Playmates Toys Explores New Worlds of Imagination and Play in its 2002 Lineup of Brands

NEW YORK (American International Toy Fair, Feb. 10, 2002) - From outer space to fairy tales, Playmates Toys Inc. explores new worlds of imagination and play in its 2002 product line, introduced today at the 99th Annual American International Toy Fair in New York City.

Playmates' first new brand to reach toy aisles this year is P.O.D.Z.(TM), a line of off-the-wall cosmic characters that respond with clever sayings to any human voice. Incorporating Rock `N' Talkvoice-recognition technology, these high-tech, hilarious, interplanetary "attitude aliens" bring pet rocks into the 21st century.

Building upon the success of its best-selling "My Interactive Princess Cinderella," Playmates expands its Disney© lineup this year. For the first time ever, DisneyPrincesses share their "Before Once Upon a Time" and "Happily Ever After" fairy tales with little girls in a brand new collection of toddler and talking small dolls.

Amazing Little Friends(TM) , the latest addition to Playmates' acclaimed Amazing doll brand, deliver true interactivity in an imaginative assortment of characters that will engage and amaze little girls.

The "World of Springfield" collectible phenomenon continues to gain speed in 2002 with new figures, vehicles and playsets based on FOX's prime time animated series, "The Simpsons©."

Playmates puts a unique spin on this year's hottest toy trend with the debut of Whirl Top Wonders(TM), a line of beautiful and magical spinning tops designed just for girls! Whirl Top Wonders feature spectacular dancing and flying fairy figures that come to life in richly detailed fantasy worlds that are sure to capture the imagination of little girls everywhere!

Playmates revolutionizes the exchange of messages and secrets between young girls with its introduction of Secret S.W.A.P.(TM) Share it, Wear it And Pass It On! Secret S.W.A.P. is a portable recording device that uses memory discs to take the tradition of sharing secrets to the next level.

"This year's lineup is stronger than ever with innovative extensions to existing brands and the introduction of unique and imaginative new product lines that reflect our continued commitment to deliver exceptional play value in everything we do," said Lou Novak, president, Playmates Toys. "In 2002, we will strengthen our stable of successful brands - Amazing dolls, Disney Princesses, `The Simpsons' and Waterbabies - with a wide range of new products and exciting promotions. P.O.D.Z., Whirl Top Wonders and Secret S.W.A.P. are great examples of our ability to identify emerging trends and create compelling products in expandable niche categories."

P.O.D.Z

P.O.D.Z (in stores February 2002, A.R.P. $19.99) are "asteroids with attitudes" that can accurately identify a dozen questions spoken by any human user. Using voice recognition technology, P.O.D.Z reply to a question with one of dozens of appropriate preprogrammed phrases - tempered by their own oddball personalities - making hours of hilarious conversation possible between human and P.O.D.Z. You talk...P.O.D.Z. Rock!

Each P.O.D.Z. has a different witty personality, reflecting the traits of the humans in the area of its earthly Landing Zone - mellow Surfin' Slate, obnoxious Ragin' Rocky, gangster Sammy Stone and nonsensicalDimrock Don. (Ask one "Do you like like humans?" Surfin' Slate will tell you, "Just the mellow ones!" or Sammy Stone will reply, "I'm nuts aboutcha!") Always ready to share their hilarious extraterrestrial adventures, these fist-sized, roughly sculpted space stones are ready to rock.

DISNEY

New for 2002 are the Disney Magic Talk Princesses. For the first time, Disney Princess small dolls come to life in their own voices and interact with each other in highly detailed, interactive playsets. Each of the beautifully sculpted, articulated 5" figures "speaks" when placed upon special resistors found on the playsets. Individual figure packs of Cinderella, Belle, Ariel and Snow White (in stores August 2002, A.R.P. $7.99) come with accessories and environmental play pieces that complement their stories. In addition, each figure comes to life in her own character voice when placed in any of the three interactive Disney Magic Talk Princess Playsets.

What were the Disney Princesses like as little girls? Playmates introduces its "Before Once Upon a Time" series of Disney Little Princesses - Little Ariel (in stores February 2002, A.R.P. $17.99), Little Belle, and Little Cinderella (in stores August 2002, A.R.P. $17.99), the first ever assortment of 15" large companion dolls in the likeness of the Disney Princesses as toddlers!

