The Iron Man Potato Head is easily the strongest Potato Head ever made. What do you get when you mix potato and iron? Some seriously strong starch, that's what.
The Potato Head has been a popular toy for decades now and this latest edition is clearly an effort to keep it relevant in 2013. Iron Man is a similarly storied brand that's been revamped in the last few years with the success of Robert Downey Jr. and the film series.
The Iron Man Potato Head is exactly what you'd expect: a Potato Head with armor on it. The potato is six inches tall and all of the armor is removable, just like the rest of the toy.
Personified Starch Toys
The Iron Man Potato Head Merges Two Storied Figures
Trend Themes
1. Pop Culture Mashups - Mashing together two or more popular culture references to create new toy products can be a valuable trend to capitalize on.
2. Customizable Toys - Creating toys with interchangeable parts that can be taken apart and put back together in different ways can offer unique play experiences and is a trend to watch.
3. Nostalgic Remakes - Reimagining classic toys for a modern audience can be a successful trend, particularly when updating with popular contemporary cultural icons.
Industry Implications
1. Toy Manufacturing - Toy manufacturers can benefit from innovating on classic toys with new customizations as well as introducing new mashups of multiple brands.
2. Licensing and Merchandising - Licensing and merchandising companies can look for opportunities for mashup toys that fit their existing libraries of brands, especially if they can be refreshed with modern characters.
3. Collectibles and Figurines - Collectibles and figurine manufacturers can explore trends of customizable toys or nostalgic character remakes to offer new products for collectors and fans of these franchises.