This year's American International Toy Fair (New York City, NY) is bearing witness and confirmation to a number of trends, according to event organizers, that could shape many organizations' outlook on 2012 consumer products. Toys priced to the higher end of the spectrum, fundamentally more interactive items for toddlers, and products designed with "generation app" in mind, are all on the table for the toy fair this year. Nickelodeon has proffered its options earlier this week [recent A.I. news: "
Int'l Toy Fair 2012: Nickelodeon" (02/2012)], but southern California's JAKKS Pacific is likely have a hand in these market adjustments as well.
JAKKS Pacific has scheduled a busy year ahead for itself, including but not limited to the debut of several toys and figures based on the new 2D cartoon
Monsuno, arriving at retail by March 2012; an extended line of boy-skewing action figures based on MARVEL movie properties,
Men in Black 3, and
The Smurfs; a plethora of preschool role-play items; and several fairy-themed items for autumn, for fans of Disney's and Tinkerbell brand.
A list of the new, animation and kids media-related toys and products noted by JAKKS Pacific at the American Int'l Toy Fair 2012 begins on the
following page of this Animation Insider news article.
The animated television series
Monsuno will premiere on the cable channel Nicktoons later in the month, but JAKKS Pacific has it in mind to keep retailers abreast of the items kids could be demanding from them in the forthcoming spring and summer months.
Monsuno itself falls into the tradition of monster-collection cartoons and tracks a youngster and his pals who must learn the secrets of a slew of peculiar monsters before its too late. JAKKS Pacific, acting as master toy licensee for the property, has developed a number of corresponding action figures, collectible cards, and electronic battle toys.
Among the MARVEL highlights are a line of twelve-inch plush dolls based on
MARVEL Super Hero Squad and collectible miniatures designed for characters appearing in the upcoming live-action feature
The Avengers. Elsewhere, JAKKS Pacific readies a few new
Pokemon products, namely by focusing on the life of the Pokemon trainer with a new Battle Playset.
The toy company is also planning to devote a great deal of time to action figures and gadgets (
Men in Black 3) and beanbag plush toys (
The Smurfs).
In autumn, the Disney Fairies brand will welcome a new array of dolls and playsets. According to JAKKS Pacific, the toys will merge classic and contemporary styles, offering kids the chance to enjoy fashionable fairies in more modern toy designs. Disney's next direct-to-video fairy-themed animation,
Secret of the Wings, is scheduled for an autumn home video release as well.
