Mattel Unveils its Top Toys for Girls and Boys This Holiday Season

Bring Cheer This Year and Make a Wish List on mattelfun.ca - for Gift-Givers to Save Time and Stay on Budget

TORONTO, Oct 12 /CNW/ - Mattel is pleased to announce the top toys for the 2010 holiday season to help gift-givers navigate the toy shelves with ease during the busiest shopping time of the year. This year's hot toy picks will provide kids with hours of imagining, exploring, playing, learning and fun that will last long after the holidays are over.

"Toy trends are always evolving and Mattel keeps its finger on the pulse of what's hot for the holidays," says Donna Polimac, Senior Marketing Manager. "As the leader in the toy industry, our team of designers and marketers use their expertise and knowledge of what kids want in order to create the best toys for every developmental stage. We are focused on innovation, quality and safety when designing our toys and this year's line-up is better than ever. From Hot Wheels® cars and play sets to Barbie® Video Girl™ and Monster High™ as well as Fisher-Price Little People® and Sing-A-Ma -Jigs™ to Loopz™ and Red Rover™ from Mattel Games, we offer kids of all ages original, fun, educational and high-tech toys that are sure to top kids' wish lists this holiday."

Mattel encourages moms and gift-givers across the country to make shopping easier by sitting down and making a list using mattelfun.ca in order to stay organized and on budget.  "On mattelfun.ca gift-givers can browse through Mattel's "Toy Store", a virtual toy catalogue, to view the hottest toys for 2010," adds Polimac. "The 'Gift Finder' tool sorts through suggestions for toys, by age and gender, and finds the perfect gifts for the kids in your life. The 'Toy Store' includes over 60 great gift ideas. With the click of a button, users can add options to their wish lists and share it through email or post them on social networking sites like Twitter and Facebook, so others can easily view the list and shop for the perfect holiday gifts."

Below is a list of what is sure to make kids' wish lists this holiday:

Hot Toys for Tots 

FISHER-PRICE LAUGH & LEARN™ LEARNING KITCHEN™ - Planning a holiday feast? Make it a learning experience for your tot. The Laugh & Learn™ Learning Kitchen is filled with interactive fun in both English and French. Little ones can open the refrigerator door to see the light come on, learn about opposites or hear a song.
Age: 6 months - 3 years
Suggested retail price: $49.99 CDN

FISHER-PRICE: DANCE STAR MICKEY - Kids can put on a show with Dance Star Mickey Mouse this holiday as he comes to life right before your eyes! Now Mickey walks, talks, and dances. With multiple songs, interactive activities and silly humour, Mickey is sure to knock your socks off!
Age: 18 + months
Suggested retail price: $89.99 CDN

FISHER-PRICE: LIL' ZOOMERS™ SPINNIN' SOUNDS SPEEDWAY™ - Ready, set, spin! Babies will love the Lil' Zoomers Spinnin' Sounds Speedway™ zooming raceway sounds, music and fun flashing lights.
Age: 6 - 36 months
Suggested retail price: $49.99 CDN

FISHER-PRICE: THE SING-A-MA-JIGS™ - Get ready to meet The Sing-a-ma-Jigs™, the new free-spirited, offbeat characters that set off unexpected laugher and excitement with every interaction! The Sing-a-ma-Jigs™ enjoy nothing more than singing together, and just to prove it, they harmonize with each other in perfect pitch every time. The more you collect, the larger the chorus. Every Sing-a-ma-Jig has three modes of play where they chatter, sing their own song, or sing in harmony with their other Sing-a-ma-jig friends!
Age: 3 +
Suggested retail price: $14.99 CDN

THOMAS & FRIENDS™ FOLLOW ME THOMAS - Follow Me Thomas includes a preschool sized Thomas engine and a light up lantern. The child can point and move the light from the lantern and Thomas will follow a long. As Thomas moves he will say interactive phrases and sound effects. When you press any of the 3 buttons on the lantern, Thomas will do one of three programmed moves including, figure 8, circles, and zig zags.  Now you can have your friend Thomas with you wherever you go! 
Age: 6 +
Suggested retail price: $59.99 CDN

