Tag Archives: toys

Jazwares teams with Gaumont to launch toy line based on musical pre-school series Do, Re & Mi

Posted on by

Jazwares has been named toy partner for the Amazon Studios and Gaumont animated pre-school series, Do, Re & Mi, a musical adventure series that follows three birds, featuring the vocal talents of Kristen Bell and Jackie Tohn.

The firm will develop a range of toys, each featuring the show’s cast of characters, and themed around Do, Re & Mi’s key pillars of friendship, fun, and adventure, as well as the power of the music. The toy line will hit retail in conjunction with the launch of the series in 2021.

Plush toys, musical instruments, figures, and play-sets aimed at the pre-school market will all feature in the range, all of which will aim to channel the personalities of the show’s three main characters, including the inventive brain of Do the owl, the busy and energetic personality of Re the hummingbird, and the outgoing demeanor of Mi the blue jay.

“Do, Re & Mi is sure to enthrall little ones and it’s the kind of high quality, enriching content that lends itself well to pre-school toys,” said Laura Zebersky, chief commercial officer at Jazwares.

“We are looking forward to working with Gaumont and Amazon Studios on developing the line so that it captures the magic of this highly anticipated animated series.”

Nicolas Atlan, president of Gaumont US, added: “We’re excited to work with Jazwares to further expand the musical world of Do, Re & Mi.

“It’s thrilling to see how Amazon Studios has approached Do, Re & Mi, elevating it beyond our expectations. We look forward to offering parents and children the ability to discover and appreciate the power of music, in a fun and meaningful way through the engaging storytelling of the series and beyond the screen by making their own music through play with the exciting toy line Jazwares will bring to the market.”

Do, Re & Mi is a production of Amazon Studios and Gaumont for Amazon Prime Video and Amazon Kids+. The series is executive produced by Bell and Tohn, along with Michael Scharf and Ivan Askwith.

LEGO reveals new LEGO Super Mario building sets and collectable character packs

Posted on by

The LEGO Group has expanded its 2020 LEGO Super Mario line with the launch of a new line of sets and characters, including the Master Your Adventure Set, the Chain Chomp Jungle Encounter Expansion Set, The Pirhana Plant Puzzling Challenge Expansion Set, and more.

Leading the newest line up, the Master Your Adventure Maker Set delivers a creative toolbox that enables kids to customise LEGO Super Mario building, play and ways to earn coins. Users can change how LEGO Mario reacts to three Special Bricks, offering a variety in play and a new element of surprise.

The Maker Set also introduces a new special Start Pipe that will shuffle the known rules of the level play, in that players are challenged to reach the Goal Pole in less time, yet with increased rewards up for grabs. The Maker Set comes with 366 pieces, all selected to ensure that children can unleash their creativity and customise their own levels for themselves or other players.

Further sets that have been introduced today are the Chain Chomp Jungle Encounter Expansion Set, the Piranha Plant Puzzling Challenge Expansion Set, the Wiggler’s Poison Swamp Expansion Set, Penguin Mario Power-Up Pack and the Tanooki Mario Power-Up Pack.

As well as this, Series Two of the LEGO Super Mario Character Packs has also landed, all featuring an action tag that LEGO Mario can read for fans to easily integrate into the level play. Series Two features ten new collectable, buildable characters.

Kept a surprise until opened, fans could be getting a Huckit Crab, Spiny Cheep Cheep, Ninji, Foo, Parachute Goomba, Fly Guy, Poison Mushroom, Para-Beetle, Thwimp or a Bone Goomba.

The new sets and characters will give fans the chance to have LEGO Mario slide on his belly as Penguin Mario or spin round as Tanooki Mario. The sets will also introduce much-loved enemies including the Piranha-Plants, Larry, a Goomba, Wiggler, and Koopa Paratroopa, to the play, all of whom can be defeated or played with for coin rewards.

