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57-560: At the time of its introduction at the 1998 Toy Fair , the Imaginext System included only two themed worlds: medieval and city venues. The original medieval line attempted to capture the action of battle with its fortresses , dungeons , knights , wizards , and dragons and featured the Battle Castle play set as well as several knight and wizard action figures sold separately. This line quickly expanded to incorporate

114-636: A dinosaur in the Congo it would overturn all of evolution. It wouldn't. It would just be a late-occurring dinosaur, but that's their mistaken notion of evolution." Citing a 2013 exhibit at the Petersburg, Kentucky -based Creation Museum , which claimed that dragons were once biological creatures who walked the earth alongside humanity and is broadly dedicated to Young Earth creationism, religious studies academic Justin Mullis notes that "[c]ryptozoology has

171-405: A pirate (or sea) line. The line was popularized by its two lead playsets: Pirate Raider and Buccaneer Bay. A glow-in-the-dark Pirate Crew figure pack (also released in 2003) became so popular that an entire phantom line was developed and released in 2004. In contrast to the pirate line, the phantom figures were all glow-in-the-dark and had skeletal bodies. In 2005, a dinosaur world was added to

228-482: A button was pressed. Spike the Ultra Dinosaur, an interactive remote-control toy, was released in 2008. Spike was a green "ultra dinosaur" with a long, sauropod -like neck, as well as stegosaur -like thagomizers on his tail. The toy came with a plastic remote shaped like a rock that could be used to control Spike, as well as plastic balls and a bone . Spike the Ultra Dinosaur was followed up by Spike Jr.,

285-478: A field, cryptozoology originates from the works of Bernard Heuvelmans , a Belgian zoologist, and Ivan T. Sanderson , a Scottish zoologist. Notably, Heuvelmans published On the Track of Unknown Animals (French: Sur la piste des bêtes ignorées ) in 1955, a landmark work among cryptozoologists that was followed by numerous other similar works. In addition, Sanderson published a series of books that contributed to

342-602: A host of new sets and figures. This includes Sinestro , Cheetah , Firestorm , Man-Bat , Solomon Grundy and Captain Cold . Imaginext still continues to sell new toys of classic DC Comics characters and is thriving well to this day. From 2011 to 2012, a series of 7 episodes were released direct-to-video and online. In 2013, a new webseries was released with new characters entitled Imaginext Adventures , this series had only 4 episodes. American International Toy Fair The North American International Toy Fair (formerly

399-400: A living thing having the quality of being hidden or unknown ... describing those creatures which are (or may be) subjects of cryptozoological investigation." The Oxford English Dictionary defines the noun cryptid as "an animal whose existence or survival to the present day is disputed or unsubstantiated; any animal of interest to a cryptozoologist". While used by most cryptozoologists,

456-819: A long and curious history with Young Earth Creationism, with this new exhibit being just one of the most recent examples". Academic Paul Thomas analyzes the influence and connections between cryptozoology in his 2020 study of the Creation Museum and the creationist theme park Ark Encounter . Thomas comments that, "while the Creation Museum and the Ark Encounter are flirting with pseudoarchaeology , coquettishly whispering pseudoarchaeological rhetoric, they are each fully in bed with cryptozoology" and observes that "[y]oung-earth creationists and cryptozoologists make natural bed fellows. As with pseudoarchaeology, both young-earth creationists and cryptozoologists bristle at

513-572: A mostly open trade show setting. Historically, toy district showrooms near the Flatiron building also allowed buyers to consult with sales representatives from the major toy manufacturers in a quieter setting. Each building (they were interconnected by upper story walkways) contained relatively small showrooms from many manufacturers. Products featured included current lines as well as samples of products not yet introduced, or products under development. Many manufacturers staged receptions or events prior to

570-450: A new Joker Tank, were planned to be released in summer and late spring. In May 2008, DC Comics produced an ongoing monthly comic book series based on the toyline, which ran for 29 issues. In 2010, an original video animation based on the line named The Joker's Playhouse was included on a DVD packaged with toys. Directed and produced by Ciro Nieli ( Teen Titans ) and written by Brandon Auman ( Super Robot Monkey Team Hyperforce Go! ),

