Ten to Watch from Toy Fair 2007

As always, the Toy Fair was an Aladdin’s Cave of shiny new toys and games (some are so new they don’t actually exist yet and we had to make do with looking at prototypes, artwork and video clips).

The inevitable effect of looking at so many toys, from so many companies, in such a short space of time, is that your head starts to spin, and it’s almost impossible to come away with a single, unifying impression of the entire event.

Equally inevitable is the fact that some toys will just stick in your mind. Exciting new concepts, new additions to favourite toy lines or products that stand out simply because they are so good, here are the ten new toys that we’ll be keeping a specially close eye on this year…

Automoblox
This new building system from Geomag is one of the most beautifully crafted toys we saw at the Fair. These toy cars can be fitted together in any combination you care to dream up, and the use of solid hard wood means they actually look traditional and futuristic at the same time.

Pleo
We’d heard about Pleo before the Toy Fair, but nothing could quite prepare us for the utterly charming little dinosaur when we saw him in the company of Dr Future at the Vivid Imaginations stand. Pleo, a baby Camarasaurus, has been created with artificial intelligence and actually learns from his environment. The subtle movements and the way he reacts to his surroundings are simply mesmerising.

Battleground
It’s Knights versus Orcs as Character’s new range allows youngsters to invent their own game, built around the catapults, mortars and trebuchets of the Battleground playsets. Working weaponry and stackable defenses meet in a thrilling clash of military might. Set it up and smash it down!

Barraki
LEGO is building on its BIONICLE range with the addition of these underwater baddies – the ‘Creeps from the Deep’. Impressive as they look, they are even more arresting when you get your hands on them, with soft protrusions, transparent body parts and robust construction.

Wild Life
Schleich was showcasing some incredibly realistic Jungle sets, with a beautiful Animal Nursery at the centre of things. Build up a set including the Truck, Waterpump Station and Corral and you’ll have a stunningly lifelike habitat for Schleich’s renowned figures.

Network 2.0
If you love toy trains you have to love BRIO. It’s the law. Building on the company’s innovative Network sets, BRIO is introducing upgrades including the addition of new Networkers – both nice and naughty. What really caught our eye, however, was the 2.0 upgrade, which will see the introduction of Network Houses, all of which integrate with the track system. You can even choose from different wallpaper designs.

Playmobil Romans
Playmobil are always a firm favourite and the new Romans theme looks like being another big success. With imposing playsets like the Arena and Roman Galleon, as well as a wide range of smaller sets and accessories, this looks pretty irresistible to us.

Mike’s Auto Garage
Le Toy Van always manages to catch our eye and this year was no exception. Among a selection of beautiful new wooden toys, Mike’s Auto Garage stood out. This traditional wooden garage is solid and durable, but the highlight is the lively, colourful artwork that really brings it to life.

Deluxe Wood Barn
Breyer has a big selection of new releases, dominated by this natural wood barn. It’s truly massive, measuring 30.5in. long and 21in. high, so it was hard to miss at the Breyer stand. For collectors of Breyer’s Traditional series this barn will be a must-have.

Ski Jumping Penguins
This is one of those toys that takes you by surprise. Perhaps it’s the design of the penguins in question, or the clever magnetic ramp that hauls them up out of the bath before sending them skiing back down into the water – whatever the secret is, this is a charming bath time toy from Tomy.

Come back soon for in-depth reports on the newest toys – it looks like being an exciting year, and it’s just begun!