Welcome to Your Weekly News Brief!
Happy Bloomin’ Friday!
Bravo, Azhelle! Watch ‘On Brand’ with #JimmyFallon and Azhelle Wade September 30th on NBC. Azhelle is our Inventor Pitch and Innovation Conference host and we are so happy for her!
Tee up for an evening of friendly competition, networking, and giving back at The Toy Foundation’s Golf & Give FUNdraiser, September 9th at Topgolf El Segundo
The POP/Nextoy/Laugh Factory LA party is September 16th! Get your tickets HERE and NOW! It is Rubee Tuesday - a super-funny night at the Laugh Factory! Contact David Fuhrer, Bob Fuhrer or me with questions.
More events during LA Preview! Here’s list of LA events courtesy of the Toy Association.
POP Week and WishList Weekend Registration is Open !
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Connect, pitch and learn at the Inventor Pitch and Innovation Conference
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Encourage a creative kid to enter the Young Inventor Challenge
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Kick off the holidays and be a part of WishList Weekend - register to exhibit at the Chicago Toy & Game Fair! Meet consumers, influencers, media and trade in one place!
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Mary and the POP Team
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Cartoon Lovers, Lexophiles & People in Need of a Smile!
Cartoon of the Week: Thank you to the person who perfers to be anonymous for the cartoon this week!
Memorable Quotes: ““Courage is more exhilarating than fear and in the long run it is easier.” – ELEANOR ROOSEVELT
Toy Industry Word of Day: If you can think of a toy/game industry word not in our POPDictionary, add it and we will connect it to you POP profile, feature it here in an upcoming week and on POP's homepage!
Have a cartoon, quote or a joke to share? Send it to me! Mary
Happiest of Birthdays to our colleagues celebrating birthdays this past week!
Ed Gale RIP
Rick Loomis RIP
Ian Falconer RIP
Simon Hedge RIP
Paul Reubens RIP
Exciting news collectors! The hobbyDB Local Directory has officially passed a major milestone: more than 1,000 active listings of collectible stores, events, museums, and more. And we’re not slowing down.
With 1,262 listings and counting, the Directory has grown more than 500% in just the last 3 months, thanks to the help of our community, brand partners, and collectors around the world. The goal? To create the most complete global map of all things collectibles.
We love the idea of a Local Directory - Whether you’re planning a trip, exploring your own city, or searching for a specific collectible experience, the Local Directory lets you search by product type, category, or location — helping you find what matters most.
We believe a collector on the road should be able to find a diecast shop in Dayton, an action figure museum in the Netherlands, or a local show in London — all in just a few clicks. Read More...
POP's Reviewer - Julia DeKorte
Toy, Game, Book, Film Reviews - 125 Reviews
Food Fight Frenzy
From Ultra PRO Entertainment, comes with 72 character tiles and 13 food dice. Each die, as you may have guessed, has a different classic food fight food on each side: blueberries, pizza, a banana, an Oreo, broccoli, or Ketchup. Each food is matched to a character tile, each of which has an illustration of an animal facing that food in a food fight: blueberries being launched at an open-mouthed bear, a Ketchup bottle falling on the head of an unsuspecting dog, a puffin being hit in the face with a slice of pizza, another dog being hit in the face with a crown of broccoli, a banana smushed on the face of a cat, and a chicken covering its face as Oreos are pelted at it.
Food Fight Frenzy was invented by Kim Vandenbroucke, who’s always known she’s wanted to be an inventor. She earned a degree in Industrial Design and joined Meyer/Glass Design, a spin off from the original Marvin Glass & Associates, and soon enough had created her very first game: Cover to Cover, which ended up being licensed by Hasbro. Read More...
Hitster
I am so happy to introduce to you my new favorite party game! Hitster is a combination of a classic guess-that-song game and the history buff game Chronology. Players build a musical timeline by guessing when a song came out in relation to the other songs on their timeline. It’s great for a group and better yet, great for a group of people at different ages.
Hitster: Guilty Pleasures came out in 2023, but the original came out in 2020. Both versions were designed by Marcus Carleson. He got the idea for the game at a dinner party back in 2019. He came prepared with scraps of paper with the same information as the official Hitster cards (minus the QR code) and his guests loved it! Hitster was his debut game, and he originally launched it on Kickstarter, which is where Jumbo found him. Read More...
Recognizing 20 Years of the Young Inventor Challenge®!
