This week The Toy Insider held their annual summer Sweet Suite showcase. Unlike other Sweet Suite’s where there is often a mix of attending companies because of the lack of a Toy Fair this year’s Sweet Suit seemed to feature more companies than any other year I’ve attended. On top of familiar faces like LEGO, Hasbro, Pokemon, and Playmobil other companies including Jazwares, Deddy Bears, P.M.I., Exploding Kittens, Playmates, and Robosen. The event brings together all these companies with media and influencers for a night of fun and play and is the perfect place to discuss, see, and play with new and upcoming products all while getting a bite to eat and some drinks!
As always below is not an exhaustive list of companies that exhibited but rather products relevant to our core audience and as the show is nowhere near the scale of a typical Toy Fair most companies only bring a small sample of products to display; that said I still encourage you to check out The Toy Insider’s resources especially if you have little ninjas.
Before we get into the event as I normally do I’ll mention again that The Toy Insider is a perfect resource for researching and finding reviews of toys, technology, and entertainment. With their years of experience The Toy Insider posts reviews of products throughout the entire year assessing products through a tested review process that includes quality, price, and playability. You can follow them through all forms of social media as well: Twitter, Instagram, YouTube, and Facebook. Additionally twice a year The Toy Insider holds shows while putting together seasonal gift guides along with toys in different age ranges there are Outdoor, Educational, and Travel Toys and Games categories.
Robosen
https://www.robosen.com/us/
After the introduction of their Flagship Grimlock figure last year there was only one place for Robosen to go – to the Decepticons – and that they did. Earlier this year Robosen unveiled the newest addition to their Transformers line with a G2 inspired Megatrom. Transforming from Decipticon Leader to tank mode the figure boasts the same level of customization and programmability as his predecessors. Check out the videos and photos below for an amzing view at the newest robot in the Robosen line.
LEGO
https://www.lego.com/en-us
LEGO showed off an array of sets from amultitude of their lines at Sweet Suite. On display were Season 2 sets of Dreamzzz as well as figures from the City, Art, Technic, and Ideas line. The big callouts from Sweet Suite were a updated Satr Wars Tie Interceptor for the 25th anniversary, a huge Milkey Way piece, a new Porsche in the Technic line, a Transformers Bumblebee, but the centerpiece from the show was a 5,000+ piece The Lord of the Rings: Barad-Dûr set.
Playmates
https://playmatestoys.com/
Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles and Godzilla X Kong still reigned supreme from Playmates at Sweet Suite. The TMNT line leaned into their Mutations Mix ‘N Match Figures, where you can separate pieces from each of the individual figures and mix their pieces together to come up with loads of unique combinations as well as a eerily close to original Technodrone. For the Turtles 40th anniversary there was a set of Turtles based on the original sketches. Each figure comes with a connecting plate, ooze, the Turtle and weapon and a original sketch. The figures have multiple points of articulation and a are a good addition to any TMNT collectors collection. For those looking to get their Kong or Godzilla fix Playmates also showcased their line of figures from the movie.
Hasbro
https://shop.hasbro.com/
Hasbro had a smaller presence at Sweet Suite showing off a bit of everything but focused on a bit of a younger crowd. Notable callouts included the NERF N Series blasters and a Star Wars Foce N’ Telling Vader a new take on the old fortune telling machines. Expect a bigger report on Hasbro once San Diego Comic Con passes.
Jazwares
https://www.jazwares.com/
Jazwares is now one of the top 4 toy companies out there, with that comes a strong presence in a range of brands whether it is Bum Bumz, Squishmallows, Pokemon, AEW, or Star Wars Micro Galaxy Squadron. For Sweet Suite they showed off some new Pokemon branded Squishmallows and playsets also for Squishmallows was a new line of Squish-a-longs mini blind pack where you can collect the first run of 40 figures. Also featured was a new Dreadnaught Class At-ET based on Star Wars Attack of the Clones as well as a The Ghost ship. Jazwares continues to have a strong line-up of products and licenses.
Bandai
https://www.bandai.com/
Bandai is a leading North American master distributor of toys, collectibles, novelty and hobby products. They have an extremely diverse catalog of licensed products across the US, Hong Kong, and Japan. At Sweet Suite Bandai was showing off their range of anime figures from multiple properties such as One Piece, Dragon Ball, Demon Slayer, and My Hero Academia as well as figures from their Godzilla line. In the Tamagatchi line Bandai was showing off their Hello Kitty Nano Tamagotchi line.
