Raving Toy Maniac

Legendary Taps JAKKS Pacific as Master Toy Licensee for the Upcoming Theatrical Release of Warcraft®

MALIBU, Calif. -- February 12, 2015 -- Legendary will bring one of the most popular game series of all-time to the big screen with the live-action feature film, Warcraft. Leading U.S. toymaker JAKKS Pacific, Inc. has secured the Master Toy license for the highly-anticipated release, which hits theatres in March of 2016. This comprehensive agreement grants JAKKS the rights to manufacture, distribute and market action figures in all scales, basic and feature plush, playsets, role-play items and Halloween costumes and accessories. Based on Blizzard Entertainment's Warcraft universe, which includes the acclaimed multiplayer online role-playing game World of Warcraft®, the film is directed by Duncan Jones (Moon, Source Code) and stars Travis Fimmel, Paula Patton, Ben Foster, Dominic Cooper, and Toby Kebbell.

Top Toy Trends of 2015 Announced by Toy Industry Association (TIA), the Official Voice of Toy Fair

"Maker Movement" ... "Smart Play" ... "Mini Madness" ... and "Under the Sea" Among Top Trends

NEW YORK, Feb. 15, 2015 -- Creative toys that epitomize the Maker Movement, innovative "smart" playthings, and toys that make a "splash" are among the top toy trends of 2015, according to experts at the U.S. Toy Industry Association (TIA). The trade group announced this year's hottest trends in toys and play during a packed seminar held this afternoon for media and buyers at TIA's 112th North American International Toy Fair.

"Open-ended forms of play will reign supreme in 2015, with an abundance of toys and games that allow kids to build, customize, create, and develop important skills through play," said Adrienne Appell, TIA trend expert. "We are also seeing aquatic- and dinosaur-themed toys popping up in just about every category, while pint-sized collectibles are sure to bring kids countless hours of affordable fun!"

February 2015 - The Toy Pizza series on YouTube has a new episode online!

Episode 52 features a look at the Glyos interchangeable action figures and an overview of action figures on Kickstarter.

Don't forget to check out their action figure Kickstarter project!

LEGO Systems Debuts Largest-Ever Collection of Building Sets to Inspire Builders of All Ages at American International Toy Fair

More than 300 new building sets will inspire hands-on creative learning among builders of any ability and interest

NEW YORK, Feb. 12, 2015 -- AMERICAN INTERNATIONAL TOY FAIR - LEGO Systems, Inc. debuts its largest collection of new building sets ever - 313 new products - at the American International Toy Fair. Among the new offerings is LEGO® Classic - a collection of basic bricks and special elements designed to inspire and encourage open-ended and creative building fun. LEGO Systems will showcase new products in booth #1651 in Hall 3B of New York City's Jacob K. Javits Convention Center from February 14-17.

A Battalion of New LEGO Star Wars Sets Arrives for 2015

NEW YORK, Feb. 12, 2015 -- AMERICAN INTERNATIONAL TOY FAIR -- LEGO Systems, Inc. today announced a variety of exciting new LEGO® Star Wars™ products for 2015. From smaller sets featuring droids and inventive microfighters, to larger sets featuring iconic vehicles and starships, to a new line of constructible figures, the 2015 LEGO Star Wars collection is one of the largest and most diverse since its launch in 1999. Sets feature characters and vehicles from the classic Star Wars saga, the new Star Wars Rebels™ animated series and the highly anticipated seventh film Star Wars: The Force Awakens.

February 12, 2015 - Listed below are the toy (and child-related) recalls from this week; these links go to the official announcements on the Consumer Product Safety Commission web site.

- SRAM Recalls Zipp 88 Bicycle Wheel Hubs Due to Crash and Injury Hazards

- Marin Mountain Bikes Recalls Children's Bicycles Due to Fall Hazard; Handlebars Can Loosen

- Mima Recalls Moon 3-In-1 High Chairs Due to Fall and Impact Hazard

- Airplane and Butterfly Push Toys Recalled by LS Import Due to Choking Hazard

LEGO Systems Built Tenth Consecutive Year of Growth in U.S. Toy Market

NEW YORK, Feb. 12, 2015 -- AMERICAN INTERNATIONAL TOY FAIR – LEGO Systems, Inc., the North American division of the world-renowned construction toy brand, achieved U.S. consumer sales growth for the tenth consecutive year in 2014. The company increased its overall U.S. toy market share to end 2014 in its strongest position ever in U.S. toys.

LEGO Systems' 2014 U.S. Year-End Highlights (Source: The NPD Group/Retail Tracking Service)

• LEGO® U.S. consumer sales grew +14% over 2013
• LEGO share of total U.S. toy market increased by almost a full point to 8.5%
• Increased LEGO sales in 4+ segment of U.S. Building Sets by +16%
• Grew LEGO sales in Junior segment of U.S. Building Sets +5% over 2013
• Continued robust double-digit growth in U.S. Girls Building Sets, with LEGO sales up +28% over 2013

As a privately-held company, LEGO Systems does not disclose internal market performance data and offers third-party data for directional purposes.

Highly-Anticipated LEGO® Minecraft Building Sets Bring All the Creativity and Adventure of Digital Gaming to Physical Play

Demand surges for six building sets based on the world's most popular game

NEW YORK, AMERICAN INTERNATIONALTOY FAIR (February 12, 2015) - Since its January 1, 2015 launch, a collection of six LEGO® Minecraft sets have been driving traffic into toy aisles at a time of year when toy sales are not as common. Demand is strong for the new building sets, which give physical form to the digital creative building opportunities of one of the most popular gaming franchises ever to capture the imagination and time of today's children, enabling digital landscapes to come to life in physical form. Each set creates a custom biome with role play opportunity, or can be combined with the others to create ongoing Minecraft adventures.

New LEGO Elves Building Sets Introduce Fantasy Adventure

NEW YORK, Feb. 12, 2015 -- AMERICAN INTERNATIONAL TOY FAIR – LEGO Systems, Inc. today announced LEGO® Elves, a new play theme featuring a rich story-driven fantasy universe and intricate models that offers yet another build-and-play experience, particularly for older children interested in exploring fantasy worlds. The collection consists of eight building sets that begin to launch in March 2015.

LEGO Elves introduces builders to Emily, a girl who is unexpectedly transported to a fantasy world called Elvendale, where she encounters four magical elves who possess the power of the elements – fire, wind, air and earth. Only by working together can they find the four keys to unlock the portal so that Emily can return home. Digital content and publications will be released throughout the year to accompany the play theme to help builders become more immersed in the fantastic storyline and inspire hours of building and role play fun.

MYTHIC LEGIONS KICKSTARTER HITS 50% FUNDED!!

February 2015 - WOW!! THANK YOU!! We are absolutely STUNNED!! In just under 66 hours and with only 300 amazing backers, you guys have already pushed our Mythic Legions Kickstarter campaign (https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/fourhorsemen/mythic-legions-action-...) past the 50% funded mark!! Our initial goal is $140,000.00 in pledges and at just before 2:30pm today we hit $70,000.00! We appreciate it SO much and we can't begin to thank all of you enough for the support. We're absolutely humbled by this. So do us a favor, and pat yourselves on the back, and come by to introduce yourselves if you see us at any of the upcoming conventions so you can get a big sweaty hug from Cornboy and a face to face thank you from the rest of us. We're still a long way from being fully funded but with your help we're going to do this thing and the legion hordes are going to assault toy shelves worldwide! THANKS AGAIN!!

-Jim, Eric & Cornboy-