Tag Archives: hasbro

Hasbro partners with TOMS to launch limited-edition Candy Land range

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Hasbro has partnered with the ethical shoe brand TOMS to launch a new collection of footwear inspired by the popular Candy Land brand. It is the first collection in a series that has been created in partnership with the international toymaker.

‘Inspired by the sweetest of pastimes,’ the TOMS x Candy Land range is a limited edition collection featuring slip-ons for women and children. It features a shimmering Queen Frostine and Princess Lolly as well as a series of four prints including the Candy Land logo on canvas, or a sampling of the game’s treats, all transposed to TOMS’ Alpargata design.

The TOMS x Candy Land range is available from this month with prices ranging from $36.95 to $59.95. TOMS is the original one-for-one company that has spent 14 years on a mission as a business to improve lives.

“Bringing people together has always been a big part of TOMS,” read a press release from the footwear specialist. “The same goes for Hasbro, the brand behind some of today’s most iconic toys and games. Needless to say, TOMS is thrilled to collaborate with a brand that has brought joy, laughter, and time well spent with friends and family to countless players and across generations.”

 

Hasbro and Jazwares team up for retro revival of the iconic Micro Machines

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Jazwares and Hasbro are teaming up for a retro revival that will delight all fans of the ’80s and ’90s collectables hit, Micro Machines, with the relaunch of the entire line, including new play-sets and Micro Machine vehicles. The new retro-launch has landed at Target and Walmart stores across the US this week.

Returning for the first time in over 10 years, the classic toy automobile collection enjoyed a popularity for over 30 years. It now retiurns to the scene with a modern update.

A relaunch of the classic brand would not be complete without the cornerstone of the Micro Machines World, Super Van City. With over 20 action-packed locations and areas of play, this updated take on a classic Micro Machines item transforms from Super Van to Super City and features an entire miniature metropolis that can fold up to create an Airstream-inspired motorhome.

Bringing back the Micro Machine bundles, fans and collectors alike can also purchase an assortment of vehicle packs, including blind packs and world-building sets.

Vehicles at launch include Micro Machines Single Blind Packs($1.99), featuring an exciting mystery vehicle for their collection, a Micro Machines Starter Pack ($4.99) featuring three highly detailed vehicles that fall under a unified, iconic theme such as Muscle Cars, Farm, Racing, Construction, Off-Road and more, and Micro Machines World Packs ($9.99) featuring five highly detailed vehicles and a corresponding Micro City scene that allows you to play or display your vehicles.

The line also includes new Core Playsets ($14.99), each featuring an exclusive vehicle,  that will enable fans to build out a connected world.

“Micro Machines is one of those collectable lines forever etched in pop culture and the minds of adults who adored them as kids,” said Jeremy Padawer, EVP and partner at Jazwares. “Not only will fans of the original Micro Machines love the updated collection, but now they’ll have the chance to introduce this iconic brand to their own kids as they connect and collect their Micro Machine universe together.”

“Our collaboration with Jazwares to relaunch such an iconic vehicle property in Micro Machines is driven by our common mission for kids to think big and play small,” said Casey Collins , general manager and SVP, Global Consumer Products, Hasbro.

“Together we want to encourage kids to immerse themselves in a world of vehicle play and collect amongst an expansive diverse set of themed vehicles and playsets. Couldn’t be more excited to see this come to life globally.”

Peppa Pig supports Team GB at Tokyo Olympics in new campaign as children’s ambassador

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Hasbro has detailed a new collaboration with Team GB in the UK that will see Peppa Pig join the British Olympic team as a special children’s ambassador to get kids excited for the summer Olympics in Tokyo. The event has been rescheduled from 2020 to 2021, a move that was forced by the world’s lockdown measures.

Big Inspiration for Little Piggies is a new campaign designed to get the nation’s kids moving and into the spirit of the Olympics – set to be one of the most watched sporting events of the year next year – by cheering on their favourite national athletes.

The campaign will be underpinned by a roster of live events, retail activations, digital content, and bespoke merchandise.

“With a year to go until the Olympics there couldn’t be a better time to inspire young kids and their families to get active,” said Hasbro’s Marianne James, VP EMEA consumer products. “Our Big Inspiration for Little Piggies campaign is a great opportunity to tap into the enormous interest surrounding the Olympics to both support the Team GB athletes and nurture a lifelong love of sports in the younger generation that will leave a lasting legacy.”

