Welcome to Your Weekly News Brief!
Happy Bloomin' Friday!
The Laugh Factory event was an enormous success and the first of what will be an annual event! Bob Fuhrer, David Fuhrer and I are already planning 2025! David pulled together an amazing lineup! The 7:45 show was hosted by Gary Cannon with comics Tony Baker, Orny Adams, Caroline Rhea, Dane Cook and Tony Rock. The 10pm show was hosted by Gary Cannon with comics Jimmy O Yang, Caroline Rhea, Mike Marino and Chris Spencer. I have never ever laughed so much in my life. All the comics made fun of toymakers - it was priceless. Tony Rock even incorporated the Goliath Power Saber into his act. Check out the group photo of the last to leave (nobody wanted to) and many of us after two shows.
It isn't too late to register for the Chicago Toy & Game Fair and get in front of consumers, media, influencers (40+ so far !), trade and more! And... it is THE focus group in the wild! Register HERE!
Register for November's POP Week!
Connect, pitch and learn at the Inventor Pitch and Innovation Conference,
Celebrate colleagues at the TAGIEs
Encourage a creative kid to enter the Young Inventor Challenge
Kick off the holidays! Meet consumers, influencers and trade in your Chicago Toy & Game Fair booth
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.
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Person of the Week: JM Duparc
Identity Games' Recent Toy of the Year Awards and Why Games Might be Named Differently in Another Country
(Mary) JM, congratulations on winning 2 Toy of the Year Awards in the Netherlands and a TAGIE Finalist! Can you tell us a little about the games?
Thank you! The team is extremely happy and proud on winning and being nominated for these prestigious awards.
The first game is called Medical Mysteries. It’s a choose your own, story driven, adventure game. The players are all doctors, a patient with mysterious symptoms is brought in at midnight and the players must make sure the patient survives the night. It’s medically accurate but you need no medical background whatsoever to play. One of the coolest things about the game is you really have to make choices on what to do, there are so many story lines and so many outcomes. You’re basically participating in an episode of House or Grey’s Anatomy.
Identity Games developed this game with Nicolas and Rebecca from Blue Matters, it might just be the coolest game we’ve ever made!
We saw that the game has different names in different countries, why is that?
There can be different reasons for this. Sometimes the name or the pun is lost in translation. I know for instance Who’s the Dude has a different name in just about every single country. We once had a Who’s the Dude convention (yes, you heard me right) where we invited all our partners to shar their marketing plans for the game. I remember all the companies translating their name and explain why it was funny in their country.
In the case of Battle Royale it was due to copyright. The name Battle Royale could not be registered in the US, so Buffalo Games chose Hold Your Ground, a Battle Royale game. READ MORE...
Cartoon Lovers, Lexophiles & People in Need of a Smile!
Cartoon of the Week: Thank you to Ed Gershowitz for the funny cartoon this week!
Memorable Quotes: "For every complex problem, there is an answer that is clear, simple and wrong." - H. L. Menchken
Toy Industry Word of Day: Age Grading Thank you, Rana Schenke for our Word of the 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
Windy City Novelties has acquired U.S. Toy Co., expanding its role as a leading supplier of party supplies, light-up toys, and novelties. The acquisition will diversify Windy City’s product portfolio and strengthen its position in the novelty industry. “The acquisition of U.S. Toy aligns perfectly with our mission to provide fun and innovative products that bring joy to every celebration,” says Jeffrey Schrimmer, President....
Hasbro and Mattel have most toy shipments locked in as port strike looms, analysts say. Toy makers and retailers looked ahead, shifted a 'substantial' amount of imports to West Coast ports, UBS says. A strike along dozens of East Coast ports could cost the economy hundreds of millions of dollars a day, leaving things like cars, furniture, alcohol and pharmaceuticals stuck on ships, while potentially raising shipping...
A U.S. Trademark Office tribunal has canceled a set of "Super Hero" trademarks jointly owned by comic giants Marvel & DC at the request of a London-based comic book artist. The USPTO's Trademark Trial & Appeal Board ruled for S.J. Richold's Superbabies, opens new tab after Disney's, opens new tab Marvel and Warner Bros', opens new tab DC did not file an answer to Superbabies' request to invalidate the marks.
Epic Games says Google found a new way to violate antitrust law. The company behind the Fortnite video games won an antitrust lawsuit against Google last year. Now Epic Games is suing again. Last year, a jury found that Google broke the law by suppressing options to download Android apps outside the company’s official Google Play digital store.
*** The above posted after September 27th when tBR circulated ***
HTI GroupSambro International, a leading global supplier of children’s toys and games, has announced its acquisition of Sambro International, an award-winning global supplier of branded toys. The acquisition has established HTI as the largest privately-owned toy company in the UK, with combined annual sales exceeding £120m and a presence in over 70 international markets.
T.I. and Tiny Awarded $71 Million Over L.O.L. Dolls’ Likeness to R&B Group. A jury found that the toy giant MGA Entertainment had violated the musicians’ intellectual property rights with its L.O.L. Surprise! O.M.G. dolls. The dolls are small. The award is big. The dolls in question are L.O.L. Surprise! O.M.G. dolls, several-inch-tall plastic dolls with big eyes and colorful hair — part of a line of L.O.L. Surprise! dolls that often...
Gov. Dan McKee and House Speaker Joseph Shekarchi have met with Hasbro CEO Chris Cocks in an attempt to convince him to keep the company in Rhode Island, as it looks for a new headquarters. McKee's press secretary, Olivia DaRocha, wrote in a statement that McKee and Shekarchi met with Cocks on Thursday, which they "anticipate" to be the first of many meetings.
Cards Against Humanity has filed a $15 million lawsuit against SpaceX, alleging the aerospace behemoth led by Elon Musk trespassed on land it owns in TX near the border with Mexico. Cards Against Humanity bought the property in 2017 as a part of a stunt aimed at impeding then-President Donald Trump’s plans to build a wall along the southern border. About 150,000 people donated $15 to its crowdsourcing...
Toy & game industries brace for port strike amid ILA-USMX labor dispute. A potential work stoppage threatens holiday shipments and could result in higher costs for consumers. Another potential supply chain crisis looms as the International Longshoremen’s Association (ILA) and U.S. Maritime Alliance (USMX) continue butting heads over wages, benefits, and automation.
Disney implements a new wave of corporate layoffs. Hundreds have lost their jobs in this latest cost-cutting round, which follows closely behind a workforce reduction at Paramount earlier this week. Roughly 300 Disney staffers have been let go in an ongoing round of job cuts, as the industry continues to grapple with a challenging marketplace.
How Brazil's new legal framework for games will change the industry. Trade bodies and developers talk us through the new opportunities for growth and investment unlocked by this "game-changing" legislation. The turning point? The adoption of a new legal framework in May that redefines video games in the eyes of the law, opens up new incentives for games companies, and creates additional opportunities for...
