Post by Nigel on Jan 30, 2009 16:27:39 GMT
Something seemed slightly odd with Toy Fair this year, compared with the last two events. I suspect there are politics and behind-the-scenes happenings at work. There seemed fewer companies exhibiting this year; I noticed the absence of several companies, most conspicuously Hornby. I was speaking to someone from an absent wholesale company recently, with a view to opening an account; he was saying that there was a "splinter group" (his words) that will be attending a separate event in a few weeks' time, a mainly hobby-based event for kits and die cast, etc. (I should add that Hornby is not one of these companies.) It is difficult to say how much smaller this year's event was, if at all, as the past two years have used parts of both North and South Halls of ExCeL, whilst this year used half the South. (I no longer have last year's hall plan to compare.) Of the large companies exhibiting, such as Hasbro, Character Options and Vivid Imaginations there seemed more openness than in the past; where previously there had been enclosed stands and/or appointment systems, this year visitors could generally just wander in. Character Option's stand in particular was entirely open, rather than walled as before. Perhaps this is something that Toy Fair organisers have brought in in response to visitor feedback. (Two years ago, I was lucky to get onto the Hasbro stand at all.) The downside of this openness was that there seemed to be fewer toys on display. For example, whilst in the last two events, Character's single largest display was for Doctor Who, in its own room with a non-disclosure agreement, this year they had little of the range on display and these have already been seen in the Argos catalogue; Hasbro's display for Wolverine, supposed to be one of its big properties for the year, amounted to probably less than ten specific items and its Transformers room was half the size of 2007, the proportion of toys even smaller.
Enough of speculation and conjecture, let's get on the important thing: the toys.
Ben 10 seemed the big licence this year. With a refreshed cartoon released this year, there were many varied products on display from various companies.
I was pleasantly surprised to find that Re:Creation has bought the PopCo brand and portfolio from Corgi International. This means that, amongst other PopCo lines, the 3.75" action figure line introduced for Order of the Phoenix will continue for this year's Harry Potter film. 3.75" seems to be the size of choice for action figures this year, with Character Options exhibiting a Terminator: Salvation line (also 6" and 10" figures), Vivid Imaginations distributing Playmate's Star Trek line (also 6" and 12" figures) and Hasbro selling Star Wars, G.I. Joe and Marvel figures, including Spider-Man, Marvel and Wolverine lines. Wolverine, in fact, is only in 3.75" and not in the 5" or 6" scale that has been used for past Marvel film lines.
Speaking of Hasbro, expect to see a continuation of Iron Man film toys, Harry Potter Cluedo, Monopoly City with commercial and residential pieces including skyscrapers that are placed on a map in the centre of the board rather than on the property squares and Super Hero Squad characters on ripcord motorcycles. Notable Star Wars include a battle pack with Jabba and a Galactic Heroes AT-AT.
I took a tour of the Lego stand, this year purely for enjoyment, as I don't realistically expect to start selling Lego this year. Indiana Jones and Star Wars continue, the former with scene-based packs of different sizes based on each film, the latter including a large Endor-based set celebrating 10 years of the line and including bunker, Ewok glider and AT-ST; also, a smaller Hoth playset introducing a Tauntaun. Last year's Agents theme was popular enough for new sets to be released this year, whilst the new theme is Power Miners, an underground-based series with futuristic mining vehicles and rock creatures. Some very nice City toys will be released this year, including a construction line and a farm line including a combine harvester; there will also be a bus. Bionicle, which has had an ongoing story for the last few years begins an entirely new, element-based saga this year. Old school Lego fans will be pleased to hear that Pirates make a return this year, the style being very much in keeping with those of twenty years ago. (Unfortunately, I didn't get a good look at these, nor Castle, as the guide sort of forgot to show us them.)
That's about all I have to report, unless I think of anything else. My apologies to any doll collectors, but that's not something I was looking at.
Enough of speculation and conjecture, let's get on the important thing: the toys.
Ben 10 seemed the big licence this year. With a refreshed cartoon released this year, there were many varied products on display from various companies.
I was pleasantly surprised to find that Re:Creation has bought the PopCo brand and portfolio from Corgi International. This means that, amongst other PopCo lines, the 3.75" action figure line introduced for Order of the Phoenix will continue for this year's Harry Potter film. 3.75" seems to be the size of choice for action figures this year, with Character Options exhibiting a Terminator: Salvation line (also 6" and 10" figures), Vivid Imaginations distributing Playmate's Star Trek line (also 6" and 12" figures) and Hasbro selling Star Wars, G.I. Joe and Marvel figures, including Spider-Man, Marvel and Wolverine lines. Wolverine, in fact, is only in 3.75" and not in the 5" or 6" scale that has been used for past Marvel film lines.
Speaking of Hasbro, expect to see a continuation of Iron Man film toys, Harry Potter Cluedo, Monopoly City with commercial and residential pieces including skyscrapers that are placed on a map in the centre of the board rather than on the property squares and Super Hero Squad characters on ripcord motorcycles. Notable Star Wars include a battle pack with Jabba and a Galactic Heroes AT-AT.
I took a tour of the Lego stand, this year purely for enjoyment, as I don't realistically expect to start selling Lego this year. Indiana Jones and Star Wars continue, the former with scene-based packs of different sizes based on each film, the latter including a large Endor-based set celebrating 10 years of the line and including bunker, Ewok glider and AT-ST; also, a smaller Hoth playset introducing a Tauntaun. Last year's Agents theme was popular enough for new sets to be released this year, whilst the new theme is Power Miners, an underground-based series with futuristic mining vehicles and rock creatures. Some very nice City toys will be released this year, including a construction line and a farm line including a combine harvester; there will also be a bus. Bionicle, which has had an ongoing story for the last few years begins an entirely new, element-based saga this year. Old school Lego fans will be pleased to hear that Pirates make a return this year, the style being very much in keeping with those of twenty years ago. (Unfortunately, I didn't get a good look at these, nor Castle, as the guide sort of forgot to show us them.)
That's about all I have to report, unless I think of anything else. My apologies to any doll collectors, but that's not something I was looking at.
