If you are anything like me, then you happily watch all the extras attached to your favorite shows and movies: Behind the Scenes, Bloopers, and even Audio Commentary with cast and crew. So, you can imagine how difficult it was to contain myself when we not only screened a BRAND NEW AWESOME TV SHOW ON ABC, but met one of the main cast involved! Click here to read all about “My New Family Favorite TV Show: The TOY BOX That Premieres Tonight on ABC”, then you will completely understand my admiration and respect for Jen Tan.
THE TOY BOX – Show #103 – In each episode of ABC’s toy-competition series, “The Toy Box,” inventors present their toy concepts to a group of mentors that include Dylan’s Candy Bar owner Dylan Lauren, toy guru Jim Silver and Pixar Creative Director of Consumer Products Jen Tan. If the toy makers get past the mentors, they will move on to The Toy Box, where a panel of young, no-holds-barred judges that include Sophia Grace Brownlee, Aalyrah Caldwell , Toby Grey and Noah Ritter decide which toy moves on to the finals and is eventually crowned the winner. The eight-episode series hosted by Eric Stonestreet (“Modern Family”) premieres on FRIDAY, APRIL 7 (8:00-9:00 p.m. EST), on the ABC Television Network.
(ABC/Jeff Neira)
DYLAN LAUREN, JIM SILVER, JEN TAN
We first encountered Jen Tan, during the premiere screening of the the ABC Television Network series: THE TOY BOX. She works alongside two other mentors who use their years of experience in the toy and candy industries to help guide amateur inventors through the competition. Click on the video below, to see how the mentors and the inventor discuss one of the innovative toys: the “Arya Ball”.
Who is Jen Tan?
Jen Tan joined Pixar Animation Studios in June 2013 as the creative director of Consumer Products. As creative director, she makes sure that all consumer products are quality and properly represent the integrity and legacy of Pixar films. She collaborates with studio executives and filmmakers to ensure that any product – including action figures, play-sets, games, ride-ons, journals, plush, etc. – is made to be appealing and authentic to the studio’s designs and stories of the films.
THE TOY BOX – Jen Tan is a Mentor on ABC’s The Toy Box.
JEN TAN
What has Jen worked on at Pixar?
Jen’s projects include:
- collectible buddy figures and action figures for “Toy Story 3”, “Toy Story that Time Forgot,” and “Toy Story Minis”
- collectible die-cast for “Cars” and launching the high-end collectible “Cars” Precision Series line
- “Finding Dory” Disney Store Plush collection and Bandai’s “Finding Dory” toy line
- product line for “Inside Out” and “The Good Dinosaur”
- merchandise lines for “Monsters University”, “The Incredibles,” “A Bug’s Life,” “Up,” “WALL•E” and “Finding Nemo”
Tan is currently developing the merchandise lines for the studio’s upcoming films including “Cars 3” and “Coco.”
Following the premiere episode screening, Jen sat down us for a Q&A session, and we learned more about her and the new ABC tv show.
On the show:
… it’s kinda like the parent’s point of view of what kids could be or should be playing with. And then you’ve got the real kids level perspective of, “this is clunky”, or watching the boy playing with the doll and it almost breaks.
What are you looking for, in each toy that is presented?
… as an adult, sometimes you forget what it’s like being a kid, and how to play – which is why I love this show. I always look for something that is not a one-trick pony – something you can play with multiple times and there are various ways to play with it… and that allows a child to be creative.
Jen has a 2-year old and she especially appreciates a sturdy toy that her daughter can play with for a good amount of time.
Each week, one toy is selected by the judges as a semi-finalist. What happens to the other inventions? I would totally buy some of their toys too!
It’s a good thing for them to have this kind of publicity too. To share with the world. I’m hoping that moms and dads and kids who watch the show will be like, “Oh, I totally want that!” I think that being on the show itself is a great benefit to them.
I truly enjoyed meeting Jen, and learning more about having a career in the toy industry as well as her experiences on the set of a very inspiring television show.
For more, check out THE TOY BOX tonight and follow along on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter
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