London Toy Fair: Stand N16
Character Options’ Toy Fair stand will be a hive of excitement as it ticks the box for cross-category appeal, with new IPs like Smooshzees and Terror Fried, exciting innovation for its existing Heroes of Goo Jit Zu and Stay Active ranges, the sweetest treat for young foodies, and the hottest new interactive pet on the block: Teksta Purro!
No preview from Character would be complete without the latest from Heroes of Goo Jit Zu. The brand is a cornerstone property of the portfolio and with an impressive all-new Stretch Strikers product line-up for AW24 the team has also revealed an extra-special launch coming later in the year… The Heroes of Goo Jit Zu Hero Creator Pack is based on the huge TikTok trend whereby people challenge themselves to see how far they can inflate their GJZ toys. These super-cool kits come with all fans need to create their very own Goo Jit Zu Hero straight from the pack. Included is a dispenser unit, a Blazagon or Thrash skin, removable head and three different compound-fillings to create your unique hero with. The fun doesn’t stop there though… not only can your Goo Jit Zu character be emptied and re-filled, but kids can also get creative with their fillings, adding their own liquids, compounds and slime to customise their heroes again and again.
From AW24, Character’s portfolio will also be home to Teksta Purro. This interactive kitten has incredible functionality. Without the need for apps, WiFi or Bluetooth, this kitty will become the purr-fect BFF! Not only can she move around avoiding obstacles, she dances, raises her head and chases after her mouse. Kids will always know how she feels with emotive eyes and 100-plus sounds including purrs, laughs and burps. With haptic touch sensors, Purro responds to petting, and watch her ears wiggle and react to music and voices. She’ll respond to yes/no questions, eat, sing back songs in ‘meows’, and so much more! She also comes with accessories to further extend play value.
Then, say Hello to Smooshzees! These adorable, squeezable, stretchy characters are super-cute, highly collectable, and softer than a cloud! Smooshzees are based on trending and exotic characters, each with its own colourful personality to stimulate kids’ imagination through play. The combination of super-soft filling covered with a velvety stretchy outer skin means there’s nothing softer than a hug with a Smooshzee! There are so many different characters to collect, across three fun sizes. At the smaller end of the scale there’s the 3.5in Cutezees. At 4.5in, the mid-sized Luvees are that extra bit smooshier – with an adorable axolotl in the mix! While the Snugzees come in at almost 8in – perfect for a full-sized snuggle. Each scale includes two chasezee characters – and all pets come housed in stackable try-me packaging to feel the softness and see the characters cute little faces peeping out of the pack.
Next on the menu is a thing of fast-food nightmares! Terror Fried is a horrifyingly fun range that delivers unsavoury compounds and collectability by the bargain bucket load. Packed with repulsion, it’s filled with appeal for kids who love gross stuff. Terror Fried’s food-themed line-up includes the Nasty Nibbles, Horror Burger, and Slimy Box as well as the all-encompassing Gross Bucket.
With each set, kids will discover horrifying critters and creatures as collectible figures – hidden among foul compounds! Crispy cockroaches, battered rats and more will be found within slimes, gloops, and lumpy foams. Kids can drop ‘burgers’ and ‘nuggets’ into the fry bucket to enjoy the fizz‘n’fry dissolving effect; rip open foul and stinking milkshakes to splat-out lumpy foam slime; crack open packs of ‘fries’ to reveal the slimy squelch within; and peel-and-reveal smelly, oozing condiment sachets – as well as so much more.
Step right up! From autumn-winter, families can use the 1-Minute Cotton Candy Machine to create all the spun sugar fun of the carnival at home, with standard table sugar. Children will delight in the magic of making their own cotton candy in just 60 seconds. This portable, handheld machine is the perfect size to take to parties and sleepovers for tasty take-along fun. Any normal day can be turned into the sweetest of holidays; simply keep the rechargeable battery charged up and the fun will never end.
Meanwhile, Character’s Stay Active collection will remain a go-to and trusted brand for fun active toys that can be enjoyed by all the family – and played with indoors and out. The new Stay Active Get Low Balance Board is a full-body workout and fun challenge game in one. Launching late spring, the aim of the game is simple – follow the instructions accurately and do it in good time. When a colour is called, angle the board in the direction of the colour. Hear ‘360’ and roll the entire board in a complete circle. When asked to ‘Get Low’, bend down and press the button without any wobbling! There are three modes of play: Challenge, Lightening and Chill.
0161 633 9800 l sales@charactergroup.plc.uk
