Gifts
Christmas Childrens Toys
By Ewan Sanderson
Nov 26, 2004, 11:02

Believe it or not Christmas really is just around the corner! If you are wondering what wonderful gifts to buy the kids, then you might be surprised to learn that the once infamous, Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles are in the top 10 on a list of predicted best-selling Christmas toys.

Back in the 80's the US comic-based turtles brought martial art mayhem to our screens in the form of cartoons, computer games and even a movie or two. Of course, the spin-off toys became all the rage, and now they're back, redesigned and repackaged for today's youngsters.

We must have toughened up over the nineties. First time around the, 'Ninja Turtles' were renamed the 'Hero Turtles', in order to satisfy concerned watchdog groups and parents that the green, pizza-loving mutants weren't going to transform little Billy into a kick-fighting killer. No such worries now, as the turtles return to our shores in all their ninja glory.

But it is not only Donatello and company, who are making a comeback. Other old favourites to look out for include, Barbie (complete with a new Swan Lake outfit), He-Man, My Little Pony, Care Bears and Transformers, all of whom are in the predicted top 50.

According to the British Association of Toy Retailers (BATR), who compiled the list, this theme of recurring trends is not unusual. "Like fashion, the popularity of toys goes in cycles", says Val Stedham, chairman of the BATR.

"Brands are important but the success of a toy relies on its 'playability'. So it's not surprising that those which thrilled children 20 years ago can still appeal to kids today."

No. 3 on the top ten list is another variation on an old theme. The Beyblades Radio Control Top and Launcher relies on the traditional spinning top as its basis; a toy children were enjoying hundreds of years before "Cowabunga" ever entered the common lexicon.