Partners are already lining up to produce exclusive new consumer products across categories including toys, apparel and accessories, stationery, home gifting and publishing.

The campaign will span multiple touchpoints with a brand-new bespoke style guide featuring innovative new designs that put Peppa and all her friends right into the action with unique sporting outfits and active wear to inspire a range of Team GB licensed merchandise for children, placing the preschool brand in good company with Team GB’s official mascot, Pride The Lion.

New branded content is also being developed across digital channels that will harness the popularity of Peppa Pig and Team GB by encouraging children and families to take advantage of the global sporting event and promote an active, healthy lifestyle.

Throughout summer 2021, Hasbro will be readying a packed calendar of interactive marketing activities that will see Peppa Pig model her very own Team GB kit at various events across the country, sports-related meet-and-greets, experiential displays, retail activations and fun competitions hosted at multiple locations.

The collaboration will kick off with a digital presence in Team GB’s inspired community campaign I Am Team GB from 23rd – 30th July to capitalise on the should-have-been Olympic buzz, and get kids enthusiastic about getting active with Peppa Pig.

Experiential production outfit Gamepath will mark UK launch with immersive Monopoly deal

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Gamepath, a new company dedicated to developing and staging experiential and live gameplay productions in partnership with leading global entertainment brands has launched into the UK. The new outfit will make its UK debut with the launch of an immersive Monopoly experience in collaboration with Hasbro.

Further details of inaugural projects will be revealed in the coming months, but will include partnerships with other major and iconic titles across the gaming and cinematic genres.

Gamepath comes in under the umbrella of H&R Entertainment, the parent company of Selladoor Worldwide theatrical production company. Gamepath’s work will encapsulate the best of escape rooms – a booming global industry – combined with immersive theatrical magic, and innovative translations of much-loved titles in Covid-secure venues in London and beyond.

With the gaming industry in the UK projected to be worth an estimated £23bn by 2023, and the global tabletop board games market projected to be worth more than $12bn by the same year, and with over 10,000 escape rooms in existence worldwide, Gamepath will look to bring new audiences for live entertainment from the growing gaming sector and with a unique fusion of theatrical storytelling, thrilling gameplay and global brands.

Led by head of development Julia Posen, who came to the company from Walker Books and previously BBC Worldwide, the company comprises associate producer Paul Mansfield, development producer Tom Beynon, and is headed up by CEO David Hutchinson and CFO Philip Rowntree.

Hutchinson said: “We’re delighted to launch our new company, Gamepath, dedicated to developing and producing experiential productions in partnership with leading global brands. The gaming sector is a huge industry, and by working alongside household brands developing them into innovative, dynamic live gaming experiences – we’re hoping we can bring a whole host of new audiences to live performance who want to consume entertainment in a different way.”

Posen added: “We’re excited to be working with the leading industry players like Hasbro. For each project we work on, we always seek to ensure the creative heart is worthy of the brand name its based upon. It’s a responsibility taking such iconic properties into a live arena and making sure the experience really delivers something special to our audiences. Our projects will have genuine creative purpose and storytelling that honours all that has gone before.”

H&R Entertainment Ltd is made up of Selladoor Worldwide, I Am Marketing, Desk Tidy Design, and now Gamepath.

Hasbro partners with Regatta for Peppa Pig outdoor clothing and accessories

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Hasbro has detailed a new partnership with the leading British outdoor brand, Regatta, that will see a bespoke collection of Peppa Pig outerwear and leisure accessories launch in spring/summer 2021 across the UK and Europe.

The Peppa Pig range from Regatta encourages girls and boys to be ‘Adventure Ready’ with a collection of 20 products suitable for all weathers including puddle suits, wellies, swimwear, jackets and fleeces that are both fun and functional. The outerwear pieces are designed to offer functional attributes such as breathable fabrics, 360 reflective finishes and waterproof surfaces ideal for families keen to enjoy the great outdoors.

A range of outdoor camping and leisure accessories featuring Peppa Pig designs will also complement the range, including sleeping bags, water bottles and camping chairs.

