the Bloom Report June 14-21 2024

June 14 - 21, 2024

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"Congratulations on the outstanding job that you and your team are doing on producing The Bloom Report. It seems like it is getting better and better almost every week!!! Bravo!!!" -Ron Cantor, Rainbow Concepts, Inc.
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Industry Commentary: Greg Ahearn, President & CEO of The Toy Association: The Future is Bright

Since joining The Toy Association, it has been an incredible few weeks of connecting with colleagues, both old and new, as I re-engage with this incredible community. I’ve been inspired and energized by the conversations about the potential of our industry and what’s to come!

I’d like to thank Andy Keimach, who did an outstanding job leading The Toy Association through transition. Like Andy, I plan to continue listening and taking to heart what you need from your trade association – whether you have been in the industry for decades, or your company is just emerging, our aim is to foster unity and collaboration that will help shape the future of toys and play.

The LA Fall Preview is a major opportunity for the industry to come together. To help companies of all sizes take part, The Toy Association has organized a location in El Segundo (the unofficial LA toy district) to showcase their 2025 lines. Companies representing almost every category of product will be engaging representatives from retail, licensing, and other adjacent industries throughout September, with a dedicated market week slated for Monday, September 9th through Friday, September 13th. You can learn more about the LA Fall Preview here and view the current list of participants (and make appointments with participants) here.

While the LA Fall Preview is first and foremost about building your business, the dedicated market week also brings festive events to deepen your relationships while celebrating play as an industry.
READ MORE...

Person of the Week - Dan Klitsner

A Tribute to My Dad, the Father of Play, & the Voice of Sling It Lore!

This was the first Father's Day without my wonderfully fun, ever supportive, unconditionally loving, prototype testing, game-playing Dad, who passed a few months ago at the playful age of 97. Playful was how he related to everyone - inviting you into his effortlessly positive world with a sparkle in his eye no matter if he just met you, if you were an old friend, (or especially if you were his lucky son). If he was in the room, it was always fun. As many of my friends in the toy industry know, my dad was also a huge influence on my love of games, sense of play and my insistence on writing cringy parody songs for their birthdays and special occasions. (My parent’s were both on Broadway in the 50’s and I grew up surrounded by theater and musicals - so singing at family gatherings was always required).

During the last few years, I had the honor of caring for my dad, so we spent a lot of time playing games. Our favorite was cribbage. We played at least twice a week, and his mind was still sharp - (a little too sharp as he still beat me most of the time!) He was also always my most trusted play tester for my new game concepts - patiently trying to understand my often convoluted, ever-changing rules or help me video the foam core mock-up that became Bop It. I would often bring prototypes over and get his astute, honest opinions and always excellent suggestions. During that period at KID Group we started working on an idea for a quirky backyard game called “Sling It” which was kind of like “Corn Hole meets Axe Throwing”. READ MORE...

Case Study - McHale Design's Joe Campos:

Unleashing the Raw Power of WWE

When our friends at Mattel tasked McHale Design to take on the project of creating branding, new packaging, and style guide for WWE’s 2024 action figure line, we enthusiastically embraced the challenge! Our mission? To capture WWE’s electrifying energy and deliver it to fans of all ages.

The Arena Lights Up: Rebranding a Visual Powerbomb

Picture the scene: spotlights blazing, adrenaline rushing, and the crowd roaring. Our approach to WWE branding went beyond packaging; it was about crafting a thrilling, immersive experience for the consumer.

Our research phase began by analyzing WWE’s visual history, previous brand iterations, dynamic video graphics, and promotional campaigns. We wanted to create a brand refresh that would generate excitement for WWE’s newest roster of superstars while also capitalizing on the established popularity of WWE legends. READ MORE...

Cartoon Lovers, Lexophiles & People in Need of a Smile!

Cartoon of the Week: Thank you, Robert Fuhrer, for the funny cartoon this week!

Paraprosdokian Lovers: "To the mathematician who thought of the idea of zero." "Thanks for nothing!"

Memorable Quotes: "When my kids become wild and unruly, I use a nice, safe playpen. When they’re finished, I climb out." -Erma Bombeck, writer and humorist

"Look for the helpers. You will always find people who are helping.” - Fred Rogers

Toy Industry Word of Day: Innovation - submitted by Mary Lenehan (thank you!) 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!

People celebrating birthdays this past week - Happy Birthday! Barry McLaughlin, Ravi Narula and Imran Malik

Have a cartoon, quote or a joke to share with your colleagues? Send it to me! Mary

Financial and Legal

NY Governor Kathy Hochul (D) signed two bills into law on Thurs. that aim to protect kids and teens from social media harms, making it the latest state to take action as federal proposals still await votes. One of the bills, the Stop Addictive Feeds Exploitation (SAFE) for Kids Act, will require parental consent for social media companies to use “addictive feeds” powered by recommendation algorithms on kids and teens under 18.

Scholastic has finalized its agreement to buy Toronto-based kids content producer/distributor 9 Story Media Group for roughly US$182 million—US$4 million less than the original pricetag in March. Terms of the deal stipulate that the Magic School Bus publisher now owns 100% of the economic interest in 9 Story, but only minority voting rights.

The Jim Henson Company is looking to sell the studio lot on North La Brea Avenue in Hollywood that has been its headquarters for almost 25 years. The prodco would like to move to a location where all of its teams can work together under one roof—right now, Jim Henson’s Creature Shop is based in Burbank.

In his first major speech as the new chair of ABC Australia, Kim Williams mapped out several key programming priorities in his vision for the public broadcaster to serve as a “national campfire” in an age of increasingly fragmented media consumption. Williams, who took over from outgoing chair Ita Buttrose in March, addressed an audience in the State Library of Victoria in Melbourne on June 19.

*** The above posted after tBR circulated June 21st ***

Toronto-based edtech company Pok Pok has secured US$6 million in Series A financing that it will use to grow its business. Venture capital firm Adjacent led the funding round, with Konvoy Ventures, MetaLab Ventures, Banan Capital and angel investors such as Peanut’s Michelle Kennedy participating. Pok Pok is planning to use this cash infusion to expand its infrastructure, launch its subscription-based Pok Pok app...

