Welcome to Your Weekly News Brief!
Happy Bloomin' Friday!
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! Past photos HERE!
At Nuremberg Toy Fair, Warren Jacobs, Jonny Henton, Mary Jo Reutter, Don Ullman and I noted the many couples in our industry, such as Warren Jacobs and Sally Bean Jacobs, Richard Gill and Catherine McMillen Gill and a few others nearby.
We started a list and would love your help to add as many toy couples as possible by the the 12th. If possible, with a link to a POP Profile (free or paid) that we can link to and show their happy faces. And... it would be fun to share the story how they met. (100 words or so.) This is a perfect story for Valentine's Day next week! Send your own or others you know - I can't wait to see how this turns out!
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
Bloom Report Subscribers Say...
-
"Mary, I'm building a wholesale distribution business in Australia. Another wholesaler told me about you and said it would be invaluable to get the Bloom Report." - Scott McCall, mishmashed
-
"I go to work 6 days a week and magic happens! On day 7 I read the Bloom Report." 😁 - Rick Derr, Learning Express
-
"Tell me you're in the toy industry w/o telling me you're in the toy industry: Friday Morning = a cup-a-Joe & Bloom Report!" -Tim Walsh, The Playmakers
-
"I don't know anyone in the industry that doesn't read the Bloom Report." -Ken Lewis, President, 4Kidz, Inc.
-
"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.
Person of the Week - Professional Inventor Peggy Brown
Out of Thin Air
Five years ago, I shared a story in the Bloom Report about somebody who contacted me out of the blue to share that a game I designed a lonnng, long time ago has held an important place in his heart over much of his life. That one email meant a lot to me, and once in a while when I think about it, it makes me smile out loud.
Guess what? It happened again. Recently this email appeared out of thin air (or perhaps from heaven) and landed squarely in my inbox…
Message: Hi! I was wondering if anyone makes King's Court anymore? My brother and I played it all the time as kids and now as adults, we had our childhood set that passed back and forth between our houses to play with our own kids- the box was all taped up and falling apart but we had all the pieces and the board! Unfortunately, it was at his house when it burned down in the Eaton Fire this last week. I'm trying to track down a copy to replace it. Thank you for any information! -Ashley
GULP. No way.
A little context…
The Eaton Fire is one of the ferocious wildfires that devastated a large area of Los Angeles.
King’s Court was the very first game I ever worked on. I sculpted the play pieces out of modeling clay, did their part drawings by hand, and worked with the people at the factory to disable the mixing screw on the supply hopper of the injection molding equipment to make the colors of the play pieces swirly like marble instead of solid colors. Read More...
Person of Week - Ultra Pro's Dekan Wheeler
Anecdotes & Ideation from a “Girl Dad” & Brand Manager
Introductions and “Passionate Products” Overview
Before I get into it I thought I’d dive into who I am and what this article series for People of Play is supposed to be.
My name is Dekan Wheeler, I have been in the Game and Toy industry for just about a decade; before that I worked in Hollywood as an Editor and Consultant. My wife and I are also part of that “Millennial Kidult” demographic that's popping up for everyone to watch out for. Our house is full of books, box games, collectibles and RPGs. Not only do I play Dungeons & Dragons weekly with the same group I have for five years straight, I am also lucky enough to be the Senior Product Manager at Ultra PRO International in charge of our licensed products with Hasbro/Wizards of the Coast including D&D and Magic: The Gathering. While I have worked hard to be here, I also fully recognize how lucky I am to have a “Jobby” that I am passionate about. The only people more passionate than I am, are the passionate fans that buy what I make. I do what I do for them.
The most passionate consumer of what I make is my 8 year old daughter, for her privacy I will refer to her as “L”. When she was about four or five years old, L understood that after I dropped her off at school I went to work to make toys. For a very long time she was convinced that I went to work SOLELY to make toys for her. This made L my harshest critic, as when I brought home something that was for any other real world demographic of “not just a toy my daughter wants” she would be blunt about needing me to fix it. Now that she understands other people also buy the toys and games I make too she’s still a critic, but clearly loves what I do. At the end of the day, if I can make a product she is passionate about too, then everything is right in my world. Read More...
The Toy Association™ Announces 3-Year Action Plan in Support of Members’ Evolving Needs
The Toy Association™ has unveiled its Three-Year Strategic Plan, a new framework designed to support the growth and success of the global toy and play community. Anchored by five core pillars, the plan will serve as the roadmap for The Toy Association’s efforts as the unifying force that works in the service of its members and the broader toy industry.
“The toy industry is unique — it plays a critical role in a child’s mental, physical, and emotional development, and our focus will be to create and evolve initiatives that enhance our member’s ability to create and produce products and services that deliver on that promise,” said Sharon Price John, chairperson of The Toy Association Board of Directors and president & CEO of Build-A-Bear Workshop. “With direct input from members throughout the Association and key industry stakeholders, our action plan aligns with the real needs of toy companies today. We are committed to their business success as we advocate for fair policy decisions and regulations, provide world-class experiences, and create engaging opportunities for members to learn, grow, and evolve in an ever-changing business environment while supporting every effort to give back where and when families need it the most.” Read More...
Person of the Week - ToyFest's Carrie Scanlan
SAG Awards, Red Carpet, Celebrities, Horses and More!
(Apologies - the link to Carrie's article was broken last week, so we are rerunning! -Mary)
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 meme team for the meme this week!
Memorable Quotes: "All human knowledge begins with intuitions, proceeds from thence to concepts, and ends with ideas." - Immanuel Kant
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.