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Financial Reporting
Trends, Lists, Market Research, and State of the Industry
From LEGO® to Barbie, Hot Wheels to Disney, BJ’s Wholesale Club Reveals Top Toys for the Holiday
*** The above posted after September 27th when tBR circulated ***
Toys ‘R’ Us, Macy’s Reveal 2024 Geoffrey’s Hot Toy List. This list features 150 popular toys for every age this holiday season.
Sports and animé drive toy licensing sales growth in Europe. Growing by 2.4%, licensed toy sales in Europe (EU5: France, Germany, Italy, Spain and the UK) bucked an industry decline of 3.1% during the first seven months of this yr, thanks in part to the popularity of major sporting …
An Update From the French Toy Industry by Yann Fresnel. The French toy market has so far this year delivered flat results. As of the end of August, volume is -5 percent and price +5 percent. The main driver, the “Outdoor Toy” category, was strongly impacted by terrible weather...
Kids brands are setting the table for more business. From our Q3 issue of Kidscreen magazine, we explore why blue-chip companies such as BBC Studios and Paramount have earmarked subscription meal kits as a tasty new opportunity to connect with families at dinnertime.
REPORT: Kids TV has room for more female body types. Beyond physical shape diversity, The Geena Davis Institute's See Jane 2024 study also looks at gender identity and race in new and popular programming.
BrandTrends Shares 8 Licensing Trends for 2025. These trends will help brands stay competitive and innovative.
The Best Toy Industry Businesses to Be In for 2024.
Selfridges unveils its Top Toys for Christmas 2024.
The Toymaster 2024 Christmas Catalogue is out now.
22 toys to stock to up the Holiday cheer. These holiday-themed toys will be hot on the shelves this year.
Stories, Comments, and Advice
Land of 10,000 Games: Inside the Twin Cities Tabletop Gaming Boom. Some of the most exciting, challenging new games around might have been designed by a small company located right in your neighborhood. When I ask why gaming is such a popular pastime in Minnesota, I hear some variation on the obvious answer: “Winters here are cold and dark and long.” Maybe it’s that simple, maybe not. But Minnesota isn’t just...
October 2024 Freight Update – East Coast Strikes Back! The end of the year is fast approaching, but that doesn’t mean it’s smooth sailing from here on out. In fact, it’s anything but smooth. It’s peak shipping season, the East and Gulf Coast ports just went on strike and it’s Golden Week in China. Keep on reading to find out what’s happening this month on the high seas.
The Revolutionary Impact of RFID Tags on Modern Technology. By leveraging electromagnetic fields to automatically identify and track tags attached to objects, RFID technology is revolutionizing industries ranging from retail to healthcare, logistics to security. This article delves into the mechanics of RFID tags, their diverse applications, and their far-reaching impact on supply chain management.
Julia Fitzgerald - Midsize Agency Partner – BMG360. Today we talk with Lucas Cridland, CEO at BMG360. Lucas has a great story about the agency's evolution to become a full service performance marketing powerhouse. He also shares insights on how BMG360 helps midsize firms achieve their demand generation needs and scale. Let’s get to it. Julia: Lucas, this newsletter highlights agencies that are great partners...
Sean Atitsogbe, 10, of Lilburn, Georgia, has become known as "Sean The Science Kid" for his videos explaining everyday science phenomena with an authentic curiosity on his YouTube account, Learning With Sean The Science Kid. He officially started his YouTube account in 2020 when he was 6 yrs old with help from his mother, Eunice Atitsogbe. Sean has since expanded to Facebook and Instagram, where he has over 780,000 ...
James Joyce didn’t just write some of the most acclaimed novels of the 20th century — he did so using crayon. Though it sounds like a quirky affectation on the part of the Ulysses and A Portrait of the Artist as a Young Man author, it was actually a medical necessity. Because Joyce had trouble with his eyesight and was nearly blind by the time he wrote Finnegans Wake in the last few years of his life, “the large crayons...
*** The above posted after September 27th ***
John Baulch, Toy World – silver anniversary, gold star… it’s the Friday Blog! Mild exhaustion – tick. Step count through the roof – tick. A voice that would make Tom Waits sound like Aled Jones – tick. Yep, it’s been another hectic trade fair week, as I have spent the past few days down at Excel attending the 25th anniversary BLE show. Mind you, at least I wasn’t battling jet lag as well, as numerous people from the toy...
OPINION: Putting children last. Shaw Rocket Fund head Agnes Augustin suggests three ways the industry can fight for kids programming and be responsive to the needs of both the market and future generations. In a world where cost-cutting has become the norm due to post-pandemic recovery, inflation and improving the bottom line, children are being left behind. That’s especially true when it comes to legacy media companies.
Julia Fitzgerald - Today we visit Amsterdam, and hear from Joel Derksen, Founder of Otherness – a unique boutique branding studio. One look at their website and you understand where “Otherness” comes from and how they keep it at the center of their brand work. You will also hear about being your best self. I’ll let Joel blow your mind.
Ashley Spencer’s new book, Disney High: The Untold Story of the Rise and Fall of Disney Channel’s Tween Empire, invites us all to reminisce this way. It also served as a nostalgic opportunity for Spencer, an entertainment journalist who has written on topics like Lizzie McGuire for outlets including Vice, Vanity Fair, and—perhaps most importantly, given the book’s subject—teen magazine J-14.
How Settlers of Catan has brought the Buffalo Bills closer. Josh Allen arrived at his first news conference of training camp as the fans cheered him. The Buffalo Bills quarterback complimented the fans. He spoke about how appreciative he was to be there and the supportive environment. Then, Allen made a serious announcement. "I won the inaugural Catan game last night against Dawson [Knox], Dalton [Kincaid] and Spencer...
ALA, PEN send very different messages on book bans: ALA sees a decrease, PEN says challenges are up in schools. The American Library Association kicked off Banned Books Week 2024 with a report that the number of attempts to ban books in public, school, and academic libraries is lower so far this year than in 2023.
YouTube rolling out ads that appear when videos are paused. Need to pause a YouTube video? Don't be surprised if an ad pops up. The Google-owned video sharing platform has widely rolled out "pause ads" ‒ static advertisements that appear on-screen when a video is paused ‒ to all advertisers.
Social media companies, video streaming services engage in "vast surveillance" of users, FTC says. Large social media companies and streaming platforms — including Amazon, Alphabet-owned YouTube, Meta's Facebook and TikTok — engage in a "vast surveillance of users" to profit off their personal information, endangering privacy and failing to adequately protect children, the FTC said Thursday.
