Idle Hands: January 2015

Saturday, January 31, 2015

Toy Fair 2015: Your Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtle Report

Our UK Toy Fair coverage is rolling out and Nuremberg Toy Fair coverage is in deck, and as we inch closer to New York International Toy Fair 2015, we thought we'd take a moment to acknowledge a little known property called..laughably..Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles. This mock-send up of modern comic books is gaining fans across the globe with excellent writing and a gritty art style standing in contract to the silly premise. Hey...maybe one day there will be a cartoon series! ...I keed of course. TMNT is continuing its domination of your children's lives...and a good deal of the adults running past them to hunt the toy isles daily for that damn elusive April O'Neil figure. One look at those isles at Christmas time would tell you all you need to know about the level of popularity here. EMPTY PEGS. A sea of them. The Playmates crew aren't wasting any time celebrating as they charge into 2015 with a full mutations line with two series of action figures and a character lineup that would impress any fan..of anything! Let's see what's going down in 2015...

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Toy Fair 2015: LEGO Ninjago, Elves, Marvel & DC Comics, Star Wars, Scooby Doo & MORE

We are still wading through an ocean of UK Toy Fair coverage, but Nuremberg Toy Fair is already upon us! Despite the insane amount of secrets revealed at US Toy Fair every year, Nuremberg is, in fact, the largest toy trade show in the world, so you would think we'd pull tons of seeekrets from the show floor...right? Wrong. It seems, as always, US is still the favored show for reveals. Even LEGO joined in with a giant waving finger of denial, but seeing as how most of their lineups have already been ...well...lined up.. on the mega brick fan sites, it's really not a huge loss. Let's run down a bunch of releases and reveals for those of you not already immersed in the LEGO universes...

Let's start with Emilie Noetzel's notes from her UK Toy Fair tour. No photography was allowed, but she was able to take some notes on key points... (Note: As this is a different region than the US, we may already have some of this stuff in stores. I'll also note some times PR reps show us things as if they are new, but they've been in stores for a bit. No way for us to sort through all that, so here's the lot!)

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Wednesday, January 28, 2015

Toy Fair 2015: BEHOLD! Barbie the Princess Super Hero!!

It will be no news to you that Barbie has held several jobs over the course of our lifetime. From her humble beginnings as McDonalds employee to her stints as Astronaut, Fashion Designer, Doctor, Computer Tech, Mermaid...she's done it all...and sometimes, has done 2 or three things at the same time. How she was able to code websites while designing dresses under water is beyond me...but THAT'S OUR BARBIE!! And she don't need no man to help her code anything. (double snaps). Now, Barbie takes on her most challenging, multi-taskular job position ever. PRINCESS SUPER HERO!!!

At the world's largest Toy Fair which takes place in Nuremberg, for the first time in Mattel's 56-year history, Barbie™ is pulling out a cape and mask and transforming into a modern day superhero. During a groundbreaking stunt at the Toy Fair, Barbie™ demonstrated her new superpowers and took to the skies in front of crowds of onlookers. The Toy Show is the mecca of the industry that sees the world's leading brands showcase the most innovative toys that kids will be playing with in 2015 and beyond. Barbie™ stole the show in her new superhero persona and performed a one of a kind global stunt.

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Tuesday, January 27, 2015

The Fantastic Four Trailer Has Come!! ...Did You Notice?

Since the dawn of time, it has been the power of the geek to love without limits and hate with the fire of a thousand suns. To harness this power, studios hire top mathematicians, genius scientists and sneaksy former politicians to crunch numbers and decode ways to manipulate the public so that the pendulum swings toward a favorable outpouring of love screamed across the sparkling internets. Despite the availability of armies of professionals who can accomplish such astounding feats, we still find some movie companies stand fast to their own belief that their movie will experience a glorious box office debut even though all of their marketing, imagery and plot points divulged would suggest....otherwise. Fantastic Four has been one such mythical creature, standing proudly with chest puffed to maximum puffiness as the hordes of geeks rail against it.

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Monday, January 26, 2015

Toy Fair 2015: TOMY Pokemon, Sonic & More

Back into the UK Toy Fair 2015 coverage as we wade through a veritable sea of images Emilie Noetzel sent over from the show floor. She's on her way home now, so we wish her a safe trip! TOMY continues to wow fans with their fairly innovative and beautifully sculpted Pokemon figure lines while they add plenty of characters fans have been screaming for to their Sonic lines. Usually, we can't tell if a company with this much on display is showing anything new, but when you've got what looks like production grade figures along side prototypes, package mock ups and boards showing items yet to be made into three dimensions, you know you've hit pay dirt! Dive in and enjoy!