*** the above posted aftre tBR circulated February 7th ***
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.
Mattel may hike prices for Barbie, Hot Wheels and other toys after Trump tariffs. President Trump's move to tack an additional 10% tariff on U.S. imports from China could lead Mattel to hike the price of its Barbie, Hot Wheels and other toys. Mattel Chief Financial Officer Anthony DiSilvestro said in an earnings call with Wall Street analysts on Tuesday that roughly 40% of the company's toys are made in China...
Fast fashion and toys to cost more after US tariffs on China imports as packages from rival blocked. Retailers such as Shein, Temu, and AliExpress are expected to raise their prices after Donald Trump imposed a 10% tariff on goods from the Asian country on Tuesday. Meanwhile, the U.S. Postal Service said it would stop accepting packages from China and Hong Kong until further notice...
UK government rebuffs pleas to prevent live-service games from being disabled. The UK government will not extend consumer laws that could prevent live-service games from being shuttered. Players in the country have previously called on regulators to address the issue, which gained greater significance after Ubisoft's sudden takedown of The Crew in early 2024.
The UK government is considering enshrining into law a requirement for UK broadcasters to regularly fund anti-bullying reporting body CIISA, which is yet to launch properly several years after it was first floated. UK Culture Secretary Lisa Nandy is understood to view CIISA, which stands for the Creative Industries Independent Standards Authority, as crucial to helping rid the TV and film industries of the bullying...
Unsecured Creditors' Committee appointed for Diamond Chapter 11. The trustee in the Chapter 11 reorganization of Diamond Comic Distributors and related companies has appointed a committee to represent the interests of Diamond's unsecured creditors. The Bankruptcy Code provides that committee members are recruited (service is voluntary) from among the top unsecured creditors "…of the kinds represented."
Trump orders creation of US sovereign wealth fund with potential to purchase TikTok. President Donald Trump signed an executive order on Monday to create the nation's first sovereign wealth fund, which could be used to purchase TikTok. Joining Trump in the Oval Office, Secretary of the Treasury Scott Bessent said the fund will be operational within the next year. Though Trump did not explicitly indicate...
Parcels sent from China by online retailers such as Shein & Temu will face strict new customs controls as part of a crackdown by the European Comm. on “dangerous products” flooding the EU market. Brussels officials also urged EU lawmakers to phase out the exemption on customs duties that is allowed for parcels under €150 (£125), which enables foreign suppliers to sell cheap goods in the bloc w/o paying the tax.
ESA warns of 'negative impact' to hit game industry with Trump's tariffs. The Entertainment Software Association (ESA) is warning the Trump administration's incoming tariffs will cause "significant harm" to the game industry and everyday Americans. Several electronics companies have semiconductor factories in Mexico and China. The former's 25 percent tariff is currently paused, but China's 10 percent tax is still...
EA acquires AI-driven sports tracking platform TRACAB Technologies. EA has agreed to purchase TRACAB Technologies to enhance its sports franchises. The publisher said TRACAB, which is billed as a "leader in advanced sports optical tracking and analysis solutions," will join EA Sports for an undisclosed fee. It claimed the company's tools will help developers create lifelike animations and simulate real-world action...
PLEASE STOP IN TO SEE US AT
THE NY TOY FAIR AT BOOTH #6442
Program Highlights
-
A++ rated insurer, $20 Billion in assets
-
Exceeds Wal-Mart and other leading retailers insurance requirements
-
Variable rate based on sales projections
-
Foreign & Domestic Liability coverage
-
Blanket additional insured vendors
-
Employee benefits liability
-
All certificates and claims handled in house
-
Quick quotation turnaround
-
Product recall expense $250,000 limit
Additional Coverage
-
Umbrella up to $50,000,000
-
Ocean Cargo & Property
-
Commercial Auto
-
Lead coverage
-
Intellectual properties (copyrights, trademarks, & patents)
-
Credit Insurance
-
US Customs Bond Insurance
-
CYBER COVERAGE
for a free consultation and quotation for your business needs.
185 Newman Springs Road, Tinton Falls, NJ 07724
Contact: Jason Welch: tel: 732-842-2012 (ext. 318), fax 732-530-7080, jawelch@york-jersey.com or Bob Witkin bobwitkin@york-jersey.com
Visit the York-Jersey Underwriters website at www.toy-insurance.com
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.
Moana 2 helps Disney sail into quarterly revenue growth. Disney’s first quarter of the fiscal year was fueled by a 5% increase in revenue (US$24.7 billion), with its entertainment segment contributing 9% more revenue and 95% more profit than in the same quarter last year.
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.
Roblox Corp. shares dropped as much as 20%, the biggest intraday decline since May, after the video-game platform reported the number of daily active users fell 4% from the previous quarter to 85.3 million in the three months ended Dec. 31, versus Wall Street forecasts for 88.4 million.
EA says Dragon Age 'underperformance' justifies decision to prioritize 'highest-potential opportunities'. Q3 net bookings fell by 6 percent YoY to $2.2 billion–with live service net bookings tumbling by 8 percent. EA, which has made significant layoffs this year, expects over $7 billion in net bookings during FY25.
Trends, Lists, Market Research, and State of the Industry
TOP 20 GRAPHIC NOVELS - JANUARY 2025
*** The above posted after tBR circulated Februrary 7th ***
Top 5 Trends 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!
TCGPLAYER TOP 25 SEALED PRODUCTS CHART - JANUARY 2025
The Entertainer reveals January shopping trends.
