Canada's Spin Master creates buzz at toy show

Canada's largest toy manufacturer earned strong buzz at the New York Toy Fair Wednesday after two of Spin Master's toys were included in Popular Science magazine's top 12 picks at the annual event.

The Toronto-based company made the cut with its Redakai trading cards and Air Hogs Hyperactive remote control car.

Spin Master believes the cards will be the biggest trading cards since Pokemon and deliver the company its most lucrative hit since Bakugan.

Air Hogs Hyperactive is the fastest in the popular line of remote control cars, travelling up to 35 kilometres per hour.

Vice-president Harold Chizick said the entries, along with girl's jewelry accessory Bizu, have given Spin Master its best show in its 16-year history.

Privately-held Spin Master is Canada's largest toy maker and the fourth largest in North America.

Jim Silver, a toy analyst at Timetoplaymag.com, said Spin Master has won the buzz of the show with Redakai, which has all the potential of being a huge hit.

After a few years of financial hardships caused by product recalls, Mega Brands, Canada's largest publicly-traded toy company, also said it is optimistic both about the health of the industry and its own prospects.

The Montreal-based company has refreshed several of its offerings in the pre-school construction category, expanded its appeal to boys and girls and introduced a new 3D puzzle.

Movie licences are promising to be big hits this summer, led by Cars 2.

Despite losing the Disney construction licence, Mega Brands said it has other licences tied to Nickelodeon, Thomas the Tank Engine and others that more than compensate. It is also working on updating its Rose Art line of craft and stationary later this year.