P.M.I. LTD
https://pmi.co.il/about-us
Pocket Money Items produces a range of internationally recognized children’s merchandise and toys and are a recognized name when it comes to stuff that kids just need to get their hands on. P.M.I. was again focused on their Stumble Guys line a multiplayer battle royale obstacle course game at Sweet Suite. In it up to 32 players race, jump, fall, run and stumble their way to victory. The new product line included a range of items from 2-inch blind box figures all the way up to 9-inch plush figures.
Teeturtle Plushieverse
https://www.teeturtle.com/
Teeturtle keyed in on their plushies line at Sweet Suite with a range of their plushies including their reversible plushies which featured reversible cryptids, Spongebob Squarepants and TMNT. They were also showing off their line of Sweet & Sour scented plushies. Though not on display Teeturtle also has a wide range of shirts and other accessories.
Deddy Bears
https://www.deddybears.com/
Deddy Bears are a collection of plush figures with a bit of a spooky twist. Coming in different sizes (bag clip, 5.5-Inch Lil Coffin Dodgers, and 12-Inch Body Bag) the Deddy Bears line of figures feature classic horror monsters such as a vampire, zombie, ghost, skeleton, succubus, or sasquatch all wrapped up in a cute package. Deddy Bears recently released their second season. The 12-Inch Body Bag line comes with a Deddy Bag to let your Deddy Bear rest in peace in. Each Deddy Bear also comes with Autopsy report with the bears relevant information including Date of Death, Blood Type, and Probable Cause of Death such as Two-Fur falling down a chasm!
Sandoichis
https://thesandoichis.com/
Again sharing space with Deddy Bears was Sandoichis, another company with a line of plush figures. Sandochis though mix animals and sandwiches such as CookieMonium Scented plush.
Playmobil
http://www.playmobil.us/
Playmobil was playing a bit under the radar at Sweet Suite however they did have a pretty nice pirate set. While celebrating their 50th anniversary Playmobil has continued to commi to being more eco-friendly with sets made from at least 80% recycled material.
Exploding Kittens
https://www.explodingkittens.com/
While Exploding Kittens started as a successful Kickstarter project by Matthew Inman of The Oatmeal webcomic, Elan Lee and Shane Small the company has since gone on to create a multitude of games and expansions including Throw Throw Burrito, Poetry for Neanderthals, and Really Loud Librarians. The newest games shown off at Sweet Suite from the Exploding Kittens crew are Zombie Burrito a dodgeball card game where survivors team up against zombies, Let’s Hit Each Other With Fake Swords a card game where you settle disputes with squishy Swords and Exploding Kittens Catchables a collectible toy-tossing game.
Pokémon
https://www.pokemon.com/us
Unlike last year’s Sweet Suite the Pokémon companies focus was mainly on their trading card game and the release of the Scarlet & Violet Stellar Crown series which is set to launch September 13. There was also a showcase of the My First Battle set which provides everything young trainers need to learn the game as well as Battle Academy a beginner board game also for dipping your toes into the Pokémon trading card game.
Jumbo Group/Hitster
https://jumboplay.com/
https://hitstergame.com/
Jumbo Group the makers of Hitster the party game, a song identifying party game also had a revamped Stratego Classic game they were showing off. This new version or Stratego can be played like the original game or you add the new battle cards to speed up gameplay by letting you try ambitious moves, launch surprise attacks and bolster your defences; a new twist of a classic game.
Just Play
https://justplayproducts.com/
The newest line-up in the Just Play Disney Doorables line is Pixel Perfect. The first series of 50 pixelated figures range across the Disney universe. Another new reveal was the Doorables Micro Motion figures featuring classic Disney characters which feature some limited movement when a key is inserted into the base.
Wow Wee
https://wowwee.com/
Wow Wee is continuing their Fingerlings line which grab onto your fingers, record and play secret messages or they will just repeat sounds around them. For the fall Wow Wee is introduction their Baby Axolotl which will tell you your mood (similar to older mood rings) and can even swim in water. Look out for two version of this figure one with a mini-inflatable pool and one without!