UK Indies share their optimism for 2025. As indies round up how 2024 concluded, all eyes are on the future as they make plans to maximise sales in 2025 and share tips on what makes their business a success.
February’s Circana insights. The London and Nuremberg toy fairs are now just behind us, and it was exciting to see all the new launches for this year with Superheroes, Dinosaurs and Dragons back. Meanwhile, the themes that have driven toys sales in 2024 have become apparent. At the time of writing, Christmas sales results have just been released, and December growth helped to smooth the overall market decline to -3.7% in...
Stories, Comments, and Advice
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.
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...
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.
*** The above posted after tBR circulated February 7th ***
John Baulch, Toy World - Chaos theory … it’s the Friday Blog! After two intense but hugely productive weeks at the London and Nuremberg Toy Fairs, this week saw the toy community return to (relative) normality – and of course the mountain of follow-up and catch-up activity which inevitably follows two trade shows and a fortnight out of the office.
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.
How bad is TCG shrinkflation, actually? There has been a lot of chatter on social media and content creator channels about the severity of TCG shrinkflation. Essentially, TCG shrinkflation can be best described as the reconfiguration of product SKUs by companies to offer the consumer less product while keeping prices per unit the same or raising them.
21 wild and unsettling toy designs by Rosemberg that defy norms (new pics). This isn’t the first time we’ve featured the bizarre toy concepts of this Spanish digital artist. In fact, this is part three, and the ideas are only getting wilder! Rosemberg has created an unusual collection called "Forbidden Toys."
A crowd of over 40,000 waits for the weather report before Punxsutawney Phil saw his shadow predicting 6 more weeks of winter during the 139th annual Groundhog Day festivities on Sunday, February 2, 2025 in Punxsutawney, Pennsylvania. Groundhog Day is a popular tradition in the United States and Canada. If Punxsutawney Phil sees his shadow he regards it as an omen of six more weeks of bad weather and...
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 ...
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.
Spudsie the Hot Potato Game from Ohio Art (1966). Manufactured Hot Potato games have adorned store shelves since the 1950s. In 1966, Ohio Art threw its hat in the ring with the release of Spudsie, the Hot Potato Game. Ohio Art’s version was a red plastic hand-held “potato” with a painted-on face and goofy smile.
Big Mouth Singers from Child Guidance. Released in 1978 from Child Guidance, Big Mouth Singers introduced children to musical tones and tunes with a simple keyboard and eight colorful chorus characters. Big Mouth Singers encouraged play and experimentation while introducing children to the fundamentals of rhythm and melody.
Real Ghostbusters Ecto Glow Kenner toys surpass $4k at auction. Last week, we reported on a rare AFA-graded set of The Real Ghostbusters Ecto Glow Heroes figures hitting the auction block through Heritage Auctions. Given their reputation as some of the most sought-after collectibles in Kenner’s toy line, we expected some spirited bidding, and now, the numbers are in.
Rare toys and memorabilia set for auction. Cockermouth-based Mitchells Auction House will host a sale featuring around 2,000 diecast vehicles, 100 Charlie Bears and Steiff toys, and vintage Dungeons & Dragons magazines. Among the diecast models, collectors will find a variety of boxed vehicles from renowned manufacturer Maisto, including a Jaguar X Type, Opel Speedster, Porsche 911, and a Lamborghini.
The best ’90s Happy Meal toys. McDonald’s introduced the Happy Meal to their regular menu in 1979. After some early experimentation and at least a few highly questionable concepts, they really perfected their formula by the late 1980s. By the ’90s the Happy Meal was arguably at its zenith. The toys were fun, detailed, and often the only way to get merch connected to popular movies and shows.
Licensing and Entertainment
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...
*** The above posted after tBR circulated February 7th ***
The new Alphablocks series maintains the show’s signature charm while introducing more complex phonics concepts, helping children master reading fundamentals. BBC Children’s and Education, Alphablocks and Blue Zoo Animation Studio are bringing back the hugely popular phonics-focused series, Alphablocks, as part of the expanding Numberblocks and Friends universe.
Stranger Things and Jazwares to launch all-new toy line. Jazwares and Netflix are teaming up to bring an all-new product collection for Stranger Things fans of all ages. Marking the first global master licensing agreement for Netflix and the iconic Stranger Things franchise, Jazwares will launch a robust product line from Action Figures and Playsets to Costumes, Toy Vehicles and more inspired by the show’s beloved...
PAW Patrol creator Keith Chapman is crafting a new CG-animated series titled Bravo Squad that teaches preschoolers about safety awareness and emergency services. Keith Chapman Productions inked a co-production deal with Germany’s Toon2Tango and UK-based Factory Rights for the new series and also for a range of online shorts for older children that starts production next year. The partners aim to show preview episodes to potential broadcasters in 2028.
Monster High creates ‘Beetlejuice Beetlejuice’ wedding dolls. Mattel brand nabs Warner Bros. Discovery license for collectors’ pack. Mattel, in partnership with Warner Bros. Discovery Global Consumer Products, unveiled their Monster High Skullector “Beetlejuice Beetlejuice” Wedding Doll two pack. Inspired by the 2024 film “Beetlejuice Beetlejuice,” this collector's set brings to life the wedding scene from the film...
American Girl expands Disney Princess collection. American Girl has expanded its Disney Princess collection with a new Belle doll and special-edition Bitty Baby dolls inspired by Rapunzel, Ariel and Moana. The 18-inch Belle doll, inspired by “Beauty and the Beast,” features brown hair styled in a twisted half bun, hazel eyes and the character’s signature yellow satin gown.