627-476: A number of additional figures and accessories—a mounted police officer, an EMT, and a deep sea diver to name a few. Compared to the medieval line, the Imaginext rescue world was rather short-lived. In 2003, however, it would be supplemented by a construction-themed world. Construction worker and mechanic figures and accessories complemented the rescue world's urban theme. In 2003, the Imaginext brand released

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684-974: A sense of wonder in a world that has been very thoroughly charted, mapped, and tracked, and that is largely available for close scrutiny on Google Earth and satellite imaging" and that "on the whole the devotion of substantial resources for this pursuit betrays a lack of awareness of the basis for scholarly consensus (largely ignoring, for instance, evidence of evolutionary biology and the fossil record)." According to historian Mike Dash , few scientists doubt there are thousands of unknown animals, particularly invertebrates, awaiting discovery; however, cryptozoologists are largely uninterested in researching and cataloging newly discovered species of ants or beetles , instead focusing their efforts towards "more elusive" creatures that have often defied decades of work aimed at confirming their existence. Paleontologist George Gaylord Simpson (1984) lists cryptozoology among examples of human gullibility, along with creationism : Humans are

741-458: A smaller version of Spike that worked more similarly to the other motorized dinosaurs. A red version of Spike was exclusively sold at Target stores. Spike was discontinued in 2011. A game for the iXL, a Fisher-Price handheld gaming console, was released in 2010. Simply titled "Imaginext," the game was themed around the Dinosaurs line. In 2011, the Dinosaurs line went through a redesign, with

798-727: Is " DC Super Friends". Although its name is similar to the 1970s and 80s TV series simply called Super Friends , it is not directly connected to it. This world has 27 sets (not including exclusives): Batcave , Planet Oa , Motorized Batmobile , Joker 's Fun House, Batwing , Batboat , Batcopter , Batmobile, Green Lantern Jet, Riddler Car, Clayface , Batmobile with Lights, Penguin Sub, K. Croc , Hawkman & Flash , Two-Face , The Riddler, Robin Cycle, Batcycle , Arctic Batman, Mr. Freeze , The Penguin, The Joker, Superman , and Batman . A Gotham Jail, Bat-Jetpack, New Motorized Batmobile, and

855-431: Is a broad consensus among academics that cryptozoology is a pseudoscience . The subculture is regularly criticized for reliance on anecdotal information and because in the course of investigating animals that most scientists believe are unlikely to have existed, cryptozoologists do not follow the scientific method . No academic course of study nor university degree program grants the status of cryptozoologist and

912-499: Is also found in New Age circles and dubious " Indian burial grounds " and other legends [...] invoked in hauntings such as the "Amityville" hoax [...]". In a 2011 foreword for The American Biology Teacher , then National Association of Biology Teachers president Dan Ward uses cryptozoology as an example of "technological pseudoscience" that may confuse students about the scientific method. Ward says that "Cryptozoology [...]

969-591: Is disputed or unsubstantiated, particularly those popular in folklore , such as Bigfoot , the Loch Ness Monster , Yeti , the chupacabra , the Jersey Devil , or the Mokele-mbembe . Cryptozoologists refer to these entities as cryptids , a term coined by the subculture. Because it does not follow the scientific method , cryptozoology is considered a pseudoscience by mainstream science: it

1026-656: Is held at the Musée Cantonal de Zoologie in Lausanne and consists of around "1,000 books, 25,000 files, 25,000 photographs, correspondence, and artifacts". In 2006, the Bates College Museum of Art held the "Cryptozoology: Out of Time Place Scale" exhibition, which compared cryptozoological creatures with recently extinct animals like the thylacine and extant taxa like the coelacanth , once thought long extinct ( living fossils ). The following year,

1083-617: Is neither a branch of zoology nor of folklore studies . It was originally founded in the 1950s by zoologists Bernard Heuvelmans and Ivan T. Sanderson . Scholars have noted that the subculture rejected mainstream approaches from an early date, and that adherents often express hostility to mainstream science. Scholars studying cryptozoologists and their influence (including cryptozoology's association with Young Earth creationism ) noted parallels in cryptozoology and other pseudosciences such as ghost hunting and ufology , and highlighted uncritical media propagation of cryptozoologist claims. As

