Welcome to Your Weekly News Brief!
Happy Bloomin' Friday!
You are receiving two weeks of news today! Our POP Week events were poppin' last week and did not give me the bandwidth to put tBR together. The top photo of James Zahn, Grant Lyon and myself was taken at the TAGIEs one week ago. Here is James' article in ToyBook. So much happened that evening - an insane time machine transporting host Karri Bean and the audience through decades of toy crazes, Barry & Jason wrote a song (such an earworm! See below) and so much more. I cannot wait to share more about the TAGIEs and other POP Week events. The flu has thrown me a bit off, but I'll bounce back soon!
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
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"I go to work 6 days a week and magic happens! On day 7 I read the Bloom Report." 😁 - Rick Derr, Learning Express
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"Tell me you're in the toy industry without telling me you're in the toy industry... Friday Morning = a cup-a-Joe and the Bloom Report!" -Tim Walsh The Playmakers
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"I don't know anyone in the industry that doesn't read the Bloom Report." -Ken Lewis, President, 4Kidz, Inc.
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"I am a long-time reader and champion of the Bloom Report. The quantity of quality articles on so many different aspects of our industry is unmatched and I regularly share and discuss them with my management team as an important business tool." - Jim Engle, President & Founder, Little Kids Inc.
Earworm Warning! These are the Toys Through Time Written/Sang by Jason Lautenschleger and Barry McLaughlin from Barry & Jason Games and Entertainment
Jason Lautenschleger and I (Barry) made this song for the opening to last week's Toy and Game Innovation Awards, the TAGIEs. This is the longer version that includes yo-yos, knuckle bones and more!
How many of these toys have you played with? Which was your favorite? I used to sleep with my Tonka truck. Not the most softest bed companion but I loved it!
Shout outs to toys from Mattel, Inc., Hasbro, Spin Master, Crayola, Radio Flyer, the LEGO Group, Nintendo, Bandai Namco Entertainment America Inc., Razor USA LLC, Cepia, LLC, MGA Entertainment.
Of course shout-out to the GOAT Billy Joel...who is unsurprisingly not on Linked In. It's wild how many of the most iconic toys from history are now owned by just a handful of major toy companies.
I know we're missing some bangers, feel free to comment what you think we missed. The dancing He-Man and Skeletor are from an incredible commercial by Moneysupermarket Group. Read More...
Industry Commentary: The Toy Coach's Azhelle Wade
You're Using AI All Wrong
Everyone’s been telling you that if you’re not using AI by now, you’ve fallen behind.
So, like many, you’ve made the leap: you’ve downloaded the latest tools, encouraged your team to integrate AI, and maybe you’ve even invested in closed AI systems to protect originality and brand integrity. You were promised speed, creativity, and transformation. But instead of streamlined processes, you’re getting overloaded—more ideas, yes, but less focus, more revisions, and a far greater cost in time and resources than anticipated.
So, what’s going wrong?
Why is everyone else saving time while you and your team are drowning in a sea of AI ideas.
The problem is your approach.
Cartoon Lovers, Lexophiles & People in Need of a Smile!
Cartoon of the Week: Thank you to Ed Gershowitz for the cartoon this week!
Memorable Quotes: “Hope’ is the thing with feathers that perches in the soul, and sings the tunes without the words, and never stops at all.”
– EMILY DICKINSON
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 week!
Financial and Legal
Nerf guns. Monopoly board games. G.I. Joes. Some of Hasbro’s bestselling toys could get pricier if President-elect Donald Trump implements stiff tariffs on Chinese imports. One of America’s largest toy makers says it is negotiating with suppliers and considering design changes ahead of potential new levies. “We’ve been preparing for many months for any contingency,” Chris Cocks, Hasbro’s chief executive, said in an interview.
Asmodee and Dark Horse Comics parent Embracer Group continued its sales decline and losses in the fiscal Q2, but showed an operating profit and improved the balance sheet for the upcoming Asmodee Group spin-off in the period. The big improvement in the balance sheet came from the sale of mobile game company Easybrain for $1.2 billion in cash, eliminating most of the debt on the Embracer balance sheet.
*** The above posted after November 15th ***
Trends UK and Pat Avenue announce strategic merger. Trends UK and Pat Avenue have announced a strategic merger that will enhance their competitive position in the toy industry. This collaboration combines the strengths and expertise of both companies to create a significant presence in the UK market.
Amazon is winding down ad-supported streaming service Freevee and folding its content into Prime Video’s library. There are no reported layoffs associated with this strategic shift, as executives working in the Freevee division have joined other departments or are expected to do so in the future. Freevee launched in spring 2022 as a rebrand of Amazon’s unpaid streaming service IMDb TV.
New York Times tech staff asks readers to not play its games as union strikes. Tech workers for the New York Times are currently striking and they've asked readers to show their solidarity by refusing play the outlet's games. "Our members know their worth and they will prove that at the picket line today," wrote the Times' Tech Guild.
Trump tariffs could send US toy prices soaring more than 50%: trade group. Toy manufacturers could be forced to raise prices sharply – as much as 56% – if President-elect Donald Trump’s tariff proposal on foreign made goods is implemented, according to a report from the National Retail Federation.
ZeniMax union workers strike in protest of Microsoft remote work and outsourcing policies. Hundreds of unionized ZeniMax Studios employees are striking today in response to Microsoft's remote woking policy and decision to continue outsourcing quality assurance work. The Communication Workers of America (CWA) shared the news in a press release and explained the one-day strike will...
Song of Nunu dev Tequila Works files for insolvency. GamesIndustry reports Tequila Works has filed for insolvency, and its founders have all stepped down. Térence Mosca, the studio's COO, has transitioned to a general manager role. In a statement, he explained "prolonged market conditions" left the studio with no other options.
Ubisoft facing lawsuit over shutting down always-online game. In 2014, Ubisoft launched The Crew as an open-world, always-online racing game with a campaign and multiplayer mode. It was a fairly successful game for Ubisoft, spawning two sequels—The Crew 2 and Crew: Motorfest. But in December 2023, Ubisoft suddenly delisted the racing game from digital stores and, in April 2024, completely shut off its servers.
Guy who taunted Nintendo about streaming pirated Switch games before release now faces $7.5 million lawsuit. Jesse Keighin liked to stream Nintendo Switch games online before they were officially released and then gloat about it right in Nintendo’s face, according to a new lawsuit filed by the Mario maker in Colorado District Court earlier this week. “[I] can do this all day,” he allegedly wrote in a letter to Nintendo.
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Financial Reporting
Nintendo lowers fiscal forecast with Switch hardware and software in decline. hardware sales were down by 31% to 4.72 million units. Software sales fell by 27.6 percent over the same period to 70.28 million units.
Pop Mart, a trailblazer in the collectible toys industry, has announced a year-on-year revenue increase of 120-125 percent for the third quarter of 2024, with a surge of 55-60 percent from the Chinese mainland and a 440-445 percent growth in overseas markets.
Aristocrat Leisure has announced revenue growth of five percent in FY24 driven by performance in NA Gaming Operations, with ~7,100 net units added to the installed machine base. The company reported 17 percent growth in normalised NPATA to $1.6 billion...
Tencent posts 8% revenue growth on gaming rebound, sees slow AI uptake
Netflix’s ad tier hits 70 million monthly active users
The Entertainer reacts to Budget measures. Despite an encouraging set of full-year results, The Entertainer will revise its strategy going forward, following the recent Budget
Funko checked in this afternoon as the last of the “Big 5” publicly traded toy and collectibles companies to report third quarter earnings. The company beat Wall St. estimates with a 6.4% decline in net sales to $292.8 million, down from $312.9 million in the third quarter of last year. These numbers were in in line with expectations as the real progress in the Funko turnaround is under the hood.
Trends, Lists, Market Research, and State of the Industry
Amanda Merrell, with Toy Testing Sisters, shared the hottest toys and games of the season.
Engadget - The 12 best tech toys for kids in 2024. Put aside the video games for something a tad more physical.
OCTOBER 2024 CIRCANA BOOKSCAN - TOP 20 AUTHOR, MANGA, SUPERHERO GRAPHIC NOVELS
*** the above posted after November 15th when tBR circulated ***
ICV2 Accessories Week 2024: The hidden growth category in games.
Paddington in Peru records biggest opening weekend in UK for British film since No Time to Die. Studiocanal, the studio behind all three Paddington films, reports that it took £9.65m at the UK box office over the first 3 days of its release playing to an estimated audience of 1.2m people in 732 cinemas.
November’s UK Circana Insights. In the November issue of Toy World, Emilie Erktan looks at the strength of the Outdoor Toys category and the opportunities it can offer even during Q4.
November’s Talking Shop. As the end of the year draws closer, Toy World’s Caroline Tonks and Gabriela Jiménez García spoke with indie shop owners to get an insight into how trade is faring.
Kidults fuel £1bn surge as UK gears up for record Christmas sales.
Circana reports positive performance for the U.S. toy industry as the Holiday boom begins.
Funko sees warning signs in consumer behavior.
‘Adults buying kids' toys to escape global turmoil’.
Wicked Uncle unveils its Top 10 Toys for Christmas.
This Morning showcases its Top Toys for 2024.
