Toy Award for "Hulk Hands"
The Sydney Morning Herald reports that the popular "Hulk Hands" movie toys have just won a top award... "Kids will soon be able to impersonate the Incredible Hulk, donning gloves - in the mould of the green giant's hands - which were named Toy of The Yea
Kids will soon be able to impersonate the Incredible Hulk, donning gloves - in the mould of the green giant's hands - which were named Toy of The Year today.
The massive rippling green hands are battery operated and when children slip them on, they make smash 'n' bash noises reminiscent of the 1970s television series.
Managing director of distributor Funtastic, David Hendy, accepted the award for the Electronic Hulk Hands, which have been launched as part of a range of toys and action figures celebrating the new movie, The Hulk, starring Australia's Eric Bana.
Former AFL Geelong footballer Billy Brownless presented Mr Hendy with the award at the Australian Toy Fair at Melbourne's Exhibition Centre.
"They're soft - every little kid wants to ..." Mr Hendy began to explain, before Brownless interrupted with "belt and punch".
But Mr Hendy insisted the toy - which also won Toy of the Year in the Boys category - made from soft foam and retailing for about $40, would not hurt anyone.
On the other side of the auditorium a more placid toy also captured the judge's interest, taking out Toy of the Year in the Girls category.
Furreal Cats are life-like felines which purr when patted and hiss when their tails are pulled.
Responding to touch, the "animals" even move their heads and paws just like real cats.
A spokeswoman for manufacturer Hasbro, Megan Howard, said the original prototype for Furreal friends - a dog called GoGo - begs, wags his tail and eventually, with a few modifications, will learn not to run into the couch.
Meanwhile, Alan Hassenfeld, chairman of Hasbro Inc. - a $3 billion international toy company - believes the business is more than making money.
"For a while after 9/11 I questioned whether what we do is meaningful and then I realised that ... we're the ones that bring smiles to kids of all ages around the world," he told AAP.
"And one of my passions, and since I run the company it's a dominant passion, is social responsibility and giving back."
And it's not just rhetoric. Among it's many philanthropic projects, Hasbro has built a children's hospital in the United States and has acquired land in Afghanistan to set up a women's resource centre.
Mr Hassenfeld, whose grandfather started the company 80 years ago, says toys of the future will include human-like action figures, paper batteries and talking Play-Doh.
"Whenever you dream in our business, I honestly believe you can make a reality," he said.