Worldwide Licensing News . . .

Cubles, Semaphore Collaborate on Influencer Collectibles.  The world of the 3D paperboard Cubles is expanding. Cubles inked a deal with influencer marketing agency Semaphore to create 3D paperboard collectibles inspired by some top digital personalities from the agency’s roster. Minecraft celebrity Tyler Pappas, known for his LogdotZip and Craftee channels, is the first personality to have a customized Cubles figure.

Azerion is welcoming the Teletubbies to the metaverse in celebration of the brand’s upcoming 25th anniversary in 2022. Under a new partnership with WildBrain, owner of the Teletubbies and a global leader in kids’ and family ent., the collaboration will include the exclusive release on Dec. 14 of virtual products in Habbo and Hotel Hideaway. Products available for purchase with virtual currency include Teletubbies...

StoryToys, the LEGO Group and Marvel Entertainment announce the launch of LEGO DUPLO Marvel, a mobile app for preschoolers. With over one million pre-orders globally, the app is now available from the App Store and Google Play. In LEGO DUPLO Marvel even the youngest Marvel fan can engage with their favorite Super Heroes including Spider-Man, Captain America, Ghost-Spider and more. 

Toca Boca welcomes global lifestyle brand Sanrio and its Hello Kitty and Friends franchise into their digital playground.  Today, Hello Kitty is introduced into the vibrant community of the Toca Life World game, with the launch of a furniture pack for the Home Designer creator tool, which features home decoration items from Hello Kitty, Kuromi™, Badtz-maru™, Gudetama™ and My Melody™. 

IMC signs Retail Monster for Cry Babies Magic Tears  IMC Toys announces partnership with Retail Monster as a licensing programme for Cry Babies Magic Tears launches in the UK. In less than two years, the company has entered into agreements with more than 65 licensees in 40 regions, launching more than 500 licensed products across publishing, apparel, educational games, personal care and confectionery categories.

Robert Kirkman’s Skybound in Talks to Acquire G.I. Joe, Transformers Publishing License.  IDW had been publishing comics based on the Hasbro toys since the mid-2000s. Skybound, the imprint run by The Walking Dead creator Robert Kirkman, is in negotiations with Hasbro to acquire the publishing license to the two properties.

(the above posted after distribution of Bloom Report December 10th)

Dr. Seuss Enterprises announced today the expansion of its licensing portfolio in Canada, focusing on some of their most beloved properties within a variety of categories including accessories, home and kitchen decor, food, games, puzzles and more. New products will roll out in the Canadian market starting at the end of this year and into 2022. 

Champion and Hasbro set to win big with board game-inspired apparel . . .  featuring characters and graphics from some of world’s most beloved games: Monopoly, Twister, Scrabble and Candy Land. “Spirited play, competition and board games go together during the holiday season, and this collection lets fans look good doing it,” says Jon Ram, Group President of of Global Activewear at Hanesbrands, owner of the Champion...

Diamond Art Club Debuts Harry Potter, Friends, and DC Craft Kits.  Accio, craft time! This week, Diamond Art Club revealed a major partnership with Warner Bros. Consumer Products. The leading manufacturer in diamond painting is releasing a variety of craft kits featuring designs and imagery from multiple Warner Bros. brands, including the Wizarding World, Space Jam: A New Legacy, Friends, DC, and more

Hasbro Prepares for ‘The Book of Boba Fett’ with New Action Figures and a Disney+ Special.  On Dec. 29, a new chapter in the Star Wars saga begins when The Mandalorian spinoff The Book of Boba Fett debuts on Disney+. Fresh Star Wars content equals new toys, and Hasbro is leading the charge and will take center stage in an episode of Disney Insider that shows how action figures are made.

Leading electronic toy manufacturer WowWee recently announced that it has named Striker Entertainment as the premiere global licensing agency to represent this year’s Got2Glow Fairy Finder. Striker will now be spearheading a strategic licensing program for the product, which has gained traction in advance of the holiday season, landing on numerous “Hot Toy” lists for 2021. 

