Category Archives: Entertainment

Lifestyle brand HYPE partners with Hasbro to launch exclusive NERF capsule collection and accessories

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The popular lifestyle brand, HYPE. is continuing its collaborative efforts with global toy players, this time with the launch of a new capsule collection and line of limited edition blasters with Hasbro’s NERF franchise.

The 40-piece apparel and accessory kidswear collection boasts ‘all-over prints, reflective detailing, and unisex shapes for kids aged four to 14’ in a range that is designed for all genders while utilising NERF’s core colour palette of orange and blue. It’s a range that according to the firm, ‘cements NERF’s position in the fashion and lifestyle space.’

“We are delighted to be partnering with Hype on this much-anticipated fashion collaboration which supports our strategy to elevate NERF into a true lifestyle brand, for all genders,” saidSally Carnota, UK licensing director at Hasbro. “The collection showcases a blend of the Hype signature design with key NERF iconography and we are so excited for the launch.”

The range highlights HYPE.’s signature camouflage print with numerous NERF references, while boasting host of a graffiti-spray, galaxy space and gradient effects in t-shirts, crop tees, long-sleeved tees, hoodies, joggers, tracksuits, leggings and shorts. Meanwhile, the collection’s featured heat map print nods to thermal vision, displaying the inspiration behind the collection combined with additional features such as MA1 pockets, rip stop panels and pocket overlays.

In the accessories range, kids can stay hydrated with the reusable metal water bottles, designed with the collaboration’s core prints, with matching backpacks in HYPE.’s traditional shape and lunch boxes, finished with dart storage holders.

Alongside the collection, HYPE. x NERF have come together to gift a limited number of blasters designed in the heat map and graffiti prints, complete with co-branded darts to influencers and competition winners. These will not be available at retail.

The collaboration collection launches exclusively via HYPE.’s Shopping App, available on Android and Apple on May 27th 2021 and online at www.justhype.com and retailers around the world on May 28th 2021.

Disguise Inc partners with Funko to launch new Disguise Pop! masks range

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The dress up and costume specialist, Disguise Inc has detailed a global agreement with Funko to design, market, manufacture and distribute Pop! masks across North America, Europe, the Middle East, Oceania, South America, and Asia.

Initial designs for 2021 will feature iconic characters from major licensing partners like Warner Bros and Sony Pictures Entertainment.

The over-sized masks will take on the iconic aesthetic of Funko’s hit Pop! brand, each designed to be wearable and displayable, with limited runs of each style to drive collectability. Next year will see Disguise expand the line with additional licensors and more than 30 styles.

“Disguise is thrilled to be partnering with Funko on a truly break-frame product like our wearable Pop! Masks. The iconic Funko’s Pop! style translates to a really fun wearable product for cosplay and dress up occasions,” said Tara Hefter, president and GM of Disguise Inc.

“We know Funko fans and Halloween lovers will jump at the opportunity to wear, collect and display our new Pop! Masks.”

Jason Bischoff, director of global licensing at Funko, added: “We’ve spent years building up our business around fan-first collectability, community, and affordability. Pop! Masks are born from that same tradition, and just like our other products, Pop! Masks can be celebrated year round.

“It’s another massive opportunity for fans to wear or display their fandom and connect with their fellow pop culture enthusiasts.”

Disguise is a recognised world leader in design and development of inventive and cutting edge costumes and accessories with distribution across the world. Funko provides an array of exciting new and classic characters to create an amazing line of products.

Disguise’s Pop! Masks are now available for pre-order on Amazon in North America and Europe and will be available later this year on Funko.com. They will also be available in Australia, New Zealand and LATAM this fall.

Genius Brands acquires slate of classic content for Kartoon Channel! as it promotes Jon Ollwerther to channel president

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Genius Brands International is continuing to grow its content offering with the acquisition of a slate of animated hits, including The Adventures of Paddington Bear, Trollz, Super Matio Bros., and more. The new slate lands amid a raft of deals with content partners Nelvana, WildBrain, and ABC Australia.

