Companies, Brands . . .

The L.O.L. Surprise! Dolls Are Going on Their First Live Concert Tour. Following the massive success of the L.O.L. Surprise! dolls, MGA Entertainment (MGAE) is collaborating with Terrapin Station Entertainment to bring the characters to the stage for the brand’s first-ever live concert tour. Young fans will be able to see Lady Diva, Neonlicious, Swag, and the rest of the Surprise crew rocking out right before their eyes. 

GoNoodle, Tonies Join the Mindfulness Movement with Meditative Music and Audio Stories. Mindfulness has become an important skill for kids to learn and practice over the course of the pandemic, and one of the best ways to help them tune in to their emotions is by tuning up their music. GoNoodle and Tonies bring the best of both worlds together with the Mindfulness Starter Set Toniebox, which is a screen-free...

Far Out Toys Reveals Plans for a Live-action Glo-Up Girls Series. Far Out Toys’ Glo-Up Girls brand launch this summer will be supported by multiplatform content to reach kids and fans. In addition to the new collection of fashion dolls, The Glo Show will be a live-action reality series that will debut this July on YouTube to drive the emerging brand’s entertainment strategy this year.

Lockdown superhero children to get £5,000 in The Entertainer giveaway. Toy retailer to give vouchers to 250 superhero youngsters, with one lucky winner also winning a VIP shopping experience. The toy retailer is looking for children who have been superheroes during lockdown, demonstrated through activities such as helping their younger brothers and sisters with school work or supporting an elderly neighbour ...

Mattel UK supports indie retailers with dynamic digital marketing campaign  Running over a couple of months, the Mattel campaign will increase awareness and drive footfall to over 300 independent toy retailers. Activated through mobile display and Spotify, the innovative campaign will geo-target adults based on their live locations and proximity to their local toy store using a mix of dynamic audio & visual creatives.

Hasbro has announced that it is working on NFT technology to be used in the companies profile. The specific target is one of the most popular collectible card games, “Magic: The Gathering.” Ever since its introduction in 1993, “Magic: The Gathering” (MTG) has been a constant in the world of trading card games (TCGs). In the game, players collect cards via packs just like traditional sports cards would come in.

A report by Retail Insider says Disney will be closing all 18 of its retail store in Canada by the end of the summer. Two have already shuttered. According to the report, Disney made the move to re-evaluate its operations amid a “challenging time for retail and landlords in North America” as more consumers shift their shopping online. “Over the next year Disney will focus on providing a more seamless, personalized ...

Amazon launches tablet for older kids Expanding beyond preschoolers, the Fire Kids Pro for six- to 12-year-olds includes new features and content from National Geographic and LEGO. Priced betweenUS$99 and US$199, the tablet itself will feature voice and video calling functionality so users can chat with their friends. Kids can also request to download family-friendly apps like Minecraft, Zoom and Disney+, and ...

Aardman names head of training facility The Bristol-based animation studio has appointed Mark Simon Hewis to head up its Aardman Academy training facility in a new role designed to support and develop upcoming talent, and provide opportunities for students to connect with the animation industry.

Haba rebrands as Haba Familygroup In order to align itself internationally, the Haba family of companies has renamed itself Haba Familygroup. The Haba family of companies, headquartered in Bad Rodach, Germany, announced the rebranding at a press conference. Founded in 1938, the Haba group, which manufactures wooden toys, clothing and furniture, is celebrating its 83rd anniversary this year.

Schleich & 4-H Partner for Storytelling Contest. Schleich and 4-H announced the start of the “Create Your Story” contest, calling on kids everywhere to submit stories, with two finalists to be included in a “create your own adventure” video. In addition to the contest, Schleich will be introducing multiple product offerings online and at retail, proceeds from which will benefit 4-H youth.

Spin Master's Tech Deck Brand Becomes Official Sponsor of USA Skateboarding. Spin Master’s Tech Deck brand joins forces with USA Skateboarding as the sport makes its debut at the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games this summer.  Open to all U.S. citizens, the skateboarding finals are set but fingerboarders can post clips of themselves on social media to be judged by a panel of professional skateboarders.

