Stock and scare

In the spirit of the approaching Halloween season, a few ghoulish products will make any store fit the season. But retailers don't necessarily have to limit selling the scary to Halloween alone. As gloomier toys are becoming popular with adults, keeping them in stock will keep customers drawn in long after October.

Joe DiDomenico, co-creator and art director at Applehead Factory, Morton, Pa., tells Playthings that he wanted to appeal to horror movie fans and toy geeks at heart with Teddy Scares.

The bear-like critters are soft and cuddly…but cute? Teddy Scares feature plush bears like Redmond Gore, Rita Mortis and Edwin Morose. Some have one eye or stitches. Cute is stretching it.

“We all relate to a teddy bear from our childhood,” says DiDomenico. “We love them and don't want to see them hurt. That is the meaning behind Teddy Scares. Love your toys; they brought you so much joy as a kid.”

Series 2, in October, features Sheldon Grogg, Mundy Grudge, Mazey Podge, Eli Wretch and Granger Evermore.

Stickers, buttons and apparel will bow later this year—a book of short stories is also in the works. “This past year the bears sold well at Halloween,” says DiDomenico. “But they also did great the entire year.”

How strange.

Also on the dark front is Emily the Strange. The 13-year-old raven-haired heroine, with her four black cats returns later this year and in 2006 following the release of the latest Emily book, Good Nightmares.

The brand includes 6-inch action character figures with plush versions of the cats, including a patchwork cats line. A limited edition resin bust of Emily on Chair and Chairman of the Bored will also be out for the holiday season. In 2006 a Cat in the Box and two new Emily figures will debut by Toynami, Sherman Oaks, Calif.