History and Nostalgia
Downfall from Milton Bradley. Released by Milton Bradley in 1979, Downfall challenged players to beat their opponent in navigating a group of disks down the game grid using a series of wheels. The five wheels on the grid were set to their starting positions by aligning the arrows on the wheels with those on the grid.
Mickey rides to summit of Milestone’s Antique Toy Extravaganza. Milestone Auctions’ Fall Antique Toys Extravaganza on September 14 presented shelves and shelves of rare and desirable toys from around the world. Vintage toys that were lined up for sale in the live webcast sale included windups, battery ops, cast iron, pressed steel and more.
Beyond the classic LEGO brick: Innovation through licensing. In an era of LEGO sets inspired by media properties like Dune, Transformers, and Wicked, it’s easy to forget that for decades the LEGO Group came up with all of the concepts for its toys in-house. It wasn’t until 1999 that the licensing bug really caught on when the LEGO Group partnered with Lucasfilm and Disney.
Licensing and Entertainment
Squishmallows cereal is the latest conquest in the brand’s global takeover. As part of a billion-dollar brand expansion under Warren Buffett, the plush toy has become a licensee’s dream. I swear that I can smell the sweet scent of marshmallows through the cardboard. And by the time my family is filling its bowls with corn flour Os and pastel-colored marshmallow “Cam” cats, the sugary odor is so rich it feels as if might b...
Chinese streaming giant Tencent Video is on board a CGI animated comedy for teens and young adults based on the shortform series The Daily Life of ViViCat. ViViCat: Miles Purr Hour is being developed by China’s Beijing Miaow’s House, Guangzhou Art-land and NY’s China Bridge Content with Tencent. It comes after season one of The Daily Life of ViViCat, made up of 200 2-minute episodes, has surpassed 3 billion....
Paola Myriam Visconti, author of Giunti Editore’s best-selling children’s book series Dynowish, is partnering with U.A.E.-based producer and distributor TwelveP Animation and award-winning content creator Josh Selig to develop the story into a new animated television series for kids 8-12. The IP will be presented at the upcoming MIPJunior and MIPCOM markets. The central characters in Dynowish are Ginny and Leo...
*** The above posted after September when tBR circulated ***
Squishmallows fans can now slip into the world’s most iconic 13-hole footwear! Jazwares, one of the world’s leading toy companies, and Crocs, a global leader in innovative casual footwear, are partnering to bring everyone’s favorite ultra-soft plush, Squishmallows, a full line of unique Crocs™ shoes and Jibbitz™ charms. Combining Squishmallows colorful personality with cute and comfy styling, the collection features...
Hasbrogames and Winning Moves announced their lineup of official new product releases launching this autumn at Brand Licensing Europe 2024, including Risk: Stranger Things Edition, Monopoly: Sonic the Hedgehog Edition and Monopoly: Hello Kitty Edition. Experience the Upside Down and feed the Stranger Things fandom with the classic strategy game – Risk.
The Bluey brand is edging into the travelogue genre with a new bite-sized digital series called Bluey’s Brisbane (four x five minutes). This live-action shorts package for kids & families is produced by BBC Studios and Ludo Studio, in association with Brisbane Economic Development Agency (BEDA) and Tourism and Events Queensland (TEQ). Brisbane is, of course, Bluey’s home town.
Hasbro Reveals Global ‘Transformers’ Partnerships. Hasbro announced several new "Transformers” collaborations and products across APAC, EMEA and LATAM. In retail, Toys“R”Us has collaborated with Hasbro for a new retail campaign across China to celebrate the "Transformers One” movie launch. Now, through November, over 200 stores across China, including in major cities such as Beijing, Shanghai, Guangzhou...
Studio Trigger Celebrates Transformers 40th Anniversary. The animation company brings to life one of the world’s most beloved mecha. The Autobots are rolling out to celebrate 40 years of Transformers excellence. This time they’ve got some heavy duty help in the form of an animation studio that has attained celebrity status plus one of Japan’s most popular alternative rock bands.
After moving “Wicked — Part 1” from Thanksgiving weekend to the weekend prior this Nov., Universal is doing the same for “Wicked — Part 2,” moving the release five days up to Nov. 21, 2025. In doing so, Universal is giving Jon M. Chu’s adaptation of the “Wizard of Oz” Broadway musical some small but much needed distance from 2 Disney sequels set for Thanksgiving releases: “Moana 2” in 2024 and “Zootopia 2” in 2025.
Singapore’s Mediacorp builds out its okto block. To capture a domestic Gen Alpha audience, the broadcaster is going after bite-sized toons and social media-style programming in partnership with online creators, says Barry Toa in Kidscreen's Q3 magazine issue. Spanning ethnic communities including Chinese, Malay and Indian, and estimated to represent 10% of the population at 580,000 (Statista),...
Sony Pictures Television has relaunched its Octonauts and Friends YouTube channel to deliver a wider selection of content for kids ages three to eight under the new Kidzuko brand. The channel, which went live yesterday and already has 377,000 subscribers, curates content from the SPT-Kids catalogue, including Octonauts (pictured), Peter Rabbit, The Creature Cases and Chico Bon Bon: Monkey with a Tool Belt.
Netflix is digging into its popular kids library to test a new “playlist” model that provides young viewers with continuous programming—not too long after its competitor Disney+ implemented the same strategy. Starting tomorrow (September 24), the streaming giant is rolling out 10 themed playlists that will be available for a limited period of time to select subscribers in the US, France, South Korea and Brazil.
Mediawan and SpringHill Company, LeBron James’s production studio, have joined forces to co-develop and co-produce films and TV series together. The deal includes everything from animation to live action, and movies to scripted/unscripted TV series. The companies have already slated two initial projects: scripted feature film Weekend Warriors and unscripted series The Shop.
Canada’s Triple Five Group—one of the largest shopping center operators worldwide, and best known for opening The Mall of America and the West Edmonton Mall—has got a brand-new bag. The company is focusing most of its current resources on the American Dream Meadowlands mall in New Jersey, signing leases with several large kids brands to make it a premier shopping destination for families.
Cowabunga, dudes! The creators of the 2014 Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles (TMNT) documentary Turtle Power are back and crowdfunding for a sequel. Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Evolution, Mutation, & Reboot is a four-hour deep dive into the history, evolution, and mutation of the iconic Turtles over its 40-year run. The film includes unseen interviews from the original documentary, behind-the-scenes ...
Hot Wheels, Aston Martin team to redesign classic DB4GT as land-speed racer. Mattel has announced a Hot Wheels collaboration with Aston Martin to develop a new Aston Martin DB4GT High-Speed Edition diecast. The two iconic automotive brands teamed up to imagine what a classic Aston Martin would look like chasing land-speed records on the hunt for Bonneville Salt Flats glory while retaining the design...