Jazwares is snuggling up to new licensing partners for its plush brand Squishmallows. Their growing consumer products program is focused on categories including apparel, bedding and stationery. Just-signed licensees include Bioworld (apparel, loungewear, headwear, bags, socks, accessories), BigMouth (pool floats, cooler bags, beach chairs, pop-up tents), BBC International (footwear), Franco MFG (bedding, accessories)...

Lego has recently unveiled its new homeware line, inspired by its well-known toy blocks, in collaboration with Room Copenhagen, a Danish homeware design company. The wooden collection features life-size Legos that have been turned into desk drawers, wall hangers, picture frames and book racks. Every brick includes a set of Lego’s round knobs, and each knob comes printed with a small Lego logo.

RADIO FLYER,TESLA EXPAND PARTNERSHIP TO LAUNCH CYBERQUAD FOR KIDS. Radio Flyer is making a bigger push into the world of electric vehicles (EVs) with a $1,900 ATV. Following the success of its Tesla Model S ride-on that launched in 2016, the maker of iconic little red wagons is expanding its deal with Elon Musk’s Tesla for an all-new ride. The Radio Flyer Cyberquad for Kids is an aggressive-looking, high-performance...

Rollplay launches MINI Cooper Countryman ride-on. Rollplay has a new licensed ride-on toy – the MINI Cooper Countryman 6V. The vehicle includes details faithful to the original, with authentic MINI emblems, LED headlights, chrome detailing, clear windshield and side windows. It has a working foot pedal and shifter and can reach up to 2.5 mph in forward and reverse speeds. 

Prospero Hall reveals details of tabletop game ‘Jurassic World: The Legacy of Isla Nublar’. Prospero Hall, the development studio of Funko Games, has created a legacy game based on the blockbuster entertainment franchise Jurassic World. Offering players more than 24 hours of customisable gameplay, ‘Jurassic World: The Legacy of Isla Nublar’ will be launching on Kickstarter on March 22, 2022. 

LEGO expands Star Wars range with AT-AT set. The AT-AT (All Terrain Armored Transport), which first appeared in “Star Wars: The Empire Strikes Back,” is the latest launch in the LEGO Ultimate Collector Series (UCS).   Comprising of 6,785 pieces, moveable head, spinning guns, adjustable legs and side panels with detailed interiors, the AT-AT comes with 40 mini-figures, additional vehicles, accessories and a Luke Skywalker figure...

‘Bluey’ toys to launch in Italy and Greece following series’ debut on Rai Yoyo and ERT. Produced by Ludo Studio and co-commissioned by BBC Studios and ABC Children’s, the much-loved global-hit animation Bluey will make its free-to-air debut on 27 December in Italy on Rai Yoyo, the public broadcast service’s preschool channel. The series will also air on ERT in Greece. 

Companies, Brands . . .  

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...

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 ...

(the above posted after distribution of the Bloom Report)

Vivid Goliath unveils world first with Recyclings collectibles. Launching across the UK and Eire from January, Recyclings are the first collectible made from recycled plastic. Distributed in a partnership with Headstart, Recyclings characters are made from 70% recycled plastic, with each Recycling saving 7 bottle caps from landfill, a move which Vivid Goliath says means guilt free collecting as well as educating kids on sustainability.

Ty Continues Air Freight Efforts to Deliver Plush to Retailers for Christmas.  Just 2 weeks after revealing that his company had been mitigating supply chain issues by turning to expensive air freight, Ty Warner says that Ty Inc. has completed a total of 283 flights. The leading supplier of plush toys, including Beanie Babies and Beanie Boos, began flying in product in Oct. in an effort to skip the much-publicized logjams as U.S. ports.

Hasbro’s Furby Returns to Help Shoppers Find Gifts. Doo-bi-doo-bi-doo … One of the hottest holiday gifts of the 1990s is back. Hasbro‘s Furby — launched by Tiger Electronics in 1998 — has joined Afterpay, the leading ‘Buy Now, Pay Later’ platform, as the face and voice of its new Impossible Gift Finder. “We’re excited to give our classic brand, Furby, a fun comeback through our collaboration with Afterpay,” says Casey Collins,

The LEGO Group to Build Carbon-neutral Factory in Vietnam.  The company behind the iconic LEGO bricks and mini-figures inked a Memorandum of Understanding with Vietnam Singapore Industrial Park Joint Venture Company Limited (VSIP) to build a new, carbon-neutral factory in Vietnam, complete with a solar energy component. The first bricks are expected to roll off the assembly line in 2024

Hop Aboard Spin Master’s Newest STEAM Initiative. It’s full steam ahead for Spin Master’s newest project - a new STEAM-inspired initiative that aims to give kids and their families hands-on learning activities that mimic the art and science of toy-making. The Future of Play initiative features DIY activities that show kids how toys are made, going behind the scenes with simple STEAM experiences designed to inspire the next gen of play.

