Welcome to Your Weekly News Brief!
Happy Bloomin' Friday!
Spielwarenmesse - Nuremberg Fair - is as exciting as it is exhausting! Preparing the Bloom Report today is a needed break from the nonstop rush to meet even some of the 2,362 exhibitors from 71 countries and 13 product groups across 18 halls, not to mention the high-energy evening events!
Next up! New York Toy Fair! We are celebrating the 25th Anniversary of the POP Pub Party AND the 20th Anniversary of the Young Inventor Challenge on Monday March 3rd! Tickets are $20 and all funds go directly to the Young Inventor Challenge. Get yours 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!
Nuremberg photos courtesy of Catherine McMillen and Julien Sharp. From the top...
Mary Jo Reutter, Jenni Jalava, Catherine McMillen Gill, and Mary on the Martinex stand celebrating the end of a successful day
Catherine, Richard Gill, Mary, Dirk Von Wassennauer (Chairman of Jumbo Play and host of the legendary generous Jumbo event that preceded Red Night)
Margaret and Andrew Dobbie, Julien Sharp and Mary in the Executive Lounge
Catherine, Jan-Maurits (JM) Duparc, Mary, Aleksi Michelsson
Thank you for reading the Bloom Report here or on the Bloom Report 24/7 News Feed! Please support our work by advertising and/or setting up a POP profile.
Mary and the POP Team!
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"I go to work 6 days a week and magic happens! On day 7 I read the Bloom Report." 😁 - Rick Derr, Learning Express
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"Tell me you're in the toy industry without telling me you're in the toy industry... Friday Morning = a cup-a-Joe and the Bloom Report!" -Tim Walsh The Playmakers
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"I don't know anyone in the industry that doesn't read the Bloom Report." -Ken Lewis, President, 4Kidz, Inc.
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"I am a long-time reader and champion of the Bloom Report. The quantity of quality articles on so many different aspects of our industry is unmatched and I regularly share and discuss them with my management team as an important business tool." - Jim Engle, President & Founder, Little Kids Inc.
Industry Commentary - Carve Communications' Toy Experts Amy Friedland and Scott Goldberg Offer Five Secrets to a Successful Media Strategy for Toy Fair 2025
Toy Fair is the biggest media event of the year for toy brands. This year, it’s happening March 1-4, 2025 at the Javits Center in New York City.
For brands, it’s more than just a trade show. It’s where iconic manufacturers, inventors, and retailers come together to showcase the latest products. It also represents the chance for everyone – brands, media, content creators, and the Toy Association itself – to see the latest toy trends and products that will shape buyer behavior for the year ahead.
Carvers Amy Friedland and Scott Goldberg have represented more than 100 brands at Toy Fair. Here are some of their tips to stand out to Toy Fair media and break through the noise:
Person of the Week - ToyFest's Carrie Scanlan
SAG Awards, Red Carpet, Celebrities, Horses and More!
Hi Carrie, it was great to have a chance to get to know you a bit at ToyFest 2024. I think our readers will be quite surprised at your background! How long have you been in the toy industry?
I have been working in the Toy Industry since 2016 when I was brought on as a photo and video editor for ToyFest. I took over as the Event Director for the wonderful Frances Mendez in 2017.
What is your background and how did it influence you? (Young self, 20’s, 30’s, and now)
I started my career in the television award show industry. My first gig was the American Music Awards with Dick Clark. I worked closely with the director, Jeff Margolis, as his personal assistant. He offered me a job at his production company where I became the publicity manager for the Screen Actors Guild Awards for 13 years. I then left to become a producer in the corporate world and worked with clients such as Kia, Bank of America, and Midnight Moon Moonshine. After I had my second daughter, I took a year off to enjoy my girls and then landed the job at ToyFest. My stepfather who was the Exhibitor Services Manager for over 30 years at the Toy Show (dating back to Pasadena) introduced me. I actually went to the Pomona Show a few times when I was a kid! Working in the PR Dept and then becoming a Producer gave me a full guideline to running a show myself. I couldn’t be happier working for ToyFest!
Cartoon Lovers, Lexophiles & People in Need of a Smile!
Cartoon of the Week: Thank you to the anonymous person for the cartoon this week!
Memorable Quips by Stephen Wright
‘I bought some batteries, but they weren’t included.’
‘If Barbie is so popular, why do you have to buy her friends?'
‘I think it’s wrong that only one company makes the game Monopoly.’
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
Cra-Z-Art, a leading U.S. manufacturer and innovator in the toy, activity, art, and school supply industries, proudly announces the acquisition of Joker AG, creating the world's largest global manufacturer of multi-compounds. Cra-Z-Art already markets and manufactures Cra-Z-Slimy as well as other popular compounds such as Softee Dough, Cra-Z-Sand and Modelite. The company is a division of LaRose Industries.
Drone operator who damaged LA firefighting plane was Treyarch co-founder Peter Akemann, who is 'deeply sorry for the mistake'. Akemann will plead guilty to a misdemeanor offense after his drone collided with an aircraft fighting the Palisades Fire in January. As firefighters struggled to contain the devastating Palisades Fire in Los Angeles in early January, someone wanted a bird's eye view, and ended up hitting a...
