When you consider that toy retailers live and die by their ability to predict what will fire the imaginations of children at Christmas time, it's no great surprise that toy predictions have become something of an industry institution.
These "Top Toy" lists generate plenty of column inches for the industry - and whilst many of them are painfully transparent, there's always a few gems that warrant a closer look.
We expect the Christmas 2012 lists to start being published hideously early again this year. (Last year Tesco announced their top toys in the first week of June, just as everyone was starting to think about summer!! Whenever the lists are unveiled however, we'll be here to collate them and commentate on them.
Announced on 27th October 2011
Sainbury's top toy list aimed to provide "something for everyone". We'll let you be the judge of whether they succeeded in that. We're staying out of it.
Cars 2 Ultimate Build Francesco from LEGO
Nerf Vortex Proton from Hasbro
Transformers 3 Mechtech Deluxe from Hasbro
Moshi Monsters Gold Collection Tin from Vivid Imaginations
Zhu Zhu Pets Puppies from Character Options
Zoobles Under The Sea Playset from Spin Master
Club Penguin Puffle from Jakks Pacific
Octonauts Gup A Mission Vehicle from Mattel
Dance Star Mickey from Mattel
Monopoly from Hasbro
Announced on 26th October 2011
Dream Toys is one of the most important dates in the toy industry calendar, where the Toy Retailer's Association unveils their predictions for the hottest Christmas toys.
See full coverage of Dream Toys 2011.
Announced on 26th October 2011
Carefully choreographed to tie in with the opening of a brand new flagship Oxford Street store, the John Lewis top toy list features a nice mix of products from many different categories. As well as the obligatory electronic gizmos, the John Lewis toy buyers picked out some classic and timeless toys from the likes of Sylvanian Families and Early Rider.
Giant Piano Mat from John Lewis
Holiday Barbie from Mattel (exclusive to John Lewis)
Cool Cruiser from LEGO (exclusive to John Lewis)
Sort and Store Head from LEGO (exclusive to John Lewis)
Sylvanian Department Store (exclusive to John Lewis)
Hexbug from Innovation First
Paper Jamz from WowWee
FurReal Friends Cookie from Hasbro
Innotab from VTech
Classic Bike from Early Rider
Announced on 5th October 2011
The world’s biggest toy chain is the latest retailer to weigh in with their big list of what are likely to be their biggest toys this Christmas.
Action Toys
Air Swimmers Wow Stuff
Cars 2 Secret Spy Attack Finn McMissile by Mattel
Doctor Who Sonic Screwdriver by Character Options
Doggie Doo Game by John Adams
Fliker 3 Scooter by Fliker
Hexbugs Nano Habitat Set by Innovation First
LeapPad Explorer by LeapFrog
LEGO City Police Station by LEGO
Nerf Vortex Nitron by Hasbro
Star Wars Ultimate FX Lightsaber by Hasbro
Favourite Friends
Baby Annabell Care for Me Doll by Zapf
Barbie Puppy Water Park Playset by Mattel
Fireman Sam Pontypandy Rescue Set by Character Options
FurReal Friends Cookie My Playful Pup by Hasbro
Fijit Friends (Willa) by Mattel
Milky The Bunny by Flair
Monster High Lagoonas Hydration Station by Mattel
Moshi Monsters Moshling Treehouse by Vivid Imaginations
Sesame Street Let's Rock Elmo by Hasbro
Announced on 28th September 2011
The Irish toy retailer has released a top Christmas toys list that they describe as their most technologically advanced ever. With products from Mattel, Hasbro and Flair accounting for more than half of the list, don't expect any great surprises here.
Fijit Friends from Mattel
LeapPad Explorer from LeapFrog
Nerf Vortex Nitron from Hasbro
Fliker 3 Scooter from HL Corp
Ninjago Fire Temple from LEGO
Milky the Bunny from Flair
Lazer Stunt Chaser from Flair
Special Agent Oso Command Centre from Learning Curve
Moshling Treehouse from Vivid Imaginations
Ultimate Optimus Prime from Hasbro
Barbie Puppy Water Park from Mattel
Let’s Rock Elmo from Hasbro
Announced on 21st September 2011
Kuchi-Paku
My Keepon from Wow! Stuff
Air Swimmers from Wow! Stuff
Moshi Monsters Interactive from Vivid Imaginations
LeapPad Explorer from LeapFrog
Announced on 21st September 2011
"Talk-Back Toys" was Argos's soundbite of choice to describe their list. A third of the products on their Fabulous 15 list contain voice-chips, and the vast majority require batteries. Want to buy every product on their list? That'll be £778.85 (average product price: £51.92).
