The latest edition of the Lycos 50 Daily Report discusses the growing number of Lycos searches for Japanese toy and anime property Zoids.  Japanese toy company TOMY created Zoids in 1980s (more of that 80s revival stuff again, see 'Top Movie/TV Stories of 2001'), and started reviving the insect-inspired motorized toys in 1999.  A Zoids anime series has endured for at least 90 episodes in Japan -- and it's now being shown on the Cartoon Network (see 'Zoids Coming to Cartoon Network').  Lycos' resident analyst, Aaron Schatz, reports that although the Zoids have not made the Lycos Top 50 yet, the number of searches for Zoids has been rising steadily since January.

Hasbro has the Zoids license for the U.S. and reintroduced the toys here late in 2001 (see 'Licensing is Back at Hasbro').  Currently the Zoids anime series is running on the Cartoon Network weekdays at 5pm (Eastern & Pacific) right before the hugely popular Dragonball series.  The Zoids anime series is doing quite well in the ratings, but Lycos reports more searches for the Zoids toys and models than for the Zoids anime or TV show.

In addition to the toys from Hasbro, Viz is publishing two 80-page Zoids graphic novels as well as issuing the first Zoids DVDs, so pop culture retailers will have considerable Zoids product to sample this spring.  The graphic novels are due to hit the street in March, followed by the first Zoids DVD disk, which includes the first four episodes of the anime series, in April (see 'Zoids DVD Bows in April').  This is a property that is just starting to take off again, so it's worth watching closely.