Warner Bros. Discovery has been sued over the rights to Superman in a lawsuit seeking to block the release of the studio’s tentpole film in several countries ahead of its July debut. The estate of Joseph Shuster, the co-creator of Superman, alleges that WBD lost its international rights to the character and story years ago but continued to exploit them without its permission or compensation.
Shares of the big toy makers fell Monday, amid fears that extra tariffs President Donald Trump placed on imports from China will lead to higher prices and lower demand. But those fears may be misplaced. The Wall Street assumption that most toys sold in the U.S. come from China is correct. As D.A. Davidson analyst Linda Bolton Weiser said, the toy-industry average is for 80% to 85% of revenue to be sourced from China.
*** the above posted after TBR circulated January 31st ***
The Toy Association™ has been actively engaging with congressional leaders on Capitol Hill to educate policymakers on the negative impact of potential tariffs on toys. These discussions have taken place with the offices of key decision-makers who hold leadership positions within their respective chambers and parties.
Swedish entertainment juggernaut Embracer Group has announced a start date for its planned three-way split-up: On February 7, 2025, boardgame publisher Asmodee — the best-performing part of the group in recent times — will regain its independence by becoming a publicly traded company on NASDAQ Stockholm. As a parting gift, Embracer will pump an equity investment of €400 million EUR into Asmodee...
Revising an initial TikTok merger proposal it issued on January 18, San Francisco’s Perplexity AI now wants to create a new corporate entity that could be as much as 50%-owned by the US government. Under this plan, TikTok parentco ByteDance and Perplexity would create a US holding company called NewCo that would take over operations of TikTok US (without its core recommendations algorithm).
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Financial Reporting
Mattel kicked off the season after the bell today with fourth quarter and full-year 2024 earnings. In Q4, sales grew 2% to $1.6 billion as gross margin spiked to 50.7%. For 2024, net sales slipped 1% to $5.3 billion as gross margin hit 50.8%. Operating income for the year grew $133 million to $694 million.
Nintendo posts profit miss as it slashes Switch forecast again ahead of console’s successor.
Box Office: ‘Dog Man’ Shows Bite With $36 Million Opening Weekend.
*** The above posted after tBR circulated January 31st ***
IDW Media Holdings reported a loss for its fiscal Q4 and year ended October 31, and revealed that Penguin Random House, which distributes IDW Publishing titles to both the direct market and book channel, has told IDW to prepare for losses if PRH's receivable from Diamond Comic Distributors is completely or partially uncollectable.
Trends, Lists, Market Research, and State of the Industry
Top 5 Tends from the World's Largest Toy Trade Show. This was the show's 74th year, featuring 2,354 exhibitors from 68 countries across more than 12 exhibit halls — that's over 40 acres of toys!
*** The above posted after tBR circulated January 31st ***
Global toy sales stabilized in 2024. With licensed toys accounting for 34%, total annual sales were essentially flat—but the building sets category posted growth for a fifth consecutive year.
10 Video Games That Let You Play As The Boss. Why fight when you can be one?
TikTok and YouTube are drawing teen and YA audiences away from TV
Stories, Comments, and Advice
Mike’s Tariff Update – Well, They’re Here. Sort of. (February 4th, 2025). So the speculation is over. And as much as I’d like to make this an opinion piece (and mine are quite strong on this topic), I’m going to stick to the facts. On February 1, 2025, the Trump Administration issued three executive orders directing the United States to impose new tariffs on imports from Canada, Mexico, and China.
Why Does the Super Bowl Use Roman Numerals? If it’s good enough for the ‘Rocky’ franchise, it’s good enough for the NFL. The Super Bowl is traditionally held in the year following the beginning of the regular season schedule. The winner of the Chiefs/49ers game will technically be the 2023 Super Bowl champions. If the league opted to follow the lead of the NBA or MLB and label their championship with the year, then it ...
*** the above posted after tBR circulated on January 31st ***
John Baulch, Toy World - Don’t mention the step count … it’s the Friday Nuremblog! While the Nuremberg Toy Fair is still going on today and tomorrow, many UK and international visitors made their way home last night or are heading back today. Based on the many conversations I had waiting for last night’s ‘toy flight’ back to the UK, most people were exhausted, but extremely happy with the week’s proceedings.
ToyWorld: February’s Letter from America. Following on from his report in the January issue, Rick Derr recaps his suggestions to the toy market and reveals his outlook for 2025. Last month I gave an honest assessment of what I thought the US toy store market needed: a reboot. If you didn’t get a chance to read the article, please do. It caused quite a bit of a stir here. But will anything change?
Toy Fair in Nuremberg: In order to cope with the influx of international guests, several airlines have increased their capacity for flights to Nuremberg. Lufthansa and Turkish Airlines in particular are responding with larger aircraft and additional connections. Lufthansa has expanded its capacity at the Frankfurt hub and is deploying four additional Airbus A320s and one Airbus A321 during the trade...
The 51st edition of the Hong Kong Toys & Games Fair attracted attracted more than 80,000 buyers from 119 countries and regions. Run concurrently with the Hong Kong Stationery and School Products Fair and the Hong Kong Baby Products Fair, more than 2,500 exhibitors took over the Hong Kong Exhibition and Convention Centre, and by all accounts it was a positive experience.
