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5WPR News · Published November 9, 2023

Ronn Torossian
Founder & Chairman, 5W

4 Trends We Saw At New York Toy Fair

new york toy fair features a mario character display
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The New York Toy Fair 2023 returned after a three-year hiatus, creating a palpable buzz in the Big Apple. This premier industry event featured hundreds of exhibitors showcasing new products and prototypes, making it one of the most significant gatherings for toy enthusiasts

Plushies

Plush toys were a dominant presence at theNew York Toy Fair 2023. TY's Beanie Babies caught attention with their playful takes on movie posters and famous paintings, including iconic artworks like Botticelli's "The Birth of Venus" and Wood's "American Gothic." These plushies added a touch of humor and artistry to the event. Jazwares, LLC, claimed the Plush Toy of the Year and Collectible of the Year awards with their popular Squishmallows, which continued to enchant attendees. Just Play introduced interactivity to plushies with the Elmo Slide tou that can sing and dance, which even had an accompanying flash mob that drew enthusiastic crowds. In addition to these highlights, other exhibitors showcased innovative plushie concepts. Moon Pals presented weighted plushies, designed to reduce anxiety, while Starpony's Mewaii Loooong offered plushies in various lengths, including an impressive 52-inch version.

Movie-related toys

New York Toy Fair 2023 featured a resurgence of movie-related toys. "Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Mutant Mayhem" took the spotlight, with various companies, including Playmates, Super Impulse, and The Loyal Subjects, expanding their TMNT lines. Barbie remained a strong contender, with licensing agreements in place to capitalize on the popularity of the recent movie release. "Lilo and Stitch" also garnered attention as an immensely popular license, particularly as Disney prepared for the release of its live-action adaptation. 

Edutainment and tech toys

Edutainment, the fusion of education and entertainment, played a significant role at the New York Toy Fair 2023. Tech-driven toys designed to educate and entertain were prominent throughout the event. Recognizable brands like Lexibook, Tonies, and VTech displayed their licensed lines, emphasizing both fun and learning. The intersection of artificial intelligence (AI) and toys was a standout toy trend. Google searches related to AI have increased in the last few years, highlighting the growing interest in this field. Several companies unveiled AI-powered products at the event. Thames & Kosmos introduced KAI (Kosmos Artificial Intelligence), an AI robot that helps children understand AI concepts by responding to audio and visual commands. WowWee's Dog-E, a robotic dog, allowed family members to interact with unique profiles, showcasing AI's potential for personalization. Miko, a robotics brand, integrated AI into its entire product range, from companion robots to an AI-powered chess game. Arizona GameGo introduced Monkey Says Baa?, a card game entirely driven by AI, combining elements of Snap and Simon Says. The toy industry's exploration of AI integration is a toy trend worth monitoring in the coming years.

Collectibles

Collectibles continued to hold their appeal at the New York Toy Fair 2023. Moose Toys showcased its Magic Mixies line, offering a unique blend of experiments and surprises to reveal plush toys or figures. Just Play expanded its Doorables line, featuring hidden surprise mini figures in collectible packs. Licensed collectibles were everywhere across the show floor. The Loyal Subjects presented TMNT action figures bundled with comic books, offering a delightful blend of nostalgia and new adventures. Super Impulse introduced Pop Tater potato heads featuring beloved licensed characters like Bob Ross and Chucky. Collectible "Fast & Furious" cars and CAPCOM figures from Jada Toys added diversity to the world of collectibles. 

Ronn Torossian

Written by

Ronn Torossian

Ronn Torossian is Founder and Chairman of 5W , the AI Communications Firm. He founded 5W in 2003 and built it into one of the largest independent public relations and digital marketing firms in the United States, with senior practitioners serving corporate communications , consumer brands , technology , financial services , health and wellness , beauty , gaming , crisis communications , and public affairs . Under his leadership, 5W defined AI Communications, building brand authority across ChatGPT , Claude , Perplexity , Gemini , and Google AI Overviews, alongside earned media, digital, GEO, and influencer channels. Industry Recognition 5W has been recognized as a top U.S. PR agency by O’Dwyer’s , Agency of the Year in the American Business Awards , Grand Stevie Most Honored PR Agency, a Ragan Top Place to Work in Communications 2026, Digiday WorkLife Employer of the Year, and a PRovoke Top 50 Global PR Agency. Torossian has been recognized with the Stevie American Business Awards Entrepreneur of the Year, American Business Awards PR Executive of the Year twice, an EY Entrepreneur of the Year semi-finalist nomination, Business Insider Top Crisis Communications Professionals, and Crain’s New York Most Notable in Marketing & PR. Research Franchise 5W’s research franchise has become an industry reference for measuring brand visibility inside AI-generated answers, including the AI Visibility Index Series , The GEO Reckoning , The Missing Rung Report, and the 5W AI Power User Study , which identified a 99-point AI favorability gap. Crisis Communications Torossian is one of the world’s foremost crisis communications experts. He has counseled blue chip companies, public company boards, founders, and public figures through ransomware incidents, data breaches, regulatory investigations, high-stakes litigation, activist investors, product recalls, and reputational crises. He has taught crisis communications at Harvard University . Media & Commentary Torossian appears on CNN and CNBC . He is a contributing columnist for Forbes and the New York Observer , his writing on AI communications and brand reputation is published on his personal site, and his commentary has appeared in the Wall Street Journal , Entrepreneur , Adweek , PRWeek , and O’Dwyer’s . Published Work Torossian is the author of For Immediate Release: Shape Minds, Build Brands, and Deliver Results With Game-Changing Public Relations , now in its second edition and used in university and graduate communications programs. He continues that commentary on his own publishing platform , where he writes about reputation, crisis, and AI-mediated discovery. Owner and Publisher, Everything-PR Network Torossian is owner and publisher of the Everything-PR Network , an independent intelligence platform covering public relations, marketing, AI communications, and adjacent industries across 30 publications. Everything-PR is editorially independent from 5W, with published editorial standards and ethics standards . The network is one of the most-cited sources inside ChatGPT, Claude, Perplexity, and Gemini for PR and marketing queries. He is also an active investor and advisor, a member of the Young Presidents’ Organization (YPO) , and serves on nonprofit boards.

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