The Care Bears are about to score a European boost.
Bavaria Media GmbH and its licensing division, Bavaria Sonor Licensing, inked a new deal with Cloudco Entertainment to manage the Care Bears brand across Germany, Austria and Switzerland (GAS). Under the new agreement, Bavaria Sonor Licensing will develop and manage all consumer products and licensing programs for Care Bears across the German-speaking territories.
Care Bears Germany | Source: Cloudco Entertainment
“Care Bears is a cult brand that fits perfectly into Bavaria Media’s licensing portfolio and we are thrilled to be representing the brand,” says Ivica Maracic, licensing and sales director at Bavaria Sonor Licensing. “GAS is a market with significant growth opportunity for Care Bears and we look forward to working closely with the team at Cloudco.”
Cloudco, the company behind properties such as Madballs, Holly Hobbie, Buddy Thunderstruck, and others introduced a new look from Care Bears upon the debut of the 2D-animated series, Care Bears: Unlock the Magic last year.
Bavaria Sonor Licensing will develop licensing opportunities for the Care Bears’ classic 1982 look as well as the updated styles.
In the U.S., Basic Fun! recently debuted a new collection of Care Bears toys and plush as the master licensee for the franchise.
Mattel’s Cave Club preview at Toy Fair New York 2020 | Source: The Toy Book
Mattel is beginning the promotional roll out for its latest line of dolls and accessories, Cave Club.
Previewed at Toy Fair New York in February, Emberly, Roaralai, Fernessa, Tella, and Slate — collectively known as the Cave Club — are prehistoric B.F.F.s: barefoot friends.
This week Mattel launched the official YouTube channel for the new brand with 2D-animated videos that serve as an introduction to the main characters and their “untamed land of adventure, exploration, and dinosaurs.”
Cave Club presents the crew as the first-ever club of best friends who will be the first to do everything as they discover and explore “the unexpected origins of some of today’s most popular trends and tackle relatable issues.”
The full range of articulated Cave Club dolls will begin hitting retail in the months ahead, complete with themed accessories and dino friends.
Surge Licensing revealed that Playmates Toys has signed on as the global master toy licensee for the YouTube hit Spy Ninjas. Described as an “action-packed serial drama” that unfolds across several YouTube channels, Spy Ninjas boasts more than 400 million monthly views as Chad Wild Clay, Vy Qwaint, and their Spy Ninjas team battle a hacking group known as Project Zorgo.
“It’s such a thrill to be working with Surge again, the visionaries who brought the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles to Playmates Toys a generation ago,” says Karl Aaronian, senior vice president of marketing at Playmates. “With Chad and Vy’s Spy Ninjas, we’ve found a worthy follow-up that goes far beyond the typical YouTube influencer experience. Featuring serialized narrative-based adventures that are truly engaging, a cool combination of spy adventures, problem-solving, and ninja action — a natural for amazing Playmates roleplay toys.”
The first wave of Spy Ninjas toys will hit retail in October. The spy gadget assortment includes electronic spy ninja gear, decoders, ninja weapons, a Project Zorgo mask, and spy activity kits. Additional products including action figures and other gadgets are planned for the future.
Spy Ninjas is available to view on YouTube and OTT platforms including Amazon Prime Video, Roku, and Xfinity On-Demand.
As the series continues to grow in popularity worldwide, new licensees, broadcasters, and streamers are getting on board. As of May 1, 44 Cats is streaming on Netflix. The series is supported with a robust licensing program developed and managed by The Joester Loria Group in the U.S. and Branding Streams in Canada.
Most recently, Forever Clever inked a deal to produce games and novelty toys in both markets. The range will include action, board, card, and memory games in addition to novelty toys and play tents.
Additional 44 Cats products hitting retail this year include offerings from Bandai, Harper Collins, Franco, Sakar, and Accessory Innovations.
The second season of the series debuted in Italy this spring and will expand globally later this year.
The Toy Insider‘s 2020 Spring & Summer Gift Guide is here!
We’re living in unusual times, and while life is a bit different right now, kids and families are finding new ways to play together at home.
Despite store closures and supply chain disruptions that have had a ripple effect through the toy industry in the first half of the year, kids are still playing and new toys are still hitting retail on a weekly basis. Life changes, but the world — and the industry — keep on turning, and this week our sister publication, the Toy Insider, revealed the hottest must-have toys of the season.
The Toy Insider‘s 2020 Spring & Summer Gift Guide features nearly 230 toys across eight different categories, hand-picked by the team behind one of the most influential and trusted resources for parents and gift-givers. The Guide highlights the latest and greatest in toys that energize, teach, and keep kids busy; screen-free activities and games to help pass the time; outdoor options for some much-needed fresh air; and water toys that are sure to make a splash. The toy industry experts at the Toy Insider review thousands of new products throughout each and every year. The team reviews each product to evaluate its features and overall value, taking into consideration five main criteria: play value, originality, skill-building, product integrity, and fun factor.