Hot Toys for Boys

HOT WHEELS® CRISS CROSS CRASH™ TRACK SET - Get ready, set, crash! With four intersecting crash zones, Hot Wheels® Criss Cross Crash™ allows kids to line up their Hot Wheels® cars and let them rip for near-misses or total wipeouts. With more than 16 feet of track that includes hairpin turns, motorized boosters, and a giant crash zone, kids can enjoy crash-and-bash fun all holiday long.
Age: 5 +
Suggested retail price: $49.99 CDN

MATCHBOX® STINKY™ THE GARBAGE TRUCK - Stinky™ is his name, gobbling garbage is his game! The newest addition to the Big Rig Buddies™ assortment is every boy's best friend - a real working garbage truck. This interactive buddy talks, tells jokes, eats, exercises and sings.
Age: 3 +
Suggested retail price: $69.99 CDN

HOT WHEELS® RC STEALTH RIDES™ POWER TREAD™ ASSORTMENT - Good things come in small packages this holiday. The Hot Wheels® RC Stealth Rides™ Power Tread™ Assortment are mini but mighty cars that are small enough to fit in a pocket and can fold flat to fit in a slim carrying case that doubles as a controller. Made for gripping and climbing over obstacles, these Stealth Rides™ vehicles are guaranteed to entertain.
Age: 8 +
Suggested retail price: $32.99 CDN

HOT WHEELS® RC STEALTH RIDES™ RACING CAR ASSORTMENT - These portable Stealth Rides™ Racing Cars will amaze! Built for high-speed turns and spinning, these Stealth Rides™ vehicles are the biggest little things in the world of remote control toys.
Age: 8 +
Suggested retail price: $32.99 CDN

TOY STORY 3 ACTION LINKS™ JUNKYARD ESCAPE STUNT SET - Toy Story toys are back and just in time for the holidays. Kids can re-create a thrilling scene from the Disney/Pixar film, Toy Story 3, with the ultimate Toy Story 3 Action Links™ Junkyard Escape Stunt Set. There's loads of action and adventure and great stunts like the conveyer belt and the claw.
Age: 5 +
Suggested retail price: $49.99 CDN

CARS TOON MONSTER TRUCK WRASTLIN' RING - Boys can defeat the monsters all year long with the Cars Toon Monster Truck Wrastlin' Ring. The final showdown in the Cars Toon, "Monster Truck Mater," can be relived again and again with this wrestling ring that features a spinning floor, a "claw" for scooping up your opponents, and a lever for great flipping action.  
Age: 4 + 
Suggested retail price: $39.99 

Hot Toys for Girls

BARBIE® VIDEO GIRL™ DOLL - Lights! Barbie®! Action! Girls can capture their own holiday memories this season with Barbie® Video Girl ™.  She's not just a doll, she's a video camera too!  A camera lens is hidden in her necklace and a colour LCD video screen on her back lets girls record and view movies instantly.  It's moviemaking from Barbie® doll's point of view - literally!  Windows/Mac compatible.  Free Video Girl™ editing software available at Barbie.com allows girls to add music and graphics.
Age: 6 +
Suggested retail price: $69.99 CDN

BARBIE™ A FASHION FAIRYTALE BARBIE® DOLL - Join Barbie® and her friends in her latest DVD movie Barbie™ A Fashion Fairytale. Barbie® stars as herself in her famous fashion show outfit that transforms from a princess gown to a party couture dress. With the press of a button, Barbie™ A Fashion Fairytale Barbie® doll's bodice magically lights up and is synchronized to music from the movie's fashion show finale.
Age: 3 +
Suggested retail price: $29.99 CDN

BARBIE™ A FASHION FAIRYTALE KEN® DOLL - Barbie™ A Fashion Fairytale Ken® is dressed to impress, with a stylish grey satin suit, sparkling pink tie, designer shoes and stylish hairdo!
Age: 3 +
Suggested retail price: $15.99 CDN

BARBIE™ A FASHION FAIRYTALE GLITTERIZER™ WARDROBE AND BARBIE® DOLL PLAY SET - Barbie™ A Fashion Fairytale Glitterizer™ Wardrobe and Barbie® Doll Play Set is the perfect gift for every girl who wants to sparkle this holiday. With three easy steps, girls can use the motorized Glitterizer™ wardrobe and over 100 stickers to customize doll outfits, accessories or glitterize personal items.
Age: 3 +
Suggested retail price: $59.99 CDN

