Warner Bros. Consumer Products has announced its roster of licensees set to celebrate the 75th Anniversary of The Wizard of Oz next year. Master toy partner Jazwares, as well as USAopoly and Mattel, are among the partners. [Read more...]
Warner Bros. Consumer Products Unveils Product Lineup for “The Wizard Of Oz” Anniversary
February 21, 2013 By
Hasbro’s Comic-Con Preview Night Party
October 12, 2012 By
Hasbro held its exclusive Preview Night Party for New York Comic-Con on Wednesday. Complete with loads of Marvel, My Little Pony, Kre-O G.I. Joe, and Angry Star Wars Angry Birds displays and presentations, and Avengers-themed cocktails, Hasbro kicked off Comic-Con with a bang.
Angry Birds Star Wars Jenga Death Star Package
The star of the event was no doubt the Star Wars edition of the wildly-popular Angry Birds line set to launch in the beginning of November. There were new toys based on the bird-slinging, tower-toppling Angry Birds property, including the AT-AT Attack Battle Game. The line features new products based on a variety of existing Hasbro properties, including the Jenga brand and the recently relaunched Koosh brand, to introduce new play experiences featuring iconic Star Wars characters re-imagined as high-flying Angry Birds and villainous pigs.
Also highlighted was the great reveal of the Star Trek Kre-O set, a product set to release next year to coincide with the release of the new Star Trek movie. The set comes with a light-up U.S.S. Enterprise ship and two character figures, such as Captain Kirk or Spock, pointed ears and all.
The new extensive Kre-O G.I. Joe line was also featured–including figures and play sets based on the property. The line of G.I. Joe toys will be available exclusively at Toys “R” Us starting in February. These play sets and characters play out the G.I. Joe vs. Cobra story and will feature Kreon figures based on popular characters from both the heroic G.I. Joe team like Duke and Snake Eyes as well as the villainous Cobra organization like Firefly and Storm Shadow.
Kre-O G.I. Joe Cobra Armored Assault
Hasbro also showcased the My Little Pony brand, as well as their holiday favorites, including Marvel Avengers and Star Wars action figures and, of course, Marvel role play products.
The Toy Book’s Reyne Rice and Ali Mierzejewski as Spider-Man and Captain America
The Toy Book’s Reyne Rice as The Hulk
The Bridge Direct Releases Exclusive Comic-Con Hobbit Figure
July 10, 2012 By
In anticipation for The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey, the first of two films adapting The Hobbit, The Bridge Direct will unveil a collection of authentic toys at retailers this October.
The Bridge Direct released the limited edition Comic-Con International: San Diego Exclusive Bilbo Baggins Figure–only be available at this year’s SDCC. The detailed 6-inch scale figure presents the title character from The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey in his “invisible” state while wearing the Ring and will be presented in a numbered collector’s edition box.
Other items in the line include The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey 3.75-inch Basic Figures, Figure 2-Packs, Figure Deluxe 2-Pack, Box Set, Beast Pack, Figure Battle Pack, Collector Figure, Deluxe Collector Figure; The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey Deluxe Sword; and The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey 6-inch Battle Axe. Characters featured in the line are Bilbo Baggins, Gandalf the Grey, and Thorin Oakenshield.
This post was originally written by Ali Mierzejewski and published by ToyBook.com. For more news, visit www.toybook.com, follow The Toy Book on Twitter, and like The Toy Book on Facebook. The Toy Book is a bimonthly trade magazine covering the toy industry, published by Adventure Publishing Group.
KRE-O Unveils Star Trek, Transformers Building Sets at Comic-Con
July 10, 2012 By
The KRE-O brand from Hasbro, Inc., will showcase new figures at Comic-Con International, boldly going where no one has gone before. Based on the upcoming Star Trek sequel from Paramount Pictures, the KRE-O Star Trek line, under license from CBS Consumer Products, features a variety of vehicles from the movie along with Kreon figures based on Star Trek characters. Beginning on July 11, Preview Night, fans will be able to see the KRE-O Star Trek U.S.S. Enterprise set and Kirk, Spock, and Bones Kreon figures at the Hasbro Comic-Con Booth No. 3213.
Hasbro has teamed up with J.J. Abrams, director of the upcoming Star Trek sequel, to create a KRE-O Star Trek stop motion digital short. The short, produced by Bad Robot, features icons of the Star Trek saga in a stand-alone storyline and will premiere at a later date in partnership with Paramount Pictures. The teaser trailer for the KRE-O Star Trek digital short will be featured along with the upcoming U.S.S. Enterprise building set and Kreon figures in the Hasbro booth. In anticipation of the convention, Hasbro is unveiling a first-look image of the KRE-O Star Trek U.S.S. Enterprise set and the teaser trailer. Fans can view the teaser trailer now exclusively on the KRE-O brand Youtube channel.
