Blog - Page 58 of 1503 - The Toy Book

Mattel Unveils Second Wave of SDCC-Exclusive Collectibles

Mattel’s second wave of exclusives for International Comic-Con San Diego (SDCC) includes some of the industry giant’s most popular brands.

The highlight of this bunch is the Deadfast Ghoulia Yelps doll ($75). Ghoulia Yelps first cosplayed Deadfast at SDCC in 2011. This doll comes with a tote bag, a badge, a comic book, and a stand for display. The MEGA Monster High Frankie Stein Boo-K Lab ($40) pays homage to 2010’s first-generation SDCC doll and features 362 pieces. The black-and-white set features Frankie’s lab and is complete with beakers, flasks, a microscope, and a voltage station.

Monster High Deadfast Ghoulia Yelps | Source: Mattel

MEGA Monster High Frankie Stein Boo-K Lab | Source: Mattel

Street Sharks 30th Anniversary Presents: Ripster in "A Shark Among Us" | Source: Mattel

WWE Ultimate Edition Shawn Michaels Action Figure | Source: Mattel

Mattel recently relaunched Street Sharks, and to celebrate the toy brand’s comeback, there’s an SDCC-exclusive version of Ripster, which features the character as seen in “A Shark Among Us.” The figure is wearing a leather jacket and comes with episode-inspired accessories.

Wrestling fans also have something to look forward to. To round off this wave of SDCC exclusives, Mattel unveiled the WWE Ultimate Edition Shawn Michaels Action Figure, which features the Heartbreak Kid as seen in the Wrestlemania XII Iron Man Match.

“It is our mission to deliver on the love that our fans hold dear to captivate both longtime enthusiasts and a new generation of fans with the best exclusives at Comic-Con,” says PJ Lewis, Senior Vice President and Global Head of Action Figures and Fisher-Price Entertainment. “Each collectible brings its own unique flair and storytelling potential, and we can’t wait to see the joy they bring to fans.”

These exclusives will be available at Mattel’s SDCC booth (No. 3029).

Designer Toy Company Stancé Launches with UFC Partnership

Stancé, a new designer art toy brand, is making its debut with a partnership with Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC).

The partnership will yield collectible figures of “The Notorious” Conor McGregor, which will debut at UFC X, a two-day fan event in Las Vegas beginning June 28. The collectible was designed in collaboration with toy-art designer Tracy Tubera.

Stancé’s pieces are crafted with an art skew. | Source: Stancé

A limited-edition Conor McGregor model with Venum shorts, plus three special rare editions – Blackout, Gold, and a 25-inch Red variation – comprises the initial release. Each piece comes with an illustration signed by Tubera, official UFC coding and certification, a letter of authenticity, and collector packaging.

“As a lifelong fan of collectibles and with more than two decades in the toy industry, I am thrilled to launch Stancé on a global scale with UFC,” says Shaun Sakdinan, Founder of Stancé and owner of Brand Development International. “Our mission, together with UFC, is to create something truly special, new, and limited for the serious UFC fan.”

Sakdinan previously founded 4D Puzzles, which was purchased by Spin Master in 2022. For more information on the new brand and its UFC debut, visit the Stancé website.

The Toy Foundation Plans Party with a Purpose Fundraiser in Los Angeles

The Toy Foundation, philanthropic arm of The Toy Association, is starting the week of LA Fall Previews with a fundraising event.

Party with a Purpose is a fundraising, networking, and entertainment event raising money to support The Toy Foundation’s efforts in economically disadvantaged children’s hospitals. The event is running on Sept. 9 at TAO Los Angeles.

Amazon is proud to serve as a Presenting Partner at the Party with a Purpose fundraiser. As an industry, we know the extraordinary benefits play has for a child, and this is our night to come together and use our power to give children going through a mental health crisis, cancer treatment, or any other illness the incredible gift of play.

Anne Carrihill, Director & General Manager, Category Leader of Toys & Games at Amazon

A not-yet-revealed Grammy-winning artist will provide entertainment at Party with a Purpose. Attendees can also enjoy craft cocktails and hors d’oeuvres; networking with industry bigs; an online auction featuring collectibles and experiences; and more.

Proceeds from the event will support The Toy Foundation’s programs in children’s hospitals across Los Angeles and beyond. Play is shown to benefit pediatric outcomes, but hospitals still rely on outside funding to add play to pediatric care. Since 2021, The Toy Foundation has assisted more than 360,000 children in pediatric care.

Individual tickets to attend Party with a Purpose are now available online for $495. The Toy Foundation is also offering sponsorship opportunities, with categories such as “Presenting” and “Entertainment.”

The Toy Association’s LA Fall Previews will run from Sept. 9-13 this year in El Segundo, California. For additional networking opportunities, The Toy Association is hosting its complimentary LA Fall Preview Networking Party on Tuesday, Sept. 10, the day after Party with a Purpose.

KessCo to Launch Luffy’s Bento Panic at Gen Con

Toy and game company KessCo will launch a new tabletop game inspired by One Piece at Gen Con in August. Licensed by Toei Animation, Luffy’s Bento Panic will debut at Gen Con Indy 2024 with a retail release following in the fall.

