Mattel And Fisher-Price® Toys Are Topping Kids’ Holiday Wish Lists Everywhere

Mattel And Fisher-Price® Toys Are Topping Kids’ Holiday Wish Lists Everywhere
From Barbie Girls™ to Smart Cycle™, U.B. Funkeys™ and Hot Wheels® Cars, This Season’s Must-Have Toys Reflect the Latest Trends and Innovations Specifically Designed For The Way Kids Today Play

EL SEGUNDO, Calif.- This holiday season Mattel and Fisher-Price® toys - already topping “must-have holiday lists” everywhere - are tapping into the hottest holiday trends with electronic toys designed for a hybrid play experience in both the real and virtual worlds, interactive toys and classic toys with fun new twists. From Barbie Girls™, the next generation of fashion doll as well as the season’s hottest MP3 player, to Smart Cycle™ Physical Learning Arcade System, a stationary bike, learning center and an arcade game system all rolled into one, Mattel and Fisher-Price® together have a line-up of toys designed for the way kids play today.

“Mattel and Fisher-Price Brands’ holiday toy line-up features new ways for kids to play, incorporating the internet, new technologies and interactivity, as well as delivering basic play experiences fundamental to a child’s development, such as nurturing play and interactive play which stimulate cognitive and emotional development, ” said Neil Friedman, president, Mattel Brands.

For today’s kids that move seamlessly from screens to real life play, this year’s tech toys, gadgets and games for both tweens and tikes are sure to top holiday wish lists. Favorites will include Barbie Girls™ and U.B. Funkeys™, offering a hybrid play experience in both the real and virtual worlds, Pixel Chix™ Roomies™ and IM-Me™ for techno-savvy girls, and I Can Play™ Guitar for aspiring young rock stars. Younger kids can also get connected with Easy Link™ Internet Launch Pad and Digital Arts and Crafts Studio.

New interactive learning toys that stimulate cognitive and emotional development keep kids entertained and engaged long after the holidays, including Puppy Grows & Knows Your Name, Little Mommy™ Real Loving Baby™ Doll, Laugh & Learn™ 2-in-1 Learning Kitchen™ and Smart Cycle™.

Classic toys are more fun than ever before with new twists and interactive features. Kids can sing along with Singing Pizza Elmo and Barbie™ as Princess Rosella™, starring in a new made-for-DVD musical adventure “Barbie™ as The Island Princess”. And boys return to basics with Hot Wheels® Dragon Fire™ track set and Power Wheels® Ford F-150.

Online/ Virtual World Play

Barbie Girls™: This fall, Mattel unveils Barbie Girls™, a hybrid play experience that blends a real world doll-inspired music device with BarbieGirls.com, the first global, virtual online world designed exclusively for girls. Already boasting more than 5.5 million registered users, BarbieGirls.com has quickly become one of the fastest growing virtual worlds, allowing girls to create their own virtual character, design their own “room,” shop at the mall, play games, hang out and chat with other girls. Now, the multi-functional Barbie Girl™ device is one of the most exciting tech gadgets introduced for girls this holiday, functioning as a 512MB portable music/MP3 player, next generation fashion doll and a “key” to unlock exclusive play features and trillions of character and room combinations on the popular BarbieGirls.com website. The sleek, handheld, 4 ½ -inch portable device comes with various mix-n-match, snap-on fashions, a belt clip, adjustable-sized earbuds and a durable storage case. Deco Pack™ and Fashion Pack accessories are sold separately and contain exclusive content that comes to life online. Each Fashion Pack contains two clip-on outfits and hairstyles, including a purse and shoes, and each Deco Pack™ contains a back plate, a clip-on animal charm, and jewelry that attaches to the earbuds. BarbieGirls.com is designed to be a safe place for girls to play and interact online. Girls can “chat” with other characters using pre-selected phrases, which prevents the exchange of personal information and keeps chat fun, safe and friendly. Girls who are real-life friends and have parental permission can connect their Barbie Girl™ devices to unlock additional chat functionality. Suggested retail price $59.99 for ages six and up. Additionally, a 1GB version of the Barbie Girls™ device is available at Best Buy and Amazon.com for a suggested retail price of $79.99.

