Hasbro has launched a Harry Potter-themed version of the board game Monopoly. Monopoly: Harry Potter Edition combines classic Monopoly gameplay with locations, items, and characters from the franchise.
Players can move across the board using the transportation-themed golden tokens: the Hogwarts Express, a Hippogriff, The Knight Bus, Hagrid’s Motorbike, a Thestral, and the Firebolt. After selecting a token, Harry Potter fans will draw a House Card to see if they’ll represent Gryffindor, Ravenclaw, Hufflepuff, or Ravenclaw. Each house has advantages and disadvantages that show throughout the game.
The board features different locations from the series. | Source: Hasbro
The cards reflect the house colors. | Source: Hasbro
All cards feature a Harry Potter theme. | Source: Hasbro
Hogwarts locations serve as the properties, and the Chance and Community Chest cards are Owl Post cards in this version. Instead of Monopoly money, players can win by having the highest amount of House Points after exploring the entire board. Aspects from the Harry Potter series, such as the Herbology Greenhouses and Quidditch Pitch as well as characters like Mrs. Norris and Filch, appear on the board.
Kids Preferred’s latest Disney plush collection stars everyone’s favorite chaotic blue alien, Stitch, and his pink companion, Angel.
There are five snuggly toys in the collection: a Stitch Sensory Blanky and Angel Sensory Blanky, both of which feature crinkling texture and a BPA-free teether; a 15-inch plush version of Angel that stands up on its own; a snuggly Stitch blanky that features a plush Stitch head with a cozy blue blanket attached; and an Angel Activity Toy that can hang from a car seat or a crib and features a plush Angel, a crinkly toy, a jingling toy, and BPA-free teethers.
Source: Kids Preferred
Disney Stitch and Angel Sensory Blankies | Source: Kids Preferred
Disney Stitch Snuggle Blanky | Source: Kids Preferred
Disney Angel Activity Toy | Source: Kids Preferred
These plush are joining Kids Preferred’s extensive lineup of Stitch plush, which also includes a Stitch On-The-Go Activity Toy, the Laughing Stitch Animated Plush, a Stitch Soft Book, and more.
ABC Kids Expo wrapped up its 2024 show earlier this month in Las Vegas, where the team searched the floor to discover the industry’s top trends. The six top trends are as follows:
Neutral colors are hot with a focus on blues, greens, and pinks. These colors were popular among items such as strollers, clothing, and feeding essentials.
With new material for bibs, plates, and utensils, solutions to kids flinging food, and even heat-activated, color-changing dishware, there was plenty of innovation in the feeding essentials category.
Cribs, toddler beds, high chairs, and other children’s furniture were seen boasting natural finishes.
Additionally, leather or fabrics with a leather look were seen across all furniture.
Traveling with kids is also getting easier. From fold-up strollers that fit in an airplane’s overhead bin to gear for a trip to the beach, it’s easier than ever to take kids wherever they need to go.
Car seats are evolving as new, lighter-weight car seats, especially for infants, have emerged. They have the latest safety features that are changing how car seats performed in the past.
“The innovation in the baby and juvenile space continues to be at an all-time high,” says Aaron Pederson, President, All Baby & Child, ABC Kids Expo. “Companies, both big and small, are taking into account what parents and kids really need, as well as looking at safety and design. It’s an exciting time in the industry and we can’t wait to see what comes next.”
To celebrate the launch of the Barbie Mysteries: The Great Horse Chase, Mattel is unveiling the Dance & Show Horse along with dolls for Malibu and Brooklyn. Designed for kids ages 3 and up, the Dance & Show Horse ($39.99) features Tornado as an interactive friend. The horse makes more than 20 sounds, blinks, dances, and more and comes with accessories that kids can use to style its mane. Both dolls ($14.99 each) are decked out in their riding gear, complete with a helmet to ride safely and in style. The collection will be available this summer.
Barbie is ready to ride with these new toys. | Source: Mattel
Barbie is ready to ride with these new toys. | Source: Mattel
In Barbie Mysteries: The Great Horse Chase Barbie “Brooklyn” Roberts and Barbie “Malibu” Roberts take a trip to the English countryside to visit Lady Carson, Ken’s aunt and owner of the horses, Tornado and Pepper. When someone steals the horses and a diamond-encrusted saddle, the Barbies must travel across Europe to clear their name and recover the horses. The animated show will feature eight 25-minute episodes and hits Netflix this fall.
