speaks. Elmo waves his arms, sits and stands, and even crosses his legs while telling stories and jokes, singing songs and playing games. Children can activate the magic with a tickle or a squeeze of Elmo's foot, tummy, back or nose. Requires 6 "AA" batteries, included. Measures 12" tall.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #1164 in Toys & Games
• Brand: Fisher-Price
• Model: L9049
• Released on: 2008-10-13
• Dimensions: 15.00" h x 11.00" w x 8.10" l, 3.80 pounds

Features

• Elmo actually speaks as his mouth opens and closes just like the real muppet, Elmo, from Sesame Street.
• He waves his arms, sits and stands, even crosses his legs.
• Tells stories and jokes, singing songs and playing games.
• Head bobbles back and forth as he speaks.
• Children can activate the magic with a tickle or a squeeze of Elmo’s foot, tummy, back or nose.

Amazon.com Review
Elmo fans will delight in Elmo Live! This latest version of everyone's favorite Sesame Street character has Elmo talking, singing, telling jokes, and a lot more. With an interactive style, Elmo Live! encourages creative play, and with his wide variety of actions, he can entertain a kids through different stages of their development, from 18 months onward.

What We Think Fun Factor: Durability: (what this means) The Good: Talking, moving Elmo doll provides interactive fun for kids of many ages The Bad: Speaking voice is sometimes difficult to understand In a Nutshell: Elmo Live! has more movements and actions than ever, making for even more realistic, interactive play for children of many ages. At a Glance Ages: 18 months and up Requires: 6 AA batteries, Phillips screwdriver

Elmo's always appreciates a hug. View Larger.

Interactive gestures bring Elmo to life. View larger.

Moving, Talking, Dancing Elmo!
Elmo Live! features the furry, bright-red exterior and the big eyes characteristic of the popular Sesame Street character. He features complex actions that give him a life-like quality: His mouth and head move while he talks, sings, and tells stories; he gestures with his arms, and he moves his legs. He even crosses his legs when he sits on the included stool.

We found him very easy to play with -- just press his buttons to get him going. Press Elmo's foot and he will sit down on his stool to tell you a story. He even gestures to act out parts of his stories! Squeeze his nose, and he'll make a variety of silly sounds; he'll even ask you if you "have his nose" and ask you to give it back to him. Squeeze his hand, and he'll dance. Elmo even blows kisses, asks for hugs, and says he loves you. He tells jokes, acts ticklish, and more.

When he's laid on his back, or if your child doesn't play with him for a while, Elmo will go into a battery-save mode. He'll yawn, say he's tired, and shut down. Just press one of his buttons to get him going again.

Interactive Fun for Kids of Many Ages
We particularly enjoyed that, unlike some other "talking" toys, Elmo Live! doesn't just spout programmed phrases. Instead, he asks for interaction, and he responds as if your child is responding to him. For example, when he will ask for a hug and then say "thank you" as if he's received one, or he'll say he's ticklish and then will "respond" as if your child is tickling him. This makes an almost magical experience for your child, as if her toy is really coming to life.

The wide variety of things that Elmo Live! can do makes him a great toy to grow with your child. Younger children can engage in cause-and-effect play by simply pressing Elmo's buttons to see what he does. Our two-year-old tester was especially delighted with the silly sounds Elmo makes when his nose is squeezed. Understandably, her attention meandered during the somewhat lengthy stories. However, an older child will have the attention span and comprehension skills to appreciate them, as well as the silly jokes that Elmo tells.

Tips on Playing with Elmo! Live
Elmo makes lots of fun movements and gestures -- the only slight drawback is that his movements generate a somewhat loud, mechanical sound that sometimes interferes with being able to understand what Elmo is saying. He also has to be on a hard, flat surface -- otherwise he has a tendency to fall over. This in itself has a fun effect, however. When he falls over, Elmo asks you to help him back up again, and when he's put back upright, he'll say "thank you." Also, since his nose has to be squeezed with a bit of force to activate him, our two-year-old tester sometimes needed assistance with it.

Elmo Live! comes with 6 AA batteries. A Phillips screwdriver is required to replace them.

What's in the Box
Elmo Live! doll, with 6 AA batteries included

From the Manufacturer
In this truly life-like creation, for the first time ever, Elmo seems to actually be speaking as his mouth opens and closes just like the real muppet, Elmo, from Sesame Street. His mannerisms are right on target as his head bobbles back and forth as he speaks. He waves his arms, sits and stands, even crosses his legs all the while telling stories and jokes, singing songs and playing games. Children can activate the magic with a tickle or a squeeze of Elmo’s foot, tummy, back or nose.

Customer Reviews

He's Cute, Funny, and Animated!
Watch Video Here: http://www.amazon.com/review/RDTHY14RSOMYW Elmo Live will capture your child's imagination with his trademark infectious happiness. He waves his arms, dances, sits on his stool, tells jokes and stories, shows your child how much he loves him/her, laughs, sneezes -- everything you would expect an animated Elmo to do. Other than some mechanical grinding as he moves, Elmo is all cute. This little guy is a blast!

-- Debbie Lee Wesselmann

Thoughtfully & intelligently designed. Still much room for improvement.
After one week - - here is my review

Pros:
1. Well designed toy, but leaves more to be desired.
2. He sings, tells jokes, dances, has animated & fluid, aka lifelike, mannerisms.
3. Recognizes when he has fallen over and politely asks for help. The sneeze sequence is hilarious.
4. He does a lot of things that really personify the toy, i.e. thanks you if you help him up, goes bonkers if you squeeze his nose, laughs, yawns, asks you to dance with him, etc. To a 2-4 year-old, Elmo does indeed comes alive.

Cons:
1. The servo noise can be distracting, most of the time.
2. The red terry cloth / skin is way too thin and fragile.
3. It would be nice if Elmo is cushier and has another programing sequence when lying down so that children can go take him to bed with them.
4. It would be nice if Elmo is expandable, in the sense that you can add more programs via Bluetooth / USB / cartridge expansion. Otherwise, Elmo will become boring real fast.

Elmo Live is an innovative and engaging toy for children between 2-4 years of age. He is worth the MSRP, compared to other toys, but NOT MORE. If it wasn't for the economy, Elmo Live would likely be all over the news and the hottest toy of the holiday season.

AMAZING and GROUNDBREAKING fun for ALL!!!
I was lucky to grab the last Elmo today locally and my three kids, a 2 year old, 5 year old, and a 7 year old, have been playing with Elmo ever since. They absolutely love it. The neighbors and other family members have been over to see Elmo go. He does sooooo many things, tells stories does dances, plays games, and other quirky fun things. It is so life-like it keeps the kids and adults amazed. My sister has struck out at many stores today and has been told it will be very hard to find this christmas. So if you find one, grab it, as these are definitely THE hit toy this year.