COMMENTARY: Anticipated Summer Blockbusters Inspire “Super” Toys

April 24, 2013 By

This summer, the big screen will light up with superheroes, including the releases of Iron Man 3 and Man of Steel. And with summer superhero movies comes superhero toys, which range from role play to action figures to slingshots. Toys inspired by movies give kids the chance to be – and play with – superheroes. Here are some of my favorites from these two upcoming films:

Iron Man 3 (May 3)

Marvel Iron Man 3 Motorized ARC FX Gauntlet

0065356981893_300X300Kids can pretend to armor up like Iron Man with the wrist-mount disc-blasting gauntlet from Hasbro by firing foam discs more than 20 feet with the gauntlet’s motorized rapid-fire blasting action. Each Iron Man 3 Arc Fx Gauntlet comes with 10 Nerf foam discs.

 

Marvel Iron Man 3 Assemblers Action Figures

The Assemblers Action Figures allow fans to recreate the excitement of the film with this iron-man-toys-iron-man-3-avengers-initiative-assemblers-iron-patriot-figure-1buildable line from Hasbro. Each figure features an interchangeable Armor System, allowing one figure to create more than 25 armor combinations. The armor can be switched out between the 16 available figures in the line to create hundreds of more combinations.

Man of Steel (June 14)

Man of Steel Quick Shots Basic Figures Assortment

340x450Quick Shots figures from Mattel bring Superman’s flying abilities and heroism to life. The stretchy soft figures are designed to safely soar through the air, gently knocking down obstacles set-up in their path. And they’re simple to use! The Quick Shot figure attaches to the launcher figure and is pulled back and released like a slingshot. These will be available in May.

Man of Steel Movie Masters Action Figure

Movie Masters figures from Mattel are designed with authentic detail to bring Mattel - Man of Steel Superman Movie Masterfans’ favorite characters to life. This assortment of high-quality figures features heroes and villains from the movie Man of Steel. Fans can pose the figures in countless ways due to its high level of articulation. This action figures will be available in June.

Your adventure doesn’t have to stop once you leave the movie theater this summer. Continue fighting crime with your favorite heroes with great toys and collectibles.

For more commentary from Ali, check back often. Views expressed in this column are solely those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of The Toy Book as a whole. We hope that you will share your comments and feedback below. Until next time!

Filed Under: 3-5, 5-8, 6-8, 8 and up, 9 and up, Commentary Tagged With: , , , , , , , , ,

Hasbro Prepares to Unveil Iron Man 3 Line

January 24, 2013 By

Hasbro, Inc.,  has expanded its Marvel Iron Man 3 line with the Iron Assemblers 3.75-inch action figure assortment. Each figure features an Interchangeable Armor System, allowing one figure to create more than 25 armor combinations and allowing armor to be switched out between the 16 available figures in the line to create hundreds of additional combinations. The assortment is suitable for kids ages 4 and up, and action figures are available in six varieties.

Hasbro will release additional details about the Iron Man 3 line as the American International Toy Fair nears. The fair will begin on Sunday, February 11 at the Jacob K. Javits Convention Center in New York City.

Check out the Iron Assemblers below!

 

Filed Under: Licenses, New Products, Trade Shows/Events Tagged With: , , , , , , ,

Trends International Launches Tape Works Line

January 17, 2013 By

Trends International LLC will launch its exclusive line of decorative tape within its paper craft product category. Tape Works, is causing quite a stir among retailers. Each roll is 50 feet long and can decorate nearly anything, including scrapbook pages, gift packages and bags, cards, school supplies, lockers, and frames. Users can also write on it and layer it to personalize projects. Look now for non-licensed patterns, including mustaches, leopard print, and cupcakes. Licensed titles will follow in March and April.

The Tape Works program includes licenses such as Disney Fairies, Marvel’s Spider-Man, and Warner Brothers’ The Big Bang Theory.

Expanding the Tape Works line, as well as launching other products, including new Sandylion paper craft stickers, remains a high priority for the company.

 

Filed Under: New Products Tagged With: , , , , , , ,

Fall Toy Preview: New Top Trumps Cards

October 7, 2010 By

Top Trumps card games are similar to War, which is played with normal playing cards. But instead of featuring a number and a suit, Top Trumps cards feature statistics such as speed, skill, strength, and more that coincide with the theme of the deck. The object of the game is to beat—or trump—your opponent’s card by choosing your best stat for that card. The player that trumps wins the card, and the game keeps going until a player wins the entire deck.

