Toddler Kids Toys

DISNEY REVEALS INNOVATIVE CARS 2 TOY LINE AND NEW FILM CHARACTERS

London, United Kingdom – 15 February 2011 – Disney revved its engines today as it unveiled the all new Disney·Pixar Cars 2 toy line of more than 300 toys before a capacity crowd of toy industry insiders and members of D23, Disney’s official fan community, at the American International Toy Fair. Academy Award®-winning actor Michael Caine, voice of the charming and eloquent new Cars 2 British agent Finn McMissile and actress Emily Mortimer, voice of his spy-in-training Holley Shiftwell were on hand for a panel discussion and were presented with custom-built toys celebrating their Cars 2 characters. From toys that interact, speak, and climb up walls to new collectable die-cast and buildable play sets, the new Cars line-up is packed with creativity and innovation. The hottest and most anticipated new Cars toys unveiled at the event included: Mattel’s Lightning McQueen Alive and The LEGO Group’s Spy Jet Escape. The event culminated with a reception showcasing the hundreds of new toys that will release this June and into the summer season, plus a sneak peek at the upcoming multi-platform Cars 2: The Video Game and a first look at a life-size Finn McMissile car. Cars 2 hits the track in the UK on 22 July and will be presented in Disney Digital 3D™ and in IMAX® 3D in select cinemas.

In less than five years since the film’s release in 2006, the Cars franchise has generated global retail sales of more than $8 billion — making it among Disney’s top franchises and quickly establishing itself as a true classic. This momentum will go into high gear as Cars 2 becomes what Disney Consumer Products expects to be its largest licensed film merchandise program ever. The program is anchored by an array of innovative toys featuring the film’s World Grand Prix race and international espionage themes. Cars 2 will also be supported with unprecedented product lines from stationery, apparel and accessories to home décor, books, and food, health and beauty, and an exclusive range from Disney Store and DisneyStore.com.

Slated for release this summer, Cars 2: The Video Game lets players jump into the Cars 2 universe with some of their favourite Cars personalities such as Mater, Lightning McQueen and the newly introduced Finn McMissile and Holley Shiftwell in exotic locations around the globe. Fans can train to become world-class spies at the international training centre for CHROME (Command Headquarters for Recon Operations and Motorised Espionage) and take on dangerous missions, compete to become the fastest race car in the world, or use their spy skills in exciting, action-packed combat racing and battle arenas. Players can race against friends and family in either single or multiplayer modes with up to four players to unlock challenging new tracks, characters, events and thrilling spy missions.

At the event, Disney also revealed two additional new Cars 2 characters: Miles Axlerod, voiced by the talented Eddie Izzard, is a former oil baron who has sold off his fortune, converted himself into an electric vehicle and devoted his life to finding the renewable, clean-burning energy source of the future – he’s also the car behind the World Grand Prix; and Nigel Gearsley, an Aston Martin DB9R racer bearing #9. His cool British refinement makes him an imposing presence on the World Grand Prix courses.

Returning to the driver’s seat to direct Cars 2, John Lasseter, surprised guests via a special videotaped greeting and revealed John Turturro as the voice of new character and Lightning McQueen rival, Francesco Bernoulli. “The idea for Cars 2 began when I was travelling around the world doing publicity for Cars. I found myself looking out at these amazing cities and imagining, ‘what would Mater do?’ I couldn’t help but laugh thinking about Mater lost in the maze of Tokyo streets, driving on the wrong side of the road in England or navigating the gigantic roundabouts in Paris,” Lasseter said. “I’m sure fans and collectors will be as thrilled as I was to see these new adventures come to life in this exciting toy line, which features some of the most amazing technology out there.”

With more than 200 million Cars die-cast vehicles sold worldwide to date, innovation was critical to keep the new Cars toy line fresh. Disney challenged the best in the toy industry including Mattel, The LEGO Group and Hasbro to deliver the next generation of Cars toys. The resulting line includes new innovations such as Lightning McQueen Alive (sneak peek demo video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=djVlI-pqtVM) which was unveiled at the event and is the first toy of its kind to utilise touch sensors and cutting-edge micro technology to capture the look, sound, moves and animated personality of everyone’s favourite red racer with never-before-seen features in a 1:55 scale car.

