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Another year has gone by since the last Toy Fair in New York City and I have painstakingly gone through all the articles in magazines and various web sites to bring you this almost complete report. I just wish one of these years I will be able to go, but alas, it is not open to the public.
First up, are the various lines that Bandai is going to be putting out this year. They will have an Anime Collector line that has the likes of several anime shows behind it. This one will have figures from Cowboy Bebop and Escaflowne as well as others that have yet to be confirmed, and look for them in the summer. Also in the summer, look for figures and vehicles based on the Final Fantasy movie coming in May. The figures will be about six inches tall and should retail for around $10. The vehicles will come about the same time and will not be in scale with the figures and will cost about $15.
Hasbro is returning the Transformers license to the old 1980's "Robots in Disguise" aspect of the line. They will come in normal transformer sizes as well as in two packs about the same size as Hot Wheels cars. Start looking for them in mid-summer to fall. I've wanted this line to return to the old ways for a long time, and now hopefully they will come. Hasbro also decided to release more for their 12-inch and 3.75 inch GI Joe lines. The twelve-inch lines will have a line based on the Pearl Harbor attack as well as foreign figures like a Zero Pilot from WWII and a Russian Army Soldier from WWII. The 3.75 inch figures will see rehashes of Destro and Cobra Commander and some Joes, and at least three new vehicles; a Land Assault Vehicle (a painted up AWE Striker), Night Landing Craft and the SHARC. Lastly, what would a toy report be without Star Wars? It looks like they have decided to put out at least six figures this year (hopefully they are gearing up for Episode II.) Look for Duro who the fans "voted for" (I surely did not, I voted for Amanaman), Tessek (known as Squid head), a Bespin Guard and more. Also rumor has it that some vehicles will be exclusive to some retailers starting in the late spring and early summer. The rumor is that the TIE Interceptor will be a Target exclusive and a B-Wing fighter will be a Toys R Us exclusive. Hopefully, this is true because I have so wanted those two to finish a space vehicles set from the movies.
Jakks Pacific is planning major additions to their WWF figure line. First up is the fact that they are replacing the Back Talking Crushers line with one called Slammin' Superstars. There will also be figures that have a special action. For example there will be a Rikishi that slaps his backside and a HHH that spits water. There will also be the traditional figures like Perry Saturn, Eddie Guerrero and Steven Richards out some time in the spring to fall seasons. On a sad note, there were supposed to be Jim Ross and Jerry Lawler figures put out, but since Mr. Lawler left the WWF that puts the Jim Ross figure out of action for the time being. That was bad to hear. I wanted a Jerry Lawler figure for my Stone Cold, Undertaker and Tazz figures to beat up in a handicap match.
Mattel will probably have the hottest license for the year when they release their Harry Potter line of toys. It seems that they will be going the same route with this line that Playmates did with their Simpsons line. His line will be interactive with various playsets that they are making. Hopefully this set will be much more action oriented than those from the Simpsons line.
McFarlane will be expanding into their fourth Movie Maniacs line this year with the addition of Movie Maniacs IV. It has been confirmed that there will be six new figures for the line. Look for Jason X, Blair Witch, Evil Ash, Candyman, T-800 and T-1000. They will also be expanding their 3D animation line with a second series. This one will have Akira, Joker (from Akira) Soul Taker, Tenchi Masaki and Major Motoko Kusanagi (from Ghost in the Shell).
N2 toys has the rights to do toys from the Tick television series. In the summer look for Tick, Arthur, Captain Liberty (looks a lot like American Maid), Bat Manuel and Red Scare.
Our last stop takes us to Playmates toys. They have big time plans for their Simpsons line. They have two waves of figures that I have reported on in past Toy Chests. Some additions include a Simpson's family car due this summer, as well as a huge street environment playset that comes with two figures (pimply faced teen and Hans Moleman).
That is all for this month, next month look for more plain news from the net and various publications.
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