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Your Guide to Action Figures.
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The International Toy Fair in New York City is where toy manufacturers, buyers, trade guests, and media converge each year to learn about what toys are going to be released in the coming year. To the general public, Toy Fair is an interesting convention that’s not open to the public that shows how far toys have come over the years. But to action figure collectors, Toy Fair is perhaps the most important event of the year.

Each year, almost every major action figure manufacturer reveals what the plans for the next year include. And for the most part, the action figures that are announced and shown during the course of Toy Fair are being seen for the very first time. Essentially, Toy Fair almost always dictates how action figure collectors will spend their collectibles budget for the coming year.

Toy Fair’s biggest announcements almost always come in the form of licenses. Movies are especially important in determining what action figures appear on toy shelves in the coming year. By February, the movie release calendar has been mapped out, and toy companies are ready with action figures to support the major blockbusters of the coming year, especially during the summer. Toy Fair also tends to reveal key characters and storylines in movies, even more so than a typical theatrical trailer.

There’s also innovation. While technological advancements in toys are perhaps the most reported aspects of Toy Fair, action figure collectors are always more interested in how action figures are able to evolve each year. Whether its articulation, sculpting, accessories, vehicles, playsets, or interactivity, Toy Fair is usually the best indication of how far action figures have come.

Toy Fair is not open to the public, so the media plays an especially important role in getting images and information about all of the coming year’s action figures. Even before the internet, publications like Lee’s Toy Review, Tomart’s Action Figure Digest, and Toyfare Magazine diligently followed Toy Fair, dedicating multiple issues each year to coverage. In recent years, the internet has also contributed a lot to Toy Fair coverage. Between print and internet coverage, collectors get an in-depth view of Toy Fair so complete that it’s almost like being at the convention.

Be sure to check out about.com’s coverage of the International Toy Fair! Most companies will be covered, so be sure to take advantage of the thorough reporting and easy-to-navigate image galleries!