These are the Holiday toys to buy before they sell out.
TCGplayer Top 25 Sealed TCG Products Chart Analysis for October 2024.
TCGplayer Top 25 Sealed TCG Products Chart Analysis for October 2024.
Top 20 Graphic Novels - October 2024. Sales Rankings Based on Comic Store POS Data.
TCGPlayer Top 25 Sealed Products Chart - October 2024.
Top 50 Comics - October 2024. Sales Rankings Based on Comic Store POS Data.
Stories, Comments, and Advice
Outdoor Play & The Toy Industry. Outdoor play is essential for physical, social, emotional and cognitive development, and for the toy industry, this presents a unique opportunity to innovate and reintroduce outdoor activities that engage today’s children and families. Outdoor play offers a wide range of benefits that are crucial for children’s overall development.
*** The above posted after November 15th ***
I Can't Call This a Lightsaber, but I Can Call It My New Favorite Gift for Young Star Wars Fans. The Power Saber manages to do the one thing every Star Wars fan wishes their lightsaber could do, and it's at the perfect price to be a great holiday gift for the younglings in your life. It’s been two years since Netflix first launched its ad-supported plan—and this subscription tier now boasts 70 million monthly active users...
John Baulch, ToyWorld - Dreaming of the right Christmas … it’s the Friday Blog! If you’ve been watching TV, reading national / regional newspapers or listening to the radio in the UK this week, chances are you will have come across coverage about the toy market, courtesy of the DreamToys event. Its primary purpose is to get consumers excited about purchasing toys for Christmas, and I think we can certainly say that...
The historic Jim Henson Company lot, which started life as Charlie Chaplin Studios in Los Angeles, has found a new buyer: John Mayer. Yes, the singer-songwriter behind “Daughters” and “Waiting on the World to Change” has partnered with filmmaker McG to purchase the sprawling lot, located in the heart of Hollywood at 1416 N. La Brea Ave.
Julia Fitzgerald - In today’s Midsize Match Up interview, I get to talk with Courtney Cotrupe, CEO of Partners + Napier, an agency that’s been knocking it out of the park for Midsize clients for years. Spoiler alert – their highlighted campaign is a great case study in local marketing genius. You will want to read to the bottom for Courtney’s advice.
Spotlight on Outdoor Toys. British summers are famous for being unpredictable, and this year was no exception. Thankfully, August brought drier weather and temperatures briefly reaching up to 34 degrees in some areas, ending summer on a high note. Despite the unavoidable ups and downs with the weather, numerous outdoor toy suppliers have described 2024 as a relatively successful year overall...
The globalization of streaming: A special report. The global entertainment industry is approaching a tipping point, as regions around the world master the production of episodic TV that had long been dominated by the U.S. The new Variety Intelligence Platform special report “The Globalization of Streaming” highlights how Netflix, Amazon Prime and, to a lesser extent, other leading SVOD brands, are...
KidsKnowBest looks at gender in toy marketing. KidsKnowBest’s Gunjan Bhardwaj and Avanika Sagar ask if it’s time to rethink gender in terms of toy marketing, and take a look at what kids and parents really think. We’ve all walked into a toy store and noticed it—aisles neatly divided into pinks for girls and blues for boys. But is this really what families want today?
D-Day hero who inspired a Call of Duty character. Sidney Cornell, who is acclaimed as the first black paratrooper to land in Normandy on D-Day, has been remembered at an exhibition in his home town. Born in Portsmouth, Sgt Cornell served with the 7th Parachute Battalion, earning a Distinguished Conduct Medal (DCM) for his courage in 1944.
Are toys on the path to a sales recovery? Mattel and Hasbro recently lowered their 2024 year-end sales forecasts, but both are hopeful for a continued stabilization of the toy industry over the key holiday quarter and a return to growth in 2025. In a recent analysis, Circana reported that U.S. toy retail sales declines in the last nine months have “slowed substantially” compared to the same period in 2023...
The 10 bnest Euro board games of all time, ranked. If you love board games with remarkable strategic depth, you’re probably a fan of a few tabletop titles that fall under the “Euro” category. Whether you’re growing crops, completing objective cards, or amassing a fortune from trading, these board games are always immensely satisfying. We’ve assembled our picks for the ten best Euro board games of all time.
Spotlight on Q1 Ranges. Q1 is typically a relatively quiet time of year for the toy retail channel, as everyone starts to recover from the hectic Golden Quarter and Christmas boom. After an initial spike when shoppers look to spend money or vouchers received as gifts, stores generally see a reduction is footfall; customers have just spent large amounts on presents and are avoiding too much in the way of extra spending.
The most memorable movies based on toys. What to base a movie on? Real events? A popular comic book? An esteemed work of literature? How about…a toy? It happens more than you might think. Or, in the modern film landscape, exactly as often as you think. Sometimes these movies, like cartoons of the ‘80s, are designed to sell more toys. Other times, there is a bigger story to tell. Here is our list of films...
Pokémon fan calculates how long it will take to collect every card In TCG Pocket. Pokémon has a way inspiring the completionist within people, setting them up on intense collect-a-thons that either take them to unimagined glory or exhaustion laced with deep personal shame. Pokémon TCG Pocket is no different.
Dr. Carl-Mikael Wilhelmsson on investment for toy companies. For the November issue of Toy World, Dr. Carl-Mikael Wilhelmsson shared this viewpoint column, explaining how private company growth investment is achieved through private investors and how this can work for toy companies. “The biggest lesson I have learnt throughout my entrepreneurial business life is that ‘cash is king’.
Netflix has 'won' the streaming wars — here's how others will compete. It's no secret the overall media and entertainment industry has struggled in recent years, burdened by labor strikes, profitability challenges, and a transition to streaming that's upended some of the most well-known corporate behemoths. One company, though, has thrived amid the various changes: Netflix.
The power of in-person events with Evolution PR. Post-covid, during which there was a total hiatus on events, in-person activations have returned with a vengeance – to the point where you could almost call 2024 The Year of the Event. There are myriad reasons why toy companies would (and should) consider holding an event to launch or showcase a product range.
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History and Nostalgia
Happiness from Milton Bradley (1972). Released in 1972 by Milton Bradley, the Happiness Game is a throwback to the days of flower power and hippie love culture. Advertised as the “now” game in television and print advertising, it had very groovy overtones. Two to six players moved around the board, shedding their hang-ups and acquiring positive attributes such as love, faith, and friendship.
7 rarest Godzilla toys and how much they're worth. Godzilla is still going strong and has come a long way from being a guy in a heavy suit destroying model cities. There was a simple charm to that monster movie style, but there's lots to like about some of the more modern Godzilla films.
Easy-Pop Corn Popper from Kenner. In 1964, with an Easy-Bake hit on their hands, Kenner released their first major accessory for the oven, the Easy-Pop Corn Popper. To create their snack-by-lightbulb, kids poured kernels into the popper and pushed it into the Easy-Bake via the wooden knob attached at one end of the apparatus. The corn popped in the enclosed oven in approximately 4 minutes.
1980s toys generate dollar signs in the latest Hake’s Auction. The 1980s! The decade where we got a glimpse of the future, and were amazed by its visions of flying cars, transforming trucks, and robots made of jungle animals. And while much is made of the music of the 1980s, it’s the toys of that era that have truly withstood the test of time.
Patty Duke Game from Milton Bradley. Released by Milton Bradley in 1963, the Patty Duke Game was a roll-and-move boardgame that challenged players’ observation and memory skills as they worked to match cards illustrating the activities of identical cousins Patty and Cathy. The game was based on the central characters of The Patty Duke Show, a sitcom that ran for three seasons from 1963 to 1966.
Strange Change Machine from Mattel. In 1968, 25 years before Jurassic Park hit cinemas, Mattel introduced Strange Change Machine, a clever toy that allowed children to “magically” create their own prehistoric creatures. Where the movie scenario relied on DNA, fossils, and amber, Strange Change Machine’s magic lay in plastic polymers, injection molding, and electron beaming.
30,000 years ago, paleolithic children were making their own toys out of clay. We tend to think of prehistoric life as hard. Brutal, even. Devoid of pleasure, outside of the odd mammoth steak or math class. But that dour picture tends to be missing something big – or rather, something small: kids. And, a recent study seems to suggest, they were having quite a bit of fun.
Licensing and Entertainment
Disney Lorcana experiential campaign is underway. Bringing Disney Lorcana TCG to a whole new audience, a number of key retail locations played host to a dedicated branded area packed with interactive activities, play tables and demo zones for visitors over the half term holidays to get hands on with the Set Five: Shimmering Skies range and Disney Lorcana TCG Gateway.
Nike and Hasbro have seemingly struck gold by collaborating to introduce sports fans, memorabilia collectors, and households all around the world, to their Monopoly-themed LeBron 22 Collection! This bold collaboration between Nike and Hasbro, the creators of the world-renowned Monopoly board game, brings fans something truly unforgettable and is certainly the collab we never knew we...
The LEGO Group and Hasbro are planning to flex their themed entertainment partnership by opening a second LEGO Duplo Peppa Pig Playground next spring. Merlin Entertainments, a park-builder that works with both companies, will construct this 13,000-square-foot play area as an expansion of the LEGOLAND New York Resort, which is located about an hour north of Manhattan in the village of Goshen.
