Squaredy Cats at Toy Fair 2011

I think we forgot to post this. We found it on parrygamepreserve.com. See their post on Gund showing Squaredy Cats at Toy Fair 2011 or check the direct link on YouTube :)

They introduce Squaredy Cats just after 5:55...

Toy Fair 2010

As usual, we've been so busy, I haven't had a chance to comment on the recent Toy Fair. We have to be careful about what we say since everything there is pretty much somebody's top secret. If we were "press" I'm sure we would be allowed to divulge some of the secrets we saw, but since we share a place in the industry as toy designers and licensors we must respect the wishes of who we talked to about what we witnessed.

This may have been our most important Toy Fair yet because we are working on designing Squaredy Cats with [undisclosed plush company], and we had a meeting with our agents and [undisclosed plush company] to view the most recent samples they've made. We were thrilled with how they look, and we can't wait to show you images of the actual products once they're made. We should have plush Squaredy Cats in stores this October along with some other fun items.

It's also always exciting to see products we had a hand in designing that show up at Toy Fair or in the stores. Typically it can take up to two years to see a final product on something we designed or helped design. Usually, by the time something shows up in public we hold back on announcing it because we feel we've grown so much artistically since the initial work was done. That might just be normal artist self-doubt.

One client that we work with was willing to allow us to photograph their booth. INI, Inc produces the game, I've Never… along with a few other titles and merchandise based on the I've Never brand. We've done quite a bit of work for them. Check out their games, and if you buy one of their items, tell'em we sent ya.

The INI Toy Fair booth with some of their titles, the I've Never…Game,

I've Never…Beer Pong, I've Never…Party Dice, the I've Never…Game for Kids.

Paperoni - pasta, present, future

The original Paper'oni logo we created.

Our apartment was filled with these Paper'oni boxes and jars while Elaine was developing uses for the craft product.

Elaine at the Happy Hands booth, Toy Fair 2008. Paper'oni was their featured product. Elaine designed all the packaging and banners.

It's always nice to see the fruits of your efforts drop to the earth so that the seeds plant new trees that grow before your eyes. Sometimes we miss the scope of what we've contributed to particular products, and sometimes we just have to patiently wait to see what comes up.
A few of years ago Elaine met a new client at Toy Fair. He hired Monkey Doodle Dandy to develop a new craft concept with him. We even provided a list of creative titles for the product, and Raymond Suskin, the inventor chose a name we brainstormed: Paper'oni. We knew immediately, based on his idea, and how we felt about the name that Raymond had a hit.

I designed the logo, and Elaine did most of the development; presentation boards, product illustrations, packaging, etc. We were both very proud when Raymond at Happy Hands told us his Paper'oni was doing well in other countries.

It seemed like it happened over night. One day last year, Elaine got a call from an unrelated client who hired her to develop their new license… Paper'oni! The product caught the eye of Spin Master, and coincidentally, Elaine helped develop the license for new product. More illustrations, and a slight change in the name (Paperoni without the apostrophe), and Spin Master has finally released Paperoni to market… and we can finally show it.

This Amazon link might not last forever so images are below.

Spin Master's first Paperoni item.
Elaine and I sketched and rendered concepts for the machine, and Elaine designed the 2-D and 3-D animals. This was one of the projects our friend, Nancy Sampson helped with.

See Nancy Sampson's website.

I've Never… at Toy Fair

Jay Vohra at the I’ve Never… booth.

Kurt never made it to Toy Fair this year, and Elaine didn’t have a camera with her when she visited Toy Fair at the Javitz Center in 2009. Jay Vohra was kind enough to forward us a picture of the INI booth where the new teen version of I’ve Never… was unveiled.
Monkey Doodle Dandy designed the board and packaging as well as the booth banner and podium.
Check out the game here.