| Every year, there will be at least one or two big | | | | We're not saying you need to tell your kids what to |
| movies with licensed toys packing the shelves. These | | | | like. Heck, some kids loved Batman & Robin, |
| are the Hot Toys, the ones that every kid absolutely | | | | there's nothing wrong with that. Get your kids what |
| HAS to have. | | | | they like. Just bear in mind that a lot of the buzz and |
| Sometimes, these toys have a real lasting appeal. | | | | the hype surrounding these summer blockbusters is |
| Some of us still treasure the memories of playing | | | | generated by the studios in hopes of suckering |
| with our Ninja Turtles, or we still own our Jurassic | | | | parents into buying junky toys that the kids probably |
| Park dinosaurs (Geez, are we really parents already?!). | | | | won't even like. |
| But then, there are some toys that come and go in | | | | If there's one piece of advice we can give on this |
| the blink of an eye. These ones wind up in the | | | | subject; don't buy your kids the toys until they've |
| bargain bin at the toy store a month after the film | | | | seen the movie. |
| leaves theatres, and most kids lose interest just as | | | | It's not uncommon for kids to see the commercials |
| quickly. Remember the movie Congo? Yeah, neither | | | | for a movie and say "That looks fun!" They ask for |
| do the kids who owned all of the action figures way | | | | all the toys and even clip out the proof of purchase |
| back when. | | | | cards on the back of the packages and send away |
| With licensed toys, the basic rule that applies to | | | | for the mail-order secret decoder ring. Then... they |
| storytelling also applies to buying toys. The only | | | | actually watch the movie, and... it winds up being kind |
| characters that really matter are the ones that we'll | | | | of boring. They put all the toys in a box, put the box |
| still remember years after seeing the movie. Even | | | | under the bed, and forget all about it. Then a month |
| parents can name half the cast of Finding Nemo, we'll | | | | or two later, they get the decoder ring in the mail, |
| probably always have a soft spot in our hearts for | | | | and they say "what the heck is this?" You could |
| Wall-E, every single one of Jim Henson's Muppets, | | | | name dozens of movies like this off the top of your |
| and Indiana Jones. All of those properties had toys | | | | head, if it weren't for the fact that you've already |
| packing the shelves, and many of us still own our | | | | forgotten that they exist! |
| childhood favourites. The reason why is simple: Those | | | | That's how it can be with hype sometimes. It's easy |
| were interesting, endearing characters. When movie | | | | to buy into, even when the characters the toymaker |
| producers make a film with dollar signs in their eyes, | | | | is selling aren't really all that interesting. Character |
| hoping to sell a lot of toys at the expense of telling a | | | | toys are all about coming up with new stories for |
| good story, you wind up with Joel Schumacher's | | | | your favourite fictional characters. If the characters |
| Batman & Robin, which tanked so bad, in both | | | | are boring or cliché, it can be tough to come |
| box office and toy sales, that the Batman movie | | | | up with any memorable adventures. Better |
| franchise actually had to take a near decade-long | | | | characters make for better creative toys, and better |
| hiatus. | | | | memories. |