BARBIE™ A FASHION FAIRYTALE HORSE & CARRIAGE - Barbie™ a Fashion Fairytale Horse & Carriage is for the girl who likes to ride in style. Girls can play out scenes from the DVD movie, Barbie™ A Fashion Fairytale with this modern horse and carriage that is so 21st century. With loads of luxurious details inside, this modern carriage also has a convertible top that folds down for the ultimate romantic ride.
Age: 3 +
Suggested retail price: $47.99 CDN

DISNEY TANGLED RAPUNZEL BRAIDING FRIENDS™ HAIR BRAIDER - The Rapunzel Braiding Friends™ Hair Braider is a great gift for any Disney fan. Girls can braid Rapunzel's hair with the help of her little animal friends. Just place a section of hair onto each animal friend and turn the handle. Rapunzel doll and friends can also be removed from the braider and taken on the go. Includes Rapunzel doll, animal friends and braiding wheel.
Age: 3 +
Suggested retail price: $42.99 CDN

MONSTER HIGH™ DOLL ASSORTMENT - Draculaura™, Clawdeen Wolf™, Frankie Stein™ and Lagoona Blue™ are the coolest ghouls in school with their trendy fashions, accessories and scary cute pets. And they have some very famous scary cool parents as well. Dolls are fully articulated so they can be posed in many different ways! Includes one doll, pet, accessory, diary, brush, and doll stand.
Age: 6 +
Suggested retail price: $21.99 CDN

POLLY POCKET™ POP 'N LOCK™ STAGE - Polly™ is the ultimate rock star, ready to go on tour with the Pop 'N Lock™ Stage.  Press play on the tour bus to transform it into the Polly™ rockin' party pad and load a Pop 'n Lock™ fashion and doll into the dressing room to instantly change Polly's fashion and make her magically appear on stage ready to rock out. At the end of the performance, close the play set back up for portable play on the go!
Age: 4 +
Suggested retail price: $43.99 CDN

Hot Toys for the Whole Family

RED ROVER™ Game - Preschoolers will have a great time looking for Rover's bone in the Red Rover™ Game. The game starts when preschoolers press the Red Rover™ nose and he calls out which bones he wants. Preschoolers run to find the right bone and feed it to Rover. Whoever helps Rover the fastest wins!  
Age: 3 + 
Suggested retail price: $29.99 CDN

LOOPZ™ Game - Keep the kids moving during the holidays with GetLoopz™, a skill and action memory game. This interactive game consists of 4 semi-circular rings that flash with ever-quickening patterns of light and music which players must mimic by waving their hands through the corresponding loops. The longer you play, the faster it gets!  
Age: 5 + 
Suggested retail price $39.99 CDN

Mattel's hot toys are available at major retailers nationwide, including: Toys "R" Us, Wal-Mart, Loblaws, Sears, The Bay and Zellers.

About Mattel

Mattel, Inc., (NASDAQ:MAT) (mattel.com) is the worldwide leader in the design, manufacture and marketing of toys and family products. The Mattel family is comprised of such best-selling brands as Barbie® the most popular fashion doll ever introduced, Hot Wheels®, Matchbox®, American Girl®, Radica® and Tyco® R/C, as well as Fisher-Price® brands, including Little People®, Power Wheels® and a wide array of entertainment-inspired toy lines. In 2010, Mattel was named as one of FORTUNE Magazine's "100 Best Companies to Work For" for the third year in a row, and was ranked among Corporate Responsibility Magazine's "100 Best Corporate Citizens." Mattel also is recognized among the "World's Most Ethical Companies." With worldwide headquarters in El Segundo, California, Mattel employs approximately 27,000 people in 43 countries and territories and sells products in more than 150 nations.

For further information:

To speak to a Toy Expert about this holiday's top trends and innovative toys as well as images or product samples, please contact:

Shelley Fremont, GCI Group: [email protected] or 416-486-5921
Falan Hamilton, GCI Group: [email protected] or 416-486-5901