2009 Hot Toys

Each year during the holidays, certain toys become the "I just gotta have it!" items.  Do you remember some of those "gotta have it" toys from your childhood?  For me, a radio flyer sled was high on the list, as was a growing hair Chrissy one year and a bike with an oh-so-cool banana seat!  The sled got years of use, as did the bike but the Chrissy doll was quickly forgotten. 

Each year, toy manufacturers try to figure out what those hot items are likely to be.  With the holidays only a couple of months off the lists for 2009 are coming out.  Toys-R-Us  has these toys on their top 25 list: (List is sorted by best-selling as of the date of this blog.)

1. Zhu Zhus - an electronic hamster with lots of accessories.  This is already a hot seller and is almost impossible to find except on Ebay and Amazon. 
2. Barbie Fashion Fever Fashionista doll - considering the collectibility of Barbie, it's not surprising she almost always makes the list.
3. Barbie Fashion Fever Disco Ball doll - we return to the 80s.
4. Moxie Girlz Jammaz doll
5. Liv Fashion doll
6. Scatterpillar Scramble - This preschool game looks like it might be fun for the little ones.
7. Leapfrog Text and Learn
8. Crayola Color Me A Song
9. Chixos Design A Loft
10. Playskool Chuck My Talking Truck - Not the first time this guy has made the list!
11. Original Tickle Me Elmo - Have to wonder if there will be that great a demand for this one.
12. Bakugan: Battle Brawlers with Naga Collector Ball and Exclusive Bonus Ravenoid & Manion In-Game for Nintendo DS (pre-order)
13. Bakugan: Battle Brawlers for Sony PS2 (pre-order)
14. 
    Nerf N-Strike Raider Rapid Fire CS-35 Blaster with 35 Darts
    
15. Mega Bloks Battle Strikers Tournament Set (29480)
    
16. Little Mommy Baby Ah-Choo - This was on last year's list.
    
17. Harumika - Runway Showstopper Set - design your own fashions!
    
18. Bakugan Battle Brawlers New Vestroia Maxus Helios 7-in-1 -  a TRU exclusive
    
19. Wii Sports Resort for Nintendo Wii
    
20. Bakugan: Battle Brawlers and Exclusive Bonus Ravenoid & Manion In-Game for Nintendo Wii
    
21. Fisher-Price Little Superstar Jammin' Band Musical Microphone
    
22. Bakugan: Battle Brawlers for Sony PS3/Xbox360
    
23. Fisher-Price Imaginext Dragon World Fortress Castle - I confess, I want to play with this one!
    
24. Matchbox Rocky the Robot Truck
    
25. MindFlex Mental Game
    

It's obvious from the list that TRU expects Bakugan to be a big seller.  It'll be interesting to see if they are right or not as the prices have come way down for this item at places such as Ebay and Amazon. Time was you'd see many of the Bakugan going for double and triple the money.  Now prices look to be similar to the store which should imply it is cooling as a hot collectible.  Personally, I'm betting the Zhu Zhu will be hot as well as the new Lego lines.  Any opinions on what will catch this year's toy buyers interests?