Welcome to Your Weekly News Brief!
Happy Bloomin' Friday and Happy Valentine's Day!
My son Nick grew up hearing me say, "I love you to infinity and beyond!" every single day. Now in his 20s, I still say it whenever I get the chance—and he never says he's too old for it. That’s part of the power and magic of what we do in our industry. So are the friends we make - they are like family. And some do marry and become family (see article below). When my Nick was on holiday in Israel, Boaz Coster generously took him to the FIBA U18 Eurobasket where he saw a young Deni Avdija.
Now a sportscaster and anchor—his dream job—Nick was inspired by Matt Nuccio’s premiere of Toys of Our Lives, where sports figures shared their favorite childhood toys. He’s since started asking the same question in many of his interviews.
Toys matter. What we do matters now more than ever.
Next up! New York Toy Fair! During NYTF, we are celebrating the 25th Anniversary of our POP Pub Party AND the 20th Anniversary of our Young Inventor Challenge on Monday March 3rd! Tickets are $20 and all funds go directly to the Young Inventor Challenge. Get your tickets HERE. Join us for casual networking… come and go, or stay the whole evening and enjoy dinner at Connolly's! We’ll have the entire second floor and I hope to see you there! Past photos HERE!
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Mary and the POP Team
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People of the Week: Partners in Play
Love and Business in the Toy and Game World
At Nuremberg Toy Fair, Warren Jacobs, Jonny Henton, Mary Jo Reutter, Don Ullman and I couldn’t help but notice just how many couples are part of our industry, such as Warren Jacobs and Sally Bean Jacobs, Richard Gill and Catherine McMillen and a several others nearby. We thought—why not make a list? Maybe even a column in the Bloom Report. And so, here we are!
A huge thank you to everyone who contributed to this article! I know there are many more amazing couples in the industry, so let’s keep this list growing. If you know of a duo we should feature, send me their names—bonus points for their love story and where they work! I'll be happy to share. 💕
And here is the list.... Read More...
Person of Week - Crystal Callahan
The Real Power in Asian Toy Manufacturing
Hi Crystal! Great to see you at Spielwarenmesse Toy Fair in Nuremberg. What brought you into the toy industry?
I was in the hospitality business, running the food outlets at the Grand Hyatt in Taipei, when I met my now husband, Dennis. He had a great start up toy company called Tree Toys.
How did you start working in the company?
Dennis put me in charge of art and creative where I worked with major Licensing companies, with brands such as Bananas in Pyjamas, the Wiggles, Thomas the Tank, Peppa Pig and many others.
How did the business grow and what was your input?
As a Taiwanese, we were able to setup factories and a sales and R&D office to control the quality and manage the growth of the Business. This started with us growing our own brands and then manufacturing for many major distributors, brand owners and retailers around the world. I was and still are the CEO, major shareholder in this business.
How do you staff and run this business?
From my experience in Asia I had seen that there were a lot of women that were undervalued and were not able to expose their full potential. I also saw that there was a great work ethic and the ability for these women to get the job done. So, in this we decided to task ourselves with giving these women a real chance and they haven’t let us down. Most staff members are woman, and they are all at the top level of management. Read More...
Toy Foundation Auction Now Open
Bid on Must-Have Items to Give Back!
The Toy Foundation’s (TTF) online auction in celebration of the 25th Anniversary Toy of the Year® (TOTY®) Awards is officially open for your bids! Featuring industry mentorship and service items; one-of-a-kind family experiences and international travel; and exceptional collectibles – all at can’t beat starting bids – every bid makes a difference in supporting TTF’s work to deliver the power of play to children when they need it most.
Bidding is now open online through the end of Toy Fair®, closing at 5p.m. (Eastern) on Tuesday, March 4. The auction is open to the entire toy industry and beyond; you do not need to attend the TOTY® Awards or Toy Fair to participate.
Auction items include: Read More...
Azhelle Wade - The Toy Coach
How To Win Over Buyers at Toy Fair with Barry & Jason
New York Toy Fair is just around the corner and if you’re preparing to launch your toy or game at this event, learn this lesson: it WON’T sell itself! Buyers see hundreds of pitches, and even the best ideas can get lost in the noise.
The real secret? It’s not just what you pitch, but HOW you pitch it. So, how do you make buyers stop, pay attention, and want to play?
That’s exactly why I’m bringing back an episode with Barry McLaughlin & Jason Lautenschleger, who share how to pitch and stand out at New York Toy Fair. Read More...
Cartoon Lovers, Lexophiles & People in Need of a Smile!
Cartoon of the Week: Thank you to the meme team for the meme this week!
Memorable Quotes: "To launch a business means successfully solving problems. Solving problems means listening." -Richard Branson
Toy Industry Word of Day: If you can think of a toy/game industry word not in our POPDictionary, add it and we will connect it to you POP profile, feature it here in an upcoming week and on POP's homepage!
Have a cartoon, quote or a joke to share? Send it to me! Mary
Happiest of Birthdays to colleagues celebrating birthdays this past week!
Financial and Legal
IJW & Co., a leading Canadian boutique investment bank and M&A advisory firm that serves middle market enterprises globally, is pleased to announce its merger with Florida-based Bambini Partners, LLC, to expand its consumer industry M&A and strategic advisory practice. After operating successfully as affiliate partners since 2020, the firms are formally combining and will operate under the IJW & Co banner.
Asmodee has acknowledged that its business model exhibits a “concentration risk”, with more than half of its €1.2bn in annual net sales coming from just five product lines. Asmodee currently has a portfolio of about 4,000 game products across 400 IPs, and says it releases more than 1,000 new ‘stock keeping units’ (SKUs) each year. It sold more than 110 million games...
DeAPlaneta Entertainment has acquired full ownership of Milo, the internationally successful animated pre-school series, following a successful co-production with Fourth Wall. The acquisition marks a new chapter for the brand, with DeAPlaneta Entertainment now leading its future development, licensing and global expansion.
YouTube TV, Paramount carriage deal up in the air. Channels including Nickelodeon are set to go dark on the platform if the two sides are unable to reach an agreement. Amid unsuccessful negotiations to renew a carriage deal, a blackout is on the horizon if Paramount Global and YouTube TV are unable to agree on contract terms. YouTube’s pay TV service in the US is poised to drop Paramount channels—including...
US-based mediacos PBS and Disney are making changes to their diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) initiatives in response to evolving corporate and regulatory mandates. American pubcaster PBS has closed its DEI office in response to an executive order from US President Donald Trump aimed at restricting DEI programs in federally funded organizations. While it’s unclear how many staffers were employed...
Plans for the auction of Diamond, Alliance, and other assets. Filings in the Chapter 11 bankruptcy of Diamond Comic Distributors and related companies lay out the plan for the auction of assets, including FreeComicBookDay.com. The proposed auction timeline provides that bids for any assets are to be filed by March 19, with a live auction among companies that have made qualifying bids to be held on March 24...
Sensical (pictured), the kids streaming platform owned by Common Sense Networks, has been acquired by Cricket Media. Virginia-based Cricket is best known for its same-name magazine that launched in 1973, aimed at readers in the nine-to-14 demo—and also publishes eight other titles targeting different age groups, including preschoolers (Ladybug, Click) and six- to nine-year-olds (Spider).
The eminently popular live service game Roblox is involved in an active investigation by the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) according to a new report, though the extent is unclear. As reported by Bloomberg, a Freedom of Information Act request elicited a statement from the commission, confirming Roblox had been referenced in an "active and ongoing investigation."
How the 2020-2025 box-office meltdown trickled down to another industry. After a couple of rocky years, Disney's financial situation appears to be stabilizing, but it's too late for some of their business associates. The downturn in tent-pole blockbusters at the box office has caused unforeseen ripples. After years of allegedly hiding losses and waning interest in their line of toys, toy industry juggernaut Hasbro...
Possum Creek joins Steve Jackson Games as an imprint. Steve Jackson Games revealed that Possum Creek has joined their company as an imprint, the companies announced. Possum Creek is a TTRPG publisher that is best known for Wanderhome, an indie RPG designed by Jay Dragon, where players enter a fantasy world of travelling animal-folk. This TTRG won multiple ENNIEs and was a 2021 Nebula finalist.