Disney and Gov. Ron DeSantis have put the finishing touches on a deal to end a contentious legal battle for control of the district that oversees development around its theme parks. On Thursday, the entertainment giant dropped its appeal of a ruling dismissing its First Amendment lawsuit against the Central Florida Tourism Oversight District over claims that the group illegally voided an agreement that...

TikTok faces fresh US pressure over child privacy. The US Federal Trade Commission (FTC) has referred a complaint against TikTok and its Chinese parent company ByteDance over potential violations of children's privacy to the Department of Justice (DOJ). The FTC says its own investigation "uncovered reason to believe" that the firms "are violating or are about to violate the law".

Barnes & Noble buying bookstore chain. Barnes & Noble has agreed to purchase famed Denver-area bookstore chain Tattered Cover, according to a filing in U.S. Bankruptcy Court. Tattered Cover, which operates five stores, filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy last year; the court will have to approve the sale. Barnes & Noble has agreed to pay $1.83 million for the assets of the chain, and plans to continue to operate all...

The French-language children’s animation industry is set to get a much-needed boost this fall. The Canada Media Fund (CMF) and Quebec-based government org Société de Développement des Entreprises Culturelles (SODEC) have teamed up to launch a new US$2.1 million (CAD$3 million) program to fund development of Quebec-made animated series for kids.

In the wake of last week’s Annecy Festival, France Télévisions is fortifying its commitment to fund animated content for young audiences as part of a new three-year deal signed with animation producers association ANIM France and several other trade orgs and unions representing French TV producers and distributors (SATEV, SEDPA, SPECT, SPI and USPA).

What Went Wrong: Inside Paramount’s Failed Merger Talks and the Battle to Salvage the Company. For Shari Redstone, it was nothing personal. But the longer the negotiations went on, the more Redstone fell out of love with the idea of marrying her family’s legacy to David Ellison’s Skydance Media. So on June 11, as board members of Paramount Global were about to hold a key meeting on the long-gestating deal...

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Financial Reporting

UK Retail sales rose by 2.9% in May, beating analysts’ forecasts. Improved footfall, better weather and an abundance of consumer deals deals helped create a resurgence in in-store shopping...

‘Inside Out 2’ Returns Pixar to Box Office Heights. The sequel was expected to collect at least $145 million in the United States and Canada over the weekend, about 60 percent more than anticipated.

Japanese animation film “Haikyuu!! The Dumpster Battle” took a clear lead at the mainland China weekend box office – despite only being available for two of three days. Data from consultancy firm Artisan Gateway showed the film scoring $9.8 million (RMB69.4 million)...

Just Play UK outperforms overall toy industry growth. Just Play UK is celebrating strong growth this spring with an impressive +29% YTD while the overall market is tracking down by -4% YTD (May Circana).

The Wonder Group undertakes strategic review. The Wonder Group, formerly Amscan, has filed a notice of intent to appoint Interpath Advisory to explore a number of options for the company.

This underrated Hasbro business is gaining traction amid weaker toy demand, analysts say. Over the past 2 yrs, Hasbro has suffered from weaker toy demand, leading to layoffs and declining sales. But analysts at BofA said Wall Street hasn’t appreciated the potential of the toy maker’s digital-gaming business, which they believe could help drive a rebound for the co. next year as demand for action figures and other toys takes longer to recover. However, they were upbeat on that segment as well, and also pointed to positive …

Trends, Lists, Market Research, and State of the Industry

6% of Households Watch TV Solely on Mobile Devices. Between 2022-’23, U.S. households without a TV set grew from 7% to 8%, according to the Advertising Research Foundation

*** The above posted after tBR circulated on June 21st ***

Tubi outperformed Disney+, Peacock, and Max last month. Tubi topped Disney+ for viewers in May, indicating (again) that people still like watching TV in traditional modes.

Fandom and nostalgia fuel growth of teens and adults’ €4.5b toy market in Europe. According to the latest Circana report, the toy market for teens and adults, aged 12+ years, now represents 28.5% of total toy sales, after growing 2.5% since 2022.

ASTRA shares Marketplace & Academy holiday trends. Squishy plush, foil art, and infant upgrades rank among notable trends.

The battle for Gen Z social shoppers. Shopping habits have not been the same since the Covid pandemic and resulting lockdowns. For many, and particularly younger shoppers, it saw the lines blur between social media and e-commerce.

Toyjobs has been the dominant recruiting

Stories, Comments, and Advice

(NPR) In LA, a spate of high-profile Lego heists have taken place. But why? The thieves are targeting a very specific type of Lego - the minifig. Reporter Daniel Miller wrote a story about this for the LA Times. Hi, Daniel. DANIEL MILLER: Hey, thanks so much for having me. FLORIDO: OK, so what is a minifig?

Julia Fitzgerald - In today’s Midsize Match Up interview, I get to talk with Michael Watts, Co-Founder and CEO of Hook. Hook is our first Michigan-based agency review, so I’m putting aside my Ohio State Buckeye roots to fully embrace their awesomeness. Besides, Hook is kind of from everywhere, as you will learn! I also love that their website URL is byhook.com. So here we go!

*** The above posted after June 21st ***

John Baulch Toy World - Walking on Sunshine… it’s the Friday Blog! Yesterday was the summer solstice – the longest day of the year. Yes, the summer may only just have arrived, but essentially from here on in, the days get shorter, and the nights get longer. I bet that’s cheered you up, hasn’t it?! Hopefully the fleeting glimpses of sun we’ve had this week – and the tantalizing promise of a rather glorious weekend and week ahead – will have kickstarted sales of outdoor toys.

What ‘Inside Out 2’ Teaches Us About Anxiety. A new emotion has taken over Riley’s teenage mind. And she has lessons for us all. At the end of “Inside Out,” the 2015 Pixar movie about the emotional life of a girl named Riley, a new button appears on the console used to control Riley’s mood. It’s emblazoned with one word: Puberty. Joy, one of the main characters who embodies Riley’s emotions, shrugs it off.

An AI video tool just launched, and it’s already copying Disney’s IP. Last week, AI startup Luma posted a series of videos created using its new video-generating tool Dream Machine, which the company describes as a “highly scalable and efficient transformer model trained directly on videos.” The only problem? At about 57 seconds in, the Dream Machine-generated trailer for Monster Camp — an animated story about furry...