McDonald's set to limit Pokémon Happy Meal toy purchases in UK. Scalpers caused chaos when they gobbled up supplies during the promotion in the US. The fast food giant is yet to confirm what the included Pokémon gift will be, though it is expected to be the same limited-run Pokémon cards it offered when the same promotion ran in the US in February.

A.B.Gee to distribute Spin Master ranges Already an official distributor for Hasbro, Mattel and Moose Toys amongst others, A.B.Gee is now able to offer Spin Master ranges to its customers. Distribution covers the whole of the UK and Ireland, with a combination of A.B.Gee’s own sales force and agent partnerships.

(the above posted after April 23rd)

The award-winning Shashibo puzzle toy has a new edition that’s perfect for Earth Day or any day. Shashibo Earth puts a globe-centric artistic spin on the magnetic transformation puzzle. Shashibo is powered by 36 rare Earth magnets and transforms into more than 70 shapes. Each 3-inch Shashibo cube features four art designs, creating a kaleidoscope effect when users open the cube and create shapes. 

PBS KIDS calls for literacy series pitches. The pubcaster is specifically hoping to connect with creators from underrepresented communities who have multi-platform preschool concepts to pitch. The US pubcaster wants to greenlight a series for kids ages three to five that it can extend across platforms including digital games, books, short videos and hands-on activities. 

TheToyAuthority's 23 Days of Play Giveaway is Now Open! TTPM‘s recently launched TikTok channel TheToyAuthority announces a 23 Days of Play giveaway. Between April 22 and May 14, you can enter for a chance to win a different prize each day. Unlock a prize daily by visiting the giveaway calendar each day, clicking the prize for that day, and providing your first name, last name, and email address to enter. 

Harry Potter store set to open in New York. The flagship store will open in June near the Flatiron Building at 935 Broadway. US Wizarding World fans are eagerly awaiting the opening of a new Harry Potter store, which will offer three floors of licensed Harry Potter and Fantastic Beasts products as well as themed experiences across 21,000 square feet of magical retail space.

Bandai unveils new Tamagotchi Pix  The new device takes the core of Tamagotchi play and further immerses users into the Tamagotchi universe with exciting new features. This device will be the first to feature a built-in camera that allows users to take pictures with their virtual pet and interact with it in new ways.

World Earth Day: Italian firm Mondo Toys introduces new sustainable outdoor lines. The Italian toy maker, Mondo Toys has unveiled its latest advance in the sustainable toy push with the launch of its BioBall and ReNewToys ranges, coinciding with the celebration of World Earth Day today (Thursday, April 22). In answer to the global impact of plastic pollution – and the increasing levels of plastic pollution within the ...

Zapf speaks to kids about single-use plastic for World Earth Day The manufacturer of Baby Annabell and Baby born has released a video highlighting children’s understanding of single-use plastics on the planet.  Zapf says the video makes it clear that children understand the impact single-use plastic has on our planet, with many of them voicing concerns about the safety of animals – including one young boy who urged...

Just Play, which manufactures licensed face masks for kids, will donate 1 million of its face masks through the end of the year to various organizations that support childrens’ livelihoods. The company has already donated more than 620,000 face masks to children’s hospitals in Texas, Colorodo, Los Angeles, and Orange County, in addition to the Joe DiMaggio Children’s Hospital Foundation in South Florida, ....

A year into its efforts to remove the use of virgin (non-recycled) plastics from its Bunch O Balloons brand, ZURU revealed that it has exceeded its goal by 57%. Last year, the company set a goal of removing 800 tons of virgin plastic from its water balloon line, but thanks to the use of recycled materials and increased orders for 2021, the company has marked a 1,200-ton reduction. 

