Top Chef, Food Network, and “Julie & Julia” have made cooking popular once again, and BANDAI’s Chef Kids capitalizes on this current popularity. While most cooking programs are aimed at adults, the Chef Kids line includes instructional DVDs created for kids with interest in the kitchen. The ChocoPot lets kid chefs make chocolate treats using a battery powered pot and three molds. Everything is included—just add chocolate!

Teeny Little Families are a collectible figure collection with a subtle environmental message. The figures represent seven different animal families who recycle human trash to make their homes. Bottle caps, soda cans, and old alarm clocks become bright and colorful houses and playgrounds for the Teeny Little Families. The Teeny Little Family Figures sets include four family members and two accessories the adults can hold. Launch date: Fall 2010.

Power Rangers returns to its roots in 2010 with BANDAI’s toy line based on the original Mighty Morphin Power Rangers. The Deluxe Mix & Morph Titanus Base lets kids create custom Power Rangers and Megazord robots by mixing, matching, and morphing parts from Titanus and the four exclusive translucent Ranger figures. The Titanus Base can also combine with other Power Ranger toys to recreate the action from the television show.

Aspiring fashion designers can test their skills with this no-sew kit that includes two dress forms, stamped art, fabrics, fashion accessories and a stylus tool to lock the designs in place.

Kids can play out RPM adventures with this cycle and figure. They transform the cycle to cruising chopper mode for the ranger to stand on, and create "battlized" Power Rangers figures and vehicles by collecting and combining with the entire Auxiliary Trax System — Guardian Figures ($9.99) and Formula Transporters ($19.99) (sold separately). "Vehicles can be collected and combined with Formula Transporters and Guardian Figures to create a whole new level of play, Power Up mode," Kathleen Bush, assistant account executive for Weber Shandwick, told TDmonthly. Launch date: July 2009.

Kids can test their alien design skills with the Alien Creation Challenge “build it or blast it” play set. Kids race against a timer as they piece together alien torsos and limbs to recreate figures based on alien combo cards. If time runs out, the tray pops up along with all the alien pieces. Players can keep the challenge going by adding additional figures to the play set and creating additional alien combo cards online. The play set includes four alien figures, eight alien combo cards and a special key to unlock body parts. Launch date: August 2009.

Kids use the mini translucent figures to unlock alien lights and sounds. The Ultimate Omnitrix comes with one mini translucent figure that attaches to the base and unlocks the alien's special image and sound. Kids can collect all 10 mini translucent figures — each one unlocks its own unique holographic figure and sounds. Launch date: July 2009.

Aspiring fashion designers can achieve “Runway Ready” status, with Harumika – the new dress-form fashion doll from Bandai America Inc. Already a huge phenomenon in Japan, Harumika lets girls “style their imagination” and easily design attire with colorful fabrics and fashion accessories – all with no sewing required.

Inspired by the television series’ vehicle adventures in ”Power Rangers RPM,” the lineup features products with increased play value – from the Auxiliary Trax System to limited edition chase figures and retro Megazords – all certain to drive excitement among fans and collectors of all ages.

Those tempted to reach for the nearest sheet of plastic bubbles need look no further than Mugen Pop Pop.  Mugen Pop Pop is a highly addictive handheld keychain device that stimulates the strangely satisfying experience of popping plastic bubble packaging. Launch date: October 27, 2008,

This improved version of the Mega Mission Helmet allows users to download more over 50 role-playing missions from the Internet. Launch date: February 2008.

The 6" action figure comes with his own miniature light-up Omnitrix and an alien arm attachment. Press a button and Ben’s arms will move; press the Omnitrix and Ben will say, “It’s hero time!” Three different alien arm attachments are available. Launch date: Fall 2007.

Ideal for those budding Anime-loverswho want to DIY, the Automatic Sushi Roller is made of blindingly orange plastic and is designed for use in an easy, step-by-step process. Users simply pour in the cucumber, crab, avocado and whatever, roll the knobs to shape it, do the same for the rice, and then feed in the nori strip, roll some more, and … instant California roll! Chiyoko Niigata of the Bandai home office had tried one: "They make very good gifts, and are very accurate. They wash-up very clean, too."

Shaped like a colorful cosmetics case, LocketPal is the perfect first PDA device for today’s younger girl on the go.  Open it up to access the touch screen and unlock four categories of interactive activities, including games, horoscope finder, friendship matchmaker and cool mood meter.  In addition, girls can use the address and phone book, calendar and alarm to stay connected with their friends.  LocketPal’s portable yet colorful design means that it can be clipped to practically anything (purses, backpacks and belt loops) so girls are always near the fun anywhere they go.  Launch Date: July 2007.

