Moose Toys and Warner Bros. launch full Space Jam: A New Legacy toy line with play-sets, figures, plush and more

Moose Toys and Warner Bros. Consumer Products have released the full line of toys based on this year’s big movie release, Space Jam: A New Legacy, starring LeBron James and his Tune Squad team as they face down the newly launches Goon Squad.

The toys have been launched ahead of the release of the film this year, in a move – according to Moose Toys’ senior director of global marketing, licensed brands, Joe Smith, to “fuel enthusiasm for Space Jam: A New Legacy this year.”

Moose Toys released first details of the Space Jam toy line up, featuring LeBron James and the Tune Squad. With the launch of the complete collection, the firm has released the latest update on its line-up of baddies, the Goon Squad, as well as extended collectable lines.

The Goon Squad line-up includes ‘super-enhanced’ animated versions of real-life basketball all-stars playing to win within the Warner 3000 entertainment digital ‘serververse.’ The line-up includes Chronos, White Mamba, Arachnneka, Wet/Fire, and The Brow, each with their own abilities to tie the Tune Squad in knots.

“Launching the toy line ahead of the movie’s release fuels the enthusiasm for ‘Space Jam: A New Legacy.’ This gives fans a chance to create their own Tune Squad versus Goon Squad action play and lets them get familiar with this cast of characters,” said Joe Smith, senior director of global marketing, licensed brands, Moose Toys.

“The Goon Squad toys bring their onscreen counterparts to life in vivid detail. The action figures show off their intimidating appearance and each one’s special ability in ‘wicked’ detail. But can Goons defeat Tunes? Fans will have to wait for the movie to watch this epic match up play out, but until then they can use their imaginations to create their own epic games and endings.”

Taking on the Goon Squad is a stacked Tune Squad full of fan favorites. Space Jam: A New Legacy features basketball star LeBron James alongside Looney Tunes’ greatest characters of all time, led by Bugs Bunny and Lola Bunny.

The extensive line of Space Jam: A New Legacy toys includes action figures, play-sets, collectibles, plush characters and more, including Goo Heroes, which are inspired by Moose Toys’ Heroes of Goo Jit Zu.

It also includes the Super Shoot and Dunk LeBron James featuring a high-flying action figure that jumps, dunks and hangs-on-the-rim, just like LeBron’s character in the film.

Titleist becomes licensed golf ball partner for Rugby League World Cup 2021

The leading golf ball brand, Titleist has landed a partnership with Rugby League World Cup 2021 to provide personalised golf balls for the new event that will see the men’s, women’s, and wheelchair tournaments run concurrently for the first time this October 23rd to November 27th.

Under the licensing partnership, Titleist will now give golfers the chance to add the tournament logo or any of the participating teams’ marks to their golf ball line-up via the My Titleist platform, consisting of the Pro V1, Pro V1x and AVX, as well as a the Tour Speed, Tour Soft, Velocity, and TruFeel golf balls.

Titleist joins a roster of brands partnering with RLWC2021 including apparel, accessories, publishing and collectibles, ahead of what promises to be the biggest and best Rugby League World Cup to date.  

Edward Shirley, Titleist corporate sales manager, said: “Partnering with a world first event like this demonstrates Titleist’s determination to join forces with globally recognised properties to help increase awareness and engagement across multiple sports and audiences.

“The partnership is an extremely exciting one for Titleist and we look forward to working with the Rugby League World Cup this year.” 

Jonathan Neill, commercial director at RLWC2021, added: “Titleist is a brand that symbolises sporting excellence, and another partner who shares our vision in delivering the biggest and best Rugby League World Cup ever.  

“Titleist are not only committed to producing industry leading products but have also demonstrated a desire to collaborate with other sports and major events through their customisation offering and digital platform which will support the tournament’s ambition of reaching new audiences.” 

Not only does this partnership provide golfers with the opportunity to show their support for the event and their nation, it also allows them to play the leading golf balls in the market. 

Aconyte Books partners with Fantasy Flight Games to launch new Arkham Horror and Legend of the Five Rings titles

Asmodee Entertainment publishing imprint, Aconyte, has teamed with Fantasy Flight Games to release four new omnibus collections of the well-loved Arkham Horror and Legend of the Five Rings novellas from this autumn.