New Top Trumps card games for 2011 will include Moshi Monsters, Go Go Crazy Bones, Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, Top Trumps Activity Super Hero Squad, and Top Trumps Tournament Marvel.

For more Fall Toy Preview coverage, pick up The Toy Book‘s September/October issue!

Filed Under: Licenses, New Products Tagged With: , , , , , ,

Fall Toy Preview: Maisto-Marvel Toy Airplanes

October 6, 2010 By

Marvel Super Hero Squad Caricature Aircrafts are new from Maisto International, Inc. Each of the six characters has its own plane and, with wingspans of approximately four inches, they’re just the right size for little hands. Kids can choose from Captain America, Dr. Doom, Iron Man, Silver Surfer, Spider-Man, and Thor. The products feature a sturdy die-cast metal and plastic construction.

For more Fall Toy Preview coverage, pick up The Toy Book‘s September/October issue!

Filed Under: Licenses, New Products Tagged With: , , , , , , , ,

Disney Strives to Target Boys

June 7, 2010 By

Andy Mooney, chairman of Disney Consumer Products (DCP), last week announced DCP’s new goal to significantly increase annual global retail sales of Disney and Marvel licensed merchandise within the next five years, with boys’ merchandise playing a prominent role.

DCP’s core strategy is to focus on newer properties targeting the boys’ market, including Marvel franchises, TRON, and the Disney Channel and Disney XD series Phineas and Ferb.

The upcoming release of Cars 2 in June 2011 will be supported with cross-company initiatives that are expected to exceed Toy Story 3 retail sell-in. Cars Toons, the series of shorts airing on Disney Channel, has provided fresh merchandising themes for incremental retail programs globally.
[Read more...]

Filed Under: News Tagged With: , , , , , , ,

Shout! Factory to Distribute Marvel Knights Animation DVDs

April 29, 2010 By

Under a multi-year agreement, Shout! Factory has been named the exclusive U.S. home entertainment distributor with licensing rights to Marvel Knights Animation properties, including Astonishing X-Men: Gifted, Black Panther, Iron Man: Extremis, Spider-Woman, and more to be announced.

Marvel Knights Animation merges Marvel comic book graphics with dynamic animation to create motion comics.

Early this year, Shout! Factory was named the exclusive U.S. home entertainment distributor for Marvel’s animated series, The Super Hero Squad Show.

Filed Under: Uncategorized Tagged With: , , ,

New Animated Series for Spidey

April 19, 2010 By

Marvel Entertainment has announced a new animated series for Spider-Man. Ultimate Spider-Man launches in fall 2011 on Disney XD. The new series will chronicle the adventures of naive high-schooler Peter Parker as he comes to grips with his new powers.

Along with his new powers, the challenge for the young web-slinger in the new series is balancing his relationships with his friends and family and his super colleagues who can help him gain an understanding of his parent’s legacy and his destiny. Check out more at Marvel.com.

(Photo credit: Marvel.com)

Filed Under: 6-8, 9 and up, News Tagged With: , , , ,

Shout! Factory Named U.S. Home Entertainment Distributor for The Super Hero Squad

February 22, 2010 By

Shout! Factory has signed a multi-year deal with Marvel Animation, Inc. to become the U.S. home entertainment distributor with licensing rights for The Super Hero Squad Show. The series debuted on Cartoon Network US last October.

Shout! Factory is planning to roll out a home entertainment product line, including DVDs, based on the series later this year.

The Super Hero Squad Show is an animated series featuring Marvel’s most popular characters such as Captain America, Silver Surfer, Thor, Hulk, Wolverine and Iron Man, with a comedic twist. The heroes team up to face the world’s greatest villains, aiming to protect Super Hero City from Dr. Doom’s wild and weird minions.

Filed Under: Licenses, New Products, News Tagged With: , ,

Iron Man 2 Takes Over Toy Fair

February 18, 2010 By

At Toy Fair, Marvel Entertainment, LLC debuted a slew of partners and product lines based on the company’s upcoming flick, Iron Man 2, and franchise, Marvel’s Super Hero Squad.

Hasbro, the master toy licensee for Super Hero Squad and Iron Man 2 (in theaters May 7), is introducing a wide range of toy and game products, including  action figures, roleplay, preschool toys, board games, and puzzles. At the four-day event, Hasbro debuted the new Iron Man Helmet, featuring directives from Jarvis, and a “slow release” visor, and the R/C Walking Iron Man (above), a toy that allows kids to send the character walking forward across the floor and fire projectiles from his hand and shoulder rockets.

[Read more...]

Filed Under: Licenses, New Products, News Tagged With: , , , , , , , , , ,
« Older Posts