Tariffs might make your kids' favorite toys even pricier very soon. I love that toys generally stay affordable. For context, I helped round up our most recent list of the best toys and 35 of our picks are $20 or less. From my 25 years of covering the toy market, I know that part of what keeps kid stuff priced low is manufacturing overseas. And when President Trump recently imposed an additional 10% tariff on products from China...
US Postal Service resumes deliveries from China. The US Postal Service (USPS) has resumed accepting parcels from mainland China and Hong Kong following a brief suspension after Donald Trump changed the rules on import taxes. USPS said it was working with US Customs and Border Protection to ensure "the least disruption" to package deliveries as the US president announced trade measures...
New Zealand’s government has launched a public consultation on sweeping media reforms designed to update regulations, enhance funding and strengthen local content in a rapidly changing digital landscape. Released by the Ministry for Culture and Heritage (NZMCH) on February 12, the Media Reform discussion document proposes significant changes aimed at creating a regulatory and funding environment...
Rooster Teeth co-founder Burnie Burns has reacquired the shuttered animation studio’s brand and remaining assets from Warner Bros. Discovery (WBD) for an undisclosed sum through his independent prodco, Box Canyon Productions. WBD shut down Rooster Teeth last March, citing new challenges in the media marketplace, including monetization, advertising, and shifting consumer behavior on digital platforms.
Paramount Pictures has teamed up with Atlanta-based investment firm Domain Capital Group to co-finance a minimum of 30 films—automatically expanding to 40 films under certain circumstances. The companies haven’t shared specifics on what percentage of financing Domain Capital will provide on each project, but the films covered under the deal span multiple genres and budget levels.
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Visit the York-Jersey Underwriters website at www.toy-insurance.com
Financial Reporting
Hasbro reported its fourth quarter and full-year earnings for 2024 alongside a new strategic plan through 2027, dubbed “Playing to Win.” While revenue fell, the company’s under-the-hood improvements continued with a 76% spike in adjusted operating profit to $838 million. Last year, Hasbro’s revenue declined 17% to $4.1 billion, down from $5 billion in 2023, primarily due to the divestiture of eOne. Absent the eOne business, revenue declined 7%, with 4% growth in Wizards of the Coast and Digital Gaming powered by successes in Magic: The Gathering and Monopoly Go! Declines in Consumer Products (-12%) and Entertainment (-88% or -4%, minus eOne) offset those numbers.
Roku Cracks $1B Mark In Platform Revenue In Q4; Shares Jump
Sony Group Corporation turned in a strong third quarter for 2024, riding high on gaming and music while its film unit faced headwinds. The tech and entertainment conglomerate posted consolidated revenue of JPY4.41 trillion ($28.6 billion), an 18% surge year-over-year, driven by robust gains in PlayStation sales and streaming music revenue. Operating income landed at $3.05 billion...
Krafton delivers record annual revenue, now wants to secure 'big franchise IP'. P As noted in its fiscal report for the year ended December 31, 2024, full-year revenue increased by 41.8 percent year-on-year to KRW 2.7 trillion ($1.85 billion).
Paradox's year-end report touts 'strong' 2024 output despite revenue decline. The report shows Paradox revenue in decline: fourth quarter revenue amounted to 709.1 million SEK (or $64.8 million), down 29 percent year-over-year.
Take-Two financials: NBA 2K exceeds expectations and GTA V surpasses 210M sales.
‘Captain America: Brave New World’ Aims for $90M-Plus U.S. Opening, Nearly $200M Globally. 'Paddington in Peru' also opens in theaters over the long Valentine's Day-Presidents Day weekend, while 'Bridget Jones: Mad About You' hits Peacock in the U.S.
Trends, Lists, Market Research, and State of the Industry
Enhancing Board Games with QR Codes: A New Level of Interaction
Ranking the top 10 Madden NFL games
Update from the French Toy Market. The French Toy market was down 0.7% in revenue and 1.2% in unit volume in 2024. The business has been mostly stable during a period when Germany and UK declined more, down 2.3% and 3.7% percent, respectively.
REPORT: Kids Corp calls for shift in audience approach. A new report highlights why today's young viewers need a content ecosystem—not just a platform—to keep them engaged.
Streamers continue to build up libraries. An Ampere Analysis presentation at Kidscreen Summit this week dove into how SVODs benefit from having a deep kids catalogue, while streamers are shifting to non-exclusive deals.
Parenting, preschool and the new normal: How raising kids has changed. In this Kidscreen Summit recap, we examine how a shifting cultural landscape, AI-driven entertainment and the pandemic's lasting effects are reshaping how young children grow, learn and engage with media.
Movie attendance in Europe dipped 2% last year. More than 840 million tickets were sold in 2024, according to early estimates from the European Audiovisual Observatory.
JANUARY 2025 CIRCANA BOOKSCAN - TOP 20 ADULT GRAPHIC NOVELS Behold the Power of Anime
JANUARY 2025 CIRCANA BOOKSCAN - TOP 20 AUTHOR, MANGA, SUPERHERO GRAPHIC NOVELS
*** The above posted after tBR circulated on February 14th ***
Female Protagonists Featured in Record Number of Films in 2024. For the first time in recent history, the percentage of top-grossing films featuring female protagonists equaled the percentage of films with male protagonists,
U.S. Toy Manufacturers Look To Leverage A Heavier Entertainment Slate In 2025
ON TREND: A US kids streaming market snapshot. According to Circana’s VP and Media Entertainment industry advisor John Buffone, 90% of US households with internet access subscribe to at least one SVOD service these days, and the average is five.
YouTube Surprise: CEO says TV overtakes Mobile as “primary device” for viewing. If there was any doubt before, this seals it: YouTube is in the TV business.
Marketing through memes. Leveraging quirky internet culture can help kids entertainment brands generate laughs, maintain market presence and reach larger audiences.
Kids are searching for calm in a digital world. REPORT: More young people are turning to music, art and books to find peace amid the chaos.
The 'Slow TV' movement: Why parents are turning back the clock on kids' programming.
F1 attracting new, much younger fans. After four years of growth, Formula 1 is roaring into toy aisles with Mattel and The LEGO Group revving up its program as anchor licensees.
Graphic novels are booming in popularity. It’s changing children’s relationship with books. Sales of graphic novels have doubled over the past five years, to some parents’ dismay. But data shows these books can have a positive lifelong impact on young readers.
Jellycat, LEGO, Sonny Angels: Why adults are splashing out on toys.
TOP 20 GRAPHIC NOVELS - JANUARY 2025
TCGplayer Top 25 Sealed TCG Products Chart Analysis for January 2025.
Stories, Comments, and Advice
Have You Tried Lemonading? Researchers Tout the Power of Playfulness in Tough Times. Making lemonade when life hands you lemons is a concept that’s been around for over 100 years — but thanks to a study out of Oregon State University, we now have new science-backed evidence showing how powerful “lemonading” can really be. The study evaluated two groups of people during the COVID-19 pandemic, homing in on one quality in particular: playfulness. Their findings? The more playful individuals displayed “significantly higher levels” of resilience when coping...
Video Game Has 80% Success Rate in Identifying Autistic Kids. Doctors may soon be able to diagnose autistic children using a new movement-tracking video game tool, which can distinguish autistic kids from their non-autistic peers with an 80 percent success rate. The game was also able to distinguish children with autism from those with ADHD – two diagnoses that often get jumbled – with 70 percent accuracy.
Revolutionising Play: India's bold plan to lead global toy innovation. In a move that promises to reshape the landscape of India’s manufacturing and educational sectors, the recent Union Budget presented by Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman has unveiled ambitious schemes designed to boost the nation’s toy industry...
Hush Harbors: Life in the Toy Box. “You are a toy!” Could the oft-recited line from the 1995 feature film Toy Story—a beloved classic—hide a more profound meaning? The film’s portrayal of toys, which are sentient in their private world but lifeless in the presence of humans, can be interpreted as a commentary on the performative aspects of existence under oppressive systems.
Modeling kindness in kids TV is critical right now. Sesame Workshop researchers find that kindness among children is trending downwards, but parents still see it as a crucial trait. Kindness is a powerful tool. Being kind boosts our well-being and overall happiness, strengthens our connections with others1, and improves our sense of belonging. Children’s media has the power to portray kindness in a holistic way...
