Nostalgia is a very powerful thing ?It takes us back to the past and makes us remember the good old times when everything seemed better. An inseparable part of those times were cool cartoons that we would rush home to watch after the last lesson. Among them was "Merrie Melodies," better known as Looney Tunes. The hero of this cartoon series is the Tasmanian Devil named Taz, who became the inspiration for one of the rarest Polaroid cameras.
The character himself is one of the main heroes of Looney Tunes, first appearing on screen back in 1954 and was warmly received by the public. Why exactly he was chosen for the collaboration, and not, for example, the more famous Bugs Bunny or Tweety, is not known. However, the camera that came out as a result is truly unique.
Detailed Information About The Camera
The camera, released in 1999 in honor of the cult hero, was a limited edition and was called Polaroid 600 Taz Edition, but it is commonly referred to as Taz Cam. This is the strangest and most fun Polaroid camera ever released, turning the rather dull Polaroid 636 camera into Taz's head with teeth and tongue inside.
In its folded state, the camera replicates the cartoon character’s head, with extended corners that form Taz’s fluffy cheeks. The viewfinder is covered with red rubber, resonating with the color of the Looney Tunes logo. By the way, the shutter button is also non-standard, much larger than other Polaroid cameras and shaped like the franchise's logo. When opened, the camera transforms into a beast’s mouth with teeth and a tongue.
Limited Edition Cartridge
Along with the camera, a limited edition cartridge was released, featuring frames with Bugs Bunny, Tweety, and Taz himself. Interestingly, the limited edition frame is located inside the photo, meaning it does not replace the white frame, which greatly reduces the image size since part of it is occupied by the frame.
Unfortunately, there are almost no examples of photos online, but we managed to find a few:
Conclusions
However, all the creativity went into the design, and the functionality of the Polaroid camera is quite limited. Essentially, it is a stripped-down version of the Polaroid 636 Close Up , as the Taz Cam does not have a portrait mode and is a camera with a fixed focal distance without the ability to change it.
Despite its flaws, this camera remains one of the most sought-after among collectors, primarily because of its unique design, but its price tag is accordingly high.
