March 2012 Notable Toys — Collectibles

Toy Boarders are made just like the toy soldiers that have been around for decades, but why promote war to kids when you now can promote a positive image of fun and exercise with these authentic skateboarders? They are hand designed and molded with remarkable attention to detail and style. Launch date: 2012.

Legendary pilot and scientist James “Jimmy” Doolittle won the coveted 100-mile Thompson Trophy Race in 1932 flying a Gee Bee Super-Sportster at an average speed of more than 252 m.p.h. The stubby, bumblebee-like craft named after its manufacturer, Granville Brothers, was powerful, fast and dangerous due to its giant engine, short wings, rearward cockpit and teardrop shape. Aircraft Models Corp. have been producers of the best handmade Mahogany Aircraft Models for decades. We offer a wide variety of handcrafted model planes and military plaques. Museum-quality models that a collector and pilot would proudly display as a symbol for their passion in aviation and their endearing memories of the past. "All our models are completely hand crafted in kiln-dried Philippine Mahogany; no form resins or decals are ever used," Rafael Salonga, sales manager at Aircaft Models Corp., told TDmonthly. Launch date: July 1992.

NINJAGO The Challenge of Samukai! Greg Farshtey, writer; Paulo Henrique, artist. The Masters of Spinjitzu come to Papercutz graphic novels. Sensei Wu has trained Cole, Zane, Jay, and Kai to be Masters of Spinjitzu, and together they defend the world of Ninjago from the dark forces of the Underworld. But when the leader of the skeleton army, Samukai, boasts to the evil Lord Garmadon that he can defeat Sensei Wu and his four young ninja, Garmadon takes him up on his bet! Who will prevail in this battle between good and evil? 6 x 9, 64 pp. Launch date: November 2011.

Sticker Farm Sticker Books are keepsake quality sticker albums for storing and playing with a child's sticker collection. These  large sticker albums have reusable specially-coated pages for repeated positioning and repositioning of stickers, plenty of sticker space, a designated trading page and even a built-in pouch for storing extra stickers. Thoughtfully designed and engagingly illustrated by up and coming illustrators. Launch date: May 2011.

The Legends of MIMOBOT Series features icons, geniuses, and stars of the human race. Leading off the initiative, and in collaboration with the Albert Einstein Estate, The Hebrew University of Jerusalem, and GreenLight, is the Einstein™ x MIMOBOT line of up to 64GB flash drives. The Einstein™ x MIMOBOT drives come preloaded with bonus Mimory™ and the MimoDesk™ personalization suite of Einstein-themed wallpapers, icons, and avatars. With his signature bushy hair and mustache, Einstein™ MIMOBOT reveals his lighthearted side when you remove his cap, exposing the USB plug and Einstein's playful pose with tongue sticking out. Launch date: 2012.

This gift set features the two Royals wearing outfits inspired by their regal wedding day attire. Launch date: April 2012.

Collect hundreds of favorite characters from the Monsuno Animated TV Series for amazing transformation reveal and controllable, fast-action battle play. Each 1-pack comes with 1 collectible Monsuno core, 1 transforming action figure and 3 collector game cards. Launch date: March 2012.

Wearing a familiar cap and armed with his trusty snowplow, Thomas hauls two festively decorated cars to bring BIG holiday cheer to one and all. Bachmann’s Large Scale Thomas’ Christmas Delivery ready-to-run electric train set (Item No. 90087) includes Thomas the Tank Engine™ (with hat, snowplow and moving eyes), open wagon with presents, coach, 5’4” x 4’3” oval of track (14 pieces), wall pack and speed controller, and DVD-format video instructions. Launch date: February 2012.

Collectible myth and monster cards can be played with on their own, but also added to an app for gameplay with 3-D figures. Each card has information about its subject, including unicorns, sea serpents and Cyclops based on the Ology book series. Tap the card to the screen of an iPad, iPod Touch or iPhone, and that monster appears in the game. Launch date: March 2012.

Each 5-inch plush fruit features splat sound effects, includes a Fruit Ninja bandanna and has a mouth that is slightly sliced. Choices include Green Apple, Strawberry and Pineapple plush. There's even a Bomb. Other Fruit Ninja items include smaller plush and tablet covers. Launch date: Spring 2012.

The world-famous Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey® Circus has partnered with Bachmann Trains to let kids experience all the excitement of The Greatest Show On Earth® as it travels by rail with this vintage Large Scale ready-to-run electric train set (Item No. 90083) that comes complete with a 4-6-0 steam locomotive (with operating headlight, smoke, and speed-synchronized sound), coal tender, advertising car with lighted interior, elephant stock car, flat car with lion in cage wagon and tiger in cage wagon, 8' 2" x 4' 3" oval of track, and DVD-format video instructions. Launch date: February 2012.