PBS KIDS has greenlit the animated series Skillsville. Produced by Twin Cities PBS the show aims to help four- to eight-year-olds build personal and career skills with the help of video games. In each episode of the 2D-animated series, a trio of friends learn lessons while engaging with a video game.
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...
Burt the Beetle will be flying off the printed page and heading to viewers’ screens now that a 2D-animated preschool series from Toronto’s Epic Story Media (Hop) and regional broadcaster TVOKids is in the works. The alliteratively named insect is the title character for a series from Canadian kids author Ashley Spires.
BBC Studios and Sky Kids undertake first-ever co-pro. Rebel Kids combines dialogue from real-life children with wildlife footage in bridge series Funny Talking Animals. Throwing out the old show-biz adage “never work with animals or children,” BBC Studios Kids & Family and Sky Kids are teaming up for their first ever co-production: Rebel Kids’ Funny Talking Animals.
Jurassic World Rebirth - official trailer. A new era is born. This summer, three years after the Jurassic World trilogy concluded with each film surpassing $1 billion at the global box office, the enduring Jurassic series evolves in an ingenious new direction with Jurassic World Rebirth. This action-packed new chapter sees an extraction team race to the most dangerous place on Earth, an island research facility...
New Super7 x Godzilla FUN! FUN! collection. The kaiju have risen again, but this time there is no need to fear their return—they’re only 5” tall and dangerously adorable! Inspired by the vintage Japanese toys of the past and following the cute, minimal aesthetic of Super7’s Mascot Vinyl figures, Super7 is excited to introduce the newest additions to the FUN! FUN!™ lineup: 2-part soft vinyl figures of...
Merchantwise brings 'Minecraft' to Woolworths and Big W. Woolworths and BIG W have partnered with “Minecraft” to unleash a new physical and sustainable collectible, “Minecraft” Cubeez for Australian and New Zealand customers to experience. Brokered by Merchantwise exclusively for the two markets, the retail program and product were developed in partnership with “Minecraft” licensee, Headstart International.
JAKKS Pacific launches toy line for 'Dog Man' movie. JAKKS Pacific is launching its first complete collection of action figures and plush toys inspired by “Dog Man,” the bestselling graphic novel series by Dav Pilkey and the upcoming animated film from DreamWorks Animation and Universal Pictures.
Anjar Co. & Becker Associates rev up ‘Leo the Truck’ licensing program. The seasoned licensing agents will represent the YouTube series across multiple categories. Kids and retailers hoping for playsets, books, and pajamas for beloved dump truck Leo and his construction vehicle friends Lea, Lifty the Forklift, and Scoop the Excavator, will soon have their heart’s desire: licensing for Project First’s Leo The Truck...
Build-A-Bear and Sanrio on their first licensed retail location. License Global previously reported that Build-A-Bear Workshop opened its first Hello Kitty-themed workshop at Westfield Century City in Los Angeles. The new Build-A-Bear x Hello Kitty & Friends Workshop, created in partnership with Sanrio, celebrates Hello Kitty's 50th anniversary and invites fans to experience personalized shopping with...
Spin Master reveals 'Love Is Blind' official party game. Spin Master has launched an official Love Is Blind: Find Your Match party game, like the social experiment without being in the pods as seen on the Netflix series. In the board game, the goal is to find true love in the pods. Adopt secret identities and symbols to answer questions that test each other’s love compatibility (e.g.: “Your dream home”).
TLS Toy brings back Carmen Sandiego. TLS Toy has reintroduced ‘80s character, Carmen Sandiego, to Walmart toy shelves in the U.S. The TLS Toy, Carmen Sandiego fashion doll comes complete with her legendary trench, wide-brimmed hat, and plays the theme song in the base of the doll.
Funko adds Disney’s ‘Lilo & Stitch’ to Bitty POP! line. Funko has taken to Spielwarenmesse to announce the expansion of its Bitty POP! line, with the new Bitty POP! Bitty Box: Disney “Lilo & Stitch.” The Bitty Box is a realistic miniature interactive display unit of Lilo’s Home from Disney’s “Lilo & Stitch” and features the Pelekai residence with Disney “Lilo and Stitch” Bitty POP! figures included within the pack.
Cryptozoic partners with Peanuts worldwide to produce new games and trading card product. Cryptozoic Entertainment has partnered with Peanuts Worldwide to make new games and trading card products based on Charles M. Schulz's classic Peanuts brand. The first two products to arrive as part of this licensing agreement will be Peanuts Playpaks: 75 Years and Peanuts: The Doctor Is In.
Help James Bond complete aquatic missions in 'Legendary: Thunderball'. Upper Deck Entertainment will release Legendary: Thunderball, a new expansion for the 007 James Bond Deckbuilding Game, into retail in May 2025. 007 is at it again as 007 Legendary continues through his series of classic spy movies.
Sirius reveals 'D&D Progress Pride Dice Set'. Sirius Dice will release a D&D Progress Pride Dice Set into retail on March 5, 2025. This new dice set was made in collaboration with Daniel Quasar, a noted artist and graphic designer. Quasar was the designer behind the Progress Pride flag, a variant of the rainbow pride flag that incorporates more colors to represent trans people and LGBTQ+ people of color.
CMON reveals 'X-Men Dice Set' for 'Marvel Multiverse RPG'. CMON has revealed the X-Men Dice Set, for Marvel Multiverse RPG, which will hit stores on April 30, 2025. This new custom dice set is an official accessory of Marvel Multiverse Role-Playing Game (see "'X-Men Expansion'"). The set features custom dice in the X-Men colors and theme.
