Author: Maddie Michalik

American Greetings Entertainment Rebrands as Cloudco Entertainment

American Greetings Entertainment Rebrands as Cloudco Entertainment

Posted by | Aug 16, 2018 |

American Greetings Entertainment formally changed its name to Cloudco Entertainment. The name change follows a recent spinoff from the former division of American Greetings into its own stand-alone company. Long-time owners, the Weiss family, retain 100 percent ownership of Cloudco Entertainment, and all current key Cloudco executives and management remain in place. In addition to the ownership of intellectual properties, Cloudco also will continue with all of the former American Greetings Entertainment marketing initiatives, content development and production activities, and consumer product programs and partnerships.   With several soon-to-be announced productions and licensing partnerships, Cloudco Entertainment is currently working on...

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Michael Albarelli, CEO of Amloid, Passes Away

Michael Albarelli, CEO of Amloid, Passes Away

Posted by | Aug 15, 2018 |

Michael P. Albarelli III, CEO of Amloid, passed away on August 13 at 38 years old. He sustained significant head injuries following a tragic fall in his home. “It’s a hard day today to start the remaining journey without my beautiful son Mike, but my son Joe and I will forge ahead, as Mike worked so hard and gave so much of himself to improve our lives,” said Michael Albarelli, Jr., president, Amloid. “My brother will be missed greatly, but we will continue to work to ensure his vision and passion for our business are kept alive,” said Joseph Albarelli,...

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Learning Resources Invites Kids to Design New Beaker Creatures Collectibles

Learning Resources Invites Kids to Design New Beaker Creatures Collectibles

Posted by | Aug 1, 2018 |

Learning Resources launched the Beaker Creatures Create a Creature Contest, which invites kids to design their own Beaker Creature collectible now through Aug. 15. Ten finalists will win $250 Beaker Creatures prize packs, and one grand prize winner will have the one-of-a-kind toy making experience of working with the Learning Resources team to turn his or her design into a real toy. Learning Resources also partnered with Twin Toys Access and David’s TV for the two channels to document their own creature creations and contest entries. With Beaker Creatures, kids can discover dozens of unique collectible characters including aliens, sea creatures, bugs, and dinosaurs using simple lab...

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Submissions Closing Soon for the 10th Annual TAGIES ChiTAG 2018

Submissions Closing Soon for the 10th Annual TAGIES ChiTAG 2018

Posted by | Aug 1, 2018 |

Nominations for the 2018 Toy & Game Innovation Awards (TAGIEs) will close on Wednesday, Aug. 15. Nominees will be honored and winners announced during the Chicago Toy & Game Week (ChiTAG), from Nov. 15 to 18 at Chicago’s Navy Pier. The 2018 categories now open for nomination for all members of the toy and gaming industry include Toy Inventor of the Year, Game Inventor of the Year, Rising Star Inventor of the Year, Young Inventor of the Year, Innovative Marketing Team of the Year, and Art and Design Visuals of the Year. Five finalists for each of the six categories will be announced...

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littleBits Introduces the Avengers Hero Inventor Kit

littleBits Introduces the Avengers Hero Inventor Kit

Posted by | Aug 1, 2018 |

littleBits introduced the Avengers Hero Inventor Kit in collaboration with Marvel Entertainment LLC. The new kit allows kids to create and customize high-tech hero gear and a unique Super Hero identity using littleBits electronic blocks. Kids will build their own high-tech hero gauntlet with wearable tech sensors, in-app block coding, a customizable LED matrix light design, and authentic Marvel Avengers sound effects. Marvel Avengers including Iron Man, The Hulk, Black Widow, Black Panther, and Shuri, guide kids through “hero training” in the free Avengers Hero Inventor app, which includes step-by-step instructions and video tutorials for more than 18 in-app activities. The Avengers Hero Inventor Kit...

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Power Rangers Celebrates 25th Anniversary With Special Episode

Power Rangers Celebrates 25th Anniversary With Special Episode

Posted by | Aug 1, 2018 |

Saban’s Power Rangers celebrates its 25th anniversary with special episode of Power Rangers Super Ninja Steel on August 28 at 8p.m., the same day the original Mighty Morphin Power Rangers series premiered 25 years ago. In this anniversary episode, the Super Ninja Steel Rangers will team up with a number of legendary Rangers in order to save the world, including Tommy Oliver played by Jason David Frank (the original Green and White Mighty Morphin Power Ranger), Kat Hillard played by Catherine Sutherland (the Mighty Morphin, Zeo, and Turbo Pink Ranger), and Wes Collins played by Jason Faunt (the RedTime Force Ranger), among other soon to be revealed iconic Rangers from many past seasons. Power Rangers Ninja Steel premieres on August 25 at noon on...

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Asmodee North America Begins Restructuring

Asmodee North America Begins Restructuring

Posted by | Aug 1, 2018 | ,

Christian T. Petersen will step down from his role as CEO of Asmodee North America at the end of the year. Petersen founded Fantasy Flight Games (FFG) in 1995 and served as its CEO until FFG’s merger with Asmodee in 2014, at which time he moved into his current role. As Petersen exits his role, Asmodee North America will transition into two distinct business units: Asmodee North America Publishing led by Steve Horvath, and Asmodee North America Distribution led by Andre Kieren. During his tenure, Petersen was involved with hundreds of game titles and was the lead designer on...

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Moose Toys Debuts Disney Doorables at Vidcon

Moose Toys Debuts Disney Doorables at Vidcon

Posted by | Jul 31, 2018 | ,

At Vidcon, Moose Toys launched a new franchise, Disney Doorables. With more over 80 to collect, Disney Doorables are the first micro collectible to feature glass glitter eyes giving them a distinctive look. Fans will be able to build their own worlds and create their own Disney story with the stackable, modular playset platform. Disney Doorables is made up of a large library of fan favorite characters from successful Disney franchises including Frozen, Moana, Mickey Mouse & Friends, Monsters Inc., and more. Fans were able to experience the unboxing first-hand at Vidcon, where Moose created an activation encouraging curious visitors to ask themselves the...

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Real Estate Auction Features 123 Toys “R” Us and Babies “R” Us Store Properties

Real Estate Auction Features 123 Toys “R” Us and Babies “R” Us Store Properties

Posted by | Jul 31, 2018 |

A total of 123 Toys “R” Us and Babies “R” Us owned and ground-leased properties in 29 states will be auctioned on August 13 and 14 in Manhattan, provided that qualified bids exceed a certain threshold on August 7. Advisory and real estate brokerage A&G Realty Partners is conducting the auction and Lazard is acting as investment banker to Toys “R” Us and its affiliated debtors. The deadline for all bids is August 7. With stores ranging in size from 20,000 to 65,000 square feet, the assets on offer include 10 locations in California, 18 in Ohio, and multiple stores in states such as Illinois, Massachusetts and Pennsylvania. The two-day auction will begin...

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