Author a bit teary-eyed with nostalgia. The Original Electronic Playground with vintage packaging. My dad bought me one just like it as a kid.
I love covering ToyFair at Javits Center. It’s vital for me to unveil innovative toys for you, my readers, forge new business contacts and report on the latest trends! Toyfair is filled to the brim with fellow play lovers, toy innovators and industry change makers. it’s always a nostalgic treat when I see toys I grew up loving and new products, and thankfully because of my chosen profession, not too old to covet what companies graciously allow me to test out with editorial samples with my youngsters for fair review! My first review is included below! Toyfair is the biggest show of it’s kind on earth!
A surprise low tech treat my kids love! Watermelon Ball by Plasmart! Check my review on page 2!
Author and Yoo Hoo at Aurora World Booth tour
The themes were familiar, STEM based educational toys that stimulate experimentation, board games that emphasize strategic thinking, puppets and action figures that encourage imaginative play, tech toys of every description that kids can manipulate with wired devices. Tents and play spaces that kids love to hide in and read or pretend during backyard adventures, new active physical games that get kids moving and collectibles of every description imaginable. Now with 1000 plus exhibitors and 10,000 + mass and specialty retailers, its a daunting task to find the next “must have” of the season. I can’t possibly list every cool thing I saw and experienced but this is a primer and as I contact manufactures and fully review products, I’ll have more updates to share!
I know that the big manufactures like LEGO, Mattel & Hasbro have exciting new franchise licenses coming out and I cover them I will be unboxing and reviewing their hot products as they send samples I can share with you. But I want to focus on the smaller, newer innovators that may become the future Mattels and thats what I try to do with this recap. Most products are either available now direct from the manufactures or will be coming to major and minor distributors in your area for the Spring / Summer season. If you need more information about a certain product, please contact the manufacturer directly as I have provided the webpages of all the companies listed below. If you are in the Toy Business, and you’d like a product reviewed. Contact me at [email protected]
I hope this preview gets you as excited as I was attending!
Licensing
Licensing has been a huge boon for the Toy Business for years! Folkmanis Puppets 40th year in operation and celebrating the accomplishment of founder Judy Folkmanis who sadly passed last year. Folkmanis has been encouraging young imaginations with it’s line of innovative and engaging quality puppets since 1976. Folkmanis made an agreement with DISNEY to create an exclusive line of old school Disney Mickey Mouse & Friends based the classic Disney Characters. Maria a spokesperson for Folkmanis kindly demoed one for me!
Folkmanis Puppets rep.Maria Fortez and Disney’s “Pluto” puppet available now.
They are 22′ tall, wonderfully plush and like the classic toys I grew up with, they are heirloom quality and bear the world renowned Folkmanis design expertise that are ideal for stage, puppet theater and encourage imaginative play!
Folkmanis Puppets Disney Mickey Mouse and Friends Line available now at www.folkmanis.com
They retail around $73.00 each on Amazon with the link or check out these and other realistic and exoctic creatures at www.folkmanis.com
Tori at the Lionel booth showed me a few new items
The newest Lionel App adds Bluetooth connectivity. Free at the App Store & Android store
Lionel App has Bluetooth connectivity is going to give you all of the traditional controls you would expect, but a few extras such as being able to adjust the pitch, to even silencing the chugging sound of the train as it moves around the track. The app is a free download
Anchoring Lionel’s 2017 product lineup is Mega Tracks, an innovative new product that goes above and beyond traditional train play. With Mega Tracks, kids’ imaginations can run wild as they design and build their own race courses, including creating their own stunts by twisting the track. Utilizing a new clamp and construction system, kids can build anywhere, including on the floor or attaching to furniture, to create one-of-a-kind race courses. Once the layout and stunts are built, kids can send the rail racer vehicle into high speed action by using a handheld RC controller to adjust the speed of the vehicle and keep it on the track. Stay in the Loop when I get to try this innovative new system. Check www.lionel.com for more information!