The move follows a period of recent developments for Genius Brands International, who has not only seen the successful premiere of Stan Lee’s Super Hero Kindergarten, starring Arnold Schwarzenegger, on Kartoon Channel! but appointed a new president of the channel in the shape of Jon Ollwerther, previously Kartoon Channel’s general manager.

Ollwerther, president of Kartoon Channel, and EVP of business development of Genius Brands, said: “We are continuing to grow Kartoon Channel! each month, with more and more viewers enjoying what we believe is the very best combination of original, exclusive, and acquired content in the kid’s entertainment industry, including our hit Stan Lee’s Superhero Kindergarten, starring Arnold Schwarzenegger. 

“With Lou Fazio, former executive director of programming and acquisitions at Disney Channel, leading the charge, we are excited about our content pipeline, including 240 hours of newly acquired content from partners, including WildBrain, ABC Australia, and Nelvana, which will begin to premier on Kartoon Channel! in June.”

The new content acquisitions for Kartoon Channel! include classic and new popular series and feature films. From WildBrain, Genius Brands has licensed the rights toSuper Mario Bros.,  The Adventures of Paddington Bear, Trollz, Madeline, and Liberty’s Kids.

From Nelvana, movies and series acquired for Kartoon Channel! include Donkey Kong Country, movie specials from the Franklin franchise, including Franklin and the Green Knight, Franklin and the Turtle Lake Treasure, A Franklin and Friends Adventure: Polar Explorer, A Franklin and Friends Adventure: Deep Sea Voyage, Franklin Back to School, and Franklin’s Magic Christmas, and lastly, The Santa Clause Brothers movie special.

ABC Australia has licensed to the Kartoon Channel! the rights to The Wiggles World, Wiggle Pop special (75 mins), among others.

BBC Studios bolsters Hey Duggee toy line up with MV Sports and new launches from HTI

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MV Sports has become the latest name in toys to sign up with the popular BBC Studio preschool property, Hey Duggee in a new deal to produce a range of branded scooters, ride-ons, and bikes.

The first wave of product will launch at retail this autumn, joining the existing toy partner portfolio comprising HTI, who itself now prepares to release a new role play range for 2022. Both deals mark a shift of gear for the Hey Duggee property in the toy space.

HTI was brought on board earlier this year to create a range of licensed Hey Duggee outdoor toys, including The Bubble Flurry, Bubble Bucket, and Patio Chairs. Other Hey Duggee categories due to launch later this year from HTI include character shaped cases, which feature a medical set and stampers of key characters, as well as a range of musical instruments.

HTI will continue to invest in its Hey Duggee role play toy range, with more tooled products set to launch in 2022 and beyond.

Devised by Studio AKA, the multiple BAFTA and Emmy award-winning preschool series Hey Duggee was the most-watched kids’ show of the year on BBC iPlayer in 2020 with over 192 million requests. Year to date in 2021, Hey Duggee continues to be a top performing children’s show on BBC iPlayer and CBeebies each month.

The official Hey Duggee YouTube channel recently surpassed one million subscribers.

Julie Kekwick, senior licensing manager at BBC Studios said: “I am thrilled to have MV Sports and HTI  on board. Their products reflect Hey Duggee’s core brand essence of encouraging imaginative play and  fun outdoor adventure and I’m in no doubt fans will love them.

“The ever increasing popularity of the show is reflected in sales of licensed consumer products. NPD recently reported Hey Duggee toy sales doubling year on year in the first three months of 2021. This success can be attributed to our Master Toy partner Golden Bear seeing UK Trade sales grow by 97 per cent in 2020 and an order book showing an increase of 70 per cent so far in 2021.”

Phil Ratcliff, joint managing director at MV Sports, added: “We are delighted to be partnering with BBC  Studios on Hey Duggee! With an exceptional time slot on CBeebies, outstanding BBC iPlayer ratings and a history of strong toy sales, Hey Duggee is showing all the signs of becoming a classic.

“Loved by both parents and children alike, Hey Duggee has the perfect awareness profile for strong and sustained  wheeled and outdoor toy sales.”