LEGO Super Mario jumped into existence earlier this year through a unique partnership between The LEGO Group and Nintendo. The adventures were kick-started with an entry-point set: LEGO Super Mario Starter Course, which includes an interactive LEGO Mario figure that collects coins in interactive level play created with LEGO bricks.

Each Expansion Set and Collectable Character is designed to be used with the entry point set, featuring seven action bricks for different interactions with the LEGO Mario figure, which has LCD screens in its eyes, mouth and belly to display instant reactions to movement, colour and action bricks.

All sets and characters are compatible, allowing fans to combine sets and characters announced today with the Starter Course and all other LEGO Super Mario products revealed in June this year. Each set also comes with its own series of distinctive challenges and characters, and have been designed to work alongside the free LEGO Super Mario app.

The app hosts 3D Building Instructions for the sets, keeps track of scores and provides inspiration for builds and ways of playing to encourage continuous rebuilding and extended playtime.

Simon Kent, design creator and creative lead for LEGO Super Mario, The LEGO Group, said: “It wouldn’t be Super Mario if we weren’t constantly creating new worlds and adventures for everyone’s favourite Plumber.

“The LEGO Super Mario sets we released earlier this year have been extremely well-received by fans and we’re really excited to build on those with even more characters and experiences today.

“We really want to empower users to be as creative as possible with LEGO Super Mario – and today’s expansion sets and new collectible characters have been launched to broaden the horizons of the LEGO Super Mario universe, letting players be as imaginative as possible in the way they have Mario interact with his friends – as well as defeating his enemies.”

King Features rolls out extensive slate of activity for 40 years of the 1980 cult film Flash Gordon

Posted on by

It’ll be a full four decades since the release of the 1980 cult classic film Flash Gordon this December 5th, and King Features Syndicate has lined up a full roster of activity, including theatrical screenings, fresh content and home entertainment, as well as new licensed products and publishing, in order to best celebrate.

“Flash Gordon’s comic adventures have influenced how we define the modern science fiction genre, but the 1980 film is what really solidified the comic star as a lasting pop-culture icon,” said Carla Silva, vice president and general manager, global head of licensing for King Features.

“We are thrilled to celebrate the 40thanniversary of the film this year with such a strong lineup of partners from across the globe. It’s our mission to continue bringing fans new Flash Gordon products and experiences that showcase their love for the savior of the universe.”

Kicking off the action, Universal Pictures and Fathom Events will present a line up of theatrical screenings in over 330 theatres across the US, each featuring an on-screen introduction to the film by actor Sam Jones (Flash Gordon), as well as the world premieres of a new Flash Gordon comic strip series called Flash Forward – the first ever motion comic strip for the brand.

Meanwhile, this summer, StudioCanal, Europe’s leader in production, distribution and international sales of feature films and TV series, brought Mike Hodges’ cult classic film back to the big screen in 4K Ultra-High definition at Picturehouse Central, The Luna Drive In Cinema and other select UK cinemas with additional screenings across France, Germany, Australia and New Zealand throughout the year.

Launched on Sunday, November 15, a new Flash Gordon original comic strip anthology project features 40 world-renowned artists and illustrators, each telling the story of Flash Gordon through their own unique lens. Talent includes Tana Ford (LaGuardia, Livewire, Black Panther), Jim Keefe (Flash Gordon, Sally Forth), and Liniers(Macanudo) among many others.

“The new product offering of Flash Gordon-inspired comic strips from King Features is an anniversary celebration that everyone who loves the Savior of the Universe will enjoy in both print and digital formats,” said the company.

Next up, Flash Gordon: A Minute to Save the World, the first-ever Flash Gordon motion comic series, made its world debut at the Fathom Events theatrical screening on November 15 when the first five 60-second episodes played on screen. This new twist on classic comic storytelling uses a fresh animation style to follow Flash Gordon’s battle to save earth from Ming the Merciless. The motion comic series is produced by King Features and drawn by David Reddick and will be available to watch on the Comics Kingdom YouTube Channel beginning Sunday, November 15.

