Tatty Teddy Partners for Plush in the U.S.

April 20, 2011 By

Tatty Teddy is headed to North America with a licensing agreement between UK-based Carte Blanche Greeting, Ltd.’s brand Me to You and U.S. plush toy firm Douglas. The licensing deal was brokered by Stone America Licensing.

Douglas will produce and distribute the Me to You brand’s Tatty Teddy bears, targeting premium retail stores throughout the U.S. and Canada. In addition to everyday offerings, the Tatty Teddy collection will include products for key seasons, including Halloween, Valentine’s Day, and Mother’s Day.

Taty Teddy

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I Spy Celebrates 20 Years

April 20, 2011 By

New York City students helped Scholastic celebrate the 20th Anniversary of its I Spy brand Wednesday in Times Square during the event, “I Spy A Celebration: 20 Years; 20 Kids; 20 Riddles.”  For finding 20 hidden objects around a 12-foot-high birthday cake, the students’ school will receive 500 books.  In addition to its new book, I Spy Spectacular, the anniversary year will see new I Spy releases from Briarpatch and Scholastic Interactive.

Photo: A. Walker

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Domo Helps Raise Funds for Earthquake/Tsunami Victims in Japan

April 19, 2011 By

Big Tent Entertainment, the licensing agent for Japanese pop culture icon Domo, has enlisted the support of its partners to launch a charity initiative to help raise funds for the victims of last month’s devastating earthquake and tsunami in Japan. The company has teamed up with Fifth Sun to create two special designs featuring Domo and incorporating jewelry designer Udi Behr’s LOVE + PEACE + HOPE message. The designs will be featured on special-edition Domo merchandise with proceeds going to the Japan Society, an American nonprofit organization dedicated to the cultivation of a constructive, resonant and dynamic relationship between the people of the U.S. and Japan. One hundred percent of all funds contributed to the Japan’s Society’s Earthquake Relief Fund will be given to organizations that directly help victims from the March 11, 2011 earthquake and tsunami.

In addition to Fifth Sun’s participation, Domo licensees including Concept One, Hot Properties Merchandising, Music Skins, Coveroo, and Virtual Greats digital partners WeeMee and Meez have already come on board to support the effort. Each licensee will create special-edition Domo products featuring the LOVE + PEACE + HOPE designs.

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Check out the SupaBoy Handheld Video Game Console

April 19, 2011 By

Hyperkin, a third-party developer of video game peripherals, has announced the upcoming launch of the SupaBoy Handheld Video Game Console designed for SNES game cartridges. Equipped with a 3.5-inch screen, the SupaBoy is designed to look like one of the original SNES controllers and has a port built into the top that plays original 16-bit SNES cartridges.

There are two front loading ports that are compatible with full-size SNES controllers and video/audio out, allowing up to two players to play the SupaBoy on a regular TV screen.

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Charlie Sheen Talking Bobble Head

March 29, 2011 By

Entertainment Earth is planning to roll out an officially licensed Charlie Sheen Talking Bobble Head this July. Made by Funko, the item is seven inches tall and speaks six authentic phrases:

“When you got tiger blood and Adonis DNA, man, it’s like… you get with the program, dude.”

“Winner, winner, chicken dinner… I don’t think so.  Winner, winner, SHEEN dinner!”

“Duh, winning!”

“I… I… I am on a drug; it’s called ‘Charlie Sheen’!”

“Built by trolls. Keep that in mind: phones were built by trolls.”

“Apocalypse me… the jaws of life.”

Would you buy this? Has Charlie Sheen mania jumped the shark or is it still going strong? Just getting started? Only time will tell.

Visit entertainmentearth.com to hear the voice clips.

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Kidscreen 2011 – The Golden Ticket

March 29, 2011 By

by Ryan Conti

Have you ever wondered how SpongeBob SquarePants, Dora the Explorer, Bob the Builder, and Chuggington came to be? We know that the right product connected to the right audience puts millions of dollars into everyone’s coffers. he Kidscreen Summit, held last month at the Hilton New York, welcomed people from all over the world, giving them the opportunity to pitch their properties to various production companies.
I liken the Kidscreen Summit to Roald Dahl’s classic, Charlie and the Chocolate Factory and the five golden tickets, but everyone has a chance at success. The stakes are high, the payoff enormous. There are so many benefits to attending, where do I begin?

[Read more...]