A recent Bloomberg report reveals that since it launched alongside Disney+ in Nov. 2019, and with an extra boost thanks to the early days of the pandemic, Moana’s ended up as Disney’s most-streamed movie of all time. Numbers-wise, audiences have watched 80 billion minutes worth of it, which equates to watching it 748 million times. Further Nielsen data shows it’s also been 1 of the 4 most-watched films...
Pinkfong's well-established Baby Shark continues to thrive and it seems whatever they touch turns into a smash hit. Case and point, Pinkfong Little Dino School, a new series housed by Netflix. The series has been a huge hit, earmarking itself as #1 on Netflix's Top 10 Kids TV Shows list in nine seperate markets, including key markets like the US, Singapore, United Kingdom, and Australia.
PBS KIDS is hoping to get young viewers excited about New Year’s Eve, with themed content drops planned in December for three fan-favorite shows. The broadcaster will launch A Donkey Hodie New Year on December 2, based on the eponymous preschool puppet series from Fred Rogers Productions and Spiffy Pictures. Its premise will see the young donkey diving into old family traditions as she gets ready...
Funko, Warner Bros. Discovery unveil custom Harry Potter Funko POP! Yourself collaboration. Funko and Warner Bros. Discovery Global Consumer Products, have announced an enchanting collaboration featuring Funko’s Pop! Yourself line and one of the studio’s film series, Harry Potter. Accessory packs debuted on Funko.com as an add-on to Pop! Yourself figures.
Hasbro has partnered with Vibrant Marketing’s location-based entertainment division Vibrant Studios to produce a new Dungeons & Dragons experience for kids and families. The gates to Dungeons & Dragons: The Immersive Quest will open on Dec 18 at the GYGO Entertainment Complex in Toronto. Running for four months, this roughly 15,000-square-foot experience lets guests choose a player class...
New 'G.I. Joe Deck-Building Game' expansion incoming: 'The Crimson Veil'. Renegade Game Studios will release The Crimson Veil, a new expansion for G.I. Joe Deck-Building Game, into retail in February 2025. In this expansion, Cobra has gone undercover, using Tomax & Xamot’s elite Crimson Guard to infiltrate organizations across the world.
'Star Trek Adventures 2E Starter Set' heads to preorder: New entry level RPG boxed set. Modiphius Entertainment has placed a Star Trek Adventures 2E Starter Set onto preorder. The new Star Trek Adventures 2E Starter Set contains everything new players need to start out exploring the Final Frontier. It includes a 48-page rule booklet that gives players an overview of the 2d20 game system used for Star Trek Adventures 2E.
'Miffy Story Time Collection' comes to Yoto’s audio platform. Yoto, the interactive audio platform for kids, has announced the addition of the “Miffy Story Time Collection” to its content library. The 19 stories follow the charming white bunny, Miffy, through her endearing and timeless adventures.
PM&J unveils Squishmallows bean bag chairs. This is the company’s first-ever licensed collection. PM&J is dipping its toes into the realm of licensed goods with a collaboration with Jazwares for Squishmallows bean bag chairs. The bean bag chairs are designed based on three of kids’ favorite Squishmallows designs: Archie the Axolotl, Bubba the Cow, and Cam the Cat.
Deck the Halls with Pink: Barbie stars in Verizon’s 2024 Holiday campaign. This holiday season, Barbie is taking over the internet — literally! Mattel is partnering with Verizon for a pretty-in-pink marketing campaign featuring Barbie and all her friends. In addition to playful advertising content across billboards, digital media, and television, the famous Barbie DreamHouse is getting a digital makeover.
‘Sesame Street’ Learn & Play set to open at American Dream. New Jersey attraction to see new adventures from the children's show. American Dream and Sesame Workshop, the nonprofit behind “Sesame Street,” announce the opening of the first “Sesame Street” Learn & Play in the U.S. on Nov. 16.
Schleich Unveils Imagination Island experience at FAO Schwarz in NYC. Schleich, a maker of realistic animal figures and playsets, has debuted its new Imagination Island experience at FAO Schwarz in New York City. The immersive, hands-on attraction lets children and families to explore the magic of schleich through an interactive experience that sparks imagination and creativity by enabling them to design a custom...
Gen X nostalgia: Punkies Playhouse, Surreal Entertainment Ink licensing deal for beloved ‘80s properties. The new-stalgia explosion continues. Punkies Playhouse, a company dedicated to reviving classic IP, inked a multiyear, non-exclusive licensing agreement with Ohio-based Surreal Entertainment. Under the new deal, Surreal will create and market a variety of collectibles, housewares...
BARK, Disney launch 'The Muppet Christmas Carol' dog toy collection. Dog brand, BARK, has announced a collaboration with Disney’s “The Muppet Christmas Carol” to launch themed BarkBox and Super Chewer dog toys for the holidays. Plush dog toys for BarkBox subscribers include a tossable Gonzo, a crinkle-stuffed Kermit the Frog as “Bob Catch-It,” Marley and Gnarley’s Chain on a tuggable T-shirt rope...
Tetris brand extends 40th Anniversary celebration with new activations. Tetris is continuing to celebrate its 40th anniversary into the second half of 2024 and beyond. The Tetris Company unveiled a lineup of new announcements, collaborations and events. Spin Master has announced plans to launch a new range of Tetris-inspired puzzles and games.
YuMe Toys unveils new Squid Game collectibles. Known for its trendsetting, fan-centric designs, YuMe Toys has crafted a collection to captivate enthusiasts, extending the suspense of the original 2021 series. At the core of this collection is the Piggy Bank Capsule, a nostalgic tribute to the iconic piggy bank from the first season that provides a unique unboxing experience.
PMI Kids World unveils Stumble Guys x Barbie range. This partnership between Mattel, Scopely and PMI marks a new era in the world of collectibles, where players can simultaneously experience the digital excitement of Barbie in Stumble Guys as well as the tangible joy of playing with physical toys.
Firefly Brand Management announces master toy deal for KB Toys brand. The agreement is part of a new Master Toy deal that began in July. The partnership will bring back the KB Toys brand through an extensive range of product categories. "Having met at KB Toys over 25 years ago, this brand has always held a special place in our hearts," says Marc and Marianna Heon, co-owners, MH Enterprises.
‘A Toy Store Near You’ returns for Season 7. The company behind The Toys That Made Us, Icons Unearthed, and the relaunch of classic toy brands, including RoboForce and Biker Mice From Mars, is putting the finishing touches on a new season of A Toy Store Near You. The seventh season of the unscripted look at the people behind independent toy stores and collectibles shops returns for Season 7 on Nov. 26th.
New 'Star Wars' movie trilogy; 'Captain America 4' trailer, 'Godzilla Minus One' follow-up greeenlit; 'Thunderbolts' footage; 'TWD: Daryl Dixon' S3 teaser; 'Mass Effect' series. Showbiz Round-Up. Lucasfilm is developing a new Star Wars trilogy, according to Variety. The new trilogy will take place post-Skywalker Saga (see "'Geek' Movies Dominated in 2019").
Asmodee reveals 'Spot It!: Disney Stitch': New version of the classic matching game. This new version of Spot It! features LStitch-themed icons on the matching cards and packaging. Per usual, the game features the lightning-fast gameplay, where players with try to spot a single matching symbol between two cards in a contest of quick observation.
Mattel Creations releases Little People ‘Rick and Morty’ figures. The new set captures the manic, madcap energy of Adult Swim’s award-winning animated series, “Rick and Morty.” The set includes three family members: Rick Sanchez, Morty Smith and Summer Smith. Each pack includes a character figure and accessories, including Rick with his Portal Gun, Summer with her cell phone and Morty with his reset device.
Build-A-Bear, Hello Kitty to open collaborative workshop in LA. 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 exclusive Hello Kitty-themed products. The workshop will feature pink aprons, branded shopping bags and more to enhance guests’ experiences.
Educational subscription service, I’m The Chef Too!, has entered into a multiyear licensing agreement with The Lumistella Company, owner of Santaverse and Christmas brands, including The Elf on the Shelf and Elf Pets. This new partnership introduces a co-branded collection of holiday baking kits featuring the popular Scout Elf and Elf Pets characters.
Ageless Innovation debuts age-inclusive Hasbro TABOO game. Ageless Innovation, a company focused on enhancing lives as we age through play, has launched a new version of Hasbro’s classic game, TABOO, designed for older adults and their families. TABOO Charades introduces physical activity elements to the original gameplay, encouraging engagement through charades and movement.
Bandai Namco Toys and Collectibles celebrates Godzilla’s 70th Anniversary. This year marks a monumental moment for Godzilla enthusiasts and kaiju aficionados as Bandai Namco Toys and Collectibles America (BNTCA) celebrates the 70th anniversary of Godzilla with a new lineup. In honor of this landmark, and in conjunction with Godzilla Day on Nov. 3, BNTCA has unveiled an array of action figures and collectibles...
I’m The Chef Too! partners with The Lumistella Company. Educational subscription service, I’m The Chef Too!, has entered into a multiyear licensing agreement with The Lumistella Company, owner of Santaverse and Christmas brands, including The Elf on the Shelf and Elf Pets. This new partnership introduces a co-branded collection of holiday baking kits featuring the popular Scout Elf and Elf Pets characters.
