What’s as red-hot as Santa’s suit in the final throes of the holiday-shopping season?
Toys with electronic assets, such as the Bratz Formal Funk Super-Stylin’ Runway Disco (MGA Entertainment, $99.99) for girls and the Beyblade Remote Control Top (Hasbro, $29.99) for boys.
Both landed on the top-five list of nominees for Toy of the Year–the Oscars of child’s play–just announced by the Toy Industry Association.
“The way technology has advanced in every aspect of our lives, it’s only fitting that it would grow in the toy business too,” said Jim Silver, co-publisher of Toy Wishes, a trade publication.
But if some of the top toys sound exotic to batteries-not-included generations, a few retro-meets-techno nominees should ring a bell: Easy-Bake Real Meal Oven (this one bakes without the lightbulb!), Sing-Along Care Bears and Namco TV Games (Pac-Man, anyone?).
THE FAMILIAR: Storybooks
THE NEW: Touch-tone storybooks
For junior techies, Fisher-Price’s PowerTouch Learning System ($34.99 at Target), another Toy of the Year nominee, lets 3- to 8-year-olds hear sounds from characters like Clifford the Big Red Dog and friends from “Sesame Street” as they read a story. For stocking stuffers, toss in additional storybooks for $14.99. Available at Circuit City stores.
THE FAMILIAR: Dolls
THE NEW: Diversity
Barbie remains a favorite (Barbie of Swan Lake is a top-five nominee for Toy of the Year). But newer, hipper dolls dance to the beats of different drummers these days–and appeal to both genders in some cases.
– Bratz are bigger than ever, and the hottest property for tween girls is the Formal Funk Super-Stylin’ Runway Disco, which sets the stage for a fabulous fashion show, with blinking lights, built-in speaker, motorized catwalk and doll for $99.99 at Target. For stocking stuffers, the newest miniature additions to the Bratz collection are Sugar Planet Dolls ($4.99 at Target), with lip gloss, a pet and a charm bracelet that girls can trade with their friends.
– Cool enough for boys, too, DJ Skribbles Spinhead dolls operate like a computer game joystick: Kids can overlay their own mixes on top of an original looped rhythm. Each specializes in a type of music. Our boy Mod (left) plays ska-punk beats. Rya (on the cover of Q) is reggae. They’re $8.89 each at Target.
THE FAMILIAR: Plush toys
THE NEW: Personalities included
Over the last couple of years, Neopets have built a loyal following, and their own civilization, first with plastic creatures that convey moods through sounds, blinking lights and flapping wings, and more recently with plush toys that hold actual conversations. Girls, in particular, can’t seem to get enough. Chicago-based research firm C&R Research reported that 44 percent of girls ages 6 through 8 had the voice-activated pets on their wish list this year, and they’re also a Toy of the Year nominee.
The Neopets Interactive Talking Plushies (Shoyru pictured) are about $30. The smaller Petpets, the pets of the Neopets, are $9.99. Neopets are available at Target, Wal-Mart and Toys “R” Us stores.
THE FAMILIAR: Old-school video games
THE NEW: Old-school video games
Want a little nostalgia with your technology? The Namco 5-in-1 TV Games hook you up–or the kids, that is–with Pac-Man, DigDug and other faves of 1980s youth. At $24.99 at Circuit City stores, the unit costs less than its forebears and requires no console. You just plug it into the TV and play.
(Centipede and Asteroids fans can opt for the similarly simple Atari TV Video Game System, $19.99 at Circuit City.)
Tribune photos by Charles Osgood Stylist: Kristi Piunti, Elite Chicago.
