Companies . . .

Warner Bros. Consumer Products has partnered with Toybox to allow fans to create their own toys at home, to enable audiences to print characters from across the Warner Bros. portfolio. Marked by many as a major step forward in the ongoing development and evolution of the 3D printing space and its implications for the future of the toy industry, the new partnership will allow Toybox fans the chance to print...

PlayMonster Charges Into STEAM with New Science4you Brand. PlayMonster is getting into a new category with the U.S. launch of Science4you, a proprietary line of science kits designed for kids ages 4 and up. The Wisconsin-based toymaker’s entry into STEAM begins with 12 kits across three age ranges and categories: Eco-Science, STEAM Science, and Creative Science.

PMI Ltd, YuMe Toys Named Global Distributors for Toikido’s Among Us Toys. The first wave of officially licensed Among Us toys is slated to launch in mid-May with a second wave scheduled to hit stores in June. Toikido inked deals with PMI Ltd and YuMe Toys to serve as key global distributors for the new line of toys inspired by InnerSloth’s massively successful video game. 

Disney Plus has officially surpassed 100 million subscribers, less than a year and a half after the streaming service launched. Executives announced the milestone during Disney’s annual shareholders meeting. The last time Disney gave an update on Disney Plus’ subscribers number was in February during its first quarter earnings; there, it announced that, as of January 2nd, 2021, there were just over 94 million. 

Build-A-Bear in production on feature film. Shooting for a fall premiere, Honey Girls will be the first content to come out of Build-A-Bear's production partnership with Sony Pictures Worldwide Acquisitions. Honey Girls is being produced by Foundation Media Partners, with Patrick Hughes producing and Build-A-Bear CEO Sharon Price John executive producing.

BBC Studios to take on BBC Children’s Productions. The British pubcaster has a five-year plan to increase BBC Studios' financial returns by 30%, and absorbing the in-house kids production team is part of it. BBC Children’s Productions will soon be under new management as it shifts from operating as a unit of the pubcaster, to being overseen by commercial arm BBC Studios. 

The future of YouTube’s preschool content. Recently hired as global head of preschool, Craig Hunter is looking to make his mark at the AVOD with what's left of its US$100-million kids content fund. Craig Hunter may have only started at YouTube a few weeks ago, but he has already been thrust into working on a busy slate and mapped out plans for where he’s going to take the AVOD giant’s preschool content in the future.

The House of Mouse is ready to sing a new tune with Eureka! Currently in production and set to premiere on Disney Junior later this year, this new music-driven animated series for preschoolers is about a young inventor living in prehistoric times. Eureka! is produced by Brown Bag Films, in association with Disney Junior. 

Waboba – keeping life fun. Toy World spoke to Jordan Sullivan, director of fun at Waboba, about what makes the company’s range an attractive proposition for retailers. We asked Jordan about Waboba’s biggest strengths in the Outdoor category coming into 2021. “Our growing range includes the Wingman collection, the Voli paddle set and our newest creation, Airlyft, a hollow flying glider,” she explained. “We started out ...

Toikido and YuMe Toys announce international partnership for Among Us. YuMe Toys will distribute official Among Us branded toys across the US, Canada, EMEA, Asia Pacific and Japan. Award-winning global toy brand YuMeToys has announced a new partnership with Toikido to distribute official Among Us branded toys internationally. Joining the previously announced partnership with PMI, which will distribute a variety....

Moose Toys, a leading innovator in the toy industry, was named the Walmart Toy Supplier of the Year Award. The award was presented during Walmart’s seventh annual Supplier Growth Forum, held virtually on March 3. During the event, Walmart shared the company’s strategic initiatives, key areas of focus and future growth strategies. “It is truly an honor to be recognized with this award by Walmart who continue...

(the above posted after March 5th)

After surviving Covid, I knew I had to help others”: This long-time toymaker is producing 100,000 masks a week. George Irwin has spent the last four decades making toys for kids. Last year, after contracting Covid, he realized he could use his manufacturing experience for the greater good. So far, he’s sold more than 10 million masks, and is pumping out 100,000 more per week from his Collingwood and Edmonton factories. 

MISSION: PLAY! BY MATTEL SET TO OPEN FIRST LOCATION IN EUROPE NEXT YEAR. In 2019, it seemed as if the race was on as several toymakers began investing in the live events and experience space. One big area of focus was Family Entertainment Centers (FEC) with both Mattel and Hasbro revealing partnerships to enter the arena. Now, Mattel’s partnership with iP2Development is finally taking shape....

