Toy & Game International Excellence Awards - the TAGIEs
Welcome to Your Weekly News Brief!
Happy Bloomin' Friday!
National Board Game Day was yesterday. It bounced all over social media and we did our best to bounce it higher! Amy Friedland and Emily Potrzusk from Freeman, our PR agency, secured a dynamite spot on WGN showcasing Joe Barron of Gray Matter Games and Bob Kamp, inventor of Blank Slate. (You may remember Laura Robinson's article about securing a game show deal for Blank Slate.) They rocked it!
Thank you for reading the Bloom Report here or on the Bloom Report 24/7 News Feed! Please support our work by advertising and/or setting up a POP profile.
Mary
-
"I don't know anyone in the industry that doesn't read the Bloom Report." -Ken Lewis, President, 4Kidz, Inc.
-
The BLOOM REPORT is fantastic and it allows me to stay on top of all the breaking news in the Toy industry! - Wai Or, Longshore Ltd.
-
“I seriously look forward to Friday to learn most every update + more in the Industry. Priceless info! Thank you” -Michael Kohner, The Michael Kohner Corporation
-
"TBR is required reading for: inventors, manufacturers, retailers, marketers, suppliers, absolutely everyone!" - Robert Fuhrer, Founder, NEXTOY
-
If you are tired of these quotes, send me yours!
Toy Association's Andy Keimach: What I'm Hearing!
The Importance of Creating a Talent Pipeline For our Industry
I have been hearing from members of all sizes that attracting new, young, and diverse talent is a priority for their businesses. To that end, our Toy Foundation’s (TTF) Talent Pipeline aims to create a pool of college and university students who have a variety of talents, interests, and backgrounds for toy companies to recruit for internship and first-hire job opportunities.
TTF’s Talent Pipeline Program’s capstone event is held at Toy Fair. In 2023, the event hosted 50 college students for a multi-day education and recruitment program at the show, which included participation from Jazwares, one of the program’s corporate partners, as well as The Dr. Lisa Company (formerly World of EPI), Horizon Group USA, In KidZ, Mattel, Paramount, Target, and Women in Toys, Licensing, & Entertainment.
Among the students and companies that took part was Gem Miller, a senior at the University of Maryland, and R&R Games, a leading manufacturer of high-quality card games, strategy games, and party games since 1996.
After meeting Gem in his exhibitor booth, observing their passion for play, and learning about their social media experience – a skillset R&R Games was looking to fill – Frank DiLorenzo, founder and president at R&R Games, offered Gem a job.
Now a few months into the new role, Gem recently sat down with Frank to discuss their Toy Fair experience, the value of TTF’s Talent Pipeline Program, and the benefits for both students and manufacturers of bringing diverse talent into the toy industry. I encourage you to watch the full interview here. READ MORE...
The Playground Podcast Christopher Byrne with
Build-A-Bear's Sharon John
Build-A-Bear CEO Sharon John has driven the evolution of Build-A-Bear from a vertical retailer to a global toy company with legions of followers. And as she says, it was built, “One heart ceremony at a time.”
But it’s the savvy combination of data and heart that have make this company the iconic success it is today. In our conversation, Sharon talks about the company’s growth and why it’s so much more than bears (and bunnies and hedgehogs.)
Sharon is one of those amazing toy industry people who brings her entire self to the industry. She’s a quant with an imagination, a person who loves to play and who knows how to leverage data to make that play more rewarding for her legions of customers around the world.
And be sure to check out Sharon’s book: Stories and Heart: Unlock the Power of Personal Stories to Create a Life You Love. You can get it here.
You won’t want to miss this episode, and you can hear our whole conversation here.
Person of the Week - Bill Southard
Celebrating 30 Years of Getting to do Something Every Day that I Absolutely LOVE!
Hi Bill! Happy 30th Anniversary! Thank you for taking time to answer a few questions. First, can you share with our readers what you do in our industry?
I am the proud founder and CEO of Southard Communications, a communications agency founded 30 years ago and based in New York City. Since our founding we have been heavily involved in the toy, game, gift and collectibles industry and have had the pleasure of working with a myriad of incredible brands, from Etch a Sketch and Slinky to LeapFrog and The Elf on a Shelf and public relations, digital marketing and influencer campaigns.
TELL US ABOUT YOUR HOBBIES?
I am a big sports guy – Mets, NJ Devils, Knicks, New York Football Giants and spend much of my time watching sports and attending games. However, as my closest friends know I love thoroughbred horse racing and in fact at one point in my life I owned 29 thoroughbred racehorses. In fact, most weekends between Memorial Day and Labor Day, you will find me at Monmouth Park Racetrack in Oceanport, New Jersey. READ MORE...
Podcast of the Week: Identity Games' JM Duparc
Playing for a Living
POP is a Proud Sponsor and Champion of Hidden Roles!!!
JM Duparc, Chief Creation at Identity Games, gives us insights into collaborative design, creative ways to pass the time, the story behind Who's the Dude, and much, much more! ---
Check out Identity Games: https://identitygames.nl/international/
Hidden Role Podcast is also available on most major podcast networks! https://linktr.ee/hiddenrole
Visit our website and sign up for our newsletter to get a sneak peak at our upcoming guests: www.hiddenrolepodcast.com/
Cartoon Lovers, Lexophiles & People in Need of a Smile!
Cartoon of the Week: Thank you Peggy Brown and Bob Fuhrer for this week's cartoon.
Lexophile Lovers: "Did you hear about the fellow whose entire left side was cut off? He's all right now." Thank you, Michael Kohner, for sharing with our readers!
Memorable Quotes: "Life is like riding a bicycle. To keep your balance, you must keep moving." - Albert Einstein
Toy Industry Word of Day: In honor of National Game Board Day: 4X games submitted by Curt Covert. If you can think of a toy/game industry word not in our POPDictionary, add it and we will connect it to you POP profile, feature it here in an upcoming week and on POP's homepage!
Have a cartoon, quote or a joke to share with your colleagues? Send it to me! Mary
Financial and Legal
Congress Introduces Comprehensive Data Privacy Legislation. The Toy Association™ applauds the bipartisan and bicameral introduction of the American Privacy Rights Act, a national data privacy and security standard that would give individuals control of their personal information. The legislation was introduced on April 7 by House Committee on Energy and Commerce Chair Cathy McMorris Rodgers (R-WA) and Senate...
S is for strike. And there could be one coming to the writers room on long-running series Sesame Street if Sesame Workshop management doesn’t agree to a new collective bargaining agreement on the table. The non-profit company’s writers who are represented by the Writers Guild of America East and West voted (with 100% participation) to authorize a strike if the new proposed agreement isn’t signed before their...
UK indie Factory Transmedia is closing its doors after grappling with cutbacks and reduced commissions in the international TV market. Established in 2000, Factory has employed “hundreds” of staff and is best known for its animation service work on popular series such as CBeebies’ 2015 revival of Clangers and Nickelodeon’s The Tiny Chef Show, which premiered in 2022.
*** The above posted after April 12th ***
A feud has broken out between Italy and a German toy manufacturer over a jigsaw puzzle that bears the image of one of Leonardo da Vinci’s best-known drawings. The row centres on Vitruvian Man, Leonardo’s depiction of a naked man in two superimposed stances, his outstretched arms touching the sides of a circle and square. Dating from the late 15th century, the image, inspired by the writings of the...
YouTuber squad Dude Perfect scores US$100 million-plus investment. The family-friendly collective will use the funding from Highmount Capital to grow its sports-adjacent brand beyond traditional channels and build out its management team. Taking a page from the MrBeast playbook, American sports and comedy group Dude Perfect—which has built one of the biggest kids and family brands on YouTube...
Workers at Vancouver’s ICON Creative Studio are looking to secure union representation with the Canadian Animation Guild (CAG) IATSE Local 938 and join existing members from WildBrain, Titmouse and Kickstart Entertainment. IATSE noted that “hundreds” of ICON employees signed support cards last week, and their key issues include pay transparency, layoff protections, safeguarding against AI/outsourcing and more support in immigration processes (since international visa workers make up a significant portion of the city’s bustling animation industry).
Program Highlights
-
A++ rated insurer, $20 Billion in assets
-
Exceeds Wal-Mart and other leading retailers insurance requirements
-
Variable rate based on sales projections
-
Foreign & Domestic Liability coverage
-
Blanket additional insured vendors
-
Employee benefits liability
-
All certificates and claims handled in house
-
Quick quotation turnaround
-
Product recall expense $250,000 limit
Additional Coverage
-
Umbrella up to $50,000,000
-
Ocean Cargo & Property
-
Commercial Auto
-
Lead coverage
-
Intellectual properties (copyrights, trademarks, & patents)
-
Credit Insurance
-
US Customs Bond Insurance
-
CYBER COVERAGE
Call us today at 800-392-6958 (ext. 318)
for a free consultation and quotation for your business needs.