Penguin Random House renews ‘Bluey’ license with BBC Studios. The publishing house will produce more products inspired by the preschool series. Penguin Random House and BBC Studios continue their highly successful publishing deal for the TV phenomenon. The agreement secures PRH’s rights for all languages, excluding Australia, New Zealand, and China, each with pre-existing PRH contracts with BBC...
Spin Master updates licensing and broadcast agreements for ‘Vida the Vet’. Vida the Vet is headed to nine new channels worldwide. Following Spin Master’s licensing agreement with WildBrain CPLG to launch Vida the Vet merchandise in new regions worldwide was announced last week, Spin Master is expanding its broadcast deals for the show in new countries.
The LEGO Group expands Sonic the Hedgehog & Holiday collections. The LEGO Group has released new details on its upcoming Sonic the Hedgehog and Santa’s Post Office Sets. The Sonic-themed sets will be available in January, while the LEGO Icons Santa’s Post Office set will launch next month. The LEGO Icons Santa’s Post Office set is 1,440 pieces for builders ages 18 and up.
MGA Entertainment, Paramount partner for Bratz x Mean Girls collection. In celebration of 20 years of Mean Girls, MGA Entertainment and Paramount have launched a collection of Bratz fashion dolls inspired by the specific style and characters seen in the film. The line will launch on Oct. 3, known as Mean Girls Day, with additional launches throughout October.
Despicable Me franchise earns major profits following newest movie release. Despicable Me 4 broke worldwide records, immediately hitting No. 1 and pushing the franchise past $5 billion in total box office receipts. With this success and Minions 3 already in development, Universal Products & Experiences (UP&E) and Illumination have been working to expand their presence in the worldwide retail market.
Modiphius Entertainment announces new 'Star Trek: Lower Decks Card Game - Buffer Time'. Modiphius Entertainment announced Star Trek: Lower Decks Card Game - Buffer Time, which will release in late October 2024. This is a new push-your-luck card game where players assume the roles of lower deckers to complete menial tasks, while making time to relax in their buffer time.
Bad Egg Co.Web3 and Toikido have teamed up with Panini America in a multi-year agreement for the launch of physical Bad Eggs trading cards. In a major first, Panini is bringing its expertise into the Web3 world with this unique blend of physical and digital collectibles. This partnership reflects both companies’ commitment to evolving the collectible market while staying true to their roots.
Two new LEGO Sonic sets revealed at Sonic Central. The LEGO Group has revealed two new sets as part of the LEGO Sonic the Hedgehog range. With the likes of Super Shadow, Biolizard and many more, fans will see these iconic characters and locations from across the Sonic universe come to life in LEGO brick form at the start of 2025.
‘Monster High’ franchise adds new series, video games, doll lines. Monster High is a brand on fire as it expands the franchise across content, digital, fashion, publishing and beyond. Launched by Mattel in 2010, “Monster High” was rebooted in 2022 and has become a cultural phenomenon, celebrated worldwide for its creativity, inclusiveness and message of individuality.
Partnerships with Rachel Riley and Numberblocks add up for Tonies. Tonies has welcomed the Maths Magic Clever Pocket Tonie, featuring Countdown’s Rachel Riley, to its line-up, alongside offerings based on Numberblocks and Alphablocks. Countdown presenter and maths mastermind Rachel Riley MBE has partnered with Tonies for the launch of the Rachel Riley’s Maths Magic Clever Pocket Tonie.
Miraculous to make a splash with Simba Toys. Miraculous Corp, the joint-venture between Mediawan and Zag that unites all facets of the Miraculous franchise, has signed a pan-European agreement with Simba Dickie Group for a Miraculous line of Glibbi bath and water play products that will launch across Europe in the first quarter of 2025.
Ravensburger’s Disney Lorcana plays to win with milestone weekend. Over the weekend, Ravensburger hosted its inaugural Disney Lorcana Store Summit ahead of the fourth official Challenge Event at Birmingham NEC. Welcoming 100+ attendees from across the UK Hobby store partnership network to its first ever Disney Lorcana Store Summit event,
Justice League, Sonic the Hedgehog to cross over in 2025. Warner Bros. Discovery Global Consumer Products (WBDGCP) and Sega of America have announced that Sonic the Hedgehog and his team will cross over with DC’s Justice League of America next year. The crossover will begin with a five-issue monthly comic series.
Sesame Workshop expands multigenerational brand licensing activities in Europe. Sesame Workshop, the global impact nonprofit behind the “Sesame Street” series, continues to grow its product portfolio and connect with families and fans in new ways across Europe. Heading into Brand Licensing Europe,
Mattel’s Hot Wheels are on Fire. Mattel is looking to forge new partnerships at Brand Licensing Europe for 2025. Hot Wheels, has sold more than eight billion toy cars and serves as a gateway to unite fans of various segments of car culture through collaborations with fashion giants such as Gucci and Supreme, motorsports, digital games, television and more.
Transformers … more than meets the eye. How the 40th anniversary of the iconic Transformers brand has aided in Hasbro’s success. In 1984, Hasbro released the first Transformers toys alongside Japanese toy company, Takara Tomy. Since then, the original toys expanded into a multi-vertical franchise: television shows, movies, comic books and more.
'Beetlejuice Beetlejuice' holds off 'Transformers'; 'Solo Leveling -Reawakening-' gets a date; 'Magic: The Gathering' series uncancelled; 'Time Bandits' cancelled; 'Revival' casting; 'Dog Man' trailer. Showbiz Round-Up. At the box office this weekend, Beetlejuice Beetlejuice claimed the top spot by a razor-thin estimated margin over Transformers One.
Disguise rolls out new costume line inspired by ‘Transformers One’. JAKKS Pacific’s costume division extended its partnership with Hasbro for new costumes inspired by the new film from Paramount Animation. Disguise secured the rights to design, produce, market, and distribute costumes and accessories inspired by the latest Transformers film.
From cartoons to collectibles: Sock Puppet Master inks licensing deal with Youtooz. Award-winning social media cartoonist Sock Puppet Master (SPM) enters its first-ever licensing deal with Youtooz. The collectible manufacturer will produce collectible characters for the fast-growing brand, with the first release set for Sept. 24.
People of Play
Andre Lake Mayer, SVP, global strategic partnerships and consumer products, and Tammy Smitham, VP, communications and corporate social responsibility, Spin Master, chatted with License Global about what was next for the co. and what they hope to accomplish at BLE. From “PAW Patrol” to Rubik’s Cube and more, Spin Master brands are huge in the licensing industry. The company is continuing to grow its licensing programs to build on its 30th anniversary this year.
David Fuhrer in the news! The Laugh Factory is venturing into feature film production with the launch of Laugh Factory Entertainment; their first project being Adam Rifkin‘s stoner comedy, Toad. The new division will be led by new Laugh Factory President David Fuhrer, Head of Entertainment John Weiser and Laugh Factory founder Jamie Masada who are expanding the iconic brand...
