despicable me 2 fart gunWhile animation may have suffered at the box office this summer, The Hollywood Reporter notes that it thrived in the toy aisles of retail stores. Thinkway Toys’ line of Despicable Me 2 merchandise – the Fart Gun being a particular highlight – sold out in the UK before the movie even hit theaters. And with the popularity of Nick Jr.’s series declining, Disney Junior found mega-success with Sofia the First toys. However, the picture wasn’t all bleak for Nickelodeon: toys inspired by its computer animated Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles series flew off shelves. Even box office under-performers such as Turbo, Planes and The Lone Ranger enjoyed robust toy sales. Overall, U.S. toy sales will hit about $22 billion this year, with a quarter coming from toys based on movies and TV shows.