Zip’s face and paws changed across the classic Beanie Baby releases. Some have a white face, one is all black, and another has white paws. The whiskers and tags help narrow the match further.
Start with those visible details, then compare the toy’s size. The miniature 1998 McDonald’s Zip and the later Zip II have their own release records.
The four classic full-size Zip designs
White face with magenta whiskers
This early design has a white facial area and distinctly magenta whiskers. Ty Collector associates it with a second-generation swing tag. Color photography is important: aged lighting can make magenta look red or pink.
White face with pink whiskers
The second white-faced design changes the whiskers from deeper magenta to pink. Collector references associate it with a third-generation swing tag. The face may look nearly identical in a poorly lit listing, so request a close-up against a neutral background.
All-black Zip
This classic full-size version removes the white facial area and white paws, producing an almost entirely black cat. Ty Collector associates it with a third-generation swing tag and warns that counterfeit all-black examples exist.
An all-black body does not automatically mean the toy is the McDonald's Teenie. Measure first: the full-size all-black Zip is a regular retail Beanie Baby.
Zip with white paws
This design has a black body and white paws. Check all four feet and compare the face with the reference image. It was produced across several tag generations, so the paw color identifies the design more readily than the production period.
The 1998 McDonald's Teenie Zip
The Teenie Zip is bag #10 in the 1998 U.S. McDonald's assortment. The promotion ran from May 22 through June 18 and contained 12 numbered animals.
This toy is miniature and predominantly black. It came inside a printed McDonald's bag and has promotional labeling rather than being a scaled copy sold through Ty's normal retail channel.
See the 1998 Teenie Zip record
Zip II is a modern release
Ty reused the name for Zip II in 2023. A modern tag, contemporary materials and the "II" name separate it from both the 1990s full-size designs and the 1998 Happy Meal toy.
Zip identification checklist
1. Establish the size
Photograph the cat beside a ruler. A Teenie is a miniature promotional toy; the classic Zips are regular Beanie Babies.
2. Inspect the face
Is there a white facial area, or is the head entirely black? If the face is white, inspect the whiskers under daylight to distinguish magenta from pink.
3. Inspect all four paws
Photograph the underside and rear paws as well as the front. Compare all four paws with the reference for the suspected release.
4. Read the swing tag
Use the tag generation to support the physical match. If the pairing is unfamiliar, check for another release or a replaced tag rather than deciding from the paper heart alone.
5. Read the sewn label
Photograph both sides. Product line, manufacturing text and label generation should be compatible with the toy's construction.
6. Match McDonald's packaging carefully
For a sealed Teenie, confirm that the package identifies Zip as #10 in the 1998 design. A loose bag placed beside a loose cat is not proof that the two originated together.
What if your Zip has no tags?
You can often separate white-faced, all-black and white-pawed designs visually, but dating a tagless full-size Zip to an exact generation is harder. Use the most specific defensible description, such as "full-size Zip with white paws", without claiming an unsupported tag generation.
Is Zip rare or valuable?
Some early designs attract particular collector interest. Establish the design, tags and authenticity before making a value comparison, especially for an all-black example.
Compare sold examples matching the same face, whiskers, paws, tags and condition. The mass-produced 1998 Teenie is a separate collectible and should not inherit a full-size valuation.
Wear the 1998 Teenie as a bag charm
Millennial Daydreams uses an authentic miniature Zip from the McDonald's promotion and adds modern gold-tone attachment hardware. The conversion is disclosed and should be treated as a permanent alteration.
See the Zip Teenie Beanie bag charm
Browse the Zip character records
Learn how swing and tush tag generations work
Sources
The four classic designs and their tag associations from Ty Collector's Zip records and Beaniepedia's variant records; the 1998 promotion dates and bag number from Ty Collector's 1998 roster. Corrections are welcome via the contact page.
Editorially revised September 8, 2026.