Highlights from Nuremberg Toy Fair

The Spielwarenmesse Toy Fair in Nuremberg, Germany, closed out its 2015 show, which took place Jan. 28-Feb. 2, with a 58 percent increase in the number of international buyers.

Around 72,000 attendees were present to view new products from a record-breaking number of exhibitors (2,857) from 67 countries.

The event's Toon Walk also broke records, with 205 mascots taking part in a comic parade through the Nuremberg city center.

Retailers appreciated the TrendGallery as a transnational platform for planning their ranges amid the huge variety of products on display. The new feature area showcased products for inquisitive young minds (trend: little scientists), creative products that encourage individuality (trend: express yourself) and toys with electronic refinements (trend: beyond reality).

Skip Hop, Scoot & Ride, Spin Master and Horizon Hobby beat out 601 products from 318 exhibitors to take the win the four ToyAwards of the show.

"The ToyAward rocketed us into a whole new bracket of sales opportunities," says Christian Nimmervoll, managing director, Scoot & Ride, winner in the preschool category. "The day after the award ceremony, a retailer with whom we'd been negotiating for some time, placed his order. The award prompts retailers to quit hesitating and close the deal.”

The next Spielwarenmesse will take place from Jan. 27 to Feb. 1, 2016.

Here are some of the licensing highlights from this year's show:

Disney Names First Episode VII Licensees

Mattel Makes Barbie a Superhero

Witty Debuts New Winx Dolls

Character World Previews LEGO, Marvel Lines

Giochi Preziosi Adds to Licensed Lines

Simba Takes on 'Germany's Top Model'

Deer Little Forest Gets German Agent