Companies, Brands . . .  

Ty Warner introduces Beanie Bellies. Ahead of the release of the HBO Max documentary Beanie Mania, Chicago-based TY Inc., the largest manufacturer of soft toys in the world best known for Beanie Babies, has created a BEANIE BELLY. A new shape and material made from the softest material the company has ever used, called VELVETY, will take these new Beanies directly into collector’s... 

Get Your Sparkle on with Just Play’s That Girl Lay Lay Toys.  Who is That Girl Lay Lay? She’s the best friend anyone could ever ask for, but she’s not a real person … at least at first! In the Nickelodeon series That Girl Lay Lay, Lay Lay is a personal affirmation app that inspires confidence and positivity. However, when Sadie wishes upon a star, Lay Lay is magically brought to life, and now, these best friends can accomplish anything.

Keeping Tamagotchi Alive.  The virtual pet that turned ‘90s kids into round-the-clock caretakers turned 25 this year.  The palm-sized, egg-shaped toys, with black and white pixelated screens and a handy keychain, were a self-contained universe—one that included happy moments and melancholy ones alike.“I remember, very clearly, standing in the kitchen when my sister found out that her Tamagotchi died, and just how...

OnBuy’s entire workforce has been granted the share options following unparalleled YOY growth in November. The eCommerce marketplace OnBuy, which has recorded 200% revenue growth in the last 12 months, is looking to maintain its impressive momentum by offering all of its 100+ employees the chance to grow as well, with an option to have a stake in the business.​

Jazwares announced the launch of Squishmallows® on Roblox, the popular 3D gaming and experiences platform expanding the world of the immensely popular Squishmallows plush toy brand. The Metaverse game brings together two pop-culture favorites in an amazingly fun play experience for all ages. Developed in-house, the Squishmallows game is the ultimate social virtual world where fans can collect Squishmallows...

The Pokémon Co. Intl has announced the launch of a permanent Pokémon space in Berlin’s iconic KaDeWe department store, as the year of celebrations for the brand’s 25th anniversary conclude with a flourish. Following a well-received 2 month pop-up installation in KaDeWe that ended in October, the partnership has been made permanent. The new branded space features a wide range of Pokémon toys...

(the above posted after December 17th)

Mattel is ready to take flight with a new live-action film called Christmas Balloon, its first project based on a brand-new IP.  Inspired by a true story, this family drama is about a young girl living in a Mexican border town who ties her Christmas list to a balloon in an effort to send it to Santa. A couple in Arizona finds it and works with Mattel to make Dáyami’s Christmas wishes come true.

H. Grossman rebrands as One For Fun for 2022. On Monday 20th December, the company will be renamed One For Fun Ltd, in a total rebrand that brings all of the company’s well known product brands under one unifying entity. David Mordecai, CEO of the company, commented: “This announcement is the culmination of a lot of hard work bringing together all of our team with one website, one set of email addresses ...

First Lady Jill Biden and PBS Kids Friends Share Holiday Fun at the White House.  PBS KIDS and First Lady Jill Biden kick-off the holidays at the White House, with events streaming free via PBS KIDS on Dec. 16th. A special behind-the-scenes tour with the First Lady and D.C. Army National Guard Captain Maryanne V. Harrell and her family, who visit the decorated rooms throughout the White House, meeting favorite friends...

Kroeger, Identity Games Ink Pact for Escape Room: The Game.  Beginning Jan. 1, Kroeger will offer the multi-SKU Escape Room: The Game brand to retailers across the U.S. and Canada, including specialty, mid-tier, mass, and e-commerce. Since its launch in 2016, Escape Room: The Game has grown to include nearly 40 titles across multiple categories for kids and adults of different skill levels spanning base games,..

R&R Games Plans to Pop the Cork this New Year with Board Game Dom Pierre.  Board game publisher R&R Games has just announced plans to launch its latest strategy board game on Kickstarter January 4th: Dom Pierre. New, from the team of Rola & Costa, Dom Pierre challenges players to harvest grapes, produce Champagne, and sell their vintage to European Nobility.

TikTok says that around 430 songs exceeded 1 billion video views on the platform this year, three times as many songs as last year, as noted in 2021’s Year on TikTok Music Report. Some of the most popular songs in this bracket garnered around or above 20 billion views in videos that use them as soundtracks.

LEGO’s stock shortages won’t be sorted until as late as March 2022. The LEGO Group’s solution to its recent stock shortages seems to be placing everything on back order, with some – including 75955 Hogwarts Express – not available for delivery before March next year. The majority of products currently on back order won’t ship until January, which is obviously well beyond what anyone might call a belated Christmas present.

Sharon Gomes’ Snow Rose Media is making its first foray into original content with a new preschool series called GG & Me!  In development now, the 2D-animated series tags along with a spirited 6 yrold girl who leaves the city every Saturday to meet up with her equally energetic grandmother in the countryside. GG & Me! was inspired by Gomes’ upbringing in Singapore, and particularly the fun she had visiting...

Osmo, in partnership with Amazon, announces the launch of their immersive Osmo holiday retail experience at the Amazon Books Store NYC. Located on 34th Street, the limited-time holiday experience will start on Dec. 4, 2021 and run through Dec. 19, 2021, giving children the opportunity to experience the joy of having fun while learning with hands-on play, as smart parents enjoy the ease of scooping up award...

TALKIN’ TOYS: DISGUISE STAYS ON-TREND TO DRESS-UP THE WORLD FOR HALLOWEEN AND BEYOND.  The Toy Book caught up with Tara Hefter, president and general manager at Disguise — the costumes and accessories division of Jakks Pacific — for an update on how the company is growing its business as it looks ahead toward its 35th anniversary next year.