A Conversation with Josh Silverman, chief franchise officer, Mattel, talks movies, toys, digital games and so much more in this exclusive interview. Mattel had an enormous year in 2023 with the Barbie film, and they’re having a great 2024 as well. From signing the master toy license for “Wicked” to prepping to launch multiple new films based on its popular Ips, they have a lot to talk about. .
Chris Byrne - The Playground Podcast: Having Fun with Barry & Jason. Check out this episode of The Playground Podcast. Chris talks to Barry and Jason of Barry and Jason Games about their amazing journey that began on their first day of college. They’re game inventors, entertainers, developers, and passionate about the role of games in entertainment. Listen Here...
Innov8 Creative Academy, a growing company in the toy industry, has appointed Dave Grose as SVP and director of global sales. Grose will leverage his extensive experience in the toy industry to further lead the distribution and growth strategy for the company and its brands, including the collectible, Deddy Bears.
Remembering Reuben Klamer: The Mind Behind ‘The Game of Life’ and His Ties to La Jolla Forget ordinary board games like Clue, and Chutes and Ladders, it’s all about The Game of Life. Reuben Klamer, a toy inventor whose creative brilliance shaped one of American history’s most iconic board games, The Game of Life passed away on Sept. 14, 2021, at his home in La Jolla. He was 99.
Lauren Bello, a TV writer whose credits include “Foundation” and “The Sandman,” has crafted an affecting, personal narrative — and it’s a tabletop game. Her “The Morrison Game Factory” is a story with puzzles, one that illustrates the communicative power of play. I knew “The Morrison Game Factory” had its hooks in me when I started talking back to it. There I was, alone and at home, and in conversation with a fictional machine.
Epoch expands with new hires and promotion. Epoch Making Toys has welcomed Rainbow Leung to the role of digital executive, Karli-Ann Jepps as assistant brand manager, and promoted Ellie Bergin to the position of brand manager for Sylvanian Families. Ellie joined Epoch in 2022 as junior brand manager, responsible for Aquabeads and Epoch Games.
Cloudco Entertainment has elevated Charlotte Payne (pictured) from director to VP of international licensing. Payne will continue to head up the company’s consumer products business in EMEA, APAC and LatAm for a full portfolio of IPs that include Care Bears, Madballs and Holly Hobbie.
Moonbug Entertainment has promoted Emily Jenkins to senior executive of shorts and alternative formats, according to her LinkedIn page. Jenkins will spearhead creative and production strategies for YouTube Shorts and new alternative formats of Moonbug IPs such as CoComelon, Blippi and Little Baby Bum. A former Guru Studios exec, she most recently worked as a creative executive on CoComelon.
Kiaran Saunders is returning to Paramount as VP of UK distribution for Nickelodeon, as well as public broadcaster Channel 5 and its free streaming service My5, according to his LinkedIn page. A consultant for Paramount since 2022, Saunders previously worked at the company from 2008 to 2014 as VP and commercial director for Nick UK.
David Wiebe has joined Netflix as a manager of kids & family animated series, joining a team that has also recently welcomed former Thunderbird exec Matt Berkowitz (director of animation for preschool + kids) and Bad Robot alum Hannah Minghella (head of feature animation and live-action family film). It’s not surprising that the streamer is powering up its animation ranks, given ...
Famous footballer Lionel (Leo) Messi is staking a claim in Hollywood, launching his own production company, 525 Rosario. This Miami- and LA-based banner will develop and produce premium film and television projects for family audiences, as well as live sporting events and branded commercial content for athletes worldwide.
Companies and Brands
Build-A-Bear Workshop introduces an expanded Halloween collection to kick off the month of "OctoBEAR." Due to Build-A-Bear's broadening consumer base, of which up to 40% is now comprised of teens and adults, much of the creatively creepy product line is designed to appeal to and is in response to the growing trend called "kidulting."
The 15th Pop Mart retail location in the U.S., the store will be unveiled on Oct. 5 on Michigan Avenue in Chicago. At the grand opening event, shoppers can check out U.S.-exclusive collectibles, including the Peach Riot Frankie-Virtues Figurine, the Peach Riot Gigi-Dark Angel Figurine, and the Peach Riot Poppy-Seraphim Figurine.
*** The above posted after September 27th when tBR circulated ***
Spin Master’s Unicorn Academy extends reach with new broadcasters. The new broadcasters will bring season one of the series to even more fans globally, covering Germany, Canada, France, China and Italy. Spin Masterbroadcasters’s Unicorn Academy franchise is set to spread its reach with a raft of new top tier broadcasters and platforms that will bring season one of the series to even more fans globally.
Funskool India, India’s leading toy manufacturer, has launched a special range of interesting toys and games, ahead of the festive season. The newly-launched range caters to infants, preschoolers, and beyond. Pour & Play Octopus, Junior Chef’s Playset and Dish set have been launched under the Giggles brand, Colour Clash Launchers under Collectibles, Country Games under Board Games and Murder Mystery...
WHSmith has announced plans to continue its partnership with Toys R Us across UK high streets and has revealed the first of the locations set to open between now and Christmas. Having exclusively opened the first Toys R Us shop-in-shop in the UK in 2023, WHSmith has continued to open new Toys R Us outlets throughout 2024, growing to 39 different locations today. In the coming months, WHSmith will now...
Toy World finds our more about Mark Thompson Productions’ expertise in developing pre-school and family shows, as well as its strong reputation as the UK’s leading company for STEM engagement productions. With over 900 individual performances planned for 2025, Mark Thompson Productions is leading the way in taking well-known pre-school, family and education brands to the theatre market.
Hasbro is opening permanent homes for Peppa Pig and Transformers in London. The toyco has partnered with local licensing company Event Merchandise to launch the first-ever brick-and-mortar retail stores dedicated to these major kids entertainment brands.
Located side by side in London’s Battersea Power Station mall, both stores will open sometime in November.
Playmobil has launched a new UK consumer promotion designed to delight children and parents alike in the run-up to Christmas. The promotion offers consumers the chance to buy one Playmobil product and get the second half price with cashback. To take advantage of this offer, consumers need to scan the QR code or register online to find out more details.
'2024 Player's Handbook' becomes fastest-selling 'Dungeons & Dragons' product ever. Wizards of the Coast announced that the 2024 Player's Handbook has become the fastest-selling Dungeons & Dragons product ever. It passed Tasha’s Cauldron of Everything to make it the biggest product launch in the game's 50-year history.
Popular 'Magic: The Gathering' Commander Advisory Group community leader resigns after Commander Rules Committee's recent ban announcement. Josh Lee Kwai, CEO of The Command Zone podcast, has resigned from the Commander Advisory Group. The CAG is an invited group of Commander community leaders who assist and advise the Commander Rules Committee.