185 Newman Springs Road, Tinton Falls, NJ 07724
Contact: Jason Welch: tel: 732-842-2012 (ext. 318), fax 732-530-7080, jawelch@york-jersey.com or Bob Witkin bobwitkin@york-jersey.com
Visit the York-Jersey Underwriters website at www.toy-insurance.com
Financial Reporting
Home Bargains reports rise in profit and sales. Home Bargains owner TJ Morris has posted a rise in sales and profit. The retailer said that turnover has increased 10.2% from £3.4b to £3.7b in the year to 30th June
Amazon CEO Andy Jassy saluted the company’s progress in video advertising in his annual letter to shareholders. Overall ad revenue rose 24% in 2023 compared with 2022, he noted, reaching $47 billion and the growth was “primarily driven by our sponsored ads.”
2023 saw CD Projekt's second-best financials in studio history. From January 1, 2023-December 31, 2023, the larger entity reached its second-best financials in its entire 29-year history. Consolidated revenue and net profit reached 1.230 billion ($308.17 million) and 481 million ($120.51 million) PLN, respectively. Individually, both went up by 29 percent and 39 percent from the 2022-2023 fiscal year.
TikTok has the highest in-app earnings in the world (again), beating YouTube, Disney, Tinder. TikTok’s $189 million from in-app revenue almost doubled the next-most-profitable app, YouTube, which only reached $111 million. In what is starting to be a bit of a broken record, TikTok was also the highest earning app in January and December of 2023.
REPORT: Agencies repped US$93 billion in licensed product sales last year. And the top 10 alone—including IMG, CAA, Beanstalk and WildBrain CPLG—accounted for US$69.9 billion.
Trends, Lists, Market Research, and State of the Industry
YouTube cornered nearly 10% of March TV viewing. Streaming accounted for 38.5% of March viewing, finishing well above cable (28.3%), broadcast (22.5%) and other (10.7%).
*** The above posted after April 12th ***
Circana UK looks at toys retailing for under £10, price points that currently account for a surprising proportion of volume sales.
Spotlight on Pocket Money Toys and Collectibles. Toy World takes a look at how the Pocket Money Toys and Collectibles category is remaining resilient, despite ongoing challenges for the industry due to the cost-of-living crisis.
Spotlight on Pre-School. Toy World’s Gabriela Jimenez takes a look at which pre-school licenses are celebrating birthdays this year and what is coming to the category in the near future.
AMC CEO Says 2025 and 2026 Box Office Will Be ‘Roaring Hot’. “Finally we’re at a point where we can look forward,” Adam Aron tells TheWrap
A New Taylor Swift Biography for Kids Hits the Bestsellers Chart (and It’s On Sale for $5)
‘Wish’ Hits 13.2 Million Views on Disney+ in Five Days
COMIC STORE MARKET SHARES – Q1 2024
TOP 20 GRAPHIC NOVELS - MARCH 2024
Stories, Comments, and Advice
Why adults are suddenly into stuffed animals. Stuffed animals have often been deemed one of the quirky conventions of childhood—an infantile love we should eventually let go of, along with imaginary friends and Capri-Suns. If that love lasts past adolescence, it can be seen as embarrassing. “Please,” the actor Margot Robbie joked on The Late Late Show With James Corden, “no one psychoanalyze the fact that I’m 30 and I sleep with a bunny rabbit every night.”
APA report calls on social media companies to take responsibility to protect youth. Almost a year after the American Psychological Association issued a landmark health advisory on social media use in adolescence, technology companies and policymakers still have made few meaningful changes, forcing society to continue to search for ways to maximize the benefits of these platforms while protecting youth...
Disney’s latest strategy in the streaming wars might come down to banking on the old-school appeal of linear TV. According to a report published two days ago by The Information, the media giant could be planning to expand its Disney+ platform with the addition of 24×7 channels focused on select brands under the Disney umbrella—including Marvel, Star Wars, Pixar and maybe even a throwback channel dedicated to...
Company transforms pre-loved plushies into sustainable toys: 'We can change the industry forever'. London-based Charlotte Liebling has one goal in life: to “save the world, one teddy at a time.” And she was right: Plush toys or stuffed animals are often made with synthetic materials that can take hundreds of yrs to decompose. Not to mention, the mass production of these toys requires heavy amounts of oil, natural gas, and...
Parents React to Emotional Bluey Episode ‘The Sign’: ‘My Therapist Isn’t Gonna Know What Hit Her’. The poignant season finale left fans of the series teary-eyed. The “super sized” special episode, titled "The Sign,” clocked in at 28 minutes — the length of four regular Bluey installments — and it used that time well, according to fans of the beloved Australian series. The poignant season 3 finale, which premiered April 14...
How Gen Z Made the Crossword Their Own. A younger generation of constructors is using an old form to reflect their identities, language and world. Welcome to the crossword in the age of Gen Z. Clues require internet meme literacy. Solutions may reflect the identity of the person behind the puzzle. And the way they’re constructed can involve vibrant online forums in addition to scraps of paper.
The quality of video game-to-TV projects is improving because the industry is involving the original creators, and producers who understand the source material, to a greater extent and ‘moving beyond adaptation to co-creation’, execs have suggested. The comments came at the inaugural Screen/Play event, a series of panels focused on how the video game and screen industries can work together, taking...
Overlooked No More: Lizzie Magie, the Unknown Inventor Behind Monopoly. Magie’s creation, The Landlord’s Game, inspired the spinoff we know today. But credit for the idea long went to someone else. When Charles Darrow, an unemployed salesman in Philadelphia, learned about a new board game that was becoming popular, he asked his friends to type up the rules and help him jazz up the graphic design.
*** The above posted after April 12th ***
John Baulch, Toy World - Sting in the tail … it’s the Friday Blog! We have entered retail results season here in the UK, and some of the big names have unveiled extremely healthy annual numbers over the past week – especially multiple retailers with a strong food element to their business. Tesco shares have jumped after it announced that last year’s sales rose 7% to £61.48b, and the retailer struck a confident, bullish tone...
The ‘kidult’ economy, or when adults enjoy playtime more than children. “I love Lego. It calms me down a lot,” David Beckham confessed, in an interview that took place four years ago. For a time, photos of the former soccer player building a car, a spaceship, or a double-decker bus became common on his Instagram profile and went viral on social media. In one of the posts, he was drinking from a glass of wine, proudly showing off how he had completed a huge Lego replica of Harry Potter’s castle.
The Opportunities of Co-Opted Narrative. BY CHRISTOPHER BYRNE. Fan fiction is nothing new. Fans of Jane Austen wrote sequels to Pride and Prejudice. Avid fans of Fifty Shades of Gray and, yes, Paw Patrol have taken it upon themselves to appropriate the characters and create their own stories about them. As literature goes, they’re seldom very good. However in the toy world, sometimes those stories can create magic.
What you should actually be gifting 4-year-olds, according to experts. The best gifts for 4-year-olds help their imaginations come alive. As they leave age 3 and turn 4, little ones are enthralled by storytelling, pretend play and exploration. They are also immersed with friends and start playing collaboratively instead of just playing side by side, so the best toys for 4-year-olds can be shared.
Level up your 3-yr-old’s ABCs and 123s with 49 toys and gifts that take playtime to the next level. The best toys and gifts for 3-yr-olds provide plenty of opportunities to explore as toddlers grow and develop into more imaginative play. Finally out of the "terrible twos," many are entering school for the first time and interacting with friends. They’re becoming increasingly verbal and able to answer questions and follow...
The 15+ best toys for two-year-olds to keep them busy. There’s so much going on developmentally at the age of two, as little ones are just beginning to engage in pretend play, learning how to communicate more effectively and running, jumping, climbing, throwing, and bouncing off the walls—quite literally.
The best toys for 1-year-olds, recommended by parents and experts. The one-year mark in a child’s life is a big milestone as kids leave the baby stage and officially enter the toddler stage. As they develop physically, emotionally, and developmentally, a whole new world of age-appropriate toys also opens for them. Children this age are intrigued by colors, sounds, and textures.
The 11 best robot toys for budding engineers, according to STEM experts. Robot toys are nothing short of cool. They make kids at any age feel like they’ve stepped into the future while reaping the many benefits robot toys bring, like fine motor and problem-solving skills. Additionally, robot toys instill a love of science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM), which can turn into a career later in life.
The 40 best car toys for kids of all ages. All vehicle enthusiasts start somewhere! Whether your young one has already sparked an interest in automobiles or mechanics or just likes to ride, car toys are a great way to get kids excited and involved. If you’re looking for a way to help your kids with their development and engagement while avoiding excessive screen time, toys on wheels can be useful and fun.
History and Nostalgia
Superman has leapt a world record in a single bound. An issue of Action Comic No. 1, which introduced the world to the Kryptonian hero, sold at auction for a record $6 million Thursday, making it the most valuable comic book in the world. It tops an issue of 1939’s Superman No. 1, which sold for $5.3 million in 2022. Before that, the most valuable comic in the world was a copy of 1962’s Amazing Fantasy No. 15, the first...
New record price for a comic: 'Action Comics' #1 CGC 8.5. A CGC 8.5 copy of Action Comics #1 set a new record price for a comic in Heritage Auctions’ Comics & Comic Art Signature Auction yesterday. The comic, from the Kansas City Pedigree, hammered at $6 million, moving up from the early bids, which passed $5 million. The CGC 8.5 grade is the third highest condition grade for a copy of Action Comics #1.