Donate Toys to Children & Families Who Have Lost Everything. Multiple wildfires have devastated the greater Los Angeles area, forcing more than 150,000 families to evacuate and destroying thousands of homes and communities. To provide comfort to children and families affected by this crisis and other disasters in the U.S., The Toy Foundation is collecting product donations and cash contributions from the industry.
Lorestan province has been spotlighted as the origin of the world’s earliest animation, according to Lorestan province's tourism chief, Ata Hassanpour. He highlighted the ancient rock engravings, which depict a deer in five sequential stances, creating what is believed to be humanity’s first recorded animation. Hassanpour explained that this prehistoric artwork, dating back thousands of years, showcases early human...
Archaeologists uncovered toys buried alongside children in ancient tombs that date back over 2,000 years. These toys included miniature animals, figurines, and play objects, which offered a unique insight into the lives of these children. The artifacts that were recovered from several burial sites were thought to be placed within as offerings for the young deceased, according to BBC.
History and Nostalgia
These 10 Vintage Fisher-Price Toys Are Now Worth Ridiculous Amounts. Without a doubt, Fisher-Price (founded in 1931) is one of the biggest toy brands in the U.S. No matter what decade your childhood was in, you probably remember toys with the “Fisher-Price” moniker on them. But the plastic, light-up, battery-operated examples we see in the toy aisle today are a far cry from the earlier vintage options.
*** the above posted after January 31st when tBR circulated ***
Playing Politics: Vintage Board Games with a Political Twist. Many different subjects inspire board games — even, perhaps surprisingly, politics! Some games approach political themes through economics, some through war, and some recreate specific events in either a real or an imagined past. Some games stand out because they influenced many games that came after.
Zoom-Loom Automatic Weaving Machine from Kenner (1968). Children of the ’60s and ’70s could use the Zoom-Loom Automatic Weaving Machine to design & make their own placemats, scarves, pot holders, and more. The toy’s promotion of textile production and sewing skills is an excellent example of the type of creativity toy that was being released during the time period.
10 Polly Pocket toys from the ’90s that are way more valuable today. If you grew up in the ’90s — or were the parent or grandparent of someone who did — you know the cultural grip Polly Pocket had on the nation. The vintage toy was first founded in 1983 and, starting in 1989, was produced by Bluebird Toys; it was then sold to Mattel in 1998.
7 toys every kid wanted in the 1950s. On January 23rd, 1957, Frisbee inventor Walter Morrison sold the rights to his creation to toy company Wham-O!, setting the stage for the release of one of the most popular toys of all time. But the Frisbee is only scratching the surface of the great toys of the 1950s. Back before the days of flying drones, iPhones, or video games, kids played with actual toys!
He-Man from Mattel. In 1989, Mattel released a new line of He-Man action figures to coincide with the release of The New Adventures of He-Man, a new animated series starring everyone’s favorite defender of the planet Eternia. While the series only lasted a single season in syndication, Mattel continued to produce new Master of the Universe-based toys until 1992.
Great Gears from TOMY. Released in 1982 from Tomy, the Great Gears mechanical puzzle was both challenging and stylish. The game comprised seven gears placed in a hexagonal arrangement – one gear in the center and the remaining six gears positioned around it. Each gear held up to six metal ball-bearings in a series of pockets cut into its edge.
Licensing and Entertainment
Toon2Tango takes a ride with ThinkerBen and Motor. Keeping busy on the heels of announcing a buzzy deal to develop content based on a toy line called Eldrador Creatures, Germany’s Toon2Tango has just signed a new agreement to co-produce and sell Serbian studio Metaxilasis’ upcoming preschool series ThinkerBen and Motor. This 2D toon revolves around a young engineer and his robotic dog,...
France’s Superprod Group has announced a new content merger with Watch Next Media’s Kids First distribution subsidiary. The acquisition builds on a deal that saw Superprod take a majority ownership stake in Watch Next last October in order to bolster its development and production capabilities. Going forward, all content that was previously distributed by Kids First will now be sold by Superights...
Nostalgic revivals of popular ’90s franchises are showing no signs of slowing down, and the Buffyverse is the latest one gearing up to make a small-screen comeback. According to several media reports, a reboot of Buffy the Vampire Slayer (pictured) is in the works at 20th Television and Searchlight TV, and is close to scoring a pilot order from Hulu. The original live-action series starred Sarah Michelle Gellar as Buffy...
*** The above posted after tBR circulated January 31st ***
Disney is supercharging the Star Wars universe in 2025 with the launch of a year-long consumer products campaign called Power the Force. Key licensees including Hasbro, Jazwares, Funko, Bandai Namco, Topps and The LEGO Group are lined up to release new products throughout the year that are designed to further engage the iconic brand’s multi-generational audience, and also to bring new fans into the...
Nickelodeon launched Kid Cowboy, its first original animated series for YouTube, centering on a guitar-playing hero who champions justice in a futuristic world. Now available on Nickelodeon’s Blaze and the Monster Machines YouTube channel, the music-driven, Spanish language-infused series, Kid Cowboy, is produced by Nickelodeon Unscripted & Digital Studio, created by Grammy and Golden Globe-nominated ...
LEGO, Van Gogh Museum reveal ‘Sunflowers’-inspired LEGO set. The LEGO Group has unveiled the LEGO Art Vincent van Gogh – “Sunflowers” set, created in collaboration with the Van Gogh Museum in Amsterdam. The 2,615-piece set reimagines Van Gogh’s 1889 painting as a three-dimensional LEGO artwork, emphasizing the artist’s signature brushstrokes, use of light and shadow and vibrant yellow hues.
