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Exclusive: Moonbug Appoints MGA Entertainment as Worldwide Licensing Agent for Little Baby Bum
MGA Entertainment is taking the reins as the worldwide licensing agent for Moonbug's Little Baby Bum, following the success of its Little Tikes toy line based on the property. Moonbug appointed the company to develop a global consumer products program in an effort to expand the reach and availability of products based on the popular preschool brand. Read more…
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Voting Opens for 2021 Toy Industry Hall of Fame Inductees
The Toy Association is making plans to honor the next round of inductees into the Toy Industry Hall of Fame. Since 1984, the Toy Industry Hall of Fame has honored outstanding individuals who have made impactful contributions to the toy industry and The Toy Association. This year’s nominees include Philip Bloom, founder and former publisher, The Bloom Report; William C. Killgallon, chairman of the board, The Ohio Art Company; Pleasant T. Rowland, founder, American Girl, a division of Mattel; and Bob Wann, chief Play Monster, PlayMonster. Read more…
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Spin Master, Feld Entertainment Rev Up Supercross Deal
Following the success of their Monster Jam collaboration, Spin Master Corp. and Feld Entertainment Inc. are expanding their pact to include toys based on Supercross. The motorsports action will be available at toy departments next year under a five-year licensing agreement in which Spin Master will serve as the global master toy partner for the world’s premier off-road motorcycle racing series. Read more…
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The Original Micro Machines Race Back to Toy Departments
Nearly 14 months after being announced ahead of last year’s Licensing Expo, the original Micro Machines are racing back to toy departments everywhere. Produced by Jazwares under license and collaboration with Hasbro, the new collection gives a modern update to the popular vehicles of the ’80s and ’90s. Read more…
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Pokémon Launches First-Ever Board Game Adaptation of Trading Card Classic
The Pokémon Co. International released a new board game, the first of its kind to be based on the Pokémon Trading Card Games. Each game comes with a two-player game board, tutorial guides, three 60-card decks, gameplay accessories, and a code card for the free Pokémon Trading Card Game online, which is available on iOS, Android, and pokémon.com. Read more…
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Cra-Z-Art, Nickelodeon Expand Deal for Slime, Modeling Compounds
Cra-Z-Art and Nickelodeon are bringing Nick’s iconic green goo to kids around the world. In a strategic expansion of the companies’ current licensing deal, Cra-Z-Art will distribute Nickelodeon pre-made Slime, DIY Slime Kits, and modeling compounds globally. For the past three years, Cra-Z-Art has marketed Nickelodeon products exclusively in the U.S. market. Read more…
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Beyblade Content, Toys to Arrive Ahead of 20th Anniversary Special
The first generation of Beyblade content is now available on the brand’s YouTube channel, marking the beginning of many celebrations from ADK Emotions NY ahead of the cartoon’s 20th anniversary. Content will be dropped weekly, featuring classic episodes in English and Spanish. Those who grew up watching the battle series can rekindle their love of the spinning toys, and an entire generation can catch the classic content for the first time. Read more…
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Fisher-Price Launches Toys Based on Genius Brands’ Rainbow Rangers
Mattel has launched the first Fisher-Price toy line for the colorful preschool series Rainbow Rangers, available now at Walmart and Amazon. Rainbow Rangers is a rescue-based series that follows the adventures of seven girls who are Earth’s first responders, protecting people, animals, resources, and the natural beauty of the planet. It currently airs on Nick Jr. in the U.S. Read more…
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Toy Industry Vet Gene Murtha Appears on the ‘Power Kid Podcast’
In this week’s episode of the “Power Kid Podcast,” host Phil Albritton of Power Kid Design speaks with toy industry veteran Gene Murtha of the Score Association. Murtha’s lengthy career has included executive roles at Fisher-Price, Tyco, Mattel, Main Street Toys, Coleco, General Mills, and GUND. He now serves as vice president and director at the Score Association, working on a mission to foster vibrant small business communities through mentoring and education. Listen here...
