The annual Toy Fair in New York City is where toymakers show off the wares they'll be selling in the year ahead.
For retailers, it's a way of getting ready for what's coming. For parents and toy enthusiasts on the outside looking in, it's all about previewing the items that will get hearts all pitter-patter.
Toy Fair 2015 wraps up on Tuesday, February 17, but we think we've already figured out the five brand new toys that will be at the top of your kids' wishlists this year.
1. Furbacca
Furbacca is exactly what it sounds like: an unholy union of Furby and Chewbacca. Some call it horrifying. Some think it's the cutest thing ever. We're betting your kids will fall into the latter camp.
Furbacca is covered in fur (go figure) but like all Furby products, has electronic insides that allow him to come to life at your touch. In this case, Furbacca doesn't just come alive and talk; he sings. What does he sing? Various themes from John Williams' Star Wars scores, of course. But in the end, it doesn't really matter what Furbacca does. The name alone will be enough to make this the rare crossover toy that appeals to both girls and boys.
2. Jurassic World's Indominus Rex
Because nature didn't provide them with enough massive, life-threatening, nightmare-giving dinosaurs already, the creators of Jurassic World have upped the ante by having its characters genetically cook up a brand new hybrid dinosaur species to terrorize park visitors. She's called Indominus Rex, and she's a nasty piece of work.
The mystique of dinosaurs always holds a strong allure for kids, and the thought of an entirely new, man-made one will make for a must-have toy. Hasbro is releasing a full line of Jurassic World toys that includes Indominous Rex along with Chris Pratt's trio of pet velociraptors, a Mosasaurus (the one that leaps out of the water in the trailer), and many more. LEGO is also doing its own version of Indominus Rex and other Jurassic World building sets.
3. Star Wars Bladebuilders
The coolest weapon in this galaxy or any other is undoubtedly the lightsaber. The Jedi's "elegant" weapon of choice, this laser-bladed sword can slice through pretty much anything and is also perfect for defense in the hands of a trained Force warrior.
Hasbro is bringing Star Wars Bladebuilders kits to market this fall — a few months before the release of Star Wars: The Force Awakens and just in time for Christmas — allowing kids to finally fulfill their fantasies of building a lightsaber of their own design. A starter kit will run you $50, while expansions with different hilts, connectors and blades will run between $10 and $20.
4. Avengers: Age of Ultron's "Hulkbuster" Iron Man
As usual, Hasbro has all the coolest franchise licenses. The mega-company's Avengers: Age of Ultron toys look to be some of its most detailed ever made for Marvel characters. But the one that stands out is the same one that fanboys lost their minds over in the Ultron trailer: Iron Man's "Hulkbuster" armor.
The Hulkbuster is Tony Stark's gigantic, immensely-powerful armor made specifically to combat the Hulk. We're assuming that's in a "in case Hulk's rage goes out of control" scenario, but you never know with Tony. A longtime part of comics lore, the Hulkbuster is something Marvel fans have been salivating to see on the big screen for ages. This crazy tricked-out armor will be available to buy in at least six different sizes and configurations. When paired with other Avengers characters, the toys will even "talk" to each other.
5. Sick Bricks Figures
An underdog choice to be sure, but anything that answers the question, "What if you combined LEGO building bricks with Skylanders?" is a recipe for printing money. Spin Master's new toys-to-life entry Sick Bricks looks simple on the surface, with characters made of two basic LEGO-ish bricks that you "transport" into your mobile game via camera scan. But when you mix and match those two bricks, combining a vampire with a firefighter for example, you open up a world of hundreds of mashup possibilities. The game itself is no slouch, either, with a huge open world for kids to explore set in a crazy town full of wacky characters that have to defend their city from an invasion.
Fortunately, Sick Bricks looks like a hobby that won't break the bank. The basic two-brick characters will sell for just $2.50 a pop, though there are larger characters and vehicles you'll be able to buy and build for up to $20-ish. But the Sick Bricks game app will be a free download.
