From the Toysit archive
Zizzle iZ: A Creature for Mixing Music
Alternative music mixer for loops and effects
On Amazon VTech Kidi Star DJ Mixer Pro (paid link)
Use the sound grid to remix built-in tracks, add a melody on the keyboard and record the mix for playback. VTech’s tabletop console puts the controls on a panel instead of on a character like iZ.
Three legs, expressive eyes and musical ears give iZ a character all its own. Mix a short soundtrack for an imaginary alien weather bulletin.
The play at a glance
A little creature with a mixing desk for a body
iZ looks like a visitor from a planet where music is made by twisting an ear and pressing a belly. Three legs support its rounded body, while two eyes and a springy-looking top appendage give it an alert, curious face. The original invitation places this musical character amid the excitement of a 2005 toy launch.
Choose a beat and give it a personality
In the manual’s PLAY mode, the belly selects a beat, the right ear changes the rhythm and the left ear changes the lead. The top flicker adds effects. These controls make the character’s shape part of the music-making: hands move around a face and body instead of across a conventional keyboard.
The manual also describes DJ mode, in which iZ supplies mixes, and WZIZ FM, a pretend radio mode. WZIZ is an imaginary station inside the toy. A separate wired connection lets an outside audio source play through iZ under the conditions in its guide.
Have an adult handle the four AA batteries and follow the model’s battery instructions. Begin with a comfortable low volume. For the activity, listen to one short choice at a time and decide what kind of scene it brings to mind.
Broadcast the alien weather bulletin
Draw three forecast cards: sunrise on a ringed planet, a comet passing overhead and evening at a spaceport. Give the planet a name that is fun to announce. The pictures can be as simple as a circle with rings, a streak across the sky and three landing pads.
Choose a beat for the sunrise card. Add a rhythm or lead and introduce the forecast in a made-up presenter’s voice: “Good morning, travelers. The rings are shining, and the first shuttle is on its way.” Pause the announcement so the musical scene has a moment of its own.
For the comet, change one musical choice and describe what changed in the sky. At the spaceport, let the presenter welcome the last arrivals of the evening. The sound associations are yours: the same lively beat might mean busy traffic to one player and twinkling stars to another.
Let a listener send a report
Ask a second player to invent a short message from elsewhere on the planet. Perhaps the clouds look like umbrellas or a moon has just appeared beside the rings. Pick a forecast card to accompany the report and give the correspondent a name.
Finish with the station’s closing phrase. Keep the drawings for another broadcast, changing the presenter or imagined weather. Without iZ, the same show can use quiet humming, spoken sound effects and a finger-tapped rhythm.
The historical record
Original Toysit coverage
The complete earlier coverage follows. Its product descriptions and broader claims remain part of the historical record; researched context and qualifications appear in Sources.
Animatronic poseable music character plays songs and responds to the rhythm and tracks of any music source
In 2004, iZ, the first animatronic toy DJ, made its debut at a special performance at Toys R Us Times Square. Appearing were pop music stars Lifehouse, Rihanna, and DJ-AM.
iZ was the first interactive music character with a unique versatility that allows him to create his own music and play the listeners favorite songs. iZ owners can use the included cable to plug in a cd player, iPod or any music source to listen to iZ play music his way.
iZ is a fusion of music and toy with a personality of his own. Twist and turn iZ's ears to create new combinations of rhythm and lead tracks.
Press his belly to change-up the beat. iZ's eyes bounce to the rhythm and lead and his horn glows in rainbow colors to the beat.
Create your own personal mix by picking a beat, rhythm and lead. iZ's belly controls seven beat tracks and his ears control seven rhythms and lead tracks. Control the tempo; speed up or slow down. Flick the flicker on his head to add a scratch to your tunes. iZ's eyes move independently to the rhythm and lead tracks.
Available in three different colors, the poseable music toy stands on any single leg.
The career of a DJ, or Disc Jockey, has evolved dramatically over the years, branching out from traditional roles in radio broadcasting to encompass various aspects of music culture, including club and festival performances, music production, and even entrepreneurship. Initially, DJs were primarily responsible for selecting and playing recorded music for radio audiences. With the advent of disco in the 1970s, the DJ's role transitioned into nightclubs, where blending tracks and keeping people dancing became the main focus. Technological advancements like turntables, mixers, and eventually digital software have expanded the DJ's toolkit, allowing for more complex musical arrangements and performances. In recent years, the rise of electronic dance music (EDM) has catapulted DJs into mainstream stardom, with top names like David Guetta, Calvin Harris, and Marshmello headlining major music festivals and producing hit records. Many DJs also venture into music production, releasing their tracks and collaborating with other artists, while others leverage their brand into merchandise, tutorials, and even record labels. In the digital age, the ability to reach a global audience through streaming platforms and social media has made the DJ career more accessible and diverse than ever, blending the roles of curator, performer, and producer into a multifaceted artistic endeavor.
Sources and editorial notes
The model 06004 manufacturer manual is hosted by Libble; cover and operating pages 3–6 were visually reviewed, with battery warnings on viewer page 7 read as text. Zizzle’s September 6, 2005 release supports a 2005 launch, rather than the retained 2004 debut sentence. The September 29 invitation does not establish Toysit attendance. The wired input is a historical headphone connection, not evidence of Bluetooth or present-device compatibility. The broader DJ essay remains historical commentary. The companion activity is an original Toysit suggestion. No physical toy testing was performed. Preserves choosing and combining sounds, with a grid, keyboard and turntable instead of iZ’s ear and belly controls.
- Zizzle: September 6, 2005 launch release — Manufacturer announcement reproduced by Toymania; chronology and musical controls.
- Zizzle iZ model 06004 operating manual — Manufacturer-authored manual on a third-party host; relevant controls, modes, connection and battery sections reviewed.
- Original Toysit coverage — Complete earlier text, raw SSI values and historical image preserved.
- VTech: black Kidi Star DJ Mixer Pro 80-591100 — Current named product reference, checked November 8, 2026.
Images and descriptions are retained as historical material. How Toysit covers toys.
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