CYPRESS, Calif. – August 27 – Donning its familiar egg shape and the need for tender-loving-care, a new generation of Tamagotchi® toys arrives on shelves across the country this month from the original Japanese toymaker, Bandai America.  Evoking a nostalgic feeling from the mid-to-late 90s, today’s Tamagotchi Friends™ toys extends beyond the digital ‘pet’ and into a world of fun, adorable, whimsical characters — your new best friends!

Like the original, once the Tamagotchi Friends egg has hatched, the owner must take care of their digital friend and raise her/him from birth to adult.  Owners must feed their Tamagotchi Friends character when she/he is hungry, give medicine when she/he is sick, bathe her/him and play games to earn Gotchi Points.   Points can be used to buy meals, snacks and jewelry. Depending on how well her/his owner takes care of her/him, the character will grow and develop differently.

Today’s Tamagotchi Friends Digital Friend™ devices are also tech savvy; a ‘bump’ with other Digital Friend devices allows it to send text messages and gifts, and even go on a playdate with other Tamagotchi Friends characters.  The more ‘bumps’, the more points and rewards the owner will earn, and the higher their best friend meter will rise.   Available in six different fashionable trend-inspired designs, Tamagotchi Friends™ Digital Friend devices are available at Toys “R” Us and toysrus.com in the United States for a suggested retail price of $19.99.

Bandai is also breaking open the Tamagotchi Friends world.   In addition to an immersive experience at TamagotchiFriends.com where fans (and caretakers alike) can find animated webisodes, games, character profiles, and more, a collectible figure and playset line allows fans to collect and play with the Tamagotchi Friends characters in a whole new way.

Figures & Playsets
Collectible Figures featuring six different Tamagotchi Friends characters are each sold individually with a suggested retail price of$3.99.  The Tamagotchi Friends Character Plus Pack includes unique accessory pieces to play out each character’s personality and has a suggested retail price of $5.99.

The Dream School Classmates Multipack brings together five Tamagotchi Friends characters, each representing a different Dream Class – Music, Beautician, Robot, Chef and Performance – that real girls dream of becoming too.   The Dream School Classmates Multipack feature unique packaging that allows girls to bring the characters with them wherever they go, and has a suggested retail price of $16.99.

Three different playsets allow girls to recreate their favorite scenes from the Tamagotchi Friends webisodes.

The two-level Dream Town Music Café Playset comes with a Tamagotchi Friends Pianitchi figure. Upstairs Pianitchi can sit and play on her digital music device.  At the café downstairs, the Tamagotchi Friends characters can chat, drink tea and eat desserts, and head outside to the real working swing for two figures to share.  The Dream Town Music Café Playset has a suggested retail price of $19.99.

The TamaMori Accessory Shop set comes with the Tamagotchi Friends character Kiramotchi and three stackable hats/crowns.  The Performing Arts Stage set comes with Tamagotchi character Yumemitchi, and a microphone and keyboard for her next performance.  They have a suggested retail price of $9.99 each.

All figures and playsets are also available exclusively at Toys “R” Us.

Hi res art can be found here.

Bandai created a wave of excitement, and huge demand when Tamagotchi was introduced 18 years ago.  The company has since sold more than 80 million units worldwide.  The new and enhanced Tamagotchi Friends brand is highlighted with new “bump” technology in its Digital Friend devices, the character brand segment with collectible figures and playsets, as well as the Tamagotchi Friends animated webisodes.   The Tamagotchi Friends portfolio is expected to grow in the coming months, enhancing its digital presence further.  The www.TamagotchiFriends.com website launched late last year to coincide with Tamagotchi’s 17th Birthday.

About Bandai America Incorporated
A leader in developing engaging, quality toys that capture children’s imaginative spirit and provide endless “Fun For The Future,” Bandai America Incorporated is the manufacturer and master toy licensee of some of the most popular brands in children’s toys and interactive entertainment today.  The Bandai America brand family includes Power Rangers®, Ben 10™ and Pac-Man and The Ghostly Adventures™, Tamagotchi Friends™, among other boys, girls, preschool and hobby product lines.  Bandai America Incorporated is a subsidiary of BANDAI NAMCO Holdings USA Inc., an entity that resulted from the integration of Namco Ltd. and Bandai Co. Ltd. of Japan. Global interests encompass three strategic business units: Toys and Hobby, Amusement Facility and Contents. The company is headquartered in Cypress, California.  Find out more about our expertise in connecting with kids in fun and fresh ways at www.Bandai.com.

Tamagotchi and Tamagotchi Friends: ©BANDAI, WiZ ©B,W/T,T
The toy concept and products of Tamagotchi are developed by Bandai Co., Ltd. and WiZ Co., Ltd. jointly.
All other trademarks are the property of their respective owners.
Bandai logo: ®and © 2014 Bandai.