“With an all-new story and mysterious adventures, Barbie Mysteries: The Great Horse Chase brings to life fun-filled adventures and the bond between Malibu, Brooklyn, and friends like never before,” says Michelle Mendelovitz, Global Head of Mattel Television Studios. “We’re excited to introduce Barbie fans of all ages to this delightful new series and accompanying toy line as we continue to expand the Barbie universe even further.”
Following last summer’s release of Tamagotchi Uni, Bandai Namco Toys & Collectibles America is releasing the next wave of Uni devices. The collection is expanding with two new Tamagotchi Uni devices: Angel Festival and Monster Carnival.
This new release combines the innovative features of the first wave with new and exciting experiences. Alongside new shells and bands, these devices feature limited-edition characters and mini-games.
Angel Festival features a pastel palette. | Source: Bandai Namco
Monster Carnival features a bold, punk design. | Source: Bandai Namco
The collection includes two devices, each adding a distinct flair to the virtual pet experience. Angel Festival brings cute vibes with a pink band and a pastel palette. Monster Carnival knows how to rock thanks to its bold, punk design, featuring dark purples and neon greens.
Each device includes a ticket to an exclusive event within the Tamaverse. Fans can use their tickets to raise, meet, and play with exclusive characters and use special items with angel and monster motifs.
“Bringing Angel Festival and Monster Carnival to the Tamagotchi Uni collection marks a new chapter in the device’s story,” says Tara Badie, Senior Director Brand Strategy, Bandai Namco Toys & Collectibles America. “Not only do they expand the possibilities within the Tamaverse, but they also add an element of exclusive fun — strengthening our global community and bringing them together through shared experiences like never before.”
Angel Festival and Monster Carnival are available today for preorder and coming soon on July 13. To learn more about what’s to come, visit tamagotchi.com.
Ridley’s Games, a subsidiary of Chronicle Books, is launching new editions of the board game Selfish.
Selfish, “the card game where only the ruthless survive,” is a strategy game that asks players to look out for themselves first. Players can attack each other and get closer to the goal, all until one player reaches the finish line (or is the only one remaining!). The game‘s new editions feature different themes and licensed properties.
Selfish: Disney Villains Edition | Source: Ridley's Games
Selfish: Marvel Edition | Source: Ridley's Games
Selfish: Space Mini Edition | Source: Ridley's Games
Selfish Zombie Edition | Source: Ridley's Games
Licensed offerings of Selfish include the Star Wars Edition, Disney Villains Edition, and Marvel Edition. Each edition of the features cards that fit the overall theme. The Disney Villains Edition player cards feature various animated villains, while the Marvel Edition includes a variety of playable supervillains such as Loki, Thanos, and more.
Many board games encourage players to win through strategic yet respectable actions. With Selfish, players must ruthlessly think only of themselves in order to be the sole survivor and win the game. It’s a wickedly fun way to play with friends and family, young and old alike.
— Bill Miller, President of Galison & Mudpuppy and Publisher of Ridley’s Games
Other new versions of the game feature more general themes, such as the Space Edition (also available as a Mini Edition), Zombie Edition (also available as a Mini Edition), and the Shipwrecked Edition.
Those attending ASTRA Marketplace & Academy next month will have the chance to experience the newest editions of Selfish in person at Chronicle Books’ Booth No. 210. Influencers will also promote the new editions of the game throughout the month of June.
For the first time this fall, Minecraft players can immerse themselves in their own interactive Minecraft adventure.
In celebration of the game’s 15th anniversary, Experience MOD and Mojang Studios collaborated to create Minecraft Experience: Villager Rescue, which will debut in Dallas on Sept. 20.
The experience will give Minecrafters, whether longtime players or interested parties of any age, a chance to be heroes in an in-person quest. Attendees will begin the one-hour journey by entering the forest to learn the ropes, give tips to other players, or hang out in the iconic blocky landscape. Once they move into the village, they will receive their quest and embark on a rescue mission with a team of other players. Players will face pandas, dolphins, skeletons, spiders, and creepers on the interactive scavenger hunt. Once they complete the quest, they can celebrate with a memento at the Minecraft Experience Trading Post.
Minecrafters who want to be the first to attend can join the waitlist starting May 29 at minecraftexperience.com. This will gain them access to the Dallas exclusive presale starting May 31. Tickets will go on sale to the general public on June 3, with single ticket prices starting at $32 and family multipack tickets starting at $28.