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Gemmy Introduces Airblown Inflatable Easter Bunny

March 21, 2011 By

Gemmy introduces the seven foot tall Airblown Inflatable Easter Bunny with Bow Tie and Vest. It self-inflates in seconds, and is weather resistant. It even lights up at night. It comes with ground stakes and tethers, and is available exclusively at Walmart.com .

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The Juno Company Kicks Off National Reading Month with Do It Yourself ABC (Face)Book Contest

March 21, 2011 By

March is National Reading Month and The Juno Company wants you to celebrate. The Juno Company, a children’s digital new media company specializing in the creation of innovative music education products including movies, apps and games, toys, and books, launched the “Do It Yourself ABC (Face)Book Contest” where you can practice your rhymes and win daily prizes.

Getting involved in the contest is easy. Visit The Juno Company’s Facebook page, become a fan, and each day Juno will let you know that day’s designated letter of the alphabet. Once the letter is announced that’s your cue to post a music-related rhyme dedicated to someone special using the letter in as many creative ways as possible. Juno will pick a winner every day and prizes include Juno products, gift cards, and more.

The Juno Company, founded by mom and composer, Belinda Takahashi, Ph.D., is best known for its Emmy Award-winning Juno Baby line and its newly launched Juno Jr. line of products, which both feature original music composed and performed by live orchestral musicians and a cast of puppets that interact with children through creative and educational storylines. The characters play in the musical world of Harmonia Springs where trees are made of cellos, cars are shaped like bass clefs, and lamp posts like French horns, and the train that takes them on their journey is made up entirely of musical instruments. Through their journeys, the characters learn new musical concepts as they sing to the original, orchestral music.

Check out Juno’s Facebook page (http://www.facebook.com/JunoBaby) and enter to win a new prize every day. The contest ends April 6, 2011.

For more information on The Juno Company, visit www.thejunocompany.com.

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Universal Pictures and Walmart Unveil Exclusive Hop Merchandise

March 17, 2011 By

Universal Pictures and Walmart have announced a retail program tied to the upcoming live action/CG-animated comedy Hop, the second film from Illumination Entertainment (Despicable Me) that hits movie theaters across the country on April 1. Walmart customers can build their Hop-themed Easter baskets, and visit the movie-inspired “Candy Factory,” with 100 exclusive licensed products, including candy, toys, activities, and apparel.
“This is the first time we’ve worked with a licensed property to brand an important seasonal event in Walmart stores,” said Gary Severson, senior vice president, Home Entertainment, Walmart U.S.
The program, which rolled out March 17 in more than 3,000 Walmart stores, includes a dedicated aisle rolling out sweet Easter treats, and a Build-a-Basket Factory. Toys include character plush toys from Funrise, coloring and activity books from Dalmation Press, bubbles, pinwheels, paddle board, memory card games, etc. from Funrise, and Hop-themed video games for the Nintendo DS, DSi, and 3DS.
Blending animation with live action, Hop is a comedy about E.B. (voiced by Russell Brand), the teenage son of the Easter Bunny. On the eve of taking over the family business, E.B. leaves for Hollywood in pursuit of his dream of becoming a drummer. He encounters Fred (James Marsden), an out-of-work slacker with his own lofty goals, who accidentally hits E.B. with his car. Feigning injury, E.B. manipulates Fred into providing him shelter, and Fred finds himself with the world’s worst house guest.

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The Not-Its! Head to Jiggle Jam

March 16, 2011 By

Seattle’s local kindie rock band The Not-Its! are headed to Kansas City to play the mid-west’s largest family music festival—Jiggle Jam. It was announced by festival producers—Hiccup Productions, Inc.— that The Not-Its! were the winners of a two week long Facebook competition that has awarded them a travel stipend, room and board, and the opportunity to play for thousands at the annual Jiggle Jam music festival.
For three years now, the five-member rock band The Not-Its! have been making waves around the Northwest with their rock ‘n roll style music for kids and families. Their debut album, We Are The Not-Its!, was released in 2009. In 2010, the band released their second record Time Out To Rock.
Before their appearance at the Kansas City Jiggle Jam on May 28, the band will appear at Kindiefest—a family music conference—on April 29 in Brooklyn, New York. They are currently preparing their third record, due for an early summer release. Fans of The Not-Its! can keep an eye out for their next music video for the song “First Kind in Outer Space” as well, set to debut in April. The Not-Its! next Seattle appearance is April 2 at the Mt. Baker Community Club. More details: http://ow.ly/4ekU3

For more information about The Not-Its!, visit: wearethenot-its.com

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