I’m the Chef Too!, a monthly educational subscription company, announced it has entered into a multi-year licensing agreement with Mattel. The new partnership will feature Barbie on a collection of co-branded baking kits, celebrating the brand’s 65th anniversary. The company’s educational-themed baking kits allow children to blend food, STEM and the arts at home for fun.
Surge inks licensing agreements for Toxic Waste Candy. Toxic Waste will be featured in toys, apparel, novelties, and more. In the U.S., Surge has signed agreements with License 2 Play for compounds, slimes, and dough; Super Retro Brands for boxer shorts; Bohbah for boba tea; Rocket Fizz for soda; Incredible Novelties for squishy toys; Mary Mack’s for snow cone machines; and Flix Candy for energy drinks.
Ballon d’Or Topps Now Collection unveiled. Topps, the premier trading card brand of Fanatics Collectibles, has introduced its brand-new Ballon d’Or Topps Now Collection, celebrating the 2024 Ballon d’Or ceremony with exclusive trading cards featuring the year’s victorious players, historic red-carpet patches and soon-to-be- released Relic cards – a card that contains a piece of memorabilia embedded in the card itself.
Marvel on Disney+ 2025 trailer; 'Game of Throne' feature; 'Spider-Man 4' gets date; 'Emily The Strange' feature; 'Tomb Raider: Legend of Lara Croft' Renewed; 'Solo Leveling-Reawakening' trailer. Showbiz Round-Up. Marvel Entertainment has released a trailer with footage and premiere dates for upcoming Marvel series on Disney+ through 2025.
Mondo launches The Real Ghostbusters action figures, screenprint poster. This Halloween, the candy is not the only thing that’s fun-sized. In honor of the classic film’s 40th anniversary, Mondo is releasing the first-ever licensed line of The Real Ghostbusters figures at 1/12 scale — each packing a powerful proton punch.
Hasbro joins 'Monopoly' to 'Harry Potter', 'Pokemon' in new card game and board game. Hasbro has released two Monopoly-style games featuring pop-culture icons: the Monopoly Deal: Harry Potter card game and the Monopoly: Pokemon Edition board game. Based on the Monopoly Deal card game originally released in 2008, Monopoly Deal: Harry Potter is a faster playing set-collecting card game.
Mighty Jaxx unveils luxury collectibles brand: Superkraft Lab. Mighty Jaxx is launching Superkraft Lab, billed as a new frontier in the world of luxury statue collectibles, with the exclusive debut of the Till All Are One Transformers Diorama. This inaugural release immerses fans in the Transformers saga, combining Superkraft Lab’s commitment to superior artistry with high-end materials and bespoke customisation..
Another Harry Potter movie is probably inevitable after new Warner Bros. update. The future of Harry Potter movies looked bleak after Fantastic Beasts 3, but another film is probably inevitable after Warner Bros.' Game of Thrones update. The Harry Potter films make up some of the most successful fantasy releases of the 21st century, but the franchise's Fantastic Beasts prequels aren't nearly as popular.
YouTube is eating the TV industry’s lunch. Television used to be a key market for long-form video advertisements. Now, YouTube has caught up. YouTube’s advertising revenue has yet to reach a ceiling in its exponential growth. In Alphabet’s recent earnings call, the company claimed $8.9 billion in quarterly revenue from YouTube ads alone.
People of Play
AMAV US today announced the appointment of Steve Markey as VP of Sales and Marketing North America. In his new role, Markey will oversee all sales and marketing initiatives, with an immediate focus on retail expansion in North America in mass and specialty markets. “Steve brings decades of experience and a deep understanding of the toy industry,” said Asher Diamant and Ben Diamant, co-founders of Diamant Toys,
Q+A: Jakks Brings Popular IP Into Toy Form. Stephen Berman is the chief executive of Jakks Pacific Inc., the Santa Monica-based toy company.
He is also a co-founder of the company, along with his late business partner Jack Friedman, who died in May 2010. In the 30 years since the company was founded, moving quickly to fill space on shelves has been part of its business model.
Barbie mania: Meet the architect behind the marketing. Josh Silverman explains how he orchestrated the marketing drive behind the Barbie film. In this instalment of our weekly video series, My Business Leader Secret, we talk to Josh Silverman, who is the executive vice-president and chief franchise officer at Mattel. Californian toymaker Mattel makes the Barbie doll range.
*** The above posted after November 15th ***
Former Hasbro exec joins The Toy Association as Chief Policy Officer. The Toy Association is making changes to its leadership roles. Kathrin Belliveau joins the Association as Chief Policy Officer later this month. In this newly created role, Belliveau, who most recently served as EVP and Chief Purpose Officer of Hasbro, will manage global regulatory affairs and representation, toy safety and ethics initiatives, marketing...
In this episode of 'Making It In The Toy Industry', host Azhelle Wade sits down with Aaron Muderick, the creative mind behind Crazy Aaron's Thinking Putty. From a child's love for tinkering to creating a renowned brand, Aaron's journey is a testament to innovation, persistence, and passion. He discusses the importance of staying connected to your audience, maintaining product quality, and the critical lessons...
Inside Asmodee: US GM Julien Sharp Talks Running The Business. Every day, millions of gamers around the world sit down at the table and crack into a board game with friends and loved ones. And while we maybe, maybe, think about the game’s designer or artist from time to time, it’s rare that we think about all the other people involved in bringing our favorite games to life! That’s why I’m starting Inside Asmodee...
WildBrain has tapped Erin Morris to fill the newly created role of Vice President of Strategic Franchise and Retail. In this role, Morris will lead the teams that plan and implement global growth strategies for WildBrain franchises, including Strawberry Shortcake and Teletubbies. She will also lead licensing and commercialization strategies in Latin America and with major U.S. retailers.
The former Hollywood exec looking to transform Sega into the next Disney. We talk to Justin Scarpone about Sega's transmedia strategy, and its vision to make it a global entertainment company. As part of its latest financial report, Sega highlighted that it plans on building on the current momentum of its games business by "accelerating the transmedia development of the group's IP."
Think Hot Wheels car designs are crazy? Meet the man responsible. How designer and car nut Craig Callum found his dream job as head designer at Hot Wheels. We're coming up to the end of the year, so we can assume that Craig Callum has already designed around 60 cars in 2024. Not even the Chinese automotive brands produce this many new cars a year, so where is it that Callum is working?
Kids industry veterans Marion Edwards, Jodie Morris and Chris Rose have teamed up to help kids content creators develop their brands through a new consulting joint-venture called Creative Sprouts. The partners’ collective experience spans every stage of IP-building (from development through commercialization), and their goal is to help creative clients get their projects off the ground and break through...
Wyncor taps industry vet Steven Sandler as Chief Commercial Officer. Wyncor is eyeing future growth with the addition of Steven Sandler as its Chief Commercial Officer (CCO). The industry vet joins the company from Funko where he recently served as Vice President of Sales. In his new role, Sandler will spearhead Wyncor’s commercial strategy, focusing on driving global growth through strategic planning...
Grant & Bowman appoints new sales manager for Continental Europe. Grant & Bowman, a leading UK-based clearance toy distributor with over 55 years of industry expertise, has announced the appointment of Gabor Von Scheven as Sales manager for Continental Europe. With an impressive track record and deep-rooted relationships across the continent, Gabor will work closely with the co’s Sales director, Craig Bowers...
Companies and Brands
Somehow, Nintendo Began Secretly Publishing a Comic Over a Year Without Anyone Noticing. Nintendo might be widely known as an international video game company, but that hasn’t kept it from venturing into other forms of media, including comics. In fact, Nintendo has secretly been publishing a manga-style comic strip for over a year now, and most people haven’t even noticed.
*** The above posted after November 15th when tBR circulated ***
The Entertainer’s biggest-ever Christmas ad campaign stars new character Ray. The Christmas ad campaign, created by adam&eveDDB and starring a lovable new plush character, Ray, launches as The Entertainer names Caroline Smith as Marketing director. The EntertainerRay has revealed the appointment of Caroline Smith as its new Marketing director as the brand embarks on its biggest-ever TV advertising campaign...
LEGO announces new LEGO Art Love set. Inspired by Robert Indiana’s iconic piece of pop art, the Love sculpture, this set makes a great treat for yourself or a gift for loved ones. Travel into the history of pop-art with this new 791-piece set, revealed ahead of the original artwork’s 55th anniversary celebration in 2025. The Love sculpture is recognized around the world as an iconic symbol with a message which transcends culture.
Jelly Blox has been the recipient of many awards and accolades this year, including Good Housekeeping’s 2024 Best Toy Awards and Toy Insider’s 2024 Top Holiday Toys. In January 2024, Goliath announced the introduction of an all-new, expansive category launch into toys, building on its over four decades of global success in games. Released autumn/winter 2024, patent-pending Jelly Blox is a colourful, jelly-like...
The Sidemen and Hot House Games’ new party card game, Too Far, sold out on Amazon over the weekend, with new stock arriving later this month for the run up to Christmas. The Too Far party card game has launched with support from YouTube super group and co-owners of Hot House Games, the Sidemen. Too Far, the first of two games to launch, sold out on Amazon over the weekend of ...