While Dallas is the first stop, Minecraft Experience: Village Rescue will tour additional cities worldwide to be announced at a later date.
Paramount Global and Jazwares are partnering under new multi-contract deals to release products featuring Nickelodeon’s Avatar: The Last Airbender.
The agreement gives Jazwares the global master rights to produce figures, vehicles, dolls, plush, and playsets. Jazwares also holds North American rights for costumes and accessories for Avatar: The Last Airbender, as well as other Paramount properties such as Dora, SpongeBob SquarePants, Star Trek, and Yellowstone.
Joining forces with Paramount combines the world’s most beloved entertainment franchises with Jazwares’ unparalleled ability in authentically translating IP across toys and costumes like nobody else in the industry.
Judd Karofsky, Executive Vice President, Jazwares
Avatar: The Last Airbender was first released as a Nickelodeon animated series in 2005. The show was immediately popular with both young and adult fans due to its deep lore, complex characters, and engaging narrative. Since the original series, the Avatar franchise has seen continued success with releases such as Avatar: The Legend of Korra, games, comics, movies, and more.
Paramount is confident Jazwares’ newest Avatar products will prove popular. “Jazwares has a proven track record of taking culture-defining brands — like Avatar: The Last Airbender and other Paramount franchises — and creating outstanding products for consumers to connect with,” says Lourdes Arocho, Senior Vice President, Consumer Products and Experiences, Paramount.
The new Paramount and Jazwares portfolio of products is expected to hit retail next year.
LEGO is celebrating the 15th anniversary of Mojang Studios’ Minecraftwith six new sets inspired by the hit game. The new sets will join existing licensed Minecraft sets such as Steve’s Desert Expedition, The Iron Golem Fortress, The Skeleton Dungeon, The Sword Outpost, and more.
The Pirate Ship Voyage ($14.99) | Source: LEGO
The Cherry Blossom Garden ($27.99) | Source: LEGO
The Wolf Stronghold ($34.99) | Source: LEGO
The Pirate Ship Voyage set is 166 pieces and includes a buildable vehicle toy, a squid, two pirate figures, and an adult LEGO Minecraft camel. The Cherry Blossom Garden set is 304 pieces and comes with a Sunny figure, two cherry blossom trees, and adult and baby Sniffers. The Wolf Stronghold set is 312 pieces. Kids can build a full base with a crafting table, blast furnace, anvil, and a smithing table.
The Windmill Farm ($54.99) | Source: LEGO
The Badlands Mineshaft ($59.99) | Source: LEGO
The Ender Dragon and End Ship ($79.99) | Source: LEGO
The Windmill Farm is 461 pieces and features a functional windmill, turning millstone, bread, cake, a shepherd figure, sheep, a loom, and more. The Badlands Mineshaft set is 538 pieces and comes with a minecart, TNT, a donkey, an explorer’s base, a Creeper, and more. Finally, the Ender Dragon and End Ship is 657 pieces and includes a functional ship interior, a buildable Ender Dragon, an Ender Knight, and more.
Minecraft got its start as an indie video game released in 2009. Since its launch, the game has soared in popularity, defining the genres of survival crafting and creative construction. The game has had regular updates since its launch, including the separate Bedrock version following Microsoft’s purchase of Mojang Studios.
It’s hard to believe that it’s already been a week since the doors to Licensing Expo 2024 opened at Mandalay Bay in Las Vegas. For three days (or longer, thanks to the appropriately-Vegas pre-show events and afterparties), executives from all corners of the consumer products space gathered at the intersection of physical and digital products, live experiences, entertainment, and lifestyle. By now, the dust has settled, and the excitement — or the controlled chaos, as I like to say — is behind us until the next show.
Our team, including myself, Jackie Breyer, Ali Mierzejewski, and Stephanie Infantino, covered much ground spanning dozens of meetings and gatherings while using Booth No. G234 as our home base to occasionally regroup and refresh (if you left your contact info while we were away, we will be in touch). We unveiled new issues of The Toy Book and The Pop Insider, and between Ali and myself, we racked up nine TV appearances across four networks (huge thanks to the Licensing Expo team for helping us on the show floor on Wednesday)!
The Toy Book Editor-in-Chief/The Toy Insider Senior Editor James Zahn shows off some hot licensed toys on FOX 5 Las Vegas.