“With social distancing in place and so many traditional summer activities on hold, play is more important now than ever,” says Marissa DiBartolo, editor-in-chief of the Toy Insider. “With the right toys, games, and activities, parents can keep their cool this summer — literally and figuratively — without hearing ‘I’m bored!’ all day long. Even if this summer won’t be exactly what you envisioned with vacations and summer camp, these must-haves can help keep the fun going all season long!”
Top trends in this year’s summer toys include budget-friendly toys that won’t break the bank, outdoor toys that get kids up and active, and in-depth toys and activities that keep kids engaged for long periods of time. The guide is filled with plenty of toys from kids’ favorite films and TV shows, including Ryan’s Mystery Playdate, PJ Masks, SCOOB! and The Mandalorian.
Never separated by gender, TheToy Insider’s gift guide is broken down by play category and age group—from infants to tweens. Each category includes a variety of products across a wide range of price points, from puzzles and games under $10 to splurge-worthy backyard staples:
ACTIVITIES & GAMES: Keep the boredom at bay this summer without being glued to your screens! These hands-on activities, playsets, DIY kits, and games take open-ended play and competitive fun to a whole new level. Toy Insider Picks: Double Trouble (Winning Moves) and 3Doodler Start Learn from Home Pen Set (3Doodler)
BUDGET-FRIENDLY FAVES: You do not need to spend a lot of money to keep kids engaged and entertained. All under $25, these toys, games, and activities are perfect for any budget and guarantee tons of fun at a small price. Toy Insider Picks: Wild Alive (Beverly Hills Teddy Bear Co.) and Blume Baby Pop (Skyrocket)
OUTDOOR TOYS: Say goodbye to cabin fever with toys that will have kids begging you to go outside. Turn your backyard into the ultimate playground where kids can soak up some sun and get a healthy dose of fresh air. Toy Insider Picks: Fly Wheels Launcher Two-Pack (Jakks Pacific) and The Big Dig (Breyer)
WATER TOYS: Have some wet and wild fun with toys that keep kids cool when it’s too hot to handle the heat, from thrilling blasters to durable pool toys and inflatables. Toy Insider Picks: H20Go! Summer Blast Kids Inflatable Water Park (Bestway) and Little Tikes Wave Maker Island Water Table (MGA Entertainment).
PHYSICAL & ACTIVE TOYS: It’s important to incorporate physical activity into kids’ daily routine. From outdoor games to exciting bikes and scooters, these toys are sure to get kids up and moving. Toy Insider Picks: Hot Wheels 12-Inch Bike (Dynacraft) and Mongoose React E1 Electric Scooter (Pacific Cycle)
NATURE & EDUCATIONAL TOYS: Educational play is now more fun than ever. Kids can extend their learning beyond the virtual classroom with toys that introduce basic STEM concepts and encourage exploration. These toys are so much fun, kids won’t even realize they’re learning! Toy Insider Picks: LeapBuilders Store & Go Dump Truck (LeapFrog) and Design & Drill STEM Garden (Educational Insights)
TRAVEL TOYS: Summer travel plans have changed, but keeping kids entertained while you’re on-the-go is still key. These portable and travel-friendly toys and games will get you through that family road trip or weekend getaway without a single “are we there yet?” Toy Insider Picks:Pac-Man Tamagotchi (Bandai America) and Ryan’s World Road Trip Travel Case (Bonkers)
ENTERTAINMENT TOYS: Expand the worlds of kids’ favorite characters from video games, movies, TV series and YouTube shows far beyond their screens. From iconic heroes to YouTube sensations, kids can bring their favorite characters to the real world through playsets, collectibles, and more. Toy Insider Picks:DJ Trollex Mixer (eKids) and Ricky Zoom Speed & Stunt Playset (TOMY)
The Toy Insiderand the Toy Book are published by Adventure Media & Events LLC.
Red Planet Group is a premier distributor and marketer of toys throughout Canada. The company supports global toymakers by bringing toys such as Treasure X, Scruff-A-Lives, Little Live Pets, Wubble, and more to Canadian kids and families.
On the show, Albritton delves into Mars’ origin story, which includes working alongside his father with partners such as Toy Biz and Tiger Electronics. The duo then delves into the nuances of marketing to Canadian families and how they purchase toys. Finally, Mars shares details on the unique logistics and operational issues encountered in the Canadian market and shares some of the new toys that Red Planet Group is working to promote.
The “Power Kid Podcast” is presented by The Toy Book Podcasts by Adventure Media and Events. The long-running series presents in-depth interviews and conversations with some of the biggest names and rising stars in the toy, game, and family entertainment industries. The Toy Book Podcasts are available through all of your favorite streaming services, including Anchor, Spotify, Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, and more.
Adventure Media and Events (AM&E) is the publisher of the Toy Book, the Toy Insider, and the Pop Insider. Composed of an editorial team with more than 75 years of combined experience in the toy and entertainment industries, AM&E publications provide consumers, press, and trade audiences with the latest news and updates on all things play and pop culture.
The video game industry just celebrated a record first quarter that was fueled largely by families staying at home during the COVID-19 pandemic.