U.B.Funkeys™: U.B.Funkeys™ have arrived. U.B.Funkeys™ figures are available in fun, exciting designs, each unlocking a new zone when connected to a computer. The more figures players buy, the more zones they can explore and the more games they can play. Players can earn “coins” to buy items to decorate their “crib” and post their crib online for friends to see. There are 42 different U.B.Funkeys™ characters in all, some are more common than others. The Starter Kit includes the U.B.Funkeys™ hub and two figures. U.B.Funkeys™ figures are also available individually. Suggested retail price $19.99 for ages 8 and up.

Easy Link™ Internet Launch Pad: With the Easy Link™ Internet Launch Pad, kids can safely and easily visit preschool-appropriate websites to play their favorite online games and activities. To get started, parents simply connect the Easy Link™ Launch Pad to the computer via a USB cord. Then, kids can plug their favorite character smart keys into the launch pad and be taken directly to the game section of the particular character’s website - no typing or reading required! For example, kids can plug in the Fisher-Price smart key to be taken directly to the games section of fisher-price.com. Once a character is plugged in, kids can only visit that website until they plug in a different character, keeping them away from unsafe websites and keeping their parents’ computers and files safe. Kids use the computer’s mouse or arrow keys on the launch pad to play online games. Parents simply enter a pass code to turn off the device and return to normal computer use. The Easy Link™ Internet Launch Pad includes a storage base for character smart keys, a soft mouse pad and three Easy Link™ characters: Elmo, Dragon Tales and Fisher-Price. Additional smart key sets are sold separately ($6.99 for a pack of two). Suggested retail price $29.99 for ages 3 and up.

Gadgets and Games

Pixel Chix™ Roomies™ Interactive Game: What happens when a cast of unique and zany characters are forced to live under one roof? Find out with Pixel Chix™ Roomies™! Plug the 3D characters into the base of the house and then watch as the new roommates move in with everyone’s favorite 2D girl and come to 2D life. Girls can use the innovative flip screen to control the gameplay in six different rooms, moving the drama up-and-down and left-to-right. The ultimate goal is to win games and challenges to secure control of the penthouse suite! Download additional surprises for your Roomies™ interactive game from www.pixelchix.comSM or connect Roomies™ to a music player and watch the characters dance. Four additional Roomies™ Friends are also available to plug into the base, each bringing his or her own unique personality, games, music and other fun to the mix. Girls can also connect their Roomies™ interactive game to other Pixel Chix™ products. The possibilities for fun, friendship (and a little feuding) are endless! Suggested retail price is $29.99 for ages 3 and up.

I Can Play™ Guitar System: Kids will make their rock star fantasies come true with I Can Play™ Guitar -- the cool learning system that makes playing the guitar as easy and fun as playing a video game. I Can Play Guitar is a hardware software system that plugs into the TV. It looks just like a real electric guitar, but features color-coded finger position buttons on the frets and abbreviated strings, the perfect size for small hands. Kids simply follow along with the fun games and visuals on their TV screens, matching color-coded images on the screen to the buttons to jam like rock stars in no time. Suggested retail price $99.99 for ages 6 and up.

Digital Arts & Crafts Studio: The Digital Arts & Crafts Studio makes it easy and secure for kids to create, save and print their very own arts and crafts projects on their home computer. It’s easy to get started, with one time CD installation and simple plug and play using the computer’s USB Port. Kids simply use the stylus to draw masterpieces with numerous drawing tools, colors and stampers. Or they can create and customize various craft projects such as coloring pages, greeting cards, stationary, paper crafts, party supplies. They can even create their own book! Navigation is made easy with an on-screen assistant and audio prompts to guide the child. Mom and Dad can feel secure with password protection that prevents access to the computer hard drive and limits the number of paper printouts that can be made during a session. Additional craft kits are available, sold separately. Suggested retail price $49.99 for ages 4 and up.

IM-Me™: It sounds “2good2btru” - but it’s “4real”! This wireless messaging system is portable, private and convenient. Girls no longer have to be glued to the computer and parents can have peace of mind knowing IM-Me™ is safe. Users can only chat with other IM-Me™ users that they approve, keeping strangers away. IM-Me™ works with your home Internet connection so girls can chat with friends anywhere, anytime. What r u waiting 4? Start IMing now! Requires three “AA” batteries (not included). Suggested retail price $64.99 for ages 8 and up.

