NICKELODEON TOY FAIR 2008 HIGHLIGHTS:
* SLIME!: It's green, and oozie and expected to hit retail shelves for
fall 2008. Created by JAKKS Pacific, the new line of products is based
on Nick's coveted green stuff, and allows kids to bestow the honor of
sliming upon their friends, family and loved ones. Slime was
introduced on Nickelodeon in 1982 and getting slimed has since become a
badge of honor for both kids and celebrities worldwide. The JAKKS line
includes: SLIME! Super Slimer Blaster that shoots slime as far as 25
feet (SRP: $19.99); SLIME! Time Splatter a not-so-ordinary ball for
games of catch with an explosive ending (SRP: $14.99); SLIME! Ball a
gooey sphere that oozes its way down walls in metallic and glitterized
shades of green (SRP: $4.99); SLIME! Can containers and SLIME! Bucket
containers that hold up to 20 ounces of the legendary goo
(SRP: $7.99/$12.99).
* DORA THE EXPLORER: Dora continues to dominate toy aisles worldwide.
According to the NPD Group, Dora is the number-one toy license for
girls of all ages in the U.S. (January-December 2007.) Dora has also
been the number-one license across all categories for the last two
years in France. New Dora products will roll out in electronic
learning, role-play, dress-up, dolls, doll houses, mini play-sets,
environmental, basics and for the first time ever, real musical
instruments from First Act.
In the U.S. and Canada from Fisher Price comes a great line based on
the upcoming "Dora Saves the Snow Princess" television movie on Nick Jr.:
Dora's Prance & Fly Pegasus (SRP: $39.99) -- magically opens its beautiful
wings and really walks for a range of adventures. Pegasus contains three
modes of play, including storytelling and a variety of motions. The Dora
Saves the Snow Princess Doll Line (SRP: $12.99) includes four unique 11"
preschool fashion dolls that have luxurious outfits and a special charm
that unlocks special adventures on Pegasus. The doll line follows the
success of last year's "Dora Saves the Mermaids" collection, which paved
Dora the Explorer's entry into fashion dolls. The Dora Deluxe Designer
Dollhouse (SRP: $79.99) follows up on the success of the original Dora's
Talking Dollhouse, launched in 2004, which is the top-selling Fisher Price
dollhouse of all-time. The brand-new dollhouse combines technology and
pop-open design to allow girls to decorate and personalize eight spacious
rooms, and activate a series of hotspots that magically light lamps, start
appliances and more.
Game leader Hasbro unveils Scrabble Junior, Dora the Explorer Edition
(SRP: $10.99) which leverages Dora's multicultural appeal into the
first-ever bilingual Scrabble game. Featuring English and Spanish game play
on a two- sided board, the new edition is perfect for kids ages five years
and up.
For the first-time, Dora's musical heritage takes the stage with real
musical instruments from First Act, including a Dora Six-Piece Percussion
Pack (SRP: $19.99) that includes a kazoo, klick klock, tambourine, jingle
tap, egg shaker and ocarina. The set comes packaged in a transparent back
pack.
Dora the Explorer is the new star of the Ravensburger line in the UK,
France and Benelux. What's in my Backpack? scheduled for fall 2008 release,
hones children's sense of touch and introduces the concept of taking turns
as they search for one of the 12 different items. In France, Goliath Games
will roll out Dora The Explorer Triominos in Fall 2008. One of the best
selling licensed toy products in France in 2007 (January-December, 2007),
Triominos is the classic triangular dominos game that perfectly compliments
Dora's play-to- learn elements.
* GO, DIEGO, GO!: Diego is the toy world's only preschool-targeted
action-hero! Focused on non-violent, eco-friendly fun, recent Diego
products have been recognized with Parents' Choice and Toy Wishes' All-
Star List awards. New Diego products will be launched at Toy Fair,
including basic play items as well as environmentally themed toys. A
new line of musical instruments debuts from First Act.
