You’ve likely noticed that I often share pictures and even store ads of weird toys on my social media accounts. You might ask yourself, “What in the world is she talking about?” Well, those toys are called solar figurines, and I collect them. You’ll see a bunch of them if you follow me at all, so I’ll explain some things about them to you.
Defining “Solar Figurine”
Solar figurines are plastic figurines that you sit on your car’s dashboard. They come in a wide range of characters for different occasions or holidays. The solar panels on their bases capture sunlight, which allows part of the figurine (head, eyes, limbs, etc.) to move. You can buy them at Dollar Tree, Dollar General, Family Dollar, Aldi, Roses, and Publix for about $1. Amazon sells them for around $5 plus S&H.
Solar figurines go by many names. “Solar dancer” is the most common term I see on the packaging. Appropriate. The figurines do look like they’re dancing when they get a good dose of light. As I write this, my little Halloween mummy is definitely bouncing to my K-Pop Spotify station. Most figurines fall into this category.
“Solar flutterer” is another term that describes a rare type of figurine. Solar flutterers depict a scene or theme within a dome (like snow globes without the liquid). A miniature character, which has a magnet built into its underside, is suspended from the top of the dome by a wire and dangles directly above a second magnet. When light hits the solar panel, the character rapidly shakes over the second magnet. It flutters. I only own three solar flutterers: a Christmas scene, a princess castle, and a fish tank.
I initially called the figurines “solar bobbleheads” because they bounce like regular bobbleheads. I stopped calling them that when I realized that “bobblehead” inadequately expresses the range of the solar figurines’ movements. I settled on the comprehensive term “solar figurines.”
Amassing My Collection
My solar figurine obsession began when I spotted a plastic flower in the window of a neighbor’s car, happily flapping its green leaves in the sunlight. Cool. Fascinating. Adorable. I had to have one.
Over time, solar-powered flowers popped up everywhere. I was going crazy trying to figure out where people were getting them. (No, it never occurred to me to just ask someone.) The search finally ended when my mom found the solar figurines at a dollar store and bought me one.
My first figurine was a sunflower in an orange flower pot that flapped its leaves and swayed its head from side to side. Unlike my neighbors, I refused to put the figurine in the car where the blazing Florida sun would cook it to death. I put it on top of my bedroom TV, where I could watch it dance in the lamp light all day.
My collection grew quickly after that. I got a daisy in a pink flower pot with bees on its leaves, a flamingo, and a Hula girl. Then I got into a festive mood with holiday figurines ranging from Valentine’s Day to Christmas. The next thing I knew, I owned 44 solar figurines. I was also out of space around my TV.
Yes, I do have a favorite solar figurine: the bear on the tire swing (aka “Swinging Bear”). Not only is the bear cute and fun to play with, but it reminds me of Winnie the Pooh. I’m also fond of my dragon and fox figurines.
Exploring the Love
Solar figurines make me happy. As I once said on Facebook, I dare anyone to look at one of the flowers in full bounce without smiling.
I’m always on the lookout for new types of solar figurines. Every time I think I’ve seen the coolest and cutest figurines, my mom or aunts find a new one that tops them all. My family is amazing at picking figurines they know I will like. For instance, one of my aunts bought me a panda wearing glasses because I love pandas and I wear glasses. Perfect!
Collecting solar figurines is like having a treasure hunt. Orlando is a huge city. If you see a figurine you like and don’t immediately buy it, you’ll probably never see it again. Every store, even stores of the same chain, carry different stock. I have no problem accepting a slightly broken figurine if it’s the last one on the shelf. Yes, it’s that important.
Certain solar figurines are specifically meant to be collected. I have a flower and a circus monkey that have grooves on their bases. They’re puzzle pieces. The idea is to collect the whole series and snap them together.
There are a few holes in my collection. I don’t have anything for St. Patrick’s Day, the Fourth of July, or New Year’s. I’m missing a ghost, witch, and vampire for Halloween. I’m not even sure if those figurines exist. I’m also a big fan of buying variations of ones I already own. I have my eye on a flamingo like mine except that he’s wearing shorts and sunglasses.
Yes, it’s that important.