Mattel debuts Super Bowl LIV collectibles. Only the winning team’s collectible items will ship. Mattel Creations is teaming up with Super Bowl LIX to offer exclusive collectibles commemorating the 2025 big game and the participating teams. The collection features Mattel Barbie dolls, Fisher-Price Little People, and UNO cards themed around the two competing teams.
Ravensburger adds D&D monsters to Horrified franchise. Ravensburger has announced plans to bring iconic monsters from the world of Dungeons & Dragons to its acclaimed Horrified tabletop series from summer 2025. Under licence by Hasbro and its Wizards of the Coast division, Horrified: Dungeons & Dragons will not only set players against four of the classic role-playing game’s most fearsome foes...
Moose Toys celebrates Bluey’s success. Bluey, the global sensation, continues to soar, ranking as the No.2 pre-school property in 2024. With its toy line spanning 35 countries, the brand meets ever-increasing ‘show-to-shelf’ demand, achieving exceptional results in both the UK and EU markets. Visitors to Nuremberg Toy Fair can celebrate Bluey’s latest products on the Moose Toys stand, including themed treats inspired by the...
Disney and YouTube in close race for overall TV viewing crown. As last year wound down, the Disney TV empire - counting broadcasters like ABC, streaming platforms Disney+ and Hulu along with cable channels like FX - managed to stave off YouTube in the race for viewing marketshare in the attention economy. Disney’s brands saw about 11.2 percent of overall TV viewing in the US, just ahead of YouTube’s 11.1 percent share.
Jada Toys is rolling into a new, trailblazing expansion with its Majorette collection. As the leader in die-cast toys and mini-car collectibles, Jada Toys is expanding its Majorette collection to include more vehicles, which will appeal to experienced adult collectors and kids alike. This new collection will include detailed 7.5 cm long toy vehicles, including decade-defining classics such as the 1965 Ford Mustang, the 2005 Bugatti ...
Playmobil unveils new brand positioning at Nuremberg International Toy Fair. Playmobil is becoming an umbrella brand with a fresh brand image, creative campaigns and renowned cooperation. A new product portfolio supports the reorientation, with the aim of strengthening brand relevance, reaching new target groups and driving forward the globalization of the Playmobil brand.
Hot Wheels and Ferrari announce partnership. The full range will roll into stores this spring. Mattel announced a partnership between Hot Wheels and Ferrari at Spielwarenmesse, the largest international trade show for toys and games. This is the luxury car brand’s first collaboration with Hot Wheels in more than ten years.
TLS Toy reintroduces '80s brands Jem & Playskool My Buddy. Both properties are celebrating milestone anniversaries in 2025. The Loyal Subjects (TLS), maker of toys, fashion dolls, plush and collectibles, known for creating lineups of high-quality products based on iconic licenses and TLS Toy products, under license by Hasbro, will reintroduce Jem and the Holograms and Playskool My Buddy dolls...
Cowabunga! Nex Playground and Paramount Game Studios partner to launch exclusive new Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles game. Nex, the leading motion technology company, and Paramount Game Studios today announced the launch of Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles Rooftop Mayhem, a classic side-scrolling action motion game set in the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Mutant Mayhem universe.
Paramount Consumer Products & Experiences UK is set to launch a varied range of consumer products this year to accompany Dora, the CG-animated pre-school series featuring the beloved character, Dora the Explorer. Set to hit shelves in July 2025, the new range will span apparel, footwear, toys, arts & crafts, puzzles, games and books.
McFarlane Toys reveals new Robin: Jason Todd (DC Super Powers). McFarlane Toys goes retro once again as they debut a brand new set of DC Super Powers figures reliving the 80s fun of collecting. Jason Todd is now suiting back in his classic Boy Winder outfit with a new DC Super Powers figure from McFarlane Toys. Robin will have a fabric cape, his own retro card back packaging, and stand 4.5" tall.
Disguise Inc. gains rights to a Minecraft movie concepts. The world’s most popular video game, Minecraft, has an upcoming movie, and now, a new licensing deal. Disguise, Inc., the costume division of toy and consumer products company JAKKS Pacific, announced its global licensing rights to design, produce, and market costumes inspired by A Minecraft Movie.
Ray Palmer is The Atom with McFarlane Toys new DC Super Powers. New DC Super Powers are on the way as McFarlane Toys is going retro once again with new figures. Ray Palmer, the second Atom, debuted in Showcase #34 (1961), created by Gardner Fox and Gil Kane. As a brilliant physicist, Palmer finds himself with a fragment of a white dwarf star.
'Stumble Guys' signs with CAA Brand Management. CAA Brand Management has been named the official licensing agency for Scopely’s multi-award-winning party battle royale game, “Stumble Guys.” Under the agreement, CAA Brand Management will manage the “Stumble Guys” consumer products licensing and brand extension program in the U.S., UK, Europe, the Middle East and beyond, focusing...
Topps launches new Match Attax Extra football trading cards. The Messi Goat card leads the charge in Match Attax Extra’s latest collection, including ultra-rare jumbo relics, limited editions and some of the rarest pulls yet. ExtraTopps, the premier trading card brand of Fanatics Collectibles, has launched its brand-new 2024/25 Extra collection, featuring super-exclusive cards, all-new limited edition...