Fisher Price launches in the U.S. and Canada include: Diego's Animal
Rescue Railway (SRP: $49.99) -- which features a completely new and
innovative flexible track system that puts kids fully in control of track
configurations and variations. The railway comes with seven feet of track
and a motorized Diego engine plus figures, rescue cars and animals. Based
on the Nick Jr. episode "Diego's Great Dinosaur Rescue," Dinosaur Rescue
Mountain (SRP: $44.99) is shaped like a T-Rex fossil but opens up to reveal
a full dinosaur rescue outpost. The toy is packed with play features, sound
effects, bilingual phrases and 110 rescue missions. Also included are an
all-terrain vehicle and two dinosaur figures. Specially engineered for
little hands are brand new six-inch Diego Extreme Rescue Figures (SRP:
$7.99) and Extreme Rescue Deluxe Figures (SRP: $12.99), which also come to
retail this fall. Fisher Price will introduce the first Go, Diego, Go! line
in Australia in Summer 2008.
Hasbro's Chutes & Ladders, Go, Diego, Go! Edition (SRP: $10.99),
combines the classic up and down game with the bilingual focus and
action-packed adventures of Go, Diego, Go!. Choose your Animal Rescuer --
Diego, Alicia, Baby Jaguar or Rescue Pack to move along the game board.
Players will meet many interesting animals along the way, but they need to
watch out for those chutes!
Mega Brands introduces new Go, Diego, Go! preschool construction sets
that are perfect for supporting imaginary and basic play in kids three
years of age and up.
* THE WONDER PETS!: Making its Toy Fair debut is the hit animated
preschool music series, The Wonder Pets! Launched on Nick Jr. in 2006,
the show was the second highest-rated preschool show on commercial
television for the most recent quarter. Featuring three courageous
classroom pets, Ming-Ming Duckling, Turtle Tuck and Linny the Guinea
Pig, who each transform into superhero animal rescuers, new products
are poised to generate holiday 2008 excitement.
"This is Serious!" Ming Ming (SRP: $34.99) from Fisher Price, brings to
life signature phrases, songs and dance moves from The Wonder Pets!' heroic
and adorable duck. Featuring two modes of play, Ming Ming answers the shows
iconic 'can phone', strikes a save-the-day pose and then dances. She also
asks kids to join her in teamwork and teaches her one-of-a-kind dance.
* SPONGEBOB SQUAREPANTS: SpongeBob, a true global phenomenon and one of
the most successful names in licensing history, continues to break new
ground. With a brand-new line from Play Along, SpongeBob is slated to
have a big presence at retail in fall 2008.
Play Along has developed the Silly Talk SpongeBob (SRP: $24.99) toy
that is full of super silly phrases, tricky tongue-twisters and jolly
jokes. Grab SpongeBob's tongue or nose and you'll hear some silly sayings
that sound simply screwy!; Brand-new SpongeBob Plush, all themed to the
most popular SpongeBob SquarePants episodes ever, comes in beanbag-size
(SRP: $6.99) and in a larger-size (SRP: $14.99) which is packaged with a
special collectors card and a companion episode on DVD!
In Mexico, Famosa combines kid's favorite Nicktoon with one of their
favorite toys, rolling out a new line of SpongeBob SquarePants battery
powered ride-ons in Fall 2008.
* THE NAKED BROTHERS BAND: TEENick's musical heartthrobs meet the world
of toys with new products that take full advantage of the series' rock
'n' roll roots.
First Act has developed a full line of real musical instruments that
let kids six and over jam with The Naked Brothers Band. The product
assortment includes an electronic keyboard (SRP: $49.99), electronic drum
pad (SRP: $39.99); electric guitar (SRP: $99.99); acoustic guitar (SRP:
$59.99) and a karaoke microphone (SRP: $14.99.) All items feature band
graphics and designs.
Hasbro has created The Naked Brothers Band: North American Tour Game
(SRP: $14.99), for a brand-new way to play along with the band. Kids are on
the move trying to catch up to the band as they go on their North American
Tour and prove they are the ultimate fan. Players criss-cross North America
on a tour bus collecting tickets to all the concerts, and scoring points in
an effort to win the best seats possible. Watch out for the pitfalls along
the way, as well as other fans who want your tickets!
