Blog - Page 78 of 1504 - The Toy Book

McFarlane Toys, UFC Team Up for New Collectibles

Iconic athletes and moments from UFC history are joining McFarlane Toys’ latest lineup of licensed collectibles.

The line will include 6-inch, ultra-detailed, and posed physical and digital action figures.

“Since UFC burst onto the sports scene, this brand has been growing bigger and bigger every year. It now stands as one of the premier brands in sports, as hundreds of millions of fans globally have embraced its thrilling, non-stop action. For us to be able to do some cool things with authentic-looking figures, both physically and digitally, it’s going to be a real treat.”

— Todd McFarlane, Founder and CEO of McFarlane Toys

“UFC fans are among the most passionate in all of sports and we are confident in McFarlane’s ability to deliver authenticity to our fans with a collection of unique, accurately crafted figures, inspired by some of UFC’s most elite athletes,” says Tracey Bleczinski, Senior Vice President of Global Consumer Products at UFC.

The collectibles are expected to be available this fall online and at select retailers with digital collectibles redeemable at mcfarlanetoys.digital.

Meet with The Toy Book and The Pop Insider at Licensing Expo!

Viva Las Vegas!

The Toy Book and The Pop Insider are headed to Las Vegas for Licensing Expo, taking place May 21-23, 2024 at the Mandalay Bay Convention Center.

Stop by Booth No. G234 to pick up the new issues of The Toy Book and The Pop Insider (while supplies last) and to meet Vice President & Group Publisher Jackie Breyer; Toy Book Editor-in-Chief James Zahn; Pop Insider Editor-in-Chief Ali Mierzejewski; and Senior Sales & Marketing Executive Stephanie Infantino.

Our team, part of Adventure Media & Events, is eager to discuss ways to collaborate to reach audiences across the trade (B2B) and consumer audiences across print, digital, TV, and live events.

Schedules are filling up fast, so please be sure to reach out or connect with us on the Licensing Expo meeting platform.

See you in Las Vegas!

PMI Kids’ World’s Pudgy Penguins Toys Arrive at Target

PMI Kids’ World’s Pudgy Penguins toys have made their way to Target.

Pudgy Penguins debuted last May on several e-commerce sites. Following the online release, the brand launched in more than 3,100 Walmart locations nationwide last September. Now, the NFT-based toy line is available in Target stores, including Pudgy Toys and newly licensed Lil Pudgys.

Mona Kimona | Source: PMI Kids' World

Beanie Billie | Source: PMI Kids' World

Tropical Tammy | Source: PMI Kids' World

Chef Featherpot | Source: PMI Kids' World

Chilly Charliebird | Source: PMI Kids' World

King Poncho Pengu | Source: PMI Kids' World

Target is now offering fans six different Pudgy Toys clip-on plush. The Pudgy Penguins brand features toys known for their NFT tie-in. Going beyond exclusively digital NFTs, each Pudgy Penguins toy includes a QR code that grants access to new traits in Pudgy World, an online adventure game powered by the zkSync Era blockchain. Players can customize their penguin characters, participate in quests, and more.

PMI Kids’ World released Series 2 of its Pudgy Penguin products earlier this year. Both Series 1 and Series 2 include plush as well as figures.

Pudgy Penguins also recently launched the OverpassIP licensing platform, where fans of the brand can submit their NFTs to be considered for future Pudgy Toys. The new Target toys include community Penguins licensed through OverpassIP.

“This expansion into Target, a leader in retail innovation, signifies more than just growth; it underscores our drive to widen the Pudgy Penguins community, attracting a diverse new audience to our IP,” says Luca Netz, CEO of Pudgy Penguins.

The new Pudgy Penguins toys are available at Target stores now.

BBC Studios, Moose Toys Extend Licensing Deal for ‘Bluey’

BBC Studios, the company with global distribution and merchandise rights to the preschool series Bluey, has renewed its multiyear global licensing deal with Moose Toys. Moose Toys will remain the global master toy partner for Bluey in all territories.

The renewal follows the success of Moose Toys’ current Bluey toy line, the premiere of “The Sign,” an extended Bluey special, and the announcement that a collection of “Bluey Minisodes” will debut this summer. According to Nielson Insights, Bluey was the most streamed kids show in the U.S. last year.

Moose Toys’ Heeler Celebration Home. | Source: Moose Toys

Moose Toys’ current Bluey collection includes plush, mini playsets, figure and vehicle packs, action heroes, and more.

“Moose’s translation of the Bluey brand is best-in-class,” says Andrew Carley, Director of Global Licensing at BBC Studios. “They continue to consistently deliver brilliant products that captivate young imaginations and inspire unparalleled play experiences that celebrate the spirit of Bluey perfectly.”

Moose Toys’ fall Bluey collection will align with BBC Studios’ 2024 Bluey theme: Family Trip. Kids can take the Heeler family to a pretend resort vacation with a 3-in-1 airplane playset and collect new plush products, including like Pilot Bluey, Travel Bingo, and Princess Muffin. The new Heeler Celebration Home, a two-level playset, and new wooden toys and games will also be available soon.