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Sunday, January 25, 2015

Toy Fair 2015: Funrise Madballs, My Little Pony & More

Back into the UK Toy Fair 2015 coverage with Funrise...one of those companies who are always accommodating, but you never now what you are going to see within their booth space! This Year's lineup included a small army of My Little Pony plush characters, Moja Monsters, Gazillion Bubbles, and the inevitable, inescapable return of ...Madballs! You'll notice Funrise seems to have gone for a printed design and not the traditional sculpted Madballs we are used to from the start of this property. I'm sure their thinking was that it didn't work out for the relaunch some years back, why would it work now? For collectors like me, all the appeal is in those sculpted faces on the balls! We'll see how it works out this time, but I'm fully prepared for a world of geeks screaming for the more traditional feel. Let's check out the goods...

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Saturday, January 24, 2015

Toy Fair 2015: More Jurassic World Toy Details

Not to beat this one topic into the ground, but we are working round the clock (on this and other jobs), getting all the pics from UK Toy Fair 2015 edited and..well..this one is a quicky! We've got some new details on the toy lineups for Jurassic World and since those fans are the loudest, and the re-tweetiest...and ask very nicely, we are happy to dive in and get whatever we can. As is the way of our people, I will now shout SPOILER WARNING as there's a certain dino described with a very interesting talent...

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Friday, January 23, 2015

Toy Fair 2015: Hasbro Banking On Jurassic World & Avengers: Age of Ultron

We've just barely set foot into 2015 and Hasbro is already barreling head long into their marketing campaigns for 2 toy lines representing 2 of the biggest films of the year. Actually, Hasbro's master plan started back in October with the first reveals of the Avengers: Age of Ultron toys (which we gave you a taste of HERE). Actually actually..Hasbro hasn't started their marketing for Jurassic World at all...they are just leaking...from every boat they've got it seems. As the dinosaur images creep out across the globe, eagle eyed websites pick up the meager scraps and run with it, feeding a fandom that always seems insatiable...and is only really visible (to an outsider) when the news starts to fall like rain. That's when you realize how many Jurassic Park maniacs there are out there! It's the same with My Little Pony..and Power Rangers. That's got to be my favorite part of Toy Fair time...watching all these fans come out of the woodwork to eat up every ounce of coverage as fast as we can post it. ANYWAYYYS...let's check out some upcoming Avengers and Jurassic World toys, shall we? Yes, have some!

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Thursday, January 22, 2015

Toy Fair 2015: K'Nex Nintendo Mario Worlds

Back to UK Toy Fair 2015 with our pals at K'Nex who have been bringing us properties that haven't gotten the love they should over the years....like MARIO! Nintendo has been constantly looking for ways to evolve gameplay for our favorite mustachio'd plumber with new settings and new, ridiculously adorable costumes that would make any mortal man crumble...BUT NOT MARIO! Who wears a Tanuki onesie as proudly as Mario? No one. NO. ONE. Here's what was on display from the Marioverse...

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Wednesday, January 21, 2015

Toy Fair 2015: Bandai Sprukits: DC Comics, HALO & LBX

If there is one thing Bandai is never short on, it's innovation. ...but if there is one thing UK Toy Fair is always short on..it's new toy reveals. Combining these two forces, we crossed our fingers and hoped Bandai was itching to pull out at least a small sampling of their 2015 toys for us to shoot the holy hell out of, making a trip to the UK worth it! ...and ...they did. Yay. Today, we'll take a look at Bandai's full range of Sprukits, a snap together model kit series where you create a fully posable action figure. Maybe Bandai says it better...

"SpruKits lets you build your favorite hero from the spru up. Build a highly detailed figure with true to life action hero movement and articulation without paint, glue or cutting. Experience the joy of building as you snap together and assemble the pieces to build your hero and have the pride that comes with being able to say "I built.” "

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Toy Fair 2015: Playskool Cutifies Jurassic World, Marvel Comics & Transformers

Let's face it...kids these days get all the fun toys. No trip to any store with a toy isle would be complete without a stroll down the Imaginext stacks....because that stuff...is awesome. Today, we'll check out a whole pile of Playskool Heroes toys featuring Marvel Comics and Transformers characters, and one mean but adorable looking T-Rex! We'll also check out the latest from our favorite spud, Mr. Potato Head, who is, as ever, the master of disguise.