1140-480: Is not valid science or even science at all. It is monster hunting." Historian of science Brian Regal includes an entry for cryptozoology in his Pseudoscience: A Critical Encyclopedia (2009). Regal says that "as an intellectual endeavor, cryptozoology has been studied as much as cryptozoologists have sought hidden animals". In a 1992 issue of Folklore , folklorist Véronique Campion-Vincent says: Unexplained appearances of mystery animals are reported all over

1197-573: The American International Toy Fair and also known as Toy Fair New York ) is an annual toy industry trade show held in mid-February in New York City's Jacob K. Javits Convention Center and at toy showrooms around the city. The event is open to the toy trade only – toy industry professionals, retailers, and press representatives. It is produced by The Toy Association . Toy Fair New York's promoters describe it as

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1254-455: The cryptid bigfoot . The Imaginext Worlds include, but are not limited to, DC Super Friends, Dragons, Robot Police, SpongeBob SquarePants , and Jurassic World . In 2011 the Samurai world was created. Previous worlds include Jungle, Forest, Castle, Pirate, City, Toy Story and Power Rangers (2015-2018) (now owned by Hasbro ). One of the most popular divisions in the line

1311-454: The ghost seekers , cryptozoologists are convinced that they will be the ones to solve the mystery and make history. With the lure of mystery and money undermining diligent and ethical research, the field of cryptozoology has serious credibility problems." There have been several organizations, of varying types, dedicated or related to cryptozoology. These include: The zoological and cryptozoological collection and archive of Bernard Heuvelmans

1368-426: The " Doubting Thomas ," and was concerned that the cryptozoology folklore around Champ was pseudoscience and that cryptozoologists enthused about the drone discovery did not have legitimate earned academic degrees in science. Rossi shared the entire five minutes of footage with scientists with earned doctorates in science for further study to prepare a scholarly article for academic peer review. A five-second clip from

1425-575: The Champ, (America's Loch Ness), movie Lucy and the Lake Monster , the filmmakers reviewed their drone footage from production on August 2, 2024, and noticed what appears to be a large creature swimming just below the surface of the water, in Bulwagga Bay. The alleged plesiosaur image is visible in the bottom right portion of the screen, swimming behind a boat containing the two lead actors in

1482-454: The Congo to find the Mokele-mbembe in 2018. While they found no evidence of the creature, they did find a new species of green algae. A subset of cryptozoology promotes the pseudoscience of Young Earth creationism , rejecting conventional science in favor of a literal Biblical interpretation and promoting concepts such as " living dinosaurs ". Science writer Sharon A. Hill observes that

1539-460: The Dinosaurs line was introduced. Following in the footsteps of the castle line, the Imaginext dinosaurs were divided into rival sects: the predators—whose goal is to wipe out the world's natural resources—and the ecovores—who fight to preserve the land. In later iterations of the line, this narrative was rejected. The Dinosaurs line consisted of traditional Imaginext playsets, as well as motorized, battery-operated dinosaurs that walked and roared when

1596-577: The Imaginext repertoire. In Fall 2006, the Imaginext brand was renamed Imaginext Adventures, marking a shift in design and production of Imaginext toys. A number of Imaginext playsets were redesigned to feature figure-activated buttons and switches that with various functions (a pirate figure, when placed on one such site on the Pirate Raider, can be used to extend the plank or lower the sails). Several of these playsets could even be purchased fully assembled. The new figures appeared rather larger than

1653-452: The Jacob K. Javits Convention Center, attracted tens of thousands of play innovators (manufacturers, distributors, importers, sales agents, inventors, entrepreneurs, licensors, retail buyers) to preview toys and games across 445,817 net square feet of exhibit space. Nearly 1,000 members of the press attended to report on the top toy trends. Overall, approximately 100 countries were represented at

