December 10, 2001. Copyright, 2001, Graphic News. All rights reserved

Movie magic tops Christmas lists
By Julie Mullins

LONDON, December 10, Graphic News:  TIE-INS to the two major films competing for the Christmas market, ÒHarry Potter and the PhilosopherÕs StoneÓ and ÒLord of the RingsÓ, abound this year. Vivid Imaginations offers some of the better Harry Potter plush toys on the market, Hagrid and Hedwig the owl being among their top sellers (£14.99 and £11.99 respectively). Lego also has a good Potter range, with kits ranging from a simple sorting hat at £4.99, ideal as a stocking filler, to the sophisticated Hogwarts Express and Hogwarts Castle (£44.99 and £79.99 respectively) for eight-year-olds and upwards.

No doubt hoping to repeat the success of last yearÕs must-have, the micro-scooter, 2001 sees the return of the humble pogo stick -- popular since 1919 but now revamped as a hydraulic version. The Jajambo is available in two funky colour combinations, Brilliant Blue and Vibrant Red, and adjusts to three different heights to suit all ages and levels of competence. Simpy assembled, Jajambo is a solid and good-looking toy and thoroughly good value at around £20.00.

Capturing the kidsÕ attention at a recent British toyfair was a range of astonishingly lifelike scale models of household appliances from Casdon, including vacuum cleaners, cookers, mixers etc. The electronic washer (£19.99) was voted one of the best by my 12-year-old companion. Requiring three C batteries, it features spin and wash sounds, a spinning drum, on/off light, opening powder drawer, wash basket and washing powder carton. And it was particularly pleasing to note that these toys appealed to all children present, regardless of gender! 

Staying in the kitchen, budding chefs and those with a sweet tooth will enjoy the Candy Floss Machine (£29.99 from General Creation). Just add white granulated sugar and 30 seconds later kids can enjoy their own freshly-made, sticky, spun confection. 

Boys from six to 60 will love NikkoÕs glossy, high-performance Evolution range, which takes the once-humble toy car into a different generation. A range of high-energy rally cars at 1/14th scale includes the Mitsubishi Lancer, Opel Astra, Subaru Impreza, Peugeot 206, Renault Maxi Megane and Citroen Xsara, all in true-to-life racing livery and with full digital proportional speed and steering control, front and rear suspension, interchangeable crystals allowing up to six wave bands, plus speed and steering trims on transmitter. Other models are available in 1/24th, 1/16th, and 1/10th scales, with prices ranging from £16.99 to £99.99 depending on scale.

The new range of HitClips from Tiger Electronics are guaranteed to be a smash hit with the kids this Christmas. These are tiny MP3 players playing one-minute mixes from big-name artists, with other titles to collect. The electronic chips cost £3.99 each and can be played on either the HitClips Personal Player (£7.99) or the HitClips Boombox (£9.99). And if you get fed up with your 60 seconds of DestinyÕs Child or S Club 7, you can plug a HitClips FM Cartridge (£7.99) into your player and tune into any FM radio station.

Tiger is also big on Harry Potter, with an imaginative range of electronic games. A personal organiser doubles as HarryÕs Book of Spells (£24.99), on which The Sorting Hat game allocates you to one of the four Hogwarts houses once you have answered the questions on screen. The Quidditch broomstick (£34.99) extends to 4 feet (1.2 metres) and is an interactive flying game with an LCD screen in the handle that displays all the virtual action while you aim to capture the Golden Snitch. Or you can counter the evil Voldemort by casting spells with your very own wand, the Magic Spell Challenge (£19.99). Again fully interactive, you press four coloured buttons on the wand to perform your spells.

Inevitably, high-end video game consoles are bound to be favourites under the tree on Christmas morning. The eagerly-awaited Playstation 2 retails at around £200.00, while NintendoÕs Gameboy Advance is a more affordable £90.00.

For the younger ones, Me Mo Mo, an out-of-this-world learning companion in natty shades of orange and purple, has a free-standing poseable character who interacts with the infrared keyboard to stimulate juvenile imaginations. Me Mo Mo giggles, shakes and gets excited when you answer a question correctly and has his own website to check out more details on the little alienÕs life. From VTech, price £49.99.

Last but not least, DonÕt Free Freddy, (FEVA, £24.99) is an amusing take on the traditional cuddly toy. Freddy is a well-behaved, friendly, furry, purple monster, until you unlock his handcuffs whereupon he reveals his true colours, telling naughty jokes and making rude noises. His ÒJekyll and HydeÓ behaviour has over 75 different phrases and randomised speech for different play every time.
/ENDS