More than 4,000 additional robotic pets to be given to seniors in NY to combat loneliness. The robotic pets will be distributed by the NY State Office For Aging. Helen Macura has always wanted a dog, but the Prohibition-era home she has lived in since 1945 isn't safe for a potential pet. Her childhood dream of owning a dog finally came true a couple yrs ago, when Helen was in her late 90s. Today, at 101 years old...

Julia Fitzgerald: In today’s Midsize Match Up interview, I get to talk with Christy Hiler, Founder and CEO of Cornett. Not only does Christy lead a great agency for Midsize company partnerships, but she is also an active voice for female-led agencies around the country. Cornett has also earned serious national recognition for their creative campaigns. Full disclosure: I’m a bit of a fan-girl, so let’s jump in.

How LEGO went from humble toy and destroyer of bare feet to black market item thieves target. The hooded man darted past shattered glass, his headlamp illuminating the rare collectibles housed in display cases that lined the walls of Bricks & Minifigs in Whittier. “Ninjago” Ultra Violet (Oni Mask of Hatred). Percival Graves (“Harry Potter” Series 1). Velociraptor with Sand Green Back (“Jurassic World” Blue).

The Brand Radar: From LEGO to My Little Pony… Why do toy brands thrive in comics and magazines? Start Licensing’s Ian Downes speaks to Rebellion, Redan and Kennedy about toy brands’ ongoing success in magazines and comics. One area of licensing that can be rewarding – but is also competitive and congested – is that of children’s comics and magazines.

Khamenei says children's toys constitute ‘Cultural Invasion’. Iran's Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei has branded children's toys a 'cultural invasion' as the reach of Iran's theocratic dictatorship deepens further. Khamenei has declared the toy industry as "future-making," arguing that foreign toys do not conform to Iranian culture and suggesting that even children's playthings can be tools of Western influence.

History and Nostalgia

Remembering Doodle Bear: The '90s Toy That Encouraged Kids to Draw Outside the Lines. In the era of the Beanie Baby Bubble, the Doodle Bear was a refreshing addition to the toy aisle. Instead of feeling pressure to shrink-wrap the stuffed animals and keep them as collector's items, '90s kids were encouraged to scribble on them with markers.

Jack Benny: "There are only 5 real people in Hollywood. Everybody else is Mel Blanc." While in a coma after an accident, drs. unsuccessfully tried to get Mel to talk. Finally, a dr., who was also a huge fan of his cartoon characters, asked Mel "Bugs? Bugs Bunny? Are you there?" In Bugs Bunny's voice, Mel responded "What's up, Doc?". After talking with several other characters, they eventually lead Mel out of his coma.

*** The above posted after June 21st ***

Bored this summer? Try playing Spades, a card game of bets and strategy. Spades is one crowd-pleaser to try – it involves strategy and a bit of luck. It’s a variation of “Whist” a trick-taking card game format that dates to at least 1529, and by the 19th century was known as “the premier intellectual card game of the Western world,” according to Britannica.

Hot Wheels assembly line in the 1960's. What a cool photo...... In the 1960s, Hot Wheels revolutionized the toy car industry with their innovative approach to design and manufacturing. The Hot Wheels assembly line in the 1960s was a marvel of efficiency and automation, allowing for the mass production of these iconic toy cars. The Hot Wheels assembly line was designed to produce a wide variety of toy cars, with different...

The Wacky Races from Milton Bradley (1969). Published by Milton Bradley in 1969, The Wacky Races game involved players traversing an illustrated countryside in flamboyant automobiles attempting to race past their opponents for the win. The game was based on the children’s animated television series produced by Hanna-Barbera.

Use and Reuse: JA-RU Rack Toys for Harvey Comics. Harvey Comics was founded by Alfred Harvey in 1941 and published comics until Alfred’s retirement in 1982. Alfred’s oldest son, Alan, restarted publication in 1986 and ran the company until it was sold out of the family in 1989. It is hard to imagine now, but Harvey was once a powerhouse in the comics industry and worked with some of the biggest toy companies...

Luscious Limbs from Pressman (1968). In the 1960s, Pressman released Luscious Limbs, a wacky product that allowed children to “feast on edible ears and other parts of the body.” The quasi-baking/horror toy consisted of a plastic mold, spoon, and mixing cup. Pressman also included three packets of powder mix in the box: Detestable Green, Detestable Red, and Detestable Yellow.

Licensing and Entertainment

Greenlit by BYUtv in the US and New Zealand’s Sky Network Television, Kiwi prodco Libertine Pictures’ new family adventure series Red Rocks has also secured a heavyweight global distributor, with WildBrain picking up non-domestic sales rights to the eight x 30-minute live-actioner for 8 to 12-yr-olds and their families. The show is being shot on location in Wellington and revolves around a boy who’s drawn into...

The Described and Captioned Media Program has teamed up with Paramount Global to make a big package of Nickelodeon programming more accessible to young audiences with disabilities. DCMP’s free streaming service—which is distributed to registered families and schools in the US—has already added series such as Blues Clues & You!, Bossy Bear, Tiny Chef Show and Santiago of the Seas featuring...

Crayola has partnered with Sony Pictures Entertainment to run a competition promo in the UK for the studio’s upcoming live-action feature film Harold and the Purple Crayon, which hits theaters in August. A limited number of specially marked purple crayons will be hidden in 24-color boxes distributed across England, Scotland, Northern Ireland and Wales.

Kartoon Studios is going all in on iconic publishing brand Winnie-the-Pooh, which entered the realm of public domain when it turned 100 in January 2022. The studio plans to produce a 140-episode series, several festive specials and a holiday movie, and it has already lined up Alliance Entertainment to distribute a range of merchandise to its network of retail partners in the US.

BBC Children’s and Education has greenlit a pair of new domestic live-action projects, as well as renewing King Bert Productions’ teen period drama Malory Towers for two more seasons. West Yorkshire-based CanCan Productions has been commissioned to produce basketball comedy series High Hoops (10 x 30 minutes), originated by writer/creator and lifelong player/coach Sinead Fagan.

Hachette Jeunesse has been appointed publisher of the French language titles for the multiple award-winning Paddington films and TV series, developed and produced by Studiocanal. Publishing rights were acquired from HarperCollins Children’s Books UK, the publishers of Michael Bond’s original and classic Paddington titles since the first book, A Bear Called Paddington, was published in 1958. The deal includes....