Pre-school
Dance Star Mickey from Fisher Price
LeapPad Explorer from LeapFrog
Let’s Rock Elmo from Hasbro
Octonauts Octopod Playset from Fisher Price
Kidizoom Twist from VTech
Boys
Nerf Vortex Proton from Hasbro
Dr Who Ride-In Dalek from Grossman
Bop It! XT from Hasbro
Cars 2 Secret Spy Attack Finn McMissile from Mattel
Star Wars Sith Nightspeeder from LEGO
Girls
Fijit Friends from Mattel
Moshi Monsters Mosh and Chat from Vivid Imaginations
Barbie Puppy Water Park from Mattel
DesignaFriend Dolls from Chad Valley
Baby Annabell from Zapf Creation
Announced on 16th September 2011
Every year, we survey the 800+ toy shops that are listed on Toy Shop UK and ask them what they think are the best toys for Christmas. To see the full results, visit our dedicated Independent Toy Awards page.
Announced on 6th September 2011
Moshi Monsters Moshling Treehouse from Vivid
LeapPad Explorer from Leapfrog
Fully Loaded Finn McMissile from Mattel
Let’s Rock! Elmo from Hasbro
Doctor Who Tardis Playset from Character Options
Barbie Princess Charm School Blair Doll from Mattel
Star Wars Millennium Falcon from LEGO
Bop It XT from Hasbro
Nerf Vortex Nitron from Hasbro
FurReal Friends Cookie My Favourite Pup from Hasbro
My Keepon from Wow Stuff
5 Second Rule from University Games
Announced on 5th September 2011
Innotab from VTech
Dance Star Mickey from Fisher Price
Fijit Friends from Mattel
Kidizoom Twist from VTech
Monster High Dolls from Mattel
Hello Kitty Coupe Dolls Pram from HTI
Victorian House from Ladybird
Matchbox Smokey The Fire Truck from Mattel
Vortex Nitron from Hasbro
Finn McMissile from Mattel
Millenium Falcon from LEGO
Monopoly Electric Live from Hasbro
Announced on 25th August 2011
Dominoes, the 2010 Independent Toy Retailer of the Year (as voted by the Toy Retailers Association) is the first independent toy shop to release their Christmas toy predictions. Many familiar brands feature in their top 10 list including Sylvanian Families and Barbie. Also making appearances are several of this year's much-hyped products from the likes of Vivid Imaginations and Mattel.
Sylvanian Families Oakwood Manor by Flair
Fijit Friends by Mattel
Moshi Monsters Talking Plush by Vivid Imaginations
Cookie My Playful Pup by Furreal Friends
Barbie Puppy Water Park by Mattel
Let’s Rock Elmo by Hasbro
Vortex Nitron Blaster by Nerf
Garmadon’s Dark Fortress Special by LEGO
Bop-it XT by Hasbro
Transformers Ultimate Optimus Prime by Hasbro
Announced on 1st August 2011
Although John Lewis's official Christmas toy predictions won't be revealed until a bit later in the year, they have announced three of the products that their buyers expect to be particularly popular this year.
Announced on 21st July 2011
You'd expect the world's largest online retailer to know a thing or two about what kids are going to want for Christmas – and Amazon's list is a refreshingly raggedy hotchpotch of products.
Skylanders Spyro’s Adventure by Activision
Dance Star Mickey by Mattel
Lunar Buggy by Mookie
Cars 2 Scalextric Start by Hornby
Jeep Wrangler Go Kart by Berg
Announced on 15th July 2011
At last... one of the only toy lists that isn't drowning in Mattel products. There's no point listing Hasbro's full list here - just watch a bit of ITV in the lead up to Christmas - but it's moderately interesting to see that Cookie My Playful Pup, Let's Rock Elmo and Bop-It! XT are clocking up a pretty substantial number of mentions on many of this year's lists.
