June 2011

Family Guy Comic Series Launch

Family Guy, the largest-selling television show in America (nearly 25 million DVD units sold worldwide) will now keep its fans laughing between episodes with the U.S. launch of the Family Guy comic series. The comic series will feature all of the hit characters from the show with outrageous new story lines. Titan Comics will publish the series, and artwork will be provided by comic artists SL Gallant (G.I. Joe, Torchwood), and Anthony Williams (Judge Dredd, Superman, Batman).

Family Guy comic No. 1 will be available on July 27 in specialty comic stories and on newsstands nationwide. Fans anticipating the arrival can follow @FamilyGuyComic on Twitter for the most updated news.

Hasbro Introduces New Construction Brand Kre-O

The new Kre-O brand, available next month, will offer 12 building sets featuring the popular Transformers characters, including Optimus Prime, Bumblebee, Megatron, and Autobot Jazz. The new construction line is unique in that it is compatible with other brick-based construction sets on the market. The Kre-O Transformers sets also feature two types of build for one product so that the user can construct a vehicle or a robot with the same set. The collectible robot Kre-O figures can bring new action and excitement to a young builder’s world.

Shane Acker to Lead Thomas the Tank Engine Film Adaptation

Thomas the Tank Engine will star in a live-action fantasy film adaptation of the popular children’s television series. Academy Award-nominated director Shane Acker (9), has signed on to lead a creative team consisting of Academy Award-winning Weta Workshop (Avatar, The Lord of the Rings trilogy) and Mattel’s entertainment properties design team. The goal of the new film is to make the Thomas characters and storyline more appealing to the entire family.

Hit Entertainment, which owns the Thomas franchise, has also named Chris Viscardi and Will McRobb (Alvin and the Chipmunks) and Josh Klausner (Shrek the Third, Date Night) as the writers for the film. Julia Pistor (Charlotte’s Web, Lemony Snicket’s Series of Unfortunate Events) will serve as the producer.

Disney to Continue Expanding Retail Presence and Products

Disney Consumer Products (DCP) is set to release new product developments in each of its properties within the next year.

Disney Baby: Disney is investing in this property by creating a two-way dialogue with new moms on a digital platform, social media, product seeding and a loyalty program. The first Disney Baby concept store will open in fall 2012 at The Americana at Brand in Glendale, Calf.

Disney-Pixar Cars and Toy Story: The Cars franchise has generated global retail sales of more than $10 billion. Cars 2 retail merchandise began to roll out globally in mid-May and DCP will continue to support the franchise with a wide assortment of products next year. Cars Toons will be previewed before Cars 2 in movie theaters and will also be in heavy circulation on Disney Channel. Summer 2012 will mark the opening of “Cars Land,” a 12-acre stretch of new interactive entertainment development at Disney’s California Adventure. Toy Story will also be developed as Toy Story Toon along with Cars.

Mickey Mouse and Winnie The Pooh: One of Disney’s most popular characters, Mickey Mouse remains a top-selling franchise with projections set at $9 billion global retail sales for fiscal year 2011. Winnie The Pooh returns to the big screen in the U.S. next month with anticipated success due to positive sales from the European release earlier this year. The Winnie The Pooh: What’s A Bear To Do? Puzzle Book app has topped the sales charts for the iPhone and iPad in 12 countries.

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Classic Media Celebrates Masters of the Universe Anniversary

In celebration of the upcoming 30th anniversary of Masters of the Universe, Classic Media and Mattel are launching a consumer products program for the franchise. The Masters of the Universe Classics toy line, featuring updated sculpts of vintage Mattel toys, will continue throughout next year, exclusively on Mattycollector.com. The 2012 annual subscription will go on sale the week of San Diego Comic-Con, starting July 22.

