Companies, Brands . . .

UK retailer Mamas & Papas eyes licensing and franchising among global growth plans.  The British nursery and children’s wear retailer, Mamas & Papas is eyeing international growth, having signed a slate of new overseas partnerships across central and eastern Europe. The move, according to the firm, arrives amid a surge in international demand for British heritage brands like the Yorkshire-based Mamas & Papas …

VTech Debuts New Kidi Tech Collection with Smart Watches, Print Cameras, and More. Modern tech is going mini this year for VTech’s 2021 Kidi Tech collection. Following on-trend features — from messaging apps to instant print cameras — this collection aims to upgrade previous VTech models while introducing new products to its kid-friendly electronic ecosystem.

Mattel Unleashes Full Trailer for Masters of the Universe: Revelation Part 1. The full trailer follows last month’s teaser and gives audiences a better look at the plot of the new animated series from showrunner Kevin Smith (Clerks). Revelation premieres July 23 on Netflix with a five-part first season that is considered a direct continuation of the original series and toy line from the 1980s.

HEXBUG, Wind Sun Sky Forge Alliance for Junkbots Webseries, Roblox Expansion. The world of Junkbots is expanding to becoming a multiplatform effort spanning toys, a CGI web series, and a dedicated universe within Roblox. HEXBUG teamed up with Wind Sun Sky (WSS) to craft new content in support of the second season of Junkbots toys that will hit stores in the weeks ahead led by the all-new environment-based...

Moose Brings Hybrid Direct Distribution Model to Canada. Starting this fall, Moose Toys will distribute directly in Canada for a selection of brands including Bluey and Akedo - Ultimate Gaming Warriors.  All lines will be available at major retailers throughout Canada. While it handles distribution for a selection of curated brands, Moose’s existing relationships with distribution partners Imports Dragon and Red Planet...

BBC puts out call for animated concepts. Ignite will provide development funding for up to 20 concepts from new UK creators and indie prodcos, as well as BBC in-house production talent. The BBC is launching an initiative to find and develop new animated series within the UK, as well as provide support and opportunities for existing and emerging talent. 

No holds barred at MGA. Toy World spoke to Neil Bandtock, managing director of MGA Entertainment’s UK & Ireland operation, as the company celebrates increasing its market share. MGA reports strong sales across all its brands. The company is currently focused not only on ensuring a healthy end to the spring/summer period, but also on delivering a healthy start to autumn/winter.

Sesame launches a new character. Elmo is getting a puppy, inspiring new licensed products and an animated special that will premiere on HBO Max in August.  In the 30-minute special produced in partnership with A Productions (The Numtums), Elmo meets stray puppy Tango, learns how to take care of her, and goes on an adventure to find her a forever home. It will premiere August 5 on HBO Max, and then on PBS KIDS in 2022.

Look who’s 40! - doing things The Entertainer way. Toy World spoke to founder and executive chairman, Gary Grant, to find out how it all began, who helped it happen and where The Entertainer is headed next. Gary and his wife Catherine opened the first The Entertainer store on 5th May 1981, when Gary was the tender age of 22 and, by his own admission, knew absolutely nothing about the toy industry. 

PlayMonster plans to become top ten UK games manufacturer with Playtime PR. PlayMonster has laid out its ambitions to ‘become one of the top ten games manufacturers in the UK’ through investment in its marketing approach and the appointment of Playtime PR. With a growing portfolio of games for all audiences, PlayMonster Games has enlisted the specialist toys and games agency to strengthen its marketing efforts…

PlayShifu to boost Indian manufacturing and help fuel local ‘toyconomy’. The Indian early learning toy company, PlayShifu is boosting its local manufacturing capacity for in-house consumption as well as exports, the latest move from a firm eyeing a new stage of growth following the $17 million its raised in series B funding earlier this year .PlayShifu’s India manufacturing is already exporting to international markets which...

(the above posted after July 1st)

Facebook is testing drastic changes to Instagram to make it more like TikTok. Facebook’s head of Instagram on Wednesday announced the social network plans to start showing users full-screen, recommended videos in their feeds. This represents a drastic shift for Instagram, which has until now primarily been an app where users can see square-sized images from their friends and accounts they follow. 

