The Toys and Tech Trends Expert!
First snowfall of my holiday season, here in beautiful Saskatoon! Shared the joys of holiday gift-giving with Jeremy, on the CTV Morning News, and with Jeff on the CTV News at Noon. Happy and joyous Holiday Cheer!
Originally posted on LicensingMagazine.com
Since the Bologna Licensing Trade Fair is held in conjunction with the Bologna Digital Media Event and the Bologna Book Fair, the event wants to include two of the key fair focuses in one presentation, kids licensing and kids digital media.
The presentation aims to discover the new technologies and innovative products that are leading development of Digital Media Trends in Toys; see visual examples of the products that define this new connected play digital toybox; dive into research results of the latest Kids & Digital Study by Kidz Global to gain an understanding of this new market segment and kids preferences, attitudes and usage of digital tools and devices and see how trend-setting manufacturer Spin Master has tapped into this digital marketplace, instilling new technologies and progressive play options, for an innovative wave of interactive play experiences.
Reyne Rice, Global Trend Hunter and ToyTrends CEO, will start off the session with a visual cavalcade of digital toy trends and the products that define this space, showcasing global manufacturers across multiple categories of digital play. Reyne Rice is a toy industry trend expert/analyst, consultant, and media spokesperson, with 30 years experience marketing, researching and analyzing the toy industry, children’s technology, entertainment & licensing, and the youth market. Reyne has developed products and solutions for the media, consumers, trade associations, retailers, manufacturers, licensors and entertainment studios. Her career experience includes working as a marketing consultant, trend expert and strategic consultant for international toy trade associations, Mattel, NPD Research Group, Ogilvy & Mather, and other companies. As an international trade journalist for more than a decade, Reyne has articles published in over 60 countries, spanning the USA, Europe and Asia. She is a frequent Keynote speaker at USA and International conferences. Since 2003, Reyne has owned her own consultancy, ToyTrends.
Originally posted on DailyLounge.com.
“Sponsored Content”
New York Toy Fair opens this weekend and our toy trend expert, Reyne Rice, has a sneak peek at some of the coolest toys this year!
Lego continues to innovate toys for younger kids. The LEGO DUPLO Batcave Challenge lets Batman fans be their favorite superheroes and drive the Batmobile and Batcycle as they look for The Joker and Poison Ivy. Create fun action scenes using these LEGO DUPLO bricks that are two times the size of a classic brick to accommodate smaller hands and help develop motor skills. Visit shop.lego.com to learn more!
LEGO Make Your Own Movie by Klutz
Klutz has new titles in their book-based activity kits including LEGO Make Your Own Movie. Bring your favorite Lego mini-figures to life with this beginner guide to stop-motion animation. Create short, funny clips on a phone or tablet using six backgrounds and thirty-six LEGO elements. Visit Klutz.com to learn more!
A follow up to Sew Mini Treats is Sew Mini Animals that lets you stitch and stuff an assortment of fuzzy animals from felt. These mini plushies deliver full-size fun and everything you need to make up to 14 animals is included. Add extra accessories like hats, bows, and glasses to personalize your animals. Visit Klutz.com to learn more!
From the all-new Klutz Jr. line for preschoolers, My Egg Carton Animals lets kids transform specially made egg cartons into 6 barnyard animals. Fun animal facts throughout the book give an added giggle as kids paint and add googly eyes, cotton balls, and precut accessories to make their very own farm animal friends. Visit Klutz.com to learn more!
Spin Master is reviving ZhuZhu Pets from their launch in 2009 with over 20 new Zhu’s to collect! Each little hamster has a special hidden talent to discover. With their unique personalities and unpredictable behavior, Pipsqueak, Mr. Squiggles, Num Nums and Chunk love to zoom around, dance, talk and even sing. Make sure to check these cute guys out at ZhuZhuPets.com!
Giant Volcano with T-Rex from Schleich
Kids can have hours of fun with the Giant Volcano with T-Rex from Schleich Dinosaurs play world. Press the skull to release the stalactites, set the dinosaur trap, or hit the large stone to see the fossil puzzle erupt from the side of the volcano. This playset encourages your child to explore the exciting world of dinosaurs with over 30 additional dinosaurs to collect. Click here to learn more!