Scene It?® Movie 2nd Edition The DVD Game™: Scene It?® Movie 2nd Edition continues the award-winning tradition of the original movie game with new content from the most recent feature films, including Walk the Line, The Devil Wears Prada and King Kong. Scene It?® is the first ever DVD-based game that combines a cool, interactive board game with Hollywood trivia and the visual excitement of DVDs. Players move along the board, challenging each other and racing the clock. Suggested retail price $34.99 for ages 13 and up.

Disney High School Musical 2 Mattel® DVD Game: This DVD board game is based on the kids movie, High School Musical 2, on the Disney Channel. This game will feature video clips from the movie, plus original outtakes and favorite songs and dances, as kids compete in different categories. Use your knowledge of everything HSM2 to win! Includes a board game, DVD game and six character movers. Suggested retail price $19.99 for ages 8 and up.

Learning Interactive

Smart Cycle™ Physical Learning Arcade System: Smart Cycle is a whole new way to provide learning to preschoolers. It’s an exciting encounter that brings the arcade experience home and allows kids to be active while learning. Using plug and play technology, simply plug the stationary bike into the TV’s A/V jacks. Now kids are ready to hop on the Smart Cycle and start pedaling and steering to play fun learning games right on the TV. Kids can even customize their “on-screen” vehicle. It comes with one learning software title, Learning Adventure, which includes three ways to play and learn: Driving, Learning Arcade Games and The Big Race. In the driving mode, kids learn valuable academic skills while pedaling through fun environments. In the Learning Encounters and Arcade Games, kids can use the joy stick to play games while learning letters, numbers, shapes, colors, spelling, problem solving and more. Finally, in the Big Race, kids can time themselves and race against other vehicles on the TV or against a friend. Additional software is also available for Smart Cycle including Dora’s Friendship Adventure™, Sponge Bob’s Ocean Adventure, Hot Wheels, Barbie Fairytopia, Diego’s Animal Rescue™ and Discover the Dinosaurs. Each software title sold separately ($19.99 each). Requires 4 “D” batteries, not included. Suggested retail price $99.99 for ages 3 and up.

Puppy Grows & Knows Your Name: Imagine having your very own toy puppy that actually grows into a big doggie right in front of your eyes. Puppy Grows & Knows Your Name will grow over time from a puppy to a big dog and gets to know its owner’s name so kids feel like they are interacting with a “real” live special friend. The Puppy is at his smallest size when the child brings him home, and over four days of consecutive play, actually grows to its full size. Kids will watch in amazement as their puppy’s body, legs, ears and tail grow as they play. As puppy grows, he will learn to speak more and will know more. Using the software on the included CD-ROM and the USB port, parents can personalize puppy to know the child’s and dog’s names. The Puppy will also sing two songs using the child’s name. Even more special, when the child brushes or feeds Puppy with the interactive brush and bone (included), he will magically respond, knowing that he is being brushed or fed. When the puppy is full-grown, it will randomly ask the child to pet its head two times, and it will magically become a puppy. There is also a reset button so parents can make Puppy a puppy again. Puppy comes complete with an adoption certificate to truly acknowledge him as the child’s own special friend, and just like with a real puppy, children can track its growth with a special measuring tape and growth chart included. Puppy comes in two different breeds. Requires 4 AA batteries, included. Suggested retail price $49.99 for ages 3 and up.

Laugh & Learn™ 2-in-1 Learning Kitchen™: The Laugh & Learn2-in-1 Learning Kitchen encourages learning through fun and familiar everyday play. With two sides of play, the Laugh & Learn 2-in-1 Learning Kitchen features not just Music and Learning Modes, but a new Imagination Mode, too. Features include a refrigerator door to open and close, lights to turn on and off, shape sorting, put & take play, ball drop down the kitchen sink and lots more. After baby is finished in the kitchen, they can crawl through a magic archway to the family room, accompanied by lights, music and fun phrases. In the family room, baby will find a radio, tick-tock clock, flip book and a pet fish. Learning about the alphabet, counting, opposites, colors and more will be provided through this two-sided role-play toy. The Laugh & Learn 2-in-1 Learning Kitchen comes with three shaped pieces for shape sorting, two balls for ball drop down the sink drain, and a pot and spoon for baby to cook with. Requires 3 “C” batteries, not included. Suggested retail price $64.99 for ages 6 months and up.