TOY AISLE TRENDS:
* Music: Always a key part of Nickelodeon's programming, music is making
its way to the toy department. Nickelodeon's new partnership with
First Act, a leader in quality musical instruments, will bring a mix of
strings, percussion, woodwinds and keyboards to toy shelves -- tied to
Nick hits, SpongeBob SquarePants, The Naked Brothers Band, Go, Diego,
Go! and Dora the Explorer. In addition to picking up an instrument,
kids can also play Hasbro's new music-inspired board game created for
The Naked Brothers Band. While sold primarily in the consumer
electronics aisle, Nickelodeon's Npower line of digital imaging and
multimedia products will continue to expand at retail in fall 2008.
* Technology: Continuing to become an essential ingredient in toys, a
number of new Nickelodeon products use new technology to provide kids
with new play experiences. Standouts include: Silly Talk SpongeBob
from Play Along, which includes smart-processor technology that
allows the toy to recognize when kids are holding its nose or pulling
its tongue and responding with an appropriate reaction. Dora's
Deluxe Designer Dollhouse features both pop-open and built in hotspot
technology that allows the house to both turn inside-out and also
enables functions like turning on a desk lamp, radio or computer in
rooms throughout the house. Diego's Animal Rescue Railway features a
new technology in non-powered flexible track that allows trains to
run in any direction with any kid-designed track configuration. Also
from Fisher Price, Dora's Style Your Own Digital Adventures Laptop is
a new interactive learning toy that can be used as an on-the-go
laptop or as a hand-held game play unit. The unit connects to seven
fun websites with bilingual learning. New from The Backyardigans,
one of Nickelodeon's fastest growing properties in Latin America with
more than 50 new licensees, is an FM/AM radio with MP3 capabilities
launching in Brazil in Fall 2008.
* Environmental: Nickelodeon has a number of new environmentally
focused products from partners Elmer's, DuneCraft and Summit that
leverage the popularity of Dora the Explorer, Go! Diego, Go!, The
Backyardigans and SpongeBob SquarePants. Elmer's science activity
kits, for each of the shows, allow kids to learn about weather,
crystals, rock collecting and prehistoric excavation. A brand new
line of Dora and Diego terrariums from DuneCraft allows kids to learn
about and cultivate plants, flowers and vegetables. Summit's outdoor
explorer toys tied to Dora the Explorer and Go! Diego, Go!, let kids
explore nature in their own backyards with butterflies, bugs and
frogs.
* Basic Play: Nickelodeon continues to emphasize the value of basic
play with partners including Mega Brands and Lego. Mega Brands is
adding to its successful Nick Jr. construction and basic building
toys with new products for Dora the Explorer and Go, Diego, Go!. For
older kids, Lego is adding to its imaginative and popular SpongeBob
SquarePants product with new sets that include the Bikini Bottom
Express and The Rocket Ride.
New Nickelodeon partnerships at Toy Fair 2008 include: First Act (Dora
the Explorer, Go, Diego, Go!, SpongeBob SquarePants and The Naked Brothers
Band musical instruments), Play Along (SpongeBob SquarePants plush and
toys), and JAKKS Pacific (SLIME!)
Established Nickelodeon licensees showing at Toy Fair 2008 include:
Basic Fun; Big Time Toys; Cardinal; CDI; Dunecraft; Elmer's; Fisher Price;
Franklin Sports; Hasbro; Kiddieland; Leap Frog; Learning Curve; Lego;
Little Kids; Mega Brands; Ohio Art; Playhut; PTI Sports; Rand
International; Rubies Costume Co.; Spinmaster; Ty, Inc.; United States
Playing Cards; VTech.
About Nickelodeon & Viacom Consumer Products
Nickelodeon & Viacom Consumer Products manages the world's third
largest licensing business, representing leading properties such as
SpongeBob SquarePants and Dora the Explorer, and managing merchandising for
Nick Jr., Nickelodeon, Comedy Central, MTVN International, and Spike TV.
Nickelodeon, in its 28th year, is the number-one entertainment brand
for kids. It has built a diverse, global business by putting kids first in
everything it does. The company includes television programming and
production in the United States and around the world, plus consumer
products, online, recreation, books, magazines and feature films.
Nickelodeon's U.S. television network is seen in almost 96 million
households and has been the number-one- rated basic cable network for 13
consecutive years. Nickelodeon and all related titles, characters and logos
are trademarks of Viacom Inc. (NYSE: VIA, VIA.B).