Originally published as limited edition hardbacks, this is the first time these intriguing stories have been available in a mass-market edition.

The first title, Arkham Horror: Dark Origins features the Investigator tales Hour of the Huntress, The Dirge of Reason, Ire of the Void, and The Deep Gate. All bring glimpses of the eldritch terrors lurking beneath that most mysterious and blighted New England town.

Written by a quartet of notable tie-in fiction authors, Dark Origins will be published in the US and Canada on October 19th and on December 18th in the UK.

Fantasy Flight Games is excited that Aconyte is collecting our novellas for the first time in trade paperback format and is offering these stories to a wider audience,” said Katrina Ostrander, FFG’s creative director of story and setting. “The Dark Origins collection is the perfect introduction to the investigators from the acclaimed Arkham Horror board and card games, and all of these novellas were crafted with input from the FFG designers on the Arkham Horror story team.”

The Legend of the Five Rings setting brings fans The Great Clans of Rokugan, collecting three published novellas together for the first time, as well as a brand new and keenly awaited unpublished novella. The volume features the Clan stories Ice and Snow, The Sword and the Spirits, Whispers of Shadow and Steel, and Across the Burning Sands. Written in conjunction with the ongoing storyline of Legend of the Five Rings: The Card Game, they bring tales of samurai, assassins and wild magic from across the fantastical lands of Rokugan.

Written by mixture of established Legend of the Five Rings fiction authors and members of  FFG’s story team, The Great Clans of Rokugan will publish in the US and Canada on November 23rd and on January 21st 2022 in the UK.

These first volumes will be available in trade paperback and ebook formats. Unlike FFG’s original limited-run novellas, these story collections will not contain game cards. Two further collections are planned for spring 2022. A variety of translated editions are being planned with Aconyte’s European publishing partners.

At the beginning of 2019, Aconyte was announced as Fantasy Flight Games’ fiction partner for original novels, creating new adventures based around its most famous and imaginative games Arkham Horror, Twilight Imperium, Legend of the Five Rings, Descent: Legends of the Dark, and KeyForge.

More announcements are expected as Aconyte’s range of world-expanding fiction expands further.

TOMY named master toy partner for Netflix’s popular pre-school series BUDDI

TOMY International has been named the master toy partner for the popular Netflix pre-school series, BUDDI. The launch will arrive courtesy of a partnership between the toy maker and Unanico and Raydar Media.

BUDDI is an animated series aimed at kids aged four years old and under that looks to deliver emotional intelligence through the lens of imagination and non-verbal cues. It follows the adventures of five friends, each bright and colourful, as they experience the simplest moments of life for the first time.

Currently with two seasons available on Netflix, more seasons are planned as the show opens to other linear, SVOD and AVOD platforms around the world. Furthermore, BUDDI was nominated for a 2020 Annie Award in the TV/Media Preschool category for the “Snow” episode.

“We’re thrilled to be working on this new opportunity with Unanico and Raydar Media,” said TOMY’s director of global brands, Morgan Weyl.

“BUDDI meets the trends that are impacting the toy market right now, from education, music, zen-sational themes, and socially conscious play. With the highly recognizable characters that have captured audiences around the world, these unique and thoughtfully designed characters will stand out on shelf.”

The core values of BUDDI fit right in line with TOMY’s portfolio of brands. TOMY has a longstanding history of creating toys that are focused on toddler development through play, which include both the Lamaze and Toomies lines.

Building a world of toys with unique character identities that also promote sensory discovery, emotional intelligence, along with being fun, playable and developmentally appropriate, is a hallmark for the company.

For BUDDI, TOMY will introduce a line of innovative toys for toddlers focused on bringing the unique DNA of the brand, along with the emotional and developmental aspects of BUDDI’s characters to markets around the world.

Paul Laikin, Unanico’s managing director and producer of Buddi said: “We are delighted to be working with the team at Tomy, a company that really understands the values of Buddi, and has the deep creative and commercial experience necessary to bring toys to Buddi’s young fans around the world.”