Step2’s Pretend Grills Are Sizzlin’, Smokin’, and Sweet Fun for Kids this Summer. July is National Grilling Month, and what better way to celebrate than by letting kids host their own BBQ bash? Families can roll out some role-play fun with Step2’s outdoor grill sets that mini Masterchefs-in-the-making can use to grill up the fun.

Little Tikes Introduces the Pelican Explore & Fit Cycle. MGA Entertainment‘s Little Tikes division is getting into the at-home fitness craze. Over the past 18 months, sales of cycles, bikes, and other home training equipment have been booming as parents looked for ways to get active and stay fit while gyms around the world were closed. Now kids can get in on the action with the Little Tikes Pelican Explore & Fit Cycle

The entertainment division of Hasbro is gearing up for a special delivery. eOne, alongside Creative Conspiracy and Frogbox, has been working on Ninja Express, a new animated series from creator Kim Claeys. The series about a special delivery service run by super-powered ninjas has been in development for nearly eight years, originally as 3 Little Ninjas Delivery Service.

England promised bespoke Uno packs if the team wins Euro 2020. Following England's defeat of Germany, the team has been offered an added incentive to progress to the final of the Euro 2020 tournament. The fast-paced card game has become a firm favourite among the England players, who have become addicted to the game as they while away the hours between preparation sessions for their tournamnet matches.

Big Potato launches The Great Board Game Trade-In  Indie game company Big Potato is working with over 60 independent retail stores across the UK on a mission to recycle old games.  In return, they’ll receive 20% off a brand new Big Potato game, with best sellers such as Obama Llama, The Chameleon and Blockbuster among the company’s selection of party games to choose from. The old game will be recycled and be donated...

American Girl’s Virtual Funfest Brings Dance Parties and Doll Yoga Home. Each day will start out with a 35th birthday dance tutorial at 1 p.m. ET to get kids moving and grooving, followed by a doll-friendly yoga session. Kids will be able to chat with Connie Porter (author of the Addy series), along with Julia Lester, Marley Dias, Iris Zahn, and more in special panels throughout the event. Team USA athletes will also be...

Care Bears Premiere Care-A-Lot Club YouTube Series. Cloudco Entertainment, which owns the brand, premiered a new “Youtube-first” live-action mini series, Care-A-Lot Club, and will release new episodes every Tuesday at 9 a.m. EST. through July. Care-A-Lot Club‘s six episodes star the bears in original music videos and pop songs that complement another show from the property, the 2D animated TV series Care Bears...

Spin Master will release its Aerobie Sonic Fin on August 22, a new toy football that can travel up to 100 yards.  To help launch the new Sonic Fin Football, the company teamed up with NFL quarterback Russell Wilson, who stars in an ad for the product. In the video — set to air on television and YouTube — Wilson goes up against 13-year-old football star Maxwell ‘Bunchie’ Young, as the two take turns making throws...

Nickelodeon unveils its new family wearable device NickWatch at Mobile World Congress in Barcelona. ViacomCBS and Nickelodeon have unveiled the firm’s first connected smart watch, a family-centric wearable device that promotes physical activity, helps kids explore the world around them, and features a cast of popular Nickelodeon characters. NickWatch features new technology developed with VCNI’s...

Character Options unveils new fashion doll line, Glo-Up Girls. The new Glo-Up Girls range will go on sale in August backed by a live action YouTube series and social media campaign. Kathryn Ludlum, brand manager at Character Options, said: “Glo-Up Girls is such an exciting expansion for the InstaGlam brand and the response from UK retailers has been incredible.”

Tomy launches Maché Magic as it expands arts & crafts range for 2021. New fun and easy-to-use kit will be supported with a dedicated influencer programme and TV advertising later this summer. Mary Wood, general manager for UK & Ireland at Tomy, said: “There’s been a growing trend for homemade gifting and Maché Magic perfectly taps into this, allowing kids to explore their creativity and artistic flair. 

Disneyland & Disney California Adventure Reintroduce Single Rider Lines For Select Attractions. The reintroduction of single rider lines comes as health and safety protocols have eased at Disney’s Anaheim parks—particularly, following California’s June 15 reopening. The single rider option is said to be available for select attractions at Disneyland, including Space Mountain, Indiana Jones Adventure, Millennium Falcon...

Squishmallows to benefit from animated YouTube series. New episodes featuring Squishmallows will be released every Saturday between now and the end of October.  “The launch of Squishville speaks volumes to the growth in popularity Squishmallows has had over the last year,” Jazwares president Laura Zebersky said in a statement. 

