MATTEL SHOWCASES THE HOTTEST TOYS FOR 2002 AT NEW YORK TOY FAIR! Soon to be Award-Winning Toys... The Latest Trends... The Hottest Properties... And Some Serious Fun!

EL SEGUNDO, Calif. (February 8, 2002) -- For more than 50 years Mattel, Inc.'s premier toy brands have delivered fun, innovative and "kid-powered" toys that inspire and spark children's imaginations around the world. Today, the leading toy manufacturer will showcase an exciting mix of 2002 products from its diverse portfolio of brands at this year's American International Toy Fair in New York City. Mattel's exclusive offerings include an assortment of classic toy brands, new, innovative concepts and popular character-driven, entertainment-inspired toys that bring fantasy and adventure to the toy box. From Fisher-Price's Rescue Heroes(TM) and Sesame Street(R) toys, to Barbie(R) and Hot Wheels(R), to Harry Potter(TM), Polly Pocket and He-Man(R), Mattel's compelling line-up of toys for 2002 provide hours, if not years, of fun!

Building on Mattel's corporate objectives of extending its brands and catching new trends are the following highlights:

New Introductions from Classic Brands:

- First adored by girls in 1971, Malibu Barbie(TM) doll's return in 2002 will touch the hearts and memories of more than 14 million women and girls whose earliest Barbie experience was with this quintessential California beach girl. Because nothing can replace the sun-kissed look of the original Malibu Barbie - one of Mattel's best-selling Barbie dolls ever - Mattel replicated the original down to every detail, with one exception: this modern Malibu girl comes with her own "faux" sunscreen.

- This year Mattel will expand Hot Wheels(R), the #1 selling toy in the industry according to NPD's TRSTS data, into new opportunities that take the brand beyond toys. Hot Wheels blasts off into a new world where real die-cast cars become virtual vehicles for the ultimate experience in online racing and customization. Planet Hot Wheels(TM) is more than just a website - it's the first ever online racing and multi-player gaming site for kids! This fall a new segment in the Hot Wheels line of cars, Planet Hot Wheels Energy Cars, will each have a code that can be used to log onto planethotwheels.com to become a virtual car online. Entering additional codes will let kids have the opportunity to win virtual prizes that let them customize their online cars or win real Hot Wheels prizes.

- For over 40 years, Little People(R) toys have been helping children make important discoveries about the world through play. And they do it in a way that encourages kids to make new discoveries as they grow! Continuing in that tradition is the Little People(R) Discovery Airport. This classic playset theme is back, but with the addition of magical interaction designed to bring the excitement of a real airport to life. Through "Roll 'n Recognize" technology, the airport actually recognizes each vehicle that is rolled, from up to five feet away from the playset. Children simply roll any of the four vehicles to trigger appropriate lights, sounds and fun phrases.

- For the first time in the Barbie Brand's history, girls can actually sing and dance with Barbie(R) doll, interacting with the doll in a whole new way. Introducing Pop Sensation(TM) Barbie(R), featuring a special headset and customized boom box that lets girls hit the note with Barbie. When girls plug the special headset into the customized Barbie-sized boom box, the microphone amplifies the girl's voice into the speaker to sing along with Barbie doll's pre-recorded songs or an outside source. Through it all, Barbie with her realistic Flex-soft waist will dance and move, as she never has before.

- Matchbox(R) celebrates its 50th birthday in 2002 with a special collection of 50 1:64 scale vehicles. Each Matchbox Across America car will personify one of the 50 states within the union, have detailed decorations commemorating a key state feature, and will include a replica of the state's license plate.

- For 75 years, Winnie the Pooh and his friends have delighted parents and children with classic imaginative tales of learning and exploring. This year Fisher-Price(R) Brands builds on this tradition by announcing the arrival of Pooh Babies, an adorable NEW line of infant toys featuring Winnie the Pooh and friends as babies. Highlighting the collection is Magic Rattle(TM) Pooh, baby's first remote control toy. When baby shakes his own rattle near Pooh, the toy starts to magically rock around, as Pooh shakes his own rattle at the same time and giggles, says cute phrases and hums.

- Polly Pocket! - the No. 1 selling small doll - is extending the brand by introducing some sassy environments. In 2002, Polly and her pals know that it's not just what you wear, but where you go. And stylin' up these new sassy secret micro-sized worlds is what it's all about. From the PollyWorld Amusement Park to the Sparkle Style House to the Happenin' Pet Pals Salon, Polly knows the coolest places to hang with her gang.

- Tyco(R) R/C the undisputed radio control leader brings the winning combination of quality and innovation to kids year after year. This year Tyco R/C will introduce the Xtreme Moto-X Cycle(TM) featuring freestyle cyclist Travis Pastrana to create an over-the-edge stunt bike, as well as Air Rebound(TM) which features a huge air-filled front tire for some bashin', bouncin', R/C action!