Bestway USA, Kid@Heart Launch Bestway Boutique. Beginning next year, a major player in the inflatable toys and leisure products space will be making its catalog more accessible than ever to the growing specialty market. Bestway USA teamed up with Kid@Heart to create the Bestway Boutique, a curated assortment of spring and summer inflatables that will be offered to independent toy stores and other specialty retailers...

CRA-Z-ART RAMPS UP EFFORTS FOR ‘MADE IN AMERICA’ TOYS; LAUNCHES ROSEART PUZZLES. LaRose Industries LLC — better known as Cra-Z-Art — is raising the flag to usher in a new era of American production.  The maker of toys, art supplies, craft kits, and school supplies is increasing its output of products Made in the USA by opening a second state-of-the-art manufacturing facility in Jacksonville, Florida.

Genius Brands International following the pending acquisition of Canada’s WOW! Unlimited Media and strategic investment in Germany’s Your Family Entertainment AG (“YFE”) (FRA:RTV), has unveiled a bold new “block” of children’s animated series and expanded distribution for its international channels. The new lineup and branding is spearheaded by...

RECUR and Care Bears™ announced that they have signed a multi-year NFT partnership to bring the iconic brand of huggable bears from Care-A-Lot into the metaverse. As fans enter the Care Bears metaverse, they will not only discover the beloved original bears, but also brand new, never-before-seen Care Bears. 

JAKKS Pacific is officially a sponsor for the Roller Skating Association’s Kids Skate Free Program for holiday 2022. JAKKS Pacific is committed to improving the lives and well-being of children, making a sponsorship with Kids Skate Free a perfect way to give back to the community this holiday season. Kids Skate Free’s goal is to provide kids and families an outlet to improve physical and mental health while having fun in a safe...

London-based Moonbug Ent is expanding its footprint in the MENA region through a new partnership with Orbit Showtime Network (OSN). On Dec. 12, the pay-TV operator will launch a Moonbug Kids linear channel and streaming hub aimed at preschoolers. The new net is designed to give viewers 24/7 access to all of the prodco’s children’s titles, including CoComelon, Blippi, Morphle, Little Baby Bum...

ViacomCBS and South Korean media company CJ ENM have signed a new strategic partnership that will span the co-production of original series and films, content licensing for both brand libraries, and distribution on streamers operated by both ViacomCBS and CJ ENM.  Paramount+ will launch in South Korea in 2022 as part of a bundle with CJ ENM’s SVOD TVING, marking the platform’s first debut in an Asian market.

Every toy needs a child to love it: Allentown Toy Manufacturing Co. is closing its doors after over 70 years in business.  Mandated closures during the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic and rising costs of goods, coupled with a yearning from leadership to retire, led the family business to shutter its doors for good.

Simba Smoby Toys UK partners with with Good Play Guide for pre-Christmas drive  Three core areas of the Smoby/AquaPlay portfolio are featured within the campaign taking place in conjunction with Dr Gummer’s Good Play Guide. Mayur Pattni, marketing manager at Simba Smoby Toys UK, commented: “Taking the campaign and Dr Gummer’s endorsement straight to parents through the Good Play Guide website...

Canadian toy retailer Mastermind Toys just launched its first-ever brand campaign: “Let’s Play.” “We believe that the world is better at play and that as Canada’s authority on play, it was time for a call to action for more play. That’s where the concept for ‘Let’s Play’ came from,” says Susan Anderson, vice president, marketing and brand, Mastermind Toys. “We partnered with The Local Collective to help us bring to life the...

