TikToker ‘SylvanianDrama’ sued by Calico Critters for “damaging” brand with dramatic videos

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The creator of SylvanianDrama, known for producing soap opera-style content featuring Calico Critters on TikTok, is facing a lawsuit from the manufacturer of these toys due to allegations of harming their brand image.

These tiny, plush characters, called Calico Critters in North America and Sylvanian Families elsewhere around the world, depict adorable, animal-themed figures such as cats, rabbits, and bears. They come equipped with captivating accessories and wardrobes.

Over the past few years, there has been a significant increase in their fame, starting from when they were initially launched in Japan in the 1980s. However, one TikTok account is further increasing their reputation beyond anything seen before – albeit not for reasons that would be suitable for all audiences.

Calico Critters parent company sues TikToker for spicy dramas

‘Sylvanian Drama’ is a TikTok profile boasting more than 2.5 million fans, where toy characters from the well-known Calico Critters series are used to create amusing, soap-opera style dramas.

In the year 2021, they released their debut video featuring a scenario where a husband bear was discovered being unfaithful, while his koala spouse had planned a surprise birthday celebration for him. Unfortunately, the husband bear met an untimely end due to an unexpected bee attack.

Over the past four years, the narratives in these videos have grown increasingly exaggerated, capturing millions of views with viewers eager to catch the latest juicy news from the Calico Critters universe. However, the organization responsible for the toy line seems noticeably less enthused.

In April 2025, Epoch Co., Ltd., the Japanese parent company of Calico Critters, took legal action against the Sylvanian Drama TikTok account. They claimed that the account owner was damaging the toy brand’s positive image and standing in the market.

The legal action alleges that a TikTok user has been producing, sharing, and broadcasting promotional videos featuring Calico Critters without proper authorization. A meeting between the involved parties is scheduled in court on August 14, 2025.

Commenters are extremely upset on her behalf, with one writing on her recent video: “I’M FURIOUS AT EPOCH! WHAT GALL OF THEM TO SUE YOU! I’m so enraged by them. They’ve exploited the success you’ve earned for them and now they’re attacking you. This is more than repugnant.

Instead of saying ‘I’ll donate to a GoFundMe for the lawsuit,’ consider using, ‘I’m contributing to a crowdfunding campaign for this legal case.’ And regarding your second suggestion, it could be rephrased as, ‘You’ve essentially been their unpaid marketing team by making these toys popular. It might be fair if they compensate you for the free publicity.’

In January 2021, the TikTok account for Sylvanian Drama was established by Irish content creator Thea Von Engelbrechten. She admits that she began producing her dramatic video content as a means to alleviate boredom.

Since that time, Engelbrechten has successfully expanded the account to unprecedented popularity levels and also landed partnerships with brands such as Netflix, Sephora, Taco Bell, and others.

Since early 2025, she hasn’t shared any content on her Sylvanian Drama TikTok account and hasn’t provided any comments about the ongoing lawsuit. Yet, during an interview in 2024, she expressed interest in collaborating with Epoch, but asserted that no such collaboration has transpired as of yet.

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2025-07-17 23:48