Ken Forsse | Teddy Ruxpin creator, 77

Ken Forsse, 77, who created the plush moving bear Teddy Ruxpin and influenced toy robotics for years to come, died March 19 at his home in Laguna Woods, Calif. The cause was congestive heart failure, said his wife, Jan Forsse.

Two decades before smartphones and tablets absorbed Americans with virtual social interaction, Teddy Ruxpin arrived in 1985 as a portable, huggable pal that warbled songs such as "My Friend" and "Come Dream With Me."

The toy, which moved in sync with the stories and songs on cassette tapes played in its back, became a hit of the holiday season. It generated $93 million in sales in its first year, spurred an animated TV series, and triggered a flurry of animatronic imitators before the phenomenon ran its course.

Mr. Forsse, who was devoted to children's entertainment and education, spent much of his early career at Walt Disney Co. He became an animator and model builder who specialized in the figures that move to music at Disney theme park rides. He grew adept at the mechanics and technology behind the ride characters, and he worked with puppeteers and television producers Sid and Marty Krofft. Inspired by his time with Disney and the Kroffts, he and a four-person team of technical engineers and costume designers worked on what became Teddy Ruxpin.

Mr. Forsse helped develop a technology that used audiotape to control functions for movement and sound. Signals encoded on the audiotape caused voltage changes that made the motors inside the toy move.

In 2005, the bear was rereleased for its 20th anniversary. The new version came with three books and used digital song cartridges instead of analog cassettes. - Washington Post