We first came across The Pianist at the Hong Kong Toy Fair. We loved it, but were frustrated because we couldn't import it into this country. But now we finally have it, and are we excited!

  This thing is classy and creepy all at the same time. THE PIANIST is a severed robotic hand with the soul of a master musician. When you activate it, the hand actually plays classical piano music, moving it's fingers as if there were piano keys beneath them.

Watching the robotic hand perform Beethoven's "5th Symphony" or  Chopin's "Minute Waltz" is a surreal musical experience. We dom't play the piano ourselves, but we believe the movement of the fingers actually corresponds to the real piano keys they are pretending to play. (That is, if a real hand were playing that melody, the fingers would move in the same exact way.) The effect is very realistic.

The transparent robot hand looks really cool, too --  You can see the wires, joints, and other high-tech wizardry  that make the thing move. It operates on 2 AA batteries and comes with a special stand. The Pianist plays a assortment of different compositions, and each performance ends with audience applause. It is just so ODD!!!

So pick up the coolest toy we have seen in a long while. As gadgets go, this toy is a masterpiece!