Category
Life-Stages
Constructible Franchises
Trend cluster
Category
Playful
Gore
Macabre references extend into toys to reflect ongoing media saturation.
3.7
Trend score
Trend
What is the Playful Gore trend?
Playful Gore: With mass media serving as a source of influence for developing youths, a turn toward more bizarre and eclectic toys has emerged to reflect the normality of violence and gore on TV and in movies. This shift in consumer desire is born out of a desensitization of both older and younger minds. Ultimately, today's consumer is harder to shock and thus, harder to entertain unless an element of the dark or shocking is involved.
Trend themes
Themes within the Playful Gore trend
Three behaviours holding the trend together01
Desensitization to Violence and Gore
A turn toward more bizarre and eclectic toys has emerged to reflect the normality of violence and gore on TV and in movies, which presents an opportunity for toy designers to create more unique and macabre creations.
02
Zombie Culture Popularity
Zombies are taking over pop culture from film to television to books and now in the world of toys, and businesses should leverage this trend to create products that will appeal to this growing market.
03
Remixed Versions of Popular Pop Culture Characters
Trends of remixing popular pop culture characters in an unexpected way present an opportunity for toy designers to create unique and exciting collections such as the Kidrobot x The Simpsons zombie family pack.
Industry implications
What the Playful Gore trend means for industry
Where the trend changes the playbookFor
Toy Design
Toy designers can capitalize on trends towards desensitization to violence and gore, and remixing popular pop culture characters to create novel and unique products.
For
Zombie Culture Merchandise
The growing popularity of zombie culture across various industries presents an opportunity for businesses to create merchandise that appeals to this market.
For
Comic Con Exclusives
Comic Con exclusives present an opportunity for toy designers and businesses to create limited edition products that excite collectors and fans.
Trend signals
Trend signals for Playful Gore
Trend score 3.7 out of 10, from popularity 47%, activity 56%, freshness 8%.
Popularity47%
Activity56%
Freshness8%
Audience
70%Men
30%Women
- Gen Alpha
- Gen Z
- Millennial
- Gen X (not a primary audience)
- Boomer (not a primary audience)
Market
North America
Europe
Asia-Pacific
Evidence
Examples of the Playful Gore trend
8 featured examples from Jan 21, 2012 to Jul 17, 2014CategoryLife-Stages
Romantically Gruesome Plushies
Felt Monsters and Eyeballs Make for an Unusual Valentine Gift
The e-commerce industry can explore the market for unconventional Valentine's Day gifts, delivering unique experiences to customers.
CategoryLife-Stages
Zombified Iconic Cartoon Toys
The Kidrobot x The Simpsons Zombie Toys Transform the Beloved Family
Disruptive innovation opportunities in the toy industry lie in creating novel interpretations of well-known characters, appealing to fans of both nostalgia and novelty.
CategoryLife-Stages
Cuddly Killer Toys
These Walking Dead Toys by Funko Make Zombie Culture Adorable
The toy industry can embrace the popularity of zombie culture and expand into more unconventional and dark themes, as seen with Funko's Walking Dead toy collection.
CategoryLife-Stages
Horror-Inspired Toys
The Michelle Coffee Halloween Plush Toys are Scary
The toy industry can develop new lines of horror-inspired toys, such as the Bunny Krueger Plush and Zombie Corn Plush.
CategoryLife-Stages
Hand-Made Undead Dolls
These Zombie Dolls Come with Removable Guts
A niche market for artisans to create and sell unique handmade zombie dolls and other zombie-related merchandise.
CategoryLife-Stages
DIY Undead Toys
The Zombie Customizable Action Figure Kit Encourages Scary Creativity
Toy manufacturers can capitalize on the growing demand for customizable action figures like the DIY Zombie Customizable Action Figure Kit, by offering more options for customizati…
CategoryPop Culture
Zombie Survival Board Games
With the Walking Dead Monopoly You Risk Losing More Than Your Money
Manufacturers can tap into the growing demand for unique and immersive board games, specifically in the zombie and horror genre.
CategoryLife-Stages
Illuminating Zombie Toys
Van Beater's Glow-in-the-Dark Crapzombies are Exclusive for Comic-Con
The toy industry can tap into the popularity of collectibles and limited edition merchandise to create new streams of revenue.
