September 2010

TIA’s ToyCon Relaunches as PlayCon

The Toy Industry Association, Inc. announced that its annual executive leadership conference, formerly known as ToyCon, will relaunch in May 2011 as “PlayCon – the International Conference of Play Professionals.” The play-focused event will be held May 4-6, 2011 at the Hyatt Regency Scottsdale Resort & Spa at Gainey Ranch in Scottsdale, Arizona. The conference will cater to TIA members as well as toy industry and play professionals who are seeking information, tools, and inspiration regarding play.

Classic Media Names Licensees for Guess with Jess

Classic Media announced preschool toy manufacturer Fisher-Price, home entertainment distributor Nelvana Enterprises’ Treehouse Presents, and The Licensing Shop, Inc. as anchors of the consumer products program for its new CGI-animated preschool television series, Guess with Jess.

Master toy partner Fisher-Price will debut the Guess with Jess line in Canada in fall 2011, Treehouse Presents will distribute Guess with Jess on DVD, and The Licensing Shop has been named licensing representative to oversee the brand in Canada.

DHX Media Acquires W!LDBRAIN Entertainment

DHX Media, an international producer and distributor of television programming and interactive content, has acquired W!LDBRAIN Entertainment, the LA-based entertainment company that produces and animates The Ricky Gervais Show for HBO and turned Yo Gabba Gabba! into a franchise. Michael Polis will continue to lead W!LDBRAIN Entertainment as president. He will also serve as executive vice-president, branded entertainment and consumer products, DHX Media, where he will also lead DHX Media’s international licensing activities.

New Product: The World is Your Canvas

From Electronic Arts’ Bright Light studio premieres Create, an open-ended game of puzzle solving and world creation. Players of all ages can solve level-based challenges using hundreds of objects in order to unlock rewards and further customization options. Once a puzzle is solved, it can also be uploaded to the Create website for others to download and enjoy. Create will have a simultaneous release on the PlayStation 3, Nintendo Wii, Xbox 360, PC, and Mac OS X platforms and can be played with the PlayStation Move and Nintendo Wiimote.

New Product: Don’t Let Him Drive!

Based on Mo Willems’ children book by the same name, Don’t Let the Pigeon Drive the Bus! … And More Stories By Mo Willems is a new DVD release from Scholastic Storybook Treasures. The DVD also includes two other Willems stories, Knuffle Bunny: A Cautionary Tale and Leonardo, the Terrible Monster. Each story is animated to resemble the original story’s illustrations and the frame rate is very fluid. Subtitled captions from the storybook appear on screen, with an option to turn them off.

A special Spanish edition of Knuffle Bunny also appears on the DVD. Other special features on the disc include Willems’ trip to a school with the pigeon, a trailer, a quiz game based on the films, and more.

Video: New Toy Documentary to Show at Ninth Film Festival

Toyland, a new documentary that takes an in-depth look at how toys and games are invented, was just accepted into the Hot Springs Documentary Film Festival, the longest-running documentary film festival in the U.S. This is the film’s ninth festival. The documentary is also being supported by the National Toy Hall of Fame, housed at the Strong National Museum of Play in Rochester, N.Y.

Toyland was directed by Ken Sons (Knuckleball, Special O’Laughics), and Tim Walsh, author of Timeless Toys and designer of the game Blurt!, served as creative consultant for the film. For more information, visit www.toylandmovie.com and check out the trailer above.

Little Airplane Productions’ Small Potatoes Inks Deal with Playhouse Disney

Little Airplane Productions’ new short-form animated series Small Potatoes is rolling into MIPCOM with news of a major pre-sale agreement with Disney Channel’s Playhouse Disney in the U.S. The 26 x 3 series has already been sold to CBeebies in the UK, NRK in Norway, SVT in Sweden, ABC TV in Australia, and TVO and Knowledge in Canada. ABC Commercial has also completed a deal for the Australian music and home entertainment rights to the show.

TRU Premieres “Bootiques” and Expands Holiday Pop-Up Stores

For this Halloween season, Toys “R” Us stores nationwide and Toysrus.com have introduced Halloween “bootiques” filled with costumes, accessories, candy, safety items, and more. The company has also expanded its Halloween safety product assortment, and has launched a new digital costume catalog online at Toysrus.com/Halloween. In addition to the new selection of safety products, parents and kids can prepare for Halloween night with Halloween safety tips at Toysrus.com/Safety.

Toys “R” Us has also announced plans to operate approximately 600 Toys “R” Us Express stores in malls and shopping centers nationwide, in addition to its 587 full-size Toys “R” Us stores in the United States. The new pop-up stores will add an additional 2.4 million square feet of toy-selling space for the holiday season. In addition, the company’s more than 260 Babies “R” Us stores will again offer a wider selection of toys for the holiday season.

Dinosaur Train Picks Up Second Season

A new season of The Jim Henson Company’s Dinosaur Train is set to premiere in the U.S. next fall. In 2011, PBS Kids will broadcast the second season of the show, which will include 26 CGI-animated, half hour episodes that encourage parents to explore their local surroundings with their children. The show will continue to be co-produced by Sparky Animation.

Senario Introduces Battle Bands, Bringing the Rubber Band Bracelet Trend to Boys

Senario takes rubber band bracelets to the boys with its introduction of Battle Bands, a series of flexible, collectible, and tradable bands that double as game pieces. Boys ages 6 and older can collect hundreds of different bands in various shapes including dragons, sharks, and monsters, each including a matching trading card.

Boys battle their bands against each other on the battle mat gaming piece. Each player takes turns launching their bands at the battle mat. The winner of each battle is based on where the bands land, as well as the band’s individual “strength,” which gives it a particular advantage.

Battle Bands packs include elastic Battle Bands, Warrior Cards, and a Battle Mat for game play. With several colors and shapes, each band represents a different level and “power,” making it a game that balances familiarity with strategy.

Available for purchase in three different sets, Battle Bands will hit retail stores in the third quarter of 2010. Starter Packs (MSRP $6.99) include seven Battle Bands, seven Warrior Cards, and one Battle Mat. Booster Packs (MSRP $3.99) include five Battle Bands and five Warrior Cards. Rumble Packs (MSRP $9.99) include 15 Battle Bands, 15 cards, and one deluxe Battle Board. To learn more about Battle Bands, visit www.playbattlebands.com.