TOMY Takes Train Play to New Heights and Brings Changes to the Girls' Aisle with Formidable 2012 Line-Up

OAK BROOK, Ill., Feb. 13, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- TOMY, a leading global designer, producer and marketer of toys and collectible products sold to preschoolers, youths and adults, highlights innovative and engaging items that will be making their debut at Toy Fair 2012 (Booth 2275) across all the Company's leading brands. Combining the strengths of two worldwide toy leaders—RC2/Learning Curve Brands and TOMY Company, Ltd.—into one powerful global toy business, TOMY greets 2012 as one of the largest toy and infant products companies, poised to drive further growth from existing owned and licensed brands as well as all-new global brands and product lines.

Spearheaded by the introduction of the new Treena and Friends brand for young girls, along with the further expansion of the popular Chuggington brand in both Die-Cast and Wooden train set categories, the Company continues its tradition of developing engaging and original toys. In addition, TOMY's 2012 introductions include extensions to the Dinosaur Train, Lamaze, John Deere and Mario Kart Wii™ Remote Control brands.   

Treena and Friends

This year, TOMY introduces young girls in the US to one of Japan's most popular and enduring toy brands. Meet Treena and Friends. The only small doll line featuring expression changing characters and playsets, Treena celebrates friendship, individual expression and nature. Ideal for girls 3-6, the Treena line offers a unique way to discover friendship through storytelling. Featuring adorable collectible characters, mini playsets and larger feature playsets, the line brings more than 30 years of success in the Japanese market to the US girls' market in 2012.  

For the 2012 debut, the Treena and Friends line will include more than 20 unique, collectible figures with whimsical facial expressions. With one simple touch, each character's face magically switches between two distinct facial expressions. Fun to collect all 20, the Treena figures are sure to make imaginative play more interactive and are ideal for encouraging social and emotional development. Small enough to hold in the palm of a child's hand, each figure also has a distinguishing look and personality reflected in their clothing and coloring and comes complete with an activity booklet to introduce young girls to the world of Treena.

In addition to the figures, the Treena line will include a variety of playsets that also feature one-touch magical changes. The Treehouse Playset will be a hot holiday item, allowing girls to enjoy hours of imaginative play within the world of Treena. With just one touch, the tree magically converts into a deluxe party Treehouse with three levels of play space for Treena and her collectible friends. Themed Mini Playsets come complete with a Treena figure and accessories, and are great for on-the-go fun or can be connected to the Treehouse Playset for more expansive, imaginative play. In addition, function-filled mid-sized playsets have interactive features designed to encourage role play and bring young girls even further into Treena's world. The entire Treena and Friends line provides the perfect opportunity for wholesome and age-appropriate play in the girls' category.

Chuggington

TOMY further expands its sought-after Chuggington product lines based on Ludorum's popular animated series. New items in the flagship Chuggington Die-Cast Railway and Chuggington Wooden Railway lines combine with a collection of feature toys—that include thematic flashlights shaped like your favorite engine characters and a deluxe R/C Action Chugger that "blasts-off" and "flies" on a cloud—to bring Chuggington's "traintastic" adventures home for even more fans.

Inspired by Chuggington's modern characters and fast-paced adventures, TOMY's Chuggington Die-Cast Railway includes big innovations for 2012. In addition to new die-cast engines and action-packed playsets starting at $14.99, the line's biggest innovation for 2012 will be the debut of a new track system designed to take train play to new heights! Hitting stores in summer 2012, the all-new track system will allow Chuggington Die-Cast Railway fans to combine both train and construction play patterns for a whole new play experience. The new track system enables fans to build track layouts vertically for the first time by providing the stability required to achieve tall, spiraling layouts. There's even one Chuggington Die-Cast set that will soar to more than three feet tall!

The Chuggington Wooden Railway system adds more characters to its collectible line-up of engines as well as feature-packed starter train sets, buildings and tunnels at key price points.  All are made with classic, high-quality wood construction, which is compatible with other major wooden railway toys.

Dinosaur Train

On the heels of a successful sophomore year, TOMY expands its extensive line of original Dinosaur Train toys. Based on The Jim Henson Company's animated PBS series, highlights for 2012 include several new additions to the popular InterAction Figure line led by the all-new Extreme InterAction Figures. Incorporating all the features of the original InterAction Figures, including the ability to respond to other characters in the line with more than 50 dino sounds and phrases, these new Extreme InterAction Figures actually launch into action! In addition, TOMY also expands the Dinosaur Train collectible figure line with more kid-favorite characters to collect and enjoy, and adds special feature sets designed to engage and thrill kids with clever features such as "X-ray" technology and interactive lights and sounds fun.

Lamaze

TOMY's Lamaze® brand is dedicated to creating products that help baby grow, discover and learn. New for 2012, the award-winning Lamaze Infant Development System unveils new items with added developmental features, dynamic colors, engaging textures and whimsical characters. Key additions include Turtle Tunes, an adorable plush turtle with a brightly-colored musical shell, Jumping Joeys Fill 'N Spill, a cuddly sit-and-play toy, and a line of winter holiday themed developmental toys.  

Mario Kart Wii™ Remote Control

TOMY will introduce a new line of toys that offers remote control play with performance and innovation featuring characters from Nintendo's Mario Kart™ Wii video game. For 2012, TOMY's Mario Kart Wii line will include an assortment of both single packs and battle packs. With a fresh new look and features, key items from the line include Mario Kart Wii Pullback Racers, individual cars with ultra-fast pullback motors, Mario Kart Wii Q-Steer remote control vehicles, single cars that include spin-out tires and full function remote control racing action, and the Mario Kart Wii Battle Set, which allows fans to re-create the Mario Kart Wii video game in real life with interactive battle play.

Ertl / John Deere

In 2012, TOMY will debut a comprehensive range of John Deere items including educational preschool products, ultra-tough, radio controlled vehicles, and die-cast farm and construction replicas. Key new items include the Monster Treads Roar N Rumble Tractor, an off-road vehicle that includes monster "truck" sounds and extreme "shaking engine" action, and a new John Deere Get Around Gator, where the child provides the foot power, as well as new items in the John Deere Preschool line. Enthusiasts can look forward to new John Deere replicas in all scales.

About TOMY International

TOMY International (www.tomy.com) is a leading global designer, producer and marketer of a broad range of innovative, high-quality toys sold to preschoolers, youths and adults under the TOMY®, Ertl®, Johnny Lightning® and Tomica® brands as well as products for mothers, infants and toddlers marketed under its The First Years®, Lamaze, JJ Cole® Collections and Boon® brands. TOMY International also markets its products under popular and classic licensed properties such as Thomas & Friends, Chuggington, Dinosaur Train, John Deere, Disney's Winnie the Pooh, Princesses, Cars, Fairies and Toy Story, and other well-known properties. TOMY International's mission is to inspire and fulfill the dreams of children and parents worldwide. TOMY International reaches its target consumers through multiple channels of distribution supporting more than 25,000 retail outlets throughout North and South America, Europe and Australia. TOMY International is a wholly owned subsidiary of Japan-based TOMY Company, Ltd. (Tokyo Stock Exchange Code No. 7867). © TOMY

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