'Magic: The Gathering' fans launch petition to fire Commander Rules Committee. Magic: The Gathering fans have taken their outrage over the recent Commander bans to the next level by creating two different petitions: one to fire the Commander Rules Committee and one to reverse the recent bans.
Commander Rules Committee receives backlash from 'Magic: The Gathering' fans. The Commander Rules Committee, the general governing body for the Commander/EDH format, received a lot of backlash on social media threads after announcing that they were banning three fairly valuable cards from the format.
'Dungeon Crawl Classics RPG: The Caverns of Thracia' heads to retail: Iconic Jennell Jaquays' Judges Guild adventure returns to stores. Goodman Games will release The Caverns of Thracia, for Dungeon Crawl Classics RPG, into retail on March 19, 2025. This adventure set, originally written by Jennell Jaquays and published in 1979, sends players on an Ancient Greek-inspired quest into an underground lizard folk city...
Battersea Power Station welcomes Transformers and Peppa Pig stores. Event Merchandising, in collaboration with Hasbro, has announced a November 2024 opening date for the first-ever permanent, standalone Transformers and Peppa Pig stores at Battersea Power Station in London, UK. The Transformers store offers something for fans of all ages with the latest products and entertainment across film...
Hunter Products relaunches Shibajuku Anime dolls. Australian toy maker Hunter Products is relaunching its Shibajuku Anime Dolls. First launched in 2017, the Shibajuku Anime Dolls are inspired by the Harajuku fashion scene, which is focused on bright and attention-grabbing outfits. Designed for kids ages 3 and up, these 13-inch dolls are fully articulated and poseable, so kids can put on Harajuku fashion show...
Baby Republic gets crafty with Little Brian range. UK toy distributor, Baby Republic, has announced an exclusive distribution partnership with Tremart Ltd, owners of the renowned Little Brian Paint Sticks arts and crafts brand. The exciting new collaboration will see Baby Republic take over distribution of the innovative arts & crafts brand across UK and Ireland with immediate effect.
Three new sets revive old favorites at Hornby Airfix. Hornby Airfix has announced that it has released three new sets to its ever-growing portfolio, each with a variety of new schemes. These sets include the de Havilland Chipmunk, the Hawker Typhoon and the Bristol Beaufort. Ranked at skill level two, the 1:48 scale de Havilland Chipmunk T.10/T.20 offers 84 parts and three strikingly different schemes to choose from.
'Creature Caravan' travels to retail: New game in the Arzium series. Red Raven Games will release Creature Caravan, a new board game, into retail on October 16, 2024. In this new Arzium series game (see "'Now or Never'"), players face a new threat the land of Arzium. Ember zombies have emerged from the volcanic lands to the south, and players must continue their journey to closest haven, the city of Eastrey.
It's almost time to 'Boop the Halls', the new Holiday version of 'boop.' heads to retail. Smirk & Dagger Games will release boop the Halls, a new holiday version of boop., into retail on October 16, 2024. The award-winning game of boop gets transformed for the holidays. This time around, the clever cats are leaping off the boughs of a Christmas tree.
'Yu-Gi-Oh! TCG' enters 'Supreme Darkness': First new booster set of 2025. Konami Digital Entertainment will release Supreme Darkness, for Yu-Gi-Oh! TCG, into retail on January 24, 2025. In the first booster set of 2025, Supreme King Jaden’s “Evil HERO” monsters return with evil versions of Elemental HEROes Bubbleman and Prisma and a new version of Neos.
WizKids unveils two new 'Dungeons & Dragons: Phunny Plush' toys. WizKids unveiled two new Dungeons & Dragons: Phunny Plush toys, which will release into retail in February 2025. The first of the two plush toys is an adorable but tricky Green Dragon. This soft plush sits 7.5" tall and is made of soft, premium materials. The second plush toy in this wave is a denizen of the Underdark called a Roper.
'Neopets Battledome: 25th Anniversary: Celebration Box Set' incoming. New TCG boxed set from Upper Deck. Upper Deck will release Neopets Battledome TCG: 25th Anniversary: Celebration Box Set, a new TCG boxed set, into retail on November 15, 2024. The Neopets Battledome TCG 25th Anniversary Set offers players new variants of the Neopets and special card types to commemorate the IP's anniversary.
Janod goes down on the farm. The Janod wooden toy brand has launched a new themed range of over 10 engaging toys for young farmers aged 12 months and up. Timeless French toy brand, Janod, has unveiled its latest launch, designed to be adorable and spark lots of fun. The Farm collection is bursting with colour and the cutest farmyard characters.
'Terraforming Mars: Automa' heads to retail: Solo play expansion by Stronghold Games. Stronghold Games will release Terraforming Mars: Automa, a new solo play expansion by Fryxgames, into retail on October 10, 2024. This expansion Terraforming Mars: Automa gives players a new solo play experience when added to Terraforming Mars or its expansion.
Hello Kitty's biggest rival company revives '90s Mascot Star Characters as new toy collectibles. Hello Kitty's Sanrio rival company San-X, especially well known for being the owner of kawaii characters like Rilakkuma, has unveiled its new line of throwback merchandise featuring classic fan-favorite characters.
Lucky Duck Games will release 'Potions of Azerland' into U.S. retail. Lucky Duck Games will release Potions of Azerland, a new dice game, into retail in Q2 2025. In this game, designed by Gray Baker, players will take on the roles of Potion Makers looking to concoct a few new brews to increase their powers and fulfill patrons' orders.
A Tamagotchi comeback? Toy gets first UK store as global sales double. Tamagotchi is having a moment - again. The egg-shaped toy housing a virtual pet was one of the biggest crazes of the 1990s. And several attempts to reignite the brand over the years appears to have now paid off for owner Bandai Namco.
Gaming: Digital, Video, Hardware, and Development
Spin Master, Gamefam hatch partnership for Hatchimals Roblox event. Gamefam is collaborating with Spin Master to launch the upcoming Hatchimals Hatch Day Event in its social roleplay Roblox experience: Twilight Daycare. To get players excited for the event, a Hatchimals egg appeared in the game’s daycare on Sept. 14 with a countdown timer to the egg’s hatching and the event’s start on Oct.4.
Duolingo, primarily known for its language-learning app, is expanding into the hardware space with an electronic piano for those taking its music course. The company is also rolling out OpenAI-powered video calls to all iOS Duolingo Max subscribers and is adding more game-like "adventures" with new virtual settings to explore.
SuperAwesome launches youth audience data platform. Awesome Intelligence is designed to help kids brand owners plan more effective content and ad campaigns on platforms like Roblox and YouTube, and Gamefam has already signed on as a data partner. To help solve the data scarcity problem driven by kids & teens spending more time on hard-to-track platforms such as Roblox, YouTube, mobile games and streaming...
