A Spectacled Owl gets acquainted with HEXBUG through a review of the HEXBUG Spider.

A Spectacled Owl HEXBUG Review

“Many times when we have been in the toy aisle at Target, my kids have noticed the HexBug’s.  I honestly had no idea what they were or why they would be considered fun.  However, we (and I say we because I played too!) had the privilege to get one of the HexBug Spiders to review.  You would have thought it was Christmas up in here!  They begged me over & over again to open it and could hardly wait for me to take the pictures I needed for this review (“Mooooom!  Are you done YET?”  “Mooooooom, can we play with it NOW?”)”

Read the full review at: A Spectacled Owl

Innovation First and Target teamed up to create a one-of-a-kind Hexapillar gift card. Innovation First Labs President, Chris Troyak, spoke with editors from the online magazine, A Bullseye View, to talk details about the joint venture. Read on to learn more!

If you have a hard time wrapping your head around exactly what is Target’s latest card-meets-toy, it’s probably because you’ve never seen anything like it before.

An impressive addition to Target’s 2,000+ gift card archive, the Hexapillar gift card is a curiously crawly robotic caterpillar that does more than just crawl—it flies. The gift card/bug is a creative collaboration between the design teams at Target and HEXBUG, which specializes in micro robotic creatures (they even won the renowned Specialty Toy of the Year award at the 2012 Toy of The Year Awards!).

Derived from the HEXBUG Nano—the tiny autonomous robotic critter that behaves like a real bug—the Hexapillar features a caterpillar that transforms into a butterfly. Two gifts in one? We’ll take it! The one-of-a-kind gift card launched in stores last week and can be found in the stationery, toys and electronics department until the end of the year.

Founded on the belief that innovation is necessary very early in the design process to produce simple and elegant product designs, the HEXBUG robot family is the brainchild of Innovation First Labs, a leader of robotic toys. To get the full scoop on the one-of-a-kind Hexapillar card, we caught up with Innovation First Labs President Chris Troyak to talk details.

Read the full post at A Bullseye View

Mom with a dot com had the chance to test and review the HEXBUG Nano Glows in the Dark Habitat Set.  Here are her thoughts:

Hexbugs are such a great item! My family is very much into innovation, electronics, physics and just how things work. These miniature robotic bugs were such a hit with all of us (yes, even us adults). They have such an assortment to choose from: crabs, inchworms, ants, nanos, spiders, larva and the scarab. They also offer habitats for these little robotic creatures to play around in.

Read the full review at Mom with a dot com.

The HEXBUG Nano was recently featured on Pocketfuls’ blog:

Before you think I’ve lost my mind, I should clarify that I’m now talking about HEXBUG Nano, small robotic toy creatures that behave in some ways like real insects.  The habitat I’m referring to was built by Noah and Will for their  HEXUG Nanos (which are the smallest of the HEXBUG family), and I wanted to share it with you because I think it’s a fantastic toy.

Read the full post at Pocketfuls.

Toy insider Laurie Schacht shares her favorite Easter gifts for kids, and the HEXBUG Nano Easter Edition is one of them!

View the video here.

DadDoes.com has featured the HEXBUG Nano Zip Line Starter Set:

HEXBUG toys are very popular with kids today. In fact the HEXBUG Habitat has won a Toy of the Year (TOTY) for the last two consecutive years. Now, the HEXBUG Nano gets a little more daring with the addition of the HEXBUG Nano Zip Line Starter Set.

The Zip Line set allows Nano HEXBUGs to wear a special clip on backpack and then slide down a zipline. The great part is, one does not need to put the Nano on the zip line or take him off, it all happens automatically. When the HEXBUG reaches a zip line, it just clips to the line and slides down. When it reaches the bottom, it just slides right off the zip line.

Read the full post at DadDoes.com

The Sweet Pea Saving blog has a review and giveaway of the HEXBUG Nano Easter Edition:

It’s that time of year again! Shopping for fun things to put in Easter Baskets is underway.

Kids LOVE Hexbugs, and these cute holiday themed bugs are a GREAT addition to any basket.

Read the full post and get details at Sweet Pea Saving’s blog.

Miki’s Hope recently reviewed the HEXBUG Nano Easter Edition:

Kids LOVE Hexbugs, and these cute holiday themed bugs are a GREAT addition to any basket. They come in many different colors and are in cute eggs (normally they come in tubes).

Read the full post and get information on a review at Miki’s Hope.

The HEXBUG Lava was recently reviewed by Mama Chocolate:

I was impressed with how fast they move, and that they work on carpet and hard surfaces. The Larva does exactly what it says it should: it wiggles and slithers and avoids obstacles without needing to touch them.

Read the full review at Mama Chocolate’s blog.

Over at The Kostiuk Crew, the Glows in the Dark Nano Habitat Set was reviewed:

This Habitat includes everything you need to build your own HEXBUG Nano Habitat. My kids where seriously not even able to stand still while we opened up the box. The looked like little jumping beans with smiles on their faces from one side to the other. The all helped to build the set. Turn off the lights and Ha if you could of only heard all of the giggles and awes coming from them. I was more than happy!

Read the full review at The Kostiuk Crew’s blog.

