The 2023 NY Toy Fair taking place was of historic significance in of itself. The last one was held in February 2020 right before COVID collectively wreaked havoc on the entire planet. What had been a highly anticipated annual Toy industry event at the Jacob Javits Convention Center had been canceled thereafter. That is, until this year.
Who wouldn’t love walking around what was essentially the world’s biggest toy store? Vendors convene to present their best products hoping to entice buyers and dazzle Media outlets. The distinction between the powerful corporate entities with their neighborhood-sized elaborate booths and the independent tinkerers occupying a tiny plot of space on the show floor couldn’t be more noticeable. Often one needs an appointment to visit the larger vendors. Yet the independent vendors are hungry for attention from anyone with a pulse. They’re looking for their “big break” in NYC, the city of dreams.
In the first couple of years that I attended the show, I was “hungry” for an opening to engage with the big brands such as Mattel and Hasbro. And while that reaped some benefits in respect to opportunities for CuteMonster, it mostly left me feeling empty. I realized that access replaced my sense of wonder. I made a course correction the following year to leave more time at the show to simply explore. Much like Star Trek’s 5 year mission, I was boldly going “where no one had gone before.” After all, there was innovation to be discovered.
Suffice to say, I was rewarded for my curiosity discovering phenomenal companies such as robotics company Hexbug, Education-focused game maker Thinkfun, and active outdoor play company, Razor, who started with the scooter and expanded exponentially from manual scooters to electric skateboards.
In 2023, the latest trend was leaning into AI. On a rudimentary level, toy robots operated in tandem with AI applications running on smart devices (tablet, phones, etc.). Although the products I witnessed were still in their nascent stages, it was clear the potential was vast. For example, KAI: The Artificial Intelligence Robot from Thames and Kosmos, makes use of machine learning. This 2023 Specialty Toy of the Year award winner is leading the way for truly smart toys becoming a reality.
KAI: The Artificial Intelligence Robot
Another standout from the 2023 NY Toy Fair was a familiar character. If you have a toddler age child the must-have toy may well be the one and only beloved Elmo. In a clever interactive animatronic package, Elmo Slide by Just Play for Sesame Street incorporates a popular dance with Elmo’s unique flavor of engagement.
Lastly, expensive Collectible toys for adults have become more prominent in the Toy Industry. Some standouts for 2023 were the Disney 100 Minnie and Mickey Handcar from Lionel as well as Buzz Lightyear from the Robosen signature collectible series.
Disney 100 Minnie and Mickey Handcar from Lionel
Buzz Lightyear robot from Robosen signature collectible series
Overall, the toy industry presented numerous choices for kids of all ages to look forward to this holiday season and beyond. Yet despite the rapid pace of technological change, one thing remains true: play is the thing. We’re already looking forward to next year’s show.
Take a look at some of the fun sights from the 2023 NY Toy Fair:
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