Chris Sanders’ The Wild Robot will have its world premiere at the 49th Toronto International Film Festival (TIFF), set to take place September 5-15. The Dreamworks Animation film about a robot that is shipwrecked on an uninhabited island and must learn to adapt to the harsh surroundings is adapted from Peter Brown’s bestselling illustrated book of the same name.

*** The above posted after tBR circulated on June 21st ***

The Gameroom Powered by Hasbro is opening at the American Dream mall in East Rutherford, New Jersey later this month. The licensed destination is a 41,500-square-foot entertainment center with arcade games, attractions, retail offerings, and dining featuring beloved Hasbro brands.

Netflix extends its partnership with the Obamas’ Higher Ground. The studio behind successful kids & family series Waffles + Mochi and Ada Twist, Scientist has renewed its exclusive first-look deal with the streamer. The companies first partnered in 2018 in a multi-year collaboration that has yielded kids & family series Waffles + Mochi and Ada Twist, Scientist, both of which have performed well on the streamer.

Chalkdust Animation preps first show based on C.S. Lewis short stories. Former Paramount exec Jared Mass' fledgling studio is partnering with Noble Road Media for the whimsical series aimed at bridge audiences. Newly launched Chalkdust Animation Studios in Atlanta is readying its debut project—a fantasy series targeting ages four to seven plus families.

Seven Bucks Productions—Dwayne Johnson (The Rock) and Dany Garcia’s film and TV banner—has inked a first-look deal with its longtime entertainment partner, Disney. This new multi-year agreement gives Disney exclusive access to Seven Bucks’ TV shows and films currently in development, which will serve as possible vehicles for Johnson to star in. The deal also enables Johnson’s studio to...

Bluey x Simpsons: When Icons Collide. A+C Studios have partnered with BBC Studios to unleash their creativity and imagination to wonder what may happen if Bluey and the Heeler’s lived in Springfield. The team grabbed some of the Bluey characters, designed some beautifully recognisable backgrounds and crafted this wonderful stop-motion mashup of two of the world’s favourite families.

Acamar Films has announced a new partnership with Brands & Rights 360 to represent Emmy award-winning pre-school IP Bing across Latin America, MENA, EMEA and other international markets. Brands & Rights 360 will advise Acamar Films on media strategy for building on Bing’s success as a global evergreen hit and will represent the media distribution rights for Bing in key territories.

Amazon MGM Studios has teamed up with Banijay Kids & Family to develop a live-action Totally Spies! series, and Will Ferrell is on board to executive produce it. The new show concept will follow besties Clover, Alex and Sam as they balance soaking up their first year of college with saving the world as undercover spies.

'Marvel United' goes for 'Maximum Carnage': New expansion from Spin Master Games. Spin Master Games revealed Maximum Carnage, a new expansion for Marvel United, which will hit stores on July 26, 2024. Maximum Carnage expansion adds new villains to games of Marvel United. In this expansion, players will do battle with the New Sinister Six as well as take on Dark Carnage as a new Challenge in the game.

Designer toy company Stancé launches with UFC partnership. Stancé, a new designer art toy brand, is making its debut with a partnership with Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC). The partnership will yield collectible figures of “The Notorious” Conor McGregor, which will debut at UFC X, a two-day fan event in Las Vegas beginning June 28.

First-Ever Planet Playskool officially opens. On June 13, Kingsmen Xperience, under license by Hasbro, with its strategic partner, Bright Play, officially opened the first-of-its-kind Planet Playskool family entertainment center at Westfield Garden State Plaza in Paramus. The grand opening celebration marked the first time guests got to explore the larger-than-life play center in its entirety...

Upper Deck, Warner Bros. Discovery Global to launch DC Characters Collab. Upper Deck, a worldwide leader in sports and entertainment collectibles, has expanded its entertainment portfolio with Warner Bros. Discovery Global Consumer Products to create new trading cards, memorabilia and tabletop games featuring fan-favorite DC Super Heroes and Super-Villains.

Hasbro reveals new Dance ‘N Crawl Spidey. Children can get ready for an interactive playtime full of dancing, crawling, music and sound effects with the Marvel Spidey and His Amazing Friends Dance ‘N Crawl Spidey from Hasbro. This new toy, for pre-schoolers ages three and up, is inspired by the hit Disney Junior show Spidey and His Amazing Friends, which encourages kids to get up, move and imagine adventures with Spidey.

Disguise, Aniplex America partner for ‘Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba’ costumes. Continuing to expand on its licensed costume offerings, Disguise has new goods on the way featuring a fan-favorite anime. Disguise is partnering up with Aniplex America for costumes and accessories inspired by the hit anime Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba.

Mattel to unleash superhero collectibles at SDCC. The drop includes Hot Wheels, Little People, and more. Mattel is bringing both DC Comics and Marvel to International Comic-Con San Diego (SDCC) next month with a lineup of collectibles that will launch exclusively at the show. The hot toy brand is ending the best Batman debate with the greatest Batman of all time — Little People Batman.

Why Tubi CEO Anjali Sud thinks free TV can win again. Tubi is a free and very rapidly growing streaming TV platform — the company just announced that it has 80 million monthly active users, and according to Nielsen, it had an average of a million viewers watching every minute in May 2024, beating out Disney Plus, Max, Peacock, and basically everything else save Netflix and YouTube.

Animated 'Watchmen' trailer; 'House of Dragon' renewed, 'The Boys' to end; Paul Giamatti joins 'Starfleet Academy'; Adult Swim orders 'Get Jiro!'; 'Blue Beetle' lives on. Showbiz Round Up. Warner Bros. Entertainment dropped a trailer for Watchmen Chapters 1 & 2. This animated series, an adaptation of the original comic series will be released in 2025.

POP Duo just Will Shortz videos final.jpg

People of Play

Hasbro sees end of an era: Extended interview with Alan Hassenfeld. For the first time in the history of the Hasbro toy company based in Pawtucket, there's no Hassenfeld sitting on the board. For the first time in the history of the Hasbro toy company based in Pawtucket, there's no Hassenfeld sitting on the board.

Mattel has announced the appointment of Jessica Dunne as general manager and senior vice president, consumer products. Dunne comes to Mattel from Disney where she served as executive vice president, licensing, Disney Classic Characters and Disney Baby. In her new role, Dunne will oversee licensing of Mattel’s stable of powerhouse brands including Barbie, Hot Wheels, Monster High, Fisher-Price and American Girl.