“Bluey has become a fixture in millions of homes, celebrating our unique Aussie way of life,” says Paul Solomon, CEO, Moose Toys. “From backyard [barbeques] to family adventures, Bluey reminds us to play and not take ourselves too seriously, all things we embrace at Moose. Who better to bring the spirit of Bluey to life than a family-run, Aussie toy company like us.”

Moose Toys’ Bluey collection is available at moosetoys.com. Bluey is available to stream on Disney+.

Gray Matters Releases Slip It In Party Game

Gray Matters Games’ newest game engages players in some strange conversations.

In the game, Slip It In, players each get five slips featuring random phrases, including “pocket jerky,” “Man glitter,” “I don’t trust people who eat candy corn,” and more. As the players have conversations, they must find ways to slip their random phrases into the conversation without getting caught. The first player to use all five of their phrases wins.

Players have to work their phrases seamlessly into conversation. | Source: Gray Matters

Players have to work random phrases seamlessly into conversation. | Source: Gray Matters

“This game is right on trend as people look for fun and flexible ways to connect again,” says Joe Barron, Co-Founder of Gray Matters Games. “Coming out of the pandemic, consumers are focusing again on experiences – this game can be played right along those experiences, sparking hilarity with family and friends.”

Gray Matters will showcase Slip It In at Gen Con in August as a featured exhibitor in the show’s Entrepreneur Avenue. Slip It In is available now for $22.99 at Amazon, graymattersgames.com, and independent toy and game stores.

FAO Schwarz Opens First Paris Location

FAO Schwarz has opened its first store in Paris, located on the fifth floor of Galeries Lafayette Paris Haussmann.

Parisian locals and tourists will be greeted by the diverse range of products at the 7,000-square-foot FAO Schwarz, from plush toys in all sizes to a wide selection of educational and creative toys spanning 24 major toy brands, including Steiff, LEGO, Corolle, and more.

As with the brand’s other locations, visitors will encounter FAO’s signature toy soldiers in a red and black-themed store. There is also the iconic grand piano and the clock tower with six mini clocks that chime simultaneously with clocks in other stores worldwide.

The Paris store will also offer six new experiences, including Barbie Styles by You, My FAO Doll, Build Your Car by Marjorette, Build-A-Bear, Jelly Cat, and Bunnies by the Bay.

“Our mission at FAO Schwarz is to inspire awe and wonder around every corner of the store, and we’re excited to bring that same experience to Paris,” says David Niggli, Chief Merchandising Officer at FAO Schwarz. “Visitors can expect to find world-class specialty toys and interactive experiences along with our amazing team of demonstrators and Toy Soldiers to bring them to life in the most theatrical, magical way.”

The opening comes from a partnership created in 2021, when ThreeSixty, the owner of the FAO Schwarz brand, agreed to hand over exclusive management of the European license to PRG Retail Group. ThreeSixty Group’s expertise joined PRG Retail Group’s distribution know-how and knowledge of the European market regarding in-store and online experiences. ThreeSixty and PRG Retail Group made this shared vision a reality by first opening a store in Milan in 2021 and now the Paris store.

“Following the arrival of FAO Schwarz in the heart of Milan in 2021, marking the brand’s entry into continental Europe, we have long sought another location that could fully embody the brand’s DNA,” says Amedeo Giustini, Executive Vice President of PRG Retail Group. “”Paris and Galeries Lafayette Haussmann perfectly represent the answer to the objective we have pursued together with ThreeSixty Group. A prime destination for luxury icons, it is the perfect setting to introduce the uniqueness of FAO Schwarz to the French and millions of tourists. A name that, together with the high quality and uniqueness of its products, offers its audience something that goes beyond the material and carries with it the experiential value of discovery and wonder. This is an important new milestone that will help strengthen our presence and strategy in the French territory, a large market that we have always presided over thanks to our participation in King Jouet, a leading toy specialist brand.”

The Paris location is open seven days a week. For more information, visit faoschwarz.com.

WowWee, Hasbro Launch Summer Water Line

Hasbro and WowWee have unveiled their summer water-based products. The companies are focusing on splash games such as the Battleship Blast and the NERF Super Soaker collection, which features three new additions including Nano Soakers, the Hydroburst Hose Blaster, and the Quadblast Hose Blaster.

The companies expanded Battleship Blast’s ($9.99) retail reach following its 2023 launch, and the outdoor toy is available for this summer as well. Kids ages 6 and up can choose red or blue, then try to sink their opponent’s ship by shooting water at it with the included water blasters.

Kids can have mini battles with NERF Super Soaker Nano Soakers. | Source: WowWee

There are also new additions to the NERF Super Soaker collection. Kids can battle with NERF Super Soaker Nano Soakers, which are mini versions of the CPS-1000 and XP100. The micro water blasters are available separately ($4.99) and in multipacks.

“With affordability more important than ever, we developed this year’s line with value in mind,” says Dominique Fleurant, Brand Manager for Outdoor Toys at WowWee. “We sought to pack as much innovation and play value into each item, while staying true to the fan-favorite classics.”