The game features several characters from the anime. | Source: KessCo

Luffy’s Bento Panic features characters and food from the anime. In the game, participants play as the Straw Hats and fight for their favorite foods. Players can grab food, steal from other pirates, and “eat” the food they’ve collected. To win, a player must eat more of Sanji’s food than any other player, but they need to be aware of Luffy’s ravenous appetite.

“KessCo is building a name for itself in making games by fans, for fans,” Alex Kessler, CEO of KessCo, says. “We’re so proud of how the game turned out, and to get the chance to play and collaborate in the amazing world created by Oda Sensei. We can’t wait to share Luffy’s Bento Panic in all its chaotic glory.”

The game will be available for Gen Con attendees to purchase from Aug. 1-4.

Star-Studded Design: ESA’s LEGO Space Bricks Go On Display

LEGO Space is taking on a whole new meaning.

The European Space Agency (ESA) recently turned to LEGO brick design for inspiration as it worked on plans for launch pads and shelters for astronauts heading to the moon. The organization’s bricks are similar to LEGO Bricks, but 3D printed with meteorite dust to test the material’s viability. LEGO plans to display the bricks, inspiring young builders to shoot for the stars.

With the ESA team using the LEGO System-in-Play to advance space travel, it shows kids the sky really is the limit when it comes to LEGO brick building and we hope it encourages children to have a go at building their own space shelters!

Daniel Meehan, Creative Lead at The LEGO Group

Fifteen of the ESA Space Bricks will be displayed in select LEGO stores in the U.S., Canada, the UK., Germany, France, Denmark, Spain, and Australia, as well as the LEGO House in Billund, Denmark.

Designers at ESA hope that bricks can be built using the regolith found on the moon, a material similar to the tested meteorite dust. The printed Space Bricks can now be utilized to test small-scale versions of larger structural designs.

The ESA Space Bricks were printed using meteorite dust. | Source: LEGO

“Our teams are working towards the future of space travel and take inspiration from not just what’s above us, but also what we can find on Earth,” says ESA Science Officer, Aidan Cowley. “No one has ever built a structure on the moon, so we have to work out not only how we build them but what we build them out of as we can’t take any materials with us.”

LEGO is no stranger to exploring space, with a number of sets inspired by the wider universe beyond Earth. The company will display the Space Bricks created by ESA in U.S. LEGO stores in Bloomington, Minnesota; Disney Springs, Florida; Water Tower Place, Chicago; Disneyland Resort, California; and 5th Avenue, New York, as well as in a number of locations across the globe.

Disguise, Aniplex America Partner for ‘Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba’ Costumes

Continuing to expand on its licensed costume offerings, Disguise has new goods on the way featuring a fan-favorite anime.

Disguise is partnering up with Aniplex America for costumes and accessories inspired by the hit anime Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba. The fresh products will launch next year in North America, Australia, New Zealand, LATAM, Ireland, and the UK.

Demon Slayer follows Tanjiro Kamado, a young man on a mission to help his sister. | Source: Aniplex America

Demon Slayer is an anime based on the manga of the same name, from author Koyoharu Gotoge. The story follows Tanjiro Kamado, a young member of the Demon Slayer Corps. As he searches for a cure for his demon-turned sister, Kamado makes new friends and faces powerful foes. The anime was a hit for fans, popular for its impressive action sequences and deep character moments.

Disguise has plenty of experience designing costumes based on popular franchises. The company has licensed costumes and accessories featuring Pokémon, Bridgerton, Minecraft, and much more. The JAKKS Pacific subsidiary has been developing costumes for more than 30 years, and has its own proprietary offerings in addition to licensed brands.

The newest Demon Slayer costumes and accessories from Disguise will be available at retailers online and in-store next year.

CAMP, Simon Expand Partnership for New Play-and-Shop Retail Experiences

Continuing its collaboration with real estate investment trust Simon, CAMP is opening two new locations in Philadelphia and Houston.

CAMP is known for its interactive retail experience, allowing guests to play before they pay. The stores are designed to be a combination shopping and play space. CAMP currently has seven locations across the country, each with rotating immersive experiences. CAMP partnered with Simon previously for its Burlington Mall location, which opened to Boston residents in 2022. Now, two new CAMP destinations are planned at Simon’s shopping centers: King of Prussia and The Galleria.

CAMP has always envisioned an alternative version of the family retail experience, and working with an operator like Simon who understands retail better than anyone, we are poised for the next step in this journey.

Jenica Myszkowski, CAMP’s CEO

King of Prussia is a shopping destination near Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, while The Galleria mall calls Houston, Texas home. Both stores will occupy more than 10,000 square feet and feature CAMP’s rotating experience offerings.

CAMP has seen recent success partnering with beloved brands. Next month, the company’s Bluey x CAMP collaboration is headed to its Burlington Mall location. Other licensing partnerships for immersive experiences include Encanto x CAMP, Little Mermaid x CAMP, and Trolls x CAMP.

