Mattel, Inc. Showcases their Hottest Toys

Mattel, Inc. Showcases the Hottest Toys in the Industry At Toy Fair 2001 in New York City! The Premiere Toy Company Highlights the Best of the Best In Family Entertainment Products
Want to know what hot toys will be topping kids' wish lists throughout the year, and especially next holiday season? The world's number one toy manufacturer show kicks off Toy Fair 2001 today, unveiling what kids (and parents) will be clamoring for in the months to come. Continuing its long-standing tradition of bringing the most innovative and compelling toys to the marketplace, today Mattel, Inc. (NYSE: MAT) and its Fisher-Price division will introduce new products that incorporate hot trends with the latest technology and traditional creative and imaginative play at this year's 2001 American International Toy Fair.

A few highlights of the products to be demonstrated at the Mattel showroom include:

• BARBIE(R) doll will gracefully slip into the Sugarplum Princess' ballet slippers and present a performance of the Nutcracker like none ever seen before. For the first time ever in the history of the Brand, Barbie will star in a feature-length motion-capture CGI video – Barbie in the Nutcracker. This exclusive adaptation of the holiday classic combines what girls love -- ballet and fantasy, with modern messages of self-reliance and self-confidence, showing girls that anything is possible. With scenes choreographed exclusively for her by Peter Martins, Ballet Master In Chief for the New York City Ballet, Barbie provides girls with a rich experience for girls. Barbie in the Nutcracker will have a "supporting cast" of characters – including Barbie as the Sugarplum Princess and Ken as Prince Eric who dance together on an exclusive dance stand, accessories and a beautiful book featuring this engaging tale that will inspire a new generation of girls -- and be passed down for generations to come!
• Barbie(R), the most famous fashion doll in the world, is making her debut on the music scene in 2001. Always on the beat, JAM N' GLAM(TM) BARBIE(R) Christie(R) and Theresa(R) dolls are topping the charts as the latest craze on the rock scene. These super-chic music mavens steal the show with their hot rock star styles, groovy styles, funky hair extensions and headset mic.
• WHAT'S HER FACE(TM) Fashion Activity doll is set to redefine the way girls play with fashion dolls. With new cool features never before seen in the Small Doll category, What's Her Face allows girls to customize the doll, literally creating and personalizing their own fashion mavens. Combining the hottest trend -- crafts -- with the most popular play patterns for girls -- hair, fashion and make-up design --What's Her Face brings a world of extreme styling and creative activities to girls.
• Every cool diva deserves a pet, and the new DIVA PETZ(TM) assortment is doggone purr-fect! These plush pets -- both a dog and a cat --communicate with girls in fun, humorous conversation that will make them a girl's best friend since they actually recognize your voice and respond with loving and humorous phrases while their lips light up. The best friends of last season's runaway hit, the Diva Starz, these pets are paws-itively the coolest!
• The MIRACLE MOVES BABY(TM) is the only life-like baby doll with proprietary realistic, baby-soft skin and real movements and sounds. This newborn doll features amazing technology that truly brings her beautiful, angelic face alive for girls. She can blink her eyes, fall asleep and even "suck" her thumb or bottle!
• Mattel is bringing Harry Potter's magical world to life with a new friend for kids, Roarin' Snorin' Norbert, from the creator of Furby. Norbert, a newly hatched baby dragon comes to life before your eyes with incredible realistic motion and sounds -- he even responds to a child's touch. Roarin' Snorin' Norbert is truly a child's ultimate pet dragon.
• As the Survivor phenomenon continues, Mattel is back with the AUSTRALIAN OUTBACK SURVIVOR(TM) GAME, which allows fans to experience the excitement of the second Survivor event in their own living rooms. This adaptation, which is the only adult game to replicate the reality-based television program, encourages team participation and individual strategic play with the ultimate goal of survival. To win, players must outwit, outlast, and outplay their fellow teammates in order to declare themselves THE ultimate survivor.
• As the cool, hip action sports superhero, Max Steel loves in-line skating and he doesn't just cruise with the JET SKATER(TM) RADIO CONTROL FIGURE he takes it to the maximum speed! Infused with N-Tek(TM) strength, Max Steel can now lean into each turn, do jumps and spins and power through a variety of other cool tricks that kids will love.
• Only BUILD AND BLAST(TM) AIR ROCKET allows kids to invent a cool transformable air-powered rocket just like Jimmy Neutron does for his adventures in the upcoming Nickelodeon theatrical release, "Jimmy Neutron: Boy Genius." Kids can build and re-assemble their air rocket for four different modes of play. Jimmy's best friend and robotic dog Goddard "comes to life" as every kid's sidekick with the DELUXE REMOTE CONTROLLED GODDARD, which can perform actions from the movie as well as deliver emotion and personality reactions on demand.
• 2001 marks the 35th Anniversary of this classic brand, and now ROCK 'EM SOCK 'EM(TM) ROBOTS better than ever! Mattel's line up of action figures, handheld game, video game and classic arena game can do more than just knock your block off. The action figures can be customized and maximized in a variety of combinations to create hours of fun. With the Rock 'em Socket(TM) Wrench, kids can customize their robots easily either with just one robot or by combining them all -- parts from all robots are interchangeable! The Deluxe Figures also include more gear and gadgets so each fighter's punch is unique and exciting.
• As it celebrates its 30th Anniversary, UNO once again stays in-tune with 'N Sync UNO(R) card game that combines America's #1 brand of family games with one of today's most popular boy bands. This special UNO(R) game features collectible cards with images of the band members and an exclusive re-mixed track on a promotional CD from 'N Sync.
• It's all about speed, power and performance, and the wheels spin faster than ever this year with cool cars and exciting playsets. Hot Wheels, the number one selling toy year-after-year, take on a red-hot meteor that has just crashed into Earth with FIREBALL(TM) RACEWAY. Kids use the feed-in mechanism and Power Charger(R) booster to blast cars ne-by-one into the nine high-speed, explosive crash zones. No matter where the smoke is coming from, RESCUE NET(TM) MAP & GO(TM) FIRE TRUCK can find the fire! Firefighting kids simply draw the route on the grid and the truck is instantly dispatched to the emergency location using the map directions to guide them. TYCO R/C puts the junior driver in the driver's seat with a cool, new line of radio control vehicles with easy-to-use functions.
• MR. WINKLE, that lovable canine with his own pin-up calendar is now more than just a pretty picture, he's a huggable, squeezable, lovable plush toy that responds with one of three unique sounds when cuddled or petted. Each toy features a mechanical tongue that replicates Mr. Winkle's trademark tongue, which in real life, is too big for his mouth. Now that's cute!