Following the collectability trend, Whiffer Sniffers have become the “It Toy” for kids who collect. The new Series 4 will be introduced this year including Sour Saul, and May B Minty that kids clip to their backpack or sports bag. They smell like everything from popcorn to jelly beans! Or take a chance with this mystery package to find a rare special edition character. Visit WhifferSniffers.com to learn more!
Celebrating its 20th anniversary this year, Aeromax Toys brings imagination to life. The Get Real Gear, My 1st Career Gear Tops, and accessories lets kids pretend to be firefighters, astronauts, chefs, and more. Pretend play inspires kids to dream big and helps build self esteem in their developmental years. They are known for their quality and durability, along with an affordable price. Visit AeromaxToys.com to learn more!
Originally posted on Spielwarenmesse.com
The year of 2017 is shaping up to be another substantial year for strong licenses and licensed properties, and brands with multi-generational appeal. There are a number of factors that support this premise. Character licensing is no longer relegated to the merchandising power of toys and games. Strong theatrical releases, live events and multi-tier tentpole events are driving merchandising dollars into apparel, publishing, sports, entertainment theme parks, and even more branded lifestyle categories.
For example, it was no coincidence that Pokémon Go attracted a wide swath of the population across multiple age groups. In 2017, the Pokémon brand celebrates their 20th anniversary. Kids who grew up with Pokemon are now young adults, for whom augmented reality treasure hunts were a positive pat-time for Summer 2016. Kids and parents also joined the foot traffic, as tens of millions of people across the globe hunted for the elusive Pokémon characters. Expect more Pokémon news throughout 2017, in new and exciting formats that will continue to break barriers with technology innovations. Promoting inter-generational play, active outdoor activities and the “Gotta Catch Em All “mentality will continue throughout 2017.
| Property | Anniversary | Property Owner |
|---|---|---|
| In the Night Garden | 10 | DHX Media |
| YooHoo & Friends | 10 | Aurora World/ Mondo TV |
| Yu-Gi-Oh | 15 | 4K Media |
| Build A Bear | 20 | Build-A-Bear |
| Pokemon | 20 | The Pokemon Company |
| TeleTubbies | 20 | DHX media |
| Power Rangers | 25 | Saban |
| Dragon Ball Z | 30 | Toie Animation |
| Care Bears | 35 | American greetings |
| Danger Mouse | 35 | Fremantle |
| Maya the Bee | 40 | Studio 100 |
| Star Wars | 40 | Lucas Ent/ Disney |
| Thunderbirds | 50 | ITV Studios |
| Toie Animation | 60 | Toie Animation |
| Mr Potato Head | 65 | Hasbro |
| Wonder Woman | 75 | Marvel/ Disney |
| Daffy Duck | 80 | Warner Bros Looney Tunes |
| Goofy animated character | 85 | Disney |
| LEGO | 85 | Lego |
| Lincoln Logs | 100 | Knex |
| Teddy Bear | 115 | multiple |
| Märklin Trains | 125 | Marklin |
| Peter Rabbit: Beatrix Potter | 150 | Sony / Penguin/Beatrix Potter |
Other strong cross-generational brands celebrating major milestones include Star Wars 40th anniversary. Their first action figures for boys were launched in 1977, and stores couldn’t get enough merchandise to meet demand, even then. This dual target audience brand (kids and adults) will be strengthened with another new Star Wars movie, Episode VIII in late 2017, and the Rogue One movie (Holiday 2016) will continue to offer new footage and characters with epic stories in late 2016 and spilling over into 2017.
On a softer side, Care Bears will be celebrating its 35th anniversary with a Fall 2017 movie release. TeleTubbies are back, marking a 20 year anniversary with new TV episodes. Their storyline has been updated for today’s kids by updating the television screen on their tummies with touch-screens. Power Rangers continue to appeal to new fans each year, and will be celebrating 25 years of Power Rangers with their own 2017 movie launch. DragonBall Z (30th) and even Dirty Dancing (30th) will continue to tug at Millennial heart strings, with young adults and new parents remembering their childhood favorites.