The LEGO Group makes waves with new ‘One Piece’ building sets. This collaboration marks the first time an anime has received the coveted LEGO makeover. In a collaboration with Netflix and Tomorrow Studios, the LEGO Group is developing new building sets based on the hit manga-inspired Netflix series One Piece.
Netflix orders a Little House on the Prairie reboot. Rebecca Sonnenshine will showrun this live-action series based on the classic children's book series by Laura Ingalls Wilder. This reboot is getting underway more than 50 years after the original Little House on the Prairie series premiered on NBC in 1974. It ran for nine seasons, telling the story of the Ingalls family living on a small farm in Minnesota...
Canada’s Pipeline Studios (Alma’s Way) has partnered with Crayola Studios to co-produce a new CG-animated series called School of WhichCraft. Aimed at 4 - 6-year-olds, this concept was created by Evan Baily (LazyTown), and Shea Fontana (Monster High) has been brought in to develop it further and serve as showrunner. School of WhichCraft revolves around a group of eight-year-old kids who use a little magic to...
The National Hockey League is about to launch its first weekly animated series, which will replay NHL game highlights in a kid-friendly format and package. NHL HOCKEYVERSE Matchup of the Week features 30-minute episodes that recap regular-season match-ups from the previous week, with CG-animated avatars subbed in for real players. Featuring the Vancouver Canucks vs. Washington Capitals game...
Canal+, DR and Ketnet greenlight Gigglebug’s Tadpoles. Designed to entertain kids on both horizontal and vertical screens, the 52 x 11-minute series is repped by global distributor Folivari International. Introduced to buyers at Kidscreen Summit 2022, the toon is about two tadpole siblings who are on a quest to reach the top of the pond and find out if the legends they’ve heard about the surface are true.
People of Play
Former JAM Media chief commercial officer John Reynolds has launched a new consulting company called Flip Side Media to help kids & family content-makers secure funding, set up co-productions and tap into business development support. Based in Dublin, Flip Side is particularly well-positioned to assist clients in hunting for financing across Ireland, the UK and the EU, and it can also negotiate distribution deals...
*** The above posted after tBR circulated January 31st ***
Longtime game executive Ben Rathbone has joined Tabletop Tycoon as Managing Director, the company announced. Rathbone’s 35-year career in the games business has been concentrated in game design: he was Head of Games Design & Development at Ceaco most recently, and also had stints at Spin Master as Vice President Design – Games, and at Hasbro as VP Global Games Design. In his new role he will report...
Chris Corbett has been promoted to Vice President of Sales at ACD Distribution from his previous position as Director – Sales Division, which he held for the previous seven years. Corbett has been in sales at ACD for over 22 years.
Niki Shults has joined Hachette Boardgames USA as Marketing Manager. Prior to moving to Hachette, she was Marketing Manager at Plaid Hat Games, beginning in 2019. Prior to that she was a content creator (Board with Life). She replaces Lindsay Schlesser, who left Hachette to go to The Op Games, where she is Digital Marketing and Communications Specialist, last fall.
Tokyopop has appointed Owais Farooqui as its new Director of Marketing and Sales. In his new role, Farooqui will lead marketing and sales activities across publishing, ecommerce, merchandise, and anime promotion, with a special emphasis on expanding opportunities in the video game arena. He brings skills in data analysis and performance measurement to inform sales and marketing strategy.
Aardman strengthens Licensing business with key hires and promotions. The new strategy and structure is a key part of Aardman’s Brand and Licensing division’s plans to maximise the impact and value of the studio’s IP around the world. The new strategy and structure, spearheaded by executive Commercial & Brand director Emma Hardie, is a key part of Aardman’s Brand and Licensing division’s plans to maximise the impact...
Mellany Welsh has joined Boat Rocker Studios as SVP of brand partnerships and content marketing, replacing Kate Schlomann, who left the Toronto-based prodco last month. Effective immediately, Welsh now reports to Jon Rutherford, Boat Rocker’s president of global rights, franchise and content strategy. She will focus on managing brand strategy & partnerships, licensing and content marketing initiatives...
Marie Enemark Olsen will join existing ESCP board representatives from brands, retailers, factories, trade associations and civil society organisations, who oversee its activities. These include Target, Kenvue and Just Play Toys. ESCP’s governing board was established in 2004.
At the Lego Group, Marie is responsible for driving the brand’s human rights and responsible sourcing strategies.
Husband and wife board game design team Sheila Santos and Israel Cendrero have been collaborating on their creations for almost a decade – and have sealed their status as notable eurogame architects in recent years with standout titles The Red Cathedral and The White Castle.
Companies and Brands
Mattel Lets You Cancel Sports Collectible Toy Orders If Your Team Doesn't Win. While sports fans engage in sports betting, apparel manufacturers don't. In advance of an event like the Super Bowl, these companies hedge their bets by printing up a run of T-shirts proclaiming Team A the winner, and a second run naming Team B the winner. After the event, the appropriate T-shirts go on sale. The incorrectly-printed...