*** The above posted after tBR circulated on February 14th ***
John Baulch, toy World - Bills! Bills! Bills! … it’s the Friday Blog! I vowed to steer away from controversy this week – the plan was to write about puppies and kittens, rainbows or something like that. Then I found myself casually perusing LinkedIn on Wednesday afternoon and came across a post from a small Indian toy manufacturer, who was complaining about ace turtle – one of the joint venture partners that license the Toys R Us...
Hello, It’s Stitch, by Christopher Byrne. Walking the shows in Nuremberg and Hong Kong, there was one ubiquitous character that everyone seemed to want a (officially licensed) piece of: Stitch, originally from the 2002 Disney film Lilo & Stitch. You couldn’t swing a stuffed toy without crashing into some licensee or other, and the range of categories just at the toy fairs ranged from backpacks to water bottles...
Launching a board game-focused YouTube channel in 2025 is a sobering prospect, with hundreds of existing video makers large and small already fighting over the eyeballs of tabletop gamers. Having a unique selling point is practically essential for helping a new channel stand out from the crowd – and creator JC Wollslager hopes “flipping the script” on How To Play videos with his channel How To Teach fills an...
Christopher Byrne - Disruption Report: Tariffs Gone Wild. As of this morning, a 10 percent tariff on all goods from China goes into effect. However, the 25 percent tariffs on goods from Canada and Mexico are paused for thirty days. The New York Times has a full description of China’s retaliatory tactics, and many other news reports will give you a full description of all that’s going on.
JAY FOREMAN, CEO, Basic Fun - Tariffs hitting exports from China: what is Basic Fun going to do? Certainly, we will wait and see how this plays out over the next few weeks. We hear goods departing China as of March 7th will face a tariff upon arrival. That gives us five weeks plus two or three on the water before we and our customers are going to get billed 10 percent on the import value of the goods.
Meet the Adults Who Swear By the Kids’ Menu. ‘Give Me Chicken Tenders and I’m Happy.’ Consumers looking to beat rising food prices or stick to healthier diets seek smaller, cheaper options; ‘sometimes there’s a little prize’. Ashley Garrett thinks restaurant portions are too big and expensive, and she hates leftovers. Her solution isn’t to eat out less. It’s to order from the kids’ menu.
Marvel Video Games Can Get Ahead of the Curve With One Character. With upcoming titles like Marvel's Wolverine, Blade, and EA's Iron Man and Black Panther projects, there is an exciting number of Marvel games on the way. Also, the launch of Marvel Rivals has been a massive hit, bringing some of the franchise's biggest characters together in a multiplayer match-up. There is one Marvel character in particular...
Is Gen Alpha Growing Up Too Fast, or is Their Idea of Play Just Evolving? Generation Alpha is the first to grow up fully immersed in digital technology, shaping their development in unique ways, writes Thet Yin Zaw. Numerous observers have noted that Generation Alpha appears to be maturing at an accelerated pace, evident in their self-presentation (e.g. tween skincare & make-up) and social interactions...
Why Does “Football” Mean Something Different in the U.S.? Football takes over America for much of the fall and winter, but to the Brits, the word means an entirely different sport. Why and when did these meanings diverge? To the majority of the 5 billion worldwide fans of the sport Americans call “soccer,” the game is called “football.” Despite “soccer” being used almost exclusively in the United States today, we can trace...
Julia Fitzgerald - In today’s Midsize Match Up, I had the pleasure of sitting down with the founders of Simon/Myers—Principal Lou Simon and Chief Creative Officer Jim Myers. These two have built a top-flight agency by bringing tremendous value to a specific business sector. For the readers who have been asking for more B2B agencies in the mix, this one’s for you.
Mewing, Beta Maxing, Gigachad, Baddie: Parents Are Drowning in New Lingo. Slang is sprouting at a dizzying speed, leaving adults constantly unsure if they’re being insulted; ‘Omega is like the lowest rate you can get’ Cecilia Hermawan has text chains going with other parents to stay up to speed on the words and phrases catching on among their children. Still, the Boston-area resident was taken aback after hearing the word...
How Good Is Scrabble’s GOAT? He Wins in Languages He Can’t Speak. After conquering the game in English, Nigel Richards moved on to French and Spanish; ‘all words are equal in his memory’. Nigel Richards is the reigning world champion of Scrabble in Spanish. Just don’t ask him to order a coffee in Madrid. The 57-year-old New Zealander doesn’t speak a lick of Spanish.
In Yunhe, a mountainous county in Zhejiang province, wooden toys are more than just playthings — they are the lifeblood of the community. Among Yunhe's 126,300 residents, about one in four works in the wooden toy industry or related fields. Wooden toys, which include blocks, puzzles, trains and educational tools, only account for 5.6 percent of China's toy market in 2023, according to Zhiyan Consulting...
Saudi Arabia expects tourism boom from theme parks. The kingdom's Vision 2030 plan is a gateway opportunity for kids brand owners to plant their flags in 21 new family entertainment centers that are currently under construction. Thrilling attractions, interactive exhibits, diverse shopping options and delicious food & beverage services form the backbone of a great theme park, but they also have the power...
The imperfect ecosystem of Netflix and YouTube. When it comes to kids content, YouTube feeds Netflix. The problem is, original IP development on YouTube has dried up. YouTube is Netflix’s main competitor, but the two companies don’t really like saying that. Instead, obfuscation abounds. The standard party line tends to be, “We’re complementary.”
PK XD offers brands a Roblox alternative. Miraculous, Hello Kitty, Care Bears and L.O.L. Surprise! have moved into this open-world game, jumping on an untapped fan engagement opportunity in a less cluttered space. The PK XD universe has been growing steadily, with more than a billion installs and 150 billion minutes of play time to date, says Afterverse CEO Charles Barros. It’s currently available in 14 countries...
History and Nostalgia
Beyond Banner Ads (My Neopet Loves McDonalds). Having been born in the 1990s, I grew up during an era of growing availability of home computers and internet. Each new piece of technology, software, and online game was a novelty. I remember buying the Catz 5 and Dogz 5 games before we had a computer capable of running them and reading the manuals over and over until I could finally play.
The Inventors from Parker Brothers. Published by Parker Brothers in 1974, The Inventors board game challenged players to build their fortunes by buying and patenting inventions and identifying smart investment opportunities. To start, the plastic “Incredible Patent Picker Move Maker Machine” was placed in the center of the game board. The machine was used to roll the dice and dispense patent claim chips.
Transogram – 1961 Spring-Summer Catalogue. For a large part of the 20th century, Transogram Toys and Games produced an array of toys, games, outdoor sports sets, and kid-sized furniture. This dealer catalog from 1961 illustrates the company’s diverse product offerings. Highlights include the Lance-a-Lot, a “play-safe polyethylene action lance,” the Aquasport Jr. Scuba Underwater Outfit, and the Eliot Ness...
At Kansas City toy museum, Black dolls exhibit explores an uneasy history of childhood. For the past eight months, an exhibit of cloth, wood, and leather dolls has been kickstarting important conversations about race and gender in Kansas City. The dolls date from around 1850 to 1940. Many are dressed in 19th century suits and patterned cotton dresses with neatly-appointed aprons. Some are made from old feed sacks.
Licensing and Entertainment
Cloudco Entertainment and WildBrain Studios are teaming up on a project that’s just as sweet in terms of revenue and licensing potential as the brands involved. In October, the two companies announced that they’re co-producing a 44-minute animated preschool special called The Care Berry Switch (working title) that unites the Care Bears and Strawberry Shortcake in a content title for the very first time.
Hasbro Entertainment has forged a new deal with Netflix to develop a live-action Dungeons & Dragons series called The Forgotten Realms. The move comes in the wake of Hasbro’s previous co-production partner, Paramount+, deciding not to proceed with a live-action adaptation of the fantasy role-playing game franchise last May, amidst a company-wide restructuring and Hasbro’s sale of eOne to Lionsgate.
Teddy Mountain UK has partnered with Aardman to launch a Gromit plush. The Gromit plush will be available in the UK from April 25th and follows Teddy Mountain UK’s 2024 release of Shaun the Sheep. “The hugely successful release of our Shaun the Sheep make-a-bear plush underscores our winning strategy of licensing high profile IP, led by these wonderful Aardman characters,” said Ryan Davie...
Highland Film Group is shopping this film concept based on a series of YA books that have sold more than 31 million copies globally. A movie adaption of bestselling vampiric book series House of Night is in development. Penned by author P.C. Cast and her daughter Kristin Cast, 12 main novels have been published since 2007, in addition to a number of sequel books and novellas.