Mimo Studios to adapt ‘Maggie and Abby’s Neverending Pillow Fort’. Proving imaginative play never has to end, Crayola Studios, Mimo Studios, and Like a Photon Creative (LAPC) will produce a new film based on the hit children’s novel Maggie and Abby’s Neverending Pillow Fort. Written by Will Taylor, the book was published in 2018 by Harper Collins.
New Star Wars cards featuring actor signatures/inscriptions and original 1977 design. The set features exquisite autographs from the most well-known Star Wars actors including: Pedro Pascal, Natalie Portman, Samuel L. Jackson, Emilia Clarke, Billy Dee Williams, lan McDiarmid, Ivanna Sakhno, Joel Edgerton, Keira Knightley, Oscar Isaac, Stellan Skarsgärd, Mark Hamill, Giancarlo Esposito, Hayden Christensen...
‘Minecraft’ interactive and immersive experience to open in London. For the first time in the U.K. and Europe, “Minecraft” fans will have their chance to experience a real-world, “Minecraft” immersive adventure. Experience MOD and Mojang Studios have announced that “Minecraft Experience: Villager Rescue,” will open on Apr/ 4, at Corner Corner, London’s newest multi-use venue in Canada Water.
Care Bears join 'Stumble Guys'. The characters debut on the Scopely game Feb. 14. Scopely, the team behind "Stumble Guys" has announced an exclusive collaboration with Cloudco Entertainment's Care Bears. Launching on Feb. 14, players can unlock exclusive Care Bear cosmetics to brighten their gameplay experience.
LBO Collective announces licensing partnership with Universal Products & Experiences for high-end, pop-art collectibles. LBO Collective, a team of toy industry veterans and tastemakers, is proud to announce a licensing partnership with Universal Products & Experiences. This collaboration brings NBCUniversal properties like Jaws, Back to the Future, Universal Monsters, Battlestar Galactica and...
Two new 'Star Wars: Shatterpoint' Squad Packs hit the battlefield, plus, new Mission Pack. Atomic Mass Games will release two new Star Wars: Shatterpoint Squad Packs and a Mission Pack on April 4. The first Squad Pack, Deploy the Garrison, features Director Krennic from Rogue One: A Star Wars Story.
Exalted Funeral and Crowbar Creative announce new 'Monty Python RPG' release date for retail. Exalted Funeral and Crowbar Creative announced a retail release date for Monty Python's Cocurricular Mediaeval Reenactment Programme, a new RPG. This RPG will officially head to retail on March 5, 2025.
Shuster Estate sues DC; 'The Sandman' ending; 'Roboforce' picked up; 'Dungeon' feature; 'The Toxic Avenger' and 'Sonic the Hedgehog 4' get dates. Showbiz Round-up. The estate of Superman co-creator Joseph Shuster, represented by attorney Marc Toberoff, is suing DC Comics and Warner Bros. Discovery over international rights to the character, according to the Wall Street Journal.
.jpg)
People of Play
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.
*** The above was posted after tBR circulated February 7th ***
ITMA names James Zahn, Kerstin Barthel as Co-Presidents at Spielwarenmesse. The International Toy Magazines Association (ITMA) elected James Zahn, Editor-in-Chief of The Toy Book (U.S.), and Kerstin Barthel, Editor-in-Chief of das spielzeug (Germany), as co-presidents. The unanimous decision was made at ITMA’s annual meeting held this week at Spielwarenmesse in Nuremberg, Germany...
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...
Craig Hunter breaks down his role at Amazon Kids+. The platform's senior creative executive outlines his wishlist for compelling, format-agnostic TV concepts, as well as reflecting on his influential tenure at YouTube. With a design/advertising degree and a Channel 4 internship under his belt, Hunter began his career focused on other programming genres. But then Fox Kids came knocking in 2003 and swept him into...
Long-time licensing and entertainment veteran Michael Peikoff launches his first book dedicated to his late father, Elliot. A Smart Man Wouldn’t Have Thought About That features his father’s memorable quips relating to the daily interactions and moments he experienced in the entertainment industry. Peikoff is a long-time licensing and entertainment veteran with notable experience in the industry.
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.
Hasbro unleashes newest addition to Beyblade X. New from Hasbro, and featuring the X-Celerator Rail and X Gear System, the Beyblade X Clash and Carry Beystadium Battle Arena is a portable stadium that opens and folds closed for easy carrying and storage, and is designed for battles on-the-go.
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 LEGO Group pledges millions towards carbon removal. The carbon credits will deliver until 2026. The LEGO Group is, once again, taking significant steps towards promoting sustainability within the global toy industry. The company is committing to investing DKK (Danish Krone) 19 million in four carbon removal projects in partnership with Climate Impact Partners and ClimateFi.
Mattel toasts to its 80th Anniversary with philanthropic global initiatives.Mattel, a leading global toy company known for iconic brands like Barbie and Hot Wheels, is celebrating its 80th anniversary. To commemorate this milestone, Mattel is hosting a year-long event called 80 Moments for 80 Years.
Hippychick reports that sales of Nattou’s new Teddy Collection, comprising bears, plush backpacks and cot accessories, are soaring. 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...
Australian brand Scribble Mat launches in the U.S. The eco-friendly silicone coloring mats for kids are now available for purchase domestically. Scribble Mat, an Australian manufacturer of reusable silicone coloring mats, is expanding its business from down under to the states, with select products now in stock at Maisonette.