As egg prices soar, one chicken is still delivering value—and it’s not in the grocery aisle. Lethal Chicken Games is in its final week on Kickstarter, offering four brand-new board games at unbeatable prices before they hit retail. “With the cost of eggs skyrocketing, it turns out backing a chicken-themed game company is a smarter investment than breakfast,” joked Alex Mackey, co-founder of Lethal Chicken Games.
Simba Dickie Group and Finnish toy company Tactic Games OY have agreed on a new partnership to secure the future of the Heros wood factory in the Bavarian Forest in Germany. Due to challenging economic conditions and the resulting consumer restraint in Germany, the Simba Dickie Group alone has been unable to fully utilise Heros’ wood production in the Bavarian Forest in recent years.
Carve Communications today announced the newest addition to its toy portfolio with AMAV, a leading global manufacturer of children’s hobby & toy products. Paving Carve’s growth path as the agency’s first client partnership in 2025, its industry expertise in consumer toys will support AMAV US in successfully expanding its footprint and overall brand in the US market. “With NY Toy Fair just a handful of weeks away...
*** The above posted after tBR circulated on January 31st ***
Moose Toys, is supercharging its European growth strategy, expanding its direct-to-retail operations in Spain and Portugal. The move cements Moose’s position as a leading player in the region, complementing its existing direct-to-retail operations in the UK, France and Germany. Moose Toys first entered the European market in 2018 through the acquisition of UK toy company, Worlds Apart, before quickly expanding...
Jazwares has just unveiled a new construction toy brand called BLDR. Designed for kids ages eight and up, the range will feature a wide variety of licensed playsets, minifigures and buildable action figures, and 15 lead SKUs are debuting at Target and on Amazon in the US this week. They’ll also roll out later in the spring at GameStop, Walgreens and other storefronts.
This spring, Hasbro is taking “let it rip” on the go. The toy giant is expanding its already dizzying line of Beyblade X battling tops with its first portable, foldable Beystadium. The Beyblade X Clash and Carry Beystadium Battle Arena might appear unassuming at first glance, but the set expands to form the perfect arena to challenge other Bladers on the fly, complete with Hasbro’s signature X-Celerator rails.
Radio Flyer closes Woodfield Mall store, its only brick-and-mortar location. Radio Flyer has permanently closed its store at Woodfield Mall. It was the 108-year-old company’s first and only brick-and-mortar location.
Mattel unveiled several new initiatives at the 2025 Nuremberg International Toy Fair this week. From entering new categories to celebrating a milestone anniversary and reigniting iconic partnerships, the toy giant showcased its latest plans for 2025 and beyond. Mattel Brick Shop: A New Era in Building Sets. This brand is designed to disrupt the status quo, bending the rules of building with innovative features...
Both Brave Toys, the parent co. of the award-winning construction brand Connetix, and My Creative Box, a leading Australian provider of engaging children’s activity boxes, had a successful London Toy Fair. After announcing their business partnership in June 2024, the two brands shared stand UN68 to showcase their latest releases and offer a sneak peek of what’s to come in 2025 with retailers, buyers and media.
Following last year’s announcement “Setting off into the future” at Spielwarenmesse, Playmobil is now following up on this promise in 2025 with the new motto “The future is now”. With a new brand positioning and communication strategy for the future, Playmobil is becoming an umbrella brand with a fresh brand image, creative campaigns and renowned cooperation.
FoxMind showcases top games at Spielwarenmesse. A host of innovative games are available to view on FoxMind’s stand in Nuremberg this week, with hands-on demos and the company’s expert team sharing recommendations and insights. Advance Games by FoxMind is exhibiting at this year’s Spielwarenmesse and invites visitors to explore its latest innovative releases and bestselling favourites, thoughtfully designed...
The Nacelle Company and Seven Bucks Productions are riding the wave of nostalgia for ’80s and ’90s cartoons with an original animated series. Consumers can watch RoboForce: The Animated Series in April to experience robots, action, and sci-fi adventures. The animated original series takes inspiration from the nostalgic RoboForce toys consumers loved from the ’80s and continues the narrative of the original robot...
Wonderland Amusements is changing the home arcade game. Since its debut at the 2024 Pinball Expo, the brand has been hard at work developing the first of its upcoming line of affordable mechanical pinball machines. Titled Alice Goes to Wonderland, the machine will blend old-school arcade mechanics with Lewis Carroll-inspired artwork as surreal as the projected price point: under $1,000.
Gaming: Digital, Video, Hardware, and Development
The next season of MultiVersus will be the crossover fighting game’s last. Warner Bros. Games announced Friday that development on MultiVersus is ending, and that the game will go offline on May 30, the day that the upcoming season 5 comes to a close. MultiVersus will remain playable offline, the publisher said, both locally and against AI opponents. The game will no longer be available to download as of...
*** The above posted after January 31st when tBR circulated ***
The longest video games of all time. Games come in all shapes and sizes, and a longer game isn’t necessarily better than one you can beat in an afternoon. That said, as the video game generations have gone on and hardware has improved, some developers have pushed the limits on just how long a game can last. Now, we have tons of live-service games, MMORPGs, and multiplayer games that technically have no end...
The full video game console generation timeline. Video games are still a young medium in the grand scheme of things, but have been around for well over 50 years now. After the arcade boom in the 70s, home consoles slowly took over the gaming landscape with Nintendo’s NES leading the charge. The NES is one of the best video game consoles of all time, but it was far from the first console and certainly not the last...
