February 2011

Warner Bros. Announces Licensees for Green Lantern

Warner Bros. Consumer Products (WBCP) has announced the worldwide licensing program for Warner Bros. Pictures’ Green Lantern, to hit theaters June 17. The program will be led by DC Entertainment’s master toy licensee, Mattel.

Mattel will debut a toy line that will include the Green Lantern Ring Blast Jet Figure & Vehicle, the Green Lantern Battle Shifters Figures, and the Green Lantern Movie Masters Figures. The company’s multi-category toy line will include basic and deluxe action figures, figure/vehicles, role-play, play sets, games, puzzles, and vehicles. Each basic action figure will come with a Green Lantern ring that can make kids feel as if they have been “chosen” to be a Green Lantern, too.

PBS Debuts PBS Kids Toy Line at Toy Fair

PBS has announced its first-ever PBS Kids toy line, selecting Happy Kid Toy Group as the line’s master licensee. Happy Kid will manufacture and distribute the PBS Kids toy line, with the first products being available this spring. The line will initially include more than 20 individual wooden toys for preschoolers across key toy categories, including the PBS Kids Sounds of the World Rhythm Set, PBS Kids Puzzle Playset Safari, PBS Kids Exploration Blocks sets, and PBS Kids 3-Layer Puzzles.

Hexbug Nanos Glow in the Dark

Innovation First’s new Hexbug offerings glow in the dark. Hexbug Nano is a 1.75-inch micro robotic bug that uses the physics of vibration to skitter along and explore its environment on smooth surfaces. Now it can come to life during the day or night.

The Hexbug Nano Glow-in-the-Dark Starter Set contains one extremely rare glow-in-the-dark mutation, two easy-to-connect curved pieces, and one easy-to-connect hexagon piece.

The Hexbug Nano Glow-in-the-Dark Spiral Starter Set features one Read More…

Wild Creations to Release Dino Dan Toys

Wild Creations’ Geoworld is bringing Dino Dan toys to the U.S. market this fall. The Dino Dan-licensed products will include excavation kits, prehistoric play sets, fossil replica kits, action figures, and outdoor adventure gear.
Dino Dan debuted on Nick Jr. last October. In each episode of the Sinking Ship Entertainment-produced show, Dino Dan takes viewers on a journey encountering computer-generated dinosaurs and learning all about the prehistoric creatures, their surroundings, and the importance of the scientific method.

ID Toys Named Master Toy Licensee for Caillou in North America

CPLG, the licensing arm of Cookie Jar Entertainment, has signed Montreal-based ID Toys as the North American master toy licensee for Caillou. The line, to launch in the U.S. this spring, will introduce more than 14 new SKUs of Caillou-branded toys, including figures, play sets, puzzles, bath toys, and plush. Among the toys are Caillou wood puzzles, figure tubes, bath time vehicles, and 14-inch classic dolls. The line will be showcased at Toy Fair in New York City.

Image Credit: PBSKids.org

Rovio Takes Angry Birds to Rio

Angry Birds designer Rovio is releasing a special version of the popular smartphone game app that will tie into the soon-to-be-released animated movie, Rio. In the version, called Angry Birds Rio, the Angry Birds are kidnapped and taken to Rio de Janeiro.

The app will be released in March, and the Twentieth Century Fox movie will open in theaters on April 15.