*** The above posted after tBR started circulating June 21st ***

Julien Sharp is a board game inventor and industry executive who moved to Minnesota in 2022 to head up the U.S. division of Paris-based Asmodee Group, with a portfolio that includes CATAN, Spot it!, Ticket to Ride, and Star Wars Unlimited. Despite the popularity of video games, the board game industry is also in growth mode—particularly with adults seeking hobbies, recreational and party games. The $13 billion board ...

Inspired by her beloved dog, Jennifer Aniston will soon become a children’s author. The “Friends” star has a four-book deal with HarperCollins Publishers and animation studio Invisible Studio for a series of works featuring the animated dog Clydeo, based on the actor’s own rescue pet, Clyde. The first book, “Clydeo Takes a Bite Out of Life,” with illustrations by Bruno Jacob, is scheduled for release on Oct. 1.

Aussie Brands Join Forces to Inspire Creativity, Learning and Play! Announcing for the first time an exciting business partnership, Leanne Papadopolous owner and founder of My Creative Box and Brea Brand, CEO and co-founder of CONNETIX, share how they seamlessly align from friendship, to motherhood, as educators, business owners and more! Bringing together their shared values and unique brand visions...

Doug Murphy has stepped down as president and CEO of Corus Entertainment, announcing his early retirement from the Toronto-based company. Murphy originally joined its Nelvana subsidiary in 2003 as EVP of business development. He spent the next 12 years moving up and branching out in the company, serving as president of Corus Kids Television for a time (2008 to 2010) before eventually taking on the top...

As part of a team shuffle orchestrated by recently installed film chief Dan Lin, Hannah Minghella has joined Netflix as head of feature animation and live-action family film. Minghella hails from LA’s Bad Robot, where she served as president of motion pictures for the past four years, supervising development and production for the studio’s film slate. In related news, animation film VP Karen Toliver and feature...

Elizabeth Randall, head of development (indies) and executive producer at BBC Studios Kids & Family, is leaving the company next month as part of a planned round of job cuts. According to a March 2024 report from Broadcast, the Beeb’s commercial arm has been planning to eliminate up to 13 kids development and production positions.

Spain’s DeAPlaneta Entertainment has bolstered its kids & family team with Gianluca Ferrara newly installed as its first head of Italy and international toys. He’s spearheading consumer products strategy and marketing initiatives for DeAPlaneta brands including Milo, Maya the Bee, Monster Shaker and Hero Inside, working closely with international consumer products director Antonella Ceraso.

WSJ - Inside Disney’s ‘Area 51,’ Where Lightsabers and Other Tech Are Invented. Disney’s most prolific inventor, Lanny Smoot, is behind some of the company’s most advanced tech, from “Star Wars” lightsabers to “magic” floors. Disney’s long-secretive R&D lab helps build creations that are crucial to Disney’s $60 billion investment in the division that includes its theme parks.

Ed Barnieh will be stepping out of his VP of development role at BBC Studios Kids & Family this August in order to set up his own creative agency. Barnieh joined the Beeb’s commercial arm in November 2022 to spearhead creative direction. “Ed has been instrumental in reshaping the [division’s] development slate, and we wish him all the very best for his next venture,” said a BBC Studios spokesperson.

Amanda Corrigan seeks new opportunity. Following a restructure within the online team at WHSmith, the former trading manager – General Merchandise is looking for a new role within the toy or gift retail channels. Amanda Corrigan started her buying career at Mothercare, and has spent the past nine years at WH Smith, rising to the role of trading manager – General Merchandise at WHSmith online at the end of 2022.

Sesame Workshop has recruited former Roku and Disney executive Bernhard Gloeggler as its new VP and GM for Europe. Gloeggler will officially start with the nonprofit company on July 1, reporting to EVP and head of global enterprises Whit Higgins. He replaces Stefan Kastenmüller, who departed in November after serving as GM for Europe since 2020. Responsible for steering Sesame’s European operations...

Eric Rossi announces new consultancy: Game On Club. Eric Rossi has announced that he is to leave his role as chief executive officer of Vulli SAS, the company behind brands including Sophie la Girafe and Klorophil, to set up his own specialist consultancy. Game On Club will offer its clients business consulting in international expansion, marketing and brand strategy, coaching, general management, environments...

Magicbox strengthens UK team. Magicbox has bolstered its UK team with the new appointments of Hashim Yilmaz and Emma Lewry into senior and executive roles. Nicola Bergot, UK managing director, has announced the appointment of two new members of the Magicbox UK team. Hashim Yilmaz has joined the team as senior national account manager. Emma Lewry is the company’s new Customer Service...

New sales agents trot onto the scene for Breyer. Catherine Powell and Shane Broughal bring their many years of equestrian retail experience to their new roles, as Bandai plans to re-establish the timeless equestrian brand Breyer. Following the recent relaunch of iconic equestrian toy brand, Breyer, Bandai UK has announced the appointment of two new sales agents.

Companies and Brands

Mattel plans to make 80% of games catalog colorblind accessible by the end of 2024. The toy manufacturer is also donating $30K worth of colorblind accessible games to summer camps. Moving forward, Mattel plans to make its games colorblind accessible wherever possible, and says it expects that 90% of its games catalog will be colorblind-accessible by the end of 2025.

*** The above posted after June 21st when tBR circulated ***

Scientists at the European Space Agency (ESA) have used their love of Lego brick building to design launch pads and shelters for astronauts visiting the Moon, as part of the Artemis programme. To test whether space materials could be used to create structures, the ESA team 3D printed bricks that are similar to Lego with meteorite dust to see if they could still be used as a building block on small scale versions.

NY-based retailer CAMP is expanding its partnership with Simon Property Group to launch two new experiential toy stores in the real estate trust’s premier shopping malls. First up will be a storefront in Philadelphia’s King of Prussia Mall that’s scheduled to open in time for the holiday shopping season this year. And launching in early 2025, the ninth location for CAMP’s play-and-shop business model is Houston’s...

Griddly Kids Launches BobBee Water Toy. BobBee (MSRP $34.99 for ages 9 mos – 6 years) is the all-new water toy that is three boats in one = Bob and Bee… and BobBee. According to Reisa Schwartzman, President of Griddly Kids, the story and play pattern of BobBee embodies M.E.S.H. (Mental, Emotional and Social Health) properties as Bob and Bee each have their unique strengths, but together they can work...