Relive the opening scene of "The Fellowship of the Ring" in LEGO form. As Gandalf the Grey makes his way through the Shire on his horse and cart, he meets an excited young hobbit, Frodo Baggins. Includes 2 minifigures: Gandalf the Grey and Frodo Baggins. 83 pieces. Launch date: June 2012.

Each of the figures stands 5.5 inches tall and features proprietary wire coil activation in the arms and legs that triggers heroic battle phrases. The longer kids pull back that limb, the longer the sound is activated, and will not end until released. Launch date: 2012.

Darth Maul has undergone years of demanding and brutal training under his master Darth Sidious to become an incredible Sith warrior. He demonstrates his skill by expertly spinning his double-bladed Lightsaber. He attacks with precision and ferocity, twirling the twin blades to strike his Jedi opponent.  This fierce DARTH MAUL figure is rendered in careful detail to look just like the character in the Star Wars: The Phantom Menace movie. He comes with his trademark double-bladed lightsaber. When the adventure is over for the day, set him on his battle base. Figure comes with weapon accessories, Galactic Battle Game card, battle base and die. Launch date: 2012.
— In a Summer 2012 survey, two out of 10 retailers said Star Wars characters were their best selling action figures.
— In a August 2014 survey, Charles, manager of Miller's Toys in Mamaroneck, N.Y., told TDmonthly that "Star Wars is finally coming back," and Star Wars toys are among their best-selling action figures.

Micro heroes, mega battles! Iconic STAR WARS characters get a collectible new gaming twist, as players use Fighter Pods to knock down as many figures as possible. Spin, Launch or Roll the Pod into battle…even connect the Pods together or place the figures on top or inside of them for extra “power.”More than 100 STAR WARS FIGHTER PODS figures available in a unique new style from all six STAR WARS films and The Clone Wars animated series. Each set sold separately. Launch date: 2012.

Twenty designs featuring feathered friends and their swine foes. Each pack comes with high gloss finish dog tag, ball chain and two Angry Birds sticker sets. Launch date: March 2012.

The Build-a-Bear experience in an all new mini format. A dozen BABW favorites come packed with T-shirt, customizer sticker set, heart and ceremony, trading cards and collector's activity guide with online code for items on bearville.com.

Bobble Bots Moshi Monsters House allows the ultimate collector to scurry their Moshlings home and cultivate their ever-growing gardens. Each Bobble Bots Moshi House comes with the ultra-rare Oddie #88 Moshling, four cobblestone building tiles, ten brick borders, nine grass pieces, one garden patch, one Scarecrow, one small bush, three flowers, two mushrooms, three weeds and two rocks. The house also includes one foundation building tile, one door, one roof, one shelf accessory, three different house walls featuring three wallpaper designs, and secret codes that unlock fresh, new content in the online virtual world of www.moshimonsters.com. Launch date: Spring 2012.

The Bobble Bots Moshi Monsters Large Starter Set comes with one Moshling, two cobblestone building tiles, six brick borders, three grass pieces, one garden patch, one small bush, three flowers, one mushroom, one weed, and one rock. Each set also contains secret codes that unlock fresh, new content in the online virtual world of www.moshimonsters.com. Launch date: Spring 2012.

The Bobble Bots Moshi Monsters Starter Set is perfect for any first time user, or seasoned collector looking to enhance an existing set. Each starter set comes with one Moshling, one cobblestone building tile, four brick borders, three grass pieces, one small bush, one mushroom, one rock, and secret codes that unlock fresh, new content in the online virtual world of www.moshimonsters.com. Launch date: Spring 2012.

The Bobble Bots Moshling Flower Garden set allows collectors to accessorize and enhance any existing starter set, store or house in Monstro City. Each flower garden comes with one moshling, one garden patch, three flowers, and secret codes that unlock fresh, new content in the online virtual world of www.moshimonsters.com. Launch date: Spring 2012.

Bobble Bots Moshi Monsters Moshlings are a set of cute and cuddly bobble-head mini robotic pets that bring the hugely popular online world of Monstro City to life for its 50 million fans worldwide. The explorative and collectible, battery-operated Moshlings use patented HEXBUG Nano vibration technology to buzz around their unique configurable 3-D “dollhouse” replicas of the same streets, yards, buildings and houses found online in Monstro City. Each Bobble Bots Moshling has its own unique, bubbly personality, and some are rarer than others. For example, Snookums the baby tumteedum is a common, prehistoric Dino who yearns to be cared for; Gingersnap the Whiny Cat is a rare Kitty who loves melted cheese and strongly dislikes any form of work; and Sooki-Yaki the caped assassin is an uncommon gadget-loving Ninja highly trained in martial arts. Launch date: Spring 2012.

These tiny glass miniatures feature classic Uglydolls, such as Abima, Ox, Wage, Ice-bat, and more. Launch date: 2012.

Each Monster Village package contains over 90 block pieces to create two monsters with movable joints. The included assembly instruction comes in comic booklet form featuring the stories of each of the unique characters. Launch date: April 2012.