April 29, 2021
Mattel to Develop Toys Based on Chris ‘Ludacris’ Bridges’ Karma’s World

Mattel inked a multiyear global licensing deal to roll out a full range of toys inspired by Karma’s World, the new CG-animated series created by Chris “Ludacris” Bridges for Netflix. Under the new deal with 9 Story Media Group and Karma’s World Entertainment, Mattel will develop dolls and doll accessories, styling heads, roleplay items, plush, and more based on the adventures of Karma Grant, a 10-year-old aspiring musician and rapper. Read more...

Additionally, Mattel’s 2021 Hot Wheels Legends Tour kicks off in North America today with a special livestream event.
Exclusive: Far Out Toys Reveals Plans for a Live-action Glo-Up Girls Series

Far Out Toys’ Glo-Up Girls brand launch this summer will be supported by multiplatform content to reach kids and fans. In addition to the new collection of fashion dolls, The Glo Show will be a live-action reality series that will debut this July on YouTube to drive the emerging brand’s entertainment strategy this year. Read more…
2021 Licensing Expo to Go Fully Virtual

According to an email from Informa Markets, organizers of Licensing Expo, this year’s in-person event has been canceled. Instead, Licensing Expo — the world’s largest licensing event — will take place in a fully virtual format, Aug. 24-26 in an effort to “allow more people to connect, learn, strike deals and discover new intellectual property (IP). Read more…
Jakks Pacific, Disguise Sign on for PAW Patrol: The Movie Toys and Costumes

Under a new deal with ViacomCBS Consumer Products, Jakks will release PAW Patrol: The Movie-inspired ride-ons, ball pits, tents, activity tables, music activity mats, and kids’ furniture. Additionally, Disguise will roll out a full range of PAW Patrol costumes, costume accessories, adaptive costumes, and trunk-or-treat kits just in time for Halloween. Read more...
Spin Master’s Tech Deck Brand Becomes Official Sponsor of USA Skateboarding

It’s a historic year for skateboarding as the sport will make its debut at the Tokyo 2020 Olympic games this summer. And now, a popular toy brand is skating along with it. Spin Master‘s Tech Deck brand is now the official sponsor of USA Skateboarding, the national governing body for skateboarding in the U.S. The sponsorship will kick off at the 2021 USA Skateboarding National Championships for both skateboarding and fingerboarding. Read more…
GoNoodle, Tonies Join the Mindfulness Movement with Meditative Music and Audio Stories

Mindfulness has become an important skill for kids to learn and practice over the course of the pandemic, and one of the best ways to help them tune in to their emotions is by tuning up their music. GoNoodle and Tonies bring the best of both worlds together with the Mindfulness Starter Set Toniebox, which is a screen-free audio box encourages kids to relax, take a moment, and meditate to fun tales and tunes. Read more…
The L.O.L. Surprise! Dolls Are Going on Their First Live Concert Tour

Following the massive success of the L.O.L. Surprise! dolls, MGA Entertainment (MGAE) is collaborating with Terrapin Station Entertainment to bring the characters to the stage for the brand’s first-ever live concert tour. Read more…
Schleich USA, National 4-H Council Forge Partnership for Create Your Story Contest

The Create Your Story contest is a multiphase promotion that calls on Schleich fans, 4-H members, and kids across the country to take part in creating “one of the year’s most epic tales.” Read more…
Make Funky-fresh Music Videos with 8 New Additions to the LEGO Vidiyo World

The musical world of LEGO Vidiyo is getting bigger and bolder with eight new products that expand the music genres, special effects, and stage settings of those DIY videos. The LEGO Group and Universal Music Group unveiled two new BeatBoxes, 12 bandmates, and five brick-built stage models. Read more...
The Insights Family Issues 2021 Kids & Family Industry Report

Fresh off of a major rebrand and launch of its Portal 4.0 platform, The Insights Family issued the Kids & Family Industry Report 2021. The in-depth look at the changing face of businesses in the kids and family space — including toymakers, game companies, educators, and family entertainment and licensing companies — shows that the industry holds an optimistic outlook for the year ahead with 75% of companies surveyed reporting that they believe they will achieve their goals this year. Read more…
Have a Count-tastic Time with hand2mind’s Numberblocks MathLink Cubes

