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CNN Live At Daybreak

Toys With Moving Heads Popular at Hong Kong Show

Aired January 09, 2002 - 06:57   ET

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
CAROL COSTELLO, CNN ANCHOR: Christmas has barely ended, but toymakers are already looking ahead to next year. And some of the biggest names in the biz are gathering overseas right now in Hong Kong. So what's going to be big in 2002?

CNN's Andrew Brown says if it shakes, shimmies, jitters or jumps, its sells.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

ANDREW BROWN, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): Everyone knows movement attacks attention, but when it comes to toys, nothing works quite as well as a nod or a shake.

ALI MAFI, WANTED: They sell in absolutely massive volumes.

BROWN: They, being a deedle do (ph). According to Ali Mafi, in the U.K. 100,000 of them have been sold since late last year, while each month, 1.2 million bubble heads jiggle their way into stores all over the world.

MALCOLM ALEXANDER, ALEXANDER GLOBAL PROMOTIONS: If it didn't move around, we wouldn't be selling as many. That would just be a static piece. If it moves around, then it's fun.

BROWN: Apparently, movement underfoot doesn't excite consumers as much as say a cow wagging its head.

MAFI: It's a sort of take me home kind of look about them.

BROWN: It's not hard to see why these products are compelling. After all, head gestures are powerful. People use them to reinforce what they are saying...

UNKNOWN FEMALE: It's (UNINTELLIGIBLE).

BROWN: ... when they are analyzing issues...

UNKNOWN MALE: It could be better.

BROWN: ... or to totally confuse you.

UNKNOWN MALE: (UNINTELLIGIBLE) if you make like this, not like this -- very bad -- very bad. BROWN: Ali Mafi has dumb downed these mind games and turns the head into a recreational tool --

(on camera): -- to establish the correct angle of a basketball net.

(voice-over): Ideal for practicing jump shots.

MAFI: Anything to do with it based on the head is more likely to make you look fun and ridiculous.

BROWN (voice-over): Even toymakers are sounding a bit ridiculous these days.

(on camera): Are you a bit of a jiggler yourself?

ALEXANDER: Well, I'm turning that way.

BROWN: But no one can fault Alexander for wanting to stay ahead in this business. Bobble head (ph) sales are soaring, so it's a great time to be top heavy.

Andrew Brown, CNN, Hong Kong.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

COSTELLO: But just remember that it's a great time to be top heavy.

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