1710-460: The Wizard's Tower and Goblin's Dungeon play sets. The other Imaginext line that was released in 2002 attempted to capture life in the big city with a focus on emergency and rescue figures and play sets. The Imaginext Rescue Center was the initial lead play set of the rescue line which, like the medieval line, quickly expanded. The rescue world soon included a police station and sea rescue center with

1767-715: The Young Earth creationist segment of cryptozoology is "well-funded and able to conduct expeditions with a goal of finding a living dinosaur that they think would invalidate evolution". Anthropologist Jeb J. Card says that " [c]reationists have embraced cryptozoology and some cryptozoological expeditions are funded by and conducted by creationists hoping to disprove evolution." In a 2013 interview, paleontologist Donald Prothero notes an uptick in creationist cryptozoologists. He observes that "[p]eople who actively search for Loch Ness monsters or Mokele Mbembe do it entirely as creationist ministers. They think that if they found

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1824-751: The appellation of parascience, like parapsychology : the same corpus is reviewed; many scientists participate, but for those who have an official status of university professor or researcher, the participation is a private hobby". In her Encyclopedia of American Folklore , academic Linda Watts says that "folklore concerning unreal animals or beings, sometimes called monsters, is a popular field of inquiry" and describes cryptozoology as an example of "American narrative traditions" that "feature many monsters". In his analysis of cryptozoology, folklorist Peter Dendle says that "cryptozoology devotees consciously position themselves in defiance of mainstream science" and that: The psychological significance of cryptozoology in

1881-437: The approach of cryptozoologists to colonial big-game hunters, and to aspects of European imperialism. According to Card, "[m]ost cryptids are framed as the subject of indigenous legends typically collected in the heyday of comparative folklore , though such legends may be heavily modified or worse. Cryptozoology's complicated mix of sympathy, interest, and appropriation of indigenous culture (or non-indigenous construction of it)

1938-473: The coinage of the term cryptozoology to Sanderson. Following cryptozoology , the term cryptid was coined in 1983 by cryptozoologist J. E. Wall in the summer issue of the International Society of Cryptozoology newsletter. According to Wall "[It has been] suggested that new terms be coined to replace sensational and often misleading terms like 'monster'. My suggestion is 'cryptid', meaning

1995-544: The developing hallmarks of cryptozoology, including Abominable Snowmen: Legend Come to Life (1961). Heuvelmans himself traced cryptozoology to the work of Anthonie Cornelis Oudemans , who theorized that a large unidentified species of seal was responsible for sea serpent reports. Cryptozoology is 'the study of hidden animals' (from Ancient Greek : κρυπτός, kryptós "hidden, secret"; Ancient Greek ζῷον, zōion " animal ", and λόγος, logos , i.e. "knowledge, study"). The term dates from 1959 or before— Heuvelmans attributes

2052-497: The dinosaurs being given futuristic equipment. Another change occurred in 2015, with the futuristic aesthetic being rejected and the original "primitive" aesthetic from 2005 returning. The Dinosaurs line was rebranded into Jurassic World in 2018, coinciding with the release of Jurassic World: Fallen Kingdom . Bigfoot the Monster was released in 2010. Similarly to Spike, he was an interactive remote-control toy designed to resemble

2109-481: The evidence to be revealed as the product of a hoax. This may occur during a closer examination by experts or upon confession of the hoaxer. Cryptozoologists have often led expeditions to find evidence of their claims. Bigfoot researcher René Dahinden led unsuccessful expedition into caves to find evidence of sasquatch, which Daniel Loxton attributes to changes in the popular perception of bigfoot. Lensgrave Adam Christoffer Knuth led an expedition into Lake Tele in

2166-611: The fact that the discoverers do not identify as cryptozoologists and are academically trained zoologists working in an ecological paradigm rather than organizing expeditions to seek out supposed examples of unusual and large creatures. Card notes that "cryptozoologists often show their disdain and even hatred for professional scientists, including those who enthusiastically participated in cryptozoology", which he traces back to Heuvelmans's early "rage against critics of cryptozoology". He finds parallels with cryptozoology and other pseudosciences, such as ghost hunting and ufology , and compares

