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Just Play to Create Toys for First African Kid Superhero Series Super Sema
Just Play will launch some pretty super toys next fall. The company has entered into a licensing agreement with edutainment company Kukua to create toys, including dolls and role-play sets, for the YouTube Originals series Super Sema. The show follows young African girl Sema and her twin brother MB who have STEAM superpowers. Read more…
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PlayMonster, Lucasfilm Team up for Star Wars-themed Toys and Activities
The Force is strong at PlayMonster as the Wisconsin-based company is collaborating with Lucasfilm to launch new Star Wars-themed products in 2022. In its first drop, PlayMonster will release toys and activities infused with iconic characters from a galaxy far, far away that include Koosh, Spirograph, Colorforms, and Latchkits. Read more…
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The Strong Unveils 2021 National Toy Hall of Fame Nominees
This year’s finalists include famous brands and classic items. American Girl Dolls, Battleship, billiards, Cabbage Patch Kids, the Fisher-Price Corn Popper, Mahjong, Masters of the Universe, piñata, Risk, sand, The Settlers of Catan, and the toy fire engine were selected from thousands of nominees. Read more…
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Disguise Enters the Dojo with Cobra Kai Costumes at Walmart
Disguise — the costumes and seasonal division of Jakks Pacific — inked a deal with Sony Pictures Consumer Products to create a new range of costumes and accessories inspired by the hit series Cobra Kai. The line will debut exclusively at Walmart this Halloween season. Read more…
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The LEGO Group Unveils Updated ‘Rebuild the World’ Brand Campaign
The LEGO Group is celebrating three years of its “Rebuild the World” initiative with a new short film that showcases the power of play in fostering essential skills such as creative problem-solving. The Damp Knight’s Tale posits a world where a knight wishes to cross a river to meet with a friendly bear and a village comes together in an effort to devise creative ways to help him get across with LEGO. Read more…
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Pokémon TCG Heads to Smartphones for the First Time
Fans of Pokémon trading cards can officially take the Pokémon Trading Card Game (TCG) on the go with a new app. Pokémon TCG Live allows kids to play the Pokémon TCG on smartphones for the first time. The game is free to play and kids can also play it on tablets, PCs, and Macs. Read more…
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Mattel, Warner Music Group’s Arts Music Release He-Man, Hot Wheels, and Thomas & Friends Albums
Last year, Mattel entered into a multiyear global music licensing agreement with Warner Music Group’s (WMG) Arts Music division for the label to serve as the sole distributor of Mattel’s back catalog of more than 1,000 songs. Now, new albums are joining the Mattel discography with the release of a trio of new titles inspired by He-Man and the Masters of the Universe, Hot Wheels, and Thomas & Friends. Read more…
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Bluey Expands Across Europe with New Licensing Agents
BBC Studios has appointed new licensing agents to represent the preschool series Bluey in 24 European countries. Bluey began in Australia in 2018 and has since launched in the U.S. and UK markets with success. This further expansion will include distribution deals for global master toy provider Moose Toys in each new territory. Read more…
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Breyer Horses Receives 2021 Equine Industry Vision Award
The leading maker of equestrian-inspired toys, gifts, and collectibles received a big honor this month. Breyer — a division of Reeves International — was named the recipient of the 20th Annual Equine Industry Vision Award by Zoetis, in partnership with American Horse Publications. The award is given annually in recognition of outstanding leadership, creativity, and meritorious contributions toward positive changes in the equine industry. Read more…
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The Safari Truck Climber Is Built for (Pretend) Off-road Expeditions
Little explorers and their pals can discover all of the giraffes, lions, and other creatures lurking in their yards with the Safari Truck Climber from Step2. The two-story, stationary truck is built for friends to get together and explore. Read more...
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FoxMind Gets Poppin’ with Canspan BMG as PR Partner
The company behind the Go Pop! and Pop It! brands has a new public relations partner. FoxMind Group Ltd inked a deal with Canspan BMG Inc. under which Canspan will provide influencer marketing and editorial support to the company in addition to traditional PR services. Read more…
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Talking Cubles with Mike Horn and Joel Morris on the ‘Power Kid Podcast’
In this week’s episode of the “Power Kid Podcast,” host Phil Albritton of Power Kid Design welcomes Joel Morris and Mike Horn, co-founders of Cubles — sturdy, paperboard characters that are made in the U.S. Listen here...
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Genius Brands’ Kartoon Channel! Scores Content from Hasbro’s eOne and More
Genius Brands International licensed a host of new programming, including Peppa Pig, My Little Pony, PJ Masks, and more as it continues to expand its library of kids and family content. The free Kartoon Channel! now boasts more than 5,000 episodes that are available for families to stream. Read more…
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Retail Sales Rise; NRF Plans Supply Chain 360 Event
According to the National Retail Federation (NRF), retail sales spiked in August as consumer demand continued to outweigh the multitude of issues affecting businesses right now. The U.S. Census Bureau reports that August sales were up 15.1% over the same period last year while the NRF — which uses a different methodology — reports a 12% climb. Read more…
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Jada Toys Goes to the Next Level with Its New Platform for Exclusive Collectibles
From the Pop Insider, Senior Editor Madeleine Buckley chats with Jada Toys CEO Bill Simons about Next Level — the company’s new direct-to-consumer platform for exclusive, limited-edition vehicles. Read more...
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Members Weigh in on Women in Toys’ New Look
Women in Toys, Licensing & Entertainment (WiT) is sporting a new look and logo that reflects the vibrancy, inspiration, and energy of its global community as the nonprofit organization turns 30 years young. Here’s what WiT members have to say about their own experiences and what the new rebrand means to them. Read more…
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Toy Industry Mourns the Loss of Former Galoob Toys Exec Robby Kanoff
The Philadelphia-born Kanoff began his career in the toy industry in 1978 as national sales manager at Lewis Galoob Toys. His efforts to guide Galoob from an importer of toys to a maker of toys led to licensed products inspired by Universal’s The A-Team, WCW, the Spice Girls, and more alongside original brands, including Micro Machines, Baby Face Dolls, and more. Read more…
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Brand Licensing Europe Pays Tribute to Kelvyn Gardner
The Kelvyn Gardner License This! Competition honors the late licensing executive who died suddenly in January, just four days past his 66th birthday. The category continues the legacy of the License This! program that has been helping brands and designers to break into the licensing industry for more than a decade. Read more…
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Xavier Kochhar Joins pocket.watch as First COO and CFO
Kocchar will lead the company’s major business units, including direct-to-consumer, content sales and distribution, advertising, consumer products, gaming, and creator partnerships. Kochhar will also head the corporate development, strategy, and finance divisions of the company. Read more…
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Julian Zag Expands Role to Include Consumer Products at ZAG Worldwide
ZAG Worldwide‘s continued expansion has resulted in some additional responsibilities for Executive Vice President, Global Operations, Julian Zag. The independent entertainment studio added a new title — head of global consumer products — to Zag’s resume, effective immediately. Read more…
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Guru Studio Names Dattaguru Mahabal Vice President of Finance
Dattaguru joins the company from Boat Rocker Media where he most recently served as vice president of financial planning and analysis. At Boat Rocker Media, Dattagutu built financial expertise across its international studios and worked with the company on their subsequent IPO. Read more…
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