Whiplash from Lakeside (1966). Released in 1966, Whiplash was a double-action Skee-Ball game for two players. The game’s object was to be the first player to score exactly 100 points by shooting marbles into a series of concentric rings in the centre of the plastic game board. At the start of each game, both players took each marble and scoring marker and placed them in the shooting and starting positions, respectively.
Popeye Bubble Set from Transogram (1936). Released by Transogram in 1936, the Popeye Bubble Set capitalized on Popeye’s popularity while offering children the thrill of blowing soap bubbles through a sailor’s pipe. The character of Popeye first appeared in the 1929 Thimble Theatre comic strip published by King Features.
1950s 'Atomic Energy Lab' kit for kids used real radioactive materials? [Via Snopes] Dubbed one of the "10 most dangerous toys of all time," a miniature atomic energy lab is said to have been a widely sought-after children's toy in the 1950s – and it reportedly included four small jars of real uranium. As incredible – and dangerous – as it may seem, the A.C. Gilbert Company's "Gilbert U-238 Atomic Energy Lab"...
30 toys from the '80s that will make anyone now between the ages of 37–48 instantly nostalgic. 1. Teddy Ruxpin. Okay, Teddy was a little creepy...but, I mean, come on, he TALKED! Also, nothing was better than putting on a cassette by Madonna and watching him sing the songs. 2. The Barbie from the Barbie and the Rockers line.
Licensing and Entertainment
Heinz Teamed Up With Mattel to Bring Us the Mashup We Didn’t Know We Needed: ‘Barbiecue’ Sauce. 'Tomato Kenchup' could potentially be on the way. The special sauce of sorts, which is a mix of vegan mayonnaise and barbecue sauce, is the condiment mashup that none of us knew we needed — but apparently asked for. And yes, it’s Barbie pink, lest anyone not realize that the sauce you’re dipping your fries into isn’t...
Keanu Reeves is speeding along to another franchise, with the John Wick star heading to Sonic the Hedgehog 3. He will be voicing the popular character named Shadow, The news comes on the heels of a jam-packed CinemaCon presentation from Paramount last week, when the studio debuted the first footage for Sonic 3. This included the revelation that Dr. Robotnik, played by Jim Carrey, was depressed and out...
Warner Bros. Pictures Animation has burrowed into Animal Planet’s wildlife documentary library for its next family feature film. The studio is adapting popular doc series Meerkat Manor (53 x half hours, pictured), which aired on Animal Planet from 2005 to 2008. Produced by British prodco Oxford Scientific Films, the show centered around a real-world family of meerkats...
Licensing Works! to rep The Wingfeather Saga in the US. The agency's initial game plan is to showcase the fantasy IP for tweens to new brand partners and licensees at Licensing Expo next month. The Wingfeather Saga is adapted from a four-volume book series of the same name penned by American author Andrew Peterson. It has sold more than 1.5 million copies in the US to date through publisher Penguin Random House...
Warner Bros. Discovery bets on Roblox with new games. The media conglom is expanding its Cartoon Network's Game On! world, which has generated 34 million visits on the platform, with new game Gumball Tower of Defence. Launching in May, the title’s gameplay is all about building towers and teaming up with characters from The Amazing World of Gumball to defend the town of Elmore.
LA-based prodco Kids At Play and actor/author Tabitha Brown are broadening the reach of their YouTube Kids preschool series Tab Time with several new brand extensions. First up is an app called Tab Time World that features a coloring game, music and video creator tools and an avatar-builder, all inspired by Tab Time’s 2D-animated “Imagination Land” segment. Kids At Play developed the app in partnership with Google Kids Space.
London-based edtech company Sandbox Group is expanding beyond educational apps with the launch of its PlayKids TV FAST channel, which has just been picked up by telecom Netgem TV. Netgem’s internet service provider partners including TalkTalk TV, Community Fibre TV and Better TV have already started carrying the 24-hour channel in the UK and Ireland. Users in those territories who download the Netgem TV...
*** The above posted after April 12th ***
Monopoly movie: Margot Robbie's company LuckyChap to produce film. A film based on the classic board game Monopoly is preparing to pass go - with Margot Robbie's production company set to produce it. The Monopoly film has been in development for more than a decade, according to the Hollywood Reporter. But it was announced on Wednesday that Robbie's production company LuckyChap will produce it.
Designer Barbie furniture is a thing, and it’s incredibly cute. Kartell is releasing five doll-size, neon pink versions of its most iconic chairs in a collaboration with Mattel. Life in plastic just got a little more fantastic. Barbie’s dreamhouse, sold by the toy manufacturer Mattel, already comes with a two-story slide, a pool, and a pink elevator. Now, it can also feature designer furniture.
Disney Sets ‘Toy Story 5,’ ‘Mandalorian & Grogu’ for 2026, Delays Live-Action ‘Moana’ by a Year. Jared Leto's 'Tron: Ares' also gets a date amid a slew of changes. Woody and Buzz have a date to return to theaters. Disney will release Pixar’s Toy Story 5 on June 19, 2026, the studio announced Friday. The studio also pushing Dwayne Johnson’s live-action remake of Moana by a year to July 10, 2026 (it was previously slated for...
Ferrero North America has teamed up with Warner Bros. Discovery Global Consumer Products and Funko for a new collection of Kinder Joy eggs. Kinder is a confectionery brand known for its mystery toy element. Kinder Joy chocolates are egg-shaped, with one half containing creamy chocolate and the other a surprise toy. The new Harry Potter collection will introduce 16 Funko toys to the Kinder Joy brand.
Zoonicorn, the global preschool property already seen in more than 100 countries worldwide, enters Licensing Expo with new licensing deals and expanded streaming content in additional territories. Zoonicorn’s seven-minute episodes are produced by Toonz Entertainment and Zoonicorn and distributed by Toonz Entertainment. Global licensing for the brand is shared by the two companies and headed by J’net Smith of...
Room One Cards, a Hong Kong-based startup company, is teaming up with Legendary Pictures in the U.S. and Toho Co. in Japan to launch a Kickstarter campaign for playing cards inspired by Godzilla x Kong: The New Empire. There are four decks of cards in the campaign: two standard decks based on Godzilla and Kong respectively, and two special editions with 3D and foil-stamped boxes.
The Wingfeather Saga, the largest crowd-funded animated series of all time, will be repped by Licensing Works! at Licensing Expo. In addition, Licensing Works! will also be representing several timeless brands that have been licensing stalwarts over the decades. Those brands include Le Petit Prince/The Little Prince and Antoine de Saint-Exupéry from the Antoine de Saint- Exupéry Estate; The Little Prince and Friends...
Mattel has announced that their fan-favorite animated series Barbie: A Touch of Magic is returning for a second season. Premiering April 18 on Netflix, the 13 new episodes will follow Barbie “Brooklyn” Roberts and Barbie “Malibu” Roberts as they take on a new, mysterious adventure. When a magical crystal gem goes missing, Barbie and Barbie are on the case! Balancing their teenage lives in Malibu and their trips...
After three years in development, Apple TV+ has pulled back the curtain on WildBrain’s remake of Yo Gabba Gabba!, a hugely popular live-action preschool show that aired on Nick Jr. from 2007 to 2015. Yo Gabba GabbaLand! is officially slated for an August 9 premiere on the global streamer. News of the revival first broke back in 2021, when Apple struck a deal with WildBrain (co-owner of the brand with...
Ruth Henriquez tells Licensing.biz how Barbie has evolved throughout the decades and why the brand continues to offer unrivalled licensing opportunities. Ruth Henriquez, senior director of Consumer Products EMEA. How is it that Barbie remains so relevant and aspirational 65 years after she was invented? In the past 65 years, Barbie has continuously evolved to reflect the changing cultural landscape.
WowWee, Mystic Moose partner for Planet Mojo Blockchain toys. WowWee will release a collection of real-world toys inspired by Mystic Moose’s Planet Mojo thanks to a new partnership. The new Planet Mojo toys will connect with the gaming ecosystem by offering in-game digital collectibles in the form of non-fungible tokens (NFT). Each toy will include a QR code that allows the owner to mint it.
ADK Emotions NY Inc and T-Licensing Inc announce global launch of new Beyblade X Series during 25th anniversary. ADK Emotions NY Inc and T-Licensing Inc have revealed that after a successful premiere in Asian territories in 2023, Beyblade X will showcase new animation and exclusive experiences for Beyblade fans globally in 2024.
Kartoon Studios launches Stan Lee Amazon store. Kartoon Studios, the controlling partner of Stan Lee Universe, has a new storefront dedicated to the Marvel comics writer. Stan Lee is well-known to Marvel comic book fans, having worked creatively at the company for decades. Now, Kartoon Studios has launched a new Stan Lee online store on Amazon, powered by Meteor.