Asmodee USA and Days of Wonder raised over $184,000 for the Breast Cancer Foundation through their Play Pink initiative. The funds raised came from the sales of a limited edition Train and Station set for Ticket to Ride. Over 40,000 physical copies of this set were sold as well as 67,000 digital Play Pink Bundles. These sets sold out in France, Italy, Belgium, and Poland sold out of Play Pink train sets in 10 days.

Ravensburger has announced its newest addition to the award-winning Disney Villainous line – Disney Villainous: Bigger and Badder. This latest expandalone game will release in March 2022 and will introduce Pixar villains into the franchise for the first time. The new characters include cover star Syndrome (The Incredibles), Lotso (Toy Story 3), and the animated classic Madam Mim (The Sword in the Stone). Just as he does in ...

Mom of Two Founds Business to Provide Ethically and Sustainably Made Wooden Toys and Baby Gifts. The large number of mass-produced plastic toys in the market is a source of frustration for many parents. These items have a short lifespan, are harmful to the environment and are often manufactured in an unethical manner. That’s why Kayleigh Allery, a young mom of two, started Abel’s Workshop, a manufacturer and ...
Mattel introduced a new brand extension for its Barbie Extra line: Barbie Extra Minis. The new dolls are in a 5.5-inch scale that brings Barbie and her friends into the scale made popular by Mattel’s Masters of the Universe action figures. Geared toward kids ages 3+, the Barbie Extra Mini collection launches with an assortment of stylized small dolls that feature articulated knees and elbows, rooted hair, and come with 2 fashions...

Asmodee UK launches largest ever marketing campaign with Absolute Radio. Asmodee UK has partnered with Absolute Radio and its presenters Andy Bush and Richie Firth to launch its biggest ever marketing campaign. The 6 month campaign will run until April 2022, with the aim to raise awareness of Asmodee’s board games, such as Dobble, Catan and Ticket to Ride, and encourage more people to play more games ...

Hasbro Brings ‘The Book of Boba Fett’ to Star Wars The Vintage Collection. Following last week’s reveal of 6-inch scale Star Wars The Black Series action figures inspired by The Mandalorian spin-off The Book of Boba Fett, Hasbro pulled back the curtain on some new additions to its famous 3.75-inch scale. Bounty Hunters Boba Fett and Fennec Shand will join Hasbro‘s Star Wars The Vintage Collection lineup...

Zoom into the Winners’ Circle with the LEGO Duplo Race Cars. On your mark … get set … Duplo! The LEGO Duplo Race Cars set is full of imaginative play, developmental benefits, and role-play and building fun for kids ages 2 and up. Kids can build a fun racetrack playset using the easy-to-follow instructions and 44 included pieces. .

Voyage to the far end of Tigome in 'The Guild of Merchant Explorers'. Alderac Entertainment Group revealed The Guild of Merchant Explorers, a new exploration board game, for release on June 10, 2022. In The Guild of Merchant Explorers, players take on the roles of adventurers summoned by The Queen to explore the far reaches of Tigome. .

Rebuild Area 51 in new tile placement game. Greater Than Games announced The Cube: Area 51, a new tile placement game, for release into retail on January 27, 2022. In this game, players assume the roles of department heads at the infamous Area 51 base. Players are looking to reconstruct the interior of the base so that they rebuild an alien craft housed within. .

Asmodee USA will release Reiner Knizia's 'The Siege of Runedar'. Asmodee USA will release The Siege of Runedar, a deck-building game by Ludonova, into retail stores in 2022. The Siege of Runedar is a cooperative game designed by Reiner Knizia where players take on the role of dwarves defending the walls of Runedar. .

Schedule an appointment at the 'Clinic: Deluxe Edition'. Capstone Games will release Clinic: Deluxe Edition, a medical economic strategy game, into retail stores on March 9, 2022. In the Clinic: Deluxe Edition, players are trying to construct the clinic of their dreams to give care to the patients of an expanding city. .

Collect autumn leaves from the Imperial Garden in 'Momiji'. Japanime Games will release Momiji, a set collection game, into retail stores in February 2022. In this game, players are trying to fulfill objectives by collecting leaves from the Imperial Garden. Players start the game with six leaf cards in their hand and three landscape powers which form a unique panorama..

Fantasy Flight Games unveils four new starter decks for 'LOTR: The Card Game'. Fantasy Flight Games unveiled four new starter decks for Lord of the Rings: The Card Game, which will release into retail in Spring 2022. The starter decks each have different themes. The Defenders of Gondor starter has a high-risk, high-reward strategy. .

'Nostalgix TCG' is coming to retail. Nostalgix announced that Nostalgix TCG will be headed to retail stores in summer of 2022. Nostalgix is a multiverse-style battle game TCG designed for two players. Players can control heroes like Vix of Six and Doctor Corvus as they battle it out with powerful Fighters like the Booster Box Dragon, Avengaline, and Gametron. .

Toys ‘R’ Us Canada lassos Jazwares’ Dino Ranch toys. Fresh off a successful retail launch at Amazon and Target in the U.S., the “pre-westoric” characters of Dino Ranch are trotting onto shelves at Toys “R” Us Canada. Jazwares developed the line which debuted at our sister publication the Toy Insider‘s Sweet Suite at Home event this summer. .

Why premium toys for adults are the key to Lego's astonishingly profitable year.  Their talent for reinvention is amazing.' Expansion in the adult market may well be just the next masterstroke, whatever St Paul's advice. For as CS ...

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