2024
Character Options
01616 339 800 | www.character-online.com | sales@charactergroup.plc.uk Stand N16 Character Options’ Toy Fair stand will have cross-category appeal, with new IPs like Smooshzees and Terror Fried joining exciting innovation for existing Heroes of Goo Jit Zu and Stay Active ranges, a sweet treat for young foodies and a new interactive pet, Teksta Purro. Character Options will be introducing Smooshzees. These squeezable stretchy characters are cute and highly collectable. Smooshzees are based on trending and exotic characters, each with its own colourful personality to stimulate kids’ imagination through play. The combination of super-soft filling covered with a velvety, stretchy outer skin means Smooshzees offer the softest hugs. There are many different characters to collect, across three sizes. At the smaller end of the scale are the 3.5” Cutezees, while 4.5” mid-sized Luvees are that extra bit smooshier, and Snugzees come in at almost 8”. Each scale includes two chasezee characters, and all pets come in stackable try-me packaging so customers can feel the softness and see the characters peeping out of the pack. Heroes of Goo Jit Zu is a cornerstone property of Character Options’ portfolio and introduces the all-new Stretch Strikers product line-up for AW24. The team has revealed an extra-special launch coming later in the year: the Heroes of Goo Jit Zu Hero Creator Pack, based on the TikTok trend (which has generated over 100m views to date), whereby people challenge themselves to see how far they can inflate their GJZ toys. The kits come with all fans need to create their very own Goo Jit Zu Hero straight from the pack. Included is a dispenser unit, a Blazagon or Thrash skin, removable head and three different compoundfillings to create a unique hero. Not only can the Goo Jit Zu character be emptied and re-filled, but kids can also get creative with their fillings, adding their own liquids, compounds and slime to customize their heroes again and again. Meanwhile, Character’s Stay Active collection will remain a go-to and trusted brand for fun active toys that can be enjoyed by the whole family, and played both indoors and out. The new Stay Active Get Low Balance Board is a full-body workout and fun challenge game in one. Launching late spring, the aim of the game is to follow the instructions accurately and do so in good time. There are three modes of play: challenge, lightening and chill. Terror Fried is a ‘horrifyingly’ fun range that delivers unsavoury compounds and collectability. Packed with repulsion, it’s filled with appeal for kids who love gross stuff. Terror Fried’s food-themed line-up includes Nasty Nibbles, Horror Burger and Slimy Box, as well as the all-encompassing Gross Bucket. With each set, kids will discover horrifying critters and creatures as collectible figures, hidden among foul compounds. Crispy cockroaches, battered rats and more can be found within slimes, gloops and lumpy foams. Kids can drop burgers and nuggets into the fry bucket to enjoy the fizz‘n’fry dissolving effect, rip open foul and stinking milkshakes to splat-out lumpy foam slime, crack open packs of fries to reveal the slimy squelch within, and peel-and-reveal smelly, oozing condiment sachets - as well as so much more. From AW24, Character’s portfolio will also be home to Teksta Purro. This interactive kitten has impressive functionality and has no need for apps, WiFi or Bluetooth. Not only can she move around avoiding obstacles, but she also dances, raises her head and chases after her mouse. Kids will always know how she feels with emotive eyes and 100+ sounds including purrs, laughs and burps. With haptic touch sensors, Purro responds to petting, and kids can watch her ears wiggle and react to music and voices. She’ll respond to yes or no questions, eat, and sing back songs in meows. She also comes with accessories to further extend play value. From autumn-winter, families can use the 1-Minute Cotton Candy Machine to create all the spun sugar fun of the carnival at home, using standard table sugar and will delight in the magic of making their own cotton candy in just 60 seconds. The portable, handheld machine is the perfect size to take to parties and sleepovers and has a rechargeable battery to ensure the fun will never end.
Toy World 252
