The tops of Toy Fair 2025, according to Rubber Ninja: an opinion piece

By: Marlene Sharp and Rubber Ninja Vadim Govorov

After a multi-year hiatus and one cross-country move, Rubber Ninja Vadim Govorov – commercial diver/maritime expert/underwater construction worker/clay sculptor/plaything maker/sketch artist/graphic novelist/raconteur/mentee of iconic GLOBAL TOY NEWS founder Richard Gottlieb – returned to his amusing New York City roots, namely Toy Fair at Jacob Javits Convention Center and environs. From March 1 through March 4, current Florida resident Govorov fell back into step with Big Apple residents, tourists, and attendees of the annual kids consumer product industry showcase: that magical, glittery sparkler of a wonderland where Govorov first connected with Gottlieb years ago. In 2025, what unfolded was a series of Eureka! moments strung together in the style of bead art, or coiled like Slinky spirals. Govorov collected and savored each encounter to the fullest.

For Govorov, the end of old home week prompted a deep dive – aquatic pun intended – of the very best in toyetic items and experiences on display across Empire City. This total mental submersion led to his countdown of the tippy-top of the top attractions. He put recollections to paper and delivered the metaphorical winners’ list in loosely descending order to this author. It appears below.

Number 5: It’s a tie!

a) The 25^th installment of Mary Couzin’s POP (People of Play) Connolly’s Pub event, a networking and fundraising extravaganza to benefit the Chicago Toy and Game (CHITAG) Fair Young Inventors Challenge, and

b) 32-year Javits exhibit floor booth ‘to-do for Nerf Vortex Football, as attended by its inventor David Fuhrer.

In full transparency, Rubber Ninja is a folk hero, but not an omnipresent one. Govorov, a well-intentioned Fair-goer, did not traverse the aforementioned party paths. He did not witness these pop-ups up-close-and-personal, though up-close-and-personal events (i.e., a bit o’ family forces majeures) were responsible for his absences from Mary Couzin’s and David Fuhrer’s tres fabulous festivities, respectively)! He heard that they were ragers, though. Kudos to those folks who were there!

(Incidentally, Govorov was able to spend quality time with his teen son Henry who lives full-time in NYC. Success!)

Nerf Vortex Football and inventor David Fuhrer. Photo courtesy of Fuhrer’s Facebook feed.

Number 4: GennComm and Cray-Z-Art announcement – Just prior to Toy Fair, the two industry stalwarts signed on the dotted line to bring GennComm’s groundbreaking, patented memory foam to more plushies within the Cray-Z-Art stable. Govorov celebrated alongside GennComm’s Genna Rosenberg at a meet-and-greet.

Number 3: Spin Master soiree – A Canada-based Spin Master spinner spun her web – Charlotte-style – and landed admission for Vadim and Henry Govorov at the Sunday night HK Hall shindig. (Thank you, Sarah Serata, Carol Robinson, and Ben “Jimmy” Dermer!). The Vincent Imaoka (Paramount/Sega Toys) sighting was a particular bright spot for Rubber Ninja and Ninja, Jr.

Rubber Ninja captures video footage of the Spin Master blowout here:

Number 2: Hape (home of the Pixel Piano) and a new joint venture with The Met Museum – Govorov test drove the buzzworthy Hape Pixel Piano and met Hape Senior Marketing Manager Freddie Jordan and Swerve Strategic’s Despina Danishwar in the process. Rubber Ninja extended metaphorical fins of gratitude toward Swerve’s Mikayla Werner and Andrew Wagar for their parts in this play. He also applauded the new Metropolitan Museum x Hape partnership. The two entities announced a collaboration to transform early childhood learning through art-inspired infant and toddler toys (to be unveiled in late 2025). Congratulations to Hape founder Peter Handstein and the Met’s Head of Global Licensing and Partnerships Josh Romm!

Number 1!: GLOBAL TOY NEWS fancy get-together in honor of Richard Gottlieb’s legacy – Clearly, this business trip’s capstone was the Sunday night celebration of life for Richard Gottlieb. In memory of her late husband and in toy trade solidarity, Wendy Levey opened her gorgeous, sea shell-adorned Manhattan home to an industry who’s who, including co-host Steve Velte, co-host Christopher Byrne, Sharon Weisman, Jacqueline Vong, John Baulch, Dr. Amanda Gummer, Denis Crushell, Joe Burke, Reuben Anand, Glenn Bakie, Joe Farco, and many others. Over food and drink, Rubber Ninja (and his plus-one progeny Henry) paid tribute to the great man who molded his clay toy-sculpting career and fired up his creativity for what’s to come.