Aaron Greenbaum/BGR
Every year, Toy Fair transforms New York into a showcase for the upcoming generation of toys. This expo is one of the grandest platforms in the U.S. where designers and manufacturers display their upcoming product lines, where distributors assist in getting these products to retailers, and where investors connect with potential partners. Plus, it’s an event for the press to report on everything happening. From February 14-15, I had the privilege of being one of those fortunate reporters.
I understand your thoughts, and indeed, many toys are aimed at young children. However, occasionally, the fascination with a specific product or brand spreads beyond the original target audience — the adult fandom surrounding “My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic” illustrates this well. Moreover, numerous high-quality toys today are designed for adult collectors, and as technology advances, toy manufacturers can incorporate more of these improvements into their offerings, leading to new functionalities and play experiences.
Although I was present for only two days (the event spans four), I encountered many of these products in person and even got to test a few. Some items are reserved for future announcements, but I can present this unordered list of my favorite toys and related items from the convention. You may want to take note of the products in this article.