Assassin's Creed Shadows release date delayed to 2025. Ubisoft has announced its highly-anticipated upcoming game Assassin's Creed Shadows has been delayed until next year. Instead of releasing it on 12 November as previously planned, it has been pushed back to 14 February 2025. It follows the disappointing performance of another of the firm's major titles, Star Wars Outlaws, and concerns from some...
Meta unveils $300 Quest 3S headset for October launch. During its newest Connect event, Meta unveiled a new headset: the Quest 3S. Releasing October 15, the device is being positioned as a lower-cost entry into VR at $300 (for 128 GB) or $400 (512 GB). To compare, the original Quest 3 and Quest Pro headsets respectively launched at $500 (for 128 GB) and $1,500.
Ubisoft employees in France called to strike over return-to-office mandate. French union STJV has called for workers at Ubisoft studios in France to strike for three days in October. The union wants employees to down tools on October 15, 16, and 17 in protest over Ubisoft's recently announced return-to-office policy, which will require all staff to work in-office for three days each week.
PlayStation wants Ghost of Yōtei to take the franchise beyond games. During yesterday's State of Play event, PlayStation and Sucker Punch formally announced Ghost of Yōtei. While the 2025 title is a sequel to 2020's Ghost of Tsushima, it is also being looked at as the start of a new franchise in the making.
Spectre Divide studio Mountaintop lays off 13 employees. Thirteen developers have been laid off at Mountaintop Studios, the makers of the tactical multiplayer shooter Spectre Divide. In a statement obtained by Polygon's Nicole Carpenter, Mountaintop CEO Nate Mitchell said the reductions would "make sure we're set up to support Spectre and its community for the long-term."
Zaha Hadid Architects create Fornite experience for London with Epic Games. Zaha Hadid Architects and Epic Games have collaborated on an in-game experience for the popular Fortnite video game. Titled ‘Re:Imagine London’, the experience sees an island created within Fortnite that players can use to explore and interact with London’s built environment.
SAG-AFTRA pulls League of Legends into video game strike over VO studio's conduct. SAG-AFTRA has called for a strike against League of Legends and filed an unfair labor practice charge against Formosa Interactive, an audio production company that has worked on Riot Games' flagship title and dozens of other games. I
Gamurs Group cutting jobs across network of game publications. An email penned by Gamurs Group CEO Riad Chikhani and chief content officer Kevin Morris indicates 30 people have been laid off across the company. The email was shared with Aftermath and outlines a need for Gamurs to restructure its operations to ensure its survival.
Frostpunk 2 sells over 350K copies in opening weekend. Frostpunk 2 launched on September 20 and became a success for 11-Bit Studios within three days. The developer revealed its city-builder survival game has exceeded 350,000 copies in sales. It released on Mac and PC, with Xbox Series X|S and PlayStation 5 versions due in 2025.
Halo Infinite co-developer Skybox Labs is making 25 people redundant. Halo Infinite co-developer Skybox Labs is laying off 25 employees. The NetEase studio said the redundancies are being made in response to the "unprecedented challenges that have impacted so many companies in the industry."
Highlighted Press Releases
PUNCHKINS ADDS A LITTLE PUN-KIN SPICE TO YOUR PLUSH SHELF WITH BRAND NEW FALL 2024 COLLECTION. Glastonbury, CT (September 27, 2024) – Feel that chill in the air? The holidays are just beginning to emerge, starting with a fan favorite, Halloween! Punchkins is ready for spooky season with a highlight collection of plush to help get your domicile into the Halloween spirit. All six of these brand-new seasonal plush are now available on Punchkins.com, so get your gift-giving hats on early!
*** The above posted after September 27th when tBR circulated ***
HEADU HEADS TO THE USA TO BRING THEIR PHILOSOPHY OF EDUCATION AND PLAY STATESIDE. Toy and Game Company Headu Shows That Their Products Hide Plenty of Fun Under the Surface with Their X-Ray Series. Boston, MA (September 19, 2024) – Who knew learning could be this fun? Headu, a toy and game manufacturer based out of Italy, is spreading the joy to the United States, doing business as Headu USA in Boston, Massachusetts. The driving focus of Headu is to create toys for children of many age ranges that teach practical skills and knowledge in a seamless, immersive, and fun way! Headu toys and games have an eclectic range of visual styles but maintain a throughline of playfulness and...
MICADOR OFFERS CREATIVE FREEDOM ON-THE-GO WITH THEIR “early stART” LINE. The Micador early stART Family Of Products Grows With Sensory Packs, Colored Pencils And On-the-Go Activities. Melbourne, Australia (September 19, 2024) – Keep growing minds and restless hands busy when you’re on-the-go! The early stART line of artmaking materials just got a boost with five key offerings that are great for taking just about anywhere: the Sensory Painting and Drawing pack, Sensory Creating – Crazy Creatures pack, Color and Play – Zoo Edition pack, Triangle Purse Colored Pencils, and Developmental Activity Pad. All of these high-quality art packs are available at retail for fall 2024 at affordable price...
FUN IN MOTION TOYS ACHIEVES PRESTIGIOUS MESH ACCREDITATION FOR SHASHIBO. MESH Helps Announces Inaugural Group Of Accredited Products. Ft. Lauderdale, FL (September 17, 2024) – Fun In Motion Toys is proud to announce that its #1 best-selling Original Magnetic Puzzle Cube Shashibo has successfully achieved MESH Accreditation. This esteemed recognition is the result of thorough product evaluation and certification conducted by FUNdamentally Children, the independent, third-party accrediting body for MESH Helps. MESH stands for Mental Emotional Social Health.
CONQUER THE CARD PYRAMID WITH FRIENDS IN ULTIMATCH FROM FIRESIDE GAMES. Fireside Games Brings Some Cooperative Action To The Card Game Isle With Their New And Inventive Game Ultimatch. Austin, TX (September 6, 2024) – The flame of creativity continues to burn brighter! Fireside Games, makers of the highly acclaimed Castle Panic, has an exciting new title that turns competitive card games on their head. The eclectic game maker has everyone covered for fall 2024 with card matching game Ultimatch. In Ultimatch, set your competitive drive aside in lieu of a more cooperative spirit. Players prevail together or fail together!
Safety and Counterfeiting
Associations, Foundations, Shows, Awards, Events, and Festivals
Brand Licensing Europe’s 25th anniversary iteration broke all previous records for attendee and retailer visitor numbers, with the organiser praising the hard work, commitment and passion of the Informa team. This week’s Brand Licensing Europe was the biggest ever, breaking previous record levels of attendee and retailer visitor numbers – a fitting way to celebrate the event’s 25th anniversary.