The new collection will be available in Regatta’s 86 stores throughout the UK and Europe and on its e-commerce site regatta.com, in addition to being stocked in almost 12,000 specialist outdoor retailers. Following the initial launch, Regatta plans to expand the range by adding new lines in Autumn/Winter 2021.

The partnership will tie in with Peppa Pig’s global brand marketing theme for 2021 entitled ‘Peppa’s Adventures’ and will be included in cross-promotional activity.

“Jumping in muddy puddles and experiencing the great outdoors as a family is a central theme in Peppa Pig,” said Marianne James, VP EMEA consumer products, family brands, Hasbro. “We’re delighted that the new partnership with Regatta will give families a range of robust, weatherproof Peppa Pig outerwear to get kids ‘adventure ready’ as they explore the world around them.”

Hasbro launches Bring Home the Fun platform for kids and families staying indoors

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Hasbro has detailed the launch of its Bring Home the Fun platform, a global initiative created in light of the COVID-19 pandemic and offering kids and families a platform of content to inspire play and activities while at home.

Beginning today, parents and caregivers can visit BringHometheFun.com to explore family-focused resources, including tips for family playtime, activity challenges to keep kids occupied, ideas for using games and toys to stimulate kids’ brains, and suggestions on how to cope with increased emotional stress.

Featuring crafts using Play-Doh, trick-shot challenges that get kids up and active with NERF blasters, entertaining content including Trandoformers, Power Rangers, My Little Pony, and more, parents and caregivers will find inspiration for play at home acivities while keeping an emphasis on fun and creativity.

“We’ve been incredibly inspired and heartened to see that so many of our brands, such as Play-Doh, Monopoly, and Nerf, are providing relief and comfort to both parents and children adjusting to the new normal of extended time at home,” said Eric Nyman, chief consumer officer, Hasbro. “Many of us are parents, grandparents, and caregivers ourselves, and we hope Bring Home the Fun will help families and friends around the world, and create moments of joy, laughter, and play in a time when we need connection more than ever.”

In addition to play-based tips and tools, BringHometheFun.com will feature resources to help children and families cope with stress that might be heightened among kids at this time. Featured content will include mindfulness videos, as well as project and activity guides for parents and their children.

Hasbro has committed additional support through global philanthropic initiatives that aim to bring relief to children and their families worldwide during this difficult time. Hasbro is proud to support Save the Children and No Kid Hungry in their effort to address the most urgent needs of children, including providing nutritious meals and distributing books and learning resources to those children and families most in need.

In addition, the company will provide financial support and thousands of Hasbro toys and games to continue to inspire creativity and fun for vulnerable children during the coronavirus pandemic. Hasbro Canada has provided financial support to Breakfast Club of Canada, an organisation that helps feed more than 250,000 children and youth across the country.

This donation will directly support those currently enrolled in the program as well as local community organisations that are assisting food-insecure families and children during this challenging time.

Surge in Disney+ subscribers amid global lockdown boosts demand for Hasbro’s ‘Baby Yoda’

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The surge in subscribers to Disney+ amid global coronavirus lockdown measures has already provided a boost to Hasbro’s licensed toy sales, particularly, the global toymaker has stated, to the popularity of the ‘Baby Yoda’ character from the Disney original TV series, The Mandalorian.

Demand for the character – officially called The Child – was already high when Disney+ first launched to US audiences in November last year, but, according to Hasbro’s CEO Brian Goldner in conversation with Yahoo Finance, the recent spike in Disney+ subscribers looking for entertainment while in self isolation, has drive the demand further.

“We clearly have seen that streaming has become more of a force in making connections with consumers and driving merchandising,” Goldner said earlier this week. “That’s always been a question: Could streamed content drive merchandising? And clearly Baby Yoda has done that. We saw that in the fourth quarter with some of our product directly related to The Mandalorian.

“Our pre-sales around Baby Yoda have been incredibly robust and we’re very excited to ship Baby Yoda late spring.”

Available for pre-order for the past few months, Hasbro newest Star Wars The Mandalorian toy range – including the Baby Yoda product line – will be landing on shelves this spring.

On top of this, Goldner has revealed that it’s not just Star Wars merchandise that has received a boost recently, but so too has Frozen, other Disney Princess lines, and Marvel toys.

