Kids are sure to find lots of fun and zany little gifts in their stockings this year. Perhaps they’ll receive 3-D glasses for all those new movies coming out, or maybe whimsical fabric friends, or even a new wind-up fart toy (watch out, parents)! See what else is in store for the season with TDmonthly’s Holiday Preview of Novelties.
3-D Anaglyphic Glasses for DVD movies by AMERICAN PAPER OPTICS
Three-dimensional anaglyphic glasses are used for viewing print, movies, Web sites, games and computer applications in 3-D, defined as two views of the same subject (either moving or still) in contrasting colors and slightly offset for two different perspectives. These IYF (In Your Face) 3-D anaglyphic glasses are re-formulated and supercharged with red and cyan filters, designed to punch full four-color 3-D with depth-defying clarity without compromising colors, flesh tones and light. "With the phenomenon of 3-D movies and with all the new movies planned to be released in the next two years, you need to be prepared for the rush. More and more children are having 3-D movie-watching parties. Most DVD rentals only come with two glasses and only four are packed in a DVD when you purchase them," Mark Nidzgorski, director of retail for American Paper Optics, told TDmonthly. Launch date: June 2009.
These super-bounce balls light up and make a "boing" noise with every bounce. Boing balls are available in clear, red or blue with two ultra-bright LEDs — one red and one blue — that create a lighting effect when the ball is bounced. “Try Me” packaging allows customer to see LED brightness and colors before they buy. Launch date: July 2009.
Toss it in the air and watch the colors magically flip! Handheld, magical color-flipping balls make a fun, portable toy. Collect all four cool color combinations. Toss just one or try to juggle with three.
JAM Bracelets are stretchy fabric bracelets that each have a sterling silver alphabet letter beaded on. Multiple bracelets can be stacked on the wrist to spell a name, a message or a favorite team, for example. "People can purchase as many different 'letter bracelets' as they like to spell out whatever message they want to display on their wrist. The price point is set low to allow the freedom to purchase multiple bracelets," Laura Gastwirth, owner of JAM Bracelets by Wirthware LLC, told TDmonthly. Launch date: April 2009. — Richard Gibson, owner of Learning Express in Newton, Mass., named Jam Bracelets as one of his store's top sellers in July 2010.
When placed in water for 30 seconds, this compact package expands into a 12" x 12" cotton towel. — “Toysmith offers lots of small, inexpensive toys that go out the door consistently,” Steve Melody, owner of Melody’s Choices in Fayetteville, Ark., told TDmonthly in spring 2009.
NobleWorks is a company that produces outrageous greeting cards. "Always pushing the envelope, these cards redefine the edge of sophisticated, sassy and downright silly fun," Morgan Gertler, in administration at NobleWorks, told TDmonthly. Launch date: 1999.
Each Body Dazzler is secured to a nylon lanyard with a safety break-away cord. Body Dazzlers come in a variety of shapes and colors and may be worn day or night as a necklace or used as a keychain. The product helps to increase safety by enhancing visibility in low-light conditions. Body Dazzlers can also be clipped to backpacks, bags or even attached as zipper pulls. Shapes include Alien, Skull, Whistle and Ballistics, and colors include Pink with red LED, Blue with blue LED, and Green with green LED. Launch date: July 2009.
Marvel "Hulk Crashed Through Wall" Flip Journal - Large by ISCREAM
Marvel characters seem to come alive when this front cover flips from one image to another. It prints on 22-pt. plastic with a full-color back cover on 12-pt. coated stock. There are 140 lined pages of 60-lb. offset for the inside pages. The wire-bound journal is available in three sizes: Large Journal (8.25" x 10.5"), Small Journal (6.30" x 8.5"), and Memo Pad (3.5" x 5.5"). "[Lenticular technology] is a way of using different kinds of lenses to create 3-D depth in an image or to flip from one image to another. But more importantly, it adds a whole new dimension of fun!" Leslie Montalbano, prepress manager for ISCREAM, told TDmonthly. Launch date: May 15, 2009. THIS PRODUCT IS NO LONGER AVAILABLE
When rolled gently, this colorful tin wheel returns to the user. It is available in a variety of designs. — Schylling products were listed as top sellers at Melody’s Choices in Fayetteville, Ark., by Owner Steve Melody in spring 2009. He likes that the vendor has small toys that sell consistently.