- Rescue Heroes(TM), "cool guys who are good guys," are the only action figures that have the excitement moms know their kids love, with a positive message they can feel good about. Since their introduction by Fisher-Price in 1998, their popularity has soared, taking them to the #2 position in the "action figure" category in 2001 according to NPD's TRSTS data. The Rescue Heroes(TM) Ultimate Robotic Vehicle (U.R.V) gives the Rescue Heroes (and kids!) ultimate control over rescue adventures. Rescue Heroes figures fit inside the cockpit and use the powerful U.R.V. to enter dangerous territory! The U.R.V. will recognize Voice Tech(TM), PowerMax, and Basic figures for exciting interaction and also features a tethered remote control to move forward, backwards, twist and operate PowerMax tools.

- With Power Wheels(R) continuing to be #1 in the battery-powered ride-on category according to NPD's 2001 TRSTS data, the Power Wheels(R) Kawasaki(TM) Super Shock Dirt Bike(TM) paves the way for a repeat performance in 2002. This Dirt Bike features a super shock suspension seat, open spoke wheels and knobby tires just like the "big" bikes. Realistic, motor-cross racing sounds are built in and with one twist of the turbo throttle, kids will get the feeling of gunning the engine before taking off. Authentic dirt bike styling hides outrigger wheels, so kids think it's cool and moms know it's stable.

Extending the Brands with Classic Characters and Hot Entertainment Properties:

- Barbie doll became an overnight movie sensation in 2001 with her award-winning, top-selling debut video, "Barbie in the Nutcracker." Now the screen will sparkle once again with the fall 2002 premiere of "Barbie as Rapunzel." A contemporary twist on the classic fairytale, Mattel's screenplay casts Barbie as Rapunzel, a courageous, imaginative girl who is locked away in a tower and magically paints her way to a life of freedom and love. The full-length, motion-capture CGI video will be accompanied by a colorful world of characters, accessories, and licensed products - all of which reflect the story's magic and beauty.

- In 2002, the magic surrounding Harry Potter(TM) continues, picking up right where it left off as one of the hottest entertainment properties in 2001. Part of the charm of the worldwide, award-winning Harry Potter toy line is its appeal to both boys and girls. This year's magical selection of toys from Mattel will be based on key moments from the book and the movie, Chamber of Secrets. Kids will have fun testing their skills of strategy with the Whomping Willow(TM) Game, and creating edible treats with the Snake Bite's Edible Activity Set and the Polyjuice Potion(TM) Maker.

- Fisher-Price(R) continues to expand its portfolio of brands with Barney, the Emmy Award winning purple dinosaur and star of "the top-rated PBS show." With a special talent for bringing children's favorite characters to life through magical innovation, this year Fisher-Price Brands introduces a whole new line of Barney toys including feature plush, preschool toys, electronic learning toys, and puzzles. Highlighting the collection is Magical Friend Barney. When kids play with him, he responds with a whimsical light display that appears magically across his tummy and he sings the "I Love You" song.

- Mary-Kate and Ashley are turning sixteen! From the TV screen to their own magazine and soon feature films, these jet-setting, fashion forward teens have created a world of entertainment and style that girls have fallen in love with. This trendy twosome returns to the toy aisles with new, mega-popular Mary-Kate and Ashley fashion doll assortments and accessories.

- By the power of Grayskull, an action figure has returned! He-Man(R), the most powerful man in the universe, re-joins the Masters of the Universe(R) to once again battle Skeletor(R) and the forces of evil. Twenty years after He-Man was first introduced, Mattel has brought back an updated version of the warrior from Eternia(TM), and introduces the "Secret of Grayskull" to a new generation of fans. The action figure assortments, which include: Heroic Warriors, Evil Enemies and Deluxe Figures, have been re-designed with updated looks and features as a new era of children look forward to discovering the magic and mystery of the man whose strength and courage know no equal. And kids will be able to use their imaginations to create their own action and adventures in their very own electronic Castle Grayskull(R) playset.

- This year as Sesame Street enters its 33rd season with the most significant format alterations it has ever experienced, Fisher-Price introduces its first plush inspired by kids' favorite segment - Elmo's World. Incorporating a technology similar to the internal clock that made Tickle Me Elmo Surprise a success, Guess What...?!? Elmo cycles through seven different topics during the course of a week - one each day, just like on Elmo's World.

- What does a Boy Genius do to follow-up on box office success? He takes on the world of television, of course! Jimmy Neutron an his pals will star in several television shows in 2002, featuring new Jimmy Neutron inventions like the Robo Walker(TM), some cool mechanical legs that take Jimmy Neutron on all of his exciting adventures to help him save the day.