In the consumer products space, a robust lineup of Flash Gordon-inspired merchandise and licensed products, including board games, artwork, collectibles and much is all scheduled to land.

Boss Fight Studio, a creator-owned company focused on high-quality, collectible toys, debuted its Flash Gordon figure for the 40th anniversary, which is the first Hero H.A.C.K.S. licensed character. The figure features extensive articulation, multiple hands, multiple heads and a “football” accessory to allow fans to build their collections and continue customizing in a special way.

This limited-edition figure comes packaged in a collectible retro lunchbox featuring a mix of classic movie poster art and brand-new art created by superstar comics artist, Erica Henderson.

This limited-edition figure is the first in the Flash Gordon line from Boss Fight Studio featuring both comic and movie version characters.

King Features is also in developing a new line of Flash Gordon figures with National Entertainment Collectibles Association (NECA).

Meanwhile, Plastic Meatball – creator of pop culture products that should have been, but never were – is developing a retro style Flash Gordon family board game that is launching with a Kickstarter campaign later this year, as well as a series of ‘70s style “Heat Transfer” t-shirts, enamel pins with iconography from the film, a set of four drinking glasses and ‘80s style jigsaw puzzles inspired by the film.

Additional product launches include new stylish art prints inspired by the cult sci-fi film from Art & Hue and Vice Press, Flash Gordon-inspired apparel from CEND International and Trademark Products and a Flash Gordon: Death to Ming card game coming soon from Wayland Games.

King Features is also expanding its publishing program for the brand with the launch of a 40th anniversary title from Titan Books titled Flash Gordon: The Official Story of the Film, on December 1.

Flash Gordon himself, actor Sam Jones, also embarked on an anniversary tour this year with stops across the country, including one where he was presented with a custom made 40th Anniversary Flash Gordon Harley-Davidson motorbike. Upcoming dates for Jones’ tour can be found on his social channels.

As King Features continues Flash Gordon’s 40th anniversary celebration throughout 2021, fans can expect to see a fresh look for Flash Gordon and his crew as new character art developed by popular comic book cover artist, Amelia Vidal (Marvel Studios, Boom! Studios), is released.

Looking ahead, a new Flash Gordon feature film is in development with 20th Century. Taika Waititi, director of Marvel’s Thor: Ragnorok and Jojo Rabbit, is attached to the production. In the meantime, the latest Flash Gordon content can be found at www.ComicsKingdom.com and the Comics Kingdom YouTube channel.

Wow! Stuff sees sell-out success of its character brand collectables Wow! Pods

Posted on by

Wow! Stuff’s character brand collectable range, Wow! Pods has struck sell-out success in less than four weeks since its UK launch across Amazon and other retailers, making it the company’s ‘fastest-selling toy range to date.’

Manufactured and distributed in the UK by Wow! Stuff, the Wow! Pods range has seen its ranking on Amazon shoot up by 80,000 places at launch. The rise in sales took it to the number one position in its category and a top 500 Best Seller rank across the Amazon Toys and Games category before selling out.

Wow! Pods also sold out at other retailers with new stock arriving this week. It all repeats the sell-out success seen at launch in Australia and New Zealand by appointed sole distributor, Jasnor.

“Sell in is important but sell out is even more so. Wow! Pods are the fastest selling toy we have launched to date,” commented Dawn Lavalette, commercial director at Wow! Stuff. “Our new Wow! Pods TV commercial featuring the Marvel brand and characters has not yet gone live so to sell out before it does is proof that consumers love the product, and is a great precursor to our North America launch next year.”

Wow! Stuff co-founder and head of licensing, Kenny McAndrew, added: “The combination of tier one key licensed brands such as Marvel, Disney, Pixar, The Wizarding World (Harry Potter) and DC (Batman, Superman, Wonder Woman) with Wow! Stuff’s artistry and innovation seems to have hit the Zeitgeist.

