February 15, 2000

FOR UPDATES ON TOY FAIR 2001 GO HERE:

ABOUT DOLLS DAILY TOY FAIR EDITION 2001

 SEVERAL NEW INTERACTIVE BABY DOLLS ANNOUNCED! Below is the full report on the new Hasbro interactive Baby Doll--Dolls This Week has JUST learned that Mattel and Playmates will release similar, competing baby dolls! 

 HASBRO ANNOUNCES NEW INTERACTIVE BABY DOLL! Hasbro has announced an amazing, new interactive baby doll called "MY REAL BABY."  The doll Cries, coos, instantly responds to its owner and smiles and squeals with delight.  Hasbro is calling the doll the most "most technologically advanced baby doll" ever.  The doll is from an exclusive alliance between iRobot Corporation, also known as IS Robotics, Inc., of Somerville, Mass., and Hasbro, Inc.

Featuring Natural Response Technology(TM), MY REAL BABY is the first interactive, animated doll that responds to a child's actions with realistic emotion-like responses. From the press release:

"MY REAL BABY is a breakthrough product in the girls category because it provides a truly unique and meaningful play experience," said Alan G. Hassenfeld, Hasbro's Chairman and Chief Executive Officer. "MY REAL BABY showcases Hasbro's commitment - and ability - to continually strengthen our standing as a family entertainment company that offers technologically advanced products."

The doll uses animatronics (the type of technology  used in Disney toys!) and Natural Response Technology, a process that iRobot has been developing over the past six years, MY REAL BABY reacts instantly to the attention of a child, showcases a full range of expressions and sounds, and appears to "grow" over time through speech development and a full menu of unpredictable reactions.

When a child first picks up MY REAL BABY, the doll's eyes will open and she smiles and coos. As the child plays with MY REAL BABY, her reactions and expressions become increasingly active, including:

• Her face changes from a smile to a frown and back again
• She giggles and laughs when you tickle her feet or bounce her on your knee
• She will tell you when she needs to be burped, changed or fed
• She begins speaking simple baby words like "mama" and "yum-yum"
• She advances to short sentences like "I Love you, Mama" and "I   want baba, Mama"
• A child can rock her to sleep and, when she is ready to take a nap, she will say "night, night"

In addition to responding to a child's actions, MY REAL BABY will seem to become more independent by initiating her own preferences, actions and behaviors.

MY REAL BABY will include a birth certificate, rattle, pacifier, bottle and "baby care" manual. MY REAL BABY will be in stores in fall 2000 and will retail for approximately $95.99. 

 Mattel's New Diva Starz Dolls!: Technology is everywhere this year in the doll world!  Mattel has also just announced a new line of dolls called Diva Starz!  There will be four of these dolls, dressed in hip clothing that move their heads, eyes and eyelids, and can speak with the child playing with them,, and also to each other! 

 Toy Fair In General: The 97th American International Toy Fair starts Thursday Feb 10 with pre-show activity.  the show officially runs starting Sunday, Feb 13, through Thursday, February 17th. 

• What is Toy Fair?  Toy Fair is the yearly trade show where over 1,500 manufacturers and  distributors of toys showcase their toys.  Looking at these toys are more than 20,000 buyers from over 100 countries and more than 1,000 international media outlets.  Toy Fair is the largest toy trade show in the Western hemisphere, and in some ways the main yearly event which shapes the $28 billion (yes, 28 billion dollar!) toy industry.
• Why is Toy Fair Important For Doll Collectors?  Toy fair matters because its at Toy Fair that all the major, modern players in the wold of dolls announce their product lines for the year.  By the end of the fair, you'll find out about all the new Barbies, Madame Alexanders, Genes, Tonners, American Girls, baby dolls, new dolls, and more that will be produced this year!  You will also likely find out all the new dolls and toys that children will be clamoring for this Christmas.  Don't miss ALL the new dolls announced at Toy Fair right here in About Dolls--check back often!  
• For  more information, see the Official Toy Fair site

GO TO PAGE ONE FOR THE FOLLOWING STORIES:

--New Barbie Line

--New Gene Line

--New Madame Alexander Fashion Doll

--Is Barbie Getting Married?