Announced on 15th July 2011
It's got to be pretty worrying if you look to The Sun for advice on what to buy, so we won't waste column inches here dissecting their stodgy list. All you need to know is that Hasbro and Mattel got the biggest look-ins with the Transformers Optimus Prime figure and Rock on Elmo generating the most hyberbole.
Announced on 5th July 2011
A collaboration between UKMums.tv and a selection of influential mummy bloggers gave rise to the Mum's Choice awards... the winners of which were revealed at Evolution PR's Christmas in July press event.
• Hexbug Original by Innovation First
• Zhu Zhu Puppies by Character Options
• Kidizoom Twist by VTech
• Disney Princess Kitchen by Jakks Pacific
• Trunkisaurus by Magmatic
• Fuzzoodles by Flair
• Peppa Pig's World of Playset by Character Options
• EzyRoller Union Jack by Micro Scooters
• Dino Bite Game by Drumond Park
• Pump & Play Inflatables by Bladez Toys
Announced on 8th July 2011
Naturally Disney Store's predicted top ten Christmas list only selects products from their own ranges. Whilst the toys are not in any particular set order, Toy Story character dolls from the latest short film are likely to be some of the hottest sellers:
• Hawaiian Buzz Lightyear, Woody and Jessie
• Princess Classic Doll Set
• Cars 2 Remote Control Cars
• Imagination Winter Range
• Minnie Mouse Tea Set
• Cars 2 Augmented Reality Book
• Lego Duplo Winnie the Pooh Set
• Vintage Dress Kit
• Ingersoll Mickey Mouse Watches
• Disney Universe Video Game
Announced on 30th June 2011
No-one outside the Selfridges boardroom ever really understands why they publish a top toy list. Nevertheless, they succeed in grabbing a few headlines, though regrettably this year not for recommending parents buy their children an ostentatious toy Audi car worth £10,000. Life was so much better in 2010.
• Transformers Ultimate Optimus Prime by Hasbro
• Make Do Robot by Marbel
• Remote Control Lightning McQueen by Character Options
• Fijit Friends by Mattel
• Laser Stunt Chasers by Flair
• Lego City Police Station by LEGO
• Barbie Famiy Doggie Water Park by Mattel
• Little Charley Bear Plush by Vivid Imaginations
• Rock on Elmo by Hasbro
• Angelina Ballerina Dance and Sing Doll by Mattel
Announced on 28th June 2011
There's not really much to say about Hamley's predictions this year. Licensed products from Cars, Transformers and Sesame Street intermingle with perennial favourites such as Barbie, LEGO and Nerf. Whoopydoo.
Cars 2 Fully Loaded McMissile by Mattel
FurReal Cookie by Hasbro
Kiddizoom Twist by VTech
Ninjago Fire Temple by LEGO
Moshi Monsters Talking Plush by Vivid Imaginations
Barbie The Saturdays Fashionistas by Mattel
Nerf Vortex Nitron by Hasbro
Rock On Elmo by Fisher Price
Transformers Mech Tech Leader by Hasbro
iball3 by HTI
Announced on 6th June 2011
"Top Christmas toys out already" screamed Britain's favourite red top on the excessively early date of 6th June. In their drive to be the first retailer to announce their Christmas predictions, Tesco managed to publish the most premature "Top Christmas Toys" list ever seen. Which isn't really much of an accolade. As expected, their list is rather top heavy with Mattel and Hasbro products... with a few other token suppliers thrown in to illustrate some kind of diversity.
Fijit Friends by Mattel
Kidizoom by VTech
Barbie Doggie Park by Mattel
Transformers Optimus Prime by Hasbro
Baby Annabell by Zapf
Bob the Builder Construction Set by Character Options
LEGO City Police Station by LEGO
Bop-It XT by Hasbro
Nerf N Strike Nite Finder by Hasbro
Monopoly Electronic Banking by Hasbro
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