Raving Toy Maniac

World's Largest Children's Museum Asks for Public Input on Top "100 Toys (and Their Stories) That Define Our Childhood"

INDIANAPOLIS, July 17, 2012 -- The Children's Museum of Indianapolis is asking children and families to choose their favorite toys as part of the museum's new project "100 Toys (& their Stories) that Define Our Childhood." This interactive program is organized by The Children's Museum to encourage children and significant adults in their lives to vote for their favorites from a list of 100 iconic and multi-generational toys from the museum's collection. These toys represent fun and imaginative ways children have played over the last century. Families across the country are invited to help choose the top toys and share their favorite memories of each toy online at http://www.childrensmuseum.org/100toys.

Meijer Looks For Next Great Toymaker In Small Business Toy Contest

Retailer offers two small U.S. toy companies a chance at exclusive distribution on Meijer.com

GRAND RAPIDS, Mich., July 16, 2012 -- Meijer, the Grand Rapids, Mich.-based retailer, has announced the launch of the Meijer Next Great Toymaker contest that will give two small U.S. toymakers the chance for their toy to receive exclusive distribution on http://Meijer.com this holiday season.

The contest, the first of its kind hosted by Meijer, is open to small toy companies and entrepreneurs in the United States with 50 employees or less. Eligible toys must fit in one of two age categories 1-3 or 4-8 years of age. To enter, toymakers will send one sample toy along with a contest entry form to Meijer. Entries will be judged on uniqueness, educational relevance, creativity and quality.

July 16, 2012 - (Sponsor Announcement) - Online retailer Urban-Collector has several new items of interest to collectors:

This week we are featuring new pre-orders including Dr Manhattan statue, Walking Dead Series 2 action figures and John Rambo HD Masterpiece Enterbay Figure.

Featured Pre-Orders

• Before Watchmen Dr Manhattan Statue
• Batman Black And White Batman Beyond Statue

Event: Mega Bloks and Power Rangers present the "MEGA Mural" to Motiva Associates, a service provider for families in southern California.

Date: Monday, July 16th, 2012

Time: 4:30pm (PDT)

Location: Motiva Associates located at 282 Landis Ave, Chula Vista, CA 91910

SAN DIEGO, CA, July 13, 2012 - Come join the Power Rangers and the Mega Bloks team as they deliver their "MEGA Mural" to the devoted volunteers and children at Motiva Associates.

What is the MEGA Mural?
Mega Bloks created the ultimate building experience at this year's San Diego Comic-Con (July 12th to 15th), by transforming their booth into a community build wall -- the MEGA Mural. Mega Bloks invited Comic-Con guests to visit their booth to add as many blocks as they wished to the MEGA Mural in order to help build a giant Mega Bloks Power Rangers Red Ranger Mask.

Mega Bloks, an active supporter of organizations dedicated to autism, would like to reward Motiva Associates with the MEGA Mural for their dedication to children and families affected by this disorder.

July 13, 2012 - Hasbro has sent along press images of their new Transformers toys unveiled at the 2012 San Diego Comic-Con International - we've posted all 150+ of them in a gallery for your enjoyment.

Hasbro has also uploaded a few videos from Comic-Con to their http://www.accesshasbro.com/ web site.

Here's Dark Energon Megatron, a fun name to say five times fast:

Saban Brands to Launch Vortexx on The CW

Brand-New National Kids Television Programming Block will deliver high-impact action, exciting adventure and laugh-out-loud comedy, premiering on TVs everywhere, Saturday, Aug. 25

LOS ANGELES (July 12, 2012) – Saban Brands wants kids everywhere to step into Vortexx, a power-packed broadcast television and online destination for action, adventure and comedy entertainment that was unveiled today. Vortexx brings all new energy to Saturday morning television with its new five-hour programming block on The CW Television Network. Vortexx will launch with online (http://www.myvortexx.com coming soon) and mobile offerings making Vortexx available to kids whenever and wherever they are. The television premiere of Vortexx on The CW Television Network will be Saturday, August 25.

July 13, 2012 - (Sponsor Announcement) - Online retailer BigBadToyStore.com has several items of interest to collectors:

Hi - Some cool new items just announced this morning - take a look:

Enterbay Rambo III 1/4 Scale John Rambo - $359.99
http://www.bigbadtoystore.com/bbts/product.aspx?product=ENB10055&mode=re...

New Koto:

New 52 1/10 ArtFX Superman - $35.99
http://www.bigbadtoystore.com/bbts/product.aspx?product=KOT10945&mode=re...

New 51 1/10 ArtFX Green Lantern - $35.99
http://www.bigbadtoystore.com/bbts/product.aspx?product=KOT10944&mode=re...

DC Bishousho - Huntress - $56.99
http://www.bigbadtoystore.com/bbts/product.aspx?product=KOT10943&mode=re...

Star Wars 1/10 Art-FX Emperor's Royal Guard 2-Pack - $56.99
http://www.bigbadtoystore.com/bbts/product.aspx?product=KOT10942&mode=re...

New Diamond:

Star Trek III - Enterprise B - $49.99
http://www.bigbadtoystore.com/bbts/product.aspx?product=DMC11826&mode=re...

UCTV Prime YouTube Series Unveils Treasures Inside the World's Largest Science Fiction and Fantasy Collection

LA JOLLA, Calif., July 10, 2012 -- As comic book and science fiction fans convene in San Diego for Comic-Con, a new series from UCTV Prime, the University of California's YouTube original channel, takes viewers inside UC Riverside's Eaton Collection, the world's largest, publicly accessible collection of science fiction, fantasy, horror and utopian fiction. "It Came from Riverside: Inside the World's Largest Collection of Science Fiction and Fantasy" reveals some of the archive's most treasured possessions, illuminates the genre's evolution in popular culture, and demonstrates its growing acceptance within literary and academic circles. Two episodes are now available at http://www.youtube.com/uctvprime, along with bonus blog content at http://www.uctv.tv/science-fiction. The third installment premieres July 13, with additional episodes later this summer.

"It Came from Riverside," an Original YouTube Series from UCTV Prime

July 12, 2012 - (Sponsor Announcement) - Online retailer BigBadToyStore.com has several items of interest to collectors:

Preorders will open soon - waiting for the go-ahead from Hasbro! BBTS Exclusive Dark Energon Deluxe & Voyager + bonus BBTS Exclusive DVD with Dark Energon episode - check out images here:

http://www.bigbadtoystore.com/bbts/content.aspx?content=62

The images from SDCC are new/current, the images from our banner were early images Hasbro sent us previously. We will post final images once Hasbro sends them to us.

July 12, 2012 - 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.

- Old Navy Recalls Toddler Girl Aqua Socks Due to Slip and Fall Hazard

- Chicco Polly High Chairs Recalled Due to Laceration Hazard

- Troxel Recalls Flexible Flyer Swing Sets Due to Fall Hazard