“Our ‘Swipe to Light’ feature combined with ‘Collect and Connect in both Physical and Digital’ approach using Augmented Reality has proven a winning recipe. There’s much more to come as we move into 2021 with a raft of special editions and rare Wow! Pods plus we’re adding more of the most sought after brands loved by fans.”

YWOW Games continues mission to ‘revolutionise the market’ with Perfetti Van Melle partnership

Posted on by

YWOW Games, an up and coming games and puzzles company on a mission to ‘revolutionise the market’ by combining global household brands with collectable jigsaw puzzles, has expanded its best-selling range through a new partnership with the confectionery brand, Perfetti Van Melle.

The fast-growing company launched onto the scene with its brand Mini Puzzles earlier this year when it introduced its Kellogg’s and Pringles range via distribution channels reaching most major markets. According to the firm, the two licensed puzzles lines are already selling out in major retailers in the UK.

Now, building on the momentum of the launch, YWOW Games have finalised a global licensing deal with Perfetti Van Melle for its iconic Mentos brand. Not only will the license occupy a solid space within the Mini Puzzles brand, but will also be one of the first licenses that make up the new SuperSized puzzles line.

SuperSized puzzles are 500 to 1000-piece vintage puzzles packaged in extra-large packaging resembling the brand’s own packaging.

“It is evident from the brand’s success in these markets that the current circumstances make puzzles even more of an evergreen category,” said the firm.

“It is safe to say YWOW Games are only just getting started with their license deals, and they promise to bring to all markets their iconic puzzles based on the A-brands for all categories.”

Please feel free to contact YWOW Games at info@ypernova.com for more information.

Chronicle Books acquires Wild + Wolf’s Petit Collage, Ridley’s Games and Games Room brands

Posted on by

Chronicle Books has detailed the acquisition of Wild + Wolf’s three signature games and toy brand: Petit Collage, Ridley’s Games, and Games Room in a deal that spans around 350 active skus and more than 10,000 retail partners across 60 countries.

New products will continue to be produced under the Petit Collage, Ridley’s Games, and Games Room brand names.

With consumer demand for games, activities, and all-ages entertainment continuing to increase, the acquisition is a major step in Chronicle Books’ strategic growth strategy. This move greatly extends Chronicle’s already substantial reach in the gift, game, and entertainment categories around the world.

Petit Collage, Ridley’s Games, and Games Room have won numerous industry accolades and awards over the past few years and have achieved significant sales growth across a wide range of retail environments. They bring with them a loyal and diverse international fan base.

“The Ridley’s, Petit Collage, and Games Room brands align seamlessly with our mission to spark the passions of adults and children worldwide and will complement Chronicle’s distinctive publishing program, as well as those of our distribution clients,” said Tyrrell Mahoney, president of Chronicle Books.

“The integration of these three much-loved and admired brands, and the addition of extremely talented members of their creative teams, supports our strategy to serve even wider consumer interests in all types of retail stores and environments.”

Chronicle Books is distributed in the UK by Abrams & Chronicle Books. The move now hands the firm greater leverage in the toys and games sector. Petit Collage is recognised for its range of eco-friendly toys and gifts, Ridley’s Games is known for imaginative and original trend-led games for all ages including Avocado Smash, and Games Room is a leader in trivia decks and games.

Paul Taylor, CEO of Wild + Wolf, said: “We are very excited to have Ridley’s, Petit Collage, and Games Room become a part of the Chronicle Books publishing universe. We have long admired Chronicle for their inventive and diverse range of books, games, and gift product. Their creative ingenuity and sales acumen will propel these popular game and toy brands to new heights in the marketplace.”

As result of this transaction, Chronicle will establish a subsidiary, Chronicle Books Limited, in the United Kingdom and will bring on board a number of Wild + Wolf creative staff to lead and develop the future program out of Bath, England, and in San Francisco, California.

For the remainder of 2020, sales and distribution will remain unchanged. Beginning January 2021, all distribution and sales representation will move to Chronicle Books in San Francisco and to its partners Abrams & Chronicle Books in the United Kingdom and Europe and Raincoast Books in Canada.