Take the interactive experience of raising a virtual pet to the home computer with the all-new Tamagotchi PC Pack.  This exclusive pack comes with a colorful tree-shaped microphone and unique voice-activated software program that allows kids to command a Tamagotchi desktop buddy to fetch e-mail, dance onscreen and more.  In addition to a mouse pad and an exclusive design of the Tamagotchi Connection, the CD-ROM disk filled with wallpapers, games, printable graphics and more can be used to customize a computer.  Launch Date: August 2007.

Kids get into the action with this unique role-play set that features a wearable Omnitrix and three arm attachments designed after Heatblast, Diamondhead and Four Arms.  Kids attach one of the plates directly onto the Omnitrix to trigger a sound and phrase from that character.  They can punch with the super-powered arm to activate even more sound effects.  The counter feature adds a game play element for getting kids active by keeping track of how many punches they land, with different phrases from Ben indicating the results of their performance. Launch Date: July 2007.

Ever wonder what it’s like to transform into an awesome alien with super powers?  Well, now kids can with the new Deluxe Omnitrix role-play toy from the hit Cartoon Network series Ben 10.  Bigger and badder than ever, this toy is packed with power in the form of flashing lights, sound effects and an LCD game screen that tests kids’ ability to transform into the correct alien when attacked by the evil Vilgax.  Launch Date: July 2007.

As the ultimate Power Rangers toy of all time, the Mega Mission Helmet takes the role-playing action to even greater dimension.  This unique product connects to the Internet, via the included USB cable, to access 25 different secret missions.  Each two-minute role-play adventure can be downloaded into the helmet and updated once a child tackles the last one.  As a result, kids can fully become their favorite Power Rangers hero; this is the very first time they can get a replica Red Ranger helmet that they can wear. Launch Date: August 2007.

Girlz Connect Destiny is the ultimate portable tech toy for the social and savvy tween.  Girls can connect now with the 20 different “get to know you, get to know me” personality quizzes that they share with their friends—both offline and online.  One of its coolest features, Destiny features a USB port that connects online to the Girlzconnect.com community.  Here, girls can create a profile, make and share their quizzes, search for new ones, and then download them one-by-one into their toy.  This ultimately keeps Destiny fun, fresh and always interactive. Launch Date: July 2007.

This fake cat’s paw has a bell on the handle and a trigger to make the claw ... well, do claw things. Backscratcher? Friend tapper? Dog deceiver? This thing is just straight weird. The user manual shows things such as using it to reach for a coffee cup, confuse a real cat, and even duel — if your opponent also has a cat paw. It looks fun, and Izumi Nagano at Bandai headquarters in Tokyo explained that “it is something that is unique and brings both playfulness and joy.”

Inspired by the hit Cartoon Network show, the Ben 10 Alien Voice Changer is a cool role-play toy in which kids speak into the microphone and hear the wearable modulator distort their voice so they sound like an out-of-this-world creature. To complete the look, the three included glasses are made to resemble popular show characters such as Four Arms, Heatblast or Grey Matter. Two different sets with various character glasses are available. Launch date: January 2007.

Tamagotchi Connection is the world’s first and most popular virtual pet toy, and the V4 lets kids “live the Tamagotchi life 24/7.” Children can guide their Tamagotchi characters through life’s daily adventures by playing games, going to school, and choosing a fun career, such as rock star, fashion designer, scientist or doctor. V4 also offers fans the ability to continue visiting the interactive online world of Tamagotchi Town, where kids can shop at the mall and go to school and work. Launch date: January 2007.

This toy features touch-screen technology that puts personality quizzes at kids’ fingertips, and can also connect to a computer with its USB drive. Tweens can log onto the Girlz Connect web community to create, share and download their own quizzes. Destiny comes in various colors and can be attached to purses, backpacks or belt loops, or worn around the neck. Cliff Jin of The Rogers Group said the youth electronics category grew 22 percent in 2006, according to NPD Group. “Bandai America is leveraging its success in the category — with the top selling “virtual pet” Tamagotchi Connection — to launch the new Girlz Connect brand,” he added. Launch date: July 2007.

The Overdrive Tracker Morpher comes equipped with a unique black light feature that enables kids to decode and decipher clues like their favorite Power Ranger. Clues can be found on the five included scan cards as well as on the packaging of other Operation Overdrive toys. The cell phone-like morpher features a fun keypad that creates many different sound combinations, as well as a rolling wheel at the bottom that imitates a vehicle sound. Launch Date: January 2007.

The alien adventures of Ben 10 come to life with the realistic Omnitrix F/X.  This awesome role-play toy can be worn on the wrist — just like the one our favorite hero Ben Tennyson wears — and features red and green flashing lights, as well as sound effects direct from the show.  Turn the dial to select from one of the 10 alien characters and then press down on the face of the Omnitrix to launch the cool transformation action. This lineup will return in 2007 with different alien characters, as well as new unique features once they have been transformed.
— Cliff Jin, a public relations rep for Bandai America, described Ben 10 Omnitrix F/X as “mini role-play toys.” He told TDmonthly that, “It’s like having two different toys in one.”