New York, NY | February 11, 2012 – More than five hundred toy industry executives and guests from around the globe gathered in New York City tonight to honor their peers at the 12th annual Toy of the Year (TOTY) Awards and Hall of Fame induction ceremony.

A Toy Industry Association (TIA)-administered event in support of the Toy Industry Foundation, the glittering gala held in Alice Tully Hall at Lincoln Center kicked off the 109th American International Toy Fair and paid tribute to today’s superstars, tomorrow’s bright up-and-comers and illustrious toy industry icons.

Interspersed with the presentations of twelve TOTY Awards were two inductions into the Toy Industry Hall of Fame:  Arnie Rubin, Founder and CEO of Funrise Toy, and the late Frederick August Otto Schwarz, founder of FAO Schwarz.  The new inductees join a distinguished roster of nearly 60 toy industry luminaries who have been inducted into the Hall since its establishment in 1985.

“Tonight’s event was a wonderful way to celebrate the launch of Toy Fair week and recognize the absolute best in toys and children’s entertainment,” said Carter Keithley, TIA president. “Thanks to the outstanding work of the talented individuals and innovative companies honored tonight, kids around the world are brought joy each day through play!”

Award winners were selected with the input of consumers (on ToyAwards.org), retailers (mass and specialty), media and members of the toy industry.  The five ballots – open from November 21, 2011 to January 15, 2012 – were weighted and used to determine the category winners as well as the overall “Toy of the Year” award.

LeapPad™ Explorer by LeapFrog Enterprises, Inc. received the coveted “Toy of the Year” title and was awarded Educational Toy of the Year and Preschool Toy of the Year.  The awards program included 77 finalists across the 11 categories.

And the winners are…

• Recognizing an outstanding toy that inspires creative play through various forms of activity, the Activity Toy of the Year was presented to LEGO® NINJAGO Fire Temple by LEGO Systems, Inc.
  
• Recognizing an outstanding toy developed for boys of any age, the Boy Toy of the Year was presented to Hot Wheels ® Wall Tracks ™ by Mattel, Inc.
• Recognizing an outstanding toy that helps children develop special skills and knowledge through play, the Educational Toy of the Year was presented to LeapPad™ Explorer by LeapFrog Enterprises, Inc.
  
• Recognizing an outstanding children’s board, card, CD-ROM or electronic game, the Game of the Year was presented to Angry Birds Knock On Wood Game by Mattel, Inc.
  
• Recognizing an outstanding toy developed for girls of any age, the Girl Toy of the Year was presented to Fijit Friends™ Interactive Figures by Mattel / Radica®.
• Recognizing an outstanding toy developed for infants and toddlers up to 36 months, the Infant/Toddler Toy of the Year was presented to Elefun Busy Ball Popper by Hasbro / Playskool.
• Recognizing an outstanding toy that combines innovation and play value, the Innovative Toy of the Year was presented to Hot Wheels ® Wall Tracks ™ by Mattel, Inc.
• Recognizing an outstanding toy that is designed for outdoor play, the Outdoor Toy of the Year was presented toRockboard® Scooter – Mini by M.Y. Products LLC.
• Recognizing an outstanding toy developed for preschool-aged children (ages 3-5) the Preschool Toy of the Year was presented to LeapPad™ Explorer by LeapFrog Enterprises, Inc.
• Recognizing a property that has had the greatest success spreading its brand throughout the industry, Property of the Yearwas presented to Angry Birds™ by Rovio Entertainment Ltd/ Striker Entertainment (Licensing Agent).
  
• Recognizing an outstanding toy that is distributed primarily through specialty toy retailers, the Specialty Toy of the Year was presented to HEXBUG® Nano® Hive TM Habitat Set by Innovation First Labs, Inc.

Descriptions of each TOTY-nominated toy and links to each manufacturer’s website can be found online at ToyAwards.org. The finalists were selected from nearly 600 products and properties submitted for consideration. Nomination committees comprised of academics, journalists & toy trend experts, play therapists, toy inventors & designers, and toy retailers narrowed the field to the slate of 77 finalists.

Event sponsors for the evening were JAKKS Pacific, Inc. (diamond level), PlaSmart, Inc. and York-Jersey Underwriters (gold level) and Dallas Market Center (silver level).

For more information, please visit ToyAwards.org or the Toy Industry Hall of Fame website.
About the Toy Industry Association (TIA)  (www.toyassociation.org)
TIA is the not-for-profit trade association for producers and importers of toys and youth entertainment products sold in North America, representing 550 companies who account for approximately 85% of domestic toy sales.  Toy safety is the number one priority for the toy industry. TIA has a long history of leadership in toy safety including development of the first comprehensive toy safety standard more than 30 years ago, and working with government, consumers and industry on ongoing programs to ensure safe and fun play.

About the Toy Industry Foundation   (www.toyindustryfoundation.org)
While other organizations provide food, shelter and support services to children and their families, the Toy Industry Foundation sees to it that these children have toys and opportunities to play in an attempt to restore both fun and a sense of normalcy to their lives. The Foundation currently fulfills its mission through core programs including The Toy Bank™ and grants to organizations whose missions are in line with that of the Toy Industry Foundation.

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