Baby and parent product label Marcus & Marcus eyes licensing move into toys, fashion, kitchen and more

The baby and parent product label, Marcus & Marcus is taking its first steps into the licensing space, having appointed LMG to help build brand awareness through a programme of new licensing partnerships.

Developed by two parents, Marcus & Marcus is recognised for its bold, bright and engaging animal friends designed to kep children engaged.  The brand strives to help families take on the challenges of parenting and simplify the everyday chaos.

Drawing from the brand’s ethos and commitment to safety, quality, and sustainability, LMG seeks licensee partners in lifestyle categories such as Children’s Fashion, Toys and STEM Toys, Bags and Luggage, Bedding, Toddler & Infant Products, and Home and Kitchen.

“We’re honored to add the Marcus & Marcus brand to our client roster and look forward to developing products and promotions that support young families and walk them through the ups and downs of parenting,” said Andrew Kwan, EVP LMG, Maxx Group.

“The adorable Marcus & Marcus animal friends inspire fun, fresh and unique designs. We will be guided by the needs and desires of modern parents in our approach, we’re looking for licensees that embrace the core brand principles of safety, innovation and sustainability,” said Eric Tong, senior licensing manager LMG, Maxx Group.

The three-year partnership between Marcus & Marcus and LMG will commence Spring 2021. LMG are currently seeking licensee partners in Children’s Fashion, Toys and STEM Toys, Bags & Luggage, Bedding, Toddler & Infant Products and Home & Kitchen.

Katy Perry releases new single featuring Pikachu as part of ongoing Pokémon 25th celebrations

Pokémon’s 25th anniversary celebration continue with as the recording artist, Katy Perry releases her new single and video, Electric, starring non other than the franchise’s best-loved character, Pikachu.

Perry created the track especially for Pokémon 25: The Album, which will be released this autumn by Universal Music Group’s Capital Records. Katy’s collaborators on the song include The Monsters & Strangerz and Jon Bellion – who teamed up with her on “Daisies,” a song from her new album, SMILE – and Bruce Wiegner.

 

The official video for “Electric” received a YouTube Premiere with a fan watch party earlier this week. The clip follows Katy and Pikachu as they take time out to enjoy nature and reflect on how they have evolved over the years. After a day of exploring, the pair stop at a lighthouse to meditate. Falling into a reverie, they’re taken back in time to the earliest days of Katy’s career.

Thanks to encouragement from her friend Pichu, Katy goes from busking at a farmer’s market to her first club performance.

“When I visited the Pokémon Café while touring Japan, I got so nostalgic. It took me back to my junior high years. So when I got the call to be a part of the 25th anniversary celebration alongside Post Malone and J Balvin, I was elated,” said Katy Perry.

“The song’s themes – resilience, igniting your inner light – have guided my life and also parallel Pokémon’s story and characters. Pikachu is the evolved form of Pichu, so in the video, you see the younger version of me with Pichu and myself in the present day with Pikachu. We both evolve, yet retain a sense of playfulness.”

Colin Palmer, vice president or marketing, The Pokémon Company International, said: “Katy Perry has created a vibrant anthem to help us celebrate 25 years of Pokémon with ‘Electric,’ an amazing song about recognizing one’s own journeys and evolving. We also hope fans around the world enjoy seeing Pikachu team up with Katy in the music video for ‘Electric,’ which is a wonderful visual accompaniment to the inspirational song.”

A playful Electric-themed merchandise collection was also unveiled this week.

It’s all part of P25 Music, a yearlong music campaign from The Pokémon Company International in partnership with Universal Music Group. Fans can keep up with the latest news for P25 Music and more celebrations across the franchise on Pokémon’s 25th anniversary website at Pokemon.com/25.

Pocket.watch and Ryan’s World steps into new partnership with footwear brand Skechers

Ryan’s World is making its foray into the footwear market thanks to a new partnership between Pocket.watch and Sunlight Entertainment that will see the kids’ franchise step into a new Skechers deal.

Co-branded Sketchers x Ryan’s World, the new collection is a collaborative effort between Ryan and the Skechers Kids design team and will launch in the United States this July. It will mark the first time that a major shoe brand has partnered with a kid influencer brand.