Consolidated streamer JioHotstar went live in India today, merging two of the country’s popular SVODs—JioCinema and Disney+ Hotstar. Formed last yr by Disney’s Star India and Viacom18, the US$8.5-billion jt-venture is owned by Mumbai-based Reliance Industries. With an entertainment catalogue of more than 300,000 hours, JioHotstar says it will reach up to 500 million users, which is a dominant...
Hoho Entertainment and Wild Child Animation have joined forces to develop their first feature film. Toad & Friends is based on Kenneth Grahame’s classic 1908 novel The Wind in the Willows, which has sold more than 85 million copies in 29 languages worldwide. This is familiar source material for partners that have already co-produced a CG-animated Toad & Friends series...
Licensing Works and Kewpie Bring the Love on Valentine’s Day. Kewpie was conceived as a symbol of love and laughter, and the brand certainly lived up to that reputation this Valentine’s Day. Licensing Works!, the exclusive agent for the Kewpie Corporation, brokered the launch of several new Kewpie products, timed for Valentine’s Day. Kewpie Corporation owns the global rights for the Kewpie intellectual property...
KessCo has teamed up with Bandai to introduce Tamagotchi Collections, a board game that brings the nostalgic virtual pets to the tabletop. Designed for two to four players, the game challenges participants to care for and host as many Tamagotchi characters who have crash-landed on Earth as possible to earn points. Players roll dice to feed, play with and give attention to their Tamagotchi visitors.
Beast Games, Amazon Prime Video’s reality competition series hosted by the YouTuber known as MrBeast, is not a well-made show. It is certainly an expensive show, something Mr Beast, the alter ego for 26-year-old Jimmy Donaldson of Greenville, North Carolina, likes to frequently remind viewers. The series is a feat of scale shocking to audiences outside the realm of YouTube, and especially Donaldson’s fiefdom...
*** The above posted after tBR circulated February 14th ***
Moose Toys, an innovator in the toy industry, in partnership with MrBeast (Jimmy Donaldson), the world's most-subscribed YouTuber, announced the launch of animated shorts inspired by its blockbuster MrBeast Lab toy line. Created in collaboration with Stoopid Buddy Stoodios, the shorts underscore Moose Toys' commitment to growing the MrBeast Lab brand's footprint.
Spin Master announced today it is developing a live-action Bakugan® feature film, with Brad Peyton signed on to direct, write, and produce. Peyton and Lindsay Harbert are collaborating with Spin Master Entertainment on the development of the screenplay based on the global franchise. Originally launched in 2007, Bakugan...
Super Impulse’s World’s Smallest expands into Plush. Multiple licensed brands to launch in mini plush. Super Impulse, the creators of the World’s Smallest brand, announced its latest innovation: World’s Smallest Plush. Known for miniaturizing toys and games, World’s Smallest has sold over 275 million units worldwide.
First look: ‘Jurassic World Rebirth’ collaborations. New toys from Mattel and LEGO are revealed following the release of the film’s first trailer. Universal Pictures dropped the official trailer for “Jurassic World Rebirth” and License Global has a first look at some of the merchandise collaborations for the upcoming film from Mattel and the LEGO Group.
Heathside Trading inks deal with Paramount for Star Trek action figures. Heathside Trading has announced a licensing agreement with Paramount Consumer Products for Star Trek toys and collectibles including action figures, playsets, replicas, and more for its Master Replicas brand.Two Star Trek figures — Admiral Picard from Star Trek: Picard season 3 and Spock from Star Trek: Strange New Worlds — are...
Tom and Jerry celebrate 85 years of mischief and laughter. Since their debut in 1940, the legendary cat-and-mouse duo Tom and Jerry have delighted audiences around the world. To honour the beloved pair, Warner Bros. Discovery is unveiling a year-long global celebration for fans of all ages with new products, content, experiences and more. .
Wyncor’s Miraball toy line to launch at Walmart. With new patented technology, the colorful blind pack ball reveals three secrets. Under the wrap is a vibrantly painted metal dangler ball. When the ball is popped open, a large hidden plushy charm expands, thanks to the innovation of a new ultra-shrinkable memory foam plush.
PMI Kids’ World to showcase fresh licenses at Toy Fair. With Toy Fair fast approaching, companies are finalizing their plans and preparations. Global toy manufacturer PMI Kids’ World will be one of the companies in attendance. PMI Kids’ World comes to Toy Fair after a successful year that included fresh licenses, new brands, and outstanding product launches.
Further details revealed for Disney Lorcana Archazia’s Island. Ravensburger has announced additional details of Archazia’s Island, the upcoming instalment of the popular Disney Lorcana Trading Card Game (TCG). In this new set, friendly pets abound and Illumineers uncover an ancient secret. After the Illumineers and glimmers took to the seas questing for knowledge of how to fix the Great Illuminary in the sixth set...
Funko releases more ‘SNL’ characters. Funko has released more Funko Pop! for NBCUniversal’s TV show, “Saturday Night Live’s” 50th anniversary. Characters featured in the SNL 50th rollout include GuapLord, SmokeChedda (a Funko exclusive), Nick the Lounge Singer, Mango, Herb Welch, Mary Katherine Gallagher, Ms. Rafferty, Lunch Lady (Chris Farley) (exclusive to Target), Debbie Downer and Gilly.
Marvel Super Heroes VS Villains campaign launches a year of epic battles. Disney Consumer Products is announcing the kickoff of its new yearlong global consumer products campaign, Marvel Super Heroes VS Villains, and giving License Global an exclusive look at what's to come. Throughout the year, the campaign will bring iconic Marvel battles to life through an array of new toys, apparel, collectibles...
Alileo Media signs ITVX as content distribution partner for ROI Visual. Following the appointment of Alileo Media as the exclusive media distributor in the UK, ROI Visual is continuing its expansion plans in the region, making IP Robocar Poli, the popular South Korean 3D animated pre-school series, available on ITVX.
'Genosian Warriors' swarm 'Star Wars: Legion': New Miniatures set. Atomic Mass Games will release Genosian Warriors, a new miniatures set for Star Wars: Legion, into retail on April 11, 2025. The Separatist armies are ready to swarm their enemies with this new expansion set. This set adds 11 Geonosian Warrior miniatures to the mix.
Funko partners with NBA. Funko, the global pop culture brand, has teamed up with the National Basketball Association (NBA) to launch an exciting new option for customizing Pop! Yourself, the company’s unique product that allows users to create a vinyl figure of themselves or loved ones with any of the official logos of all 30 NBA teams.
UVS Games announces partnership with Calliope Games for new edition of 'Roll For It!' dice game. UVS Games announced that they will partner with Calliope Games for a new edition of Roll For It! dice game, which will hit tables in 2025. Roll For It! was first published in 2011, and has become a fan-favorite dice game with multiple editions published since.
PhatMojo develops toy line for hit Roblox Game ‘Dress to Impress’. Toy and collectible manufacturer PhatMojo is releasing a product line for the popular Roblox game “Dress to Impress.” In this game, players compete alone or in groups of two to create their own fashion looks and win digital runway competitions.
Lionsgate launches first immersive Movie Store on Roblox. Lionsgate has launched the first immersive Movie Store on Roblox, designed to “empower movie fans to play, wear and watch the films they love” and connect with them in new ways across platforms. In collaboration with Virtual Brand Group, the Movie Store on Roblox leads Lionsgate’s effort to reimagine digital merchandise and home entertainment...
WOW! Stuff announces launch of Disney Angel Puppetronic by RealFX. WOW! Stuff has announced the launch of its Disney Angel Puppetronic by RealFX. Set to join her alien counterpart, the Real FX Disney Stitch Puppet, stock will hit retailers from the end of Feb. Angel will have distinct features that bring her to life, including a repertoire of language, realistic movements and touch sensors that have been designed...
'Magic: The Gathering' film and TV projects in the works; 'Fantastic Four' teaser; 'Jurassic World,' and 'Devil May Cry' and 'Smurfs' trailers; 'Gundam' live action production begins. Showbiz Round-Up. Legendary Entertainment and Hasbro Entertainment have begun development of Magic: The Gathering film and TV projects, according to The Hollywood Reporter.
