In 1903, Edwin Binney and Charles Harold Smith released the first box of eight Crayola crayons. These innovative art tools were specifically designed and manufactured to be affordable, and the original colors were inspired by Edwin’s love of gardening. Over the years, the brand has blossomed into a cornucopia of wonders that children and adults can use to “explore, discover, play, pretend, and dream.”

Earlier this year, Crayola released a thrilling new product that combines creativity with a sense of adventure. Crayola Colourwhirls employ the timeless appeal of a spinning top to create art. Similar to Alexander Calder’s groundbreaking mobiles, Crayola Colourwhirls embrace energy and chance to produce mesmerizing designs — these art tools take rotational kinetic energy and transcribe it to paper in wild, chaotic lines.

Sound fascinating? It is! Exciting? That too! Think of a Crayola Colourwhirl as a Beyblade with a marker for the Bit or Performance Tip. You slip the ripcord into the top, give it a firm tug, and let the whirling magic begin! The top spins round and round as the marker draws wondrous trails of elegant spirals.

However, when you are ready to step up your game and turn your artwork into a head-to-head competition, Crayola has got you covered. The Crayola Colourwhirls Arena Set comes with a battle arena, four Crayola Colourwhirls, four Ultra-Clean Washable Markers, four 2-in-1 handles, four ripcords, four marker adapters, design stickers, and more. In short, the set comes with everything you need to have a four-player battle royale for the king or queen of creativity.

What we loved

  • The colorful materials: Colourwhirl tops, adapters, ramps, handles, and markers.
  • The cleanable arena surface, so we could play and create again and again.
  • The option to use paper, so we could save and frame our battles.
  • Everything we needed to play was included.
  • The Colourwhirl parts are interchangeable, so you can custom-create your own top.
  • The set was simple to set up — as long as you read the directions. If you try to guess how it works, you’ll be disappointed because there are some extremely clever tools included that let you make the most of your Colourwhirl experience.
  • The adapters let you insert thin markers like Crayola Super Tips.
  • You can play alone or with others.
  • Though it might take a couple of practice runs to perfect your whirling skills, the tops are large, easy to manipulate, and feel remarkably durable.
  • The box is also a travel case. Everything packs neatly inside so you can take the entire set with you, no matter where you go — a picnic, a party, a playdate, vacation, etc.
  • It is fun for all ages.
  • No batteries required!

Potential downsides

  • While the advertised age is 6+, assembling and operating the Colourwhirls requires a bit of coordination. Younger kids may need a little assistance.
  • The Colourwhirls have erratic paths. If you don’t play in the arena, you might end up drawing on the table or floor. Luckily, the markers are washable, so cleanup is no problem.
  • Remember, the Colourwhirls create unpredictable patterns, so you will not get consistent designs. Instead, you will create kinetic, scattered, and chaotic art. 

Top 5 playing tips

  1. Read all directions before using so you know how everything works, and you discover any secret techniques and tips.
  2. Pull the ripcord hard and fast.
  3. Practice not only pulling the ripcord but launching the top.
  4. Play standing up — it lets you get a better spin.
  5. For the best artwork, play several battles on the same sheet of paper.

Our experience

Be careful with the unboxing. It’s simple, but you don’t want to damage anything. Just cut through one piece of tape, then slide out the cardboard tab and open the case — for ultimate convenience, the case seals with two hook-and-loop fasteners. When we opened the case, everything was neatly packed and easy to remove. After reading through the instructions, we assembled the first Colourwhirl by inserting the marker and tightening it with the included handle. Before launching, we covered the arena in paper and inserted the two ramps. Inserting the ripcord is a little tricky, and younger ones may initially need a little help. It also requires a little coordination to pull the ripcord and set the Colourwhirl spinning. But after you do it a few times, the frustration is gone and you can focus on formulating winning strategies.

In conclusion

The Crayola Colourwhirls Arena Set is as much of a game as it is a craft or an art set. And that’s exactly what we like about it. You can challenge up to three of your friends to a battle, experimenting with different marker heights to find out what it takes to be the ultimate champion in a Colourwhirl clash! Then, after the dust settles — or the ink dries — you can examine the attack path, swirl patterns, and victory point to see a graphic representation of the conflict. It’s fast-paced fun with a colorful flair. And if your kids tend to think outside of the arena, they can disassemble the Colourwhirls and use the markers to create arts and crafts… or an imaginative hybrid that uses both the combat swirls and their own hand-drawn elements. The possibilities of what you can do with this action-packed play set are only limited by your child’s imagination.

Where to buy
Amazon • Crayola • Michaels • Target