JoyLabz had perhaps the oddest display among the robotics/electronics startups: Makey Makey was demonstrated using a piece of tin foil folded on a table, with hand-written marker instructions, and five bananas with connector leads in them hooked up to a laptop. However, unlike LEGO, which reinvented itself (and came back from the walking dead) through licensing, Melissa & Doug hews true to its origins even if distribution has expanded to mass, education stores, and more. The company used to eschew licensing, but has some Disney and other properties. The expansion of Melissa & Doug, once exclusive to specialty toy retail, is nothing short of astounding. Commonwealth and Spin Master are also working Angry Birds in anticipation of that film. UniversalвЂ™s Secret Life of Pets clearly has momentum, though, with Spin MasterвЂ™s Best Friend Max wobbly-walking dog from that upcoming film a candidate for next ChristmasвЂ™s must-have toy (Elmo beware). I was surprised not to see more new Minions on the boards, as retail is still going strong with that as well. Marvel is Marvel, DC is DC, and theyвЂ™re next in line. Manufacturers uniformly report that Star Wars is still going gangbusters, and many are still developing new assortments. The creator of the Spin Master BB-8, Thomas Tretter, was doing the product demos, happily admitting he вЂњgets paid to do what he did as a kid.вЂќ Also via Spin Master, Air Hogs will have an expanded Star Wars line.Д«ut SW was ubiquitous, if anything moreso than even last year and eclipsing even the strongest of the strong. Sphero will have competition for its BB-8 later this year when Spin Master brings out its own version of the robot. Star Wars isnвЂ™t disappearing any time soon.

Here are my idiosyncratic impressions after two days walking the show at the Javits Center, with a few added comments based on a recent spate of store visits. ThatвЂ™s where many of the start-ups and smaller players are and where you get a sense of the ideas that are propelling toy inventors and designers. NEW YORK, NY: FEBRUARY 16, 2016-My favorite parts of Toy Fair are invariably the far aisles on the main floor upstairs and the downstairs exhibits.

Spin master bb 8