LEGO takes fans into Hundred Acre Wood with latest Ideas project LEGO Winnie the Pooh The LEGO Group is taking a nostalgic walk through Hundred Acre Wood with the launch of its latest LEGO Ideas project, LEGO Winnie the Pooh, a set based on the original designs from LEGO builder Ben Adler. Taking inspiration from the tales of A.A. Milne’s adventures of Christopher Robin that have transported readers for...

Disney to close at least 60 North American stores. The 60 Disney stores represent 20% of the company's worldwide retail estate, as it switches to a focus on eCommerce. The company also is evaluating a significant reduction of stores in Europe, according to a spokesperson, although locations in Japan and China will not be affected.

Far Out Toys’ Glo-Up Girls Bring the TikTok Sensation to the Doll Aisle. Inspired by the massively viral world of makeover content that dominates social platforms, including YouTube, Instagram, and TikTok — where #GlowUp already boasts more than 20 million views — the Glo-Up Girls are a new line of fashion dolls that are currently in production and headed for retail. 

Mattel’s Spirit Untamed Line Gallops Into Retail. As first revealed at Toy Fair New York last year, Mattel picked up the license for DreamWorks Animation’s Spirit franchise ahead of this summer’s Spirit Untamed. The new collection launched this week and includes dolls, horses, and playsets, along with Spirit Untamed-inspired versions of Mattel Games, including UNO, Stackin’ Apples, and more.

Hasbro Restructures Business Into Three Segments. As the toy, game, and family entertainment businesses continue to evolve and morph into one another, Hasbro is joining its competitors — including Mattel and Spin Master — in re-segmenting its business that more accurately represents what the company does. Hasbro is now divided into three new financial reporting segments: Consumer Products, Wizards of the....

Konami unveils a new booster set for 'Yu-Gi-Oh! TCG'. Konami Digital Entertainment unveiled King's Court, for Yu-Gi-Oh! TCG, which will release on June 25. This new 60-card booster set features World Premiere cards. These cards can be played in decks on their own or synergistically with the engine of an Egyptian God Card strategy. The rarity breakdown for this set is as follows: 10 Ultra Rares, 15 Super Rares...

Lucky Duck Games will release 'King Of 12' into U.S. retail. Lucky Duck Games will release King of 12, a fantasy card game, into U.S. retail in April. In this game, players compete to become the ruler of the Kingdom of 12, a realm ruled by someone who can manipulation the twelve-sided stones of power.  Each turn players secretly choose hidden characters, like The Oracle, The Sorcerer, or The Troublemakers, to affect...

Little Tikes digs into flourishing gardening market with Growing Garden launch. Little Tikes is encouraging kids to get their hands dirty this summer with the launch of its new Growing Garden brand, a range aimed as aspiring gardeners to get closer to nature. The true-to-life range will feature a watering can and gloves for tending to newly planted seeds, garden hand tools bag for storing the smaller gardening essentials...

Barbie reveals Clara Amfo doll ahead of International Womens Day. Barbie has announced Clara Amfo as a UK Barbie Role Model by unveiling a one-of-a-kind doll created in her likeness, joining a line up of inspirational women and girls. One of the UK’s leading broadcasters, best known for hosting the 10am – 1pm BBC Radio 1 show, Clara Amfo is also host to her own successful podcast, This City, where famous friends...

COBI CEO ISSUES APOLOGY FOR CONSTRUCTION TOYS DEPICTING NAZI GERMANY; PULLS SETS FROM SALE. At the center of this week’s controversy were new additions to Polish toymaker COBI’s long-running Historical Collection that presented leaders and vehicles from Nazi Germany in building sets designed for kids ages 6 and up and collectors.

Fans of The Mandalorian take note, Mattel has created a life-sized floating Baby Yoda. And it is now up for auction on eBay. Yes, just when you thought you could not get enough of The Child aka Grogu, here comes this masterpiece from Mattel. The life-sized replica of The Child was created by Mattel Designer Michael Kadile. The final auction price will be channelled towards charity art organisation ProjectArt.

Exclusive: Rise up! The latest from Playmobil Rachael Simpson-Jones spoke to Jamie Dickinson, head of marketing at Playmobil, about the launch plans for Dino Rise, and what else the company has in store this year. Playmobil has entered 2021 full of positivity, having fared well during a challenging 12 months that left the company just as pleased with its own performance as that of the wider toy industry.

Moose Toys Wins Five Australian Toy Association Awards. Moose Toys took home five Australian Toy Association awards this week, including the 2021 Judges Choice Award for the Bluey Pool Time Playset and the 2021 Plush Product of the Year for the Bluey & Friends Basic Plush. The awards keep coming for Bluey, the loveable, six-year-old Blue Heeler, who turns everyday family life into endless, playful adventures. 

