Since 1903, New York Toy Fair has been arguably the largest event of its kind, a mammoth celebration of toys and collectibles. As this year’s fair ends, here’s a recap the biggest announcements and most exciting news to come out of the event.
Toy of the Year Award Winners
There were a few surprise winners and a few that we had pegged the whole time – Fingerlings – at the Toy of the Year Awards. Here is a list of all the finalists and winners.
Toy Fair License News
Hasbro Becomes Master Licensee for Power Rangers
Image: Saban Brands
Not only will Hasbro celebrate its 25th anniversary this year, it is also celebrating the company’s partnership with Saban’s Power Rangers. Hasbro will become the master licensee of Power Rangers starting in 2019. The previous master license was held by Bandai for 25 years. Hasbro will design a variety of TV and movie toys and items used for role-playing, it will also create collectibles for a new TV show called Power Rangers: Beast Morphers. The Power Rangers brand will also have a new logo. While the license will remain with Bandai in Japan and a few other smaller Asian nations, Hasbro will control the license for the rest of the world, making it a huge get for the popular toy company.
Lin-Manuel Miranda and Entertainment Earth Partner to Launch First Toy and Collectibles Line
Entertainment Earth announced the signing of a license with TeeRico by Lin-Manuel Miranda (the Hamilton creator’s merchandise brand) to create a toy and collectible product line. The first product announced is Lin-Manuel Miranda and his beloved dog Tobi adorably designed in the highly popular Pin Mates™ brand of wooden figures.
Collectible Reveals and Announcements
More Hasbro Announcements
Hasbro launched its new Pulse mobile app. With this free app, you will receive news about new Hasbro products coming out and be able to create your own wish list for future purchasing, which you will be able to go through the app. You can also avoid duplications with your own collection list.
Hasbro also announced the Marvel Cinema Universe 10th anniversary 6-inch actions figures. Although there was a variety of figures shown, including a Tony Stark and Iron Man 2-pack, and Hulk and Hulkbuster Armor 2-pack – the figures of Iron Man, Captain America, and Ronan the Accuser from Guardians of the Galaxy are the only ones available for pre-order currently.
Hasbro Marvel Products
Hasbro will also be expanding on its various other lines as well. The company showed off:
- The new Ultimate Riders figures: Black Widow, Ghost Rider, and Wolverine, each with its own motorcycle.
- Infinity War Herovision game is a new alternate reality game that ties in with the upcoming Avengers: Infinity War movie. A video is available now online.
- Gameverse Figures: Contest of Champions Mobile Game characters.
- Legends Series Role Play Items: Black Panther mask and Infinity Gauntlet. Both of these feature working light and sound.
And much more.
My Little Pony Reveals
My Little Pony will be celebrating its 35th anniversary with a new line called Cutie Mark Crew, and a new holiday special titled Best Gift Ever. Then season 8 of the show will pick up right from the end of the new movie.
Transformers News
Cyberverse, a new Transformers series will debut in 2018. Figures from the series, called Action Attackers, will also become available. These exciting figures will feature real action while transforming.
Other Transformers news includes a new digital series called Power of the Primes, and a new trilogy called War for Cybertron. And cool surprises for longtime fans, how about a studio series that will feature iconic characters, along with scenes from the Transformers films, and Generations: a release on vinyl records – music from the classic cartoon. Really, how cool is that?!
Star Wars Collectibles
From a galaxy far, far away comes toys and collectibles such as:
- A Force Master Lightsaber that has changing colors and voices to go with them. Do you want to be Obi-Wan Kenobi? Fire up the blue lightsaber. Do battle as Mace Windo? Your lightsaber will change to purple for that. And on and on.
- A First Order baton will be added to the Black Series FX line. This will be the first non-lightsaber in the line.
- In conjunction with FurReal Friends, you can add to your Star Wars fun with the Ultimate Chewie electronic toy. He’s got over 100 sounds and four expressions sound?
- Other Hasbro Star Wars news included the return of The Vintage Collection – an Imperial Assault Tank Vehicle from Rogue One: A Star Wars Story (which we saw teases of at SDCC), Forcelink 2.0 that will be able to be uplinked via Bluetooth, and with an accompanying app will be able to interact with Forcelink 1.0. A whole bunch of 6-inch and 3 3/4-inch figures will be available.
- Now live is Hasbro’s first crowdfunding project, which will be a 4-foot long Jabba’s sail barge that will include a 3 3/4-inch scale figure of Jabba, vintage packaging, a 64-page book about the making of the toy and the real barge, and insider updates.
- And to top it all off, a new Yak Face at Star Wars Celebration in Spring 2019!
Funko Announcements
Image: Funko
New licenses announced by Funko include Thundercats and Conan the Barbarian for their Savage World figures. Funko also had on display numerous collectibles from its Pop!, Plush, and 3 3/4-inch figures, as well as many others.
NECA Reveals
Image: Toyark
NECA brought a new level of horror collection with the announcement of Pennywise figures from both It films. Other new figures announced include the Ultimate Predator 2018 Figure, and Predator 2 Ultimate Elder: The Golden Angel, as well as others.
BlueFin Displays
Bluefin featured Bandai Tamashii Nations collectibles and Bandai Star Wars model kits. Storm Collectibles was represented by Mortal Kombat, Street Fighter, King of Fighters, and Mike Tyson. And Iron Studios displayed their Black Panther and Spider-Man: Homecoming dioramas.
Mattel and Jurassic World Roar to Life
Image: Jurassic Outpost
Last but not least, Mattel talked up the company’s newest license, the Jurassic franchise! With Jurassic World: Fallen Kingdom due out this year, the Mattel showed off a plethora of toys from the new film. They include:
- Basic Dinosaur Attack Pack, just in case, you know, you come face to face with an actual dinosaur.
- Basic Human action figure with an accessory.
- Electronic “Roarivores” Dinosaurs, which feature a great articulation, biting action, and button activated roars. The electronic dinos in this line are the triceratops, allosaurus, metriacanthosaurus, baryonyx, and more.
- The Action Attacks will feature a carnotaurus, and stegosaurus, among others.
- The real standout figures villain of the new film, the indoraptor, and the stunning massive mosasaurus and t-rex.
- There are also plenty of toy vehicles, and even two new POWER Wheels, one of the classic Jeep from Jurassic Park, and the other is a Raptor Quad.
So many toys and collectibles and so little time. But 2018 looks like it will be a great year for the people who collect them.
Did we miss any cool announcements from Toy Fair? Let us know in the comments below.
