FLASHBAC FLASHBACK
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FEBRUARY 1996
Tyco Preschool has revitalized the successful Sesame Street plush category with a new assortment of characters. Tyco Preschool’s new line » of Sesame Street plush includes Tickle Me Elmo for children ages 18 months and up. Every time kids tickle him, Elmo laughs harder and harder until his whole body is shaking with laughter. A Sports Talk Plush assortment, Musical Babies assortment, and a Spanish/English Ernie also highlight the collection.
TRENDMASTERS LAUNCHES GUMBY TOY LINE
Gumby, the 40-year-old clay boy, is back in a line of toys from Trendmasters. The line includes three play sets, large Gumby bendables, talking and non-talking figures with movable arms and legs, “colorme” plush toys, fun straws, key rings, and miniature superflexibles of Gumby, Pokey, Prickle, Goo, Minga, and the Blockheads.
SCHOLASTIC FOCUSES ON TWO PROPERTIES FOR TOY FAIR 1996
With the Goosebumps TV series on the Fox Network, Scholastic has entered into an agreement with Fox Family Films for a feature film release. For The Magic School Bus, Scholastic has assembled a line of licensed product that includes a toy line from the Hasbro Toy Group featuring play sets, dolls, and plush products; CD-ROMs from Microsoft; and home videos from WarnerVision.
250 THE TOY BOOK | FEBRUARY 2016 | TOYBOOK.COM
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Flash Gordon—The Animated Series has secured two licensees for its fall rollout. The master toy license has been awarded to Playmates Toys by Hearst Entertainment, while the home video worldwide rights have gone to Live Entertainment. In addition to the new animated series and fully integrated worldwide marketing campaign, Hearst Entertainment is developing a live-action Flash Gordon theatrical motion picture for Mandalay Entertainment, planned for a summer 1997 release.
Tyco heats up the science category with Kodak for Kids, a new collection of cameras and microscopes designed for children ages 8 and up. Kodak for Kids Special Effects Camera allows children to create visual effects with this two-in-one camera. Just snap on the special effects wheel and choose from four different effects: multi-image, triple image, softening, and starbursts. The wheel detaches easily, so kids can use the camera as a stand-alone 110-speed unit.
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