Nunzilla - Wind Up Sparking Nun
March 13, 2013
Remembering Nunzilla
This item has been discontinued and is no longer for sale. If you have a great memory of it or would like us to bring it back, leave a comment on this post and let us know.
Through the eyes of a child, a sweet, caring nun teaching a grammar school class can appear to be an imposing black cloaked disciplinarian with the power to doom you to hell. Nunzilla is that fear in plastic. Intended as humorous nostalgia for people who were raised Catholic, it was denounced as anti-Catholic, but it was also a popular gift for nuns.
Original description
Say your prayers! No one is safe from the wrath of Nunzilla! This fire-breathing wind-up sister trudges straight out of a Catholic-school student's nightmare like a determined disciplinary force, with green eyes blazing and sparks flying from her mouth. Wearing the traditional black and white habit and carrying a Bible in one hand and a ruler in the other, this holy terror will have you owning up to transgressions from as far back as birth. 2" tall and made of hard plastic, packaged in a custom cathedral-style box.
Denounced By the Catholic League
From the Catholic League's 1997 Report on Anti-Catholicism: Archie McPhee, which bills itself as "Oufitters of Popular Culture," included in its "Collectors Edition Catalog" a number of items which caricatured Catholic nuns, some quite offensively. For example, there was a windup doll, "Nunzilla," billed as "Terrifying, but in a good way." "Say your prayers," the ad instructs. "No one is safe from the wrath of Nunzilla. This windup sparking sister trudges straight out of a Catholic school students nightmares like a determined disciplinary force, with green eyes ablaze and sparks flying from her mouth. Wearing the traditional black and white habit with a yellow cross and clutching a Bible in one hand and a ruler in the other, this holy terror will have you owning up to transgressions from as far back as birth."
Tess Donohoe sent us a picture of her awesome Nunzilla tattoo. The tattoo is by Lisa Murphy and colored by Janine Ashton. Tess tells us that she's Irish and went to convent school which means that she has had actual encounters with Nunzillas
18 comments
I’m writing again, please, please, please, bring back “Nunzilla” she is great for recovering Catholics.
Bring back Nunzilla ASAP please! The younger generation needs her as much as we did.
I attended 6 different Catholic schools, 3 of them Girls schools, and graduated from a convent high school. There were nuns from 6 different orders of Catholic nuns – and real life Nunzillas in each order, each school!
Bring back Nunzilla- I’ll buy at least a dozen!
Thank you.
I work at a Catholic university as a senior administrator and proudly display my Nunzilla along with my boxing nun and glow-in-the-dark Virgin Mary. I wish I could give all my coworkers Nunzillas.
IN MEMORIUM OF “MOTHER IGNATIOUS” WHO IN THE 1960S MADE COUNTLESS CHILDREN PEE THEIR PANTS AND SOLD US BACK THE CANDY SHE CONFISCATED FROM US, PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE BRING NUNZILLA BACK. MINE ARE ALL BROKEN.
THANK YOU
Please bring Nunzilla back. We would order at least 10. Our Nunzilla got overwound and her sparks wore out.
I went to parochial school for eight years. Nunzilla is frighteningly realistic; gives me chills. I have one but she doesn’t spark anymore. I must have another one to remind me of that somewhat unpleasant time in my life.
My five year old granddaughter wanted me to get another one of these since mine doesn’t spark anymore. I’m sad it’s not available.
We loved Nunzilla but she got overwound do please bring her back !!!
AFTER ATTENDING A PAROCHIAL school and taught by NUNS, SOMEONE PUT ONE OF THESE ON OUR TABLE AT A CLASS REUNION. IT WAS A HIT. NOW OTHERS ARE LOOKING FOR “NUN ZILLA”.
bring back nunzilla!
My Dad’s nunzilla broke because he wound it up too much, and he would very much like another one. If you could create more before Father’s Day, it would make a great gift!
i would love to sell these at my store in jerome we have lots of archie Mcphee products and this would be an awesome addition and would sell very well in the store!
Mine broke and I absolutely want to replace it. Please bring it back. I want to buy as gifts for friends. All of my recovering catholic friends.
Gave these to my Catholic school girl daughters. Was hoping to relive those laughs by doing it again now that they are adults. Would love it if they came back!
No more Nunzillas? Blasphemy!
Would like to purchase couple dozen for my sons class reunion
I’m looking to purchase about a dozen of these toys as gifts for The Sound of Music nuns in our local production. Can’t find them anywhere. Please help