Disney Reimagines One of Its Best Games. Disney has a host of popular game franchise on its resume, and Ravensburger is responsible for two of those in Disney Lorcana and Disney Villainous, and both franchise are still going strong. That said, Ravensburger is shaking things up with Villains, as at London Toy Fair they revealed a brand new game in the franchise that reinvents the series’ trademark gameplay....
Five Books To Read If You Play Video Games. What would Ghost of Tsushima be like without the influence of film director Akira Kurosawa? How different would Alan Wake 2 be if Twin Peaks didn’t exist? The link between cinema and video games has never been more apparent, but literature’s impact on modern games shouldn’t be ignored as it’s had just as much sway.
No Man's Sky kicks off 2025 with another massive update including billions of new solar systems and trillions of new planets. Now in its ninth year, the overwhelmingly expansive sci-fi survival sim No Man’s Sky is transforming yet again. Another massive overhaul to the look and feel of its planets and solar systems has arrived in the form of the new Worlds Part II update.
Phoenix Labs lays off 'majority of studio' two years after Forte Labs acquisition. Dauntless and Fae Farm developer Phoenix Labs has laid off "a majority" of its workers one month after releasing a poorly-received update to the former title as part of its launch on Steam. The company announced the move in a post on LinkedIn, saying that today is "another difficult day" for the studio.
VR dev Fast Travel Games cuts 30 employees, saying VR faces a 'more uncertain year'. Fast Travel Games CEO Oskar Burman announced 30 roles have been eliminated at the VR studio. According to the studio's statement, the reductions primarily affect its publishing, administration, and marketing teams. However, Fast Travel itself will now be consolidated into a single development team.
Ubisoft kicks off bid to 'maximize value creation' with layoffs and studio closure. Ubisoft has told Game Developer that some employees from its Leamington studio will remain with the company on remote contracts. It was originally reported the entire 50-person team would be laid off. A company spokesperson said it will retain some talent with "essential skills" but noted that around 100 employees...
Pokémon TCG pocket braces for explosion in real money trades. The creators of Pokémon TCG Pocket have issued a warning to all players not to tamper with game data or participate in real money trades, or risk getting their accounts banned. The crackdown comes right before card trading and a new Space-Time Smackdown set are added to the mobile hit. Pokémon TCG Pocket’s makers, Creatures Inc. and DeNA...
One of the best 4X strategy games in recent memory is finally getting a sequel over 10 years later. It feels like not enough people are talking about Endless Legend 2. The sequel to the excellent 4X strategy game from 2014 was quietly revealed on Thursday with a new trailer. There are all different flavors of Civilization, and the one presented by the Amplitude Studios’ original Endless Legend ...
Circana report finds ‘Call of Duty: Black Ops 6’ the best-selling video game of 2024. Consumer spending on hardware, content, and accessories declined, however. Circana has released an end-of-year report for video games. Call of Duty: Black Ops 6 was the year’s best-selling game, but overall sales declined compared to last year.
Everything we saw at the January Xbox Developer Direct. Microsoft gave some updates on new (and old) games coming to Xbox. It’s January, and that means Xbox held another one of its annual Developer Direct showcases to talk about some games coming to Xbox Series X/S and Windows.
What’s in at Nintendo: Nintendo Download announces new content for gamers. Even with the recent and highly anticipated Nintendo Switch 2 announcement, Nintendo continues to drop new releases, content, and more for its consumers. The popular video game company has new announcements regarding its Nintendo eShop, pre-orders, and Nintendo Music. Star Wars fans can continue their Jedi journeys...
Highlighted Press Releases
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FUN IN MOTION TOYS WELCOMES NEW PRESIDENT BRET CLEMONS.
Clemons Steps Into the Role of President as Co-Founder Kevin Daniels Continues as Fun In Motion Toys’ CEO. Ft. Lauderdale, FL (January 27, 2025) –After an extensive search for a suitable candidate to take over the role of President, it is with great excitement that Fun In Motion Toys announces the appointment of Bret Clemons. Clemons steps into the President role previously served by Kevin Daniels, Co-Founder of Fun In Motion Toys, who continues in his role as CEO. In his new role at the company,
FUN IN MOTION TOYS RACKS UP AWARDS FROM ALL ACROSS THE INDUSTRY
New Stars Like HyperTiles® And TECTI® And The Toy Juggernaut Shashibo® Magnetic Puzzle Cube Were Big Award Winners In 2024!
Ft. Lauderdale, FL (January 24, 2025) – They’ve done it again! Fun In Motion Toys’ momentum hasn’t slowed at all, with both HyperTiles and TECTI announced as 2024 Toy of the Year (TOTY) finalists! HyperTiles is up for consideration as the Educational Toy of the Year and TECTI has the chance to take home Construction Toy/Playset of the Year.
Safety and Counterfeiting
Review of products finds many have button batteries 'dangerously accessible' as choking hazard, despite new law. Despite new safety laws aimed at protecting children, button and coin cell batteries remain a potentially deadly hazard. A Consumer Reports investigation found that many household items still have easily accessible battery compartments, leaving families vulnerable to tragic accidents. Button and coin cell batteries, commonly found in toys, tealights, and other household devices, may be small, but they pose serious risks to children.