“The first Cars film has been a phenomenon because kids love the characters and racing. Cars 2 not only has great racing, but it also has a spy twist that is pure toy bliss,” said Vince Klaseus, senior vice president of Global Toys, Disney Consumer Products. “Cars 2 is our largest toy line yet with more 300 new toys and it offers something for everyone – we have cars that can be dramatically customised in wild and expressive ways, cars that transform and even cars that climb walls.”

Key innovations from the new Cars 2 toy line include:

Mattel will introduce more than 150 toys including Lightning McQueen Alive– Fans will be in awe to see Lightning McQueen’s big personality captured in a small package as he drives around by himself – both forwards and backwards and in complete 360s, moves his eyes, shrugs his shoulders and moves his life-like mouth and speaks signature phrases voiced by actor Owen Wilson. (RRP £49.99, available June 2011). Plus, fans will enjoy a collection of more than 70 new collectible die-cast cars (RRP £4.49 – £8.99, available June 2011).

The LEGO Group will introduce its first full line of Cars toys consisting of 20 versatile and action-packed play sets recreating key scenes from the film – play sets so detailed that some come with as many as 800 pieces! Among the new line is the Cars 2 Spy Jet Escape, which enables fans to recreate one of the film’s most exciting and explosive scenes featuring Finn McMissile, Holley Shiftwell and Mater. (RRP £45.99, available June 2011).

Other notable products include: Hasbro classic board games with a twist such as Cars 2 Monopoly with a round board where players can race McQueen instead of rolling the dice; Ridemakerz which will deliver a new Cars customising experience giving fans the thrill of a ride as they build their own vehicle; and the new Disney•Pixar Cars Wood Collection from Toys”R”Us, Disney’s first Cars-inspired wooden toy line.

What types of products are really considered to be educational toys for children? Toys, by design, are made to please children and bring them enjoyment as well as amusement. Although they are not technically intended to educate most toys do provide at least a bit of learning along with a large helping of fun. Educational toys are those that present children with challenges and excitement. These types of toys are also able to uncover a childs talents and strengths. Toys of this variety are useful because they are able to foster the development of childrens critical thinking skills, problem solving capabilities and sequential processing aptitude. However, at no point is fun relegated to the sidelines. Quite the contrary, most children and parents find that educational toys are never boring and are extremely entertaining.

The most successful products in the educational toy market are those that constantly challenge and encourage a childs natural curiosity and imagination. This allows children the chance to learn from the play experience and stimulates them to discover more information along the way. A soft book is a wonderful toy for small children, but when you add zippers, buttons, shoelaces and pockets to this simple, unassuming toy it becomes an educational wonderland to be explored. Children are intrigued by the textures and shapes, and they want to learn how to open and close the zippers and buttons and search through the pockets. The idea of tying and untying shoelaces is a mystery that can not be ignored and many kids will spend happy hours mesmerized by these seemingly simple tasks. In fact what is really happening is that these children are engaged in an intricate dance of learning and education that will increase their skills and ability to solve problems.
Microscopes that are designed for children will encourage an interest in nature, science and logical thinking. Construction sets help them develop spatial reasoning, both gross and small motor skills and will spur their imaginations to new heights. Just stacking a variety of blocks together in different ways will teach cause and effect and other basic laws of physics, but because it is such great fun children happily embrace the principles of learning when it involves educational toys that appeal to them.
There are many educational games and products that combine wonderful play appeal with unique learning and education opportunities. Memory and spelling games are useful and these can be used to help advance the abilities and understanding of your child. Many children will learn to read, write and do basic math simply because they were challenged with educational toys during their earliest years. Children have brains that are like absorbent little sponges and from birth until the age of 6 their rate of learning is astounding. The more challenges and exposure they have to stimulating toys and games the faster they will learn. Higher IQs and proficiency in classroom settings is directly linked to early childhood instruction and intellectual stimulation that is often the result of educational toys in the home.