Annie, a new show in development by AGE, currently looking for licensing opportunities

Kahn spoke about the risks involved in bringing a European property into the US market (Mr. Men is a long-established series in France). There is the perception, he senses, that European properties are "softer." In the United States, "soft properties" aren't as successful. Kahn says that, "You have to be either very male-skewed (action/adventure) or very female-skewed; if it's neuter, it's too young and no one watches it. Mr. Men, although it's soft, both boys and girls can relate to a character." LCI's other animated series, Oscar's Orchestra, teaches children about music. Starring Dudley Moore as the voice of the show's hero, Oscar the Grand Piano, who along with his musical friends battle the evil dictator Thadius Vent, who is on a mission to rid the world of music. Oscar's debuted to in the US last fall, but with stronger promotion and 13 new episodes this season, the award-winning British series is looking for a stronger season. Toyfair presented an opportunity to meet with potential licensees. "What's good about Oscar's is if you look at everybody's toy lines, there's always musical instruments in those lines--generic instruments. With Oscar's, we give them an opportunity to put a real handle on a generic category.

So the big question is, How do you predict the next Tickle Me Elmo? I mean, who knew that a convulsing, hysterical red monster would cause such an uproar? Maybe I'm not a kid anymore, maybe it was all those men in suits, but the toys I liked the best were the well-made ones that looked like they might last. Give or take the occasional Cabbage Patch Snacktime Kid, most of the animation-related toys I saw were well designed and well crafted. The fact that there is a well-thought out story behind the merchandise makes it no wonder that toy manufacturers flock to these properties. I admit I want the Johnny Quest action figures by Galoob, just because they are so well made, maybe even a Sky Dancer or two. There is something very interesting about this period in animation, merchandising and marketing, and the fact that they cannot be divorced from each other. Will this trend continue? Despite the naysayers, the licensers that make their fortune from the next big property are willing to bet it will.

Well, even God was rewarded on the seventh day . . . At the end of my week of investigative reporting, I finally got to go to the showroom floor and saw all the toys. Row after delicious row of babies, frisbees, stickers, stampers, squiggly, glow-in-the dark, scare the pants off you TOYS! And I didn't even have to share.

Marcy Gardner currently works in the Children's Programming Department at WGBH, Boston where she answers Arthur's fanmail and is compiling a library of kid's ideas, art, films/videos, and projects for the new Zoom show. Previously, she worked on Sesame Street. Marcy would love to hear from anyone interested in Zoom and can be reached at: cruelladeville@msn.com.