Playmates Toys also introduces "Believe in the Magic" Tinker Bell, a large feature doll that brings the "pixie's" personality to life. Through sound activation, Tinker Bell's cheeks happily glow and she chimes with "pixie speak" when a little girl plays with her! The 15" sculpted Tinker Bell doll with beautiful iridescent wings (in stores August 2002, A.R.P. $19.99) will shine as brightly as she does on screen.

The beautifully sculpted My Interactive Princess Belle (in stores August 2002, A.R.P. $49.99) follows Playmates' 2001 successful launch of My Interactive Princess Cinderella.

The story-telling Princess Belle brings the little girl into her fairy tale adventure! In two modes of play, Belle and the little girl explore the Beast's castle, as they meet the enchanted friends along the way. As the story progresses, the little girl helps decorate Belle's ballgown, as Belle gets ready to meet the Beast. My Interactive Princess Belle provides open, engaging and imaginative play!

In addition, lovable Disney Waterbabies in the following Disney character outfits will be available this spring and fall: Piglet (from the world of Winnie the Pooh), Lucky ("101 Dalmations"), Simba ("The Lion King") and Thumper ("Bambi") (Piglet and Lucky in stores Spring 2002, A.R.P. $17.99) (Simba and Thumper in stores Fall 2002, A.R.P. $17.99). Each comes with an exclusive character-themed rattle.

"THE SIMPSONS"

New additions to Playmates' The Simpsons "World of Springfield" Intelli-Tronic line include characters fans have long clamored for, featuring the real celebrity voices behind Springfield's quirkiest and most memorable personalities: Herb Powell (voiced by Danny DeVito),Troy McClure (voiced by Phil Hartman) and Fat Tony (voiced by Joe Mantegna) (in stores February 2002, A.R.P. $6.99).

Now in its third sellout season, new waves of the "World of Springfield" assortment will hit retail shelves throughout the year. With the introduction of new BLOCKO(TM) figures, bobble-heads, retailer exclusives and more, Playmates continues to expand "The Simpsons" universe in 2002.

AMAZING LITTLE FRIENDS

Amazing Little Friends (in stores June 2002, A.R.P. $44.99) is a diverse collection of three interactive dolls - Jenna, Sydney and Emma - each with her own distinct personality, charm and virtually real imagination.

Amazing Little Friends combines Playmates' trademark "Amazing" technology with beautiful dolls that initiate time-tested, basic play patterns. Just as with real friends, playing with Jenna, Sydney and Emma allows girls to engage and build a friendship with them. The dolls retain information from previous play sessions to communicate within the context of a fun and realistic friendship.

WHIRL TOP WONDERS

These beautifully sculpted tops with translucent features offer a unique two-in-one concept: when spun, each charming top magically opens to reveal a hidden fairy that suddenly takes flight and becomes a spinning top on her own! Multiple Whirl Top Wonders tops spin on a deluxe base, activating light features and creating a true fairyland experience.

Whirl Top Wonders (in stores June 2002, A.R.P. $9.99 - $19.99) are styled in lovely pastel colors and themed with motifs such as springtime flowers, butterflies and swans. The deluxe assortments incorporate pretty fairyland locales that capture the spirit of fantasy play at its best.

SECRET S.W.A.P.

Secret S.W.A.P. (in stores June 2002, A.R.P. $14.99 - $24.99) is a hip new way to exchange secrets among friends. Funky metallic locks are actually portable recording and listening devices that utilize Flash RAM technology to record secret messages onto brightly colored customized discs.

Girls can record up to 15 seconds of speech, then share secrets as they swap discs with their friends, who can listen and even record their own messages to be passed back. They simply turn the combination on their lock to record and play back messages. A deluxe school locker offers not only a storage space for six Secret S.W.A.P. message discs and a player, but also incorporates a download function where girls can download up to 12 messages from friends.

About Playmates Toys

Playmates Toys Inc. manufactures, markets and distributes a wide range of girls' and boys' toys, activity and novelty electronics, and products based upon character-rich licensed entertainment properties. Among the company's best-known brands are the "Amazing" family of interactive dolls and the unique water-filled "Waterbabies" dolls.

Key licensed properties include Disney's Princesses and other classic characters from The Walt Disney Company, New Line Cinema's "Lord of the Rings," Sony Pictures Family Entertainment's "Jackie Chan Adventures," Twentieth Century Fox's "The Simpsons," and Mirage Studios' "Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles." Playmates Toys is a division of Playmates Interactive Entertainment Limited, a Hong Kong-based company whose stock is traded on the Hong Kong Stock Exchange.

Note: Product prices listed reflect approximate retail prices. Retail times and details of unreleased products may vary.

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