Little Mommy™ Real Loving Baby™ Doll: Girls and moms alike will fall in love with Little Mommy™ Real Loving Baby™ doll, an interactive baby doll that can be nurtured in every way! She is the sweetest, most beautiful ultra-realistic baby ever, featuring fluid natural-looking movements! Girls are able to record a name for their very own Real Loving Baby™ and through speech recognition the doll will recognize her name. When it’s time to go night-night, the adorable Baby tucks herself snuggly in her blankie. Real Loving Baby™ doll can also recognize and ask for her bear and bottle, play peek-a-boo while giggling and much more. The Real Loving Baby™ doll will also be available in an African American version, as well as a Spanish speaking version. Requires four AA batteries, not included. Suggested retail price is $69.99 for ages 3 and up.

Go, Diego, Go! Mobile Rescue Unit: Inspired by the “Diego’s Safari Adventure” episode, the new Mobile Rescue Unit lets kids travel with Diego on an African Safari to help him on his animal rescue missions. The Mobile Rescue Unit is three toys in one; a kid-tough truck ready to roll to the rescue, a base of operations complete with mission post and veterinary center, and a launch pad with airstrip and airplane - everything kids need to help Diego save his African animal friends. The Unit features lights, sound effects, and more than 50 animal rescue missions, featuring both English and Spanish phrases. The Mobile Rescue Unit also includes a Diego figure, two animals, two rescue vehicles and two feeding and water accessories. Requires 3AA batteries, included. Suggested retail price is $39.99 for 2 and up.

Classic Toys With a New Twist

Singing Pizza Elmo: For more than a decade Elmo has been singing, dancing and especially laughing. Now, kids’ favorite character sings again, but this time about his favorite food - pizza! Dressed in an apron and a chef hat, Pizza Elmo sings and dances to a silly song about pizza when kids press his hand. They will laugh out loud when the pizza pie magically comes to life and joins in the song with eyes that move and a mouth that opens and closes! Requires 4 AA batteries, included. Suggested retail price $24.99 for 18 months and up.

Power Wheels® Ford F-150: Kids will feel like they’re driving a real pick-up just like dad’s as they cruise around the backyard in the new two-seat Ford F-150 from Fisher-Price featuring a rear bed and real working tailgate. It also features Ultimate Terrain Traction, taking it places like dirt, gravel, grass, and even ruts where other battery-powered ride-ons can’t go. Other cool kid features include a cup holder and real FM radio. Mom features include a battery charge indicator, pretend seat belts and adjustable seat. The vehicle delivers two child-appropriate speeds - 2.5 and 5 mph - and 2.5 mph in reverse. The weight limit is 130 lbs. Includes a 12-volt battery and charger. Suggested retail price $349.99 for ages 3 and up.

Planet Heroes™ Turbo Shuttle™: When it’s time to defend the solar system from evil forces, the Planet Heroes Turbo Shuttle is the ultimate speed machine that can travel across outer space to get our team to their final destination in warp speed. The shuttle can seat up to three Planet Hero figures at a time and is equipped with removable pods that can also be attached to the larger figures, such as Jupiter “Gustus™” as cool back-pack turbo launchers. It also features exciting lights and sounds and a special “flame” effect that activates when the engine starts and the shuttle takes off. Requires 3 “AA” batteries, included. Suggested retail price $29.99 for ages 3 and up.

Dora Let’s Get Ready Vanity™: This isn’t just any old vanity - it’s a vanity with the “Dora difference!” The interactive vanity comes with a Dora whose hair girls can style. Packed with great pretend accessories including a blow dryer, curling iron, crimper, brush, perfume, barrettes, hair ties, and more, girls can give Dora a new look or create a new style for themselves. Fiesta Adventure cards encourage play as Dora joins girls on multiple dress-up adventures! Throughout play, Dora chimes in with over 100 bilingual, interactive phrases, songs and object recognition. Also included is a stool so girls can sit at the vanity. Requires 3AA batteries, included. Suggested retail price $79.99 for ages 3 and up.

Barbie™ As Princess Rosella™ Doll: The magical Barbie™ as Princess Rosella™, based on Barbie® doll’s seventh princess tale “Barbie™ as The Island Princess,” wears a beautiful and glittering gown of azure blue and pink with a train of stunning “feathers” that fan out like her animal friend Azul™, the regal peacock. The Princess Rosella™ doll sings two of her favorite songs from the movie and comes with Sagi™ her loyal animal friend and a pretty hairbrush to get ready for the ball. Requires two AA batteries, not included. Suggested retail price $24.99 for ages 4 and up.