Krypto the Superdog takes flight on the big screen and on all-new merchandise available now at DC Shop, Hot Topic in North America and more global retailers. A new collection celebrating Krypto the Superdog, the Kryptonian canine from DC Studios’ upcoming film “Superman,” is now available at DC Shop.
Mattel, Jazwares build out toy offerings. Jazwares and Mattel’s recent forays into building sets will not only expand their brands but also grow licensing opportunities within the construction set category. LEGO has seen success in branded collaborations for more than 20 years. In 1999, the company inked an agreement to license Star Wars characters and vehicles - since then, it has expanded to include...
Hello Kitty & Friends, Mega Space Molly Collection Launches at Pop Mart's U.S. stores. Designer collectible toy brand Pop Mart is releasing its second collaborative collection in partnership with Sanrio this week. Previously available exclusively in Asia, U.S. fans will now have the opportunity to get their hands on the Mega Space Molly 400% Hello Kitty and Friends Series.
Legendary and Hasbro are creating a live-action Magic universe. The world of Magic: The Gathering is expanding, with new live-action content on the way from Legendary Entertainment and Hasbro Entertainment. Launched by Wizards of the Coast in 1993, this classic trading card game will be adapted first as a feature film, followed by a TV series and several other live-action projects.
Spin Master will develop Bakugan for the Big Screen. Spin Master announced plans to bring Bakugan to the big screen. The popular anime has had three animated adaptations through Spin Master Entertainment. This will be the first live-action and theatrical adaptation. Spin Master produced Bakugan Brawlers for four years for Teletoon and TV Tokyo, Bakugan: Battle Planet for Netflix and Cartoon Network...
LBO Collective, Universal hit rewind with new licensed collectibles. Let’s Be Onyx (LBO) Collective and Universal Products & Experiences are teaming up for a new line of collectibles that will whisk collectors back to the ‘80s - no flux capacitor required. The brands announced a new licensing deal to create action figures and art inspired by NBCUniversal’s impressive catalog of intellectual properties.
Copernicus has a grassroots gameplan for longevity. The Canadian animation studio has just launched an indie PC game on Steam to turn kids onto Lana Longbeard and help its first original series make it past season one. The game is a co-op action platformer that builds on the series’ world, with players in character navigating different levels and fighting enemies including skeletons and a giant spider.
Collectible tabletop gaming brand Resurrection Games has signed a deal with Los Angeles-headquartered Lion Forge Entertainment to create games based on the Nigerian culture-inspired toon Iyanu. Set to deliver in Q4 2025, Resurrection will launch card and board games for kids and families targeting the four-to-nine set, including a memory tile game called Iyanu: Crossroads in which players can compete...
TVOKids has commissioned Montreal-headquartered Sphere Media (Riley Rocket) for its next project—a factual series with a fun title that’s all about demystifying bodily functions for six- to nine-year-olds. Burps, Butts and Bones (working title, 26 x 11 minutes) is a live-action/CG-animated series created by producers Karen Hawes and Kim Saltarski.
Blue Spirit Productions, Atomic Cartoons and Milkcow Media are teaming up with TF1 to develop the upper preschool series Action Rabbits for the French broadcaster’s TFOU kids channel and TF1+ streamer. Targeted at the four-to-seven demo, the CG-animated series hops along with four bunnies who use their skills and high-tech gear to protect an island full of volcanoes, jungles and ancient temples.
Kidscreen has confirmed that Nickelodeon is developing a new spinoff series tied to its popular Victorious franchise. Hollywood Arts (working title) is a multi-cam sitcom revolving around Trina—the older sister of protagonist Tori in Nick’s musical comedy series Victorious, which aired on the channel from 2010 to 2013.
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People of Play
People Profile: Gerilynn Maria, Director of Licensing & Brand Management at Tetris, Inc.. How did you get into licensing (or how did licensing find you)? I worked at a law firm as a legal assistant for many years. In 2005, one of the attorneys I worked for became the General Manager/General Counsel at Tetris (fka Blue Planet Software) and I eventually transitioned over to work for him. My role involved...
Hasbro’s Steve Evans is one of, if not the most, active members in the toy community – whether it’s his frequent polls and questions, posts of his personal collection, or what brings us to sitting down with him live at Chubzzy Wubzzy’s this week – one of his TREMENDOUS giveaways. On his way to deliver the Ghost HasLab to his lucky winner, he stopped in to chat with us and others at New Jersey’s FINEST toy shop
*** The above posted after tBR circulated February 15th ***
James Farrell is stepping down as head of international originals for Amazon MGM Studios to launch his own company focused on producing young adult movies. Farrell announced his exit earlier this week via his own internal goodbye memo, which Kidscreen has obtained. His last day with Amazon MGM Studios will be February 25.
Toys“R”Us ANZ Limited CEO resignation and interim leadership appointments. Toys“R”Us ANZ Limited announced the immediate resignation of CEO Ms Penny Cox. In the interim, Kelly Humphreys will step up as Executive Chair, and Teresa Smith will serve as Executive Director until a new CEO is appointed.
Tabletop Tycoon hires Andre Kieren as new Director of Operations. Tabletop Tycoon has hired Andre Kieren as their new Director of Operations, the company announced. Tabletop Tycoon is the publisher of the popular Everdell series of board games as well as Black Orchestra, Nemo’s War, and more. Andre Kieren, CEO of Golden Goose, assumes the role of Director of Operations to closely work with Ben Rathbone...
Curious Universe welcomes Arnim Westendorf. Curious Universe has announced the appointment of Arnim Westendorf as its new Sales director for international markets. Based in Germany, Arnim will oversee the expansion and development of the company’s presence in German-speaking markets, Central Europe and beyond, septically focusing on Arts & Crafts, Books, and Stationery.
World-Record Jump-Roper Uses His ‘Double-Dutch’ Jump Ropes to Save Teen in Icy Pond. A famous jump-roper recently saved a young man from drowning after falling through the ice on a frozen lake by using his jump ropes like safety lines. During the 80s, 90s, and 00s, David Fisher became so famous for jumping rope that he authored a pair of children’s superhero books in which he’s portrayed as “The Rope Warrior...
People of Play’s Mary Couzin on winning the I.D.I.O.T. Award – and a return to inventing? My first successful game was Hollywood’s Reel Schpeel. I co-invented it with a real-estate colleague at the time and we had a great time doing it. We made many ‘top game’ lists in the media, and self produced for many years until we licensed a version of it.
Halle Stanford, the Emmy Award-winning former president of television at The Jim Henson Company, is returning to the world of independent production with the relaunch of her company, 7 Crow Stories—and she has already secured a first-look producing deal with Henson, where she worked for 30 years.
Since leaving BBC Studios Kids & Family in September 2024, Edward Barnieh has been busy laying the groundwork for his new creative agency, Oware. It’s a change of pace from the big media conglomerates where Barnieh has worked over the past 20 years, including Netflix, Warner Bros. Discovery and Nickelodeon. But it’s also the kind of venture that many colleagues have encouraged him to pursue in order...
Companies and Brands
Time - How a Children’s Toy Company, Spin Master, Launched a TV Juggernaut. Long before he started watching TV, people started giving my son stuff decorated with cute cartoon puppies dressed in distinctive outfits. There was a Dalmatian dressed as a fireman. A bulldog construction worker. A German shepherd police officer. I could not figure out why these brightly colored dogs seemed to be on roughly half the gear in our...
The Entertainer has revealed that Fugglers – the weird and wonderfully mischievous plush toys – have been flying off the shelves, with sales rocketing by 247% in the past yr. And it’s not just children who are going wild for Fugglers – grown-ups are fanatics about them too. The Fuggler craze is popular with little ones as young as 5 yrs old, as well as teens and adults due to their quirky charm, collectability & sheer silliness.
Devsisters, the creators behind the global hit mobile game franchise CookieRun, proudly announce the upcoming release of CookieRun Trading Card Game in the United States, the first trading card game in the CookieRun universe. This exciting new TCG brings beloved CookieRun characters, rich lore, and strategic gameplay to tabletop enthusiasts and collectors worldwide. ACD Distribution has been appointed...