'Crossover Collection 2' for 'DC Deck-Building Game'. Cryptozoic will release Crossover Collection 2 for the DC Deck-Building Game in August, the company announced. The Crossover Collection will include thee out-of-stock Crossover Packs: Justice Society of America, Green Arrow (with images from the Arrow TV show replaced with comic images), and Legion of Super-Heroes, with new main deck cards...
Fallout review: This adaptation of the post-apocalyptic video game franchise is 'a vivid, brutal romp'. Since the 90s, the Fallout games have been a phenomenon – and now this visually terrific, blackly humorous TV spin-off should prove equally as popular, with fans and newbies alike. In the 23rd Century, perky young Lucy MacLean is quite the catch.
'One Piece,' 'Hunter X Hunter,' 'Street Fighter V,' 'Sonic' Games, and more, from Kess Entertainment. Kess Entertainment will release licensed games tied to anime properties One Piece and Hunter x Hunter, video game properties Street Fighter and Sonic, and an original in the coming months. One Piece: Luffy’s Bento Panic, planned for Fall release, is a party game for three to nine players.
The Toys That Made Us Season 2 streaming: Watch & stream online via Netflix. The Toys That Made Us Season 2 is the 2nd installment of the American docuseries that revolves around the most popular toy franchises in the world. The show was created by Brian Volk-Weiss, who also directed it with the help of Tom Stern. Toys make up a major portion of everyone’s childhood, and most of us carry them well into our adult lives.
J&C Pet Supply launches new line of Clifford toys, treats & chews in collaboration with Scholastic. J&C Pet Supply has launched its new line of Clifford the Big Red Dog chews, treats and toys in collaboration with Scholastic.This new product line is designed to evoke a sense of nostalgia among pet owners who grew up with the tales of Clifford, the lovable giant red dog.
Zuru cooks up latest Mini Brands Create series with MasterChef. Zuru’s Mini Brands MasterChef hits the UK this month and is the first licensed partnership within the company’s new Create mini collectibles. Following a deal with media and entertainment powerhouse Banijay, the new line comprises real miniature MasterChef creations including food items and accessories allowing collectors to create mini versions...
'DC Heroes United' game coming from CMON and Spin Master. CMON and Spin Master are collaborating on DC Heroes United, a new game based on DC properties in the United system, which the companies use as the engine for their Marvel United games. The game will first launch on Gamefound in July, under CMON’s exclusive relationship with the crowdfunding platform with trade release to follow.
Season two of Barbie: A Touch of Magic to debut this year. Mattel has announced that the fan-favorite animated series Barbie: A Touch of Magic is returning for a second season. Premiering 18th April on Netflix in the US, the 13 new episodes will follow Barbie “Brooklyn” Roberts and Barbie “Malibu” Roberts as they take on a new adventure. The series will premiere later in the year for the UK.
Amazon MGM Studios unveils robust merchandising plan for ‘Fallout’. Amazon MGM Studios has announced a multifaceted licensing program for the upcoming, post-apocalyptic series, Fallout, which is exclusively premiering on Prime Video on April 11th and is based on the best-selling global video game franchise.
Partnership with Epic Story Media for launch of Wild Manes. JAKKS Pacific, Inc. announces a new partnership with Epic Story Media (Epic) to launch a robust content and licensing program around their new IP, Wild Manes. Wild Manes is a whimsical world of horses, food, friends, flair and fun, galloping onto the scene in Summer 2024. Epic is set to produce and distribute the brand’s animated series.
Mattel Creations releases The Beatles deck. Mattel Creations, the company’s design collaboration and direct-to-consumer platform, has announced the release of a new UNO Canvas The Beatles Card Game, celebrating when The Fab Four made their U.S. television debut 60 years ago. With artwork inspired by studio albums from “Please Please Me” to “Let It Be,” the card game features members...
Earthbound pedals forward as new global licensing agency for Huffy. Bike maker Huffy has signed on with a new exclusive global licensing agent: Earthbound. The company is preparing to expand into new category offerings and grow its global consumer base. With Earthbound’s assistance, Huffy plans to expand into new product categories both within the U.S. and in key international markets.
New squad packs, mission pack for 'Star Wars: Shatterpoint'. Atomic Mass Games will release two new Squad Packs and a Mission Pack for Star Wars: Shatterpoint in May. Star Wars: Shatterpoint – Today the Rebellion Dies Squad Pack is built around Iden Versio and Gideon Hask, characters first introduced in the video game Star Wars Battlefront II.
Novel Teams with Puzzle Post for Horrid Henry Games. Novel Entertainment has partnered with Puzzle Post to develop two Horrid Henry escape room-inspired puzzles. Each game from the puzzle creator includes eight puzzles to set up and solve at home. When players find the answers and the secret code, they are rewarded with exclusive Horrid Henry content and a downloadable certificate to keep.
Dr. Seuss Enterprises has big plans to show at Licensing Expo 2024. At the 2024 Licensing Expo, Dr. Seuss Enterprises will showcase a range of new initiatives including the roll out of new consumer product lines, breakthrough initiatives, new entertainment projects, as well as the growth of their longstanding portfolio partners.
ZURU launches Mini Brands KFC. ZURU has revealed a new addition to its Mini Brands series. The Mini Brands KFC line includes 20 miniature replicas of KFC menu items such as fried chicken, mashed potatoes, soda, and more. Each capsule contains five KFC-themed collectibles. The Mini Brands and KFC partnership, made possible in part by Licensing Matters Global, joins previous ZURU collaborations...
Legendary Entertainment intros licensing for ‘Godzilla x Kong: The New Empire’. On the heels of the massive $194 million global box office opening for Legendary Entertainment and Warner Bros. “Godzilla x Kong: The New Empire,” Legendary Entertainment has announced a new licensing and promotional program in support of the film.
LEGO unveils new ‘Despicable Me’ building sets. Two sets were revealed with two more coming soon. The LEGO Group is dropping two new Despicable Me building sets ahead of the Despicable Me 4 launch in July. The LEGO Despicable Me 4 Minions and Gru’s Family Mansion ($99.99), designed for kids ages 8 and up, comes with 868 pieces and is complete with a sloping roof and a brightly colored tree house.
Little Tikes releases new licensed stories for Story Dream Machine. Little Tikes, a subsidiary of MGA Entertainment, has released three new licensed story collections for its Story Dream Machine, all from popular entertainment properties. The Little Tikes Story Dream Machine is a portable, battery-powered projector that kids ages 3 and up can use to listen to and watch stories before bed.
People of Play
Time's 100 MOST INFLUENTIAL PEOPLE OF 2024 - Mattel's Ynon Kreiz. Some skilled kitesurfers, with enough speed sailing downwind, can manage to steer their kite upward, generating sufficient lift to pop off the water and fly magnificently into the sky. This maneuver requires careful coordination, control, and a fierce mental commitment. No surprise, then, that Mattel CEO Ynon Kreiz is not only a rabid kitesurfer...
Hasbro (HAS) Announces Resignation of Cynthia Williams, President of Wizards of the Coast and Hasbro Gaming. On April 15, 2024, Cynthia Williams, President of Wizards of the Coast and Hasbro (NASDAQ: HAS) Gaming, informed the Company of her resignation from the Company effective April 26, 2024. The Company is conducting a process to identify her successor, looking at both internal and external candidates.
Mellody Hobson to Publish Children’s Book About Money: ‘No Greater Gift Than a Financial Education'. The Starbucks Corporation board chair's new book, ‘Priceless Facts About Money,’ is forthcoming this fall. As co-CEO and president of Ariel Investments, as well as the chair of the Board of Directors for the Starbucks Corporation, Hobson understands the importance of financial know-how. In Priceless Facts About Money...
Travis Kelce Confirms He'll Host Are You Smarter Than a Celebrity? 'I'm Just Happy to Be on the Hosting Side'. "I grew up loving game shows, and I’m excited to be following in the footsteps of so many TV icons by hosting my very first one," the NFL star said. Kelce will follow in the footsteps of Jeff Foxworthy and John Cena, who hosted previous versions of Are You Smarter Than a 5th Grader?
ICV2 INTERVIEW: RAVENSBURGER NA CEO STEPHANE MADI. An Update on 'Disney Lorcana,' Plans for the Future, and More. ICv2: When we spoke last August, we talked about the different customer segments you were targeting for Disney Lorcana. How did the two big communities you targeted, Disney fans/collectors and TCG players, respond to the game initially? Stephane Madi: The response has been overwhelmingly positive.
*** The above posted after April 12th ***
Griffin Gaming Partners, a venture capital firm focused on the video game industry, has brought on Russell Binder as Venture Partner and IP Advisor. Griffin Gaming Partners manages more than $1 billion of assets. The firm invests in software infrastructure, content, and platforms within gaming, from seed to growth stages. Binder boasts experience across the worlds of entertainment, licensing, and ...
Emmy-nominated producer Sidney Clifton has joined Mattel in a new head of animation role that she started in yesterday. Clifton previously worked for 3.5 yrs at The Jim Henson Co. as a producer and SVP of animation and mixed media. And before that, she collaborated with Henson on Apple TV+ toon Harriet the Spy and animated series Lena!, based on author Karen Katz’s picture book The Colors of Us.
