Social media activations, new products and an app honor the day the classic toy was first sold.

NORTH AMERICA- Spin Master celebrated the 57th anniversary of the drawing toy on Etch A Sketch Day Wednesday with two new products and a series of fan activations.

Spin Master acquired the Etch A Sketch brand in 2016 and honored the day the first Etch A Sketch was sold by setting a brand new Guinness World Record for Most People Drawing on an Etch A Sketch Globally at the Same Time. This year, to celebrate Etch A Sketch Day, Spin Master encouraged fans to upload a video of themselves shaking the toy with the hashtag #ShakeYourEtch. Each video counted as a shake on the global shake counter hosted on EtchASketch.com. Fans also celebrated in New York City’s Time Square, where The Amazing Etch Man, Christoph Brown, one of the world’s leading Etch A Sketch artists, showcased his artistic abilities. 

Spin Master has also unveiled two new spins on the classic toy–the Etch A Sketch Freestyle and Etch A Sketch Joystick. The Freestyle includes an easy-to-grip stylus and double-sided stampers, while the Etch A Sketch Joystick upholds replaces the classic stylus with a joystick that swivels 360 degrees, ideal for younger artists. The Freestyle is available now, and the Joystick will launch this fall.

Spin Master has also launched a free app, “Etch A Sketch It!,” that allows users to upload photos that can be transformed into a retro Etch A Sketch line drawing. “Etch A Sketch It!” is now available in the Apple App Store and Google Play store.

“We’re proud to celebrate Etch A Sketch Day on July 12 as this classic brand has been a household name for more than 50 years and continues to inspire imagination,” says Ben Gadbois, Global President and COO, Spin Master. “Etch A Sketch is a cross-generational, timeless toy that is very relevant today even without connectivity. There is a sense of accomplishment that comes with mastering your drawing, and we continue to encourage creativity and artistic expression through our new launches.”