Hey Duggee boasts an impressive global footprint in over 150 territories, while licensing agents and European toy partners have recently been secured for both France and Spain, with launches planned for later this year.

Gaming phenomenon Exploding Kittens makes licensing move with Universal and Illumination’s Minions

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The analogue games manufacturer, Exploding Kittens – recognised for setting the record with the most backed game on Kickstarter to date – is eyeing a new move into licensing with the launch its Exploding Minions game next month.

Developed in partnership with Universal Brand Development and Illumination, the new titles puts a Minions spin on the globally popular card game, bringing in elements from the hit franchise to the tabletop gaming phenomenon.

In an interview with ToyNews, Exploding Kittens international director of sales has hinted that this could be just the start of a new licensing endeavour from Exploding Kittens, who will be measuring the success of the licensed game as a marker for its future pursuits in the licensing space.

“We are trying a few new things as we focus on the UK market this year,” said Hoste. “One of them is that this year, for the first time, we are supplying an entertainment license to the Exploding Kittens franchise. We will have an Exploding Minions game launching this year, in June, as a fun way to reposition the game with a broader appeal.

“It will be exciting to see what that does, and if it is successful we will continue to pursue those kinds of changes within our portfolio.”

Exploding Kittens burst onto the scene in 2015 when it set records as the most backed game on the crowdfunding platform, Kickstarter to date. Six years later, the kittens’ explosion is still expanding with ten games to the company’s portfolio, 45 countries on the roster, and new headway being made in the licensing space, both inbound and out.

The outward licensing and franchise building around Exploding Kittens’ game portfolio continues to gain traction. Further products are currently in development across both the Exploding Kittens and the Throw Throw Burrito (a card game meets dodgeball) for later this year, while the company recently made the move to digital gaming.

Exploding Kittens has become one of the latest tabletop games to make the leap to the Nintendo Switch with a digital version of the game in a move that “has the potential to grow the audience size for Exploding Kittens exponentially.”

Plans are now already in place to bring more of the company’s titles to the gaming platform in the coming months and years, tapping into a strong trend to translating popular physical game titles to the digital space.

Read the full interview with Exploding Kittens’ Joeri Hoste here or in the Spring/Summer issue of ToyNews.

Aardman lines up raft of new partners including online cheese retailer Pong Cheese

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The multi-award winning independent animation studio, Aardman, has secured a raft of new licensing deals for Wallace & Gromit and Shaun the Sheep, spanning a range of core categories, including an officially licensed cheese box.

The studio has lifted the lid on a new partnership with the online cheese retailer, Pong Cheese that will see the launch of a Wallace & Gromit themed cheese box, a variety box containing a selection of the pair’s favourite cheeses. It’s joined by a partnership with the online pet fashion store, Urban Pup for a raft of on trend dog items.

Meanwhile, Shaun the Sheep and the Scout Store have come together to celebrate a mutual love of adventure, creating an exciting range of apparel and accessories to be sold via the Scout Shop network. The collection will be available to purchase this summer.

Also in development is an Aardman arts and craft magazine from specialist children’s publisher Signature Publishing. The new deal will mark the first time that all of the Aardman characters will be brought together to celebrate the creativity that goes into each of Aardman’s popular film titles. The magazine will include pens, modelling clay, crafting activities and colouring pages, and launches in August, in time for the summer holidays.

Aardman continues to work with licensees on design guides and assets targeted at specific market sectors, and this clutch of new deals underpins the effectiveness of this strategy.

Ian Downes from Start Licensing said: “Taking a bespoke and focussed approach to new business development has been rewarding in our work with Aardman. We have prioritised developing new deals with licensees that can benefit from using Aardman’s characters in a way that maximises their effectiveness in the market.

“Wallace & Gromit are closely linked with cheese and the product is an integral part of the characters’ storylines. With this in mind, working with a specialist like Pong Cheese makes perfect sense.”

Spotting Wallace & Gromit’s renowned love of artisan cheese, Pong Cheese has seized the opportunity to align the duo with its own proposition of celebrating hand-made cheese and supporting artisan cheesemakers.