Playview Brands appoints Keith Gammon as its Strategic Sales Lead. Playview Brands, a toy company with a large catalog of licenses and brands, has added Keith Gammon to the team. Gammon will serve as the new Strategic Sales Lead in North America. In this role, Gammon will enhance Playview Brands’ sales initiatives.
Build-A-Bear Foundation names Rosalind Johnson as Board President. Build-A-Bear Foundation has named a new foundation president as it reveals its goal of donating 100,000 plush this year. Rosalind Johnson, who also serves as Senior Vice President and Chief People Officer at Build-A-Bear, will step into the role of Foundation Board President.
Early Rider welcomes James Beechinor as President. Early Rider, a UK-based company known for its children’s bikes and ride-ons, has brought on James Beechinor to fill the role of President. Beechinor joins Early Rider as it plans for further expansion into the U.S. market. Beechinor brings with him a bevy of experience in both strategic communications and digital marketing.
Ubisoft's chief portfolio officer Sandrine Caloiaro departs after 10 years. Another shakeup has hit Ubisoft, as chief portfolio officer Sandrine Caloiaro has left the French developer. Per Ethan Gach's Dead Game, Caloiaro left two years into her most recent position. She'd been with Ubisoft for a decade, first starting out as a VP for its consumer and market knowledge team.
Xbox exec Kareem Choudhry departing after 26-year tenure. A new report from Windows Central alleges longtime Xbox executive Kareem Choudhry is leaving Microsoft after today, April 8. It's alleged that his leave was both amicable and unrelated to and layoffs or restructuring efforts from months earlier. His leave seems to have triggered a major leadership shuffle at Microsoft meant to streamline Xbox's...
Disney adds Blizzard and Marvel Games alums to exec leadership. Disney Games has added five new members to its executive leadership team. Two wholly new hires with Blizzard and Blizzard experience have joined as three longtime Disney and Marvel staffers were promoted. Ray Gresko, a co-lead on development for Overwatch and Diablo 3, has been brought on as Disney Games VP.
Ubisoft appoints publishing VP Brenda Panagrossi as general manager for US market. Another executive shakeup is happening over at Ubisoft, as Brenda Panagrossi has been tapped as general manager for its United States team. Under this position, she'll "define and implement strategy for the US Engagement Hub." As further "support" for the developer's US-based teams, she'll serve as their regional representative.
Companies and Brands
When it comes to prehistoric times, magic and fantastical creatures Douglas Company has all the charm. The plush toy maker and lifestyle gift creator establishes the future from the past in their latest Softs inductees. Four new dinos from prehistoric times, a mystical dragon and, everybody’s favorite, three new unicorns will join the Softs line-up. Stephanie the Pink T-Rex Soft is a true armful of cuteness with her hot pink...
KidStuff Public Relations continues to pop the champagne corks as its 30th Anniversary year has more good news to share. Four toymakers have signed with the storied PR agency headed by Lisa Orman, named twice as a Wonder Woman by Women In Toys (WIT) as one of the industry’s top thought leaders on kids’ stuff. As of April 2024, KidStuff PR is the Agency of Record for Fun In Motion Toys, Top Secret Toys...
*** The posted after the Bloom Report began circulating April 12th ***
Scrabble’s new board game lets everyone win—and Gen Z is going to love it. Mattel says the new version of the beloved word game will be less competitive, as younger players care less about winning. Scrabble is one of the oldest board games around. The beloved word game was invented in 1938, and it’s still played today—whether online or on coffee tables. But according to Mattel, the makers of Scrabble, the game...
Headstart is bringing the iconic Good Luck Trolls dolls back to shelves so we can introduce them to a new generation in time for the brand’s 65th anniversary. There are two ways to get your hands on these new Good Luck Trolls. Designed for kids ages 5 and up, the 4-inch Trolls dolls are available in three designs — Material Troll, I Heart Troll, and Rockstar Troll. Material Troll has pink-and-yellow hair and a black...
Marvel Comics is expanding the incorporation of Disney characters into its comics, portraying Donald Duck as Wolverine in a new What If…? one-shot. In What If…? Donald Duck Became Wolverine? The story brings Donald as Wolverine and other Disney-Marvel mashups into a storyline based on Old Man Logan, plus Donald-Wolverine with Weapon X and the Uncanny X-Men. Other mashup characters include...
¡Vámonos! Dora Is Back for a New Round of Exploring. Boots, Map, Swiper and Backpack all return too, in a new “Dora” that includes a lot more Latin music and Spanish language. Yet unlike the doll of last year’s blockbuster movie, the next pop-culture star who’s about to re-emerge isn’t a statuesque blonde in stiletto heels. She’s a pint-size Latina with sturdy sneakers and a trusty backpack. Welcome back, Dora.
Disney+ to expand password-sharing crackdown in June. Following in Netflix’s footsteps, the streamer will implement new measures in select markets to start, laying the groundwork for a worldwide rollout by fall. The crackdown has been in the works and on people’s lips for some time. Last August, Iger acknowledged that password-sharing among Disney+ subscribers was “significant” during the company’s Q3 earnings call.
MGA Entertainment has announced it is launching a new shopping destination for its brands, The MGA Shop. While MGA products will still be available at major retailers, the new site brings convenience and added benefits to its beloved and award-winning portfolio of brands, including L.O.L. Surprise!, Little Tikes, MGA’s Miniverse, Bratz, Rainbow High. The new site will also offer online-only exclusives and limited...
Sindy Randall, senior Product manager, Puzzles tells Toy World about the strengths of Ravensburger’s puzzle portfolio and what there is to look forward to in 2024. Sindy detailed how Ravensburger’s Puzzle segment is currently performing, saying: “Puzzles are a cornerstone of our business. We’ve maintained the No. 1 position across 2D Adult, Children’s and 3D puzzles. 2023 marked our fifth consecutive year as leader...
SmartGames unveils Smart Dog Obstacle Run. SmartGames has unveiled the Smart Dog Obstacle Run, a 60-challenge game with the end goal of reuniting a dog with its trainer. SmartGamesSmartGames has introduced its latest one player puzzle game, Smart Dog Obstacle Run, a compact game for animal lovers young and old with 60 challenges.
Playtime in stages: Little Bloomer launches with developmental toy boxes. Little Bloomer makes its debut in the toy industry with the launch of its developmental toy boxes and companion app. Each box is designed to support parents through their kids’ different development stages with playtime.
Building the reef in 'Lumicora': From Deep Print via Pegasus. Pegasus North America will release Lumicora, a new reef-building game from Deep Print Games, in May. In Lumicora, players gather coral tiles and build new reefs in three dimensions. Tile placement is affected by sea creatures living the reef and limestone foundations. At the end of each of ten rounds, pints are scored for a single type of coral.
'Evenfall' from Matagot: Card-driven engine-building game. Evenfall, a Matagot card-driven engine-building game in a supernatural world, will be released in North America in Q2. Players manage resources, choose the order in which to exercise actions, and find card and action synergies that generate victory points.
GW plans 'Warcry' expansion and two warbands. Games Workshop will release a new expansion, Pyre and Flood, and two warbands, Wildercorps Hunters and Gorger Mawpack, for Warcry in the coming weeks. Warcry: Pyre and Flood, the new expansion, will include two new Warbands: 10 Pyregheists, who use fire in battle, and 8 Ydrilan Riverblades, aelven warrior monks.
The Toy Coach launches ToyCourses.com. Toy industry content creator The Toy Coach has a new digital platform made for industry up-and-comers. Azhelle Wade, also known as The Toy Coach, has officially launched her latest venture, an online platform designed to provide resources, insider knowledge, and more to the industry’s fresh faces. ToyCourses.com builds upon The Toy Coach’s Toy Creators Academy
Three train games from Rio Grande. Rio Grande Games will release three train games this spring, including West Riding Revisited and Colorado Midland. Southern Pacific, also due out this spring, is the third. All three were originally released direct-to-consumer by Winsome Games. West Riding Revisited, designed by Han Heidema with art by Todd Sanders, is set in the early 1920s in the United Kingdom.
Spin Master looks ahead in anniversary year. As Spin Master gets ready to celebrate its 30th anniversary, Toy World caught up with Richard Dickson, general manager UK & Ireland, to find out what the year ahead has in store. Richard describes 2024 as a ‘good year’ for Spin Master – and rightly so. Despite tough conditions across the whole industry, the company pulled off a particularly strong Q4 performance...
Hippychick takes on distribution for BS Toys. Hippychick has announced a new brand in its portfolio this spring – BS Toys from the Netherlands. BS Toys is a fast growing, educational and sustainable brand that believes that active play is key to a child’s development. It has developed original, high-quality indoor and outdoor toys, designed to promote active play and stimulate a child’s creativity and imagination.
Miniso opens new Barbie IP collection store in Malaysia. The new store has already broken sales records. Miniso is continuing its global expansion. Most recently, the company opened a Barbie IP collection store in Malaysia. The new Miniso store, inspired by Mattel’s iconic Barbie IP, opened on March 30 and is located at the Berjaya Times Square Mall in Kuala Lumpur.