While the toy industry has cautioned a potential decline in the second quarter, the first numbers from the video game industry tell a completely different story.
According to The NPD Group, tracked spending for the industry in April hit $1.5 billion, a whopping 73% increase compared to a year ago. That’s a new record high for an April month, beating a $1.2 billion spend back in 2008. The numbers reflect spending across video game hardware, software, accessories, and game cards. Year-to-date spending is up 12% at $4.5 billion.
Notably, sales of video game software increased 55% over last year, also besting the previous record from April 2008. Hardware sales, which should be declining on the cusp of a new console generation, rose 163% as more players got into gaming. Similarly, sales of controllers and headsets shattered records. Year-to-date dollar sales of Nintendo Switch are the highest of any hardware platform in U.S. history, and combined sales of Xbox One, Playstation 4, and Nintendo Switch saw a 160% gain over last April.
Big Franchises Dominate Top Games
Fall is typically the season for Activision’s Call of Duty, but with more than 60 million players enjoying the Warzone extension, two titles from the franchise cracked the top 10 last month. Call of Duty: Modern Warfare (2019) held the No. 2 spot and remains the best-selling game of this year and of the past 12 months. Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2: Remastered (an updated version of the 2009 sequel to the original Modern Warfare) finished at No. 7. Additionally, 2015’s Call of Duty: Black Ops III hit No. 8 in the Xbox One charts.
Nintendo’s Animal Crossing: New Horizons charted at No. 3 as Final Fantasy VII: Remake (pictured top) blasted to the top of the chart to become the best-selling game of April, the best-selling game of 2020 on PlayStation 4, and instantly becomes the No. 3 best-selling game overall this year.
Finally, as more families challenge each other, Just Dance 2020 continues to climb the charts, up to No. 11 from No. 17 in March. The game is the fastest-selling title in the franchise since Just Dance 2014.
As the spread and fallout of the COVID-19 pandemic continues, the members of the toy and entertainment industries continue stepping up to do some good.
In the UK, a grassroots movement called ToyAid seeks to raise funds to aid in the recovery of communities that have been hard-hit by the impact of the pandemic.
Founded by Wow! Stuff’s Richard North and Joel Silverman of KidsKnowBest, the inaugural ToyAid campaign is benefiting Global’s Make Some Noise, a registered charity that works with smaller organizations to help those in need. By encouraging families to “Buy Some Toys for Make Some Noise,” the organizers look to raise money through minimum pledges from participating companies and through the sale of “ToyAide-able” toys, video games, entertainment products, and related licensing fees and business services.
“We’ve had amazing pledges from companies across all sectors of the toy and entertainment industry,” Silverman says. “Special recognition to Smyths Toys Superstores, which kicked things off by pledging an incredible £50,000 to this cause!”
Ahead of its formal launch this week, more than 30 companies, including Jazwares, Big Potato Games, Ravensburger, Spin Master, TOMY, Playmobil, and Rubik’s had pledged support for the effort.
“Joel and I have been overwhelmed already with the support of our ‘first responders,'” says North. “When we get through this difficult period — and we absolutely will — we’ll know we stood together, shoulder to shoulder as an industry, and did something together for the benefit of young people and their families. No-one will take any money for the organization or running of ToyAid: every penny we raise goes to the charity.”
Interested parties can get involved and pledge support for the effort at toyaid.org.
The company behind the success of the Beyblade franchise is getting ready for a big year.
ADK Emotions NY Inc. appointed London-based License to PR to manage its trade media communications and to further position the company as a leader in bringing Japanese animated intellectual properties (IP) to a global audience.
“As our plans take shape for the 20th anniversary of Beyblade in 2021, we are excited to have License to PR on board to assist us on our mission to bring amazing anime brands to new and ever-expanding audiences worldwide,” says Shawn Wada, president and CEO of ADK Emotions NY.
License to PR will work to drive a target B2B strategy to drive awareness of ADK Emotions’ media placement and marketing, creative planning, and consumer products licensing capabilities.
“ADK Emotions is a dynamic business with a very interesting story to tell and we are delighted to be the agency chosen to tell it,” says Louise O’Shea, managing director, License to PR.
Formerly known as Sunrights, ADK Emotions NY has built and sustained the Beyblade franchise globally, most recently with Beyblade Burst, a hit anime series accompanied by a toy line from Hasbro. A major push for the brand is being planned for its anniversary next year.
The Chinese market continues to be ripe for expansion when it comes to kids’ entertainment and toy properties.
Following the January debut of Masha and the Bear on Xigua Video in Mainland China, Animaccord — the company behind the global animated series — has revealed its first consumer products licensing deal for the property in the region.
Guangdong D&G Trading Limited will distribute Masha and the Bear toys including figurines, playsets, dolls, plush, and roleplay in China beginning in August.
Ahead of Toy Fair New York this year, Animaccord inked a number of licensing deals for the property across multiple categories and territories. Most recently, Animaccord entered into a deal that will bring Masha and the Bear-branded PEZ candy dispensers to retailers in nearly every country outside of North America.