The King of Prussia location will open later this year, while The Galleria location will welcome guests next year. In addition to the expanding partnership, CAMP investors have made an equity investment to support the growth of the company.

“Simon’s mission is to elevate and reinvent the shopping experience in modern and innovative ways for our shoppers and the communities we serve,” says Zachary Beloff, Vice President, Business Development and Leasing, at Simon. “We are focused on curating new experiences, like CAMP, and offering a one-stop destination for families to shop, dine and play.”

Mobil 1 Crowns North Carolina Winner on the 7th Annual Hot Wheels Legends Tour

On June 15, the winner of the Charlotte, North Carolina stop of the Hot Wheels Legends Tour was revealed. Eric Wade from Chesterfield, Virginia submitted a custom-built 1973 AMC Postal Jeep, which claimed the winning spot out of 125 contestants. With its unique orange color and purposeful modifications to accommodate drag races, Wade modified the vehicle to honor his late father.

Source: Mattel

The Hot Wheels Legends Tour, presented by Mobil 1 and in partnership with Walmart, kicked off in May, traveling across 13 countries (with 11 regional events in the U.S.) to find the best of the best cars to join the Garage of Legends, and be immortalized as a 1:64-scale Hot Wheels car. The event honors those who seek to challenge the boundaries of automotive design, and each stop’s winner gets to compete in the Global Semi-Finals and Global Grand Finale in November. The next stop on the tour is slated for June 29 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.

“The dedication and enthusiasm we see at Hot Wheels Legends Tour events around the world keep us motivated to build on the tour every year to find more ways to celebrate custom car builders and their drive to become legendary,” says Ted Wu, Senior Vice President and Global Head of Design for Vehicles at Mattel.

To find out about upcoming tour dates and general information about the Hot Wheels Legends Tour, visit www.hotwheels.com/legends.

Hasbro Releases Dance ‘N Crawl Spidey Details

Hasbro‘ has released details about its new Dance ‘N Crawl Spidey toy. The 10-inch interactive plush, inspired by the Disney Jr. show Spidey and His Amazing Friends, will launch later this summer for $49.99.

The interactive plush toy resembles the main character from Spidey and His Amazing Friends. | Source: Hasbro

Kids can dance along to familiar music from Spidey and His Amazing Friends with Hasbro's latest plush toy. | Source: Hasbro

Kids can dance with the 10-inch interactive plush and hear phrases like “Let’s do the Spidey dance!” and “Go webs go!” There are 20 phrases and sounds, plus two songs that kids will recognize from the show. If kids need a little encouragement, they can dance along with the “Do the Spidey!” music video, which will also debut this summer.

The interactive Spidey also crawls: kids can tilt up his head, rotate his wrists, and place him on his belly. The toy will crawl across the floor or table, and kids can follow suit and do the Spidey crawl alongside him.

The Spidey and His Amazing Friends-themed toy is designed for kids ages 3 and up and will be available at major retailers, such as Target, later this summer.

Mattel To Unleash Superhero Collectibles at SDCC

Mattel is bringing both DC Comics and Marvel to International Comic-Con San Diego (SDCC) next month with a lineup of collectibles that will launch exclusively at the show.

“We’re thrilled to offer comic-book hero superfans the ability to showcase their love for Batman, Deadpool, and Marvel with the launch of these incredible collectibles,” says PJ Lewis, Senior Vice President and Global Head of Action Figures and Fisher-Price Entertainment. “No matter who your favorite hero is, Mattel Creations is the place to bring a piece of the big screen into your home.”

The hot toy brand is ending the best Batman debate with the greatest Batman of all time — Little People Batman. The Fisher-Price Little People Collector Batman 85th Anniversary set ($40) features six versions of Batman from the years, including Michael Keaton’s Batman, Val Kilmer’s Batman, George Clooney’s Batman, Christian Bale’s Batman, Ben Affleck’s Batman, and Robert Pattinson’s Batman.

Fisher Price Little People Collector Batman 85th Anniversary: I Am Batman Set | Source: Mattel

Hot Wheels Batmobile Collector Set | Source: Mattel

Hot Wheels RacerVerse Marvel Secret Wars | Source: Mattel

UNO Show 'Em No Mercy Deadpool | Source: Mattel

The Hot Wheels Batmobile Collector Set ($50) features the Batmobiles from the 1966 Batman, the 1989 Batman, Batman The Animated Series, Batman Forever, Batman Begins, and The Batman. Mattel is also giving some Hot Wheels love to Marvel with the Hot Wheels RacerVerse Marvel Secret Wars set ($20), which features a Spider-Man die-cast along with a lenticular coin and a Wolverine chase variant.

All three of these collectibles will be at SDCC at Mattel’s booth (No. 3029) first before launching on mattelcreations.com. Fans will also get a sneak preview of UNO Show ‘Em No Mercy Deadpool, a new version of the chaotic game featuring iconic Deadpool art and rules that are unique to this edition of the game. The game will be available at target.com exclusively for $19.99.

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