Hasbro announces Transformers 40th Anniversary event featuring episodes from the Transformers classic TV Show. Hasbro Inc announced today a special cinema experience to celebrate four decades of the Transformers franchise with Till All Are One: Transformers 40th Anniversary Event. Honoring the brand’s legacy in bringing continuous action and adventure to fans of all ages, the theatrical event will...
Wham-O to release Slip ‘N Slide Air exclusively at Costco. Wham-O, the company behind the Frisbee, Hula Hoop, and Boogie Board, will release a new version of the Slip ‘N Slide outdoor toy. This update to the line, the Slip ‘N Slide Air, comes more than 60 years after the original toy was introduced to summer vacations. The new Slip ‘N Slide Air features a 30-foot, air-cushioned surface that can inflate...
Capstone to release all Spielworxx Games in North America. New path for German publisher's heavy Euros. Games from German publisher Spielworxx GmbH now have a new path to market in North America; Capstone and Spielworxx have reached an agreement for Capstone to release all of the publisher’s heavy Euro games in this market, the companies announced.
Miniso to open Sanrio Store at American Dream Mall. Co-designed with Sanrio, the new IP collection flagship store will open in May. Miniso continues to expand IP collaborations, this time with a store centered entirely around Sanrio. Lifestyle brand Miniso has retail locations across the country and beyond, offering customers everything from collectibles to home goods.
Establish military supremacy with 'Manhattan Project: War Machine'. New board game from Surfin' Meeple. Asmodee will release Surfin’ Meeple’s Manhattan Project: War Machine, a new board game in which the goal is to guide your nation to military supremacy, this month. Players compete to deploy their workforce and build production to amass military goods, which result in victory points.
Bandai launches Ultraman collection ahead of ‘Ultraman: Rising’ debut. Bandai Namco Toys & Collectibles America has added new Ultraman figures and blind box items to its portfolio ahead of the Ultraman: Rising premiere. The new animated film will debut on Netflix on June 14, and customers can preorder products from the new collection now.
Trend Enterprises launches more retro Scratch ‘n Sniff Stinky Stickers. Trend Enterprises is bringing back more of its original Scratch ‘n Sniff Stinky Stickers, with designs from the ‘80s coming to the present. Trend released the original Scratch ‘n Sniff Stinky Stickers throughout the 1980s, with more than 1 billion stickers sold by 1983.
Bezier to release 'Rebel Princess Deluxe Edition'. Bezier Games will release Rebel Princess, a card game based loosely on the Hearts mechanic, at Gen Con 2024, the company announced. This trick-taking game has three to six players who are all princesses trying to avoid Prince Cards, each of which represents one marriage proposal, and especially the Frog Prince, who represents five marriage proposals.
Asmodee to distribute 'Tainted Grail: Kings of Ruin'. Asmodee will release six products tied to Awaken Realms’ Tainted Grail: Kings of Ruin, a new stand-alone game in the Tainted Grail universe, which kicked off with Tainted Grail: The Fall of Avalon on May 3. The universe blends Arthurian legends with a unique vision. Tainted Grail: Kings of Ruin is a cooperative exploration game in which...
Gaming: Digital, Video, Hardware, and Development
AR game-maker Niantic is refreshing its flagship Pokémon GO app with a slew of updates that tie into a broader “Rediscover GO” initiative. Starting tomorrow (April 17), the game’s avatar-maker will feature more personalization and styling options. And new landscapes including forests, cities, beaches and mountains are rolling out on Earth Day (April 22), allowing the in-game visuals to...
*** The above posted after April 12th ***
SEGA of America is taking some of the spotlight away from Sonic the Hedgehog to launch a new marketing campaign focusing on his arch rival Shadow. The Fearless: Year of Shadow celebration kicks off this month as SEGA partners with the MotoGP motorsports championship to design and tour a new Shadow-themed motorcycle throughout the year. Decked out in the character’s iconic red and black colors...
Microsoft renews Blizzard and NetEase partnership to bring key titles back to China. Blizzard's new parent company Microsoft has convinced the World of Warcraft maker and NetEase to bury the hatchet so it can bring some of its most popular video games to China. Earlier today, Microsoft announced that Blizzard and NetEase have renewed an agreement to bring "beloved titles" to China, including...
Ubisoft unveils ‘Star Wars Outlaws’ trailer. The new game takes place in the middle of the original Star Wars trilogy. Ubisoft just launched a new trailer for Star Wars Outlaws that gives fans a look into the storyline of the video game.The game takes place between Empire Strikes Back and Return of the Jedi, so the Rebellion is in full swing and the Empire is cracking down hard.
You're about to start paying more for that EA Play subscription. EA is increasing the price of its EA Play subscriptions. As reported by GamesIndustry.biz, the company is raising the price of both its standard EA Play and EA Play Pro subscriptions across the board. Subscribing to the standard EA Play tier will now cost $5.99 / £5.99 per month, an increase on the previous fee of $4.99 / £3.99 per month.
Fans considering legal action after Disney Kart Racer changes Battle Pass monetization. While you might not expect a Disney-themed kart racing game to be the subject of much controversy, Disney Speedstorm has implemented some changes to its progression that have upset fans so much that some are considering legal action.
UK retailer GAME cuts jobs as remaining staff are put under new contracts. A new report from Eurogamer alleges GAME, a UK store specializing in video games, is currently undergoing layoffs across its stores. While the specific number of impacted workers is unclear, the outlet claims staff were told redundancies are on the horizon.
Ascendant Studios has reportedly furloughed majority of its staff. Ascendant Studios has recently furloughed most of its remaining staff, according to Phoenix Labs engineer Kris Morness. In a post on LinkedIn, Morness claimed the furlough has affected "around 30 folks." This was further corroborated by Polygon's Nicole Carpenter, who added the studio had yet to comment on the matter.
Palia developer Singularity 6 laying off 35 percent of workforce. Palia developer Singularity 6 has laid off 35 percent of its workforce less than a month after the multiplayer community sim launched on Steam. The LA studio confirmed the news in a statement to IGN and said the layoffs were the result of an internal evaluation designed to assess what resources it needed to "deliver the highest-quality gameplay...
Relic cuts 41 jobs after recent independence from Sega. A week after its breakup with Sega Europe, the newly-independent Relic Entertainment is laying off some of its staff. Per external development producer Robyn Smale, 41 staffers were let go. On LinkedIn, the Vancouver studio attributed its newest reductions to "an increasingly volatile industry.
Highlighted Press Releases
KIDSTUFF PUBLIC RELATIONS SIGNS FOUR MORE IN ‘24 AS 30TH ANNIVERSARY CELEBRATION CONTINUES. No April Fools: Fun In Motion Toys, Top Secret Toys, MEAVIA & Purpose Toys. Choose KidStuff Public Relations As Its Agency of Record As Of April 2024. Thousand Oaks, CA (April 12, 2024) – KidStuff Public Relations continues to pop the champagne corks as its 30th Anniversary year has more good news to share. Four toymakers have signed with the storied PR agency headed by Lisa Orman, named twice as a Wonder Woman by Women In Toys (WIT) as one of the industry’s top thought leaders on kids’ stuff.
*** The above was posted after tBR started running on April 12th ***
PSSST: ASTRA BOOTH 2927 HAS FIVE TOP SECRET TOYS RETAILERS HAVE GOT TO SEE! Ask To Try Your Hands On These NEW Summer ‘24 Toys: GigaPets®, Gooblins™, Dissect-It® Rattlesnake, & Thumbler™ Wand. GigaPets® Bit Bunnies™Chicago, IL (April 10, 2024) – Retailers and specialty toy buyers are taking a road trip to St. Louis in June for ASTRA’s Marketplace & Academy. They call it a “big toy family reunion” featuring the best and brightest in products, ideas and connections. One connection not to miss is the Rehkemper family business, Top Secret Toys™, at Booth 2927. As inventors, the Rehkempers’ firm created GigaPets® back in the 90’s and is excited to unveil the newest addition to the modern collection with the most advanced GigaPet yet, Bit Bunnies™.
HERE’S SIX WATCHITUDE TRENDS TO ASSEMBLE FOR THE ULTIMATE SUMMER ’24 CAMP PACKING LIST. After Labeling Camper’s First + Last Name On Everything From Bug Spray To Swimsuits, Toss In Some Glamping With Jamm’d Bluetooth Speaker, Adventure Pack & More. New Brunswick, NJ (April 9, 2024) – Once the summer camp application is submitted, the packing list soon arrives. Watchitude, makers of fashion trends for kids, has a few suggestions to add to the ho-hum list of towels, socks, shorts & undies. How about a Jamm’d Bluetooth Speaker ($25) in twenty patterns to pump up the bunk before swim practice? Whether it’s Day Camp or Sleepaway this summer, a few nice-to-have items will...
Associations, Shows, Awards, Events, and Festivals
Save the Date: Educational Sessions will Give Exhibitors Tips for Navigating Toy Fair® 2025. Toy Fair® exhibitors are encouraged to mark their calendars for six upcoming Exhibitor Academy sessions, which will provide valuable insights and practical tips for a successful Toy Fair, taking place March 1 to 4, 2025 at the Javits Center in New York City. Key contacts will receive an email when sessions are open for registration.