Let's kick things off with a lone Jurassic World Playskool toy that just dropped into my email. The Tyrannosaurus Rex features lights and sounds...and surely a chomping action or else why bother, right? It also comes with a little hipster handler ready to lead him around and teach him about all the indie bands no one knows about. Actually..he kinda looks like Heisenberg. Take that, you fun-ruining mommies. HEISENBERG GOT A NEW JOB!!

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Funko Looking for Big Trouble...In Little China!

When Funko showed off an entire wave of Big Trouble in Little China Pop! Vinyl Figures, horror fans, action movie lovers, fantasy enthusiasts and general geekdom across the planet ...well..heads exploded. Today, we get word that Funko is adding to that anticipation with a whole wave of retro looking ReAction figures!

To recap, from the POP world we will see Jack Burton, Gracie Law, Lo Pan, Rain, Thunder and Lightning. Aw...no love for the Watcher!! These will be hitting next month.

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Big Hero 6's Baymax Celebrated for National Hugging Day

After much deliberation and even more hugging, Baymax, the lovable personal companion robot and star of Walt Disney Animation Studio’s action-packed comedy adventure and Academy Award® Nominated film “Big Hero 6,” was today named Most Huggable Character of 2015 on National Hugging Day™!

The coveted award was presented by the Ambassador of Hugs (HA!), Kevin Zaborney, founder and creator of National Hugging Day.™ Baymax humbly accepted the award from his residence in San Fransokyo where he attributed the honor to his “non-threatening, huggable design” and said he looks forward to spending the upcoming year giving and receiving hugs from all.

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Tuesday, January 20, 2015

Toy Fair 2015: The "Best New Toys" List with Jurassic World, Minions, LEGO, Nerf & More

The winners of the Toy Fair Best New Toy Awards were announced for the seventh year this morning at the annual Toy Fair, predicting some of the top new toys for 2015. Winners range from household names such as Hasbro with their Nerf Rebelle Arrow Revolution Bow and LEGO® with their Disney Frozen: Elsa's Sparkling Ice Castle to impressive new tech toys such as the Quadcopter “Rayvore” from Revell or the I-Que Intelligent Robot from Vivid.

The twelve categories, which produced 36 winning toys, from 26 different toy companies - were unveiled this morning by the London Toy Fair organisers, the British Toy & Hobby Association. Toy Fair is the UK’s only dedicated toy, game and hobby trade exhibition, playing host to more than 260 exhibitors launching thousands of new products.

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Toy Spotting: Valentine's Day, Star Wars Hot Wheels, TMNT, LEGO & More

For those of you who visit regularly, the name "Toy Spotting" shouldn't be so unfamiliar. Glance at the top of the page and under all those pretty pictures, you'll see a slide show beckoning like a cosplaying siren dressed like gender bender Luke Skywalker. Whenever we are out in the world, we are constantly looking for the newest items you'll want to add to your collections...and so...Toy Spotting! Today we dumped about 80 new images in there including a sampling of Target and Walmart's Valentine's Day isles, New Lego sets for Star Wars, DC Comics and The Lego Movie, Hot Wheels $1 Star Wars car line and Imaginext Spongebob Movie figures! Let's hit the highlights...

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Toy Fair 2015: Half Moon Bay's Doctor Who, Muppets, DC Comics & Star Wars Merch

I hate to break this to you...but I've looked around your house...your work station....your car....you don't have enough stuff. Seriously. You say you would die for the 11th Doctor, and yet I do not see decorative satchels hanging from your closet doors or Dalek mugs in your cupboards. You constantly extol the virtues of The Batman, and yet I barely see three bat symbol emblazoned items within your reach. To put it bluntly, you are a poor geek...and we have some work to do. Half Moon Bay to the rescue! UK Toy Fair is now in high gear and we'll kick things off with the STUFF of legend, ready to fill the empty gaps in your life and shout to the world..."HEY...I'm a dork. Come at me....but not in the face..."

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Friday, January 16, 2015

Batman VS Robin Animated Movie Preview

SPRING 2015! Prepare yourself for another heaping helping of the character all of comic fandom loves to hate! It's Damian Wayne! This kid needs a really awful, catchy theme song. The oncoming release of Justice League: Throne of Atlantis has the expected preview of their next feature, simply titled Batman Vs Robin. Apparently our screams of anguish when they released Son of Batman were not sufficient.