*** The above posted after tBR circulated February 14th ***
Paddington takes over FAO Schwarz in NYC. The FAO Schwarz pop-up featured products from apparel and accessories to toys, plush and stationery, and a special appearance from Paddington star, Emily Mortimer. On the day that Paddington in Peru launched in the US, the world-famous FAO Schwarz toy store in New York City was transformed into a Paddington paradise, bringing the beloved bear’s latest cinematic
MGA Entertainment‘s L.O.L. Surprise! continues to expand and inspire children across the world through its creative, innovative and on trend launches to elevate playtime. This season, L.O.L. Surprise! is launching the L.O.L. Surprise! Pastel Party Tot Assortment. This seasonal limited-edition Easter themed Hops Bunny Pet and Hops Tot dolls are available for a limited time only, and priced at an accessible...
Collect clues with 'Mystery Fluxx'. A new genre spoof version of the classic card game. Looney Labs will release Mystery Fluxx, a new version of the classic card game, into retail on May 6, 2025. This version of Fluxx is a "genre spoof" edition of the game, much like Fantasy Fluxx, Monster Fluxx, and Olympus Fluxx. The new game contains lots of new humorous Easter eggs pertaining to detective series and movies.
'Halo: Mission Command' gets a date: Pocket game coming to retail soon; New card images. Upper Deck Entertainment will release Halo: Mission Command on February 19, 2025. This release date was pushed back from September 30, 2024. In this game, players draft weapons, vehicles, and locations to complete missions all while attempting to sabotage their opponents' mission progress.
Devir unveils 'The White Castle Duel': New two-player board game. Devir Games unveiled The White Castle Duel, a new two-player board game, which will release in Q4 2025. In this next game in The White Castle series, two players assume the roles of opposing clans competing for control of foreign trade and technology in the White Heron’s court.
Crowdfunding giant Kickstarter is bringing in new pledge management and pay-in-installments options this year amid increasing competition from rival platforms such as Gamefound. Kickstarter remains top dog in tabletop game crowdfunding, with about $220m of project funding last year – although that figure has fallen for 3 yrs in a row, and is well down on the record $270m the platform recorded in 2021.
Asmodee brings BrainBox to schools across the UK. Asmodee, one of the UK’s leading distributors of board, tabletop and trading card games, has introduced its new initiative, BrainBox in Schools. The drive sees over 6000 BrainBox demo packs being played across 31 UK schools from Leeds to Essex. BrainBox is the popular, fun memory and observation card game, with over 8m sold worldwide.
'Neopets Battledome' goes medieval with new 'Champions of Meridell' booster set. Upper Deck Entertainment will release Champions of Meridell, a new booster set for Neopets Battledome TCG, into retail in Spring 2025. This set takes players to the medieval-themed land in Neopia. It adds Petpets to the mix as well as two new Paint Brushes and Royal Rare Neopets.
Squishmallows is making plushies for pets, including dog toys inspired by Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce. Like Squishmallows, Chew Mees will feature marshmallow-shaped cuddly exteriors adorned with accessories and detail, transforming the products into adorable characters. Among the debut line of Chew Mees is a two-pack of toys featuring pet-friendly plushies known as Bobbie Jo and Tate.
Bombard the battlefield with new 'Pokemon TCG' deck: 'Dragapult ex League Battle Deck'. The Pokemon Company International will release Dragapult ex League Battle Deck, for Pokemon TCG, into retail on April 25, 2025. Trainers can bombard opponents on the battlefield with the power of Dragapult ex. The ready-to-play 60-card deck comes with four copies of Dragapult ex, a copy of Fezandipiti ex, and an Unfair Stamp.
'Magic: The Gathering' 'Secret Lair' Winter Superdrop revealed: New Hatsune Miku set, Artist Series sets, and more! The annual winter Secret Lair drop is back again for another year, and it features an array of goodies for Magic fans. The drop has 16 sets in total, non-foil and foil. The headliner of the drop is a new Secret Lair X Hatsune Miku: Winter Diva set, which showcases a virtual idol that fans seem to...
'Everdell Duo' heads to retail via Asmodee. Asmodee will release Everdell Duo, a card game by Tabletop Tycoon, into retail on March 31, 2025. Everdell Duo was originally offered up via a Kickstarter campaign back in August 2024. The Kickstarter raised $556,972 from 11,823 backers. In this cooperative card game, players tally points for events over the course of four seasons of play.
Mattel Creations Revealed returns with new launches, behind-the-scenes looks. Mattel is continuing a new tradition of connecting with adult fans online. Last year, the Mattel Creations Revealed livestream revealed more than 20 new collectibles, including the Masters of the Universe Origins Deluxe Sy-Klone Figure, which sold out that day.
Ultra Pro unveils 'Magic: The Gathering: Commander Series #7' playmats featuring six new legendary creature images. This new wave of playmats includes the following Commanders: Karlach, Fury of Avernus; Astarion, the Decadent; Urtet, Remnant of Memnarch, Meren of Clan Nel Toth, Queen Marchesa, and Animar, Soul of Elements.
Harness the power of friendship with new 'Pokemon TCG' collection. 'Lillie Premium Tournament Collection'. Trainers can experience the strength Lillie has in the bonds with her Pokemon in this new collection. The set comes with a foil promo card of Lillie’s Clefairy ex as well as 3 foil Pokemon Tool cards featuring Lillie's Pearl.
Hippychick unveils Nattou’s new Teddy Collection. Renowned for its comforters, toys and playmats, Nattou has taken snuggly to the next level with the launch of its new Teddy Collection, now available at Hippychick. This charming new range features plush backpacks, teddy bears and cot accessories, all crafted from luxurious teddy fabric for an ultra-soft, stylish and comforting feel.
Miniso expands membership growth. The retailer upgraded its rewards program in January. The international retail chain says it added 2 million people to its program, with a 250% membership increase in 2024. The program was revamped last month to expand perks to consumers. Miniso offers exclusive membership benefits in its reward program, including birthday blind box cards, discounts, and lower thresholds...
WizKids unveils sequel to 'Blob Party': 'Neon Nights'. Blob Party: Neon Nights is the sequel to the original Blob Party, the cooperative party game where players start out as individuals and attempt to become one big blob by giving similar answers. Players begin with a googly eye and a blob of glow-in-the-dark dough, and then they are given words from various categories.
Games Workshop reveals new 'Warhammer 40,000' organized play packs. Games Workshop revealed new Warhammer 40,000: Organized Play Packs, which will be headed to retail in 2025. The new packs support a Warhammer 40,000 event of up to 32 players at FLGS. The packs come with 16 measuring gauges, punchboard token sheets for objectives, certificates, and a poster.
Arcane Wonders will release 'Freedom Five' expansion into retail. Arcane Wonders will release Rubble Ruin, an expansion for Freedom Five: A Sentinel Comics Board Game, into retail on March 5, 2025. In this expansion, something is wrong within the ranks of the Freedom Five and players will need to find out who they can trust and who they can't.
Silver Sprocket to publish special edition of 'Pinky & Pepper Forever': Indy comic parodies characters from short-lived toy line. The new edition has a larger trim size, a foil cover, and bonus art and extras that bring the page count to 136 from the original 80. The original Pinky & Pepper Forever, which appears to be out of print, was hailed by critics when it was first published in 2018
Gaming: Digital, Video, Hardware, and Development
Elon Musk Is Serious About His xAI Video Game Studio. While you may not believe he has time for this, between slashing a large percentage of government spending (and agencies, and jobs) and tweeting a hundred times a day, Elon Musk has once again circled back around to his idea about making an AI-based game studio. Reminded by a few, let’s say, Musk superfans on Twitter, Musk confirmed that he is still making...
Harry Potter: Everything We Know About the Franchise's Upcoming Video Games. Harry-Potter-Everything-We-Know-About-the-Franchise's-Upcoming-Video-Gamesimage by Ryan Rice. 2025 is likely to be a bit of a transitional year for Harry Potter, as it says goodbye to the old and brings in the new. HBO is hard at work putting together the Harry Potter reboot series, which is set to define the portrayal...
Microsoft researchers and Xbox staffers have created a generative AI model that can simulate a playable video game. The prototype program, called "Muse," can churn out the in-game visuals and corresponding actions based on the controller input. The 1.6 billion parameter Muse model was trained “on more than 1 billion images and controller actions" from a 2020 multiplayer title called Bleeding Edge, which...
*** The above posted after tBR circulated February 14th ***
Everything we saw at today's big PlayStation State of Play. Today, February 12, 2025, Sony held its first State of Play showcase of 2025. There weren’t any massive surprises, but there were a ton of really neat-looking games that just might snag your attention. In particular, there was a good chunk of third-person melee action, typically featuring swords slashing up some monstrosity.