Toybox Labs has two new 3D printers for home use, Comet and Alpha Two. The printers are specifically designed for long-term use by children and families. Both models are available online through Toybox’s website. The Alpha Two follows in the footsteps of Alpha One, with upgraded durability, reliability, precision, connectivity, and ease of use.
Pickleball is all the rage, and Trend Enterprises is getting its head in the game. Trend Enterprises made a name for itself through educational products and the recent relaunch of its iconic Scratch ‘n Sniff Stinky Stickers. Over the last year, the brand released new smelly stickers, skyrocketing the brand back to pop culture with playful schoolhouse nostalgia.
Growing creativity with four new LEGO Botanicals sets. Since its introduction in 2021, the LEGO Botanicals collection has fast become one of the LEGO Group’s most popular product ranges. These sets offer a fresh experience to building, allowing fans of all ages to create lifelike plants and flowers using LEGO bricks and appealing to adults looking for mindful, stress-relieving activities.
Asmodee introduces new card game, Piles! Asmodee‘s latest card game, Piles!, is a fast-paced, set-collecting game designed for children and families. The game has been a viral sensation on social media, and in less than a year, already 50k units have been sold, with that trend set to continue. Piles! is simple to pick up and offers endless replayability and challenge for players of all ages. T
New Too Far card game by the Sidemen sells out. The Too Far party card game has launched with support from YouTube super group and co-owners of Hot House Games, the Sidemen. Too Far, the first of two games to launch, sold out on Amazon over the weekend of Saturday 9th and Sunday 10th November, following social media videos by the Sidemen.
Fanroll unveils 'Heroquest' accessories: New dice and dice tray. FanRoll by Metallic Dice Games unveiled Heroquest accessories, which will hit stores on February 15, 2025. This release is part of Fanroll recent licensing agreement with Hasbro. There are two different types of dice accessories slated for the Heroquest line. The first product is a set of six premium D6 dice called Heroquest: First Light Dice Set.
Bandai will release new 'Dragon Ball Super TCG: Fusion World' booster set. Bandai will release a new booster set for Dragon Ball Super TCG: Fusion World into retail on May 2, 2025. This set features the first appearances of long-awaited characters from Dragon Ball Daima. The set will have more than 10 characters from Dragon Ball Daima as well as new leader cards.
Sail aboard a magical longship in 'Viking Route': New board game by Ares Games and DAM Things Game Studio. Ares Games and DAM Things Game Studio announced Viking Route, a new cooperative board game, which is slated to hit Kickstarter on December 3, 2024. In Viking Route, designed by Martino Chiacchiera, Luca Maragno, and Guido Albini, players assume the roles of Viking heroes...
KAP Toys to distribute Creativity for Kids in the UK and Ireland. KAP Toys has announced the exclusive distribution of the Faber-Castell USA line of products manufactured under the Creativity for Kids brand for the UK & Ireland, which is set to begin with immediate effect. The product range will be on first full display at the 2025 London Toy Fair on the KAP Toys stand UN66, with early retail previews already taking place.
Swerve PR rebrands as Swerve Strategic Marketing. Swerve PR is now Swerve Strategic. The company is offering a broader range of services to clients and cites its growth as a reason for the rebrand. Swerve Strategic Marketing plans to offer digital marketing, earned and paid public relations, influencer and affiliate marketing, and events and activations...
Thunderful is restructuring its publishing division and cutting even more jobs. Thunderful is restructuring its publishing business and laying off between 80 to 100 employees. This is the second restructuring program Thunderful has enacted in 2024, with the company previously committing to laying off 20 percent of its workforce in January to offset "over-investments made in the last few years."
Konami’s Quarter Century Bonanza set is available now. From legendary monsters like Blue-Eyes White Dragon and Dark Magician through to formidable competitive cards like S:P Little Knight and Bonfire, Quarter Century Bonanza is a comprehensive set featuring cards with significant importance to the history of the Yu-Gi-Oh! TCG.
Hornby introduces more new releases to Airfix range. The latest additions to the Hornby Airfix portfolio are the new mould 1:48 scale Westland Lysander Mk.I/Mk.III and the 1:48 scale Westland Sea King HC.4, containing new parts and schemes. A first in Airfix history, Hornby has announced the new mould 1:48 scale Westland Lysander Mk.I/Mk.III will be joining the range.
999 Games shares Dutch Product Stories to its channel. 999 Games has established itself as a leading toy brand in the board game industry, and is known for bringing creative and exciting experiences to players. With a strong focus on quality, innovation and fun, the company consistently delivers popular and engaging games, making it a go-to brand for game lovers everywhere.
Bandai Namco opens Gashapon pop-up shop. Bandai Namco Amusement Europe has launched a Gashapon Bandai Official Shop pop-up in Westfield Stratford City, London, the most visited shopping centre in the UK. The shop opened on 4th November. The Gashapon Bandai Official Shop sells Bandai’s original capsule toy brand, Gashapon, which represents vending machine-dispensed capsule toys...
Monster High partners with Anti-Bullying Alliance. This Anti-Bullying Week, 10th – 15th November, Monster High has announced a new partnership with the Anti-Bullying Alliance (ABA) charity in efforts to tackle bullying, along with new findings showing that a third of children in the UK admitted that they have felt as though they don’t ‘fit in’, while as many as 37% have been bullied in some form by their fellow peers...
Furlings roll-out continues with nationwide billboard campaign. The marketing drive for Furlings, a range of ‘curiously cute’ interactive plush with long whimsical tails, magically animated eyes and fluffy fur – initially kicked off with an influencer campaign which included a raft of top-class influencer partners, such as Rhia Official, who boasts 16m followers on TikTok.
Japanime Games reveals two new Anime board games for hobby retail. In Lupin the 3rd: The Italian Adventure, players navigate the Italian landscape using their wits, gadgets, and a bit of luck. They will roll dice to create a plan outwit their rivals and make an escape with a pilfered gem. However, they will have to watch out for Inspector Zenigato as he can bring the caper to a halt.
Games Workshop will release four 'Warhammer Age of Sigmar' boxed sets. The new Age of Sigmar holiday release boxed sets kick off with Ironjawz Battleforce: Wrekamob. This set comes with 6 Weirdbrute Wrekkaz (which can also be built as Brute Ragerz), 20 Ardboyz, and a rampaging Tuskboss on Maw-grunta. The Tuskboss model can also be built as a Maw-grunta with Hakkin’ Krew or a Maw-Grunta Gouger.
Yummiland hosts immersive pop-up event in Manchester. Over 600 fans attended the pop-up event by MGA Entertainment’s newest girl’s brand, Yummiland, on Saturday 2nd November at Manchester’s Trafford Palazzo, marking the brand’s successful introduction to the UK market.
Games Workshop announces five new 'Warhammer 40,000: Battleforces' sets coming in time for the Holiday season. Games Workshop's usual end of year boxed set release is almost ready to hit retail shelves. The first of the five sets revealed was Adepta Sororitas Battleforce: Penitent Crusade Host. This force is led by a Ministorum Priest, who has 2 Penitent Engines, 9 Sisters Repentia and their Repentia Superior, 10 …
Maison Battat expands offering at leading UK retailers. Consumers can now access a wider variety of play patterns for all ages from its high-quality and affordable brands. The company has teamed up with Fenwick, becoming a cornerstone of the retailer’s new Dolly Ville area, packed with dolls from brands including Barbie, Baby Annabell and Battat’sOur Generation and LullaBaby brands.
Chuck E. Cheese, STEM.org partner for ‘STEAM-tastic Adventure’. Reservations open in January; programming begins in March. Two programs are available to kids: One is geared to kids ages 3-5 and another is aimed at kids 6-8. Programming is planned based on developmental stages. “STEAM-tastic Adventure” combines STEAM elements with Chuck E. Cheese’s well-known hands-on play environment.
Jilly Bing introduces first Asian Caucasian doll. According to the New York Times analysis of the 2020 Census, over 3.5 million Americans identify as mixed-race Asian. The Riley Doll gives a growing number of children a doll that they can see themselves in. Jilly Bing’s mission is to create loveable Asian American characters that reflect the diversity of today’s community.
Alpha Toys’ Wise Block line drops new STEM builds for the Holidays. There’s a new way to build this holiday season. Wise Block, a line of brick-built R/C vehicles from Alpha Toys, expands at retail with a range of nine new vehicles. The line was awarded the official STEAM Accredited status by the Toy Association. Kids ages 8 and up can enjoy open-ended play when they build race cars, construction equipment, and military vehicles.
'Yu-Gi-Oh! TCG' enters the 'Maze of the Master': New booster set. Maze of the Master will inspire Duelists to explore new deck ideas with dozens of new cards. The set will showcase 10 new Egyptian and Trap Monster-themed cards revolving around Odion’s Battle City Deck. There will also be seven new cards for Mizar’s “Galaxy”/”Tachyon” Deck from Yu-Gi-Oh! ZEXAL as well as …
Renegade announces new 'Heroscape' OP kit - Features Thyraxis Dragoons. The new OP kit is currently on preorder from Renegade via their Heroscape Battle Network site. It features the Thyraxis Dragoons, a fierce insect warrior riding a rhinabug. The kit comes with 9 unpainted Thyraxis Dragoon miniatures and an instruction sheet for event usage.