Hard Rock International appoints Cronus Global as it moves into health, home goods, games and toys in 2021

Posted on by

Hard Rock International has appointed Cronus Global as its licensing representative as the dining, entertainment and hospitality brand continues with its plans to expand its licensed product footprint on a global scale.

The partnership will introduce Hard Rock branded products into categories including health and beauty, home goods, pet products, games and toys for the first time in the North American market in 2021.

“We are thrilled to partner with Cronus Global to extend Hard Rock’s consumer reach into a broad range of product categories that emphasize our brand’s identity that’s built on music and entertainment,” said Mark Linduski, director of licensing at Hard Rock International.

“Through Cronus Global’s long-term relationships with industry leaders, we will introduce collections of unique products that attract new and existing Hard Rock enthusiasts alike. We look forward to the opportunities that will emerge as we work with Cronus Global to expand our retail distribution and strengthen our brand presence worldwide.”

Kristin Calzada, president of Cronus Global, added: “Cronus Global is excited to partner with Hard Rock International to develop lifestyle products aimed at bringing the vibrancy of the Hard Rock experience directly into consumers’ homes.

“From launching the Hard Rock health and beauty collection to rolling out a new merchandise program for kids, we’re excited to help expand and diversify the connection of Hard Rock to its fans through licensing initiatives and brand collaborations.”

To learn more about potential licensing opportunities with Hard Rock, contact Mark Linduski, Director of Licensing for Hard Rock International, at Mark.Linduski@hardrock.com.

Surge Licensing among team behind Kickstarter campaign to bring Boglins back

Posted on by

Surge Licensing – the licensing representative for IP such as Feisty Pets and Ninja Town – is among a new collaboration of toy licensing and development specialists on a mission to bring the ’80s toy phenomenon Boglins back and into the aisles of the 21st century.

In partnership with TriAction Toys, 7 Towns, and Boglins co-creator Tim Clarke, the troupe has already struck success for the project with the launch of a Kickstarter campaign with the aim of resurrecting the range of creepy, monster-like puppets.

Originally developed by Mattel, Boglins became a hit line from 1987 to 1989 in the US, before making its way – caged in their wooden crate boxes with prison bars for added measure – across Europe, Canada, Japan and Australia. Over the course of seven years, Boglins evolved from the rubber puppets into a range of collectable Mini Boglins. They then disappeared.

That is, until now.

The campaign is now underway to relaunch the Boglins range in their original sizes and cages, but this time featuring newly evolved styles.

The campaign – created by toy industry professional, Christopher Cofoni – has received such a surge in attention since its launch that production methods behind the toy line, one which according to the team started off as little more than a passion project – have been altered to accommodate current demand.

‘This team is bringing back Boglins due to overwhelming demand. What started as a passion project has quickly got out of control, much like the Boglins,’ reads a statement from the team behind the project on Kickstarter.

‘The demand is just too high for us to keep up with in our current production methods. If we can reach our goals, not only will you get to take Boglins home with you, but you will help us smooth out production, give us the chance to get Boglins into the hands of kids and collectors all over the world, and grant us the opportunity to create even more new fun styles of Boglins!

‘We believe this toy could inspire the next Jim Henson, film maker, or artist.’

For the first time, the complete story of the Seven Bogs and the Seven Kings will be told. Fans of the original Boglins will be able to learn more about these lovable uglies, while anyone new to the Boglins world will get to enjoy the fleshed out origins of these retro-collectibles.

Donors will receive a Boglin from the first batch ever made in 2021.

The coming months will witness the release of Boglins content across Instagram, YouTube, TikTok, and additional digital platforms, alongside the launch of a series of comedic short films that will feature the Boglins.

LEGO reveals its ‘most detailed’ Ghostbusters ECTO-1 to date ahead of Ghostbusters: Afterlife

Posted on by

The LEGO Group has revealed its largest and ‘most detailed’ recreation of the Ghostbusters ECTO-1 vehicle ever to be realised in brick form, months ahead of the release of the 2021 film Ghostbusters: Afterlife.