Wizards of the Coast revealed the Dungeons & Dragons 2024 lineup, which begins releasing in Fall 2024. Some of these releases were teased back in February 2024 (see "2024-25 Deets and Dates"). On September 17, 2024, the first two products for D&D 2024 will hit FLGS shelves. The 2024 Player's Handbook and the 2024 Character Sheets will be the first items out. This now larger Player's Handbook...

An Exclusive Look Inside the Lego Group's Super Secret Lab Dreaming Up the Future of PlayHow Creative Play Lab's unconventional team of creatives are using technology to reimagine play five to 10 years in the future. I spoke with Tom Donaldson, the Lego Group's SVP and head of Creative Play Lab, along with Sam Coates, the head of interactive innovation, at the co's headquarters in Billund, Denmark...

The SpongeBob SquarePants brand has developed to encompass a wide range of consumer products, with more new launches and expanded offerings to come. SpongeBob SquarePants was created by Stephen Hillenburg, who previously worked as a writer, director and creative director on Nickelodeon’s animated series Rocko’s Modern Life. After completing his undergraduate at Humboldt University in 1984 and...

Spin Master holds star-studded Unicorn Academy launch event. Spin Master held a launch event for its new Unicorn Academy toy line for celebrities and their kids ahead of series two, and Toy World went along for the ride. Celebrities stepped into the magical world of Netflix’s hit series Unicorn Academy with their little ones on Saturday.

Wizards of the Coast updates set deets on 'Magic: The Gathering - Assassin's Creed', which will hit stores on July 5, 2024. Less than a month after Modern Horizons 3 hit stores WotC will roll out a rather unique set Universes Beyond set that features characters, items and places from Ubisoft's megahit video game series Assassin's Creed.

Renegade unleashed 'Risk: Godstorm': New version of 'Risk' where five ancient cultures battle it out for supremacy. Renegade Game Studios will release Risk: Godstorm, a new version of the classic game of Risk, into retail in October 2024. In Risk Godstorm, players take command of five ancient cultures (Greeks, Celtics, Babylonians, the Norse, and Egyptians), and wage war for control of the known world.

Dragon Ball pop-up to launch at Bandai Camden store. Bandai Namco Amusement Europe and Toei Animation Europe are launching a Dragon Ball Super pop-up store at Bandai Namco Cross Store Camden this week. The Dragon Ball Super Pop-Up will take place from 21st June to 28th July and include a variety of merchandise and photo spots for fans of the globally famed IP.

Conserve wildlife on the African savannah in 'Kavango': Tableau-building game by Matt Brown and Zara Reid. Mazaza Games will release Kavango into retail on November 18, 2024. This game was created by Matt Brown and Zara Reid while they were working on a conservation project in Botswana. In this game, players take on the roles of conservationists looking to re-wild a landscape in Africa.

Mine crystals and collect money in 'Quartz: The Dice Game'. Lucky Duck Games will release Quartz: The Dice Game into retail on August 16, 2024. This game is the dice game version of Quartz by Passport Studios. Like of the original game, players assume the roles of dwarves that explore a mine and sell the mined crystals in the city at the end of the day for cold hard cash.

'Vampire: The Masquerade Rivals' goes 'Fang & Talon': New card game expansion. Renegade Game Studios will release Fang & Talon, a new card game expansion for Vampire: The Masquerade Rivals, into retail in August 2024. The new expansion adds two tribes of Garou to the mix for Hunters to tangle with.

PolarB wooden toys now available from Commotion. CommotionPolarB has revealed its new collaboration with PolarB, a young wooden toy brand that believes in smart designs and sustainable materials to produce timeless educational toys with minimum environmental impact. The Best of PolarB range has been specially selected by Commotion to include over 30 new lines...

Tactic Games launches new Mölkky Minipeli. Tactic Games’ globally popular Mölkky is now available in a compact size to offer players an alternative way of tackling the game of strategy, skill and chance. In a new move for its iconic and award-winning outdoor game Mölkky, Tactic Games is launching Mölkky Minipeli.

Janod Reveals four new Toy Boxes to stimulate the senses. Janod has unveiled its brand-new collection of Toy Boxes. Created in collaboration with child development experts to target key early-learning discoveries among children aged 12-36 months and beyond, the all-new Toy Boxes have been curated to inspire play depending on a child’s age and stage.

Star-studded design: ESA’s LEGO space bricks go on display. LEGO Space is taking on a whole new meaning. The European Space Agency (ESA) recently turned to LEGO brick design for inspiration as it worked on plans for launch pads and shelters for astronauts heading to the moon. The organization’s bricks are similar to LEGO Bricks, but 3D printed with meteorite dust to test the material’s viability.

Kess announces new 'One Piece' party game: 'Luffy's Bento Panic'. KessCo announced Luffy's Bento Panic, a new One Piece party game, which will debut at Gen Con and release into retail in Q4 2024. This game is first game released under Kess's new license with Toei Animation. In Luffy’s Bento Panic, players take on the roles of Straw Hat pirates vying to snap up a piece of Sanji’s delicious cooking.

'Dark Powers Ex Special Collection' showcases eerie Pokemon Ex: New boxed set for 'Pokemon TCG'. The Pokemon Company International will release Dark Powers ex Special Collection, a new boxed set for Pokemon TCG, into retail on August 30, 2024. This new double-sided boxed collection showcases the more creepy Pokemon ex that dwell in the night air.

Zuru launches X-Shot Insanity HorrorFire range. Following the success of its first modular blaster range with the launch of X-Shot Insanity last year, Zuru has introduced the new X-Shot Insanity HorrorFire line, to combine integrated capabilities with designs influenced by the popular horror genre.

New 'Warpaints Fanatic' boxed set heads to retail: 'Gamemaster: Adventure Starter Role-playing Paint Set Combo'. The Army Painter will release Gamemaster: Adventure Starter Role-playing Paint Set Combo, a new Warpaints Fanatic paint and miniatures set, into retail on August 17, 2024. The Warpaints Fanatic line is one of the hottest paint brands out there, featuring a paint formula with high pigmentation...