Industry guests announced for second Australian Children’s Content Summit. Coffs Harbour will play host to a second Aust. Children's Content Summit with international & Australian speakers in August. International featured guests confirmed include Jane Gould – Co-Founder Wonderworks Insights, Kate Morton – Head of Commissioning & Acquisitions 0-6 BBC, Katharina Pietzch – VP Sales Kids & Family...
Licensing International is proud to announce the full list of finalists for the prestigious Excellence Awards, dedicated to recognizing outstanding achievements and innovation in the global brand licensing industry. This year’s Excellence Awards feature 197 finalists in 32 categories. More than 800 submissions were reviewed by a panel that includes 200 judges from 20 countries.
Canada’s Youth Media Alliance (YMA) is taking a moment to recognize 10 important figures who have helped the non-profit org and the domestic kids content industry it serves grow over the last 50 years. The honorees are Robert Roy, Nina Keogh, Kim Yaroshevskaya, Ira Levy, Diane England, Agnes Augustin, Madeleine Lévesque, Nancy Chapelle, Marie-Pierre Gariépy and Toni Stevens.
*** The above posted after April 12th ***
MIP London (February 24 to 27, 2025) is set to be a very different creature from MIPTV, with a focus on meeting spaces and networking over panels and stands, says Lucy Smith (pictured), RX France’s entertainment division director. Smith shared the first details about the new event yesterday at a presentation that took place during MIPTV’s final edition in Cannes.
‘Pokémon: Path to the Peak’ Nominated for Best Animation in 28th Annual Webby Awards. The Pokémon Company Int'l announced that the original animated series, Pokémon: Path to the Peak, has been nominated for Best Animation (Series & Channels) in the Video category in the 28th Annual Webby Awards. Pokémon: Path to the Peak follows Ava and her partner Pokémon, Oddish, on their journey to rise to the top of...
At the 2024 Licensing Expo, Dr. Seuss Enterprises will showcase a range of new initiatives including the roll out of new consumer product lines, breakthrough initiatives, new entertainment projects, as well as the growth of their longstanding portfolio partners. Below is a brief rundown of what Dr. Seuss Enterprises will be showcasing at Licensing Expo 2024...
Wondery’s chief brand officer, Nicole Blake, and podcaster Guy Raz, host of How I Built This and Wow in the World, are set to keynote Licensing Expo. Licensing Expo has announced its second keynote, featuring Wondery‘s chief brand officer, Nicole Blake, to discuss franchise development opportunities from podcast IPs, alongside How I Built This and Wow in the World co-creator and host, Guy Raz, as podcasts signal...
All you need to know for tonight's Bafta Games Awards. It's time once again for the big names of the gaming industry to gather for the Bafta Games Awards, which will be held in London later. Comedian Phil Wang will host the 20th anniversary of the awards from the Queen Elizabeth Hall, which the BBC will be covering from the red carpet at 17:00 BST. Baldur’s Gate 3 and Spider-Man 2 lead the nominations...
Pokémon’s first US World Championship in five years announces August dates for Hawai‘i tournament. Pokémon’s annual World Championship event is returning to Hawai‘i for the first time since 2012, and we now have dates and a venue for the massive tournament blowout. The 2024 World Championship will be held at the Hawai‘i Convention Center in Honolulu from August 16th through the 18th.
D&D and Monopoly maker will publish last year’s winning card game from the Women Innovators of Play. Toy and tabletop game giant Hasbro has announced its second annual Women Innovators of Play, which includes a suite of professional talks and programming alongside another competition to find the best unpublished board games designed by women in the tabletop industry.
Distoy gears up for latest show. Distoy is looking forward to welcoming its band of faithful followers from every corner of the world to London between May 28th – 31st. During the four-day show, toy suppliers and distributors from across the world will travel to London to view a selection of new ranges for which toy companies will be hoping to secure distribution deals.
Safety and Counterfeiting
SAG-AFTRA has responded to calls for additional safety protocols for child actors amid the revelations in Quiet on Set: The Dark Side of Kids TV. Last month, former Amanda Show writer Jenny Kilgen, who is also featured in Investigation Discovery’s docuseries, wrote an open letter to the actors union, urging them to “take action to initiate and institute robust child safety protocols to protect young actors.”
CPSC warns consumers to immediately stop using Chiwanji Hammer toys due to choking hazard; banned small parts; sold exclusively on Walmart.com. The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) is warning consumers to immediately stop using Chiwanji Vertical Box Hammer Case Hammer Toys because the small balls pose a choking hazard to young children.
Toy companies continue selling similar products following recalls. Folichia Mitchell wondered if she was going to lose her baby to a tiny toy. In November 2022, her daughter Kennedy got ahold of a single water bead. That sprinkle-sized bead expanded inside Kennedy’s tiny body and caused a serious bowel obstruction. Even after the recall, InvestigateTV found the company didn’t appear to stop selling all water beads.
We tested kids’ smart toys for privacy. Here’s how you can, too. All you need: your computer or smartphone, some free tools, and your child’s internet- or Bluetooth-connected toy. It’s a new era in entertainment for kids. Everywhere you look, new toys and devices are marketed toward children with smart features.
RIP - Rest in Play - Remembering Those that have Passed
If you know of a colleague's passing, please send us information so we may share with our readers. Archives can be found HERE
R.I.P. TRINA ROBBINS - riter, Artist, Historian, Advocate for Comics for Women and Girls. - Trina Robbins grew up loving comics but came of age at a time when comics for girls and women had disappeared and the industry was dominated by men. She helped transform the medium by creating her own comics, publishing and mentoring other women cartoonists, and documenting the history of the women who had always been a part of the industry but were seldom mentioned in the standard texts.
Robbins was born in Brooklyn in 1938, the daughter of Jewish immigrants from Belarus (then part of Russia). She read and drew comics from a young age, and from the beginning she gravitated toward female characters: Brenda Starr, Millie the Model, and Katy Keene, the multitalented model created by Bill Woggon for Archie Comics. Katy Keene comics included both paper dolls and clothing designs submitted by readers, and Robbins created her own paper dolls as well as making her own comics. In her teens and early 20s, Robbins moved away from comics, turning her talents toward fashion design; she sold her handmade dresses at craft fairs, ran a boutique in New York called Broccoli, and hung out with models and rock stars. In 1969 she designed the costume and hairstyle for Vampirella, the title character of Warren Publishing’s black-and-white horror magazine (a companion to Creepy and Eerie).
It was the New York alternative paper the East Village Other that got her back into making comics. The comics published there were radically different from those of her youth, and Robbins saw new possibilities there. The Other published her first comic strip, which was submitted on a whim, and then continued to publish her work regularly. She moved to San Francisco in 1970, as the Underground Comix scene was just getting started, working at the feminist paper It Ain’t Me, Babe. READ More...
Jeremías Babini passed away "unexpectedly" over the weekend, according to collaborator Daniel Benmergui.
The Argentinian developer worked with Benmergui on 2023's Storyteller as an artist and co-designer. They first teamed with musician Hernán Rozenwasser on 2017's Fidel Dungeon Rescue.
"[Jeremías] he poured his humor into every character, every animation, every detail," wrote Benmergui. "He gave life to everything we did."
Babini first got into games in 2010 as an animator at social game developer Atommica. In 2012, he worked at Heavy Boat (as an artist) and Ludomancy (art director). Come 2015, he co-found Wonbats in Buenos Aires.
At Wonbats, he worked as an art director on a number of Cartoon Network titles. Those games, some of which are still playable, include Steven Universe: Sword Dancers and Regular Show: Demonic Naptime.
Prior to his passing, Babini was working on Piopow for the NES and Famicom, and whose status currently remains up in the air. Like with the Atari 2600, developers have taken to creating new game catridges for the retro console.
Benmergui went on to call Babini an "unmatched illustrator. [...] He was our Da Vinci. I can't replace him. I will never be the same."
"I feel very lucky...that [Jeremías] lived and left on his own terms," he concluded. "I believe if he could say one last thing he would say, 'I am fine with this'. Now it's up to us to figure out the rest."
Pamela Osborne worked for 60 years at the family run Osborne’s Sports and Toys, which she owned, in Rushden. She died peacefully on March 25th at the age of 91, with her family noting that ‘her smile and witty personality has always lit up our little corner of the High Street.’
Osborne’s is a proud Toymaster member, and Will Osborne, Pamela’s son, who currently runs the toy store with his partner, Libby, said: “She had a good life, she had 91 good years. The family has been overwhelmed by the positive response of love, stories and best wishes that we’ve had. A response like that is a great comfort for the family. We knew her and loved her, but it’s nice to know the customers did too, and the response has just re-enforced what we knew about her, and that so many people felt the same.”
Pamela came to the area initially to take a job at Chichele College as a PE teacher in 1954. She married Will’s father, Jim in 1960, and became a partner at the toy shop some time later, holding this position right through until 2024.
