Girls receive less toys that are spinoffs of movies, because toys from things that are licensed tend to be geared towards boys. The only exception to this rule I can think of is that sometimes when there is a movie with cute animals in it, there will be a few stuffed animals from the movie (like Finding Nemo) that parents buy for girls.

Stuff like Barbie and Bratz -- the toys are manufactured first and then a tv show or cartoon or whatever is made to sell the toys.

Just walk into a Toys R Us or any place that sells toys and look in the action toy aisles. Everything you see is usually merchandise spun off of a movie or tv show. Not so much with the "girl" toys.