Following some early previews in Dallas last fall and a lot of buzz coming out of the international trade fair circuit this month, Wow! Stuff’s Nano Pods line has a distribution deal for the U.S. and the rest of North America.
Mattel inked a deal with Wow! Stuff to launch the “connectable collectible” brand at retail this spring. The small-scale hexagonal pods come with a licensed character figurine inside and can be connected using a patent-pending slot-together system. The line is inspired by Wow! Stuff’s Wow! Pods that launched two years ago.
“We are excited to welcome Wow! Stuff and the Nano Pods to Mattel,” says PJ Lewis, Vice President and Global Head of Action Figures at Mattel. “The product is quite simply irresistible and highly collectible. The IP breadth, connectability of the pods, and character connectivity really make the Nano Pods unique, and a great new way for Mattel to connect with fans of each character.”
At launch, the line includes characters from Marvel, Disney, DC Comics, the Wizarding World of Harry Potter (currently EMEA only), Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, Sonic the Hedgehog, and Jurassic Park/Jurassic World.
Wow! Stuff Co-Founder and President Richard North tells The Toy Book that the first batch from the factory has a surprise element that’s not officially called out as a feature and may or may not stick around: a translucent, glow-in-the-dark coating that kids and collectors can discover on their own. In the UK, where the line has already launched, some buyers have taken to TikTok to share their glowing discoveries.
In the U.S., early pre-orders went live last week through select retailers, including Entertainment Earth, though Mattel tells The Toy Book that the line will be sold into all Mattel accounts. The company says that it’s looking to expand its portfolio and create programs like this that sit outside of its direct IP.
Nano Pods come blind-packed in mystery boxes and will include a collector’s guide. The line carries a $4.99 MSRP and will include chase, rare, and exclusive characters for kids to collect and connect.
