Dan Klitsner, inventor of the Bop It, with the original Bop It and its Concept Model Close to three decades ago, industrial designer and toy inventor Dan Klitsner came up with what he called the Channel Bopper, an electronic toy remote control shaped like a hammer that allowed kids to control their TV using different actions. To change the channel, they needed to ‘bop’ the hammer on the table, and the volume could be adjusted by twisting a knob and the TV switched on or off by pulling a handle. Dan thought it was an amazing idea, as it engaged children and required them to use more than their thumbs to play. He excitedly pitched it to toy manufacturers but, to his surprise, the idea was rejected. Not to be disheartened, Dan took the feedback he received and went back to the drawing board. After a long and detailed refining process, the resulting toy was very different but still retained the original’s DNA, which is physical interaction with a digital experience. This birthed the Bop It, which is one of the most iconic electronic toys ever, selling more than 40 million units worldwide and becoming a fond childhood memory for many Millennials and Gen Zers. First released in 1996, the Bop It challenges players via voice commands to complete different actions within a time limit or along a beat. The first three actions were hitting a button to “Bop It!” twisting a lever to “Twist It!” and pulling a handle to “Pull It!.” Over the following years, Bop It spawned more than 30 sequels, many of which added new game modes and other actions such as “Flick It!” “Spin It!” and “Shout It!” “My initial idea was to create a game that allowed kids to control a TV, but it became a game that controls its players,” Dan says. “It began with doing something physical to control something digital. But, now, it’s a digital voice making players do something physical. The refinement process taught me not to get stuck on my ideas and that sometimes flipping something upside down results in a better idea.” Since 1996, millions of players worldwide have exercised their concentration and reaction time using Bop It, leading to countless hilarious moments when they fail, made even better by the toy’s funny and snarky voice that rubs on the players. The Emergence of ‘Bop Culture’ The 1990s and early 2000s were a special time—electronic toys were becoming popular, combining technology with old-fashioned play. The internet wasn’t as widespread as it is today, and video gaming was in its childhood stage, with many huge franchises only beginning to take off. Many children would bring their toys to school, the playground, and sleepovers. Due to its interactivity and potential for humor, Bop It became an instant hit and became an integral part of many Millennial and Gen Z childhoods. It also made its mark in pop culture, being parodied in famous shows such as The Simpsons and Saturday Night Live. But one of the craziest aspects of the phenomenon is the sheer number of songs, mostly in the hip-hop and EDM genres, centered on or referencing Bop It, with the artists having fond memories of playing with the toy in their youth. According to Dan, Bop It has such a wide and long-lasting impact that he came up with a name for it: Bop Culture. “Bop It has made it to some of the most popular TV shows, and so many songs have been made about it,” Dan says. “When I was inventing this toy almost 30 years ago, I never imagined that it would become so big that people who weren’t even born then are now making songs about it. I’ve never stopped asking myself ‘why?’.” To this day, Bop Culture has remained strong, fuelled by nostalgia, which plays a huge role in the Internet Age. All over the world, internet users frequently reminisce about the fads and trends of the past, with these shared experiences being the last vestiges of the monoculture, where people watched the same shows on TV, listened to the same music, and played the same games. This is something that has been lost today, with technology providing near-infinite entertainment options that allow people to create their own highly curated spaces isolated from the mainstream. Social media has furthered the spread of Bop Culture, keeping it fresh in people’s minds. Sites such as TikTok have numerous videos of people dancing to Bop It-inspired songs, and there have even been trends where people would play with their pets or babies similar to a Bop It, often with the iconic voice commands in the background. This exposes the new generation to Bop It, which their parents played in their youth. Dan says that when he was first developing Bop It, he never expected his invention to have such a huge and lasting impact. Today, he harnesses that recognition for the brand into something profound, with him and his wife, Alicia, founding the Bop It For Good campaign that supports the San Francisco LightHouse For The Blind and Visually Impaired. With Bop It being mostly played using sound and touch, it is one of the few games both visually impaired and sighted children can play together, creating connections between the two groups. Dan Klitsner “I am so overwhelmed with gratitude that I had inadvertently created something that gave people so much joy and helped them connect with each other,” Dan says. “I believe the idea for Bop It picked me because it combines my passions for music, industrial design, and humor. I often wonder why Bop Culture has stuck around and brings so much nostalgia to people. I think everyone who has played Bop It has a fond memory that they’ve associated with the toy. These memories are so unique and varied that it’s impossible to pinpoint an exact universal reason for the Bop Culture phenomenon. Why does the love for Bop It continue to grow in so many ways? That’s something I ask myself every day.” According to Dan, watching this phenomenon grow brings him immense joy. But, leading up to Bop It’s 30th anniversary, he says, “Strap in! The future of Bop Culture is bright and about to unleash another 30 years of fun, laughter, and unexpected surprises.” The post Bop Culture: Dan Klitsner’s Iconic Invention ‘Bop It’ Remains Impactful Almost 30 Years Since Launch appeared first on LA Weekly.