“We’re seeing that overall Star Wars sales are performing well year-to-date, because the movie [‘Rise of Skywalker’] was incredibly popular, and then the home entertainment window has come more quickly, as has ‘Frozen 2.’ Disney has advanced those windows and made those home entertainment windows available to consumers more quickly on Disney+. We clearly see Disney+ as a major advantage to Disney and also to licensees of Disney like Hasbro,” said a representative from Disney.

Hasbro, Netflix and Rooster Teeth drop first trailer for Transformers: War of Cybertron Trilogy

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Netflix, Hasbro, and Rooster Tooth have formed a tri-force of entertainment powerhouses for the release of Chapter One of the hotly anticipated Transformers: War of Cybertron Trilogy.

The new series will premiere on Netflix later this year as it raises the stakes in the Autobot and Decepticon war. Chapter One will launch with six new 22-minute episodes, complete with a new animation look and style.

Transformers: War for Cybertron Trilogy: Siege begins in the final hours of the civil war between the Autobots and the Decepticons that has torn apart their home planet of Cybertron. Optimus Prime and Megatron both want to save their world and unify their people, but on their own terms.

Rooster Teeth is producing the original series for Netflix, and Polygon Pictures is serving as the animation studio. Transformers veteran F.J. DeSanto is serving as show runner on the series with several contributing writers, including George Krstic, Gavin Hignight, and Brandon Easton.

“We’re thrilled to be working with Rooster Teeth, Netflix and Hasbro to bring this fan-oriented more than meets the eye story to life,” said Shuzo John Shiota, Polygon Pictures Inc. president and CEO.

“The Transformers universe has so many rich characters and engaging stories. Getting the opportunity to be part of the team bringing the robots in disguise to life in this new trilogy is unbelievable.”

Netflix, Hasbro, and Rooster Teeth, have today released the first teaser trailer for Chapter One.

“The Transformers brand is a global phenomenon with toys, consumer products, films, television shows, and literature, resonating with millions of passionate fans around the world,” said Tom Warner, senior vice president for the Transformers franchise for Hasbro.

“This brand new Netflix series will add to the incredible slate of Transformers offerings with a truly unique story that will delight both existing fans and those being introduced to the wonder of robots in disguise.”

The series voice talent cast includes Jake Foushee as Optimus Prime, Jason Marnocha as Megatron, and Joe Zieja as Bumblebee, alongside an extensive cast of further characters, deepening the Transformers lore.

“Transformers: War for Cybertron Trilogy marks the inaugural production for our Rooster Teeth Studios division and we’re proud to be partnering with and entrusted by Hasbro and Netflix,” said Matt Hullum, Rooster Teeth co-founder and chief content officer.

“As fans of these characters, it’s been a joy bringing our storytelling and animation expertise to this project. This teaser trailer is just a taste of what’s to come in this series, and we can’t wait to see what the fans think, especially our Rooster Teeth community.”

More details regarding Chapter Two, Transformers: War for Cybertron Trilogy” Earthrise and Chapter Three will drop in the coming months.

Monopoly is celebrating its 85th anniversary with extensive new consumer products programme

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Monopoly is celebrating its 85th anniversary this year with a robust consumer products programme that will include a Swarovski crystal adorned game board, apparel and shoes, limited edition art, winter sports gear, and collectable toys.

The programme will see Hasbro build on the family game brand’s global popularity that has seen it attract more than one billion players in 114 countries across the globe, with additional licensees to be announced throughout the year.

“Monopoly has been helping millions of friends and families create memorable moments around the world for 85 years and we’re thrilled that so many people are excited to celebrate this momentous occasion with us,” said Casey Collins, GM and SVP of Entertainment and Licensing at Hasbro.

“Throughout the brand’s evolution across a variety of platforms and formats, the gameplay and iconography of the classic Monopoly game has remained unchanged, making it a timeless classic sure to be enjoyed by future generations.”

“The support and collaboration of our licensees has been incredible and we are humbled by the creativity and enthusiasm they have expressed for this important milestone. The 85th anniversary program illustrates the true potential of an iconic brand like Monopoly, which can translate into a variety of categories. We’re excited to be able to reach consumers in new, powerful ways with this amazing licensing program.”

The celebration kicks off this February, with new items launching throughout 2020. Monopoly licensees include the fashion brand Kule which will launch a Hasbro capsule collection for women, men, and kids featuring Monopoly designs.

