ARTIST BIOS
FANCIFUL DEPICTIONS: The Art of Sea-Monkeys A substantial part of SEA-MONKEYS® success can be credited to the artists responsible for the fanciful depictions in the ads and on the packaging,...
The Wild and Wacky History of Sea-Monkeys®
Ever thought about keeping fish food as pets? Probably not, right? But one eccentric inventor did just that, and the world has been hooked ever since. Welcome to the zany world of Sea-Monkeys®, where the impossible becomes reality, and tiny shrimp become the stars of childhood wonder.
Meet the Creator
Imagine a guy who invented X-ray Spex®, Crazy Crabs®, and Invisible Goldfish®. Meet Harold von Braunhut, the mad genius born in 1926 in New York City. Starting as a young magician and inventor, Harold later worked on the first GPS system for NYC's subway. When he wasn't dabbling in his inventions, he raced motorcycles as the Green Hornet and managed a stunt diver (Henri LaMothe) and a mind reader (The Amazing Dunninger). But Harold's most legendary creation was, is, and always will be The Amazing Live Sea-Monkeys®.
The Birth of Sea-Monkeys®
One fateful day in 1957, Harold wandered into a pet store and saw vats of brine shrimp—tiny aquatic creatures usually fed to fish. With a spark of inspiration, he envisioned them as instant pets that could teach kids about nature's oddities. He began tinkering in his lab, and by 1960, he introduced these critters to the world as "Instant Life®."
Sea-Monkeys® seemed to magically spring to life. How? That’s a closely guarded secret involving osmosis, pH levels, and some top-secret chemicals. The original formula is still made in the USA and kept under lock and key.
Comic Book Stardom
Initially, Sea-Monkeys® didn’t resonate with retailers due to Whamo-O’s unsuccessful “Instant Fish” product. So Harold had a brainwave: advertise them in comic books and sell directly to kids. It worked like a charm! Kids everywhere were soon ordering Sea-Monkeys® by mail, eagerly awaiting their "instant pets."
From Tiny Shrimp to Fanciful Sea-Monkeys®
WHO IN THEIR RIGHT MIND COULD THINK OF FISH FOOD AS PETS?
Enticed by those ads in the back of comic books, generations of children from around the world have grown up nurturing, naming, and staring wide-eyed in fascination at the little creatures whose resemblance to monkeys does require a little imagination. It wasn't until Harold noticed the little shrimps' tails that he came up with the decade-spanning, iconic moniker. "I looked at these animals and they're the cutest things in the world and I noticed they have little monkey-like tails," Harold said in an interview. "Those are cute little sea monkeys.'...
X-Ray Spex®: A Six-Decade Journey of Novelty and Illusion
In 1963, a mail-order novelty item known as X-Ray Spex® was introduced, forever leaving its mark on the toy and novelty industry. Designed to create an optical illusion, these glasses claimed to offer the ability to see through objects, presenting a novel and playful concept. The brainchild of Harold von Braunhut, the inventor also renowned for Sea-Monkeys® (brine shrimp), X-Ray Spex® became a captivating addition to his repertoire.
Super Sea-Monkeys®
Despite early success, there was still a problem: Sea-Monkeys® didn’t live very long. Harold teamed up with marine biologist Anthony D’Agostino to create “SUPER” Sea-Monkeys® that were hardier, grew bigger, and lived longer. By 1986, these “new and improved” Sea-Monkeys® could live up to two years!
Still Making a Splash
Sea-Monkeys® have swum their way into millions of homes and pop culture. They went to space on the Space Expedition Explorer with astronaut John Glenn in 1998, starred in their own Saturday morning TV series, and made cameo appearances in shows like South Park and The Simpsons. Hobbyists and collectors even gather on social media to discuss all things Sea-Monkey®. Over the decades, these tiny pets have also found temporary homes in wristwatches, necklaces, and race tracks, continuing to spark imaginations everywhere.
A New Era
Sadly, Harold von Braunhut passed away in 2003, but his legacy lives on thanks to his wife, Yolanda Signorelli. Yolanda, a former model and actress, has been with Transcience Corp. since the late 1960s. She's not only kept the Sea-Monkeys® empire alive but also dedicated proceeds to a nature preserve on the Potomac River in Maryland. An ardent vegan and animal rights activist, Yolanda views Sea-Monkeys® as goodwill ambassadors for a better world.
The Legacy Continues
From their quirky origins to their lasting impact, Sea-Monkeys® have captivated generations. Thanks to Harold's wild imagination and Yolanda's dedication, these tiny creatures continue to bring joy and curiosity to kids and adults alike. So next time you see those little critters in a tank, remember: they're not just shrimp—they're AMAZING! The Amazing Live Sea-Monkeys®, the pets with a past as fascinating as their name!
NEWS
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Little Sea-Monkeys® Reach Global Proportions
Just as natural brine shrimp pools exist across the globe, so too do Sea-Monkey® pets. Although Sea-Monkeys® are an American-made product, they have been sold worldwide for decades. In the...
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SEA-MONKEYS® FUN FACTS
Every year on May 16, people celebrate these fascinating aquatic creatures on INTERNATIONAL SEA-MONKEYS® DAY. Sea-Monkeys® are BORN WITH A SINGLE EYE. As they mature, two additional eyes develop, and...
