Toy Fair Opens To The Public With PLAY FAIR 2016

[JeffSaylor]

Show Allows Fans Into The Building For the First Time...

The New York Toy Fair is over 100-years-old, but it has never been open to the public. This year, though, the makers of Toy Fair are excited to open the doors to Play Fair - an official companion show allowing fans into the building for the first time.

Play Fair, presented by LEGO and Nickelodeon, is a celebration of toys, games, and entertainment for collectors, families, and fans. Debuting at New York City’s Javits Center on February 13-14, 2016, the event recently unveiled its official mascot figure (pictured above), a collaboration between toy industry veterans and a cornerstone of the event’s exclusive offerings for pop culture fans. Play Fair is organized by the Toy Industry Association and LeftField Media and features brands including Hasbro, Mattel, Cartoon Network, Bandai, Marvel, Midtown Comics, Toy Tokyo, Toys”R”Us, and Warner Bros.

The Play Fair mascot figure’s original design comes from Paul Petyo, artist behind the Play Fair logo, and was modeled by Michael DeFeo, a designer whose credits include Despicable Me and Ice Age. The production was overseen by Brett Klisch, a toy maker with over 20 years in the toy industry. The final figure is cute, posable, and expressive – a fit for everyone from kids, moms, and dads to the designer toy collector.

Play Fair’s mascot figure currently lacks a name, and fans can submit their recommendations now in an online competition. Play Fair attendees will be able to take home two different versions of the figure at the inaugural event - a CYO (Create Your Own) Blank Edition and a 2016 Edition in the Play Fair logo’s colors of purple and green. The CYO Edition is limited to 4,000 pieces and the 2016 Edition is limited to 1,000. Both will sell for $20 at the Play Fair Show Store.

Further, Play Fair has teamed up with NYC’s Toy Tokyo gallery and toy store to present a collection of special, customized figures from some of the biggest artists in the toy world. Lev Levarek, Toy Tokyo’s founder, curated the selection, which includes Peter Kato, Joohee Park, Dave Cortez, P.H.A.S.E.2, David Healey, Sucklord, UNBOX, and Nathan Jurevicius. Following Play Fair, the customs will be on display at Toy Tokyo, and they’ll ultimately be sold to benefit the Toy Industry Foundation.

Additional Play Fair features sure to appeal to collectors and pop culture fans...

• Take in episodes of Marvel’s Ultimate Spider-Man: Web-Warriors and Marvel’s Guardians of the Galaxy
• Comic creators Art Baltazar, Franco Aureliani, Abby Denson, Dave Roman, Matt Loux, and Misako Rocks! sketch and sign their books in the Aw Yeah Artist Alley
• Meet Miraculous Ladybug and Cat Noir live on stage
• Play with the latest NERF blasters in a massive NERF Arena
• LEGO Master Builder Erik Varszegi presents insider tips on creating LEGO masterpieces
• Watch Cartoon Network’s We Bare Bears and Teen Titans Go! on a massive movie screen
• Get an up close look at a life-size Batmobile from the new movie Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice
• Toy Tokyo brings a Dorbz Ridez Batman ’66 Blue Batmobile with Batman Exclusive from Funko to Play Fair. The Blue Batmobile is $40, available in limited quantities, and will be for sale only at the Toy Tokyo Booth.
• Pose for photos with the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, Saban’s Power Rangers Dino Super Charge, and SpongeBob SquarePants in Play Fair’s Meet & Greets
• Join Hasbro for the ultimate lightsaber training session! With the help of the Empire Saber Guild, get a hands-on learning experience about lightsaber forms and techniques just like you see in the movies
• Shop the Play Fair Show Store powered by Midtown Comics for new, unique, and hard-to-find toys
• Take your Play Fair badge to destinations around NYC including the Star Wars and the Power of Costume Exhibition, the Intrepid Museum, the American Museum of Natural History, the LEGO Store, and Midtown Comics for special discounts and exclusive offers

Play Fair tickets can be purchased now at www.playfairny.com and at select retailers including Midtown Comics and Toy Tokyo. Tickets start at $30, and those looking to guarantee a mascot figure can upgrade to a VIP Package - which provides access for a full weekend at Play Fair as well as the collectible figure. Tickets are selling quickly and expected to sell out.

“We’re honored by all the amazing personalities and brands who’ll be part of the very first Play Fair” said Greg Topalian, President of LeftField Media. “And we’re terribly excited to debut our mascot figure - heightening the celebration with the birth of a brand new toy!”

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