Zooming to the finish line: Hot Wheels Legends Tour picks semi-finalists. 10 vehicles will advance to the global grand finale. The 2024 Hot Wheels Legends Tour has been hitting the road and picking this year’s semi-finalists, who will compete on November 12. Mattel’s Hot Wheels set out on tour to find the next custom car build to induct into the Hot Wheels Garage of Legends.
Moose Toys plots expansion in Mexico. The company’s direct-to-retail strategy begins next year. The toy company will supply its popular products to retailers throughout the region, making MrBeast Lab, titles from Moose Games, and a wide assortment of licensed toys available to consumers. Moose Toys entered the Latin American market in 2003, starting with a network of distribution partners.
City of Games reveals 'The Isle of Cats: Duel'. The Isle of Cats Duel is a new competitive, standalone game set in the world of The Isle of Cats. In this games, players compete head-to-head as citizens of Squalls End as they rescue cats before Lord Vesh arrives. Cats are represented by unique tiles and belong to family, of which players must try to keep together on their boat.
'Pokemon: Scarlet & Violet' goes through 'Prismatic Evolutions'. New booster set, new year, new SKUs. The Pokemon Company International just announced Scarlet & Violet—Prismatic Evolutions, a new booster set for Pokemon TCG, which will hit stores on January 17, 2025. The new set focuses on Eevee's various evolutions into new and powerful forms.
Bandai launches fan-requested Tamagotchis. Following this year’s triumphant return of the iconic Tamagotchi Connection, Bandai UK has announced the release of four new Japanese-style models as requested by the brand’s fan community. Available in the UK from the 1st December, Bandai welcomes Melon Soda, Pink Glitter, Blue Glitter, and the retail-exclusive Pearl Flower editions.
LEGO Taps Cataclaws to spread Holiday cheer, power retail sales. LEGO’s new holiday campaign is here, and it quickly reminds families that while disasters may arise, nothing is more important this holiday season than playing together. To spread that message, LEGO has created a new holiday mascot, a black-and-white cat wearing a red-and-white beanie named Cataclaws.
'Atlantis Exodus' heads to preorder. Rondel board game by Capstone Games. Capstone Games has placed Atlantis Exodus, a new rondel board game, onto preorder with an expected debut at PAX Unplugged in December 2024. In Atlantis Exodus, designed by Konstantinos Karagiannis and George Halkias, players assume the roles of kings fleeing the island nation of Atlantis.
Zuru launches new Max Premium Capsules. With innovation, creativity, value proposition and collectability core principles for development, Zuru is introducing its new Max Premium Capsules range to the UK market. Bringing a superior build experience to older children aged 8+, teens, kidults and collectors, Zuru’s Max Premium is a range of collectible capsules comprising themed miniature building bricks.
'Taco Cat Goat Cheese Pizza' shows some love. Special Valentine's Day Edition incoming. Dolphin Hat Games will release Taco Cat Goat Cheese Pizza: Valentine's Day Edition, a new party game, into retail on November 27, 2024. The new edition adds some holiday flavor to the now classic slap match game (see "'Taco Cat Goat Cheese Pizza'").
NOTTA WORD offers a new way of connecting with friends and family this Holiday season. Getting together with family for the holidays can be seen as a stressful time, and the creators of the card game NOTTA WORD want to change that. With a simple premise and easy-to-follow rules, NOTTA WORD is a great option for family gatherings.
Gearing up for the dungeon crawl: Suggestions for RPG accessories for retailers. Within the category of gaming accessories, one of the growing sub-categories over the last decade has been accessories for the RPG gaming. Back in the early days of RPGs, RPG accessories were more or less limited to the dice that came in starter sets and perhaps hex-grid maps.
Flushed with success? Character’s Skibidi Toilet range. Thanks to Bonkers Toys and Character Options, Skibidi Toilet is coming to toy aisles across the UK and is set to be one of the hottest launches of the year. Buyers and retailers alike are advised to bring themselves up to speed on the viral craze that inspired the toy collection.
New 'Magic: The Gathering' Commander Series playmats incoming. Ultra PRO will release Magic: The Gathering Commander Series - Release 5 - Three Color Wedge Playmats into retail in Q1 2025. These playmats are part of Ultra Pro’s an ongoing set of releases that showcase new themes every quarter. Some of the commanders selected for the playmat are voted in by fans.
Miniso outlines plans to become global powerhouse. Miniso revealed plans to become the world’s largest IP design group. The company plans to achieve world dominance through product innovation, store expansion, and brand building, said Jack Ye, the company’s founder. Miniso currently has more than 7,000 stores worldwide in more than 111 countries.
The Entertainer announces return of The Big Toy Appeal. Returning for its seventh year and running from Saturday 2nd to Saturday 30th November 2024, The Big Toy Appeal encourages customers to embrace the spirit of giving by picking up an extra toy to donate when visiting The Entertainer in-store or online.
Devir to publish 'Quorum': Board game set in ancient Rome. Devir Games will release Quorum, a new board game set in ancient Rome, in March 2025. In this game of open drafting and area majorities, players take the role of senators who seek to expand their influence in all of the six provinces by playing cards to accumulate points in different specialties.
'Union Arena Card Game' brings in 'Sword Art Online' for Spring 2025. Bandai will release Sword Art Online booster packs and starter decks for its Union Arena Card Game for Spring 2025. Sword Art Online originated as a light novel series, which has been adapted into manga, anime, and video games. The Union Arena release is tied to the anime.
Rio Grande offers two Friese titles: 'Free Ride USA' and 'Power Grid Bremen/Manhattan'. Rio Grande Games is offering a pair of titles from veteran designer Friedemann Friese that will release in December: Free Ride USA and the Power Grid Bremen/Manhattan Expansion. Set in 1950s America, Free Ride USA challenges players to oversee the modernization of the railway network into the diesel locomotive age.
'Taco Cat Goat Cheese Pizza' goes 'Poolside' in new waterproof edition. Dolphin Hat Games is taking its hit party game where few card games have dared to go with the waterproof Taco Cat Goat Cheese Pizza Poolside! edition releasing in November. Originally released in 2018, Taco Cat Goat Cheese Pizza is an active party game in which players are called upon to perform certain physical antics as they flip...
Gaming: Digital, Video, Hardware, and Development
Xbox is working on a gaming handheld but it's still a few years out. Rumors have been flying all year that Xbox is working on a PC gaming handheld. On Wednesday, Microsoft Gaming CEO Phil Spencer confirmed that plans are underway, though it sounds like an actual portable device is still a few years out. Speaking to Bloomberg, the longtime Xbox executive addressed the ongoing speculation about whether...
Indian VFX studio 88 Pictures has planted a flag in the video game development market with the launch of its new division 88 Games. Best known for its work in the animation industry, 88 Pictures has credits on Paramount kids shows such as Trollhunters: Tales of Arcadia, Gremlins: Secret of Mogwai, Transformers: EarthSpark and Kung Fu Panda: The Dragon Knight.
Capcom and TiMi team on mobile-only Monster Hunter Outlanders. Two years ago, Capcom announced it was partnering with mobile developer (and Tencent-owned) TiMi on a Monster Hunter phone game—a partnership that has resulted in the newly revealed Monster Hunter Outlanders. As in the mainline and handheld titles, players will be tasked with tracking down and eliminating monsters, either on their own...
Pokémon TCG Pocket's next big set of cards might be arriving in January. New datamines suggest the next set of cards isn’t far away, with a smaller update pegged for December. While The Pokémon Company hasn’t revealed its official roadmap since the game racked up 30 million players last week, fans digging into the details of recent updates to the smartphone game have found some clues.
Pokémon TCG Pocket devs won't confirm if the pack you pick matters. Does the pack you pick matter and influence what cards you get? Good question! And one that the devs won’t answer. According to some people, which pack you pick matters. Others say it doesn’t. And the devs behind TCG Pocket won’t provide any clarity.
Valve reveals very pretty, all-white Steam Deck. This upcoming version of the handheld PC will cost $680 and will go on sale on November 18. We’ve said it before, but it’s worth repeating: Valve’s Steam Deck is an awesome piece of hardware. It’s the best and most affordable handheld PC on the market, and since launching in 2022 it’s quickly inspired imitators and changed the way people play games.
Zelda's makers reflect on the princess's first big adventure. Despite lending her name to the Legend of Zelda series, she'd always played a supporting role behind regular hero Link. That all changed with Echoes of Wisdom, released a few weeks ago. BBC Newsbeat caught up with series producer Eiji Aonuma and the game's directors, Tomomi Sano and Satoshi Terada, to find out about making the game and their reaction...
Sony president promises better PlayStation quality checks after Concord's failure. The first one is: how did a game that wasn’t busted or terrible bomb so spectacularly? The second is: how did a game seemingly destined to fail get through Sony’s quality checks, renowned for setting the bar for modern gaming blockbusters? It was the latter question that company president Hiroki Totoki tried to answer in a call.