Her family report that she was a mainstay in the shop well into later life. They recount that, while Jim was seen as the face of the business, Pamela was the brains behind it, taking a more behind the scenes role, although she could often be found making herself available to chat to customers.
Osborne’s Sports and Toys celebrated its 65th anniversary in 2020, when special 65th anniversary jigsaws were commissioned. Other noteable moments in the business’s history include when Lego thanked the Osbornes for their brand loyalty by cladding the entire shop front with 277,500 Lego bricks for a weekend, and Playmobil selecting Osbornes’s as the launch pad for Playmobil: Star Trek’s USS Enterprise playset, supplying a 5ft Mr Spock and a model of the USS Enterprise.
The local community has responded to the news of Pamela’s passing with condolences, happy memories and high praise for what many described as a ‘lovely lady’, a ‘local celebrity’, and ‘an integral part of many of our childhoods.’
Gleda M. Estes: A Pioneer in Model Rocketry and its Educational Opportunities. It is with heavy hearts that we bid farewell to Gleda M. Estes, an icon in the field of rocketry and a champion for education throughout her life and career. Gleda passed away peacefully on March 30, 2024 at the age of 92, leaving behind a legacy that will continue to inspire generations to come.
Gleda Kane was born on March 4, 1932 to Lester and Anna Belle Kane in a farming community near Clarinda, Iowa. As the youngest of eight siblings, Gleda attended grade school at a nearby one-room schoolhouse and later moved to Clarinda, Iowa in 1946 to attend high school. During her high school years, she lived with the William C. Hemphill family, doing housekeeping, cooking and childcare for her room and board.
With plans to prepare herself for a career in nursing, she worked part time at the local hospital during her senior year in high school. Then, in the fall of 1950, she began her freshman year at Central College in McPherson, Kansas. It was in chemistry class at Central that Gleda met her husband, Vernon Estes. Gleda and Vern were married on May 16, 1951. They lived their early lives together in the Denver area where their three daughters Betty, Sharon and Linda were born. Together, they embarked on a remarkable journey, pioneering an innovative family business and ultimately shaping the landscape of model rocketry with the formation of Estes Industries, Inc. in 1958.
As a co-founder of Estes Industries, Gleda was Vern’s primary support and partner in their new business venture into the space-age hobby of model rocketry. A modest mail order company in its infancy, Estes quickly grew along with the budding US Space Program in igniting the imagination of our country and contributing to technological advances needed to grow the hobby of rocketry. Her keen administrative skills and dedication complemented Vern’s technical ingenuity in the development of safe and affordable model rocket engines and model designs, making rocketry accessible to enthusiasts of all ages. Gleda’s contributions helped lay the foundation for the modern rocketry movement, inspiring countless individuals to reach for the stars.
It was Gleda who did much of the work as they got their small rocket company off the ground. She rolled body tubes, typeset and printed instructions, stitched the first Estes catalogs on her sewing machine, handled the bookkeeping, packed rocket kits, and processed and shipped orders.
Following the 1961 move to Penrose, Gleda managed the largest division at Estes Industries. It was her department that ensured kits were produced and shipped on time. She managed the mass mailings of catalogs, Model Rocket News, and other publications. It was her job to oversee the opening of the mail, and make sure each order was shipped out in the afternoon mail. Everyone at Estes knew that when it came to serving the everyday needs of customers, Gleda was the Boss. As Estes grew, so did Gleda’s division of the company. When Estes Industries was sold to the Damon Corporation in 1969, she was managing more than 150 employees. Read More...
Rich Rooney, PlayMonster Chief Operations & Logistics Officer, Passes Away, Aged 53.
A longtime veteran of the toy industry, with history at Hasbro, Zizzle and Ridemakerz, Rich leaves behind an indelible and positive mark on the world of toys.
Thoughts in remembrance of Rich can be shared here on the original post, and information of visitation and the memorial service can be found on Rich’s obituary page.
See below for PlayMonster’s full statement on Rich and his impact:…
“It is with heavy hearts that we share the passing of our beloved colleague and friend, Rich Rooney. Not only was he a valued member of our team – a beacon of positivity, dedication, and professionalism – but his unbridled love of toys was clear throughout his years with Hasbro, Zizzle, Ridemakerz, and of course, PlayMonster, all together making him a leader in his field.”
“Rich joined PlayMonster as the Chief Operations & Logistics Officer a few years ago and made an immediate impact during his tenure thanks to his unique talents, passion, and unwavering commitment to every project. Yet, it was his infectious smile, quick wit, and overall warm nature that won over the hearts of many, and that we, his PlayMonster family, will continue to cherish. He touched the lives of everyone he encountered, leaving behind a legacy of warmth and compassion.”
“As we mourn his loss, let us also celebrate the profound impact Rich had on our lives, our company, and the toy industry as a whole.”
“Our thoughts and prayers are with Rich’s family and loved ones during this difficult time.”
Worldwide Magazines Weekly Top Stories
Added Friday Morning Chicago Time. Check Back for Complete Lists.
Toy Trade Monthly Issues
Adventure Media & Events (US)
-
EXG Pro Offers Sneak Peek into Upcoming Releases at LA Spring Previews (The Toy Book)
-
24 Eco-Friendly Toys to Celebrate Earth Day 24/7 (The Toy Insider)
-
Get Your Pip-Boy Ready for New ‘Fallout’ Series Merch (The Pop Insider)
-
Margot Robbie Rolls the Dice on Monopoly Movie (The Toy Book)
-
WowWee, Mystic Moose Partner for Planet Mojo Blockchain Toys (The Toy Book)
-
Griffin Gaming Partners Names Russell Binder as Venture Partner and IP Advisor (The Toy Book)
-
SEGA Launches Fearless: Year of Shadow Campaign (The Toy Book)
-
JAKKS Pacific, Epic Story Media to Launch Licensing Program for 'Wild Manes' (The Toy Book)
-
Amazon MGM Studios Reveals ‘Fallout’ Merchandising Program Ahead of Series Premiere (The Toy Book)
aNb Media (US)
Toyworld (UK)
Licensing.biz Powered by Toyworld
-
Pophouse acquires the music catalogue, brand name and IP of Kiss
-
Zuru cooks up latest Mini Brands Create series with MasterChef
ICv2: The Business of Geek Culture (US)
- Hasbro CEO Talks Layoffs, Pivot to Games, OGL, 'Magic' Overproduction
- Fantasy Flight Announces Second 'Star Wars Unlimited' Set
- Rolling for Initiative -- Chris Cocks: The Interview
- TCGPlayer Top 25 Sealed Products (With Price Shifts) – March 2024
- 'Disney Lorcana' Challenge Events Scale Up
- 'DC Heroes United' Game
- 'One Piece,' 'Hunter X Hunter,' 'Street Fighter V,' 'Sonic' Games
- Legend Story Launching Limited Run Classic Constructed Decks
- GAMA Election Results
- Three Train Games from Rio Grande
Nación Juguetes (Mexico, Peru, Argentina, Chile & Spain)
Global Toy News
The Bugg Report (Australia)
-
Authentic Brands Group Appoints Lim Mi-Kyoung as SVP, Head of Australia and New Zealand
-
BrandTrends Announces the Launch of LicenseSelector, A Groundbreaking AI-powered Solution
The Toy Universe (Australia)
hobbyDB
-
Did You Own It: Vintage Hot Wheels Service Center and City Playset
-
Up! Up! And Away! Superman Action Comics #1 Sells for Record $6 Million
Video of the Week
Kristin Wiig! Jumanji skit on SNL - no way can you keep a straight face!
JOIN PEOPLE OF PLAY (POP)
It's Linkedin + IMDb + Wiki
"I highly recommend that if anyone in this industry wants to be found, they join POP and fill out the skills and expertise section of their POP Profiles. I've had companies and a major media network reach out to me for a show based on my skills and expertise."
- David Yakos, Founder of Streamline Design and Owner of Salient Technologies
-
Display your entire portfolio, unlimited products, videos, photos, media, and more
-
Easy-setup and a real live helpful person to talk to if you have questions
-
Advanced search for industry contacts by roles, skills, location, and more
-
POP Pub networking – just one connection can change your life!
-
Access to information of products, people, and companies
-
Find person-to-hire based on skills, roles and expertise
-
Ad campaigns, target members of the industry
-
Exclusive discounts and events
-
Classified Ads
What are you waiting for? We've got the most powerful platform in our industry!
Join here: www.peopleofplay.com
Thank you for being a reader of the Bloom Report. — Mary and Graeme
Founding Editor and Publisher (1998-2020, Retired): Philip Bloom
We are honored to carry on Phil's 22 year legacy and continue the Bloom Report. Phil has been a mensch
and we've loved working with him. Here is a fun and interesting interview with Phil.
If you would like to reach Phil: philip.bloom100@verizon.net
Publisher: Mary Couzin, Chicago Toy & Game Group, Inc.
Managing Editor: Graeme Thomson
Assistant Editor: Patrick Fisher
Not only does the Bloom Report give you all the news you need to know...
we give you all the news you didn't know you needed to know!" -Phil Bloom
Do you have news to share? Send us a note! mary@chitag.com
