Observations & Opinions Anticipation

BY BOB GLASER

We nally made it to a fullblown, live in-person, Toy Fair put on by the Toy Association (TA). Many in the industry have been waiting for this since February of 2020, the last time the industry gathered for a TA Toy Fair.

October 2023 · Volume 18, No. 3

Publisher Bob Glaser Bob@TTPM.com

Vice President, Advertising & Sales

Donna Moore

Donna@TTPM.com

Controller

BOB GLASER, PUBLISHER

I, for one, am very excited about this particular Toy Fair for a number of reasons. ere has been so much discussion, frustration, rumor sharing, and anxiety about this show, especially since the LA previews have been growing in terms of manufacturers showing product, and retail buyers visiting many of said manufacturers. Having the LA previews several weeks before Toy Fair, and lasting for several weeks therea er, will surely have an impact on manufacturer and buyer attendance in New York. Who will exhibit, who will attend, where/when will next year happen? Hopefully by the time you are reading this, the last question will be answered. It will be very interesting to see how the rst two questions are answered.

Toy Fair, for me, has always had a Christmas morning-like feel to it, thanks to the excitement and anticipation of the build up to the event. e weeks, and in this case, the years of waiting are nally over. We all now have the opportunity to “open” all the new products, pick them up, touch them, feel them and play with them in person, instead of looking at a slide show on zoom or watching someone else manipulate them on a screen. Unlike Christmas morning, the fun and excitement will last for several days. Like Christmas, where the anticipation and excitement builds and builds, just like the children who receive the gi s, we’ll be able to play with these new toys for the coming months. Side note, be sure to send in your new products to TTPM for a FREE review!

No matter where or when the toy industry meets en masse, just like Santa Claus does every Christmas, manufacturers and retailers will continue to bring new and exciting toys for the next generation of children to play and create lifelong memories with.

Have a great show!

Eileen Palermo

Eileen@TTPM.com

Editor in Chief Jim Silver Jim@TTPM.com

Editorial Manager Nick Truss Nick@TTPM.com

Contributors

Mary Couzin, Ed Desmond, Stephanie Gaspari, Tim Kilpin, Matt Nuccio, Jack Placidi, Tanya ompson, Natasha Tous, Sue War eld aNb Media, Inc.

Interested in a subscription? Contact Bob Glaser at Bob@TTPM.com.

999 South Oyster Bay Road, Suite 105A

Bethpage, NY, 11714

Phone: (646) 763-8710 · Fax: (646) 763-8727

Toys & Family Entertainment (TFE) is published three times per year by aNb Media. Copyright 2023 aNb Media. All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced or transmitted in any form, or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photography, recording, or any information storage and retrieval system, without written permission from the publisher. Printed in the U.S.A., TFE, TFE Licensing, and Specialty Emporium are registered trademarks of aNb Media. Opinions and comments expressed in this publication by edtiors, contributing writers, or solicited or unsolicited documents are not necessarily those of management

What’s Trending?

These trending lists are based on aNb Media’s consumer website, TTPM.com, and related YouTube channels. TTPM’s Top Trending Lists are generated by the number of views for that item across toy, baby, and pet categories. Here are the lists of top trenders as of September 15th, 2023.

Top 10 Trending Toys

Star Wars Ahsoka Chatter Back Chopper

Hasbro

DC Comics Batman Adventures 12″

Action Figure

Spin Master

Lite-Brite Touch and Lite-Brite

Super Bright HD Disney 100 Edition

Basic Fun!

Squishmallows Damien the Dino and Pikachu

Jazwares

Furby (2023)