“At pocket.watch, our mission is to bring kids more of what they love,” said Kerry Tucker, chief marketing officer, pocket.watch. “This first of its kind collaboration between Ryan’s World and Skechers introduces footwear to the Ryan’s World franchise and gives kids the incredible opportunity to wear two of their favorite brands at once. Our collaboration with Skechers further demonstrates the massive appeal of the Ryan’s World brand, and its evolution from YouTube channel to pop culture phenomenon.”

Jeremy Saul, managing director of global licensing and strategic partnerships for Skechers, added: “Skechers has a long history of creating footwear that kids love to wear, and we believe our Skechers x Ryan’s World collection will resonate with Ryan’s fan base. Ryan is creative, fun, energetic – everything Skechers is for kids – it’s a perfect fit.”

“I’m excited to share these shoes with my fans,” said nine-year-old Ryan Kaji, who collaborated with Skechers on the collection. “It was fun to design the sneakers, and I can’t wait to show them off soon.”

Since its 2015 launch, Ryan’s World has grown to become one of the world’s largest and most successful kids’ franchises. The YouTube channels feature fun and easy science experiments, educational content, animated adventures, imaginative toy play, and videos that document daily life for the family of five, which includes Ryan’s younger twin sisters.

Ryan’s World also includes content distributed via streaming platforms, mobile and console games, Roblox and more. Ryan’s World consumer products span every category and are sold all over the world. Ryan’s World even has a balloon in the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade.

The Koyo Store partners with Toei Animation to launch Dragon Ball Z and Dragon Ball Super collectables

The entertainment merchandise specialist, The Koyo Store has secured the EMEA rights to create a range of officially licensed collectables based on the popular Dragon Ball Z and Dragon Ball Super anime TV series.

Through its partnership with Toei Animation Europe, the Lancashire-based Koyo Store will launch an initial product line-up this May encompassing collectables based on popular characters and imagery from both series, including a Character Pin Badge Collection featuring Buu, Goku, Master Roshi, Piccolo, Trunks, Krillin, and more.

 Widely regarded as the series that made anime popular in the West, the Dragon Ball Z TV show was created by Toei Animation and first aired in 1989. Its popularity saw the franchise spawn movies, TV specials, soundtracks, video games and countless other items of merchandise.

 It’s sequel, Dragon Ball Super, followed the adventures of key protagonist Goku during the ten-year timeskip’ after the defeat of Majin Buu. Toei recently announced that a new Dragon Ball Super film was in development with a planned release for 2022.

 With Dragon Ball Z and Dragon Ball Super still huge favourites with pop culture fans, The Koyo Store is lining up a range of pin badges to celebrate these iconic brands. Available in-store and online from this month, the range will include a Goku & Vegeta Pin Badge Set, an Icon Pin Badge Set – including symbols for Kame, Majin, Capsule Corp, Red Ribbon, Radar and Dragon Ball, a Dragon Ball Z Symbol Pin, Dragon Ball Super Symbol Pin, Master Roshi Pin, Goku Pin, Vegeta Pin, Gohan Pin, and Trunks Pin.

 The collectables will be priced from £6.99 and will also be available for fans to buy direct at www.thekoyostore.com

Toei Animation is the latest major IP owner to join The Koyo Stores burgeoning collectables line-up, which also includes partnerships with Ubisoft, (Rainbow Six Siege), PUBG, Games Workshop (Warhammer 40,000), Capcom (Street Fighter) and HBO (Game of Thrones)

“Were delighted to be able to tell Dragon Ball Z and Dragon Ball Super fans that we can Summon You Forth’ to collect this range of officially-licensed pin badges,” said Lee Townsend, founder and CEO of The Koyo Store.

Dragon Ball Z and Dragon Ball Super remain among the most popular anime franchises across the world, so were honoured to be collaborating with Toei Animation to bring this range of collectibles to Dragon Ball enthusiasts.”

 The Koyo Stores high-quality pin badges, coins and other unique merchandise have proved a hit among games, Esports and TV and film fans who are looking for great collectibles and the opportunity to claim bragging rights within their peer groups.