The NERF Super Soaker Hydroburst Hose Blaster ($19.99) and Quadblast Hose Blaster ($9.99) were also recently added to the NERF Super Soaker collection. Both products rely on hose power: The Hydroburst features a shoulder mount design and two ways to blast, while the Quadblast features a rotating head and four ways to spray water.

“Nostalgia is a powerful trend in toys, especially when you have strong brands like ours that are loved by multiple generations,” says Bradley Bowman, Senior Director, Global Toy and Game, Licensed Consumer Products at Hasbro. “This collaboration leverages those nostalgic feelings for both NERF Super Soaker and Hasbro Gaming to create backyard play experiences that resonate with the whole family.”

The water toys are available now at major retailers, including Amazon.

Jellycat Extends Offerings with New Baby Jellycat Range

Jellycat, the popular London-based plush brand, has introduced its newborn and infant line, Baby Jellycat.

Baby Jellycat is divided into two product lines: “core” and “luxe.” Eight core characters comprise the new range, including the “Bashful” characters, the Amusables Sun and Moon, its popular IP Bartholomew Bear, and Cordy Roy characters, such as Baby Lion, Baby Elephant, and Baby Dino. The characters and products are intended as some of the very first products and playthings a child has, such as rattlers, soothers, music pulls, fabric baby books, and blankets.

Popular IP Bartholomew Bear appears throughout the range. | Source: Baby Jellycat

Products for newborns and infants populate the collection. | Source: Baby Jellycat

Fabric books round out the collection. | Source: Baby Jellycat

Prices span from $14 to $106 across the core and luxe Baby Jellycat products, with personalization options for consumers as well as gift sets in gold tissue and ribbon-set boxes. The core line incorporates a sustainable initiative, with all the characters’ bodies made of 100% recycled fibers. The luxe range features products made of extra-soft, velvet-esque material.

Jellycat itself has excelled on social media platforms like TikTok, where the tag “Jellycat” has garnered over 50 million posts. To view the new Baby Jellycat collection and other offerings from the brand, visit the Jellycat website.

Rummikub Rumble: Goliath Strikes Back on Hasbro, Lemada Light Deal

There’s a ripple in the game aisle this morning.

Following yesterday’s news that Lemada Light Industries inked a deal with Hasbro Gaming for North American distribution of Rummikub, a statement from Goliath Group CEO Jochanan Golad claims that’s Rummikub rubbish. See Golad’s statement in full, below:

“Pressman, part of the Goliath Group, would like to address and correct certain statements made publicly in trade publications, and privately to various of our customers, regarding a purported transfer of the exclusive rights to manufacture and sell Rummikub in North America.

Please know that Pressman still holds the exclusive licensing rights to Rummikub in the United States and Canada, which it has held for over 45 years. While Pressman is currently involved in litigation addressing those rights, we believe that the law is clear that, while this litigation plays out, Pressman’s exclusive rights remain intact. Indeed, on May 10, 2024, a court in New York State agreed with Pressman’s objection and rejected an attempt to prohibit Pressman from manufacturing and selling Rummikub in North America.

As such, please be assured that Pressman’s operations related to Rummikub are continuing without interruption, and it remains fully equipped to sell and supply Rummikub, ensuring that it can fulfill orders and uphold the level of service and support that Pressman’s customers have come to expect.”
— Jochanan Golad, CEO, Goliath Group

While this is bound to play out via the legal system in the coming months, may I recommend settling things in a more civilized manner? Perhaps a game of Rummikub? How about a best-of-three series?

ABC Kids Expo: Dr. Lisa Brands Brings ‘Love You Forever’ Magic to Everyday Baby Essentials

The Dr. Lisa Brands Co. has been named the master licensee for McGraw Studios’ Love You Forever brand, based on the children’s book from author Robert Munsch and illustrator Sheila McGraw that has sold more than 36 million copies.

“You love the book; now experience the brand,” says Dr. Lisa Williams, CEO and Founder of The Dr. Lisa Brands Co. “We met Sheila McGraw nearly a year ago and are beyond excited to work together to expand coveted themes from the cherished book into a relatable product line for parents and children alike.”

The award-winning toy manufacturer will produce and distribute a range of products inspired by the book, including infant toys, apparel, nursery accessories, bedding, bibs, swaddles, plush toys, shower gifts, and party items.

“This marks a fresh chapter for Love You Forever — both the book and the brand,” McGraw says. “Dr. Lisa’s dedication and belief in our brand make The Dr. Lisa Brands Co. the perfect partner to launch the nascent brand. Together, we are poised to take the book’s magic and sentiment and introduce it into the everyday lives of families everywhere.”

Dr. Lisa Brands will showcase its plans for Love You Forever at Booth 575 during the ABC Kids Expo in Las Vegas from May 15-18, 2024.

Visitors can also pick up a copy of the 2024 edition of The BIG Toy Book at ABC Kids Expo, while supplies last!

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