August 22, 2019
Hasbro Named Master Toy Licensee for Sony Pictures’ Ghostbusters Franchise

There’s something strange in Hasbro’s neighborhood. Picking up a lineage that dates back to The Real Ghostbusters toy line produced by Kenner, the company will begin producing a full range of new Ghostbusters toys tied to the release of Jason Reitman’s cinematic continuation of the ‘80s Ghostbusters storyline next year. Read more...

Additionally, Hasbro took a big step toward sustainability this week, revealing plans to begin phasing out the use of plastic in its new product packaging beginning next year. The initial plan calls for an end to polybags, shrink wrap, window sheets, blister packs, and elastic bands. Hasbro says it hopes to eliminate virtually all plastic in packaging for new products by the end of 2022. 
Masters of the Universe Roars Back to Life with Netflix Series, Comics, Toys, and More

Mattel begins the multi-year relaunch of one of its most iconic franchises with the debut of Masters of the Universe: Revelation , a Netflix original anime series from filmmaker Kevin Smith and Mattel Television; the He-Man and the Masters of the Multiverse mini-series, from DC Comics; original series DVD reissues, from Universal; a Walmart exclusive collaboration with WWE; new core toy lines; and much more. Read more…
The Toy Insider to Host Annual Holiday of Play

The Toy Insider will host the eighth annual Holiday of Play event on Wednesday, Sept. 18, during which 175 members of the press will meet face-to-face with some of the top companies in the toy industry and get hands-on experience with the best toys on the market. Holiday of Play guests will be among the first to see the Toy Insider ’s highly anticipated Hot 20 list of the hottest holiday toys, as well as its STEM 10 selections. Plus, the Toy Insider will unveil a new never-before-seen list sure to keep everyone’s budgets holly jolly this year. Read more…
eOne’s Ricky Zoom Races to Nickelodeon in the U.S.

Ricky Zoom just kicked into high gear for its launch in the U.S. The latest animated preschool property from Entertainment One (eOne) and the producers of PJ Masks will debut on Nickelodeon on Sept. 9. Read more…
LEGO Jurassic World: Legend of Isla Nublar Heads to Nickelodeon

Owen Grady and the Jurassic World dinosaurs are back in LEGO form. Universal Brand Development, The LEGO Group, and Nickelodeon will debut LEGO Jurassic World: Legend of Isla Nublar on Saturday, Sept. 14, at 11:30 a.m. (ET/PT) on Nickelodeon in the U.S. A prequel set in the timeline before the events of Jurassic World (2015), the 13-episode CG-animated miniseries will continue to debut new episodes in the same time slot on Nick. Read more…
Kellytoy Launches Global Licensing Program for Squishmallows with Evolution USA

Kellytoy’s Squishmallows are moving beyond plush and into a full-scale licensed character brand. Evolution USA will manage the Squishmallows global licensing initiative, seeking to tap into the global success of the brand, which has already sold more than 30 million plush toys to date across nine different sizes and price points. Read more…
Wicked Cool Toys Debuts Interactive My Partner Pikachu

The new, fully interactive Pokémon toy brings the bright yellow Pikachu to life using touch-sensor technology with two modes of play. The toy taps into Pikachu’s “electric powers” to trigger more than 100 interactions, including lights in its tail and cheeks, iconic sounds, movement, and expressions.
The Toy Foundation to Spread Cheer with Holiday Toys Across America Initiative

The program will distribute toys to a network of charitable agencies in every state plus the District of Columbia, which will make sure that the toys make their way into the hands of kids in low-income and disadvantaged communities. Toymakers, retailers, and distributors are invited to donate toys and games for the initiative. Read more…  
Spielwarenmesse Preps for 2020 ToyAwards

The 71st Spielwarenmesse international toy fair will take place next year from Jan. 29-Feb. 2 at Germany’s Nuremberg Exhibition Centre, along with the annual ToyAwards. A celebration of outstanding innovation in toys, the ToyAwards is viewed as a benchmark for both buyers and retailers across four age-specific groups and the startup category. Read more…
Asmodee Canada Acquires Lion Rampant Imports

A pair of Canadian tabletop gaming giants have come together. Asmodee Canada has acquired Ontario-based Lion Rampant Imports, one of the largest distributors of hobby adventure games in the territory. The acquisition took effect on Aug. 8, and will increase the ability of games to families across the country, and is intended to provide better service to Canadian retailers. Read more…
SuperSports by Super7 Inks Deal with United States Women’s National Team Players Association

Super7 inked a new licensing deal to produce 3.75-inch ReAction Figures based on key soccer players from the United States Women’s National Team Players Association (USWNTPA). The new collection will feature athletes including team captains Megan Rapinoe, Alex Morgan, and Carli Lloyd as well as goalkeeper Alyssa Naeher — all of whom led the U.S. Women to their fourth world championship. Additional ReAction Figures will include Julie Ertz, Crystal Dunn, and other teammates. Read more…
Insomniac Games Joins Sony Interactive Entertainment

Insomniac becomes the 14th studio to join Sony Interactive Entertainment Worldwide Studios to develop more games for the PlayStation platform. The developer is the creative team behind some of the PlayStation 4’s most-popular games, including Marvel’s Spider-Man and the Ratchet & Clank franchise. Read more…
Peanuts, McDonald’s Team Up for Space-Themed Happy Meal Promotion

McDonald’s and Peanuts are teaming up for a new Happy Meal promotion that will celebrate September’s National Literacy Month and the 50th anniversary of the Apollo 11 moon landing. Beginning this week, Snoopy comes to McDonald’s in a series of four Happy Meal books that follow the famous beagle on his space-faring adventures. Read more…
Bananagrams Goes ‘Wild With Words’ for Back to School

It’s back-to-school season, and Bananagrams Inc. is getting into the academic spirit with the launch of its Bananagrams School Club. The new club encourages both schools and students alike to “Go Wild With Words” throughout the school year in a quest to have fun with friends, while developing a love of wordplay and the English language arts. Read more…
Roku Launches Kids & Family OTT Experience on The Roku Channel

The central hub for free and premium entertainment on the Roku platform, The Roku Channel’s new Kids & Family experience provides a selection of curated content — both free and via subscription — that’s brought together in one OTT loc ation. Roku is also adding parental controls to The Roku Channel for a safe, and customizable entertainment experience. Read more…
Numskull Introduces Licensed Range of TUBBZ Cosplaying Ducks

Numskull is hitting the water with TUBBZ, a new range of officially licensed collectible cosplaying ducks. The new collection features classic rubber ducks decked out in costumes from major pop culture and gaming franchises, including Ghostbusters, DC Super Heroes, Crash Bandicoot, Spyro the Dragon, Fallout, Destiny, Street Fighter, Borderlands, Lord of the Rings, and more. Each duck comes in a collectible, stackable box with a matching bathtub-shaped display stand. Read more...
Games: A Category That’s Still Playing to Win

Mary Couzin, CEO and founder of the Chicago Toy & Game Group, assembles a team of insiders for a look at where the games industry is today, and where it’s headed for the future. Read more…
LeapFrog Builds on Its Product Line

The Toy Book chats with Jennifer Eiselein, vice president of marketing and product development for VTech Electronics North America, about LeapFrog’s new LeapBuilders line. Read more…
Ethical Toy Sourcing Gains Momentum

Now is the time to embrace manufacturing against a backdrop of new regulations, evolving consumer expectations, and global sustainability initiatives. ICTI Ethical Toy Program was at the forefront of ethical manufacturing last year. Read more…
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