Cthulhu emerges in a 'World of Monsters': Newest 'Horrified' game. Ravensburger will release Horrified: World of Monsters, a new game in the Horrified series, into retail on August 1, 2024. It took a few Horrified game releases but the franchise got around to adding Cthulhu to the mix. In World of Monsters, Horrified goes global by featuring a Sphinx, a Yeti, and a Jiangshi (hopping vampire from Chinese folklore).

New 'Pokemon TCG: Trick or Trade Booster Bundle' hits preorder - Annual Halloween mini packs. The Pokemon Company International has placed Pokemon TCG: Trick or Trade BOOster Bundle onto preorder, with an expected release date of August 30, 2024. The annual Halloween mini packs are a great treat for parents and retailers to hand out to their favorite trainers instead of the usual candy.

Renegade announces 'Heroscape' second wave of miniatures sets, which will hit retail in October 2024. The second wave adds two new army expansions and two terrain expansions. The two army expansions, that each come in a standard edition (MSRP $45 each) and a premium painted edition, are Revna's Rebuke: Kyrie Warrior Army Expansion...

AEG and Flatout Games reveal two new 'Cascadia' games for retail. Alderac Entertainment Group and Flatout Games will release two new Cascadia games, designed by Randy Flynn with illustrations by Beth Sobel, into retail on October 18, 2024. Cascadia: Rolling Rivers and Cascadia: Rolling Hills are two new standalone flip-and-roll-and-write games.

'Altered TCG' heads to retail via Asmodee. Asmodee will release Altered TCG, a new TCG by Equinox, into retail on September 13, 2024. Altered TCG originally hit the scene via Kickstarter where it raised over $6.7 million. This brand-new TCG features a colorful fantasy world where players choose a faction and lead them on a frantic race.

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Gaming: Digital, Video, Hardware, and Development

Iconic football league FIFA is partnering with North Carolina’s Epic Games to develop a new international eSports competition built around Epic’s vehicular soccer game Rocket League. FIFA’s eSports division will invite 16 countries to participate in Rocket League‘s inaugural FIFAe World Cup, including the US, France, Australia, Brazil, Saudi Arabia and England.

New Legend of Zelda game finally makes Zelda the playable hero of Hyrule. The Legend of Zelda: Echoes of Wisdom stars the princess, with new powers. The Legend of Zelda: Echoes of Wisdom looks a lot like 2019’s remake of The Legend of Zelda: Link’s Awakening from a graphical perspective, but it will play very differently. Zelda series producer Eiji Aonuma said that Echoes of Wisdom will feature “a new gameplay style....

Paradox shutters Tectonic studio and cancels Life by You. The 24-person studio has been closed down in what Paradox CEO Fredrik Wester described as a 'difficult and drastic' move. Paradox Interactive has closed Paradox Tectonic following the cancellation of Life by You. Life By You was scrapped after Paradox claimed the project would not be able to meet expectations.

Upper Deck will release 'Halo: Mission Command': New pocket game. Upper Deck will release Halo: Mission Command, a new pocket game, which will hit retail on September 30, 2024. In this light-weight card game, players will try to collect weapons, vehicles, and locations from the HALO franchise to complete missions.

Meta laying off workers within Reality Labs division. Meta has laid off an unknown number of Reality Labs employees. As reported by The Verge, the Facebook and Meta Quest owner is currently restructuring Reality Labs into two groups: a 'Metaverse' organization that includes its Quest business and a 'Wearables' group that will house other hardware initiatives.

Building a $2bn online game by breaking the rules. Ask anyone to name a successful online multiplayer game and you're likely to get a handful of names in response. Fortnite, Call of Duty, League of Legends, Roblox, Helldivers II. But there's another title, celebrating its 10th anniversary this year, that's been a relatively quiet success.

Virtual camera operators: The unsung heroes of esports. No matter what sport you love, when you’re watching and cheering on your team you don’t want to miss a second of the action. That’s why one of the most important, and often least appreciated jobs, is being one of the many camera operators. It’s no different in esports, and that’s where people like Jake come in.

EA execs earned $60 million in 2024 despite layoffs and office closures. U.S. publisher EA has revealed how much its executives netted during FY2024, a 12-month period that saw it deliver annual net bookings of $7.43 billion but also cut 5 percent of its global workforce. As noted in the company's annual Proxy Statement, which details its executive compensation plan, EA's named executive officers...

Can indie games inspire a creative boom from Indian developers? India might not be the first country that springs to mind when someone mentions video games, but it's one of the fastest-growing markets in the world. Analysts believe there could be more than half a billion players there by the end of this year.

Highlighted Press Releases

PARENTS & RETAILERS SAY G’DAY TO MICADOR FROM DOWN UNDER TO DOWNTOWN. Creativity Brand Encourages Tots To Teens To Explore Their Artful Side With Catalog Of Colorful Products From Early stART & Micador jR. To Dark Arts. Melbourne, Australia (June 17, 2024) – Shoppers and shopkeepers are adding some color to their toy shelf with Micador — Australia’s favorite art, craft, toys and DIY products. Amazon fans can find everything in stock, ready to ship, to stateside addresses.

Safety and Counterfeiting

21 Million of MGA Miniverse toy sets have been recalled because they pose a serious risk of skin burn, eye and respiratory irritation when touched, inhaled or ingested, the US Consumer Product Safety Commission said Tuesday. The recall involves the “Make it Mini” sets which contain resins that, when liquid, can cause those injuries and irritations to young children and adults alike. The CPSC also found...

*** The above posted after June 21st ***

CBP seized 1,500 toys that violated Federal safety requirements. U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) officers at the Champlain Port of Entry seized a commercial shipment of children’s toys that violated federal safety requirements. At the end of February, CBP officers examined a shipment of children’s toys that were manufactured in China.

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Associations, Foundations, Shows, Awards, Events, and Festivals

Licensing International’s UK Young Professionals Network (YPN), together with the UK charity foundation The Light Fund, is announcing a series of Coffee & Connect events. Set to be held over the next year, the series will focus on the theme “From Screen to Shelf.” Kicking off on 01 August from 10am-12pm at Paramount’s office in Camden, young licensing industry professionals will gain insights...

MIPJUNIOR has opened the call for entries for the 2024 MIPJUNIOR PITCH, to be staged live at the int'l kids screenings & co-production market (Oct 19-20, 2024) in Cannes. Last year’s Pitch (targeting 6-to-12 year-olds) attracted over 120 submissions from 35 countries before being won by The Adventures of Team Pom from Canada’s Wind Sun Sky Entertainment. This year’s competition focuses on the preschool market...