This 3"-tall disembodied head of Freud is made of soft foam rubber designed for squeezing. It can be kept in the car for stressful commutes and on the desk at work for those days when nothing seems to go right. It comes in a net bag with an illustrated header. Launch date: April 17, 2009.
When placed in water, these animals grow to 600 percent of their size in two to three weeks. The series includes the following designs: Alligator, Clownfish, Frog, Manta Ray, Penguin and Shark. "These wonderful Growing Animals truly G-R-O-W! [They are] beautifully designed and packaged for an attractive presence at retail," Shelley Williamson, in sales and marketing for Warm Fuzzy Toys, told TDmonthly. Launch date: 2009.
Do you like your eggs hard-boiled or sunny-side up? Well you can have both with this egg. Have it whole or make it SPLAT sunny-side up! When thrown onto the ground, SplatBacks splat into a flat, liquid-looking mess, then morph back into their original shape.
The Original Gas-O-Matic® is a mechanical wind-up fart toy with an amazing repertoire of fart sounds sure to turn heads and disgust innocent bystanders! No batteries necessary. Simply wind the center spinning device (aka the "Sphincter") of the Original Gas-O-Matic®, hide it under your leg, then give that umistakeable "fart lean" and "rip it". The Original Gas-O-Matic® is proudly made in the USA using safe, high quality and durable materials for long lasting fun!
This behavorial modification device is designed to teach children acceptable sleep patterns by displaying a sun face for day and a moon face for night. It can be preset to any times, depending upon the schedule that parents set for their children. The sun caricature brightens the room in the morning, letting kids know it is time to get out of bed; the moon signifies that it is "time to rest." The programmable light measures 6" in diameter.
Bubble missile playset includes 7" foam missile and 2oz bottle of bubbles. Fill a cup with bubbles, dip in the end of the missile, and throw. Out comes a stream of bubbles. 6'X12" blister card.
Harnessing high-tech magic, when kids drop the strange “egg” into a container of water, all manner of foaming bubbles and fizz whoosh through the void. When it’s finished, a small creature of unknown origin and form lies at the bottom. It should be picked up and placed into another jar of water. Slowly, fantastically, it begins to grow, and within three days, it’s three times bigger. "These 'Freaks of Nature' aren't just any typical animal. They are wacky cross-breeds. Including a Horsefly (a fly with the head of a horse), a Bullfrog (a frog with the head of a bull), a Catfish (you guessed it, a fish with the head of a cat) and more," Aaron Ackert, sales manager for Geospace International, told TDmonthly. Launch date: April 2009. THIS PRODUCT WAS NEVER BROUGHT TO MARKET AND IS NOT AVAILABLE.
Joining the company's family of micro-robotic creatures, this six-legged ant features thin, mobile antennas and travels very quickly. Launch date: February 15, 2009.
Custom Designer Dracula Fangs by FOOTHILLS CREATIONS, LTD.
These fangs are the best engineered fangs on the market. It will not fall out! The unique custom partial plate application is designed to fit your bite perfectly. It will not fall out! It is removable and reusable without adhesives.
Grow-A-Head Marine Life by SOURCING INTERNATIONAL LLC
The Marine Life Grow-a-Head assortment includes goldfish, crab, penguin, leopard and tiger styles. Kids just add water and watch them grow "hair," or grass. It's a "great educational tool with info about plant biology, seed germination and more," Lori Wrubel, national sales manager for Sourcing International LLC, told TDmonthly. Launch date: 2009.
Tail Wags Unicorn Helmet Cover by TAIL WAGS HELMET COVERS INC.
Parents may indulge their child’s imagination with this enchanting unicorn helmet cover, designed to encourage kids to wear their safety helmet. Tail Wags helmet covers are designed to fit over all makes and models of bike, ski, snowboard, toboggan, skate and equestrian helmets. They are available in more than 35 animal character designs. "Tail Wags helmet covers uniquely fit over all safety helmets, thereby, making it an ideal all-year-round product," Karyn Climans, owner of Tail Wags Helmet Covers Inc., told TDmonthly. Launch date: June 2009. Tail Wags was a 2008 JPMA finalist.
Writer's Bio: Julie L. Jones has written articles for both newspapers and magazines. Before joining the staff of TDmonthly Magazine, she worked as a communications writer and provided editorial support for a market research company. Read more articles by this author
Writer's Bio: Julie L. Jones has written articles for both newspapers and magazines. Before joining the staff of TDmonthly Magazine, she worked as a communications writer and provided editorial support for a market research company. Read more articles by this author