The program will also include Halloween costumes and accessories from Disguise, launching first with Skeletor, He-Man, and She-Ra adult costumes, available this fall through a leading online e-tailer. Other new products include a 30th anniversary apparel line from Changes and a special 30th anniversary edition DVD box set from Mill Creek Entertainment (fall 2012). Publishing partners will be announced shortly.

Additionally, Classic Media is introducing a brand-new comprehensive Masters of the Universe style guide this summer, featuring retro artwork, all-new modern artist renderings, as well as a special 30th anniversary logo (above).

Debit Swipe Fees to be Cut

According to the Associated Press, the Senate voted Wednesday to let the Federal Reserve cut fees that banks charge stores when purchases are made by using a debit card. Senators who did not support the proposal fell six votes short of the 60 that were needed to decline the price cut (a vote of 54-45). Currently, stores are charged 44 cents for every debit card that is swiped, which amounts to more than $16 million annually to banks and credit card companies.

In the suggested revised plan, the Federal Reserve wants to limit charges to 12 cents for every debit card transaction. A final ruling on the issue must be made by July 21.

Image: www.fortunewatch.com

Greenlight Teams Up With Ford Explorer and the New York Yankees for Yankee Ford Explorer Night

On Wednesday, June 29, the New York Yankees are hosting the Yankee Ford Explorer Night, a family-friendly event that includes giveaways and prizes. Greenlight Toys has teamed up with the New York Yankees and Ford Explorer to create a 1:64 2011 Ford Explorer replica in full Yankees regalia for the game. The first 18,000 fans who attend and are 14 years old or younger will receive a complimentary die-cast 1:64 2011 Explorer as they walk in. One lucky fan will receive a full size Ford Explorer, courtesy of Northeast Ford Dealers, with the same Yankees theme as the version from Greenlight.

Greenlight also plans to incorporate the 1:64 Ford Explorer model into its regular offerings, including a police-themed vehicle for its series, Hot Pursuit.

Voltron: A Colossal Blast from the Past

The 80s are back. On August 16, Classic Media, in collaboration with World Events Productions (WEP), will release the DVD Voltron: The Legend Begins, containing all original seven episodes of the classic 80s animated series, Voltron: Defender of the Universe. This release is just in time to develop a fan base for the debut of Voltron Force, which will debut on Nicktoons later this year.

Voltron: The Legend Begins follows a team of space explorers who try to find keys to unlock five mythical robot lions on the plant of Arus in order to defeat the giant Robeast monsters, created by an evil witch Haggar, who are destroying the planet. If the team finds all the lions, they will combine together to form the robot Voltron: Defender of the Universe, who is the only hope in defeating Haggar and King Zarkon.

The 180-minute DVD also contains plenty of bonus features that takes a look into what made the original series so successful.

OWI’s New Salt Water Fuel Cell Car

OWI, Inc.’s, new Salt Water Fuel Cell Car contains 23 pieces but only takes 10 minutes to assemble. Next, add salt water and the car races off!

After activating the fuel cell module with a saltwater mixture, the magnesium metal sheet (three sheets included) can operate the car for approximately five to seven hours, continuously. If kids want to park the vehicle, simply take out the fuel cell module, rinse with tap water, and dry.

Let the races begin!

Scholastic Media Launches I Spy Super Challenger

Get ready to spy with your little eye a new title in the I Spy series. Scholastic Media, a division of Scholastic, Inc., announced the release of I Spy Super Challenger for LeapFrog’s Leapster Explorer. This will be the third title in the series.

I Spy Super Challenger, geared towards kids ages 5-9, combines the popular I Spy photographs and riddles with arcade-style games. Players have to solve 50 different I Spy riddles across 20 different photographic scenes.

In addition to these puzzles, I Spy Super Challenger includes four games, in which players race against the clock to test their thinking, matching, memory, and math skills—in the end cracking I Spy puzzles. As new levels of the game are unlocked, the difficulty of the puzzles increase.

The other games in the I Spy series are I Spy Challenger and I Spy Treasure Hunt. The game retails for $24.99.