“This allowed Pong Cheese to amplify its marketing message whilst delivering a great new product to its consumers,” contiued Downes. “Meanwhile, Gromit is a natural fit for dog wear and accessories, as one of the UK’s most recognisable dogs.”

Elsewhere, Signature Publishing’s Aardman themed arts and craft magazine has been billed as “a natural development” for the brand, drawing on Aardman’s “tremendous archive of arts and craft material” as well as its “proven pedigree in the category.”

“Working with the Scout Store and developing a co-branded range with Shaun the Sheep makes creative sense. The two are a good match thematically,” concluded Downes.

Stateside | Panini America and Funko to launch Funko Pop! Trading Cards

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Collectables giants Funko and Panini America are witnessing their worlds collide, as the pair come together to launch a new Pop! product line, Funko Pop! Trading Card collection that will span multiple sports.

Launching later this year, the initial series will feature six NBA players and six NFL players, hitting retailers across the US in time for the Christmas shopping season.

The introduction of Funko Pop! Trading Card will incorporate Panini’s popular Prizm trading card brand for both the NBA and NFL. Similar to the popular Pop! Albums and Pop! Comic Covers, Pop! Trading Card will feature the Panini Prizm trading card art packaged together in a protective case that can be hung on a wall.

The Pop! Vinyl figure will replicate the poses from the player imagery from their respective Prizm trading cards.

“We are excited to enter into this collaboration with Funko, the success of our Panini trading cards in the collectible space along with the success that Funko is experiencing in the vinyl figure collectibles space, makes this the ideal collaboration for sports fans and consumers,” said Jason Howarth, vice president of marketing of Panini America.

Funko’s manager of brand licensing, Matt Lattier, added: “This is the perfect union of two amazing collector bases. The strength of what Panini is doing in the trading card space and Funko’s passionate fan base provides trading card and Pop! collectors the opportunity to display their fandom in a unique way.”

Popular preschool property Tractor Ted rolls into Signature Publishing’s Adventures With partnership

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Tractor Ted, the popular YouTube preschool series, is rolling into the magazine aisles from next month, becoming the focus of the latest Adventures With magazine from Signature Publishing.

Adventures With Tractor Ted will feature the popular little green tractor that continues to gain momentum in the preschool space with its hit series centered on exploring the farm, teaching children about animals, the country, nature, seasons, food, and farm machinery.

Tractor Ted boasts its own YouTube channel, toy range, books and live appearances, and has become a hit with children across the UK with famous fans including Clare Balding and Ben Fogle.

The Adventures With Tractor Ted magazine will bring the series’ farming fun and discovery to its pages with stories, cooking, puzzles, colouring activities, crafts, facts, and more. The magazine supports Hungry Little Minds, the Department for Education’s drive to improve the communication, literacy and language skills of preschool children, while all activities in the magazine are created to support and develop early years learning.

The issue will also come with an interactive sticker sheet and a toy fruit play-set.

“We are big fans of Tractor Ted, so we’re so excited to be publishing a magazine that’s dedicated to him,” said Amanda Clifford, Signature Publishing’s editorial director. “It’s got everything that young children love – funny stories, loads and loads to do, things to make, cute animals and lots of awesome tractors and farm machines. In the words of Tractor Ted, the magazine is Teducational and totally Tedtastic.”

Alexandra Heard, Tractor Ted’s co-founder and creative director, added: “Producing a dedicated Tractor Ted magazine is crazily exciting and we just love the opportunities that this will bring. The whole ethos of Tractor Ted is to introduce young children to real life farming in a fun, gentle and engaging way.

“We couldn’t have asked for better than to team up with Signature Publishing. To say that we’re totally thrilled would be an understatement – dare we say that we’re like pigs in clover?!”

Signature Publishing’s Adventures With is a preschool focused title with changing themes each month. Adventure With Tractor Ted is on sale from June 10th.

Barbie on a mission to grow licensing portfolio in Japan with fashion name ITOCHU

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Mattel is looking to expand the global licensing programme for its iconic fashion doll brand, Barbie, having entered into a multi-year agreement with ITOCHU for the Japanese market.