Crowdfunding Smash: Donut Media Launches Toy Performance Car Line Called Stocky. First up, the Acura Integra Type R, at $325K and climbing. Car-focused Donut Media is best known for their YouTube channel, but they're now venturing into toy design—and already have a smash hit on their hands. Like British industrial designer Julian Meagher, the folks over at Donut bet that car enthusiasts would happily pay...

Funko reveals four 'Pop! Loki' figures. Funko, Inc. revealed four Pop! Loki figures, based on the hit Disney+ series, which will be coming soon to retail. The Loki TV series (see "Trailer for ‘Loki’") will be wrapping up its 6-episode run next week on Disney+, and Funko has released images for new Pop! Loki figures. This series of vinyl figures features three TVA figures: Pop! Ravonna Renslayer with Miss Minutes, Pop! Mobius,...

The Super7 X Power Rangers Ultimates! Collection is *finally* here!. Morphin’ mode activated! After teasing the release earlier this year, Mighty Morphin Power Rangers and Super7 dropped the first wave of their Ultimates! Power Rangers figures collection. This first wave features five Mighty Morphin Power Rangers characters, including Green Ranger, Yellow Ranger, Goldar, Putty Patroller, and — for the first time...

Solve cases simultaneously in 'The Key: Theft In Cliffrock Villa'. HABA USA announced The Key: Theft in Cliffrock Villa, a new deduction card game, for release in Q3. In The Key: Theft in Cliffrock Villa, Cliffrock Villa has been targeted with a string of robberies and valuable artwork has been stolen. Players need to investigate these crimes by gathering clues about the perpetrators, time of the crimes, stolen items, and escape...

Mattel introduces new Mega Construx Hot Wheels building sets. Back in 2013, MEGA Brands introduced a range of Hot Wheels Mega Bloks building sets that it created under license from Mattel. A year later, the Canadian company was acquired by Mattel and the doors opened for even more cross-pollination of brands within the corporate family. Now, seven years later, the Hot Wheels brand is getting a new push into the...

Character Options unveils ‘one of most exciting launches of summer’ with Glo-Up Girls. Character Options is preparing for ‘one of its most exciting launches of the summer’ with the release of Glo-Up Girls this August, a range that will be supported with a live-action YouTube series, a ‘first-of-its-kind’ social media content house, and official influencer partnerships. Inspired by the current #GlowUp trend – a hashtag with ...

Vivid’s Animagic welcomes interactive plush gorilla duo Tiki and Toko. Animagic, the 12 year strong brand from Vivid, is welcoming a new mother and baby duo this autumn/winter in the shape of Tiki and Toko, a pair of interactive feature plush gorillas who are already proving to be a popular force among retailers in Europe. Having just scooped up a string of retailer awards in France, the interactive characters arrive...

Fend off a horde of evil skeletons in 'Bad Bones'. Luma Imports will release Bad Bones, a cooperative board game by Sit Down!, for release in Q3. In Bad Bones, players attempt to create a defense against horde of skeletons, simultaneously, on their respective board. They can use traps or send heroes and dragons after the skeletons in order to push the invading army off their boards.

Let the Wookies win in 'Star Wars: Legion'. Fantasy Flight Games will release Wookie Warriors Unit Expansion, a new miniatures sets for Star Wars: Legions, in Q3. The Wookiee Warriors Unit Expansion adds six Wookiee Warrior miniatures to the battlefield. These wookies can be assembled with different weaponry, either a close-range unit carrying ryyk blades and Kashyyk pistols or a unit of Wookiee sharpshooters ...

Czech Games Edition unveils 'Lost Ruins Of Arnak' expansion. Czech Games Edition unveiled Lost Ruins of Arnak: Expedition Leaders, a new expansion, for release in October. This expansion to the Kennerspiel des Jahres-nominated Lost Ruins of Arnak (see "'Spiel des Jahres' Nominations Revealed") adds six unique leaders to the mix. Each leader features different abilities, skills, and starting decks that offer create ...

Mantic Games announces new 'Kings of War' army. Mantic Games announced the new Salamander army product line, for Kings of War miniature game, which will release in July. The newest Kings of War army has a fiery disposition, and will be a force to be reckoned with on the battlefield. Salamander Mega Army is a big box product that comes with everything players need to field an army for this new faction. 

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