To hell with Furby and Butt Face, these Yoshi and Pikachu animatronics were the best thing about New York Toy Fair

I hate to say it, but I think I've fallen head over heels. The most exciting thing to come out of New York Toy Fair 2026 wasn't a new Furby, the viral "Butt Face" (it's exactly what it sounds like), or even the Incredible Hulk fists we revealed last week; something else stole my heart. Meet Hatchin' Yoshi and the Pikachu Puppetronic.

If you missed the reveals, Hatchin' Yoshi (which is one of many Super Mario Galaxy Movie merch pre-orders now up for grabs) takes inspiration from the "Hatchimals" range by having the adorable dino break out of his egg. Once it's free, Yoshi can charm you with light-up eyes, sound responses when you talk to it, and a range of movements if interacted with. Meanwhile, the Pikachu Puppetronic is a puppet-animatronic mix with over 100 sound and action combinations, blinking eyes, light-up cheeks, smart sensors, and soft-to-the-touch fur. Both are painfully sweet, and I'm already sold after 0.5 seconds of seeing them. They were an instant addition to our best toys guide, anyway.

Hatchin' Yoshi Interactive Toy Egg | $49.88 at Walmart
Releases March 21, 2026 - Considering how interactive this toy is (and its ability to burst out of its egg right away), I'm surprised to see it at a sub-$50/£60 price point. It's up for pre-order now, and if Walmart's any indicator, it's flying off shelves with over 1,000 sold since yesterday.

UK: £59.99 at Smyths Toys

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Pikachu Puppetronic
It's not clear when this animatronic is going to launch, and there's no way to pre-order it as yet. However, the Pokemon Center says that a first-edition version is "coming soon." In terms of pricing, there doesn't seem to be an official verdict on that yet.

While kids are gonna go nuts for both of these (I can see the Hatchin' Yoshi being one of this year's must-haves), adult fans are likely to be lining up for them too. I say that as a grown-up fan who's already reaching for his wallet, because they do a great job of capturing what so many of us love about these characters. Yoshi busting out of an egg is a neat party trick, but the figure is also an adorable display piece – you can use the lower half of the egg as a stand. It isn't going to nag you like the Talking Flower replica or tell you the wrong time either, so that's another plus.

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As for Pikachu, I don't think I've ever seen a more accurate depiction of the electric mouse in toy-form (sorry, the Lego version doesn't come close). It nails everything from the pose to the pocket monster's dimensions, and its interactive elements really bring it to life. Much like Yoshi, this would look awesome as a display piece in a gaming setup.

In summary: blimey, what a good year for Nintendo fans. Not for our wallets, of course, but hey ho. Look at all this shiny new stuff!

• Browse Super Mario merch at Walmart
• See all official Pokemon merch at Amazon

For more collectibles, don't miss the best Star Wars toys or the best Lego sets. You can also find things to do with your loved ones in our guide to the best family board games.