2223-517: The fair itself for invited buyers, media representatives, or dignitaries. Registration is open to the trade only. Admission for buyers is free, but proof of participation in the toy industry is required. Admission for toy manufacturer employees and media is not free, and credentials are required. Attendees must be aged 18 years or older. Cryptozoology Cryptozoology is a pseudoscience and subculture that searches for and studies unknown, legendary, or extinct animals whose present existence

2280-739: The few with a legitimate doctorate in biology. What is rarely mentioned, however, is that he had no training that would qualify him to undertake competent research on exotic animals. This raises the specter of 'credential mongering', by which an individual or organization feints a person's graduate degree as proof of expertise, even though his or her training is not specifically relevant to the field under consideration." Besides Heuvelmans, Sanderson, and Mackal, other notable cryptozoologists with academic backgrounds include Grover Krantz , Karl Shuker , and Richard Greenwell . Historically, notable cryptozoologists have often identified instances featuring "irrefutable evidence" (such as Sanderson and Krantz), only for

2337-409: The field and discusses aspects of the subculture, noting internal attempts at creating more scientific approaches and the involvement of Young Earth creationists and a prevalence of hoaxes. She concludes that many cryptozoologists are "passionate and sincere in their belief that mystery animals exist. As such, they give deference to every report of a sighting, often without critical questioning. As with

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2394-427: The film. The boat was 142 inches from the tip of the bow to the stern and 50.5 inches at the widest point and the alleged plesiosaur appears bigger than the boat. One of the co-writers, Kelly Tabor, a cryptozoology adherent who has searched for the legendary sea serpent of Lake Champlain for fifty years, believes it is probably Champ. The second co-writer and director of the film, Richard Rossi , referred to himself as

2451-512: The folkloric record, and the psychology behind the cryptozoology approach has been the subject of academic study. Few cryptozoologists have a formal science education, and fewer still have a science background directly relevant to cryptozoology. Adherents often misrepresent the academic backgrounds of cryptozoologists. According to writer Daniel Loxton and paleontologist Donald Prothero , "[c]ryptozoologists have often promoted 'Professor Roy Mackal , PhD.' as one of their leading figures and one of

2508-628: The largest toy trade show in the Western hemisphere. Toy Fair began in February 1903. The first event featured less than ten toy companies with Lionel trains among the featured products. As the event expanded, more space was needed which led to toy companies occupying 200 Fifth Avenue, a former hotel site , in 1910. By 1925, it was renamed the International Toy Center . The 117th annual Toy Fair, held February 22–25, 2020 at

2565-853: The longer five minute footage was shared publicly on YouTube . While biologists regularly identify new species, cryptozoologists often focus on creatures from the folkloric record. Most famously, these include the Loch Ness Monster , Champ (folklore) , Bigfoot , the chupacabra , as well as other "imposing beasts that could be labeled as monsters". In their search for these entities, cryptozoologists may employ devices such as motion-sensitive cameras, night-vision equipment, and audio-recording equipment. While there have been attempts to codify cryptozoological approaches, unlike biologists, zoologists, botanists, and other academic disciplines, however, "there are no accepted, uniform, or successful methods for pursuing cryptids". Some scholars have identified precursors to modern cryptozoology in certain medieval approaches to

2622-629: The media and encouraged (largely with the aim of gain for touristic promotion) by the local population, often genuinely convinced of the reality of this profitable phenomenon." Campion-Vincent says that "four currents can be distinguished in the study of mysterious animal appearances": "Forteans" ("compiler[s] of anomalies" such as via publications like the Fortean Times ), "occultists" (which she describes as related to "Forteans"), "folklorists", and "cryptozoologists". Regarding cryptozoologists, Campion-Vincent says that "this movement seems to deserve

2679-485: The modern world [...] serves to channel guilt over the decimation of species and destruction of the natural habitat; to recapture a sense of mysticism and danger in a world now perceived as fully charted and over-explored; and to articulate resentment of and defiance against a scientific community perceived as monopolising the pool of culturally acceptable beliefs. In a paper published in 2013, Dendle refers to cryptozoologists as "contemporary monster hunters" that "keep alive