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Tuesday, January 13, 2015

Toy Fair 2015: Avengers: Age of Ultron Toys from Hasbro, Diamond Select, Mattel, LEGO & Hot Toys

Ahh..the dreaded street date. As more retail outlets employ people that are overworked and underpaid, a thing like the "street date" for a toy release is something that can be often overlooked. As we speak, toys from Marvel's Avengers: Age of Ultron have begun hitting shelves, although there is little they can reveal that the two meaty trailers have not. Let's look at a run down of everything spilling onto the internet so far...

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Monday, January 12, 2015

A New Avengers: Age of Ultron Trailer!

For those of you that don't watch sportsball...

Dive in for some screen grabs asking some important questions about what we just watched...

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Friday, January 9, 2015

New Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles Episodes Launch Sunday, January 11th

Nickelodeon’s Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles enters the New Year with the return of season three debuting Sunday, Jan. 11, at 11:00a.m. (ET/PT). In the all-new episode, “Eyes of the Chimera,” Casey, Raph, Mikey and Donnie are captured by a flying mutant who has an obscure connection to April. Meanwhile, April and Leo must overcome their disabilities to save them. Fans can catch new episodes of Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles in its new timeslot on Sundays at 11:00a.m. (ET/PT) on Nickelodeon.

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Marvel Celebrates Deadpool 250...by Killing Him

That’s right – if you add together all the Deadpool series (creatively), April’s DEADPOOL #45 marks Wade Wilson’s landmark 250th issue! How will he be celebrating? DEATH! No, really. Wade's about to reach the end of the line, but he’s not gone yet. Prepare for a colossal-sized series finale the likes of which you’ve never seen before as Gerry Duggan, Brian Posehn and more bid the Merc With a Mouth adieu, and explore the legacy he leaves behind.

First, Gerry Duggan, Brian Posehn and Mike Hawthorne serve up a 30-page main story as, the villainous Ultimatum finally makes their move. They’re coming at Deadpool for revenge – all of them! And we mean ALL OF THEM. It’s going to be a bloodbath, but Wade’s not going down without a fight though.

“This is something we’ve been naturally building towards,” says writer Gerry Duggan speaking with Marvel.com. “This isn’t being done lightly. It always comes down to what we think is right and Marvel has been very king and gracious with us and let us get away with murder: in a literal sense.”

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Thursday, January 8, 2015

Let's Rip Apart the Ant-Man Trailer!

By now, you should be aware Disney is taking a fairly odd approach to selling us on an Ant-Man movie...a film that is probably more risky than they thought Guardians of the Galaxy was. I mean...his name is Ant-Man after all. He doesn't exactly inspire a theme song. Even the newly released trailer points a finger at that fact. It is this particular quality that I'd like to talk about today. While I'm sure Disney wants all their films to succeed, didn't you get the feeling they have no idea who to sell a movie named "Ant-Man" to?

Flash back to the day when "test footage" of an Ant-Man movie was released to the public in glowing HD. We saw the suit and the powers and a little adventure and overall, we were left with a sense that this character could actually be badass when we get to see someone capable of using this power set to its maximum potential, coupled with a genius brain if that was Hank Pym inside the helmet.

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Wednesday, January 7, 2015

Big Chief On Harry Potter 12 Inch Action Figures

After having recently re-watched the ridiculously fun and insanely morbid Harry Potter movie series, I developed a new found fondness for my NECA action figure collection. From here, my thoughts jumped to those UK releases I had missed and I went hunting online for all they'd released...and there was a ton...and it's long gone...and so, so, so pricey. As if reading my mind, in jumps Big Chief Studios, champions of BBC based 12 inch action figures that rival Hot Toys in quality, announcing their incoming Harry Potter 12 inch collectibles! Prepare your drool glands. They are about to work over time.

BIG Chief Studios are pleased to announce a new partnership with Star Ace, to bring their range of 1:6 Scale Collectible Action Figures to Muggles everywhere.

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Tuesday, January 6, 2015

Toy Fair 2015: Hasbro on Star Wars, Marvel Legends & G.I. Joe

IT'S TIME!!! As per usual, we will remind you that the New York International Toy Fair starts this February, but the whole world gets a great big wiff of that new toy smell first...and the internet is bound to be chock full of those previews in the coming weeks. Let's kick things off with Hasbro and a slew of new announcements...

First up, Hasbro reps have pre-preemptively announced there will be no Star Wars: The Force Awakens merchandise on show in NY this year...