Building on the phenomenal success of Fisher-Price Brands in 2000, the leading company in the Infant and Preschool toy category continues to bring excitement and wholesome play to toys, along with all the favorite characters preschoolers know and love.

• PIXTER is the first digital creativity system that puts a world of software-based creativity in the palm of a child's hand. This hand-held LCD screen, with stylus and special function keys (including sound!) allows children to create countless pictures, change them around, add special effects and even save them for later.
• Celebrating his fifth anniversary, TICKLE ME(R) ELMO SURPRISE is back and more ticklish than ever. Soft, plush Elmo is now ticklish in five places, but only one makes him shake and roar with hysterical laughter, and kids have to find just the right spot. The real fun is that the spot changes every time so kids will never know for sure where it is! Elmo says lots of fun phrases and is ticklish under his arms, in his feet and tummy.
• The A.R.C.C. - AQUATIC RESCUE COMMAND CENTER is an aquatic-themed command center that is the ultimate Rescue Heroes headquarters, where exciting missions are played by Commander Warren Waters, through audio and visual transmission. The Aquatic Command Center allows any Rescue Heroes Voice Tech figure to be connected to the center for interactive play, and features a helicopter pad, jet runway, boat dock, warning lights, sounds and more.
• Look out, Goofy's getting behind the wheel in his new RC GOOFY JALOPY. Featuring an easy-to-use remote control and a unique jiggling action, kids will laugh as they send Goofy on a wild ride. Goofy says lots of fun phrases as his jalopy shakes, jiggles and spins out of control!
• Learning the alphabet is fun and easy with the new large, interactive ABC POSTER. With the simple touch of a finger, children can discover and learn through four different learning modes with the help of Elmo, Big Bird and Ernie.
• LIGHTNING PAC (Powered Action Cycle) from Power Wheels is the first battery-powered scooter for kids -- and it's a blast to ride. With super cool styling, Lightning PAC can be used to motor around favorite places or as a free-wheeling scooter. The direct drive power system brings the rider up to speed gradually, and quietly, to 6.5 miles per hour. Maximum driver weight is 150 lbs.

SOURCE Mattel, Inc. www.prnewswire.com