Star Trek will mark the third major entertainment property to be featured in the KRE-O line from Hasbro. The company introduced the KRE-O brand last year with building sets featuring the Transformers characters, and this year they introduced the KRE-O Battleship line. New KRE-O Battleship and KRE-O Transformers sets will be on display in the Hasbro booth, including new KRE-O Transformers expressions: KRE-O Transformers Microchangers and KRE-O Transformers Microchangers Combiners. Fans will get a chance to snap a photo with KRE-O character statues including Transformers Bumblebee, a Battleship Alien, and Star Trek’s Captain Kirk, all with their Kreon expressions. Fans will also be eligible to receive a special edition KRE-O Battleship Battle-Boat building set sample pack, which will be distributed throughout the show while supplies last.
This post was originally written by Sierra McCleary-Harris and published by ToyBook.com. For more news, visit www.toybook.com, follow The Toy Book on Twitter, and like The Toy Book on Facebook. The Toy Book is a bimonthly trade magazine covering the toy industry, published by Adventure Publishing Group.
Mezco Reveals Summer Lineup
July 9, 2012 By
Mezco Toyz has introduced the Dark Knight, Wonder Woman, and Catwoman Key Ring Mez-Itz as part of their 2012 Summer Exclusive lineup. The 6-inch Dark Knight Mez-Itz Mega Scale Batman is based on Batman’s look from Christopher Nolan’s film trio and features a cloth black cape. The 6-inch Metallic Wonder Woman Mez-Itz, the first female character in the DC Universe lineup, features sculpted hair, a metallic finish, and a rope Lasso of Truth. The Catwoman Key Ring 2-inch Mez-Itz features the feline fatale villain and a sturdy metal clasp. All Mez-Itz feature five points of articulation.
Other new products include the the Glow-in-the-Dark Mumm-Ra and Decayed-form Mumm-Ra two-Pack, the Metallic Earthworm Jim Action Figure, and the Living Dead Dolls Resurrection Set: Series 6.
Based on the original animated series, Mezco’s 14-inch Mumm-Ra features eight points of articulation and a cloth cape and bandages. The summer exclusive features a glow-in-the-dark blue skin and comes with a Decayed Form Mumm-Ra, showing him in his natural, decrepit state.
The Metallic Earthworm Jim Action Figure comes with a game-accurate plasma blaster and a special metallic-finish ultra-high-tech-indestructible-super-space-cyber-suit. The 6-inch scale Earthworm Jim features eight points of articulation. This edition comes with an alternate “bendy” unsuited worm body and a special “groovy” head sculpt.
The Living Dead Dolls Resurrection Set: Series 6 features Demonique, Blue, Schitzo, and Ms. Eerie. All four feature glass-like eyes. Each member of this limited edition quartet of the damned comes with its own death certificate and is entombed in its own coffin. All of Mezco’s Summer Exlusives will be available on their new website and at San Diego Comic Con at booth 3445.
This post was originally written by Ali Mierzejewski and published by ToyBook.com. For more news, visit www.toybook.com, follow The Toy Book on Twitter, and like The Toy Book on Facebook. The Toy Book is a bimonthly trade magazine covering the toy industry, published by Adventure Publishing Group.
Leapfrog Announces LeapPad2 and Leapster GS
June 19, 2012 By
LeapFrog Enterprises, Inc., the leader in educational entertainment, announces two new platforms: LeapPad2, the next generation of the No. 1 kid’s learning tablet LeapPad, and LeapsterGS, the learning video game system.
LeapPad2 arrives after the success of its predecessor. Within a year of launch, LeapPad has received more than 20 accolades, including three awards from the Toy Industry Association (Educational Toy of the Year, Preschool Toy of the Year, and Toy of the Year).
LeapPad2 features higher resolution front-and-back cameras and video recorders, twice the memory (4 GB), and improved battery life. The tablet also includes free content: a music player with five LeapFrog Learning Songs, a Cartoon Director creativity app, an Art Studio creativity app, the Pet Pad writing app, and choice of an additional app. LeapPad2’s Cartoon Director app lets kids develop their inner director by creating and starring in their own cartoons, as well as sharing their masterpieces with family and friends.
Continuing with its education and entertainment products, LeapFrog will release the LeapsterGS, an updated version of Leapster Explorer. With a faster processor and more memory, the LeapsterGS delivers fast-action gameplay while building core skills for success in school and life.
LeapsterGS comes with free content, including the new “Escape of the Sillies” game app, the Pet Pad writing app, and choice of an additional app. Exclusive to LeapsterGS, the “Escape of the Sillies” app immerses kids into the game with the built-in camera and face-morphing technology, where they will customize faces of silly monsters while building their math skills.
