Blog - Page 1509 of 1543

Martin Yaffe to Produce ZingZillas Wheeled Toys

BBC Worldwide has appointed new licensees for the CBeebies’ new musical preschool series, ZingZillas.

Martin Yaffe has been picked to produce a range of wheeled toys for the brand. Other new licensees include Character World for ZingZillas bedding ranges, DNC for lunchware and melamine items, Trademark Collection for children’s bags and umbrellas, and Danilo for greeting cards and gift-wrap, among others. The new products are slated to hit retailers this autumn/winter.

ZingZillas premiered on April 5. BBC has already secured 14 licensees, including the master toy licensee, Vivid Imaginations.

World of Toys Redesigns Website

Spielwarenmesse eG has relaunched its World of Toys website, www.world-of-toys.org. The redesigned site provides more information about worldwide trading platforms, and background knowledge on the industry’s international sales channels.

At the website, visitors can view toy market statistics, general market trends and developments, and trade show information for Europe, India, Japan, and Russia, as well as the Middle East, North America, South America, and Asia-Pacific regions

For more information or to subscribe to the World of Toys’ newsletter, visit www.world-of-toys.org.

Totally Spies! RPG to Premiere on Facebook

OUAT Entertainment has teamed with Marathon Media to launch Totally Spies! Fashion Agents, a role-playing game (RPG) for Facebook. The RPG is based on the Totally Spies TV series, which has been broadcast in 120 countries. The series follows three students––Sam, Alex, and Clover––who are international secret agents and budding fashionistas.

In Totally Spies! Fashion Agents, players create their own character (girl or boy), which will become a student at Beverly Hills’ university, Mali-U, where Sam, Alex, and Clover are students. Players are recruited by WOOHP (World Organization Of Human Protection), and alternate between missions to save the world and mini-games based on student life, fashion, and decorating. The aim of the game is to make it to the Fashion Agents level, which allows players to pick up the best items for their personal wardrobe and home furnishings.

Aurora Launches YooHoo & Friends Website

Aurora World, Inc. has launched an interactive website for its brand, YooHoo & Friends, www.yoohoofriends.com. The site, targeted to kids ages 5-12, is free and requires no activation code.

In the virtual world, kids can learn about real animals and their environment, play more than 15 games and view animation in the “Playground,” adopt, raise, and customize a room in “My Room,” and send e-cards, download wallpaper, and more in the “Fun Zone.”

Video: Lutz Muller Talks Toys and Movies with BNN

Lutz Muller, CEO of Klosters Trading Corp., sits down with Canada’s Business News Network to talk about Iron Man 2, Avatar, Toy Story 3, and Spin Master’s deal with Walmart for How to Train Your Dragon.

To view, click here.

Sandbox Summit Panel and Speaker Announced

Preparation for the 2010 Sandbox Summit, “iPlay, YouPlay, WiiPlay: How Play is Changing Media and Media is Changing Play,” is gearing up with the announcement of two panels, and the keynote speaker.

Henry Jenkins, provost professor of communication, journalism, and cinematic arts at the University of Southern California, kicks off the summit with his keynote speech, “Toying with Transmedia: The Future of Entertainment is Child’s Play.” The speech will take a close look at Hollywood’s recognition of the larger implications of playing stories, images, and sounds across multiple media channels.

The Toy Book Toy Report 4/13/2010

Read The Toy Book’s Toy Report for this week! (4/13/10)

Lullabies Go Contemporary with Baby Blanket Music

A new collection of lullaby albums, Baby Blanket Music, has debuted. The collection features unique, soothing arrangements of classic songs such as Billy Joel’s “Piano Man,” Elton John’s “Tiny Dancer,” and John Mayer’s “Daughters.”

Created by Josh Rutt (a New York-based teacher, composer, and performer), the distinctive music appeals to babies, parents, and grandparents. Baby Blanket’s tunes use familiar infant music like vibraphones and music boxes paired with a full medley of richer, classic instruments such as strings, woodwings, pianos, harps, and soft percussion. When melded together, the arrangements create gentle textures that are calming and enjoyable.

The current line includes Baby Billy Joel, Baby Elton John, Baby John Mayer, and Baby Simon & Garfunkel. Two new releases are slated for this summer.

BBC Worldwide Sells 3rd & Bird! to Disney Channel

Disney Channel has secured broadcasting rights for the UK animated preschool series, 3^rd & Bird!, which will debut in the U.S. during the Playhouse Disney programming block in early 2011. The deal includes all 50 x 10 minute episodes of the series with one double episode, a 20-minute holiday special. Kate Livo, director, TV sales & co-productions for BBC Worldwide, brokered the deal.

Aimed at 3-5 year old children, the series features bold and colorful photo-puppetry, a style of animation created by production company Little Airplane. 3^rd & Bird! follows the birds Muffin, Lovebird, and Samuel, and their friend Rudy, as they teach children diversity, tolerance, and perseverance.

3rd & Bird! has been sold to 17 territories, including Canada and Spain. Fisher-Price is currently the master toy licensee for the series and will develop electronic and non-electronic plastic figurines, toys, vehicles, playsets, and plush.

TCKL Names Senario as Global Master Toy Licensee

Senario has been named the global master toy licensee for TCKL, Inc.’s line of Drip Drops plush and toy sets. Brokered by Firefly Brand Management, the agreement gives Senario exclusive rights to manufacture, market, and sell the full line of Drip Drops toys and learning materials, which will be available this fall.

Set in Tint Town, the Drip Drops know everything about color and strive to bring color to the world. They come to the rescue when there is “color trouble,” explaining how our vivid and vibrant world works. The Drip Drops will be featured in several books, cartoon entertainment, a broad range of toys, and online.