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Disney, Super7 Join Forces for Magical Collaboration
Collectible company Super7 is expanding its Ultimates Figure line with three classic Disney characters, promised to be the first collectibles in a larger magical collaboration. Super7 is known for creating retro-style figures based on characters from childhood classics, such as Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, Masters of The Universe, and Peanuts. The newest collaboration with Disney begins with figures based on Fantasia, Pinocchio, and Robin Hood. Read more...
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Super Impulse, Topps Collaborate on Wacky Packages Minis
The makers of World’s Smallest are bringing back a classic trading card and sticker brand. Wacky Packages Minis is a new line of miniature parody products created by Super Impulse under license from The Topps Co. The new collection includes 66 collectible toys that are based on the parody stickers that Topps originally launched back in 1967. Kids and collectors will find “Old Skool” satire with Cap’N Crud, Moron Salt, and Band-Ache packed with “New Skool” varieties including Dr. Pooper, Crypt’s Ahoy!, and Ghoul Scout Cookies. Read more…
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Funrise Toys Launches BFF Bright Fairy Friends
Funrise Toys has launched a collectible doll line called BFF Bright Fairy Friends. There are 12 dolls in the collection, each with rainbow, light-up wings; a motion-activated, twinkling fairy jar; and four fairy surprises for kids to unbox. Read more…
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Boss Fight Studio to Produce Action Figures Based on The Umbrella Academy
Known for its original Vitruvian H.A.C.K.S. figures and a growing lineup of licensed collectibles, Boss Fight Studio is partnering with Universal Content Productions for this upcoming action figure collection. The figures will be modeled after the Netflix television adaptation, as opposed to the original Umbrella Academy graphic novels. Read more...
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Unlock the Secrets of the Cube with Rubik's Official App
Rubik’s is launching an official app that uses a high-tech phone camera and artificial intelligence processing to help YOU solve those 3D puzzles. The app tracks the real-life Rubik’s Cube and uses an on-screen video to “paint” arrows on the Cube’s tiles via augmented reality to help teach users how to solve it through the screen. Users can also use the app’s audio and visual clues to improve their Rubik’s abilities and solve the puzzle in record times. Read more...
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Toy & Edu China, Baby & Stroller China, and Licensing China Prep for Opening
More than 1,300 exhibitors are on deck to test the waters at the first major in-person toy and licensing trade show to take place since the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic. After being postponed twice, Toy & Edu China, Baby & Stroller China, and Licensing China will open their doors today at the new Shenzhen World Exhibition & Convention Center. The event runs through Saturday. Read more…
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Subway Surfers’ Subsurf Toys Slide into Walmart
SYBO Games’ Subway Surfers have made their way to Walmart. The first collection of Subsurf lifestyle toys from Alpha Group USA arrives alongside an update to the popular mobile game that finds the Subway Surfers characters running through Little Rock, Arkansas, and a digital version of a Walmart store. Read more…
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Jam City, Cloudco Team Up for Care Bears x Panda Pop Collaboration
As the relaunch of Cloudco Entertainment's iconic Care Bears franchise continues, fans can now "unlock the magic" in a mobile game for the very first time. Unity Bear is a new Care Bear that was created specifically for Jam City's award-winning Panda Pop mobile game. The character will join the game beginning Sept. 3. Until then, players can experience in-game Care Bears content developed as part of the collaboration between Jam City and Cloudco. Read more...
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Spin Master Q2 Sales Dip 10.9% as POS Increases Begin
Spin Master Corp. faced a familiar plight for the second quarter of 2020 as the toy and entertainment company battled against the challenging conditions of business in the COVID-19 era. The Toronto-based company reported a 10.9% sales decrease in Q2 alongside a 12.4% decline in overall revenue versus the same period last year. Sales in North America increased slightly, and bright spots include a 19.2% sales increase across activities, games and puzzles, and plush, and a 9.1% sales increase for outdoor toys. Read more...
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Jakks Pacific Makes Progress Despite 17% Sales Hit in Q2
The company reported a 17% decline in Q2 sales versus the same period last year thanks to the spread of the COVID-19 pandemic and the closure of retail partners around the world. In the U.S., net sales for toys and other consumer products were down just 2%, while sales in the company’s Disguise Costumes division — which had been a pre-pandemic strong point — dropped 38%. At the same time, gross margin increased to 21.3% from 18.6% and operating expenses declined. Read more…
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