Toy Fair 2012 Update (Of Sorts): A Bit Of Ephemera…

For me, this sign was probably the funniest thing about this year’s Toy Fair for a few reasons. One of which is as soon as I saw it, I knew I was in a super-huge and important trade show and not some thrown together fan-made convention where this sort of thing isn’t though of until the last minute.

I’m guessing most other shows have people changing into their smelly costumes in the nearest bathroom. At Toy Fair, you get an OFFICIAL changing area (with smelly bathrooms, most likely to balance the scales).  As for other fun (and a heck of a lot less signage-related) stuff about the show…  well, I’m still writing, so stay tuned…

Toy Fair 2012: Vinyl (& Plush) Appreciation Society (Part 1): Mezco Toyz

There were literally a ton of action figures on display at Toy Fair, so picking just one favorite booth was a losing proposition. However, despite the big guns (Mattel, Hasbro, Lego, et cetera) rolling out some truly impressive new licensed goodies you’ll be snapping up like hotcakes, there were a number of smaller studios that had more interesting and in some cases, more impressive licensed items coming your way in 2012 and beyond. Here’s a peek at a few of my show favorites…

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Toy Fair 2012: Areaware – Fun & Functional Artwork For The Masses

Just when you think you’ve seen everything, along comes someone who shows you a cool wooden robot that folds away into an equally cool-looking cube or a silver baby rattle that can double as an art piece. These were just two items at Toy Fair from Brooklyn, NY-based Areaware, a producer of some really interesting products from a wide range of talented artists and designers. It’s impossible to take a look at their web site or online catalog without a smile crossing your face thanks to the selection of everyday objects given a fresh and often amusing spin.  A quick (and goofy) example: Say you’re allergic to pet hair, have too many animals in your space but crave more, just like collecting unique pillows or any combination of the three. Well, say hello to a few pieces from Ross Menuez’ Fauna line:

That’s only a few of the about 40 currently available designs (and you’re grinning already, right?)…

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Toy Fair 2012: DIY Nation – littleBits & Big Plushies

There were a ton of really cool DIY items at Toy Fair along with a few companies that could knock out custom products for all sorts of occasions or organizations.No matter the age range, there was something for everyone at this year’s show that allowed for free expression of just about any creative urges. Here’s another “Best Of” look at a few more upcoming or already available items or services that really caught my eye…

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And (More) Miles To Go Before I Sleep (But I’ve Got Toys To Dream About)…

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Yikes. I’ve a LOT of Toy Fair 2012 stuff to write up, but it’ll get done over the next week. I got a nice laugh earlier because I’d initially planned to do about five big articles that covered everything I saw that I liked. Of course, those plans got steamrolled once I started going through my note, then sorting out catalogs and contact info. Anyway, there will be at least one huge article and a bunch of smaller ones coming, so  just watch your inboxes if you’ve subscribed for updates. Anyone else (meaning new folks I ran into at Toy Fair), you’ll be hearing from me directly. That is all – I’m going to sleep, as I’m over my word count for the day…

Toy Fair 2012: Skylanders Giants: Activision’s Other (Not-So) Secret Weapon For 2012

Despite all the skeptics (professional and otherwise) out there predicting all sorts of astronomical failure for the product, Skylanders: Spyro’s Adventures was a massive hit for Activision and veteran developer Toys for Bob across multiple platforms, transforming the gaming landscape with a crossover product that combined a solid, fun video game with collectible figures. At Toy Fair 2012, the next wave of Skylanders was rolled out to what looked like pretty positive overall response. Skylanders: Giants introduces eight new characters into the fold including four huge elemental hulks that change up the gameplay considerably.  If last year’s success caught Activision off guard, this year they’re loaded for bear and ready to rake in even more of your gaming and collecting dollars…

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Toy Fair 2012: Floppets – Sometimes, Smaller Is Better (And Cooler. And Cheaper)…

While the big name usual suspects were strutting their upcoming stuff behind closed doors or in appointment-only booths or events, some of the most fun items I saw were actually scattered all around the show floor. A few of the best things at the show were found in smaller booths that were easy to miss unless you were paying attention or were strolling by as a sample was being handed out. Which is how I stumbled upon Floppets, a new impulse product that’s definitely going to get a lot of notice one word gets out on how cool they are. And once you see them, it’s all about how much you NEED to buy one, and another, and another (and so forth and so on)…

