The plastic version of the Butterfly had first entered production in the 1960s, when Duncan switched to plastic as the main material for their yo-yos after the buy-out by Flambeau. As with the original wooden version, it featured a wide, flared shape that allows players to land string tricks easier. Since its release, it had become a best-selling classic, alongside the Imperial. It was also licensed for Bandai's Hyper Yo-Yo line in 1997.