Crayola is bringing bringing back eight retired colors for a limited time, including Dandelion, which was retired in 2017; Blizzard Blue, Magic Mint, and Mulberry, which were all retired in 2003; and Orange Red, Violet Blue, Lemon Yellow, and Raw Umber, which were retired in 1990. “As a first in the history of Crayola, we could not be more excited to bring back this beloved limited edition color collection that will give kids...
'Super Boss Monster' gets a date for a retail release. Brotherwise Games will release Super Boss Monster, a new dungeon-building game, into retail on April 16, 2025. Super Boss Monster was first announced back in March 2024 and is the follow-up to 2012's Boss Monster. It wrapped up its crowd-funding campaign in April 2024, raising $1,339,314 from 14,777 backers (about 91 per backer).
Devir Games reveals 'Transgalactica'. Devir Games revealed Transgalactica, a new Eurogame by Danielle Tascini, which will hit retail in June 2025. In this game, players venture out in the stars on the behest of the Galactic Senate to expand their influence over the galaxy. They will be tasked with captaining a starship through space on a mission to discover planets, trade, mine minerals, and fight off pirates.
Sirius reveals 'D&D Progress Pride Dice Set'. Sirius Dice will release a D&D Progress Pride Dice Set into retail on March 5, 2025. This new dice set was made in collaboration with Daniel Quasar, a noted artist and graphic designer. Quasar was the designer behind the Progress Pride flag, a variant of the rainbow pride flag that incorporates more colors to represent trans people and LGBTQ+ people of color.
Blokees continues global expansion, shares vision at Spielwarenmesse. Blokees has gained more than a million followers on international social media as part of its global expansion efforts. Last week, the company showcased its latest offerings at the 74th Spielwarenmesse, the largest international toy fair.
Asmodee will release new printing of Knizia's 'Through the Desert' into retail: Classic board game from Allplay. Asmodee will release a new printing of Reiner Knizia's Through the Desert, a classic board game from Allplay, into retail on February 21, 2025. This game was originally published back in 1998 and was "Recommended" by the Spiel des Jahres committee during the same year.
Survive the apocalypse in 'Rone: Invasion': New deck-building game by Bonjour Games. Flat River Group will release RONE: Invasion, a new deck-building game by Bonjour Games, into retail on March 7, 2025. In this post-apocalyptic deck-building and dice-crafting game, designed by Stephan Stefanik, players are fighting to survive in the wasteland that is left after the human race has been annihilated.
Yummiland expands collection with DIY Num Noms Body Scents. MGA Entertainment has launched a new line of DIY Yummiland Num Noms Body Scents. The brand, which launched last season, combines children’s love for collectibles, fashion dolls and cosmetics with fun characters and is already the No.3 bestselling item in Playset Dolls & Collectibles in the UK.
LEGO Le Florist is coming to Covent Garden. The Lego Group has planned a special pop up event in Covent Garden. To help celebrate love and make this Valentines Day more special, the Lego Group is welcoming guests to a free-to-attend Le Florist pop up in Covent Garden from 7th to 8th February.
LEGO plans first store in Northern Ireland. LEGO has announced the opening of its first Northern Irish store in Belfast this summer. The new store will be sited in the city’s Victoria Square, which is a leading destination for retail and leisure in Northern Ireland. The new 165-sqm store will offer an extensive range of Lego products, some exclusively available at LEGO stores and at Lego.com.
'Oshi Push TCG: Gen One' booster boxes head to retail. Retail edition features over 40 alternate art cards. Japanime Games will release Oshi Push TCG: Gen One Booster Boxes into retail in Q2 2025. Oshi Push TCG, a collaborative effort between Japanime, VTuber agency Phase Connect, and Justin Gary from Stoneblade Entertainment, was originally offered up on Kickstarter in May 2024 where it raised $503,738...
FunForge will release 'Tapas' into U.S. retail: Two-player dueling game. FunForge will release Tapas, a new two-player dueling game, into U.S. retail on March 7, 2025. In Tapas, by Ludovic Lepine with art by Philippe Nouhra, players face off in an area control duel of small plates. The goal of the game is for each player to place their tapas tiles on the board, while pushing their opponent's tiles off the grid (aka "devouring" them).
New 'Infinity' miniatures set incoming: 'Hassassin Bahram Action Pack'. Corvus Belli will release the Hassassin Bahram Action Pack, a new miniatures set for Infinity, into U.S. retail in March 2025. This new Action Pack features the Hassassin Society, which is one of the Haqqislamite Intelligence agencies funded by the Bourak government.
Chessex will release 'Dice Menagerie #11' sets. Chessex will release Dice Menagerie #11, a new wave of dice sets, into retail on February 26. The new wave of dice sets feature brand-new designs. Each set comes with seven dice: a D4, a D6, a D8, a D10, a D10%, D12, and D20. The new designs include Gemini Black/White/Pink; Gemini Plasma Green/Teal/Orange Luminary; Festive Symphony/White...
Ty bounces to the top of the charts with Beanie Bouncers range. Toy World caught up with Ty Inc founder Ty Warner at the Spielwarenmesse in Nuremberg last week, where the charismatic toy icon was keen to share his excitement at the initial success of Ty’s new Beanie Bouncers range. Combining plush, collectability and the physical fun of bouncing,
Null Signal Games announces new 'Netrunner' expansion: 'Elevation' takes the card game to new heights. Null Signal Games announced Elevation, a new expansion for Netrunner card game, which will go on sale in Q2 2025. Netrunner is an asymmetric card game, for two players, that is set in a dystopian future where megacorporations rule the world and hackers battle them for control.