Meanwhile, Stubbs and Wootton will give its fashion forward handmade velvet smoking slippers a Monopoly treatment with six original designs set to launch on February 28, 2020. TOMS will launch a limited edition footwear capsule collection for women, men and kids.

The collection will feature designs inspired by iconic game pieces and squares on the Monopoly board.

Winning Solutions Inc. is creating the ultimate Monopoly 85th anniversary collector’s edition featuring a beautiful gold and silver foil tempered glass game board adorned with over 2,000 genuine Swarovski crystals. The limited-edition game also features premium game components, including a specially designed token to commemorate the anniversary.

Marmalade Game Studio will release a Monopoly 85th anniversary board design – celebrating the brand’s history with a 1930s Atlantic City theme – in the premium Monopoly mobile game. The board design will release in mid-March. Monopoly is available on iOS and Android devices worldwide.

The Los Angeles-based IKONICK , a leader in canvas art, will be printing a limited quantity of 85 MONOPOLY-inspired art pieces available exclusively at www.IKONICK.com. Available from March 2, 2020, the 60 x 20-inch canvas print will bring modern motivational words to the timeless images of Monopoly and will be signed by the artist and IKONICK co-founder Jeff Cole.

Gilson Snow, Inc., one of the fastest-growing snowboard and ski manufacturers in the United States will bring sustainably produced Monopoly X Gilson 85th Anniversary ultra-special Limited Edition Snowboards and Skis to market in February 2020.

Spin Master Corp will bring two iconic brands together with the Etch A Sketch Monopoly Edition. Limited quantities of the classic red-framed drawing toy will be available at www.EtchASketch.com in March 2020 in celebration of the Monopoly milestone and the 60th anniversary of Etch A Sketch.

Italian luxury goods company Montegrappa will launch a line of finely crafted writing pens incorporating iconic Monopoly art designed for the discerning Monopoly fan.  Launching in May 2020, the Monopoly fountain and ballpoint pens will be available at Montegrappa stockists worldwide.

Finally, the heavy-weight hobby manufacturer Round 2 is teaming up with Johnny Lightning die-cast and MPC model kits to create a new Monopoly 1:64 scale die-cast automotive series and a 1:25 scale plastic model kit.

The collectables will release in waves throughout 2020 starting this spring, and will be available across the US and Canada in Walmart, Meijer, Hobby Lobby, HEB and Hobby Markets. Unique collectable packaging commemorating the 85th anniversary will also include “Monopoly Fun Facts” about America’s favourite board game.

Entertainment One is ‘figuring out what Hasbro brands to bring to the screen’

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Entertainment One is in the process of ‘figuring out which of Hasbro’s brands to bring to life,’ the company has stated following the toymaker’s $3.8bn acquisition of the content producer-distributor at the end of last year.

Speaking at UK Screenings this month, Pancho Mansfield, eOne’s president of global scripted programming, said that Hasbro has a ‘treasure chest’ of IP that the company is looking closely at as it works out what out of the firm’s some 1,500 brands will translate well to screen.

The obvious choices have already been highlighted, with the likes of Dungeons & Dragons, GI Joe, Power Rangers, Action Man, Furby, and Transformers among them.

“We’re just wrapping our arms around it and we’re excited to begin,” Mansfield told Deadline. “We’re going to continue doing what we’re doing and we have this great treasure chest of IP and worlds to bring to life.”

Much of the noise around Hasbro’s acquisition has – until now – been focused on eOne’s slate of pre-school properties such as Peppa Pig and PJ Masks, giving Hasbro a firmer foothold in the competitive yet highly lucrative pre-school content sector.

For a number of weeks, questions have been left hanging over what this meant for the future of eOne’s scripted drama output.

Noel Hedges, executive VP of acquisitions for eOne has now gone some way to alleviate those fears. He told Variety: “Drama is a huge part of eOne’s business and Hasbro bought the business not to shrink it, but expand it.

“If anything, eOne is now supported by a very complementary business. We will support Hasbro’s in-house IP and now find ways of bringing that to screen internally. Hasbro wants eOne to thrive, and from a distribution point of view, they want us to be the portal through which we can take that content to the world.

“Even if it’s a kids’ brand, it could be integrated into a cross-generational family offering. Hasbro is a family business but there is a lot there that isn’t just in the kids’ space.