LeapPad2 and LeapsterGS will be available for pre-sale at leapfrog.com in the U.S. and Canada, and at major online retailers in the UK and Ireland beginning July 18. They will be available at major retail locations in early August and in select other countries, including Australia, New Zealand, South Africa, Hong Kong, Singapore, Philippines, Korea, Thailand, and other Asian countries later this fall. The LeapFrog App Center can be accessed through the LeapFrog Connect Application for LeapPad2 and LeapsterGS platforms. For more information on LeapPad2 and LeapsterGS, visit leapfrog.com/nextgen.
TIA’s Bossard Talks Licensing at Toy Fair
February 10, 2012 By
by Marian Bossard, vice president of meetings and events, Toy Industry Association (TIA)
If I had a dollar for every key industry contact that told us the concept of a licensing showcase during American International Toy Fair was nothing short of brilliant, I would have at least $10. Maybe even $12.
After all, what isn’t right about endeavoring to create a “Licensing Upfront” for brand and property owners when all the right people with all the right innovation, influence, and interest are already in New York City for Toy Fair? And, what could be off the mark about bringing together an audience of Madison Avenue marketers, manufacturers from around the world, mass market and independent retailers, and critically important global media available only in New York City? The short answer is nothing. But the short answer just kind of falls short of telling the story.
A venture like this requires that you start with a clear objective, but just as important is the need to remain flexible and open to modification along the way. As it turned out, even with high levels of interest, the formats that prevailed were the small meetings with key partners, invitation-only breakfasts and cocktail receptions, and brand and property exposure through traditional advertising and promotional opportunities. So, while Toy Fair won’t be seeing “big screen showcases” this year, we are pleased that we have provided just the right solutions for these stakeholders’ needs.
Dark Horse Deluxe Offers a Unique Take on the Good Luck Trolls
February 9, 2012 By
The Good Luck Troll was originally created in 1959 by Danish fisherman and woodcutter Thomas Dam. At various times since the early 1960s, Trolls have been a top-selling toy, building a seldom-achieved brand equity. Dam Things, which holds all rights to the works of Thomas Dam, is in the process of launching a complete slate of merchandise activities and products for the Good Luck Trolls. Dark Horse Comics has been granted the license for a collectibles program. The line will consist of 15 different trolls, some of which are rare, sold in mystery box assortments.
Dark Horse felt the Good Luck Troll would be a natural fit in the designer vinyl and specialty retail arena, and has created Trolls with unique variations of color and surface treatments. The product development was closely supervised by Dam Things and its brand manager Dannie Festa of Festa Entertainment, including a trip from Denmark to the West Coast prototyping facility to assess and approve the works in progress.
Tips for Optimizing Exposure For Your Toy in Real Time at Toy Fair
February 9, 2012 By
Fifth in a series of posts on preparing for the annual trade event.
by Julie Livingston, director, business development and accounts, Child’s Play Communications
That crazy mix of anticipation, excitement, and adrenaline occurs each year for me, as I walk into the Javits Center on opening day of Toy Fair. There is so much to do in advance of the show, not to mention managing the intensity of the four-day event and post-show follow up.
If you have already reached out to the media and bloggers to schedule appointments to meet and give them a heads up on your new products, that’s a good thing. There is a chance that some reporters may spend times “walking the floor,” but with staff cutbacks at many media companies, their time is often limited. It is more likely for reporters to come to Toy Fair with predetermined ideas of what they want to see; they may also narrow their search for specific products that exemplify a particular toy trend (or trends) they are covering, such as tech or connected toys.
As a Toy Fair exhibitor, what is the best way to handle the media on site at the show? This is often the biggest challenge for exhibitors who are preoccupied with retailer meetings and managing a handful of product samples. This post includes tips and advice on how to work with the media that attend the event.
Scheduled Appointments
If you have preset appointments, tell your exhibit booth administrator and designate another colleague as a backup, in case you are unavailable. If your backup is someone unaccustomed to dealing with the press, provide an overview of the media outlet and leave any press materials for them, as well as your business card and mobile number. Given the hectic nature of Toy Fair, it is not unusual for appointments to show up early or late, which may throw a curve ball into your day. However you handle it, make sure the reporter is taken care of properly and professionally.
How to Pitch the Media Covering Toy Fair
January 25, 2012 By
Third in a series of posts on preparing for the annual trade event
by Julie Livingston, director, business development and accounts, Child’s Play Communications, New York City
With Toy Fair less than a month away, how will you engage the media to ensure coverage for your toys or youth entertainment products? Here at Child’s Play, we’ve been working overtime to fine-tune our media lists and pitches on behalf of clients. This week’s post will include some of our tried and true strategies and tactics for pitching the press.
Think Like a Journalist
With less space for toy coverage and so many exhibitors to see—more than 1,000 at the Javits Center alone, as well as those in private showrooms across New York City—reporters are pressed for time. So, when choosing media channels to pitch, focus on the “why”/reason an outlet would be interested, to determine the “where”/ specific outlets to concentrate on.
Prior to Toy Fair, many journalists will do an online search, hunting for toys that are a match for the following themes, so post your press release on all company social media platforms incorporating the following key themes and key words.