Associations, Foundations, Shows, Awards, Events, and Festivals
The Toy Hub To Debut ‘Meet The Inventors’ at Toy Fair 2025. The series aims to connect the creators of some of the most successful toys and games of 2024 with other industry professionals. Matt Nuccio, an executive board member of the UIA, chairman of Toy Hub, and president of Design Edge, states that the ‘Meet The Inventor’ series exemplifies the organization’s mission to empower inventors through education...
Kicking off on Sunday, Spring Fair is marked as a key date in the retail calendar, providing an opportunity for buyers and retailers in the toy and gifting industries to explore the latest trends and products that could help enhance their offerings for the months ahead. As it approaches its 75th yr, Spring Fair 2025 has accomplished a 90% sell-out, with over 1,200 exhibitors ready to showcase their new and existing...
*** The above posted after tBR circulated January 31st ***
Spielwarenmesse Names Top Toys. Six toys won the coveted ToyAward at the world’s largest int'l toy fair. Winners were selected by a 14-member international jury staffed by experts in retail, industry, market research, toy safety, sustainability, and education. Toys were evaluated on originality, safety, play enjoyment, potential for commercial success, comprehensibility of the product concept, production, and quality.
The Halloween and Costume Association (HCA) has announced three new leaders to its Board of Directors. Casey Fitts of Lola Stars USA, Christopher Guzman of California Costumes Collections, Inc., and Michaels Pisors of Jawares, LLC have been added to the board. This change will strengthen the organization’s mission to promote and celebrate the Halloween and costume industry.
This year’s top US kids book honors go to… Coming-of-age tale The First State of Being wins the American Library Association's 2025 Newbery Medal, and picture book Chooch Helped is the latest Randolph Caldecott Medal recipient. Erin Entrada Kelly’s middle-grade novel The First State of Being earned the John Newbery Medal for outstanding contribution to children’s literature.
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
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.
Steve Bennett, Longtime ICv2 columnist, who wrote Confessions of a Comic Book Guy for this site for almost two decades, passed away between Christmas Eve and Christmas Day at home, likely due to cardiac issues. He reported a week-long hospital stay earlier in December for a variety of ailments on his Facebook, but continued to post on topics of interest (his last was on Jonny Quest) through December 22.
Alan Emrich, a designer and writer of board games and videogames credited with coming up with the term "4X" to describe sprawling, empire-building strategy games, has died. Emrich's death was reported by friends in a forum post on the wargaming community website ConsimWorld.
Emrich was a notable figure in the world of boardgaming: His bio at BoardGameGeek says he was the founder of boardgame publisher Victory Point Games as well as multiple tabletop gaming conventions.
He was also a significant presence in the early days of videogaming, working on games including Castles 2: Siege and Conquest, Warlords 2, Conquest of the New World, and Master of Orion 3. His most recent credit listed on MobyGames is as a design consultant on the 2016 Master of Orion remake.
Worldwide Magazines Weekly Top Stories
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Toy Trade Monthly Issues
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Licensing.biz Powered by Toyworld
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Mighty Jaxx and The Hundreds collaborate on new XXPlay Adam Bomb collection
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Aardman strengthens Licensing business with key hires and promotions
ICv2: The Business of Geek Culture (US)
- Wizards of the Coast Issues Artwork Credit Correction for a 'Magic: The Gathering' Card
- Back Up Mechs on the Battlefield with New 'BattleTech' Minis Set
- 'Pokemon TCG: Charizard ex Special Collection' Unveiled
- Rolling for Initiative -- Changes to 'Disney Lorcana' Organized Play, and 'Catan 6E' Q&A
- Asmodee Spin-Off Dates Set
- CMON Reveals 'Nova Era'
- 'Dungeons & Dragons' Monsters Get 'Horrified'
- Beadle & Grimm's Reveals New Book Based on 'Dungeons & Dragons Adventures' TV Show
- 'Freedom Five' Board Game Heads to Retail Over Four Years Post-Kickstarter
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Nación Juguetes (Mexico, Peru, Argentina, Chile & Spain)
Global Toy News
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hobbyDB
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Star Wars, LEGO, Lord of the Rings games drive 29% quarterly growth for Asmodee studios, as company prepares to split from Embracer next week
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“It’s important to us that we find new CMON fans all the time”: CMON hires board game YouTube channel Man vs Meeple’s CEO to run its global marketing campaigns
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Kennerspiel des Jahres winning publisher Schmidt Spiele scores 11% sales growth outside Germany, total 2024 sales reached €57.5m
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Grail Games follows Matagot tie-up with ‘rebirth’ of Maple Games to publish heavier titles
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This year’s nominees for France’s biggest board gaming award highlights breadth of country’s publishers
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The Fellowship of the Ring: Trick Taking Game unseats Sky Team to top weekly new owner charts | BGG Stats
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Tributes pour in for Barcelona, Arborea designer Dani Garcia after diagnosis with motor neuron disease ALS
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“We cannot work without each other”: The White Castle’s husband and wife design duo Isra and Shei on creating as as team, design pitfalls, and which games impressed them in 2024
Toy Store Italy
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Bandai Namco, new distribution agreement with Square Enix in ITALY
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Cranio Creations introduce new marketing team, both international and italian
Video of the Week - BLURT!, Inventors and More!
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Publisher: Mary Couzin, Chicago Toy & Game Group, Inc.
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