Fisher-Price's reptile is operated by remote control, slithers forward, recoils and has a striking action. Even the pet-like Telletubbies now talk and sing when their tummies are pressed. More high-tech temptations are on the way to retail stores for the Christmas season. Mattel has some key copyright licences, giving it the right to make dolls, sell action figures and high-tech toys based on the hugely successful Harry Potter children's book series, which is currently being made into a movie. They include Rescue Heroes VoiceTech figures with light-up backpacks that lets them say hundreds of rescue phrases in the voices of the animated cartoon series.
Kids can complete the missions while learning about the lunar surface.
Silverlit Toys is offering TurboZ TranZformers, toy racing cars which can perform 16 actions by remote control via a built-in keypad or through a bundled radio remote. Even real pets now can have electronic playmates to ease separation anxieties or keep them from clawing the furniture. Pet Talk Voicekins has produced virtual stuffed animals for pets in shapes of fire hydrants, milk bottles, kittens, dogs, moose and lobsters. Manufacturer Idotnet says owners can record a message that is activated when the pet touches the toy. The race is on to see which of the new entries will capture the kids' fancy, not to mention their parents' and grandparents' dollars, during the Christmas season.