Maracas, sometimes called rhumba shakers) are simple percussion instruments (idiophones), usually played in pairs, consisting of a dried calabash or gourd shell (cuia - 'kOO-ya') or coconut shell filled with seeds or dried beans. They may also be made of leather, wood, or plastic. Often one maraca is pitched high and the other is pitched low. Some have thought the instrument of prehistoric Moroccan origin, however there are in existence clay maracas used by the Mayan Indians of Mexico, 1500 years ago. The word maraca is thought to have come from the Tupi language of Brazil, where it is pronounced 'ma-ra-KAH'. They are known in Trinidad as shac-shacs[1]. Although a simple instrument, the method of playing the maracas is not obvious. The seeds must travel some distance before they hit the leather, wood, or plastic, so the player must anticipate the rhythm. Band leader Vincent Lopez hosted a radio program in the early 1950s called Shake the Maracas in which audience members competed for small prizes by playing the instrument with the orchestra. Maracas are heard in many forms of Latin music and are also used in pop and classical music. They are considered characteristic of the music of Cuba, Puerto Rico, Colombia, Venezuela, and Brazil. Maracas are often played at celebrations and special events. In rock and roll, they are probably most identified with Bo Diddley. Maracas are also very popular with children and are commonly included in the instruments of the rhythm band. - Wikipedia

Drossel von Flugel (her full name is much too long!) is a character from a series of short CGI episodes shown in Japan's Disney Channel. Audiences have been charmed by the whimsical nature of the episodes and the unique appearance of the main character, Drossel. Bandai's Chogokin Drossel is simply the best Drossel figure there is. The mostly metal construction gives the toy a robust quality, and the figure poses well. Those big, heavy feet also gives the figure great stability, which makes photography and posing the figure a joy. Despite having no nose and mouth, the Drossel figure can evoke almost any kind of personality from the poses you choose. It's certainly one of the most popular figures, and it's now almost impossible to find one at a reasonable price. In this set of photos, I decided to focus only on the pose featured on the cover of the product box. I felt it highlights the playful, care-free and sometimes wilful personality of the sassy little robot girl. Only the backgrounds are different.