Bensussen Deutsch & Associates

Bensussen Deutsch & Associates
Full name	Bensussen Deutsch & Associates
Founded	1984

Shigeru Miyamoto posed with various BD&A plushies

Bensusseen Deutsch & Associates (abbr. BD&A, trademarked under Toysite) is a global merchandising agency that produces and distributes branded merchandise for sports agencies and entertainment properties. In the 1990s through early 2000s it has collaborated with Nintendo by designing and distributing merchandise of characters featured from various Nintendo 64 games including from Super Mario, The Legend of Zelda, Banjo & Kazooie, Gex, and other properties, including plushies, action figures, and bobbleheads. Their most recognizable products are from the line called "Nintendo 64 Officially Licensed Nintendo Collectables Beanbag Characters", which are similar to Beanie Babies in their size, weight, materials used, and stuffing techniques. Most plushies feature stuffed heads and limbs while their bodies are filled with polyester weight pellets to help them sit.

BD&A products are mostly acquired through ordering from catalogues from Nintendo Power that were periodically mailed through subscribers. Their plush keychains, however, can be found at retail, but are often not found at places that are expected to sell plush keychains. Due to their limited run and exclusive means of acquiring them, most of their Nintendo products are available through second-hand markets, with some, especially Black Yoshi, become rare and expensive.

Products

Nintendo 64 Officially Licensed Nintendo Collectables Beanbag Characters

Name	Image	Year	Height	Additional comments
Wing Mario		1997	6 in	Part of the initial BD&A plush releases, making this initially the only Mario plush from BD&A. Features printed eyes and logo, with mustache being colored on the face rather rather than ironed on. A very similar, rare version from 2001 by GiftCo is slightly larger, has ironed on sideburns and mustache. Similar to the 1996 Banpresto Wing Mario plush, possibly a design source.
Wing Mario keychain		1997	4 in	Similar design to the standard 6 in Wing Cap Mario. Keychain plush may be found in retailers in addition from ordering off a Nintendo Power catalogue.
Big Ol' Mario		1997	36 in	Exceptionally rare plush that retails for at least several hundred dollars Difficult to pose due to its large size and heavy materials. Unlike Wing Cap Mario, the mustache is felt rather than printed, similar to BD&A's Luigi. Design of the toy is reused for the 2002 Super Mario Sunshine BD&A plush.
Mario (Toysite)		1999(?)	6 in(?)	Unlike Wing Cap Mario, the mustache is felt rather than printed, similar to BD&A's Luigi. Far less common in second-hand stores compared to Wing Cap Mario. Design of the toy is reused for the 2002 Super Mario Sunshine BD&A plush.
Mario with FLUDD		2002	6 in(?)	Super Mario Sunshine promotion. Reuses the Toysite variant of Mario, except with short sleeves. One of the last Mario products distributed by BD&A.
Luigi		1997	6 in	One variant of Luigi. Has printed on mouth, eyebrows, and outlined eyes.
Luigi		1997	6 in	One variant of Luigi. Has outlined eyes.
Luigi		1997	6 in	One variant of Luigi. Similar to the 1999(?) Toysite Mario having no mouth and a felt mustache. Lacks eye outlines compared to other Luigis.
Luigi keychain		1997	4 in	Uses design without the eye outlines and mouth.
Yoshi		1997	6 in	Uses Yoshi's older design prior to Yoshi's Story, with a long tail, short arms, flat saddle, and four orange spines. White belly does not extend to the tail, so the tail is fully green. Eyes are separated by a black thread. Eyes are made of a stiff material to keep shape.
Yoshi		1997	6 in	Red shoe variant
Black Yoshi		1997	6 in	One of the most difficult BD&A plushies to acquire. Obtaining it required a customer to purchase Yoshi's Story at Toys "R" Us from March 12, 1998 through April 12, 1998, fill a special mail voucher that came with the purchase, provide a valid receipt of the purchase, cut off the bar code from the Yoshi's Story packaging, and mail the contents. The customer may choose only one Black or White Yoshi. Then, the customer needs to wait at least 8 weeks for the order to arrive. The toy may fetch hundreds, if not over a thousand dollars in secondhand markets. The tag has a hint for Yoshi's Story: "Explore the first and last two stages of level 2 to find me". This references Bone Dragon Pit and Torrential Maze where the Giant Egg for Black Yoshi may be found.
White Yoshi		1997	6 in	One of the most difficult BD&A plushies to acquire. Obtaining it required a customer to purchase Yoshi's Story at Toys "R" Us from March 12, 1998 through April 12, 1998, fill a special mail voucher that came with the purchase, provide a valid receipt of the purchase, cut off the bar code from the Yoshi's Story packaging, and mail the contents. The customer may choose only one Black or White Yoshi. Then, the customer needs to wait at least 8 weeks for the order to arrive. The toy may fetch hundreds, if not over a thousand dollars in secondhand markets. The tag includes a hint for Yoshi's Story: "You may find me in the middle two stages of level 3". This references The Tall Tower and Poochy & Nippy where the Giant Egg for White Yoshi may be found.
Toad		1997	6 in	One variant of Toad. Has outlined mouth.
Toad		1997	6 in	One variant of Toad. Mouth is part of the fabric, and is not outlined. Mushroom spot sizes are inconsistent, with very small posts at the back and top of the head, reflecting the more varied spot sizes Toad had in some of his earlier designs.
Toad keychain		1997	4 in	Uses the variant without the mouth outline. Keychain plush may be found in retailers in addition from ordering off a Nintendo Power catalogue.
Bowser		1997	6 in	Lacks cuffs Bowser typically has. Similar to 1996 Banpresto Bowser plush, a possible design source.
Donkey Kong		1997	6 in	Tie contains a simple white printed on logo as opposed to the yellow logo Donkey Kong normally has.
Donkey Kong keychain		1997	4 in	Uses the design with the white logo on the tie. Keychain plush may be found in retailers in addition from ordering off a Nintendo Power catalogue.
Diddy Kong		1997	6 in	Shirt, separated from the body (may be removeable), has one yellow star printed on.
Wario		1997	6 in	Eyes, mouth, and cap emblem are printed on. Plush is in a sitting position.
Wario keychain		1997	4 in	Similar design to the standard 6 in Wario plush. Keychain plush may be found in retailers in addition from ordering off a Nintendo Power catalogue.

Talking Plushes

One alternate line of plushies, the Talking Plushies are large variants with voiceboxes, and they come in a box package. All are very rare and feature high prices on secondhand markets.

Name	Image	Year	Height	Additional comments
Mario		1998	12 in
Bowser		1998	12 in
Donkey Kong		1998	12 in
Yoshi		1998	12 in

Gallery

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  1997 BD&A collection
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  Toysite BD&A plushes being advertised
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  1998 ad for BD&A plushes
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  The 1998 Toys "R" Us preorder form that features the BD&A Black Yoshi and White Yoshi plushies.

External links

• Official website
• Retro Collectables – These BD&A Nintendo Plush Toys from 1997 Are Quite Valuable - a blog post detailing how these plushies are collected.