With iconic "Transformers" characters leading the charge, this campaign hopes to inspire more people to take advantage of everything libraries have to offer. In honor of the 40th Anniversary of "Transformers," the American Library Association (ALA) has joined forces with Skybound Entertainment and Hasbro to promote Library Card Sign-up Month. As part of the "40 Years. One Legacy" campaign, the initiative...
People of Play reveals finalists for 17th Annual TAGIE Awards. People of Play just dropped the curtain on the finalists for the 17th annual Toy & Game International Excellence (TAGIE) Awards. Set to take place on November 8, 2024 at Joe’s Live in Rosemont, Illinois, this year’s TAGIEs follows a “Toys Through Time” theme and will honor winners across nine categories.
BAFTA introduces new awards in children’s films, games and TV. Instead of the Children’s TV awards event, five competitive categories celebrating films, games and television for children and families will feature at the BAFTA ceremony from 2025. BAFTA, the leading charity and academy for the screen arts, has unveiled the next phase of plans to profile the very best of films, games and television for children and familie...
Spielwarenmesse 2025 visitors to benefit from new travel options. This year, Spielwarenmesse eG is laying on an additional bus service from Munich Airport to the Nuremberg Exhibition Centre and back. Spielwarenmesse returns from 26th January – 2nd February 2025, with visitors assured of comfortable and convenient travel arrangements no matter how they choose to get around.
Para Bellum Games crowns 'Conquest' World Champion. Para Bellum Games crowned their first World Champion for Conquest: The Last Argument of Kings and Conquest: First Blood at an event on the Greek Island of Chios. Karl Swanson (USA) finished third in the main event with a Spires army, and Pawel Przybysz (Poland) took second in the event with a W'adrhun army.
Following AI cheating controversy, Pokémon announces winners of card contest. Each year, The Pokémon Company holds a competition to find a new illustrator for their Pokémon TCG cards. Only in the last couple of years has this been opened to entrants from outside of Japan, and with that has come controversy. However, after a tumultuous period, the finalists for this year’s contest have finally been picked, and damn...
Six children’s productions were announced as contenders for this year’s MIPCOM CANNES Diversify TV Awards, and Canadian studios are behind half of them. Recognizing inclusive programming that offers a positive representation of diversity, the awards will be presented on Tuesday, October 22 at MIPCOM.
A handful of carefully chosen LEGO fans from across the world have been invited to showcase their creations in the Masterpiece Gallery exhibition. For one full year starting this week, LEGO builds from 15 artists will be displayed on the top floor of LEGO House, highlighting imaginative designs and boundless creative spirit. All of this will be in the heart of Billund, seen as the heart of LEGO play.
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
Ned Mansour - Shortly after retiring in 2000 as president of toy maker giant Mattel, where he spent 22 years, Ned Mansour became the caretaker of Mattel executive Joe McKay. Mansour’s friend had been diagnosed with colon cancer. For six months, Mansour drove McKay to medical appointments at UCLA and ran errands for him.
McKay was divorced and didn’t want to share the severity of his condition with his three adult children. When it became evident that McKay’s disease was terminal, Mansour began researching hospice services and discovered Providence TrinityCare Hospice.
TrinityCare subsequently began caring for McKay. During a vigil in McKay’s home, when it was apparent his end was near, Mansour took a short walk on the beach so McKay’s family could could be alone with him. When Mansour returned, McKay had passed away.
Mansour was so moved by the the compassionate care that McKay received under hospice that he decided to devote his time to Providence TrinityCare Hospice.
He served on the TrinityCare board from 2001 to 2006, then returned in 2011 to chair the board. Read More...
Tim Brooke-Hunt, former ABC head of children’s and a founding partner of Kidscreen’s Asian Animation Summit event, has died after a long illness. Brooke-Hunt joined the ABC in 2007 as executive head of children’s content for ABC TV and then became controller of children’s in 2010. During his tenure, he spearheaded the launch of ABC3 for school-age kids and the relaunch of preschool channel ABC4Kids. Brooke-Hunt also oversaw the ABC’s educational programs and online content for children, including two dedicated portals.
Shukuo Ishikawa, a former president for Bandai Namco in the late 2000s, passed away at 69 years old on September 9. Per Oricon News, the developer released a statement explaining it chose to wait until after his private funeral to reveal his death.
Kosin Virapornsawan, Managing Director of PlanToys, On September 12, 2024.
James Earl Jones died Sept. 9 at the age of 93 at his home in Dutchess County, New York, took on Shakespeare, the Greeks, Jean Genet and a hundred comedies, yet it’s the voiceover work that everyone’s talking about today. He is, after all, the man who said “This is CNN” and CNN was instantly and for decades classier, more distinguished for it. Today, or tomorrow, or any day, another hundred or thousand or million people will hear his voice once again, or maybe for the first time, as Mustafa in “The Lion King.”
There were, of course, a few other things for which Jones will be remembered....
Worldwide Magazines Weekly Top Stories
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Toy Trade Monthly Issues
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Adventure Media & Events (US)
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The Toy Insider’s 19th Annual Holiday Gift Guide (The Toy Insider)
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NYCC: NECA, Kidrobot Unveil Con Exclusives (The Pop Insider)
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MGA Entertainment, Paramount Partner for Bratz x Mean Girls Collection (The Toy Book)
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Submit Your Nominations for The Toy Book's Pulse of Play Awards! (The Toy Book)
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Hot Wheels, Aston Martin Team Up to Create Reimagined Classic Model (The Toy Book)
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Spin Master, Gamefam Hatch Partnership for Hatchimals Roblox Event (The Toy Book)
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Disguise Rolls Out New Costume Line Inspired by ‘Transformers One’ (The Toy Book)
Toyworld (UK)
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Partnerships with Rachel Riley and Numberblocks add up for Tonies
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Bad Egg Co. and Panini America announce Web3 trading card partnership
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Battersea Power Station welcomes Transformers and Peppa Pig stores
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- 'Magic: The Gathering' Fans Launch Petition to Fire Commander Rules Committee
- Commander Rules Committee Receives Backlash from 'Magic: The Gathering' Fans
- Rolling for Initiative -- Why WotC is Giving Stores Boxes of 'Magic' Collector Boosters
- WizKids Unveils 'D&D Icons of the Realms: Adult Black Dragon Corruptor'
- Michael Myers Returns to Terrorize the Tabletop
- '2024 Player's Handbook' Becomes Fastest-Selling 'Dungeons & Dragons' Product Ever
- WizKids Unveils Two New 'Dungeons & Dragons: Phunny Plush' Toys
- heo Group Reveals 'Magic: The Gathering: Guild Summit Series'
- Modiphius Entertainment Announces new 'Star Trek: Lower Decks Card Game'
- Two Sides in Port Negotiations Far Apart
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