Polly Pocket™ Polly Wheels™ Race to the Mall™ Playset: Building on the popularity of Polly Wheels™, the first toy cars made just for girls, girls now race to the finish line with Polly Wheels™ Race to the Mall™ Playset. Girls place Polly™ and Lila® in two cars at the gate, push down the keys and watch as the cars pick up speed through the loop and go up the automatic escalator. The first one to reach the shopping boutique captures a shopping bag and a flag will pop up when the first car arrives at the finish line! Requires 3 AA batteries, not included. Suggested retail price $49.99 for ages 4 and up.

Hot Wheels® Dragon Fire™ track set: The Hot Wheels® Dragon Fire™ track set uses four motorized boosters to launch cars through three inverted loops. Kids will enjoy racing and trying to avoid four separate crash zones as their cars zoom up the super loop and attempt to knock out the dragon. The Dragon Fire™ track set includes one Hot Wheels® vehicle. Not for use with some Hot Wheels® vehicles. Suggested retail price $39.99 for ages 5 and up.

DC Super Friends™ My First Batmobile™ Vehicle: Youngsters get a chance to get behind the wheel of their very own Batmobile™ vehicle. This big, easy-to-handle vehicle is perfect for the five-and-under crime fighter. It includes a net launcher, realistic sound effects along with cool lights and can fit two DC Super Friends™ characters (sold separately), side by side. Suggested retail price $29.99 for ages 3 and up.

“High School Musical 2” Dolls: Now fans of “High School Musical” can look forward to the sizzling summer sequel “High School Musical 2” which premiered on the Disney Channel on August 17. This summer, Gabriella, Troy, Taylor, Chad and the rest of the Wildcats all get summer jobs at the Lava Springs Country Club. Little do they know, Sharpay’s Dad runs the club and Sharpay is used to getting her way at the Lava Springs. Sharpay is set on winning the end of summer talent show and is convinced that getting Troy to perform with her will cinch the win. Now girls will be able to play out their favorite scenes from the movie with Gabriella, Troy, Sharpay, Ryan, Taylor and Chad dolls. Each of the dolls is designed in the likeness of their favorite stars and is dressed in outfits featured in the movie. The dolls also include an extra beach wear outfit for fun in the sun! Suggested retail price $12.99 for ages 4 and up.

Tyco® R/C Tri-Clops™ Radio Control Mutant: The Tri-Clops™ mutant is a three-wheeled R/C creature with omni-directional movement, pincher claws, “laser-like” sighting, and rapid-fire, projectile glow in the dark discs, which can be launched up to 20 feet in distance. With a blend of robotic and organic styling, the Tri-Clops™ mutant can quickly transform into different modes of play. A newly designed transmitter will feature a gamer-styled controller to manage its extraordinary movements. The Tri-Clops™ mutant comes ready-to-run with one Tyco® 9.6 V battery and charger, plus one 9V for the transmitter (included). Suggested retail price $99.99 for ages 8 and up.

Sparkle And Twirl Dora: Based on the special Dora the Explorer episode “Dora Saves the Mermaids”, this special Dora doll is ready to turn into a beautiful mermaid! So when girls put Dora into her special shell base, she magically starts to twirl around, her arms raise, her tail magically grows, and sound effects will play as she transforms into Sparkle and Twirl Mermaid Dora. When her transformation is complete, she plays her very own mermaid song as she dances back and forth in the shell. While Dora is in the shell, girls can press the story button and hear tales of her undersea adventures. Girls can remove Sparkle and Twirl Mermaid Dora from the base, and when they press her necklace, she says a variety of undersea adventure phrases. And when it is time to head back to the beach, girls can put Mermaid Dora back in the shell, and she will magically transform back to her beach fiesta outfit. Best of all, girls can put all the other Dora Saves the Mermaid dolls (sold separately) into the magic shell to unlock their very own special story, too. Sparkle and Twirl Mermaid Dora comes with a dolphin comb, starfish barrette and the magical storytelling base for added adventure. Requires 3 button cell batteries, included and 4 AA batteries, not included. Suggested retail price $29.99 for ages 3 and up.