The Buzz
Staff -- Playthings, 5/1/2002
Applying similar technology used in its red hot Simpsons line, Playmates will offer Disney Magic Talk Princess 5-inch figures (Ariel pictured) beginning this August. Like Homer and his fellow Springfieldians, the figures will speak when placed on resistors on the playsets… Kids will be put to the test—literally—again this year for the 11th annual T.O.Y. Awards contest sponsored by FamilyFun magazine. Past winners chosen by panels of kid toy testers, under the supervision of independent research pros DRI, have included Tickle Me Elmo and Bratz dolls. Toy entry info is available from shari.starkey@digitalresearch.com…Thus far, McFarlane has grabbed the rights to all four major U.S. sports: baseball, football, hockey and basketball. Soccer? "We're headed in that direction. It's more regional; there're more contracts to deal with," says Todd McFarlane. But is it cost effective? The German market, for example, wants German players. So, he adds, once you get past releasing figures based on the top players, each region wants their own players…An early contender for Most Politically Incorrect Toy of 2002, Beet the Jolly Dwarf action figure is based on the frequent guest of the Howard Stern radio show. The 8-inch figure has 12 points of articulation and is available from Diamond Comics…For more buzz visit playthings.com.