Family feature Flow wins four big prizes at Annecy 2024. This feline-centric CG-animated pic took home the prestigious Jury Award and Audience Award to close out last week's annual animation fest. Produced by Dream Well (Latvia), Sacrebleu Productions (France) and Take Five (Belgium), Flow revolves around a cat who escapes a great flood on a boat with several other animals. The buzzy film is slated to launch...

The Toy Foundation plans Party with a Purpose fundraiser in Los Angeles. The Toy Foundation, philanthropic arm of The Toy Association, is starting the week of LA Fall Previews with a fundraising event. Party with a Purpose is a fundraising, networking, and entertainment event raising money to support The Toy Foundation’s efforts in economically disadvantaged children’s hospitals.

The London Card Show to return in August. The London Card Show weekend-long event attracts over 4,000 enthusiasts from across the globe and is testament to the passion of TCG fans. The London Card Show is set to return for the 13th time over the weekend of August 3rd-4th, at Sandown Racecourse, Esher, featuring over 600 vendor tables showcasing....

Outdoor Toy Awards winners announced. The winners of the Outdoor Toy Awards 2024 have all received their gongs after a weekend of rigorous testing by a group of kid critics. Made up of 20-plus judges aged between 3-16, an afternoon of serious fun took place testing outdoor toys, set up by the awards organisers Nick Gibbs-McNeil of Kidzcoolit and Peter Jenkinson of Toyology.

The 2024 Core77 Design Awards Toys & Play winners. The 2024 Core77 Design Awards Toys & Play category honors consumer products designed for children or adults for the purpose of activating play and creative exploration. Examples include: children's toys, board games, art supplies, DIY kits, educational toys, electronic toys, musical instruments, etc.

Mobil 1 Crowns North Carolina Winner on the 7th Annual Hot Wheels Legends Tour. On June 15, the winner of the Charlotte, North Carolina stop of the Hot Wheels Legends Tour was revealed. Eric Wade from Chesterfield, Virginia submitted a custom-built 1973 AMC Postal Jeep, which claimed the winning spot out of 125 contestants.

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

Clive Wooster. Toy World is very sad to report that Clive Wooster passed away unexpectedly at home on Saturday, 18th May, with his beloved wife Heather by his side. Friend and colleague, Nikki Jeffery, shared that Clive Ralph Wooster, who passed away at the age of 69, dedicated his entire career to the toy industry, beginning at Fisher Price where he spent several years honing his skills – and sales patter. His career saw him taking on various influential roles in sales. In the 90s, Clive ran The First Years until RC2/Learning Curve acquired it in 2004, when he became managing director. He continued to lead during periods of significant change and oversaw the European transition into Tomy when it acquired RC2 in 2011. Clive later chose to join smaller, close-knit companies, enjoying many fulfilling years as a country manager for Famosa and more recently, working with Geomagworld. In January this year, he decided to step back to spend more time with his family and further pursue his passion for motor racing. Well-known within the industry for his kindness, humour and endless stories, Clive’s presence ensured that any room was filled with laughter and conversation. He was approachable and always willing to help. Clive inspired many through his mentorship and formed strong relationships with colleagues across the companies he worked for over the years. Many from his First Years and RC2 days remained close friends and will miss him dearly.

Salvatore Anthony Mucaro of Fernandina Beach FL passed away peacefully on May 16, 2024, leaving behind a legacy of love, strength, and cherished memories. Salvatore was born in The Bronx, NY to Nicola Mucciacciaro and Christina Mucciacciaro (Nee DiMangano) on December 13th, 1934. He was the middle child of the family, and loved his two siblings, older sister Maria (McGuckin)and younger brother Mario Mucaro and their families dearly. Some of Salvatore's favorite childhood hobbies included building balsa wood model airplanes, playing street hockey and stick ball and racing pigeons. Salvatore worked in the toy industry from 1967 until his semi-retirement in 2010. He worked for such noteworthy companies as Remco Toys, Aurora Products Corporation, Mego Toy Corp., Ideal Toy Corp. and Coleco Toys, before starting his own development company Studio Geppetto with longtime friend and coworker John MacNett. He has several toy design patents and designed several successful toys in his long career as a package designer and toy designer.

Shelly Morick - former Mattel sales executive. December 21st, 1937 - May 7th, 2024.

Worldwide Magazines Weekly Top Stories

Some Added Friday Morning Chicago Time. Check Back for Complete Lists.

Toy Trade Monthly Issues

Adventure Media & Events (US)

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ICv2: The Business of Geek Culture (US)

- Wizards of the Coast Reveals Full 'Dungeons & Dragons 2024' Lineup
- Hasbro Opening Two Locations in New Jersey
- Rolling for Initiative -- End of a 'Star Wars' Miniatures Era; Ravensburger Learns the Wrong Lesson
- Renegade Announces 'Heroscape' Second Wave of Miniatures Sets
- 'Altered TCG' Heads to Retail
- Atomic Mass Ends Development of Two 'Star Wars' Miniatures Games
- Cthulhu Emerges in a 'World of Monsters'
- Wizards of the Coast Updates Set Deets on 'Magic: The Gathering - Assassin's Creed'
- Upper Deck Expands Deal with Warner Bros. Discovery Global Consumer Products
- Kess Announces New 'One Piece' Party Game

Nación Juguetes (Mexico, Peru, Argentina, Chile & Spain)

Global Toy News

The Bugg Report (Australia)

The Toy Universe (Australia)

hobbyDB

Casual Game Revolution

News Flash: Next Horrified Game, Cooperative Talisman
The next Horrified game has been announced, Talisman is getting its first cooperative expansion, and Unexpected Games has announced a cooperative Mandalorian game.

Video of the Week

Two kids in Colorado were surprised when an unexpected player joined them in a game of soccer - an elk! (click on image)

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Thank you for being a reader of the Bloom Report. — Mary and Graeme

Founding Editor and Publisher (1998-2020, Retired): Philip Bloom

We are honored to carry on Phil's 22 year legacy and continue the Bloom Report. Phil has been a mensch

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Publisher: Mary Couzin, Chicago Toy & Game Group, Inc.

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Not only does the Bloom Report give you all the news you need to know...

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