The new, buildable version of the classic car is ‘crammed full of authentic details’ from the iconic converted 1959 Cadillac Miller-Meteor ambulance, including a moving ghost sniffer, detailed roof rack, and a host of paranormal detection equipment.

The LEGO Ghostbusters ECTO-1 has been billed as the perfect addition for film fans, featuring printed versions of the Ghostbusters logo adorning the car doors. The vehicle also comes with an extendable rear gunner seat, working steerings wheel and more, to make this launch ‘the most detailed LEGO brick recreation of the car ever produced.’

The car is the latest in a collection of film-based LEGO model building kits for adults who enjoy the LEGO building process. The set features two new LEGO brick elements in the new 6×14 curved windscreen and a new five module steering wheel.

The set’s LEGO designer, Michael Psiaki, said: “I love creating LEGO vehicles, and having previously designed the LEGO James Bond Aston Martin DB5, I loved the challenge of working on the ECTO-1. This is the largest and most detailed version of this car that we have ever created. It is crammed full of authentic features and easter eggs that I’m excited for builders to discover as they put this model together.”

The LEGO Ghostbusters ECTO-1 contains 2,352 pieces and measures over 8-inches (22.5cm) high, 18-inces (47cm) long and 6-inches (16.5cm) wide. The set will be available from November 15th ahead of the release of the latest film in the Ghostbusters Franchise, Ghostbusters: Afterlife that launches in 2021.

Mattel and Sanrio fashion partnership for Barbie and Hello Kitty

Posted on by

Mattel has partnered with Sanrio to fashion a new partnership between the iconic dolls brand Barbie and the globally revered Hello Kitty, marking the first time the two have come together in the consumer products space.

The collaboration will see the development of a colourful and contemporary product line aimed at kids and adults that will span accessories, apparel, health and beauty, and footwear. The range will roll out across EMEA from early next year with a focus on softlines initially, but will expand with more products added at intervals throughout 2021.

A vibrant new Barbie x Hello Kitty creative has been designed for the partnership, uniting the logos and creative of both brands to create a distinctive and standout look. This will be brought to life across the product range in a new co-branded style guide developed in El Segundo by Mattel’s creative group in collaboration with Sanrio.

The announcement of the partnership comes on the back of projected growth next year within EMEA for Mattel’s consumer products, with Barbie, in particular, expected to grow double digits in consumer sales across its core consumer products range. This growth would have been helped along by the high-profile 60th Anniversary brand campaign for the market-leading doll brand and ongoing success of its role models campaign across EMEA.

Lisa Weger, Mattel’s regional head of consumer products for EMEA, said: “We’re excited to bring the world of Hello Kitty to life through this consumer products partnership with Barbie. The collection will enable fans of all ages to experience Hello Kitty and Barbie through a range of products that positively capture both these iconic brands’ essence.

“This partnership is another great example of our commitment to collaborate with globally-recognized franchises and developing exciting products.”

In recent months, Sanrio has successfully continued on its corporate mission, based on the philosophy of fostering social communication and focusing on friendship as a key asset for every human being to succeed. Dedicated marketing and digital campaigns are being developed globally and will see the interaction of Hello Kitty with the other Sanrio characters, in a newly launched program named Hello Kitty and Friends.

Silvia Figini, chief operating officer, Sanrio – EMEA, India and Oceania, Mr Men – Worldwide, commented: “We are extremely happy to collaborate with a global icon like Barbie. Brand partnerships are part of our DNA and they are consistent with Hello Kitty’s motto: ‘You can never have too many friends’.

“We share some key values such as friendship, kindness and inclusivity, and we have a common fanbase of girls and young women who grew up loving both characters and are willing to pass this love to their own daughters. The range of products will be an amazing combination of both brands and we are sure consumers will be excited.”