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Toy Fair 2012: Mimoco’s Mimomicros Make Memory Managment Much More Managable Monetarily

Mimoco’s super-cool line of original, crossover and licensed character MIMOBOT flash drives has always been a favorite of mine, but even with the price of memory dropping and USB 3.0 devices here and on the way, not everyone can afford to collect these supremely stylish USB storage solutions. The company’s MIMOMICRO line (set for a March 2012 launch) takes care of that issue entirely by allowing users to drop their own microSD cards into a custom drive that, at $12.95 makes for an inexpensive, nifty conversation piece. My favorite model from Toy Fair was The Millennium Falcon MIMOMICRO from the company’s Star Wars line. There will also be five other characters to choose from (C-3PO, Chewbacca, Darth Vader and Yoda), plus a trio of DC Comics MIMOMICRO drives that Superman, Batman and Wonder Woman fans will absolutely want to snap up.

If money is no object, well, you’re in luck, as Mimoco also has some sweet new MIMOBOT drives on the way, including an Albert Einstein drive that’s pretty cool and funny (kind of like the professor was, from what I’ve read about him), a bunch of original characters and more licensed drives than you can shake a memory stick at.

Alrighty then, I’ve done my part here- now, go click on one of those links above before I come up with more awful puns or another terrible title that uses the same letter to start off each word.

Toy Fair 2012: Loog – Because Everyone Needs A DIY Guitar…

There were a lot of musical instruments at Toy Fair geared to kids, but, NYC-based Loog Guitars was probably my favorite booth to drop by. Loog creator, founder and CEO Rafael Atijas was there (dressed more like an average guy and not like a stuffy CEO, by the way) with his Kickstarter-funded creation drawing much interest at the show. From the quality (and simply finished) wood in three body styles to the plain yet distinctive packaging and adult-sized neck option,this is something that’s a great DIY gift for anyone wanting to get into the instrument. While there have been kid-sized guitars made for ages, the three-string Loog is wonderfully cool because you assemble it yourself. And that assembly is amazingly simple, as you can see in the above video.

If what you see gets you thinking your kid (or perhaps even you) might want one of these nifty kits, well… you know what to do (click on that link above, of course). Currently, only an acoustic model is available, but I know there’s some creative hacker out there that’s going to electrify his or her Loog and show it off soon enough…

Toy Fair 2012 Update: He Who Has The Most FUN Stuff, Wins…

So, day one of the really big show is down for the count (and so am I after all that walking, oof). I saw a LOT of really cool stuff today that I’ll get around to writing about later this week. Here are some fun facts for you in the meantime to pore over (all of which and more will be covered in detail in the days to come):

. Star Wars FINALLY gets its own Scene-it game! Enough said – get your money ready.

. Little Bits. Remember that name, particularly if you’re into making stuff with assorted electronic components. Just passing by the booth made me think of a few dozen things I wanted to attempt to make…

. Also, remember  Mungi Bands. They’re not out just yet, but expect every pre-teen and teen to be hooked on these fun magnetic bracelets from a new North Carolina company. ..

. Board games, card and dice games are NOT dead. Sure they’re coming to iOS and Android platforms, but if you’re looking for a good old box full of excitement that you can play with people sitting around a table, there are an amazing number of options. That said, some of the popular board games getting a tech boost are pretty awesome…

. Speaking of board and card games, I got my biggest laugh of the day playing stuff at the Techno Source booth. Let’s just say that only a dog can beat a dragon in the Where’s Waldo universe…

. Don’t spend too much money on an iPad for your kid, as there’s another device coming that allows far better parental controls for MULTIPLE kids if your have them…

. If you’re in a state where toy guns are still legal (and you don’t have cops trained to go ballistic when they see kids having FUN), you can still buy some of the best quality six-shooters, rifles and other gear you’ll ever see and touch from a 76-year old company based out of Savannah, Tennessee…

. 3D as a fad isn’t dead jut yet. In fact, pretty much every one of those cardboard glasses you’ll find at public events all over the globe at everything from movies, to concerts to fireworks shows and even packed into DVD’s and games, all come from one company (which just so happens to also be from Tennessee)…

. There are Edible Bubbles that you can blow and eat. Like the soap bubbles you played with as a kid. But edible. And rum flavored, too. Yikes (but they ARE tasty!)…

More to come later – off to catch The Walking Dead