Cuteness likely to rule the holiday toy roost

[September 21, 2010]  NEW YORK (AP) --  It's getting crowded in the race to succeed Zhu Zhu Pets as the next hot holiday toy. Collectibility and cuteness are off the charts this year.

Toys R Us, which came out with its "hot toy" list on Tuesday, is betting on a few contenders for the cute crown. Those include Blip Toys' Squinkies, tiny figures that fit inside a toy dispensing machines and Mattel Inc.'s Sing-a-ma-jigs, colorful plush dolls that harmonize.

Cepia LLC introduced new lines of Zhu Zhu pets this year and Hasbro Inc. is pushing Furry Frenzies, which similarly skitter around. Another cute collectible: Zoobles. The line includes brightly patterned creatures that fold into balls and pop open on magnetized stands.

Toy makers can make up to half of their annual revenue during the crucial holiday quarter.

[Associated Press]

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