Sanrio launches free Hello Kitty learning experiences and games for kids. Learning and engagement platform, Kahoot!, has announced a new collaboration with Sanrio characters, including Hello Kitty, My Melody, Kerokerokeroppi, Mr. Men Little Miss and many more. The collaboration introduces a collection of educational learning games designed for children and families.
Crytek laying off 15 percent of workforce and placing Crysis 4 on hiatus. Crytek is laying off 15 percent of its workforce and pausing production on Crysis 4. The company broke the news on X and explained the layoffs will impact its development and shared services teams. The German studio currently has around 400 employees, meaning around 60 people could lose their jobs.
Unity continues mass layoffs with 'abrupt' communications and 5am emails. Unity has spent $205 million laying off 25 percent of its workforce this fiscal year and it looks like the company isn't finished yet. Multiple reports from (now former) Unity employees indicate the engine maker is continuing to axe roles across its business.
Nintendo's smartphone apps have topped 900 million downloads. Nintendo president Shuntaro Furukawa says smartphone apps and games remain a "very important" part of the business. The Switch maker has launched a variety of mobile titles over the years including Fire Emblem Heroes, Mario Kart Tour, and Super Mario Run.
PlayStation Network back online, firm says. The PlayStation Network is now back online, the service has said, after it experienced a multi-hour outage that began on Friday evening. PlayStation said the network had now "fully recovered" and apologised for the disruption, but did not disclose what caused the problem.
Highlighted Press Releases
($100/week/press release)
REVITALIZED LEGACY GAME BRAND CARROM BRINGS THEIR NEW ENERGY TO 2025. With Their Digital Storefront Now Up and Running, Carrom is Eager to Bring ‘Games That Move You’ into Family Fun Time. Grand Rapids, MI (February 18, 2025) – Togetherness and family time are in greater demand than ever before, and to meet that demand, Carrom invites friends and families to go analog with their recreation! Step away from screens and embrace a hands-on, sensory-rich gaming experience. Expertly crafted from sustainable, high-quality wood right here in the United States of America, Carrom game boards are built to last and dressed to impress! Each Carrom product sports a minimalist aesthetic...
PAUSE WITH PANDA: THE CUDDLY COMPANION HELPING KIDS FIND CALM. A Comforting, Customizable Plush Designed to Promote Self-Regulation, Focus & Emotional Resilience—Available Now at PausewithPanda.com. Bernardsville, NJ (February 11, 2025) – The Washington Post’s headline last month read “Pandamonium as giant pandas from China make their debut at DC’s National Zoo.” No one can resist these chubby, fluffy, adorable animals. In the toy market, one special panda is doing more than just cuddling—it’s helping children navigate big emotions. Pause with Panda is a new, customizable emotional support tool designed to guide children in practicing mindfulness based exercises.
YOUNG KIDS ARE FINALLY LEARNING EMPATHY AND RESILIENCE – AND IT’S ALL THANKS TO A PLUSHIE. Baba Blast! Helps Children Master the True Magic of the World: Self Confidence, Resilience and Compassion! Scottsdale, AZ (February 13, 2025) – “I can do this, I can do this!” For little ones at a tender age, what could be a more important lesson than self-confidence and resilience? The National Institutes of Health recently did a compilation of 25 studies and concluded it’s critical for caregivers and parents to actively help children develop resiliency when they are young. How about the importance of compassion? Just as vital!.
*** The above posted after tBR started circulating February 14th ***
LOVE, Litzky - Lifting Outstanding voices & Endeavors. The LOVE, Litzky grant is a biennial program designed to support entrepreneurs and small businesses that improve the lives of kids and families. LOVE, Litzky, an acronym for Lifting Outstanding Voices & Endeavors, spotlights a specific and timely issue that our team is passionate about, and awards a recipient with a $25,000 grant to fund the strategy, planning, and execution of a 3-month PR campaign. Read this year’s program announcement release here and meet our previous grant winners.
Safety and Counterfeiting
TIE launches petition for stronger EU action against unsafe toys. The petition, StopIllegalToys.eu, calls on policymakers to close legal loopholes and make online platforms responsible for the safety of the products offered on their platforms when no other EU-based party is responsible. 80% of toys purchased from unknown, non-EU sellers via major online platforms failed to meet EU safety standards...
Google on Wednesday announced a series of updates for its parental control software Google Family Link and a plan to test new machine-learning techniques to estimate users’ ages so it could apply more age-appropriate experiences to kids’ devices. The company earlier said that it would soon use machine learning to determine the age of YouTube users for better recommendations,...
AI in children’s toys and entertainment – engaging experience or dangerous data collecting? As artificial intelligence becomes more prevalent, child psychologists share what parents should be aware of when it comes to the toys their children play with. In late 2023, Canadian singer Grimes released an interactive artificial intelligence toy called Grok.
In honor of Safer Internet Day, Meta has announced the launch of a new digital literacy program for middle schoolers, which aims to highlight the dangers of online interaction, and how kids can spot concerns, and avoid such, both in its apps and across the web more broadly. Created in partnership with Childhelp, the new program provides a first-of-its-kind education curriculum to teach youngsters how to...
Associations, Foundations, Shows, Awards, Events, and Festivals
The Women in Toys, Licensing & Entertainment (WiT) Board of Directors has announced new leadership and board enhancements as the organization prepares for what it is calling strategic growth in 2025 and beyond. Founded in 1991, the organization has a 34-year history of bringing together resources, connections, and expertise. Over it’s history, the organization has been dedicated to empowering...
*** The above posted after tBR circulated February 14th ***
The Toy Association & People of Play: United for the future of toys. Greg Ahearn, CEO of The Toy Association, and Mary Couzin, founder of People of Play, explain the strategies behind the recent merger between the two American entities. This synergy aims to promote creativity and innovation in the toy market, offering new opportunities for the industry.
Toy Fair exhibitors donate in excess of 6,000 toys to Kids in Mind. Following a busy three days of business for the toy industry at the largest UK toy trade show at Olympia London, Toy Fair exhibitors generously donated a record-breaking amount of product to the shows’ official charity partner, Kids in Mind, via the annual Trolley Dash which took place at the end of the show.
Distoy confirms 2025 event will not go ahead. The event which brought together exhibitors and industry professionals from all over the world had been due to take place between 27th- 30th May in London. In a letter to potential exhibitors and visitors who were planning to attend the event, organizer Dave Potter writes: “It has become increasingly clear that support for Distoy is diminishing in favour of the LA...
75th edition of Spring Fair comes to successful close. As the doors close on the 75th edition of Spring Fair, the UK’s largest retail trade show for Home, Gift & Fashion, the organizers report that the NEC Birmingham has been buzzing with energy, innovation and meaningful connections. Over four days, more than 38,000 retail buyers and industry professionals gathered to discover the latest trends, meet suppliers...
Tonight was Nickelodeon’s night to shine, with the broadcaster scoring 10 wins at the 2025 Kidscreen Awards ceremony, and coming out on top in categories where it faced stiff competition from other multiple winners including Disney (five), BBC Studios (four) and DreamWorks Animation (three). Nick will share three of its wins with Netflix for Avatar: The Last Airbender, which picked up Best Live-Action...
Serbian animation studio Metaxilasis is the first-ever winner of the Kidscreen Licensing Challenge, taking first place for its upcoming preschool series ThinkerBen & Motor. The Challenge saw executives at five companies from around the world competing to show off the licensing potential of their properties. A panel of four industry experts—Mattel’s Meredith Lawson Norrie, André Lake Mayer from Spin Master...
The 30th Critics Choice Awards, originally set to air Jan 12, faced multiple delays before finally hitting the stage on Feb 7 at the Barker Hangar in Santa Monica, CA. The ceremony, which honors achievements in film and television, was twice postponed due to the wildfires in Southern California, which disrupted events across the region. Among the notable winners, The Wild Robot (pictured, DreamWorks Animation)...
Vivid Goliath’s Richard Sutcliffe and Rory Edwards will set off from Guildford and pedal their way through Europein support of the Toy Trust. Industry veterans Richard Sutcliffe and Rory Edwards are gearing up for their most ambitious charity challenge yet, as they prepare to cycle an incredible 600km from Vivid Goliath’s Guildford office to the company’s headquarters in Hattem...