HUGE Play!, Epic Storyworlds ink deal for Gamebud expansion. Following the launch of the GameBud Talking Tom this fall, HUGE Play! is attracting huge interest in its interactive technology. Epic Storyworlds, the sister company to Epic Story Media, put forth a strategic investment in HUGE! Play in an effort to extend the GameBud platform to include additional characters and stories. 

Add extra sparkle to the festive season with SmartGames’ latest releases. SmartGames, the manufacturer of multi-level logic games, has unveiled three new brain busters aimed at minds young and old – all with added sparkle. The trio of new products comprises Diamond Quest, “a true gem for players to dig into”, IQ Digits, a colourful number-crunching challenge, and Cubiq, a 3D puzzle with vibrant patterns. 

More 'Warhammer 40,000' old foes bundles incoming. Games Workshop will release two more old foes bundles for Warhammer 40,000, which are both on preorder as of Dec. 7. These two bundles let players relive the rivalry between the Iron Hands and the Emperor's Children. The Sons of Ferrus Manus are the forces of the Iron Hands in the Era Indomitus, and are known for their superiority of in the use of logic on the battlefield. 

Asmodee USA will release a new edition of 'Mascarade' into U.S. retail. Asmodee USA will release a new edition of Mascarade, a bluffing game by Repos Production, into U.S. retail on January 14, 2022. This game was first published in North America by Asmodee in 2013, and like many of their evergreen products over the last year, it's now getting a makeover.

Spidey and his amazing friends Squishmallows swing into Five Below. As the world prepares to enter the multiverse when Sony’s Spider-Man: No Way Home hits theaters on Dec. 17, the web-slinger and his crew are popping up in a new spot. Jazwares’ Kellytoy division recently launched a new range of Spider-centric Squishmallows inspired by the Disney Junior hit, Spidey and His Amazing Friends. 

Protect the city of Rowan in 'Monsters & Meeples'. Alderac Entertainment Group revealed Monsters & Meeples, a new bag-building engine game by Ole Steiness, for release into retail on April 1, 2022. In Monsters & Meeples, players need to defend the city of Rowan from a horde of invading monsters by recruiting warriors, clerics, knights, and mages to smite them. 

Ares will distribute 'First They Came'. Ares Games announced that they will distribute Italian publisher Chaos League's First They Came, a blindfolded roleplaying game, which will release into U.S. retail in Q1 2022. This innovative game is played essentially "in the dark" because players are blindfolded during sessions. 

Everypony get ready for an adventure with the Royal Racing Ziplines. Head to Zephyr Heights with the My Little Pony: A New Generation Movie Royal Racing Ziplines from Hasbro. The playset is 22-inches tall for big, movie-inspired fun. Kids can race their included Princess Petals pony and Cloudpuff pet figures down to the glittery stage with the colorful ziplines. 

Play backstabbing baby adventurers in 'MUNCHKIN'.  Steve Jackson Games revealed Munchkin Babies, a new Munchkin game, for release into retail in January 2022. In Munchkin Babies, players take on the roles of adorable, baby versions of the Munchkin adventurers who are looking to backstab and loot dungeons.  

MGA’s Dream Ella fashion doll brand makes debut. MGA Entertainment has announced the launch of MGA’s Dream Ella, a collectable and fashion doll brand that lets children #BeWhateverYouDream. MGA’s Dream Ella is a range of fantasy toys aimed at children aged 3 to 5 years, and it is the latest brand to join MGA Entertainment’s growing portfolio. 

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Toy Safety & Counterfeit Related Articles . . .

Surgeons urge parents not to buy toys containing magnets for Christmas. The UK’s top paediatric surgeons have urged parents not to buy toys containing magnets this Christmas following a dramatic rise in children needing operations after swallowing them. The Children’s Surgery Foundation issued the warning after a five-fold increase in children swallowing the small, often brightly-colored and increasingly...

Trouble in Toyland: Warnings about knock-offs, toxic parts, second-hand toys. Finding the perfect gift may be even more difficult this year thanks to supply chain issues. Parents might resort to buying toys second-hand or buying from companies they typically would not. But the product safety group behind the Trouble in Toyland report warns parents that doing so can be dangerous. In October 2020, 52 percent of toy and game brands reported a spike in counterfeit items sold online. Toxic materials are the most common concern.

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