Tori also gave me a heads up about Voltron Legendary Defender which is a franchise near an dear to my heart. There is a plethora of new products in stores now as well as on the horizion coinciding with the popular reboot of the classic Animated show the complete second season is now streaming on NETFIX. “Voltron is an incredible property, rich with mythology and lore, and we couldn’t be more excited to collaborate with Playmates Toys to bring this legendary defender to life off the screen,” said Tim Erickson, Global Head of Licensing, DreamWorks Animation. “Voltron: Legendary Defender is an action-packed series that will have kids lining up to see what Playmates has in store.” As soon as I can secure some samples I will share them with you! check http://www.playmatestoys.com
Transformers: The Last Knight Movie tie ins are a Toy mainstay, I met stars Mark Wahlberg, Josh Duhamel, Isabela Moner, Laura Haddock, director Michael Bay and producer Lorenzo di Bonaventura at Hasbro’s Entertainment Preview Event on Monday, February 20, 2017 during New York Toy Fair!
TRANSFORMERS: THE LAST KNIGHT producer Lorenzo di Bonaventura (L) is joined by film stars Mark Wahlberg, Isabela Moner, Laura Haddock, Josh Duhamel and Director Michael Bay (rear) at the Hasbro Entertainment Preview Event, Monday, February 20, 2017 in New York City. TRANSFORMERS: THE LAST KNIGHT producer Lorenzo di Bonaventura (L) is joined by film stars Mark Wahlberg, Isabela Moner, Laura Haddock, Josh Duhamel and Director Michael Bay (rear) at the Hasbro Entertainment Preview Event, Monday, February 20, 2017 in New York City.
TRANSFORMERS: THE LAST KNIGHT star Isabela Moner plays with TRANSFORMERS: THE LAST KNIGHT RC AUTOBOT SQWEEKS Inspired by a new character from the film, the remote controlled bot will be available this spring.
TRANSFORMERS: THE LAST KNIGHT star Laura Haddock holds TRANSFORMERS: THE LAST KNIGHT – KNIGHT ARMOUR TURBO CHANGER MEGATRON figure
I was able to get a sneak peek of all the new movie-themed figures with the talent which are set to release later this year. Transformers: The Last Knight is coming out in theaters on June 23, 2017.
TRANSFORMERS: THE LAST KNIGHT star Mark Wahlberg holds TRANSFORMERS: THE LAST NIGHT PREMIER EDITION LEADER CLASS MEGATRON at the Hasbro Entertainment Preview Event, Monday, February 20, 2017 in New York City. Inspired by the movie, the 9-inch figure will be available this fall
Check out www.hasbro.com and the official TRANSFORMERS:THE LAST KNIGHT website
STEM to STEAM to STREAM
Speaking of innovation I’ve met some super smart creative toymakers one example is Neat-Oh President, Wayne Rothschild his A2281XX Zipes™ Speed Pipes – Duel Barrel Racing Pack (Holiday Set) a fun, modern take on the plastic racing tracks and die-cast metal cars I grew up flinging at high velocities. ZIPES are the FIRST EVER toy, where vehicles speed inside pipes instead of on tracks. CRAZY BUILDS; the pipes can be configured and reconfigured with one or more loops or they can be built to go up the walls.DEFYING GRAVITY SPEED; the vehicles are so fast that they can climb up the pipes
RACE against your friend. Duel Barrel comes with special connectors that attach pipes side-by-side. Find out who can build the fastest track. REMOTE CONTROLLED AND ILLUMINATED vehicles add excitement, creating an awesome light show when the room is dark. Also includes two cosmic strobe balls.
Racing against your own time is fun but racing against someone else even better.
With the Zipes™ Speed Pipes Duel Barrel Racing set you will see who can build the craziest and fastest pipe paths. What goes faster? A double loop or pipes that go all the way up and down? On your marks, get set, GO!! Tell us when you have the answer. Vehicles are remote controlled and illuminated. Try racing in the dark for an awesome experience.
Ages 5+
PRODUCT FEATURES
2 illuminated Zipes™ Speed Pipes Vehicles
2 RCs (AA batteries required)
2 Cosmic strobe balls
2 Charging cables
Straight Pipes/ Curved Pipes/ Connectors/ intersection pipes
Check them and his other products out at www.neat-oh.com