2736-412: The most inventive, deceptive, and gullible of all animals. Only those characteristics can explain the belief of some humans in creationism, in the arrival of UFOs with extraterrestrial beings, or in some aspects of cryptozoology. [...] In several respects the discussion and practice of cryptozoology sometimes, although not invariably, has demonstrated both deception and gullibility. An example seems to merit

2793-488: The old Latin saying 'I believe because it is incredible,' although Tertullian, its author, applied it in a way more applicable to the present day creationists. Paleontologist Donald Prothero (2007) cites cryptozoology as an example of pseudoscience and categorizes it, along with Holocaust denial and UFO abductions claims , as aspects of American culture that are "clearly baloney". In Scientifical Americans: The Culture of Amateur Paranormal Researchers (2017), Hill surveys

2850-492: The original figures. In 2008, Imaginext released new figures such as Superman and Batman as well as many other DC universe characters. New playsets like the Batcave were created. By 2011, Imaginext no longer released Superman but continued to release new Batman play sets that included villains and vehicles. Imaginext also produced adventure sets that included knights, dragons, and castles, similar to its original sets. In 2004,

2907-635: The rejection of mainstream secular science and lament a seeming conspiracy to prevent serious consideration of their claims." Media outlets have often uncritically disseminated information from cryptozoologist sources, including newspapers that repeat false claims made by cryptozoologists or television shows that feature cryptozoologists as monster hunters (such as the popular and purportedly nonfiction American television show MonsterQuest , which aired from 2007 to 2010). Media coverage of purported "cryptids" often fails to provide more likely explanations, further propagating claims made by cryptozoologists. There

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2964-483: The release of The Dark Knight Rises . This includes Bane, Bruce Wayne, Gotham City, Gotham City Jail, The Motorized Batmobile and Mr. Freeze's Headquarters. In 2013, Imaginext began to introduce females into its toyline featuring Catwoman , Wonder Woman and Harley Quinn . Imaginext also began producing toys based on the DCEU such as Superman, Aquaman , Cyborg , and Commissioner Gordon . In 2015, Imaginext released

3021-768: The show. The 2021 Toy Fair was cancelled to the COVID-19 pandemic . While the show planned to return in 2022, the event was cancelled due to COVID-19 for a second year in a row in January 2022, after multiple major exhibitors announced that they would not participate due to concerns over the Omicron variant . The Toy Association CEO Steve Pasierb stated that they were obligated to "make the best decision in everyone's interest no matter how heartbreaking for so many and potentially damaging some business’ future prospects." The Javits Center exhibits feature demonstrations and displays in

3078-631: The story involves the Joker taking over the Hall of Justice and the Super Friends running the gauntlet to reclaim it. The main theme for the show is the same as The World's Greatest Super Friends and the opening sequence borrows from the original Super Friends series and Challenge of the Superfriends . In 2012, Imaginext released new DC Super Friends figures and play sets to be sold for

3135-524: The subculture is primarily the domain of individuals without training in the natural sciences. Anthropologist Jeb J. Card summarizes cryptozoology in a survey of pseudoscience and pseudoarchaeology : Cryptozoology purports to be the study of previously unidentified animal species. At first glance, this would seem to differ little from zoology. New species are discovered by field and museum zoologists every year. Cryptozoologists cite these discoveries as justification of their search but often minimize or omit

3192-408: The term cryptid is not used by academic zoologists. In a textbook aimed at undergraduates, academics Caleb W. Lack and Jacques Rousseau note that the subculture's focus on what it deems to be "cryptids" is a pseudoscientific extension of older belief in monsters and other similar entities from the folkloric record, yet with a "new, more scientific-sounding name: cryptids". During post-production of

3249-598: The world today. Beliefs in the existence of fabulous and supernatural animals are ubiquitous and timeless. In the continents discovered by Europe indigenous beliefs and tales have strongly influenced the perceptions of the conquered confronted by a new natural environment. In parallel with the growing importance of the scientific approach, these traditional mythical tales have been endowed with sometimes highly artificial precision and have given birth to contemporary legends solidly entrenched in their territories. The belief self-perpetuates today through multiple observations enhanced by

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