Selects: The Strange Story of Sea Monkeys

Sea monkeys have captivated children and adults alike as a unique "instant pet" since their inception. Developed through a special crossbreeding program, these tiny creatures have an interesting backstory that combines scientific innovation with clever marketing.

The creation and ingenuity behind sea monkeys

Harold von Braunhut, in collaboration with a micro crustacean expert named DeGostino, recognized the need for a hardier species of brine shrimp if they were to be successful as a novelty pet. The original species proved too fragile for the shipping process. Through genetic engineering, von Braunhut and DeGostino were able to create a resilient hybrid capable of enduring the mail-order supply chain and being resurrected from a suspended state when added to water.

Marketing sea monkeys as trainable pets with personality

The sea monkeys were made even more appealing to the public through the creation of an elaborate and imaginative backstory. The original 32-page booklet written by Harold von Braunhut went beyond mere instructions, adding whimsical tales of how sea monkeys could be hypnotized or trained to engage in various activities like playing baseball or racing. The fantastical representation of sea monkeys as sentient beings with elaborate social behaviors was a stretch from the reality of them being simple brine shrimp hybrids, but it captured the imagination of consumers.

The product's branding efforts were further bolstered by the iconic illustrations created by Joe Orlando, famous for his work with Mad Magazine, Creepy Magazine, and several DC Comics lines. His humanoid representations of the sea monkey family remained consistent in comic book ...

The inventor of sea monkeys, Harold von Braunhut, was revealed to have long-standing ties to white nationalist and Aryan supremacist groups, creating public outrage and leading to varied responses within the industry.

Harold von Braunhut, the inventor of sea monkeys, was revealed to have long-standing ties to white nationalist and Aryan supremacist groups, despite being born Jewish.

Chuck Bryant and Josh Clark uncover the disconcerting association between Harold von Braunhut and extremist groups. Von Braunhut was identified as a contributor to the Aryan Nations and was involved with some of the most extreme racist and anti-Semitic organizations. Despite his Jewish heritage, von Braunhut made derogatory remarks about various racial and ethnic groups and denied accusations of involvement when confronted, without giving explanations.

Von Braunhut regularly contributed funds and spoke at events for the Aryan Nations, a notorious white hate group, and was even involved in providing weapons to a Klan leader.

What further exposed von Braunhut's associations were his regular attendance and participation in Aryan Nations rallies, including cross-lighting ceremonies and speaking at their conferences. Although his talks were not well-received because of their off-topic nature, his presence and involvement were well-documented. A reformed former spokesman for the Aryan Nation confirmed von Braunhut's financial generosity to the group. Additionally, newsletters for an organization known to be related to von Braunhut shared a P.O. box address with the sea monkeys business.

Von Braunhut also created a product called the Koyoga agent M5, with proceeds going to aid the Aryan Nations leader, indicating a transaction-based support for the group. Furthermore, Von Braunhut loaned funds to a Klan member for the purchase of firearms, taking possession of these guns himself until the loan was repaid.

Von Braunhut's controversial and racist associations were exposed in a 1988 Washington Post article, which also revealed his Jewish heritage, causing outrage and backlash from both white supremacists and the Jewish community.

The Washington Post article from 1988 triggered backlash against von Braunhut from multiple communities upon revealing his ties to white supremacist groups and Jewish heritage. Even his ex-wife expressed surprise upon hearing about his affiliations, suggesting that von Braunhut could have hidden this aspect of his life from his family. Despite this, his wealth seemingly allowed him to retain an association with the Aryan Nations, a group that generally does not accept Jewish members.

Despite the revelat ...

The sea monkeys brand, a popular novelty pet created in the 1960s, has been the subject of continuing legal and financial dispute since the death of its inventor, Harold von Braunhut, in 2003.

After Von Braunhut's death in 2003, his widow, Yolanda Signorelli von Braunhut, became embroiled in a protracted legal battle with the current sea monkeys licensee, Big Time Toys, over the rights and ownership of the brand.

Yolanda alleges that after her late husband's death, Big Time Toys improperly seized control over the Sea Monkeys brand and proprietary formula. According to her, there had been a licensing deal in place with Big Time Toys, which was meant to handle packaging and distribution while her company would produce the actual Sea Monkeys. Yolanda claims that Big Time Toys' payments were part of a layaway plan towards purchasing the Sea Monkeys brand, which totaled ten million dollars, split between an upfront payment and installments. However, when payments ceased, she also stopped selling Sea Monkeys to Big Time Toys.

Big Time Toys, on the other hand, contends that they paid the necessary fees to obtain full ownership of the Sea Monkeys and that Yolanda is attempting to retain control over the brand illegally.

The legal dispute has left Yolanda in dire financial straits, with her Potomac River estate in Maryland falling into disrepair as she struggles to maintain ownership of the sea monkeys formula and production.

Further complicating this legal tangle is the accusation that Big Time Toys has been substituting the original, specially-bred Sea Monkeys with unauthorized, substandard knockoffs from China. In ...