Hachette announces three games with an under-30 MSRP”: 'Mega Jackpot,' 'Architects of Amytis,' and 'Pina Coladice'. Hachette Boardgames USA announced three new games with a price point under $30 that will release in Q1 2025. Mega Jackpot is a card game by TIKI Editions designed to mimic the excitement of slot machine play.
Ares Games partners with Armenian game studio Red Cat Games to release two English edition games. Ares Games has partnered with Armenian game studio Red Cat Games to release two new English Edition games into North American markets in 2025. Red Cat Games is the first Armenian studio to form a partnership with Ares Games.
Scorpion Masque heads for 'Mooki Island': Family-friend 2-player game. Scorpion Masque has announced Mooki Island, a family-friendly game for two players that will release this summer through Hachette Board Game USA. In Mooki Island, players try to collect Mookies, the cute and elusive inhabitants of the uncharted island.
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...
Nintendo Doing everything it can to prevent scalpers and bots from ruining the Switch 2 launch. There’s a lot we still don’t know about the Switch 2, but one sure bet is that it will sell like bonkers when it first launches. If there are any initial shortages whatsoever, scalpers will be looking to flip the new console on eBay and other sites for hundreds over the asking price.
Dragon Ball: Sparking! Zero sales punch up to 5 million copies. Less than half a year after its launch, Dragon Ball: Sparking! Zero has sold 5 million copies worldwide. The newest fighting game in the long-running multimedia franchise released in October 2024 for PlayStation 5, Windows, and Xbox Series X|S. It had already sold 3 million copies on its first day of launch, mostly from North America and Europe.
Destiny 2 is the latest game impacted by SAG-AFTRA strike. The newest Episode for Destiny 2, dubbed Heresy, will be slightly less chatty than usual. In its most recent blog, Bungie revealed "certain voice lines" will not be voiced in-game due to the ongoing SAG-AFTRA strike. Bungie is compensating for this by having subtitles on by default, so players "do not miss any narrative content."
EA reveals first look at next Battlefield and how to play it early. EA has pulled back the curtain on the next entry in its long-running Battlefield franchise, explaining a new development plan involving four different studios, as well as a new way for players to hop in early to provide feedback on what the teams are making.
Nintendo president weighs in on Switch 2 pricing as some experts predict $400. The Switch 2 currently faces three big questions following its January reveal: how powerful is it, what games will it have, and what will it cost? Nintendo was asked about that last one in its latest earnings call, and while the company’s president remained cagey, he also said Nintendo will continue to take its reputation for affordability...
Iron Galaxy lays off 66 developers in 'last resort' lifesaving effort. Developer Iron Galaxy has eliminated 66 positions across its development and support teams. The studio, which created Rumbleverse and helped develop the recent Last of Us remasters, explained it's made "sacrifices" over the years to protect its teams from the layoff waves.
Kingdom Come: Deliverance II sells 1 million copies in just one day. Warhorse's Kingdom Come: Deliverance II sold 1 million copies on launch day. For comparison, the original Kingdom Come: Deliverance reached that milestone two weeks after its release in 2018. In its first two days, that game sold 500,000 copies, and hit 2 million copies within its first year.
Gamefam brings Kidz Bop to Roblox: Collaboration is in celebration of new album, “Kidz Bop 50.” Kidz Bop, a music brand for kids, is partnering with Gamefam, a metaverse media company for Gen Z and Alpha communities, to make its Roblox debut within Gamefam’s Roblox game “Really Easy Obby.” The activation is to celebrate the release of Kidz Bop’s newest album, “Kidz Bop 50.”
Highlighted Press Releases
($100/week/press release)
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.
RMS USA: THE OPTIMAL TOY MANUFACTURING PARTNER AMID RISING TARIFFS
North Andover, MA (February 5, 2025) – As global trade dynamics shift and increased tariffs on imported goods are enacted, RMS USA stands out as the premier toy manufacturer to partner with. Renowned for delivering exceptional margins across multiple product categories for more than four decades, RMS USA ensures that businesses can maintain profitability even in challenging economic climates.
Safety and Counterfeiting
Pearhead recalls Infant Learning Toy Sets due to choking hazard; violation of Federal regulations for rattles. This recall involves Pearhead Learning Sets with model number 87150. The Learning Sets are sold in a box with the words “learning set developmental toys for babies 0-6 months.”
Is recycled plastic in utensils and toys really a big health concern? A numerical error in a scientific paper created alarm around the chemicals in black plastic utensils, but the extent to which they cause harm is up for debate. I recently threw away my trusty black plastic spatula after a scientific paper claimed that such utensils may contain dangerous levels of flame-retardant chemicals.
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...
Spielwarenmesse enjoys successful show with positive feedback. The Spielwarenmesse is the global meeting point for an entire industry. From 28th January to 1st February 2025, this industry came together in Nuremberg for the 74th time – and succeeded in matching last year’s very high numbers. 2,362 exhibitors from 71 countries presented their innovations and trends in a significantly enlarged space and made successful...
As the doors close on the 75th edition of Spring Fair, the UK’s largest retail trade show for Home, Gift & Fashion, the organisers 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 and be part of the ever-evolving retail landscape.
Spring Fair gets ready to celebrate 75th anniversary. 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 year, Spring Fair 2025 has accomplished a 90% sell-out, with over 1,200 exhibitors...