Kids’ audio platform Yoto raises $17m funding to fuel European and North American growth

The kids’ audio platform, Yoto – the London-based team behind the award-winning Yoto Player – has raised $17 million in a Series A funding to help facilitate its rapid growth across Europe and North America.

The investment was led by Acton Capital with participation from JamJar Investments, Global Founders Capital, Emerge Education, as well as MPL Ventures.

Controlled using physical cards to play children’s audio content, Yoto Player has been developed to give children full control over their listening with access to entertaining audio – spanning stories and music – designed to encourage learning and imaginative play.

Since launching the new Yoto Player in early 2020, the firm has experienced explosive growth, securing partnerships and content deals with trusted household names such as LEGO and Disney as well as licenses with Penguin Random House, Sony Music, HarperCollins, Hachette, Macmillan and more.

Yoto’s extensive and expanding content library features some of the world’s greatest children’s content including Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, The Gruffalo, The Snowman, and Planet Omar with LEGO Duplo, Frozen, Finding Nemo and many more household names to be released in the coming months.

“In times where kids are growing-up on screens, one of the most important skills they need is to be able to use technology consciously and with balance. Yoto’s proprietary audio platform puts children in full control of how and when they consume audio content,” said Fritz Oidtmann, managing partner at Acton Capital.

“What further convinced us to invest was Yoto’s unique approach to combining native content with carefully curated partnerships. We are very happy to support the team’s vision to make Yoto’s high-quality, kid-centered content available worldwide.”

Richard Reed, JamJar Investments and Innocent Drinks co-founder, said: As a dad of three, I know from first-hand experience what a lifesaver Yoto is – it fires up your kids’ imagination and creativity, so they play independently and safely.

“As an investor, Yoto is everything you could be looking for – a new entertainment format for kids that has limitless potential, loved by its buyers and adored by its users, led by a whip smart, mission-focused team.”

In an effort to offer audio that will inspire the next generation of independent creative minds, Yoto is also investing in content that promotes mindfulness, meditation and sleep. Recently, Yoto launched a series of sleep content cards with Lifescore & Abbey Road Studios.

Leading the industry in audio that inspires children to take creative play into their own hands, Yoto also offers music, audio-based activities, podcasts, radio and sound effects.

In addition, the Yoto Player has a ‘Make Your Own’ function enabling users to link to their favourite radio stations or podcasts and record their very own stories.

“We designed Yoto around our own kids and we’ve seen how amazing it is to give kids control of their own listening. I’ve seen how this really does help with creativity and imagination compared to screen-time and the research backs that up,” said Ben Drury, CEO and co-founder of Yoto.

“I’m thrilled with how far we’ve come and the amount of families we’re getting amazing feedback from, and this new investment from some of the best funds in the UK and Europe that share our vision allows us to continue to fuel the curiosity of this generation of young learners through audio.”

Mr Men and Little Miss to unveil two new characters during 50 Years of Mr Men documentary this weekend

The countdown towards the grand unveiling of the two new Mr Men and Little Miss creations to be joining the cast of classic characters this year, has commenced, as Sanrio reminds the nation to tune in to the 50 Years of Mr Men documentary broadcast on Channel 4 this weekend.

The special feature, presented by Matt Lucas, will not only chart the history of the colourful little characters who changed the global publishing sector forever, but will also be used to unmask the two new additions to the Mr Men and Little Miss line-up this year.

Whittled down from the five proposed characters developed by Adam Hargreaves back in February, and voted on by more than 73,000 people, the two new characters will be joining the Mr Men and Little Miss family this September with the release of two new books, introducing them to a generation of children and parents across the world.

Meanwhile, the documentary, airing at 6pm on Sunday, May 16th, will showcase the evolution of the Mr Men and Little Miss cast, as well as their role in pioneering a new world of inclusivity and openness. The feature will explore iconic moments via the Hargreaves’ family story, artists, child psychologists, and super fans.

Behind the scenes, Matt Lucas will reveal the secret world of the artistic process, what it takes to brainstorm, draw, write, and animate new Mr Men and Little Miss characters for today’s world.