Animal figurine manufacturer Sylvanian Families has initiated legal action against a popular TikTok account, @SylvanianDrama, which has garnered significant attention for its dramatic storytelling featuring the company’s toys. The lawsuit, filed in April 2025, asserts that the account’s content, which includes adult themes such as substance use and gang violence, could potentially harm the company’s reputation.
Details of the Lawsuit
The suit was brought forth by Epoch Co., Ltd., the Japanese company that has produced the Sylvanian Families line of anthropomorphized animal figures since its inception in 1985. The TikTok account, created in early 2021, boasts 2.5 million followers and is known for its engaging videos that pair the figurines with popular music and captioned dialogue.
Epoch alleges that Thea Von Engelbrechten, the creator behind @SylvanianDrama, has been “creating, publishing, and disseminating online advertising videos” without the required permissions. The company claims that the adult-oriented content might cause “irreparable injury” to its brand image. Notably, the account has not posted any new content since January 2025.
Among the most viewed videos is a narrative about a recently graduated mole who struggles with alcoholism and, after being cut off by her family, joins a gang. This video has attracted over 8.2 million views.
Public Reaction and Settlement Conversations
As the lawsuit has attracted widespread attention on TikTok, many users have rallied in support of Von Engelbrechten. One TikTok user, @junk_mom, has criticized Epoch’s decision, garnering over 2.9 million views for her video, where she argues that the lawsuit portrays the corporation negatively. She stated, “I personally always think it’s a really bad move for a corporation to take somebody that’s using their product to show it to a whole new audience and then demonize them for it.”
The ongoing settlement talks between Epoch and Von Engelbrechten may explore the possibility of establishing an exclusive advertising agreement. Some fans believe that the adult themes in the videos could expand the market for Epoch, attracting older teenagers and adults who find the content appealing.
Commenters on the TikTok platform have expressed their disapproval of the company’s actions. User @pierogiiz.ace declared, “Sylvanian Families just f****d themselves over so bad, I’m never buying any again.” Another user remarked, “Just remember all corporations ARE big evil bad guys,” while others echoed sentiments about the missed marketing opportunity.
The controversy highlights the complex relationship between companies and content creators in the digital age, raising questions about creativity, brand representation, and audience engagement. As the legal proceedings unfold, the future of @SylvanianDrama hangs in the balance, with fans eagerly awaiting a resolution.