Why Facebook won’t sell ads in its planned Instagram app for kids.  Facebook has kept mostly quiet about its plans to build a version of Instagram for children under the age of 13, which has already drawn the ire of parents, child advocates and U.S. lawmakers concerned with kids mental health and data privacy. But the company is willing to proclaim that the already-controversial app will not carry ads, despite...

HASBRO UNVEILS TOYS INSPIRED BY MARVEL STUDIOS’ ‘SHANG-CHI AND THE LEGEND OF THE TEN RINGS’. Hasbro’s product line is geared toward satisfying both kids and collectors with action figures and roleplay items across several price points. The line includes 6-inch scale figures of Shang-Chi and Wenwu ($14.99 each), along with 12-inch Titan Hero Series figures ($9.99). 

Activision Blizzard donates $4 million to University of Michigan to establish esports minor. Housed in the University of Michigan School of Information, the multidisciplinary program will have an endowed chair and will commence in 2022. Esports are spectator events of organized video game competitions. University of Michigan will use Kotick’s $4 million gift to fund a professor to develop the program....

MATTEL FILMS PARTNERS WITH VIN DIESEL FOR ROCK ‘EM SOCK ‘EM ROBOTS MOVIE. Mattel Films is collaborating with Universal Pictures and Vin Diesel’s One Race Films on a live-action film based on the classic tabletop game, Rock ‘Em Sock ‘Em Robots. Diesel (The Fast Saga, Guardians of the Galaxy) plans to star in the film and will produce alongside his sister, Samantha Vincent (The Fast Saga) while Kevin McKeon will lead the...

LEGOLAND introduces families to LEGO Braille Bricks with hopes to roll event plans out globally. LEGOLAND Discovery Centre is introducing introducing visually impaired children to its new LEGO Braille Bricks for the first time with the launch of a series of special events for families and kids. The first of the LEGO Braille Bricks special events took place at one of Merlin Entertainments’ LEGOLAND Discovery Centres ...

Magic Box launches new vehicle concept with T-Racers  The T-Racers ‘Mix and race’ concept allows children to design and build the cars they want by mixing and matching vehicle parts. T-Racers are made of five different parts which can be interchanged, forming 500 possible combinations and allowing children to personalise their cars. 

Hasbro partners with Star Editions to launch online Personalised Monopoly shop. Hasbro has struck up a new partnership with the personalized giftware specialist, Star Editions, to launch a new online shop for the family gaming brand, Monopoly. The new site has now launched to feature an extensive range of customizable, Monopoly-themed products. 

LEGO unveils its largest and ‘most feature packed’ LEGO Star Wars R2-D2 to date. The LEGO Group has lifted the lid on its biggest and ‘most feature-packed’ LEGO Star Wars R2-D2 construction set to date, a new launch developed to celebrate the 50th anniversary of Lucasfilm this year. Weighing in a 2,314 pieces, the new launch targets the adult LEGO builders and Star Wars core fan base, allowing them to recreate ...

Shang-Chi Funko Pops Officially Unveiled by Marvel. The merch machine for Marvel Studios' Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings is heating up now that the first teaser for the upcoming film has launched. Yesterday, Hasbro unveiled the first wave of Marvel Legends Shang-Chi figures and toys, and Marvel has chimed in by debuting the first wave of Funko Pops. Note that the following reveals may include...

Mookie Toys appoints Norton PR to handle new product launches for 2021. As part of a strategic change of direction to refresh its PR function for 2021, Mookie Toys has appointed Norton PR to handle new product introductions and support existing lines in the UK. Spearheading a consumer PR drive across all the company’s key ranges including Outdoor, Yulu Toys, Silverlit and market-leading tie dye brand Tybo, ...

Level 99 Games will release 'Bullet(Heart)' into retail. Level 99 Games will release Bullet♥, a puzzle action board game, into retail stores on May 4. In this game, players assume the role of one of Earth’s most powerful Heroines to battle each other with excessive firepower.  They use actions to form Patterns, clear their board of bullets, and deliver punishing assaults to their opponents.  .