With this knowledge of upcoming movies and strong anniversaries, store shelves and online channels will continue to appeal to the dual-target market audiences, and offer an inter-generational connection for the young and the young-at-heart.
| Title | Studio | Release Date |
|---|---|---|
| The Greatest Showman on Earth | 20th Century Fox | Jan 2017 |
| Monster Trucks | Paramount | Feb 2017 |
| LEGO Batman | Warner Bros | Feb 2017 |
| Beauty & The Beast | Disney | March 2017 |
| King Arthur; Legends of the Swords | Warner Bros | March 2017 |
| Smurfs 3: The Lost Village | Sony | April 2017 |
| Guardians of the Galaxy 2 | Disney | April 2017 |
| Fast 8: Fast & the Furious | NBC Universal | April 2017 |
| Power Rangers | Lionsgate | April 2017 |
| Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Men Tell No Tales | Disney | May 2017 |
| Despicable Me 3 (Minions) | Universal | June 2017 |
| Wonder Woman | Warner Bros | June 2017 |
| Transformers 5: The Last Knight | Paramount | June 2017 |
| Thor Ragnarok | Disney | July 2017 |
| Cars 3 | Disney | July 2017 |
| Emoji Movie: Express Yourself | Sony | Aug 2017 |
| Jumanjii | Sony | Sept 2017 |
| LEGO Ninjago | Warner Bros | Sept 2017 |
| Care Bears: The Movie | Not yet announced | Sept 2017 |
| Justice League | Warner Bros | Nov 2017 |
| Black Panther | Disney | Nov 2017 |
| Croods 2 | 20th Century Fox | Dec 2017 |
| Star Wars, Episode VIII | Disney | Dec 2017 |
Originally posted on DailyLounge.com.
Toy Trend Expert, Reyne Rice, has this year’s best toys just in time for Black Friday!
LEGO Juniors was developed to provide builders ages 4 and older an easy-to-assemble brick-building experience to transition from bigger Duplo blocks to smaller LEGO bricks. NEW this year, LEGO Juniors NINJAGO Themed Sets The Lost Temple and Snake Showdown are perfect for the child who watches the TV show along with their older siblings and wants to get in on the fun! Now, they can build on their own — without help– and play along with the characters and stories they love. These sets feature familiar Ninjago characters with land and air vehicles and lots of interactive features, including a helicopter with spinning rotors, a super Ninja car with rolling wheels, and a swinging axe and a spinning saw blade. Click here to learn more!
The Ozobot Evo smart STEM robot reads colors! Enjoy unplugged play with nothing more than markers and paper. Use Evo’s color language to control its lights, sounds and speed. You can also control Evo from your smartphone AND compete and play games with friends! You can even send and receive OZOJIS – emoticons that your Evo acts out. Evo Action Skins bring your favorite Marvel characters to life … transform your Evo into Iron Man or Captain America. Then, connect with the app to complete Stark Academy missions. Click here to learn more!
Activision has taken Skylanders to a whole new realm with Imaginators, where kids can unleash their imagination, and create their own Skylanders characters. With the power of Imaginite Crystals and the guidance of the powerful Sensei Skylander Masters, kids can select their battle class, choose their gear, and pick their personalities to customize their creations. All of their previous Skylanders characters work in the Imaginators video game, and there are new side quest missions and mini-games to conquer. Click here to learn more!
Uncle Milton’s Virtual Explorer
Explore space, dinosaurs, and ants with Uncle Milton’s Virtual Explorer, a 4-in-1 interactive discovery system. With STEM-based learning at its core, the activity guides help to explore the stars with the Star Planetarium, create your own enclosed ant farm, and excavate a dinosaur skeleton. Use the virtual reality goggles with the 2-sided cards to see a 360 degree virtual reality view on one side and on the flip side, see 3D models come to life through an augmented reality experience. Simply download the FREE Explorer app onto your own smart phone, and use the included VR Goggles, to go on your journeys. Click here to learn more!
Originally posted on DailyLounge.com.
Ready to get a jumpstart on your holiday shopping? Toy Expert, Reyne Rice, has the toys that are topping your kid’s lists!
The Brightlings from Spin Master are interactive dolls that will be your kid’s silliest sidekick. Kids can have so much fun playing more than 100 silly sayings, or recording anything and then playing it back in Brightlings’ unique voice. Tilt their head from side to side to change the voice from high to low. Create your own song in 6 different styles of music including pop, yodeling, opera, and even beat boxing. These dolls are loveable and fun – perfect for kids as they’re exploring their creativity. Click here to learn more!
