New York - Irwin Toy announced that its Dragon Ball Z action figures are among the "Top 10 Best Selling Toys Overall," based on an survey of retailers by PlayDates Inc., as announced at the PlayDates 2001 exposition in New York.

Kevin Sayer, Director of Marketing, Irwin Toy Development, said, "The tremendous popularity of Dragon Ball Z reflects the hit Dragon Ball Z show, which tops the Cartoon Network's ratings. Irwin Toy's Dragon Ball Z sales are up dramatically, signalling strong retail demand through the holidays."

Alison Myles, Marketing Manager, added, "Retailers are featuring the line as kids and collectors seek out the figures of their favorite Dragon Ball Z characters, which reflect the storyline of the TV show."

Below is the alphabetical listing of the PlayDates 2001 "Top 10 Best Selling Toys Overall:"

• Bionicle (Lego)
  
• Bob The Builder Electronic Talking Scoop (Playskool)
  
• Dragonball Z Figures (Irwin Toy)
  
• Tonka Dusty My Talkin' Tool Bench (Hasbro)
  
• Jam 'n Glam Barbie (Mattel)
  
• LeapPad (LeapFrog)
  
• Play TV Sports (Radica Games)
  
• Polly Pocket (Mattel)
  
• Rescue Heroes (Fisher Price)
  
• Rumble Robots (Trendmasters)
  

PlayDate 2001 highlights the best selling toys and games for the coming holiday season as predicted by the nation's top retailers. The event, organized by PlayDate Inc., was held in New York City and featured a major display of Dragon Ball Z action figures.

PlayDate 2001 provides early predictions on what toys will be the best sellers. The event featured some 25 manufacturers and retailers, toy and game demonstrations, product launches and expert presentations on industry trends. This is the third year PlayDate has been held in the US.

Each year, PlayDate Inc. surveys a broad range of retailers across the country to determine the toys, games, hardware and brands that are likely to be best sellers during the holiday season. The PlayDate best seller lists reflect the results of an annual survey of retailers. PlayDate contacts a broad selection of toy stores, software stores, specialty stores, national retail chains and online retailers, seeking their predictions for the best-selling toys and games for the coming holiday season. Among participating retailers in the PlayDates Survey are Toys 'R' Us; toysrus.com; Amazon.com; Electronics Boutique; Zany Brainy/Noodle Kidoodle; KB/eToys; Babbages/Funcoland; Walmart; Kmart; CompUSA; Meiers; Blockbuster, and more than a dozen independent toy specialty shops.

The Dragon Ball Z toy line, based on the smash hit TV series, includes Dragon Ball Z action figures, Dragon Ball Z Super Saiyan Warriors and Striking Z Fighters, the Dragon Ball Z Trunks Time Capsule with an exclusive 5-inch Trunks figure, new Dragon Ball Z vehicles with exclusive figures, and the popular Dragon Ball Z Energy Blasters, among many others.

Some 500 episodes of the Dragon Ball anime series have been made in Japan, and are produced and licensed for North America and Australia by FUNimation Productions Inc.

Irwin Toy Ltd., headquartered in Toronto, develops, manufactures, markets and distributes a broad range of toys and games globally. Major licensed toy brands include Dragon Ball Z, Reboot, Sailor Moon, Thunderbirds and Caillou, as well as Irwin Toy-developed brands including Blazin? Key Cars!, Girl Zone and Baby Shoe Babies.

Images used with permission of Irwin Toy. Pictured above are Vegeta and the Sky Bike with Super Saiyan Goku, both in the Irwin Toy Dragon Ball Z action figure line.