We can ponder and debate the reasons forever, but there is no denying that something special is happening with Licensing Expo. The show has become increasingly toyetic in recent years, with this year’s “Brands at Play” theme leaning into the opportunities for creative collaboration that await discovery around every corner — and inspiring a feature in the latest issue of The Toy Book.
The Licensing Expo “campus,” which is expected to evolve and grow in the coming years, embraced the playful nature of the business as toy and game makers expanded their offerings to allow visitors to go hands-on with their products. From the Hasbro Gaming lounge to the SEGA arcade and beyond, play was unavoidable. Perhaps it’s taken the world a few years to catch up, but I often say that “business should be fun,” and a reflection of that could be seen in what was lacking in abundance: suits.
Sure, they’re still around (navy and gray are the favorites), but pour one out for the tie industry, as I can’t recall seeing a single tie around the necks of my suit-wearing friends. Fashion choices aside, the buzz on the floor was that Licensing Expo had returned to a pre-pandemic vibe akin to 2019, the last year before COVID-19* changed everything. But was it the same? I say this year was even better!
Left: The Funko Funcade could be coming soon to a venue near you; Right: Hasbro Gaming’s life-size Operation
Surprise. Inspiration. Appreciation.
While some trade shows like Toy Fair in New York or ASTRA Marketplace & Academy (two of my favorites) feel like family reunions, Licensing Expo takes things to a whole new level. As I’ve said about Toy Fair, our extended family includes “the serious ones, the funny ones, the wacky cousins, the kids who don’t get along, the cool aunts and uncles, the babies, the elders, and the rock stars with the ‘hit’ product or property of the moment.” At Licensing Expo you have all of that plus the second cousins, the third cousins, the friends from the old neighborhood, etc. It’s a party where stuff gets done.
Across the show floor and in the meeting rooms, the big surprise this year was the massive upswing in retail attendees, a factor I believe we’ll be hearing more about in the days ahead.
While retailers were always present, buying teams were out in force this year making unannounced surprise stops at many toy and game company booths. This increased retail presence led to some off-the-record conversations with some of my industry contacts who agree with the drum that I’ve been slamming on since January: The toy retail experience in the U.S. is in rough shape and has to be fixed fast.
How it’s gone so far off the rails is a bit of a mystery with no single answer, but the fact that international retailers are still delivering big statements and those oft-touted “surprise and delight” experiences on a regular basis should be a wake-up call for the domestic crowd.
And for those looking to make those big statements, inspiration was everywhere.
Aligning with recent trend reports — and the contents of our 2024 Licensing & Entertainment Issue — gaming and anime remain poised to shape entertainment content and consumer product licensing for many years.
Left: Paramount brought the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles van; Right: SEGA gave Sonic the Hedgehog’s Shadow a “Fearless” ride
It’s easy to get caught up in the nonstop pace of a schedule that spans early morning to late night, but it’s important to step back and take in just how much respect and appreciation is on display at Licensing Expo. It might be a business based on wheeling and dealing, but that means little without the great people fueling it — folks who truly appreciate one another and the contributions they make toward shared success.
On that note, I want to call out not only the team at Informa Markets for putting together a great show but also the hardworking men and women contracted by the Mandalay Bay Convention Center to make it all happen. These unsung heroes work weird schedules to do the heavy lifting in building and tearing down the trade shows. Having worked countless events in countless cities, I’ve never encountered a more positive group than the one in Las Vegas last week. Trade shows are important but without skilled members of the trades — carpenters, electricians, etc. — they would not exist.
*So about that saying, “What happens in Vegas…”
We may be a few years removed from the full-blown pandemic, but COVID-19 remains a real threat. I returned home to Illinois with a nasty case of the bug, my second bout following what I picked up at Toy Fair Dallas back in 2022 (which was even worse). Sadly, I’m not alone in this as I’ve already heard from several contacts who are also battling COVID-19 right now.
That said, another positive test this morning means that my plans to attend ASTRA Marketplace & Academy in St. Louis this year have been scrapped.
While I won’t be there in person, I will be there in spirit as The Toy Book’s 2024 Specialty Toys & Gifts Issue debuts Sunday, June 2, 2024! Marissa Silva will attend in my place alongside James “JD” Devin and Thomas Stephen Jr. from our marketing team. Should you see the crew on the show floor, be sure to say hello and let them fill you in on all the ways we can work together across The Toy Book and its consumer-facing sister publications, The Toy Insider and The Pop Insider.
Stay safe. Stay healthy. And stay on the #pulseofplay!
