The first episode of Squid Game features a terrifying doll, and the giant doll is kind of real in Korea. Netflix has a new hit show as part of its vast streaming library, as Squid Game brings a deadly twist to various children's games. This includes the titular real-life Korean squid game, although the lethal consequences of playing it are directly tied to the show's Hunger Games-style competition.
There are plenty of childhood games that the players in Squid Game are forced to play, but the entire show and the titular event kick off with a version of Red Light, Green Light. The well-known game sees the players attempt to cross a specific line across the field, but they are only allowed to move during the green light phase. However, if they are caught moving after red light is said, then they will be eliminated. For Squid Game's characters, that means death, and it is nearly impossible for players to avoid movement detection thanks to the giant doll in charge of the game. The robotic doll can detect any slight movement during the red light phase of the game and immediately establishes itself as a terrifying presence for the players in Squid Game.
The production design and costumes in Squid Game have helped give it a unique look, along with its twisted premise, but viewers might be surprised to learn that the doll used for Red Light, Green Light is real, in a sense. The real-life version of Squid Game's doll has been on display in Jincheon County in Chungcheongbuk-do Province, South Korea. Instead of being used for a deadly version of a children's game, the giant doll has been featured outside the entrance of Macha Land, a giant museum. However, it was created specifically for Squid Game and was moved to the museum after the show didn't need it anymore.
The giant doll featured in Squid Game is temporarily being taken down at Macha Land, though. Due to the popular response to Squid Game and fans discovering that the doll was on display at the museum, Macha Land announced that it was taking down the doll display. Local reports note that the doll was meant to be stored at the museum privately and was only ever set up for public viewing by mistake. Once the error was realized, Macha Land quickly moved to cover the Squid Game doll and eventually move it to private storage.
Since the Squid Game doll is real, it will be intriguing to see what happens with it moving forward. It surely would've been a big tourist attraction due to Squid Game's growing popularity, so displaying it at Macha Land could have brought in more customers. Now that it has been moved to private storage, fans of Squid Game hoping to see the giant doll in real life will have to wait and see if it ever is put on public display again. Those hoping to find a version of the Red Light, Green Light doll can currently luck out by finding a smaller version in a mall in Quezon City, Philippines.