Building on the success of 2024’s Midsummer Mayhem fundraiser, The Toy Trust has unveiled plans for its big fundraising initiative for 2025. Taking place across the months of May, June, July and August 2025, under the banner of Mega Midsummer Mayhem, the challenge invites members of the toy industry to collectively carry out any form of fundraising that they wish, from anywhere in the UK, at a time that suits them.
This Is Planet Ed gives Kidscreen Summit a sneak peek at projects from environmental pitch winners. The non-profit org has also released its Toolkit for Climate Storytelling, which is designed to help creatives handle climate-change content better. By Carolyn GruskeFebruary 10, 2025
A panel entitled “A Brighter Future: Uniting the kids media industry on climate literacy” pulled double duty on Sunday: it was the...
Tonight was Nickelodeon’s night to shine, with the broadcaster scoring 10 wins at the 2025 Kidscreen Awards ceremony, and coming out on top in categories where it faced stiff competition from other multiple winners including Disney (five), BBC Studios (four) and DreamWorks Animation (three).
CBC and Sky New Zealand have greenlit Tralala (working title), a 2D-animated preschool series that has just kicked off production. Slated for a 2026 delivery, Tralala hails from Toronto’s Blue Ant Studios and New Zealand-based studio Stretchy, with financial support from Shaw Rocket Fund, The Independent Production Fund’s Cogeco TV Production Program, Canada Media Fund and NZ On Air.
RIP - Rest in Play - Remembering Those that have Passed
If you know of a colleague's passing, please send us information so we may share with our readers. Archives can be found HERE
TURTEL ONLI - a comic artist, teacher, and lifelong promoter of Black comics creators, died on January 15, 2025. In the late 1970s, Onli decided to become a freelance comics artist. He described his experience in an interview with the Chicago art history site Never the Same, "I won’t name names, but major people at major companies looked at me and said, 'do black people read?' … And then when I went back, they were ‘do black people know anything about science fiction?'" Onli’s response was to create his own superhero, NOG, Nubian of Greatness, who protected the pyramids on the planet Nuba, and pitch it to the publishers. In the interview, he related what happened next.
Robert (Bob) Goldstein - 2/6/35-2/6/25 - (from Bob's son, Jeff Goldstein) - It is with unimaginable sadness that I announce the passing of Robert (Bob) Goldstein a beloved father, husband, grandfather, uncle and friend. After a brief illness dad left us on February 6th...which also happened to be his 90th birthday. His passing was just months after the sudden loss of his beloved wife ,Gail, whom he adored beyond measure.
Dad's love for his family was boundless and he took immense pride in all of his family members.
He shared a passion for sports which led him to heartbreak when the Dodgers left Brooklyn and more recently when Saquon left his Giants to join my Eagles. He passed down his love of golf to me for which I will forgive him.
Professionally ,dad's heart belonged to the toy industry ,a world he remained deeply connected to long after his career. He eagerly followed industry news ,read each edition of the Toy Book and relished conversations about the people and products that shaped his professional life. Those who knew him in the business spoke not only of his knowledge and expertise but also of the kindness ,integrity and respect he earned from colleagues on both sides of the table.
To those who were part of what he loved most about the toy industry ,its people, I say thank you. Your friendships and shared memories meant the world to him.
John Hales - It is with great sadness that Golden Bear Toys has announced that chairman and co-founder, John Hales, has passed away at the age of 85, surrounded by his family.
John started Golden Bear on 12th February 1979, along with his business partner, Christine Nicholls. Headquartered in Telford, John’s energy, drive and love of the toy industry has infused the business for over 45 years, creating iconic toys loved by children of all ages.
Christine Nicholls, co-founder and Creative director at Golden Bear Toys, said: “John was the most amazing business partner and friend for over 45 years. Our vision for the business back in 1979 set us off on an adventure in the toy industry that has been second to none. On a personal level I will miss him greatly and all his pearls of wisdom, as will everyone at Golden Bear.”
John accomplished much over his long career, including the incredibly successful launch of the Teletubbies toy range, which won Toy of the Year in 1997. He was also extremely proud to receive a lifetime achievement award from the British Toy & Hobby Association in recognition of his work in the industry.
Howard J. Morrison, 92, happily married for 53 years to his soulmate and love of his life Pauline, Howard was a lifelong inventor, innovator, and problem solver. At an early age he needed transportation, so he built a motorcycle from salvaged parts. He sold yarn dolls on the street and when demand rose, he created a machine to make six at a time. When TV commercials annoyed him, he made a remote-controlled mute button long before such a thing existed.
This innovative problem-solving ability led him to a phenomenal career as a prolific toy designer and inventor, creating dozens of successful and iconic products that have touched the lives of millions. His visionary gift turned gyroscopes into race cars and stuffed animals into talking companions. He created the iconic Simon, the light and sound memory game which sparked the electronic toy market. He designed the Mickey Mouse telephone, which launched a worldwide novelty phone craze. He added electronic mechanisms to stuffed animals that have become an industry standard. Howard's significant achievements led him to be inducted into the Toy Industry Association Hall of Fame in 1998 and received a Toy and Game Inventor Excellence Lifetime Achievement Award in 2013.
In 2006 a motorcycle accident nearly ended Howard's life, but he fought back and recovered against incredible odds. Despite his injury, his sweet and endearing personality persisted, enjoying his favorite activities and family and friends until his final days.
Worldwide Magazines Weekly Top Stories
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Toy Trade Monthly Issues
Adventure Media & Events (US)
Toyworld (UK)
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Further details revealed for Disney Lorcana Archazia’s Island
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Toy Fair exhibitors donate in excess of 6,000 toys to Kids in Mind
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TIE launches petition for stronger EU action against unsafe toys
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Alileo Media signs ITVX as content distribution partner for ROI Visual
Licensing.biz Powered by Toyworld
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Master Replicas and Paramount announce new deal for Star Trek
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Wow! Stuff announces launch of Disney Angel Puppetronic by RealFX
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HoloToyz partners with Mattel to bring Barbie and Hot Wheels to life
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A new Krypto the Superdog collection is available at DC Shop
ICv2: The Business of Geek Culture (US)
- Games Workshop Reveals New 'Warhammer 40,000' Organized Play Packs
- 'Magic: The Gathering' 'Secret Lair' Winter Superdrop Revealed
- Ultra PRO Unveils 'Magic: The Gathering: Commander Series #7' Playmats
- Next 'D&D Classic Collection' Boxed Set Unveiled
- Ravensburger Reveals New Deets for Next 'Disney Lorcana' Set
- Plans for the Auction of Diamond, Alliance, and Other Assets
- Wizards of the Coast Updates 'Magic: The Gathering' Commander Brackets
- 'Pokemon TCG' Starts 2025 Hotter Than Ever, But Is It Flying Too Close to the Sun?
- Rolling for Initiative -- Tariffs, Diamond Bankruptcy, and 'Aetherdrift' Prerelease; Oh, My!
- 'Halo: Mission Command' Gets a Date
Nación Juguetes (Mexico, Peru, Argentina, Chile & Spain)
Global Toy News
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The Toy Universe (Australia)
hobbyDB
Stories, Comments, and Advice
Companies and Brands
Kickstarter unveils “tools creators have been asking for” for 2025 as it looks to fight off rising Gamefound challenge
Toy Store (Italy)
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Double interview with Greg Ahearn and Mary Couzin on the merger between The Toy Association and People of Play (english edition)
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Anniversaries 2025: All the Major Brands Celebrating Milestones This Year
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EU tightens safety regulations: E-commerce platforms to be held accountable
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Harry Potter: An Interactive Augmented Reality Retail Experience with Prizes Is Coming
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A Movie and TV Series Based on Magic: The Gathering TCG Are in the Works
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Spin Master Brings Bakugan to the Big Screen with a Live-Action Movie
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Thank you for being a reader of the Bloom Report. — Mary and Graeme
Founding Editor and Publisher (1998-2020, Retired): Philip Bloom
We are honored to carry on Phil's 22 year legacy and continue the Bloom Report. Phil has been a mensch
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If you would like to reach Phil: philip.bloom100@verizon.net
Publisher: Mary Couzin, Chicago Toy & Game Group, Inc.
Managing Editor: Graeme Thomson
Assistant Editor: Evan Kale
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