Best of Toy Fair 2014: Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, Skylanders, My Little Pony, and much more from movie and TV hits

in Events, Merchandise

Toy Fair 2014 has come to a close in New York, leaving behind a wake of exciting announcements and product reveals that will trickle into stores over the next year. From prototypes to items just-hitting-shelves, Toy Fair has it all featuring merchandise that’s simply fun.

But beyond the many Disney products showcased throughout the show, plenty of other hot properties and unique creations were on display from big corporations and small family-owned companies.

Toy Fair 2014

Below are highlights captured from wandering the massive two-story convention show floor.

Skylanders tops the list as one of the most popular toy franchises today. Their video game toys are selling better than action figures, which are dropping in popularity among kids. Activision says they’re even more popular than Nintendo’s classic “The Legend of Zelda” franchise, which is surprising. And even with Disney Infinity moving in to stores taking Activision’s toy-based gaming model, they’re not at all worried about losing precious peg space as retailers have gone out of their way to create room for more Skylanders toys.

Toy Fair 2014

Toy Fair 2014

Toy Fair 2014

Even without a new Skylanders game announced at Toy Fair this year, the few figures they were showing off were enough to bring some excitement, to be released within a few months. Easter-themed packaging will help drive sales of these new figures leading up to E3 this summer.

Toy Fair 2014

Toy Fair 2014

Toy Fair 2014

Toy Fair 2014

Toy Fair 2014

Toy Fair 2014

But while many action figure lines are falling, there’s no stopping Nickelodeon’s Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles. The toys are produced by Playmates, as they have been for decades, and their newest additions over the next year are something worth getting excited about.

Toy Fair 2014

There are way, way too many new TMNT figures and toys to all be included in this post, but the highlights include interactive talking Turtles, a new Turtle Blimp, masks with light-up eyes, and a whole new line of toys aimed at kids too young to play with the regular figures. Many more photos can be found in the slideshow at the bottom of this post. Behind closed doors and with no photography allowed, Playmates also offered a preview of the line of toys for the upcoming Michael Bay-produced “Ninja Turtles” movie. They definitely have a distinct new look, buffed up and ready for street battles alongside a gnarled Shredder and military-looking Foot Soldier. Odd.

Toy Fair 2014

Toy Fair 2014

Toy Fair 2014

Toy Fair 2014

Toy Fair 2014

Toy Fair 2014

Toy Fair 2014

Toy Fair 2014

Toy Fair 2014

Toy Fair 2014

Toy Fair 2014

More licensed Ninja Turtle products could be found throughout the show, from Pillow Pets to Colorforms to board games to Viewmaster.

Toy Fair 2014

Toy Fair 2014

Toy Fair 2014

Toy Fair 2014

Toy Fair 2014

And then there are the many, many POP! Vinyl figures from Funko featuring amusing renditions of characters beyond the Ninja Turtles, including Ghostbusters, horror icons, Buffy the Vampire Slayer, and Back to the Future.

Toy Fair 2014

Toy Fair 2014

Toy Fair 2014

Toy Fair 2014

Toy Fair 2014

Funko is also producing a massive line of ReAction figures in partnership with Super7, whose debut of retro styled “Alien” figures was a smash success last year. The new low detail (on purpose) figures include Back to the Future, Firefly, The Terminator, Predator, The Goonies, Escape from New York, and a variety of horror films.

Toy Fair 2014

Toy Fair 2014

Toy Fair 2014

Toy Fair 2014

Toy Fair 2014

Toy Fair 2014

Toy Fair 2014

Toy Fair 2014

Toy Fair 2014

Toy Fair 2014

Similarly, Entertainment Earth is coming out with 3 3/4″ figures from “The Big Bang Theory” and “The Twilight Zone” along some hilarious “Saturday Night Live” products including the Ambiguously Gay Duo and a cardboard box to put junk in (so to speak).

Toy Fair 2014

Toy Fair 2014

Toy Fair 2014

Toy Fair 2014

Speaking of adult-oriented collectibles, plenty were shown off by NECA, Mezco, McFarlane, and Dark Horse from properties like The Simpsons, Assassin’s Creed, The Walking Dead, The Legend of Zelda, Alien, Bioshock Infinite, Psycho, and other horror classics. NECA has also announced they will be producing a first-ever line of Ripley figures with Sigourney Weaver’s likeness from the “Alien” series.

Toy Fair 2014

Toy Fair 2014

Toy Fair 2014

Toy Fair 2014

Toy Fair 2014

Toy Fair 2014

Toy Fair 2014

Toy Fair 2014

Toy Fair 2014

Toy Fair 2014

Toy Fair 2014

Toy Fair 2014

Toy Fair 2014

Toy Fair 2014

Toy Fair 2014

For the kids, there was plenty to be found throughout Toy Fair from the licensed world of My Little Pony, beyond Hasbro’s own toys. Plenty of plushes, squishy characters, charms, and other vibrant products filled many booths.

Toy Fair 2014

Toy Fair 2014

Toy Fair 2014

Toy Fair 2014

Toy Fair 2014

Toy Fair 2014

Toy Fair 2014

Toy Fair 2014

Toy Fair 2014

Toy Fair 2014

Spinmaster continues to innovate with their high-tech toys. This year’s impressive lineup includes an interactive gyroscope-equipped dinosaur that rolls on two wheels, birds that sync and sing together, and lots of flying fairies and dragons. (Yep, that’s Toothless from “How To Train Your Dragon.”)

Toy Fair 2014

Toy Fair 2014

Toy Fair 2014

Toy Fair 2014

Toy Fair 2014

Toy Fair 2014

Toy Fair 2014

Other miscellaneous fun from Toy Fair includes cars that leave a blacklight-driven glowing trail called Max Traxxx, Ghostbusters marshmallow shooters themed to the Stay Puft Marshmallow Man, Ghost-A-House ghosting game for trick-or-treaters on Halloween, a Retro Arcade Wrist Watch from ThinkGeek, Zombie Kix Razor scooter, glow-in-the-dark zombie HexBugs (with Transformers on the way later this year), more Grumpy Cat fun from GUND, the world’s first articulated Super Mario figure sets from S.H.Figuarts, and Goldie Blox engineering toys for girls, which won a couple of this year’s Toy of the Year awards.

Toy Fair 2014

Toy Fair 2014

Toy Fair 2014

Toy Fair 2014

Toy Fair 2014

Toy Fair 2014

Toy Fair 2014

Toy Fair 2014

Toy Fair 2014

Toy Fair 2014

And the single oddest product featured at the whole event was easily the “Protect the Homebutton” underwear for iPhones to prevent the home button from accidentally being pressed. So weird.

Toy Fair 2014

Toy Fair 2014

Toy Fair 2014

And that’s all from Toy Fair 2014. There are hundreds more photos in the slideshow below, so flip through and feel free to ask questions about any of the products below for more details.

More photos from Toy Fair 2014:

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