Schleich’s Big Adventure at the Waterhole
Kids will go wild over the Schleich’s Big Adventure at the Waterhole. This playset features over 20 wild animals and accessories – including an exclusively painted white lion and lion cub. Awarded the National Parenting Product Award, this playset is a perfect introduction to wildlife. With over 100 animals to collect, your child can truly explore the world of wild animals. Click here to learn more!
Riding Center from Schleich’s Horse Club
Another winner of the 2016 National Parenting Product Award and Seal of Approval, the Riding Center from Schleich’s Horse Club is a great addition to any child’s horse collection. With over 40 accessories, including an Arabian mare with rider, children can create a separate riding arena to add to their adventures. Learn more here.
GeoSmart: Remote Control Mars Explorer
GeoSmart, from Smart Toys and Games, has evolved the future of magnetic construction. It begins with strong magnets, bright colors, and durable pieces. You can get an open ended set for hours of creativity or get this Remote Control Mars Explorer Vehicle Magnetic Building Set. The pieces feature a patented double-lock safety system and are a great choice for fun, creative, STEM learning, at home or in the classroom. Click here to learn more!
These incredibly soft plush pals are not only great to cuddle with, they also have an appetite for worries! Worry Eaters from the Haywire Group are a great way to share your troubles. Simply write down what is worrying you, zip it up in your pal’s mouth, and let them carry your concerns for you. A helpful tool for parents to find out what their child is thinking, and to teach them how to successfully cope and problem-solve. Click here to learn more!
Originally posted on DailyLounge.com.
Easter is coming earlier this year (March 27th) and we’re here with some NEW ideas to fill your Easter basket!
Nintendo JUST announced a series of 12 best-selling games called Nintendo Selects: featuring some of the Top Video Games titles for Nintendo 3DS or Wii U at only $19.99 each! Classic favorites include Super Mario: 3D World, Donkey Kong, Animal Crossing AND the famous best-seller Legends of Zelda: Ocarina of Time. The collection covers legendary titles that will appeal to everyone! Great entertainment for the whole family. Visit Nintendo Selects to learn more.
The LEGO Elves line adds more adventures for builders ages 7 and older to explore. These highly detailed sets take children through a fantasy land full of dragons, elves and other mystical creatures. The Starlight Inn includes a turning telescope, a hidden staircase and key plus a flame element that adds to the storytelling. Children can pretend to save the baby fire dragon, Spark, and tuck him into his translucent dragon egg bed. Visit the Starlight Inn to learn more!
Give the gift of education with ABCmouse.com Early Learning Academy for kids ages 2 to 7. Developed by teachers and childhood experts, this site has over 650 lessons and 7,000 guided activities such as games, puzzles, and eBooks. It can be used on a computer, tablet, or smartphone. Parents will love the safe online environment without links to other websites. Each subscription is $7.95 a month, with separate profiles for up to 3 kids, so each child’s progress can be tracked. Visit ABCmouse.com for more information! Also, get ABCmouse.com in the Apple Store here, the Amazon Appstore here … or on Google Play here.
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Delight your children with Schleich figurine toys! For over 80 years, these toys have been hand-painted with detailing that shows quality craftmanship. Moms love to give the figurines and playsets because they encourage creative play and are great for little hands as young as three years old. Families can add to their Schleich collection all year round with farm and wild animals, dinosaurs, and fantasy characters. Visit Schleich-s.com for more information! Make sure you follow them on Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest, AND Instagram!
And, hunt no longer for an ideal 2-in-1 Easter treat. Choco Treasure eggs are made of premium milk chocolate with a surprise toy treasure inside! The toys are really fun and interactive and have been tested safe for ALL ages! With more than 100 treasures in total, these collectibles include figurines, slap bracelets, 3D puzzles, and more! Themes include Cutest Baby Animals, Hello Kitty, Kung Fu Panda, and Minions. They only cost $1 or $2! Visit ChocoTreasure.com to learn more. Keep up to date on all things Choco Treasure by following them on Facebook.