June 2010

JAKKS Expands MSX Lines with More Motocross Athletes

JAKKS Pacific is expanding its Road Champs MSX line with the addition of action figures, motocross bikes, and accessories based on motocross athletes Jeremy McGrath and Carey Hart. The new toys will hit retailers nationwide starting next spring.

The company has also signed the Nitro Circus crew, lead by motocross rider Travis Pastrana. Nitro Circus MXS products will be available for retail in fall 2011.

McGrath, Hart, and the Nitro Circus crew will join other motocross athletes in JAKKS’ MXS line-up, including James Stewart, Chad Reed, Ricky Carmichael, Travis Pastrana, and Tim Ferry.

Aurora World Inc. Introduces Milly the Pinkest Kitten

Toy and gift manufacturer Aurora World Inc. is introducing Milly the Pinkest Kitten—-a line of feline, freestanding plush dolls in 10 variations, from dress-up to portable toy pet carriers. The new line is geared toward young girls partial to pink and plush.

The Milly WannaBes are eight-inch plush dolls aimed towards girls ages 3 to 7. The dolls can be dressed as a princess, ballerina, or fairy.

Milly’s Cupcake Carriers are the latest in Aurora’s line of plush toy pet carriers. The scented carriers include an eight-inch plush animal, Mini-Flopsie, and come in chocolate, vanilla, and strawberry scents. The scents last approximately six months.

The Milly Birthday Girl, a freestanding, bean-filled toy, comes holding either a cupcake or a birthday balloon and is available in two sizes, 10 and 13 inches.

Aurora World Inc. is the Korean-based company responsible for the YooHoo & Friends. Its products are sold through a wide variety of retailers, including major zoos, toy stores, and gift chains.

Chorion Names New Partners for The World of Beatrix Potter

Chorion, through its Copyrights subsidiary, is expanding its licensees, retail programs, and product lines for The World of Beatrix Potter across the U.S., UK, Australia, and Asia. The property now has a roster of more than 350 licensees and retail programs around the world.

Pottery Barn Kids in the U.S. will expand its Peter Rabbit range in 2011. Australia will see a cross-category launch in Toys “R” Us stores, featuring Peter Rabbit infant apparel, bedding, toys, feeding, and hard goods such as strollers and high chairs beginning in August.

Tetris Makes First Appearance at Licensing Internation Expo

As Tetris celebrates its 25th anniversary, the brand plans to expand its reach to consumers with its first ever appearance at this year’s Licensing International Expo, held June 8-10.

Through the years, Tetris has risen in popularity and widespread appeal to become the most popular mobile game of all time, with more than 100 million mobile downloads. The game is available in more than 50 countries and more than 30 different platforms, from mobile phones to computers.

HIT Entertainment Launches Dance Education Program

HIT Entertainment has launched a new pro-social campaign to increase accessibility to dance programs for children through the Angelina Ballerina brand, the Angelina Ballerina Stars of Tomorrow campaign. The company will be working with the Kips Bay Boys and Girls Club, located in the Bronx, who will pilot the program.

The campaign will provide access to dance education for children ages 5 to 12 to raise awareness of the benefits of dance, including building confidence, inspiring creativity, and promoting physical health. The campaign will also feature a microsite on www.AngelinaBallerina.com, which will include the program’s mission, partners, local news, events, and ways to get involved. The site will also feature videos from the Stars of Tomorrow classes.

The pilot program at Kips Bay Boys and Girls Club will offer Angelina Ballerina dance classes in ballet, hip hop, latin, and African dance. Teachers will receive in class materials specific to the program, including an Angelina Ballerina Tip of the Week, posters, and nutritional information. Each class will begin with a warm-up routine based on the new PBS KIDS series, Angelina Ballerina the Next Steps.

HIT Entertainment plans for the campaign to be a multi-year endeavor.

New Wild Grinders Action Figures to be Developed by Mattel

Moonscoop, Wild Grinders, and Mattel, Inc. have signed a licensing deal for the new action-oriented, animated TV series, Wild Grinders. The series was created by Rob Dyrdek, a skateboarding icon and reality TV star (MTV’s Rob & Big and Rob Dyrdek’s Fantasy Factory). Mattel will develop, create, and market a new line of action figures, expected to launch this fall in the U.S.

TIA Calls for Nominations for Toy Industry Hall of Fame

The Toy Industry Association (TIA) is inviting TIA members and toy industry stakeholders to submit candidate nominations for the Toy Industry Hall of Fame in February 2011. The nomination period is currently open and will close June 30.

TIA members and non-member stakeholders within the North American toy industry are eligible to submit candidates for consideration. Membership in TIA is not a prerequisite for submitting a nomination.

The candidate(s) should have accomplishments such as: long experience in the industry; innovative product or marketing introductions; manufacturing process changes, which significantly improved the process or product; service on the TIA Board of Directors, or in other important capacities in or related to toys and youth entertainment; and an unimpeachable record of integrity and respect in the industry.

The Toy Industry Hall of Fame Committee will meet in July to review the nominations received. For more information, click here.

Hidden City Signs New Bella Sara Deals

Kidz Entertainment/EEMC, the licensing agent for Hidden City Entertainment’s Bella Sara, has brokered a new deal for a range of home furnishings, apparel, and stationery in European markets.

The deal gives TOP-TOY/K.E. Mathiasen A/S the rights to produce a range of Bella Sara-branded products, including book bags and book wrappers, towels, bed sets, T-shirts, sleeping bags, notebooks, and stationery sets. The new products will launch fall 2010 across Scandinavia, Germany, and Benelux. The company will also launch a Bella Sara toy line with Giochi Preziosi and carry the trading card game in its network of retail stores.

HIT Entertainment Realigns Business Units

Hit Entertainment has announced an internal realignment of its business units. As a part of the realignment four new divisions will be created. The divisions will form two new lines of business: one focusing on Thomas & Friends, and the other on HIT Global Brands (Angelina Ballerina, Barney, Bob the Builder, Fireman Sam, Pingu, and Rainbow Magic). The realignment is effective immediately.

The Thomas & Friends line of business will comprise three divisions: the New York-based “Thomas Americas,” London-based “Thomas EMEA, ” and the Hong Kong-based “Thomas Asia.” The HIT Global Brands business unit will be managed from London as one global division.

HIT’s Finance, Legal, HR, and IT groups will remain centralized staff units supporting both lines of business. As a part of the restructuring, Peter Byrne, executive vice president of International Consumer Products and Home Entertainment, will be leaving the company

New Broadcasting and Licensing Deals for Beyblade: Metal Fusion

Nelvana Enterprises has announced several broadcasting and licensing deals for the new animated series Beyblade: Metal Fusion.

Beyblade: Metal Fusion, from Nelvana and d-rights Inc., will be airing on Cartoon Network in the U.S., Australia, and New Zealand; Gulli in France; Nickelodeon in Germany; Nicktoons in the U.K.; Disney XD in Belgium, Luxembourg, and the Netherlands; and BOING, Turner’s Free To Air Block in Spain, broadcasted on Telecinco and Factoria de Ficcion. The series premiered on YTV in Canada last month.

Hasbro, Inc. has been appointed the master toy licensee for most international markets outside of Asia. The new toy line has already launched in Canada and is set to hit shelves this fall in the U.S., Mexico, UK, France, Germany, Spain, Italy, Austria, Switzerland, Benelux, Scandinavia, Australia, and New Zealand.