K’NEX Brands and Nintendo have announced a new licensing partnership to create a line of building toys based on Nintendo’s Mario Kart Wii. The line will include character-based toys (Mario, Luigi, Yoshi, Princess Peach, and Bowser), as well as vehicles and obstacles from the game.
The building sets, designed for children ages 6 and up, will be available at all major retailers in 2011.
According to The NPD Group, traditional toy sales in the UK during the two weeks of Good Friday and Easter 2010 increased 5 percent in revenue. This year, toy sales during Good Friday week rose by 30 percent versus the prior week, which NPD says is not an unusual trend for the UK.
Based on NPD’s toy market research, grocers’ market share for the two-week Easter peak increased from 28 percent in 2009 to 37 percent this year. The NPD Group’s Retail Tracking Service reports that grocers raised their average price by 11 percent during Good Friday week (versus the prior week).
Properties such as Stars Wars, Ben 10, and Toy Story saw an increase in sales by more than 50 percent, compared to the prior week.
Mind Candy, developer of Moshi Monsters, has signed its first major licensing deal. The deal gives Penguin Group the rights to publish a series of books based on the Moshi Monsters property.
Moshi Monsters is a free-to-play online game that allows children around the world to adopt their own pet monster, play games, customize their homes, explore the virtual world, and solve educational puzzles. More than 20 million players have registered to date on the website.
The first book to be published by Penguin will explore Moshlings––the cute, colorful, and collectible pet creatures of the Moshi Monsters. The book will tell the Moshlings’ backstory, habitats, quirks, and more. The book will also contain a unique code to unlock a secret Moshling at the Moshi Monsters website.
Two books are planned for release this year globally, and five more will follow next year.
Classic Media’s Tinga Tinga Tales, a co-production with Tiger Aspect Productions in association with HomeBoyz, launched on CBeebies in February and is set for its U.S. debut on Playhouse Disney next spring.
The animated preschool show, inspired by traditional African folktales and the Tinga Tinga art of Tanzania, has announced new international deals, including ABC (Australia), Rai (Italy), Mini Mini (Poland), YLE (Finland), ViaSat 1, Can Family (Ghana), True Visions (Thailand), RTE (Ireland), NRK (Norway), SVT (Sweden), TVB (Hong Kong), JCC Al Jazeera Children’s Channel (Middle East), Canal Panda (Portugal), and France TV (France).
Bari Koral’s concerts are a high energy and interactive experience for the whole family. Her live shows blend music, movement, singing, dancing, and even a little yoga.
The summer, Koral will play seven free shows on Long Island. If you print out the flyer above (click on the image to make it larger) and take it to one of her shows, you can receive a free ducky with any merchandise purchase.
Check out her full schedule at http://barikoral.com/calendar.html.
Capcom Mobile and Classic Media are releasing Where’s Waldo? In Hollywood, the sequel to last year’s Where’s Waldo? mobile phone game.
In the game, players join the search for Waldo through a series of Hollywood-themed adventures. The mobile game features multiple search-and-find games based on scenes from the book series, and five mini games such as Tic-Whack-Wizard, Odd One Out, and Slide Puzzles. As the hunting progresses, players can unlock bonus content and earn in-game awards.
Where’s Waldo? In Hollywood is currently available for download on most North American carriers. Visit Capcom Mobile or the Where’s Waldo’s mobile website for more details.
BCP Imports, the maker of Silly Bandz, has picked Brand Central, LLC as its licensing agency of record. Brand Central will be responsible for acquiring brands to develop new licensed product lines of Silly Bandz, as well as license out the brand to licensee partners.
Brand Central, LLC and BCP Imports have already identified several licenses they are seeking to acquire for the brand, ranging from sports and television to entertainment icons and popular films. The agency is also in discussions with potential manufacturers who are interested in developing Silly Bandz licensed products in categories such as apparel, headwear, arts and crafts, confections, and iPhone applications.
Hasbro, Inc. has filed lawsuits against Buzz Bee Toys, Inc. and Lanard Toys, Inc. for patent infringement for its Nerf and Super Soaker brands. The lawsuits were filed in the United States Federal Court in Springfield, Mass.
Hasbro is seeking to enjoin both companies from infringing two U.S. patents relating to its Nerf-N-Strike Disc Shot blaster. Additionally, the company has sued Buzz Bee Toys for infringing its Nerf Super Soaker water product patent. Hasbro is also seeking monetary damages from both companies for illegal use of its patented technology.
Alexander Doll Company, Inc. has launched a new e-commerce website, madamealexander.com, for Madame Alexander doll collectors.
The site, which is categorized by collectible, play and baby doll, size and age range, and more, allows Madame Alexander fans to purchase the dolls from one central location. Special features include zooming and a 360-degree viewing capability for detailed close-ups of Madame Alexander dolls’ artistry and costumes.
The company’s authorized retailers are also participating in the e-commerce site as Madame Alexander/Shopatron fulfillment partners. Additionally, visitors can get an in-depth look into the history and features of the company.
In celebration of the anticipated theatrical release of Toy Story 3, Toys “R” Us is debuting dedicated Toy Story 3 boutiques, in all of its nearly 1,300 toy stores in 34 countries around the world.
The boutiques, which are open across the U.S., are filled with an assortment of Toy Story-inspired toys, including action figures, construction sets, role play accessories, musical instruments, and electronic devices. Similar sections will open in Toys “R” Us stores around the world, coinciding with the movie’s release in each respective country.