Based on the hit Netflix and YouTube show Numberblocks, MathLink Cubes are a fun, interactive way to get the counting gears in kids’ minds turning. Kids ages 3 and up can build their own characters like the ones they’ve seen in the Numberblocks series, from One to One Hundred. Read more...
Zigazoo: Jimmy Kimmel, pocket.watch, Jazwares Execs Bet Big on “TikTok for Kids” Platform

Pocket.watch Founder and CEO Chris M. Williams and Jazwares Partner Jeremy Padawer have joined Jimmy Kimmel’s Wheelhouse, Serena Williams’ Serena Ventures, and others in providing funding for Zigazoo, a kid-safe video sharing platform. Read more…
Ob-la-di, Ob-la-da: The Beatles Collaborate with CreateOn

CreateOn is bringing its Magna-Tile magic to the musical world of the Beatles — and, for the first time, to an adult collectors audience — with a collection of buildable sets. Each collectible set will feature iconic imagery from Beatles-era songs, albums, art, and more. Fans can arrange individual tiles to create structures such as the Abbey Road crosswalk, the Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club drum, the Yellow Submarine, and the Magical Mystery Bus. Read more…
Talkin’ Toy Law with Attorney Scott Landsbaum on the “Power Kid Podcast”

In this week’s episode of the “Power Kid Podcast,” host Phil Albritton of Power Kid Design welcomes toy and entertainment attorney Scott Landsbaum to the show. Over the past 25 years, Landsbaum has represented intellectual property (IP) clients, including toy companies, entrepreneurs, inventors, designers, and artists across multiple industries. Listen here…

The Toy Book Podcasts by Adventure Media & Events are available through all of your favorite streaming services, including Anchor, Spotify, Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, and more.
Mighty Mojo Toys Introduces Booba Night Buddies Plush

Booba may not be a household name in the U.S. yet, but since 2014, the adventures of the non-verbal, 3D animated yet have been gaining an audience on YouTube where they’ve racked up more than 2.1 billion views. Now, Booba is coming home thanks to a new plush Night Buddies companion from Mighty Mojo Toys under license from 3D Sparrow. Read more…
Thanks to TikTok, Fidgets Are Back and Better Than Ever

Fidget toys are back, and unlike the explosion of 2017, this year’s assortment is more diverse and interest is being fueled by a platform that didn’t exist four years ago: TikTok. The Toy Book explores the trend and speaks with manufacturers and retailers who are connecting with kids on the platform. Read more…
ASTRA: Supporting Independent Toy Stores, Manufacturers, and Reps in 2021

What does the American Specialty Toy Retailing Association (ASTRA) look like in 2021? ASTRA’s Interim President Sue Warfield explores all the ways that the trade organization is working to support its members this year. Read more…
Masters of the Universe, Barbie, and Hot Wheels Push 47% Mattel Q1 Sales Boom

In Q1, Mattel experienced a 67% spike in overall North American net sales. Global gross billings for dolls, including Barbie and Spirit was up 68%. The company charted a 31% gain in infant, toddler, and preschool, including Fisher-Price and Thomas & Friends; experienced 16% growth in vehicles, including Hot Wheels and Matchbox; and had 69% growth in the combined action figures, building sets, games, other categories led by Masters of the Universe, Jurassic World, and more. Read more…
Transformers, NERF, and Wizards of the Coast Boost Hasbro Sales as eOne Slows Revenue Growth

Hasbro kicked off 2021 with strong performance during its first quarter of reporting under its recently announced new trio of operating and financial reporting segments: Consumer Products, Wizards of the Coast and Digital Gaming, and Entertainment. Sales of consumer products, including toys and games, grew 14% while Wizards of the Coast and digital gaming spiked 15%. Read more…

Additionally, Hasbro revealed plans to sell the eOne Music business to Blackstone in a $385 million transaction.
Gaming, Disney, Outdoor Fuel 26% Q1 Sales Spike at Jakks Pacific

Robust sales of licensed toys and outdoor goods drove a 26% sales boom for Jakks Pacific in the first quarter. Net sales hit $83.8 million, up from $66.6 million in Q1 last year for the highest year-over-year Q1 sales growth since 2015. Gross margin hit 31.1%, the highest Q1 performance since 2017. Read more... 
The Nacelle Co. Names Michael Goodman as VP Management and Development

Just six months after signing a one-year, first-look deal to identify toy properties for The Nacelle Co.’s development and production slate, Michael Goodman has joined the company full-time. The producers of The Toys That Made Us appointed Goodman to the role of vice president, management and development. In his new role Goodman will specialize in packaging IP. Read more…
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