RC2's Learning Curve® Brands Previews Key Spring 2011 Introductions

OAK BROOK, Ill., Oct. 5 /PRNewswire/ -- Learning Curve® Brands (www.learningcurve.com), a wholly owned subsidiary of RC2 Corporation (Nasdaq: RCRC www.rc2corp.com) and a leader in creating innovative toys for children of all ages, previews its new spring 2011 product highlights. Combining the debut of highly-anticipated Chuggington lines with the introduction of new items from the Dinosaur Train brand, the company's expertise in creating fun and original toys is evidenced once again in its new offerings for 2011.

Spring 2011 highlights include two new and innovative Chuggington product lines, bringing the traintastic adventures of this popular series to life for preschoolers. In addition, the top performing Dinosaur Train line expands for even more interactive and educational role play, while the Company's evergreen Lamaze Infant Development System brand debuts a new infant book line and other items designed to fuel continued growth.  

Chuggington™ by Learning Curve

In holiday 2010, Learning Curve Brands is unveiling its first line of Chuggington Die-Cast toys based on Ludorum's popular animated series, Chuggington. Developed to deliver action-packed train play, the Chuggington line reflects the key destinations and core developmental messages of the CGI-animated series. Directly inspired by the show's unique look, Learning Curve's Chuggington Die-Cast line includes an initial focus on a range of collectible die-cast engines and action-packed playsets.

For 2011, Learning Curve will roll-out two new Chuggington product lines, Chuggington Interactive Railway and Chuggington Wooden Railway. With a continued focus on embodying the show's excitement and energetic characters, both new lines feature a number of key product innovations and are perfect for action-packed train play. With the Chuggington Interactive Railway, action and adventure come to life like never before! Featuring SmartTalk™ technology, Chuggington Interactive engines recognize and interact with each other and with major train destinations, creating a truly unique play experience. The more engines and destinations that are added, the more interactive the world becomes! Created especially for specialty toy stores, the Chuggington Wooden Railway features a series of robust, brightly colored engines, starter train sets and innovative modular destinations in classic, high-quality wood construction. The Chuggington Wooden Railway is expandable and compatible with all other major wooden railway toys.

Dinosaur Train™ by Learning Curve

On the heels of a successful 2010 launch of an extensive line of original Dinosaur Train toys, Learning Curve will continue to expand this popular product line based on The Jim Henson Company's animated PBS series. Learning Curve's Dinosaur Train line incorporates elements from the animated series along with real dinosaur facts, delivering a product line that is engaging and educational.

Spring 2011 highlights include new additions to the popular InterAction Figure line, adding Don Pteranodon and Hank Ankylosaurus to the current Dinosaur Train friends who can recognize and respond to one another through SmartTalk technology. In addition, more than 30 new Dinosaur Train collectible figures will be introduced in early 2011. Kids can keep track of their expanding collections with the all-new collector poster inside each collectible figure package, and with the whimsical Boris Storage Case that holds up to 20 assorted collectible figures.

Dinosaur Train is created for 3-6 year old children and airs on PBS Kids®. The series features a world of dinosaurs and prehistoric lands, all connected by a colorful train line known as the Dinosaur Train. Each episode is shown through the eyes of Buddy, a preschool-aged Tyrannosaurus Rex, who along with his adoptive family of pteranodons, goes for adventures on the Dinosaur Train to discover and visit with all kinds of dinosaurs while learning the basic concepts of natural science, natural history and paleontology.

Lamaze® by Learning Curve (www.lamazetoys.com)

Learning Curve's Lamaze® brand is dedicated to creating products that help baby grow, discover and learn. Parents have known and trusted the Lamaze brand for more than 50 years. Building on that trusted brand, Learning Curve's Lamaze line remains dedicated to offering parents products that focus on infant development, while at the same time providing opportunities for them to bond and interact with baby. Experts agree that bonding can occur around key developmental milestones as well as during routines that are established early on, and Learning Curve's 2011 Lamaze introductions are designed to support the milestones and encourage early bonds. New for 2011 is a line of books for babies from birth and up. Featuring content written by prominent child development expert Dorothy Singer, Ed. D., the new Lamaze Book line includes soft books, board books, and book & plush gift sets. In addition to the Lamaze Book line, the award-winning Lamaze Infant Development System has added products specifically designed to grow with baby as their skill levels expand, thereby extending play value. Learning Curve has also added to the popular Lamaze Play and Grow line, Lamaze Tunes family and more.

About RC2 Corporation

RC2 Corporation (www.rc2.com) is a leading designer, producer and marketer of a broad range of innovative, high-quality products for mothers, infants, and toddlers, as well as toys and collectible products sold to preschoolers, youths and adults. RC2's mother, infant, toddler and preschool products are primarily marketed under its Learning Curve® (www.learningcurve.com) family of brands which includes The First Years®, Lamaze® and JJ Cole® Collections brands, as well as popular and classic licensed properties such as Thomas & Friends, Bob the Builder, Special Agent Oso, Chuggington, Dinosaur Train, John Deere, Disney's Winnie the Pooh, Princesses, Cars, Fairies and Toy Story, and other well-known properties. RC2 markets its youth and adult products primarily under the Johnny Lightning® (www.johnnylightning.com) and Ertl® (www.ertl.com) brands. RC2 reaches its target consumers through multiple channels of distribution supporting more than 25,000 retail outlets throughout North America, Europe, Australia, Asia Pacific and South America.

SOURCE RC2 Corporation