With Toy Fair approaching and Hasbro’s annual Entertainment Brand Preview Day scheduled for Saturday, February 14th, we wanted to reach out and clarify what Hasbro’s Star Wars presence will entail at this year’s show.

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Marvel's Agent Carter Premieres Tonight!

Retro, post war spy intrigue led by a sexy, British female operative looking to prove herself more capable than her male counterparts in a world that believes Captain America is dead? COUNT ME IN! SPOILER WARNING** Full episode 1 synopsis below as well as a featurette**

ABC presents its second action packed series from the creative minds at Marvel in "Marvel's Agent Carter," inspired by the feature films "Marvel's Captain America: The First Avenger" and "Marvel's Captain America: The Winter Soldier," along with the short "Marvel One-Shot: Agent Carter."

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Monday, January 5, 2015

No One Kills It Like Gaston

It's very easy to discount the fine folks that work in all areas of the Disney empire in the more public venues. Visit any Disney store and you'll be greeted with a barrage of silly, whimsical phrases that continue in answer to any question. "Can I help you?" is simple enough, but an answer of "no thanks" will probably get you "Well let me know if you should need help. Sometimes things are not very clear through the looking glass" ...at which point we half expect little sparks to fly out of the kind lady's neck and her head to turn at an uncomfortable angle as her eyes grow wide. OK Snow White. I'm just going to keep pressing the buttons on the talking Star Wars figures til you float away. It is this sort of response ...which probably swings more toward "sarcastically amused" more often than not, which is seeping into our geeky every day lives, and onto social media as we hit the Disney theme parks while on vacation. We may discount those who step forward to greet the public in the name of the mouse, and perhaps more so when they are in full character, and without the benefit of hiding inside a giant mascot head. This brings us to Gaston, star of Beauty and the Beast, and the current Disney World actor playing him...and killing it in people's cell phone shot vids.

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Thursday, January 1, 2015

Idle Hands Toy Fair 2015 Coverage Master List

From the UK to Germany to the United States, we've been gathering the news on your favorite collectibles as it drops and delivering it right to your computer screen daily! Here's a run down of all the Toy Fair 2015 news we've compiled with links for your further viewing pleasure.

Hasbro on Star Wars, Marvel Legends & G.I. Joe

Big Chief On Harry Potter 12 Inch Action Figures

Avengers: Age of Ultron Toys from Hasbro, Diamond Select, Mattel, LEGO & Hot Toys

Half Moon Bay's Doctor Who, Muppets, DC Comics & Star Wars Merch

The "Best New Toys" List with Jurassic World, Minions, LEGO, Nerf & More

Playskool Cutifies Jurassic World, Marvel Comics & Transformers

Bandai Sprukits: DC Comics, HALO & LBX

K'Nex Nintendo Mario Worlds

Hasbro Banking On Jurassic World & Avengers: Age of Ultron

More Jurassic World Toy Details

Funrise Madballs, My Little Pony & More

TOMY Pokemon, Sonic & More

BEHOLD! Barbie the Princess Super Hero!!

LEGO Ninjago, Elves, Marvel & DC Comics, Star Wars, Scooby Doo & MORE

Your Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtle Report

NECA Debuts Interstellar, Batman, Pacific Rim & More

More Mighty Marvel from Hasbro

DOCTOR WHO LEGO!! ..oh..and Wall-E too!

Hasbro Transformers Kre-O Rolls On With Robots in Disguise & Classic Looks

Titan Merchandise on Alien, Doctor Who, Ghostbusters, Breaking Bad & More

Hasbro Marvel Hero Mashers Update with Groot, Agent Venom & More

Bugs Bunny And Mezco Declare Rabbit Season Open

Etch A Sketch Turns 55

Mezco One:12 Collective Batman, Judge Dredd & Teasers

Hasbro's -almost- Full Jurassic World Toy Lineup

Mezco's Living Dead Dolls Lurch Onward

Minions Figures Out of Hiding

Meet The Velociraptors of Jurassic World + Chomping T-Rex & Brawlasaurs..and Pun Dog!

Wicked Cool Toys on Cabbage Patch Kids

TOY FAIR 2015 IMAGE GALLERIES

NOTE: We may not get to update this master list again until after Toy fair has ended, so keep THIS LINK handy to check in on our gallery updates and hit the front page for the latest news!

Note to websites looking for news: Please credit us. If you are grabbing pictures, please only grab half at the most of what we are showing and link back for the rest. We appreciate your interest and thank you for your cooperation.