Halloween and Costume Association introduces new board members. Halloween may just be one day a year, but the industry behind it is constantly at work. 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..
Yu-Gi-Oh! Master Duel is also celebrating its third anniversary with exclusive in-game rewards, new content and a new look for a classic card. Konami Digital Entertainment B.V. (Konami) has announced that the Yu-Gi-Oh! World Championship will return to Europe in 2025. The prestigious World Championship 2025 will bring challengers from across the globe to Paris, France on 30th-31st August for two days of...
Circana Performance Award winners announced in Nuremberg. The Global Toy Industry Awards recognize the top selling toys, properties, and manufacturers across the globe, as Circana reports sales of collectibles at an all time high.Circana announced the winners of its 14th annual Toy Industry Performance Awards this week, during the Nuremberg Toy Fair.
Wizards of the Coast expands 'Magic: The Gathering' Convention to include 'Dungeons & Dragons'. MagicCon: Chicago includes 'D&D' live event, exclusive activities and more. Wizards of the Coast has expanded MagicCon: Chicago, an Magic: The Gathering convention, to include Dungeons & Dragons events.
Ludwig, the new BBC comedy drama starring David Mitchell, has won Best Comedy Programme at the Broadcast Awards 2025. The trade magazine says: "BBC1's comedy about a quiet, unassuming puzzle-enthusiast masquerading as his detective twin brother exploded onto screens in September to become the BBC's biggest scripted series launch since 2022, and the biggest comedy launch since 2018.
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...
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
Some Added Friday Morning Chicago Time. Check Back for Complete Lists.
Toy Trade Monthly Issues
Adventure Media & Events (US)
-
ITMA Names James Zahn, Kerstin Barthel as Co-Presidents at Spielwarenmesse (The Toy Book)
-
Valentine’s Day Toys Kids of All Ages Will Love (The Toy Insider)
-
21 Valentine’s Day Gifts For Your Favorite Geek (The Pop Insider)
-
Spin Master Will Develop Bakugan for the Big Screen (The Toy Book)
-
The 74th Spielwarenmesse Concludes as Global Toy Industry Looks Ahead(The Toy Book)
-
The Toy Insider Opens Submissions for Annual Spring & Summer Gift Guide (The Toy Book)
-
JAKKS Pacific Shares New Product Line for DreamWorks Movie 'Dog Man' (The Toy Book)
-
The Toy Book Top 10: The Hottest Stories of January 2025 (The Toy Book)
Toyworld (UK)
-
Spielwarenmesse enjoys successful show with positive feedback
-
Simba Dickie Group and Tactic Games OY announce new partnership
-
Mattel celebrates 80th anniversary with philanthropic campaign
-
Exclusive: Toy Fair New York 2025 presents new opportunities
Licensing.biz Powered by Toyworld
-
Ty bounces to the top of the charts with Beanie Bouncers range
-
Warner Bros. Discovery announces return of Butterbeer Season
-
Monster Island and Forbidden Planet launch major Dog Man collaboration
-
Cake signs deal with Warners Bros. Discovery for Talking Tom franchise
ICv2: The Business of Geek Culture (US)
- WizKids Will Release Two New 'Dungeons & Dragons: Gamelings' Sets
- Corvus Belli and The Army Painter Team Up
- WizKids Reveals 'Baldur's Gate 3' 'D&D Nolzur's Marvelous Miniatures'
- Diamond, Alliance Creditors File Reclamation Demands
- Ultra PRO Reveals 'Magic: The Gathering - Aetherdrift' Accessories
- Null Signal Games Announces New 'Netrunner' Expansion
- Wizards of the Coast Expands 'Magic: The Gathering' Convention to Include 'Dungeons & Dragons'
- Rolling for Initiative -- Watching Trouble Come in Slow Motion
- CMON Reveals 'X-Men Dice Set'
- Renegade Game Studios and Sirius Dice Partner Up
Nación Juguetes (Mexico, Peru, Argentina, Chile & Spain)
Global Toy News
The Bugg Report (Australia)
The Toy Universe (Australia)
hobbyDB
-
Our Curator’s Choice of Top Ten Collectibles in the National Corvette Museum
-
Adams Probe 16 AKA Durango 95: Big Screen Infamy & Diecast Copycats
-
Toy Store (Italy)
-
Bandai Namco, new distribution agreement with Square Enix in ITALY
-
Cranio Creations introduce new marketing team, both international and italian
JOIN PEOPLE OF PLAY (POP)
It's Linkedin + IMDb + Wiki
"I highly recommend that if anyone in this industry wants to be found, they join POP and fill out the skills and expertise section of their POP Profiles. I've had companies and a major media network reach out to me for a show based on my skills and expertise."
- David Yakos, Founder of Streamline Design and Owner of Salient Technologies
-
Display your entire portfolio, unlimited products, videos, photos, media, and more
-
Easy-setup and a real live helpful person to talk to if you have questions
-
Advanced search for industry contacts by roles, skills, location, and more
-
POP Pub networking – just one connection can change your life!
-
Access to information of products, people, and companies
-
Find person-to-hire based on skills, roles and expertise
-
Ad campaigns, target members of the industry
-
Exclusive discounts and events
-
Classified Ads
What are you waiting for? We've got the most powerful platform in our industry!
Join here: www.peopleofplay.com
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
and we've loved working with him. Here is a fun and interesting interview with Phil.
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
Not only does the Bloom Report give you all the news you need to know...
we give you all the news you didn't know you needed to know!" -Phil Bloom
Do you have news to share? Send us a note! mary@chitag.com