ITOCHU is a recognised leader in the region’s fashion sector with a portfolio that currently boasts over 100 well-known fashion brands, including the likes of Paul Smith, FILA, and LeSportsac. Under the partnership, Barbie will look to expand into fashion related product launches and brand collaborations across Japan.

“For more than 60 years, Barbie has proven herself as a timely and timeless fixture in pop culture globally,” said Roz Nowicki, head of global consumer products and franchise marketing, Mattel. 

“ITOCHU’s leadership in the fashion industry in Japan makes them the perfect partner for Barbie. We look forward to working with the ITOCHU team to further drive Barbie’s fashion and purposeful narratives in this important market.”

In a statement issued this week, ITOCHU said: “Barbie’s brand philosophy – about empowering the limitless potential in every girl – is highly relevant in Japan. We look forward to partnering with Mattel to promote this brand purpose and develop a range of products and programs for Japanese consumers with high fashion sensibilities, further increasing the reach of the Barbie brand in Japan.”

Barbie has always been at the intersection of fashion and pop culture, and continues to represent global diversity in the fashion doll aisle by showcasing a multi-dimensional view of beauty and fashion. Named the 2020 Top Global Toy Property of the Year, according to the NPD group, the brand engages consumers through new product innovation, cultural relevance, digital dialog, and the celebration of female role models.

Amazon reaches agreement to acquire MGM Studios in $8.45bn deal

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Amazon has reached a deal to acquire MGM Studios for $8.45 billion, the second largest acquisition ever for the online goliath and one that sees Amazon take up MGM’s vast catalogue of some 4,000 films and blockbuster franchises, including James Bond.

The deal represents a major milestone in the tech giant’s push into the entertainment space, significantly strengthening the company’s portfolio of films and content, adding to the library that Amazon has already built through its own movie studio.

It is the latest acquisition to take place amid the ongoing battle for eyeballs among streaming giants like Netflix,  Disney, and the resultant streaming platform to launch following WarnerMedia’s acquisition of Discovery’s earlier this month. Other tech giants such as Apple and Netflix had reportedly eyes an MGM takeover, but passed on the chance.

The $8.45 billion deal marks the second largest acquisition made by Amazon to date, behind its $13.7 billion Whole Foods deal. It now gives Amazon access to MGM’s vast catalog of classic Hollywood films like Gone With the Wind, The Wizard of Oz, Singin’ in the Rain, Rocky, Silence of the Lambs, and Pink Panther.

MGM also shares the film rights of the James Bond franchise with Eon Productions – a holding company owned by the Wilson/Broccoli family – which will retain creative control over the spy film series.

The announcement notes that the deal will be completed after “regulatory approvals.”

“MGM has a vast catalog with more than 4,000 films. . . that have collectively won more than 180 Academy Awards and 100 Emmys,” said Mike Hopkins, Amazon’s senior vice president of Prime Video and Amazon Studios. “The real financial value behind this deal is the treasure trove of IP in the deep catalog that we plan to reimagine and develop together with MGM’s talented team. It’s very exciting and provides so many opportunities for high-quality storytelling.”

“It has been an honor to have been a part of the incredible transformation of Metro Goldwyn Mayer. To get here took immensely talented people with a true belief in one vision. On behalf of the Board, I would like to thank the MGM team who have helped us arrive at this historic day,” said Kevin Ulrich, chairman of the board of directors of MGM.

“I am very proud that MGM’s Lion, which has long evoked the Golden Age of Hollywood, will continue its storied history, and the idea born from the creation of United Artists lives on in a way the founders originally intended, driven by the talent and their vision. The opportunity to align MGM’s storied history with Amazon is an inspiring combination.”

Amazon’s decision to acquire MGM comes hot on the heels of another major Hollywood tie-up in which AT&T agreed to spin off its media division WarnerMedia and merge it with Discovery in a $43 billion deal. That deal aims to create a global streaming giant to rival the likes of Amazon, Disney and Netflix.