Schleich Wildlife: New animal worlds, figures, and adventures from 2020

Schleich is fundamentally expanding its Schleich Wildlife range, laying the foundation for a long-term theme world. Starting in January, a narrative journey around the globe will begin, with new figures, animals, and playsets being introduced step by step. The aim is not only to add individual animal figures to the well-known Wildlife series, but also to develop it into a coherent adventure world. At the heart of this new direction are two new characters: Tom and Ted. The two act as a connecting element between the individual continents and animal worlds. They are not intended as mere accessory figures, but as active companions who guide children through different habitats and structure the play world. Vehicles such as a helicopter or a large animal rescue truck are deliberately designed as mobile elements to enable scene changes and new play situations.

Start in Africa as the first stage of the wildlife journey

The new Schleich Wildlife series kicks off in Africa. This continent is the first major thematic focus and provides the backdrop for numerous new animal figures and playsets. The choice is no coincidence: African wildlife has always been one of the most popular motifs in the Wildlife range and offers a wide variety of species and habitats. The newly released dromedaries are an example of this further development. Although this species was already part of the range in the past, the current figures have been completely redesigned. The proportions, surface structure, and expression have been revised to meet today's standards of authenticity. They are complemented by other new individual figures that can be integrated into existing collections or played with on their own.

Broad coverage instead of individual highlights

In conversation, it becomes clear that Schleich is deliberately focusing on breadth in the wildlife sector. According to its own estimates, the range covers around 85 percent of all wild animals. This figure illustrates the company's commitment to representing as many habitats and animal species as possible, without limiting itself to a few iconic motifs. This is precisely where Schleich Wildlife's strength lies: children can play with familiar animals, but also discover species that lie outside the realm of classic play worlds. The new product line builds on this idea and expands it to include a narrative level. The journey around the world creates a clear temporal and content-related framework that allows new figures to be introduced over several years. The Africa phase is only the beginning. Other continents are already planned, although details about the next stops are deliberately being kept under wraps.

Game concept between fantasy and reality

Schleich Wildlife continues to be characterized by its combination of free play and realistic representation. Animals are still designed to be anatomically recognizable and credible. At the same time, they are embedded in play contexts that enable adventures, rescue missions, or voyages of discovery. Vehicles, figures, and animals interact with each other without imposing fixed rules of play. This openness is a central part of the concept. Children can use individual figures in isolation or build more complex scenarios. The new characters Tom and Ted serve as optional figures of identification, but are not essential for playing with the animal worlds. This means that the range remains compatible with existing collections.

Long-term development instead of short-term novelties

The planned journey over several years shows that Schleich Wildlife is not intended to be a short-term theme line. Instead of presenting series that are completed annually, Schleich is focusing on continuous development. Continents, animal species, and playsets are gradually being added so that the world grows organically. A central element of this strategy is the clear separation of the stages:

• Start of the wildlife journey with Africa as the first continent
• Introduction of new characters as a connecting element
• Newly modeled animal figures with a focus on authenticity
• Gradual expansion to include additional continents in subsequent years

Schleich Wildlife as a stable play world

With the reorientation of Schleich Wildlife, Schleich is creating a play world that appeals to both collectors and play-oriented children. The combination of realistic animal figures, recurring characters, and a clear thematic journey provides orientation without restricting free play.

The launch in Africa marks the beginning of a long-term concept. Further stages are already in planning, even if they cannot be named in detail at this stage. One thing is clear, however: Schleich Wildlife will grow significantly in the coming years – in terms of content, geography, and narrative.