Payload Studios is laying off even more employees. Last week, at least two (now-former) staffers revealed they were let go on social media. Sources speaking to GamesIndustry claimed eight workers were impacted in the latest round of reductions. Those laid off were reportedly informed a month in advance and will not receive redundancy pay. In August, Clarke cited the wider industry tumult as reason for those reductions.
Study finds 21 percent of European devs laid off in past year. According this year's Big Games Industry Employment Survey, 21 percent of game developers in Europe have been impacted by layoffs between 2023 and 2024. Participants were asked if they had changed jobs in the last year: of those, 15 percent they were laid off and found a new job, and 6.2 percent were similarly made redundant, and are still looking for work.
Moose Toys, e.l.f. Beauty Bring XOX Kweenies to Roblox. Kids can the Kweens in the sprawling metaverse. Moose Toys and e.l.f. Beauty have teamed up to bring XOX Kweenies online for an interactive experience. The companies hope their collaboration and unique in-game experience will encourage players to celebrate their authentic selves through self-expression.
Dragon Age: The Veilguard surprises everyone as EA's biggest single-player launch on Steam. Long-time fans of the Dragon Age franchise impatiently waited for ten years between the launch of Dragon Age: Inquisition and Dragon Age: The Veilguard. Despite the lengthy downtime between entries and the drastic changes in gameplay and art style in the latest release, it appears BioWare didn’t lose its magic touch..
Highlighted Press Releases
($250/week/press release)
ALPHA TOYS EMPHASIZE TACTILE FUN FOR BABIES WITH SMART STEPS. Smart Steps Products From Alpha Toys Show it’s Never too Early to Start your Learning Journey. Fontana, CA (November 6, 2024) — We all want the best for our special little ones, be it nutrition, clothing, education and play. Everyone grows at their own pace, so sometimes it’s hard to pinpoint when exactly it’s time to introduce certain educational concepts to very young babies. Alpha Toys believes that there’s no reason babies can’t start their learning journey early and seamlessly through play, which is the ethos of their toy line Smart Steps.
ALPHA TOYS’ WISE BLOCK RC BRICK BUILDING SETS INTEGRATE EDUCATIONAL STEAM VALUE WITH FAST-PACED FUN. Fontana, CA (November 5, 2024) –Word to the wise: Alpha Toys is pushing the envelope in the building brick toy category. Not content with merely offering a compelling building process, Wise Block brick building sets incorporate an added layer of play through remote control (RC) capabilities! Other building block sets may be all about building, taking apart and trying again, but Wise Block is all about Build, then Play! In addition to honing fine motor skills, Wise Block sets invite young builders to stretch their creative muscles by crafting...
ALPHA TOYS LAUNCHES ELECTRIFYING NEW WAVE OF SUPER WINGS OFFERINGS FOR SEASON 8. Alpha Toys Long-Running Hit Kids TV Show Super Wings Celebrates Season 8 With All New Transforming Toys. Fontana, CA (November 4, 2024) — Super Wings is back for their 8th season (aka, the best one yet) and Alpha Toys is ready to bring joy to fans of the show and its characters with brand new toys! Super Wings follows the daily adventures of Jett and his friends as they deliver packages and offer their aid to people the world over. This season, the Super Wings have brand new electric engines, super charging their capabilities like never before!
MICADOR PRODUCTS EARN BIG WINS IN 2024. Melbourne, Australia (November 14, 2024) – When it comes to introducing little ones to artmaking, you’ll be hard-pressed to find better materials than those from Micador. Based in Australia, Micador offers a wide range of products which span across all ages and a diverse range of creative activities. One of their most successful lines, early stART, has met with high marks and honors in 2024. The early stART range of products offers low-mess, on-the-go creative activity packs for young artists aged 2 and older and focusses on the fundamentals of art and design like texture, shape and color.
ALPHA TOYS’ WISE BLOCK RC BRICK BUILDING SETS INTEGRATE EDUCATIONAL STEAM VALUE WITH FAST-PACED FUN. Steam verification logoFontana, CA (November 5, 2024) –Word to the wise: Alpha Toys is pushing the envelope in the building brick toy category. Not content with merely offering a compelling building process, Wise Block brick building sets incorporate an added layer of play through remote control (RC) capabilities! Other building block sets may be all about building, taking apart and trying again, but Wise Block is all about Build, then Play! In addition to honing fine motor skills, Wise Block sets invite young builders to stretch their creative muscles by crafting their....
CRA-Z-ART RELEASES ITS TOP 5 HOLIDAY TOY LIST FILLED WITH RETRO CHILDHOOD FAVORITES. Delight Every Kid On The Hanukkah Or Christmas List With The Original Snoopy Sno-Cone Machine, Magna Doodle & Giga Pets Plus Disney Stitch Slimy And Dissect-It Rattlesnake Super Lab. Randolph, NJ (November 1, 2024) – If a white Christmas is on the wish list, make some snow in the kitchen with the original Snoopy Sno-Cone Machine ($19.99). The classic toy is one of Cra-Z-Art’s Top 5 Holiday List gifts where there is truly something for everyone! From doodles to dissecting (!) and even a virtual pet, playtime this season is sure to spark memories of holidays past as grownups introduce nostalgic toys...
NEW KID ON THE TOY BLOCK, ALPHA TOYS, RAMPS UP INSTANTLY WITH DIVERSE DEAL. Diverse Marketing, Diverse Insights & KidStuff Public Relations Flex Their Branding Muscle In Unison To Promote Alpha Toys’ Super Wings, Smart Steps & Wise Blocks Divisions. Fontana, CA (October 28, 2024) — Ask any youngster about the hit series Super Wings, and they can tell you how an adorable jet plane named Jett travels the world delivering packages to children. With every delivery, Jett encounters a new problem that he and his friends, the Super Wings, must work together to solve. An entire brand of aerial toys complements the series.
Safety and Counterfeiting
Roblox announces new safety features for under-13s. Roblox is introducing new safety features for children under the age of 13, following criticism of how it protects younger users. The free online gaming platform, is particularly popular with children - but some have complained they have been exposed to upsetting and harmful content on the site.
Investing US$35.9 million over five years, Canada’s government is creating a new organization to help Canadians better understand this emerging technology. The Canadian Artificial Intelligence Safety Institute will work to make sure Canada develops and deploys AI in safe ways, as well as helping Canadians make sense of generative AI systems and protecting them against the associated risks.
Australia plans social media ban for under-16s. Australia's government says it will introduce "world-leading" legislation to ban children under 16 from social media. Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said the proposed laws, to be tabled in parliament next week, were aimed at mitigating the "harm" social media was inflicting on Australian children.
CPSC Warns Consumers to Immediately Stop Using Zhengxin Arts Pounding Ball Table Toys Due to Choking Hazard; Violations of the Federal Regulations for Toys with Small Parts; Sold by Zhengxin Arts. The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) is warning consumers to immediately stop using and dispose of Zhengxin Arts Vertical Box Hammer Case Pounding Ball Table Toys...
Toy Safety Awareness Month shares tips for safe toy shopping this Holiday season. Three-quarters of parents say it's getting harder to spot counterfeit toys — and 47% say they purchased a toy from an online source that they later found out or suspected was fake, according to a new survey of 1,000 U.S. parents conducted by Wakefield Research on behalf of The Toy Association™.
Mattel pulls thousands of ‘Wicked’ dolls off shelves after printing adult web address on packaging. Thousands of Mattel’s “Wicked”-branded fashion dolls are flying off shelves, but not because of consumer demand. The toy company has been forced to pull its line of character dolls after a package misprint. Instead of listing the website for Universal’s “Wicked” movie, boxes featured a link to a pornographic website...
Associations, Foundations, Shows, Awards, Events, and Festivals
People of Play honors 2024 TAGIE Award winners. Members of the international toy community celebrated excellence in Chicago. It was an electric evening at Joe’s Live in Rosemont, IL, as People of Play hosted the 17th annual Toy & Game Innovation Excellence (TAGIE) Awards on the eve of the Chicago Toy & Game Fair. Disney’s Karri Bean was back in action as host and time traveler, stepping into the Time Booth 5000...
The Toy Foundation reveals 2025 TOTY Award finalists. The Toy Foundation is hosting the 25th annual Toy of the Year (TOTY) Awards fundraiser on Feb. 28, and it just released its star-studded finalists list. Often hailed as “the Oscars of the toy industry,” the TOTY Awards celebrate the innovative toys, games, and collectibles that impress consumers and professionals alike.
Women in Animation (WIA) has published its annual impact report this week. Helping the animation/VFX and gaming industry achieve gender parity has been one of the org’s major long-term goals. And promising data from the Animation Guild shows that the number of working creatives who fall into underrepresented gender identities category, which includes women and gender non-binary people, has hit 34%...
Preshow Noël Toys & Games returns to France. Companies from more than 15 countries will be in attendance. The Preshow Noël Toys & Games show is returning to Deauville, France, a city around 120 miles away from Paris. At the show, companies from around the world will showcase their products for the upcoming year.