- After five groundbreaking years, Blue's Clues remains one of the most popular and educational shows on preschool television. In its seventh season, Steve heads to college and his younger brother Joe takes the lead role. This year's Fisher-Price(R) collection of Blue's Clues toys is highlighted by Blue's Clues Mix 'N Music Blaster(TM), a child's very own music mixing console that lets kids record their own music, listen to classic preschool tunes or the Blue's Clues Theme Song while they control tempo and add in warp and echo effects, character voices or even Blue's bark.

Catching the Trends:

- Mattel's Girls Division knows what's hot and continues to provide girls with cool products featuring popular themes. With the introduction of Mystery Squad, girls will experience the first brand to leverage the popularity of mystery play with the world's most-popular fashion doll brand - Barbie(R). Both interactive and imaginative, these four sleuthing fashion dolls - Barbie, Drew(R), Shawnee(TM) and Kenzie(TM), involve girls in the mystery-solving process.

- Mattel continues to catch new trends with the latest must-have property -- Yu-Gi-Oh!(TM)! As worldwide master toy licensee, with the exception of Asia, Mattel will introduce a new line of toys based on the hot Saturday morning television show, "Yu-Gi-Oh!." The line-up includes action figures, depicting the main characters from the show and games designed to test the strategic skills of players as they re-create their favorite scenes from the show. If you don't know Yu-Gi-Oh!, then you soon will!

- With kinder-readiness such a hot topic, Fisher-Price's Kasey the Kinderbot(TM) is a breakthrough learning system that makes the grade! Kasey is an interactive robotic friend that helps children develop important kinder-ready skills in three areas: Academic, Social and Physical. Whether it's learning the ABCs, doing the "Hokey Pokey," practicing good manners, or giving a "high five," Kasey brings lots of fun and humor to learning. Kasey comes to life with a warm smile, realistic speech, an electronic display screen, moving head, waist, arms, hands and eyes and interactive lights.

- Mattel's Fisher-Price(R) brand has long enjoyed a heritage of delivering top-quality products to families around the world. Mattel brings that expertise into the games arena, with a full array of products that both entertain and educate kids, while giving parents the perfect opportunity to spend quality time with their preschoolers. In 2002, Mattel Games will introduce Screwy Looey(TM), the unpredictable drill with a silly personality, and recess will never be more fun than with Schoolbox Games, which combine fun game-play that kids will love, with storage and portability that moms will appreciate. Little People(R) Games feature the adorable characters Eddie and Maggie, with simple game-play like bingo and matching activities, and with Animal 2X2, preschoolers will develop their memory and matching skills as they match up animals, two by two.

- In 2001, top-seller What's Her Face!(TM) - the first doll to leverage the incredibly popular arts and crafts trend and combine it with extreme styling and fun fashion doll play - turned heads everywhere. In 2002, not only can girls create the doll's face over and over again, now they can decorate her fashions! What's Her Face! steals the fashion scene again with hot new looks and a whole new world of What's Her Face! places and faces. What's Her Face! can pal along with her new friend Whatever!(TM) Pet or kick back in style at What's Her Space!(TM).

- Imaginext(TM) is the first adventure playset system for preschoolers, with interchangeable parts that can be reconfigured endlessly, allowing kids to create a different playset and new adventure every time they play. The building of the playset is part of the fun, with panels that simply snap together and can be easily rearranged to adapt to a child's imagination. Realistic, highly detailed figures, vehicles and accessories feature magical elements to enrich the adventure and add to collectibility. Two themes, Modern Day and Medieval, encompass such new products as the Imaginext(TM) Rescue Center Playset and Imaginext(TM) Battle Castle Playset.

- Barbie doll will stop traffic as she takes the driver's seat in two new hot Volkswagen Barbie vehicles. This year, Mattel unveils the "2002 model" of its best-selling Barbie car ever, the Barbie Volkswagen New Beetle(R), featuring sparkling silver paint like a real Volkswagen New Beetle. The new Barbie Volkswagen Microbus(R) can seat more passengers than ever before! With the ability to accommodate Barbie and five of her family and friends, the Volkswagen Microbus is also equipped with a toy children's car seat for little sister Kelly. In the new hot Volkswagen accessories, Barbie and her friends are guaranteed to travel safely and in style.

- New this year to the Fisher-Price(R) brand is the first collection of toys based on Nickelodeon's Nick Jr.'s Dora the Explorer, the number-one rated preschool television show. Highlighting the collection is We Did It! Dancing Dora, the a-DORA-ble doll that sings & dances to the "We Did It" song and says interactive phrases in English and Spanish as she moves.

Mattel, Inc. is the worldwide leader in the design, manufacture and marketing of toys and family products. The company's best-selling brands include Barbie(R), Hot Wheels(R), Fisher-Price(R) and American Girl(R). With headquarters in El Segundo, California, Mattel has offices and facilities in 36 countries and sells its product in more than 150 nations throughout the world. The company's corporate website can be found at www.mattel.com.

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