Hasbro

Disney Doorables Academy Crew Figure Pack & Multi Peek Series 10

Just Play

NERF Elite 2.0 Double Punch

Hasbro

Monopoly: Barbie Edition

Hasbro

Bum Bumz Breakfast Bumz

Jazwares

Style Bae Dolls

Just Play

Top 5 Trending Baby

MyFit ClearTex Harness & Booster Car Seat

Chicco

Willow Brook Travel System

Britax

Sweetli Calm Bassinet

TruBliss

Baby GUND My Little Food Truck

Spin Master

Invidyo Baby Monitor

Invidyo

Top 5 Trending Pet

Benebone Tripe Bone

Benebone

Playology Dog Toys

Playology

Foobler Dog Toy

L'Chic

Scratch N’ Spin Cat Toy

SmartyKat

Slow Treater XL

AquaPaw

TTPM Kicks off the Holiday Season with the 2023 Most Wanted List

TTPM, the leading video product reviewer for toys, baby gear & pet gear, unveiled their Most Wanted List of the hottest toys for the 2023 holiday season at their annual TTPM 2023 Holiday Showcase event, held in New York City. “We put this list together as we do every year, testing and playing with hundreds of toys to determine which ones deserve a spot on our Most Wanted list,” said Jim Silver, CEO of TTPM. “ is year’s list highlights toys based on entertainment properties and those that encourage both learning and active play and role play and imaginative play. We’ve also expanded our list, identifying ten toys that are specialty trailblazers that consumers may not be aware of. Our goal is to help parents nd the right toy for their child and this year’s list is a perfect place to start.” For more information and to view details on the 2023 Holiday Most Wanted List, visit TTPM.com.

Barbie Announces the 2023 Career of the Year Doll - Women in Sports

Since 1959, the Barbie brand’s purpose has been to inspire the limitless potential in every girl and with 250+ careers and counting. From princess to president, astronaut to zoologist, Barbie reminds girls they can be anything – and that message has never been more relevant than it is today as it announces its 2023 Career of the Year Collection: Women in Sports, highlighting four careers in the sports industry including a General Manager, Coach, Referee and Sports Reporter. Timed to the start of the NFL season – a sport traditionally thought of as male-dominated – the Women in Sports set was designed to underscore all the possibilities sports unlock for the next generation of women. is collection will help pave the way for a future where women’s voices and talent are acknowledged and commemorated in the realm of sports and beyond.

The LEGO Group Pledges to Achieve Net-zero Emissions by 2050

e LEGO Group has pledged to achieve net-zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2050 as part of its continued e orts to reduce environmental impact. Niels B Christiansen, CEO, the LEGO Group said: “Our immediate priority is to meet our 2032 carbon reduction targets and we’re making progress across a range of initiatives. is new, long-term goal will ensure that the decisions we make today will reduce our carbon footprint over the coming decades. It will also encourage future generations of LEGO employees, partners and suppliers to continue working with a sense of urgency to reduce the environmental impact of our business. We know that children are looking to us to do what’s right. Caring for the environment is one of their top concerns and we receive hundreds of letters a year with great ideas from kids on how we can make a di erence.”

Licensing Street to Represent MOLANG in the United States

Molang – the Ambassador of Kindness – has been picked up in the US by Licensing Street, topping o a busy year of live events, new capsule collections, record plush sales, and a new gig as a YouTube in uencer! is June Molang made history by being one of the rst animated characters from an animated family series to successfully break into the world of in uencing with its own YouTube channel. Brand new weekly content has Molang and sidekick Piu Piu interacting directly with fans in video concepts normally produced with people –gaming, ASMR, reactions - propelling the brand into a whole new dimension of social media. Especially exciting are the cross-promotion projects the iconic character can take on with partners and brands that share Molang’s core message of kindness.

Women in Toys, Licensing & Entertainment Mourns the Loss of Beloved Past President Joan Packard Luks

It is with heavy hearts that Women in Toys, Licensing & Entertainment announces the passing of their beloved past president, Joan Packard Luks. Joan was a revered licensing executive, mentor to many, and an industry luminary. Her radiant spirit and warm demeanor made everyone who knew her feel like family. Joan passed away on Tuesday, September 5, 2023, leaving behind a profound legacy in the world of toys and licensing. roughout her impressive career, Joan dedicated herself to the world of licensing, becoming a longstanding member of Licensing International. In the 1990s, she made an indelible mark as the Director of Licensing at GUND, a plush company. During her tenure at GUND, Joan forged groundbreaking partnerships with industry giants such as Disney, Nickelodeon, Sesame Workshop, Warner Bros., and many others. Her strategic vision and commitment to excellence helped elevate GUND into a signi cant player in the industry, with a remarkable portfolio that included iconic properties like Winnie the Pooh, Sesame Street, Dragon Tales, Dora the Explorer, Beatrix Potter, Barney, Curious George, Pat the Bunny, Scooby Doo, Harry Potter, Olivia, and countless others. “Joan’s vibrancy, positivity, and warmth brightened the lives of everyone fortunate enough to know her,” said WiT President, Janice Ross. “Her contributions to our industry were matched only by her genuine kindness and unwavering dedication to upli ing others. Joan will be deeply missed but will remain forever in our hearts as a beacon of inspiration and a beloved friend.”