Exploding Kittens Launches First Two-Player, Strategic Board Game, Tacocat Spelled Backwards. Hit tabletop game creator, Exploding Kittens, today announced its first two-player board game, Tacocat Spelled Backwards, a palindrome-themed duel of wits and tactics that incorporates a fun balance of strategy, luck, and instinct. In a unique, friendly competition, opponents aim to outsmart one another in battles...

Hasbro is making Transformers and My Little Pony adaptations for Netflix. Hasbro is known for making action figures for Marvel and Disney films, but after acquiring Peppa Pig producer Entertainment One (eOne), it plans to make movies and TV shows out of its own toys and games. The company has announced a slew of new projects based on The Transformers, My Little Pony and other toys for...

Hasbro details new pre-school product offering. The lines are the first Hasbro toys inspired by the beloved family-friendly brands following Hasbro’s acquisition of eOne in December 2019. At its recent Investor Event, the company said it was capitalizing on untapped potential for Hasbro brands in the pre-school market, with ranges for both Peppa Pig and PJ Masks set to launch in the second half 2021. 

Jakks Pacific is back in the Battle Royale with Apex Legends Series 3 action figures. Following the successful debut of its first two waves last fall, Jakks Pacific is jumping back into the Battle Royale with its third wave of 6-inch action figures inspired by Apex Legends. The Apex Legends Season 3 assortment includes Bloodhound in his Young Blood Legendary Skin, Pathfinder in Crash Test Rare Skin, and the debut of Mirage. 

Exit: The Sacred Temple joins Thames & Kosmos’ Exit range. Thames & Kosmos is thrilled to announce the arrival of Exit: The Sacred Temple, a new dimension to the popular Exit: The Game experience. “Earlier in the year, when we announced the March release of two new Exit puzzles, The Sacred Temple and The Deserted Lighthouse, pre-orders flooded in”, said Jo Drage, sales director. “This new dimension to the Exit range...

Steve Jackson Games unleashes a new 'Munchkin Apocalypse' expansion. Steve Jackson Games will release Munchkin Apocalypse: Kaiju, a new expansion for Munchkin Apocalypse, in June 2021. This new expansion for Munchkin Apocalypse (see "'Munchkin Apocalypse'") adds kaiju monsters to the mix. Some of the new monster names include clever puns on classic Godzilla enemies such as "Hamera" and "Rocky...

Calliope Games will release 'Enchanted Plumes' into the hobby channel. Calliope Games will release Enchanted Plumes, a set collecting card game, into the hobby channel in 2021. In Enchanted Plumes, players try to assemble the plumes of magical peacocks. The plumes must be constructed in rows from top to bottom using multiple colors of Feather cards, and the cards must be of the of the same color from row to row. 

Very Puzzled launches latest line-up to encourage diversity into jigsaw puzzles market. Very Puzzled is continuing its mission to bring more diversity to the children’s market place with the launch of its latest collection of titles depicting some of the lesser explored areas within the jigsaw puzzles sector. Founded in 2017 by Patrick Adom, Very Puzzled launched onto the scene as a means of encouraging children to explore...

Alien: Fate of the Nostromo from Ravensburger. Sci-fi horror fans have a new co-op tabletop game from Ravensburger to add to their friends-and-family game nights. Based on the iconic film classic from 1979, Alien: Fate of the Nostromo allows up to five players to play one of the ship’s crew members: Ripley, Lambert, Parker, Brett, or Dallas. 

Roblox's strategy to focus on catering to older users. Roblox's strategy is to focus on attracting older users to the platform, the company said during its investor day on Friday.Chief business officer Craig Donato highlighted strategic growth areas for Roblox, as the company is preparing to go public in March though a direct listing. 44 % of Roblox's daily active users now being over the age of 13, he added. 

Modiphius Entertainment announces 'The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim the Boardgame'. Modiphius Entertainment announced The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim the Boardgame for release later 2021 pending a successful crowdfunding campaign on Gamefound. Modiphius will produce a Skyrim board game a year or so after the release of The Elder Scrolls: Call to Arms miniatures game. 

Funko, Inc. drops a new wave of 'Wandavision' figures. Funko, Inc. announced three new Pop! vinyl figures, from the WandaVision TV series, coming soon to retailers. WandaVision is one of the hottest shows on television (see "Confessions of a Comic Book Guy -- Adventures In Streaming"), featuring new character reveals on a regular basis. In a recent episode, one of the most powerful witches in the MCU made...

Toynamics taps Playtime PR amid UK marketing plans to hit ‘biggest year of growth to date’. In its latest positioning for its ‘biggest year of growth to date,’ Toynamics UK and Ireland has tapped the award-winning communications agency, Playtime PR to strengthen its domestic marketing efforts. The move follows the appointment of Emma Damerell as the company’s head of marketing only last month, with...