Dad’s Choice Awards 2024 winners chosen. The 2024 winners were chosen because each offers creativity, fun factor and value for money, and impressed a selection of dad testers and their children. Each of the following winners grabbed the attention of the testers and was deemed worthy of the highest award, while a further eight products have been awarded the Highly Commended Award and 10 received the …
Board Game Club celebrates success of Winter Special. The last event of the year, the Winter Special had an eclectic mix of games on the menu, with a hand-picked selection of brand-new games, Boxing Day Boredom Busters and much-loved classics to bring some board game sparkle to the festive season. The event proved extremely popular, with sign-ups at an all-time high and a packed venue on the night.
People of Play reveals full event line-up for POP Week. Running from November 6th-10th, POP Week will celebrate innovation for the trade followed by a fun-filled weekend of activities, including the Chicago Toy & Game Fair. People of Play (POP) has revealed the full event line-up for the 22nd annual POP Week, set to kick off next Wednesday, November 6th, in Rosemont, Illinois.
Spielwarenmesse 2025 tickets on sale. Tickets for the 74th Spielwarenmesse, the Nuremberg International Toy Fair, are on sale now. Trade visitors, journalists, and guests can make plans for next year’s fair, which will be held from Jan. 28 to Feb. 1. Tickets are available online. The five-day event will be held at the Nuremberg Exhibition Centre.
TIE reveals Play for Change Award winners. Toy Industries of Europe (TIE) reveals winners of the fifth edition of the Play for Change Awards. These European Awards celebrate outstanding efforts by toy companies committed to improving children’s well-being and preparing the next generation for a better future.
BTHA outlines plans for Toy Industry Awards 2024. The British Toy & Hobby Association (BTHA) and the Toy Retailers Association (TRA) have announced that the 2024 Toy Industry Awards will be presented on Tuesday 21st January – the opening night of Toy Fair 2025. Set in the Hilton Olympia’s Westminster Suite, conveniently located near Olympia Events London, this event promises to kick off the fair...
Hasbro opens its second annual Women Innovators of Play Challenge for new toys and games proposals. Women account for nearly 70 percent of toy purchases but only represent 29 percent of the industry’s C-Suite roles. One of the largest toy cos, Hasbro, expects to change that trend. Hasbro’s Women Innovators of Play Challenge winners will earn a $10,000 cash prize, mentorship, and a trip to Hasbro World...
75th anniversary edition of Spring Fair almost sold out. Registration is live for Spring Fair, which is on track to sell out its 75th anniversary edition. Taking place from 2nd – 5th February 2025 at NEC Birmingham, the milestone event has revealed that its Gift destination in Hall 4 is now completely sold out, with space quickly filling up across all categories.
LA Previews round up. There is no doubt that the single most significant change to the toy trade events calendar since the pandemic has been the meteoric rise of the LA Toy Previews, especially the September trip,” writes John Baulch. “For many years, Mattel and a handful of toy companies whose showrooms are located in the LA area invited a handful of major buyers to preview the following year’s...
Legend Story Studios crowns new 'Flesh and Blood TCG' World Champion. Legend Story Studios has crowed a new 2024 Flesh and Blood TCG World Champion in Osaka, Japan as their USD World Tour wrapped over the weekend of November 2-3, 2024. The World Championship event featured three days of competition with over 1000 people attending.
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
Ranjit Kaur Dhutti. MGA UK is deeply saddened to announce the passing of Ranjit Dhutti, Marketing manager at the company, who passed away on 24th October. Ranjit started her toy marketing career with LeapFrog before moving on to Spin Master in 2015, where her career developed rapidly over the seven years she worked there. Ranjit was instrumental in launching mega brands such as Hatchimals, Colleggtibles and Purse Pets to name but a few. She joined MGA as Marketing manager for L.O.L. Surprise! in November 2022, and went on to apply her marketing genius to the hugely successful L.O.L Surprise! Magic Flyers which made multiple retailer Top Toy lists and won a highly coveted DreamToys Award in 2023. Sara Taylor, senior vice president, UK, Ireland & FR.IT.ES at MGA Entertainment UK, commented: “Ranjit had a real touch for understanding brand potential and mirroring that with consumer needs to create marketing campaigns that never failed to deliver fantastic results for all our retail partners. She really was a class-act in so many ways, throwing her heart and soul into everything she took on. And she did it all with huge passion, energy, grace, integrity and kindness....
Greg Hildebrandt, noted for his classic work with his twin brother Tim for Star Wars and The Lord of the Rings, died on October 31, 2024, at the age of 85. He had been dealing with heart medication side effects for the past five months. The two were credited together as the Brothers Hildebrandt; Tim passed away in 2006. The brothers, best known for their painted fantasy art, created Lord of the Rings calendars from 1976-1978 and the world-famous UK poster for Star Wars in 1977, as well as the 1981 poster for Clash of the Titans. The two worked independently after that, with Greg illustrating a book, Greg Hildebrandt’s Favorite Fairy Tales, and creating book illustrations for a variety of titles and cover art for such magazines as Heavy Metal and Omni.
The two came back together in the mid-1990s, and their work in this period included the Marvel Masterpieces card set, as well as Marvel posters and the Superman: The Last God of Krypton graphic novel. The brothers illustrated the six-issue Terry & the Pirates comic from Avalon in 1999. In the 2000s, they painted over 100 illustrations for Magic: The Gathering cards...
MEL APPEL died in Coconut Grove, Florida, on October 30, 2024, at the age of 94. He is survived by his daughter, Corey, and her husband, Michael, his son, Peter, and his wife, Polly, and his five grandchildren, Juliet, Mark, Austin, Tyler and Jarret. Mel was born on May 9, 1930, in Newark, New Jersey. Mel was a true original. He was voted class hero and class athlete in high school and was an all-state basketball player. After completing school, he began his nearly five-decade career in the toy industry. His career was marked by the creation of numerous successful and well known toys, including many offbeat ones that highlighted his great sense of humor and fearless approach to design. Mel is often referred to as a legend when his name comes up around those who worked in the toy business. While Mel left an indelible mark on the toy industry, his greatest impact was on his family and friends.
Worldwide Magazines Weekly Top Stories
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Toy Trade Monthly Issues
Adventure Media & Events (US)
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Breaking News: Helen Skelton reveals DreamToys’ top picks for Christmas
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Kidults fuel £1bn surge as UK gears up for record Christmas sales
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TIE reveals winners of fifth European Play for Change Awards
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Exclusive: Flushed with success? Character’s Skibidi Toilet range
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Mighty Jaxx unveils luxury collectibles brand: Superkraft Lab
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Grant & Bowman appoints new sales manager for Continental Europe
ICv2: The Business of Geek Culture (US)
- Games Workshop Announces Five New 'Warhammer 40,000: Battleforces' Sets
- Games Workshop Will Release Four 'Warhammer Age of Sigmar' Boxed Sets
- 'Magic: The Gathering' Still on Fire, 'Secret Lair x Marvel' Incident Looms; 'Disney Lorcana' Plateaus
- Square Enix Reveals 'Final Fantasy: Moogle Bounty Mayhem'
- Recalled 'Wicked' Movie Dolls Become Instant Collectibles
- Funko Sees Warning Signs in Consumer Behavior
- Rolling for Initiative -- Tariffs, Take Two
- Wizards of the Coast Announces 'Magic: The Gathering' 'Jumpstart 2025' Holiday Play Day Events
- Cryptozoic Announces New Edition of 'DC Heroes Role-playing Game'
- Game Awards from the Toy Side
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- 'Magic: The Gathering' 'Secret Lair x Marvel' Fallout Continues
- New 'Magic: The Gathering' Commander Series Playmats Incoming
- 'Magic: The Gathering' 'Secret Lair x Marvel' Line Queue Pauses within Minutes of Forming
- '2024 Monster Manual' Completes 'D&D' Core Trio
- WizKids Plans 'D&D Onslaught: Ancient Construct'
- Gearing Up for the Dungeon Crawl
- Free League Announces 'Black Powder and Brimstone'
- FanRoll Will Release 'Dungeons & Dragons: Masterworks' Accessories
- heo Group Will Release 'Magic: The Gathering - Foundations Squaroes'
- ICv2 Accessories Week 2024
Nación Juguetes (Mexico, Peru, Argentina, Chile & Spain)
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The exclusive presentation in Peru of “Moana 2” toys with LEGO, Mattel, and Wish Toys
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Pop Mart launches a Space Molly inspired by Rick & Morty
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Planeta DeAgostini presents a collectible Darth Vader figure in Spain
Global Toy News
The Bugg Report (Australia)
The Toy Universe (Australia)
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Feature Interview: The Toy Association — We Speak to Mary Couzin and Greg Ahearn
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Kaiko Fidgets — A Range of Discreet Sensory Tools Designed to Assist with Mental Health, Anxiety
hobbyDB
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Marketplaces Overview - Which One is the Cheapest Place to Sell Collectibles
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Get Out the Vote! Cast Your Ballot for the Model Car Hall of Fame's '24 Class
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New Exclusive Alert! Kustom Kreations Custom PPG Super Freddy
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(previous week)
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hobbyDB Designer Series: Get to Know Design Edge Toy Designer Matt Nucci
Video of the Week
How We Play Informs Who We Become
Tim Walsh was asked by the Association of Applied and Therapeutic Humor to present at their conference in New Orleans and when COVID 19 tried to stop us, he rallied and went virtual.
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Publisher: Mary Couzin, Chicago Toy & Game Group, Inc.
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