The Falcon and the Winter Soldier Hit Walgreens as Minimates Mini-Figures. Marvel Minimates are celebrating 18 years this year, and the line is still going strong with waves based on Marvel comics, movies, animation, and now TV! The first-ever Minimates based on a Disney+ television series is available in Walgreens stores, and focused on the world of The Falcon and the Winter Soldier! Capturing four ...

Bandai unveils brand-new 'Digimon Card Game' booster set. Bandai unveiled Double Diamond [BT06], a new set for Digimon Card Game, expected to arrive in October for U.S. retail. The sixth booster set in this re-launch of Digimon CG includes the debut of Royal Knights in the game and more fan favorite Digimon to collect. It will feature Agumon (Bond of Frienship) and Gabumon (Bond of Friendship) from ... 

Destroy game components and build realms with 'Cutterland'. Ultra PRO Entertainment revealed Cutterland, a new cut-and-draft tile game by Hobby World, for release in June. Cutterland has truly "cutting-edge" game mechanics as it requires players to actually cut game components to create fantasy lands and score points. The goal of the game is slice and dice cards with scissors to build up attractive landsantic Games launches extra large ships for 'Armada'. Mantic Games launched the preorder of four Extra Large Ships, for use with Kings of War: Armada, which will release in May. Bigger is often better when it comes to firepower in miniatures games. These XL-size ships can serve as flagships of for the four different fleets they each represent. 

Players face off with Annihilus in next Marvel 'Legendary' expansion. Upper Deck will release Annihilation, a new expansion for Marvel Legendary deck-building game, in summer 2021. Annihilus, Lord of the Negative Zone, is heading to games of Legendary for this game's 25th expansion.  He has declared war on both heroes and villains causing them to work together in an effort to avoid total annihilation.  

Expand games of 'Western Legends' with 'Blood Money'. Kolossal Games revealed Western Legends: Blood Money, the second large expansion for Western Legends board game, for release in Q3. This expansion adds new of modules to tailor games of Western Legends (see "Matagot Will Release 'Western Legends' Into Trade").  

Wizkids will release two 'Magic: the Gathering' single-count monster packs. WizKids will release two single-count Magic: The Gathering Unpainted Miniatures packs, with their wave 15 offerings, which will be coming in July. These two monster packs have been solicited as Wave 15 Pack #8 and Wave 15 Pack #9. The figures have generic solicitation titles, which is likely due to these figures depicting unrevealed characters, ...

Czech Games edition relaunches 'Galaxy Trucker'. Czech Games Edition will release a new edition of Galaxy Trucker, the classic space cargo delivery game, in Summer 2021. Galaxy Trucker debuted back in 2007, and was released into the U.S. by Rio Grande Games (see "'Plugged In' Picks Five Boardgames"). It is a real-time tile-laying game where players are trying to build a spaceship from sewer pipes and fly across ..

Sawdust and Rainbows unveils latest wooden play space amid stellar sales. The indoor wooden play apparatus specialist, Sawdust and Rainbows has unveiled its latest launch to the market with the Tearmann playstand, a space designed to encourage young children to play and explore. Meaning ‘sanctuary’ in Irish, the Tearmann arrives in rainbow, pastel, and natural colourways and is made from sustainably...

Mattel Creations’ Shogun Masters Skeletor is a Japanese X Eternian mashup. Mattel Creations’ latest drop is the first-ever mashup of Masters of the Universe and the Japanese Shogun Warriors. In the 1970s, Mattel brought the massive Shogun Warriors figures to the U.S. and just a few years later launched the Masters of the Universe collection. 

The battle between Barbarians and Sayan Warriors explodes in 'Dragon Ball Super: Card Game'. Bandai announced Unison Warrior Series Supreme Rivalry [DBS-B13], a new booster set for Dragon Ball Super: Card Game, for release in May. Barbaric conquerors and Sayan warriors kick off an all-out war in Unison Warrior Series Supreme Rivalry booster set. This set features three special secret rares that, when aligned side-by-side, create linking, panoramic artwork.