This year, the Young Inventor Challenge® (YIC) proudly celebrates its 20th anniversary! Since its founding, the YIC has empowered thousands of kids ages 6-18 to dream big, think creatively, and bring their toy and game inventions to life.
To mark this milestone, People of Play™ is launching a YIC Fall Fundraiser, running September 1-20. The goal: activate the power of our community to Celebrate 20 years. Give $20. Help us reach $20K.
Watch the video! Young Inventor Challenge® Fall 2025 Fundraiser
Click to contribute: https://buy.stripe.com/4gw2b3eYSdI15Gw9AB
The Young Inventor Challenge® is more than a competition – it’s a launchpad for the next generation of innovators. Participants develop their original inventions to present to toy and game professionals online, with the option to pitch in person during the Chicago Toy & Game Fair. Along the way, they gain confidence, spark their imagination, and practice invaluable presentation skills.
The program thrives thanks to the generous support of sponsors and individual contributors like YOU. With YOUR help, we can continue inspiring creative kids for the next 20 years and beyond.
Join us in celebrating this milestone by contributing to the YIC Fall Fundraiser today! Read More...
Name: Julia Shoppach
Location: Milwaukee, WI
YIC: 2014 Senior Category Winner
Invention(s): Quick Start
Where is your invention now?
Although my winning toy didn’t move beyond initial discussions with toy executives, it did spark my entrepreneurial spirit born during the competition!
Are you planning to work or study in a related field (STEM, design, entrepreneurship, toy/game industry, etc.)?
The Young Inventor Challenge made me think BIG to kick off an entrepreneurial career. The competition established a firm foundation to later start an entertainment company at the age of 15, become a Brand Manager for a world-renown music group, earn a Bachelor of Communication degree with three certificates, achieve my salesperson real estate license, and manage six brands in entertainment, real estate, nonprofit, and the agency sector, all before the age of 24. Read more of Julia’s story!
(Note from Mary: It is the 20th Anniversary of the Young Inventor Challenge! We have BIG plans and would love to include you - be a sponsor, a judge or a volunteer. We appreciate all the help we can get to support the next generation of toy people! Contact Ahren Hoffman ahren@peopleofplay.com today.)
Financial and Legal
Everest Toys Faces Uncertain Future. Sources say a restructuring may be in play, but the sudden shutdown underscores ongoing challenges for distributors navigating tariffs and shifting retail dynamics.
Boat Rocker Studios has acquired a majority stake in Industrial Brothers. Previously, Boat Rocker held a significant minority stake in Industrial Brothers, as well as having a first-look deal with the full-service animation studio, its co-production partner on Dino Ranch and its...
“Calvinball” Enshrined in Jurisprudence-Speak. If you ever wanted to appear smarter by referencing Supreme Court decisions in your conversations, you can now drop the word “Calvinball” and be fluent in American jurisprudence speak thanks to an dissenting opinion by...
Squishmallows maker, Build-A-Bear call truce in plush toy legal battle. Jazwares and Build-A-Bear asked the court on Friday to dismiss their dispute with prejudice, which means it cannot be refiled.
The Biggest Diamond Fee Bill of All. Investment bank Raymond James & Associates, Inc., has submitted its final request for compensation to the federal bankruptcy court supervising the Diamond Chapter 11 bankruptcy.
Michigan politician introduces a SAVE ELMO Act to protect public media. Democratic state representative Jason Morgan's new bill would create a US$13-million fund to support PBS and local public broadcast stations.
US government takes 10 percent stake in Intel in exchange for money it was already on the hook for. The US is investing $8.9 billion into Intel, but most of the funds come from money that the government was supposed to pay the embattled chipmaker anyway.
Paramount may cut up to 3,000 jobs in November. The post-merger leadership team is looking to achieve US$2 billion in cost savings and wants to rip off the bandaid with this workforce reduction.
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Financial Reporting, Tariffs
Court Rules Trump Tariffs Unlawful… Again, but the Battle Plays On. A 127-page ruling lands a blow against Trump’s trade policies, but tariffs remain in play — leaving toymakers stuck in the ring.
Walmart is rolling out new AI tools and incentives to try and get more toy sellers to join its Marketplace e-commerce hub. New platform features include bulk listing options, enhanced brand protection to keep counterfeit products out, and a Smart Assit that can support users 24/7.
*** The above posted after tBR circulated August 30th ***
Build-A-Bear posts record quarter, more stores on the way. Company leaders told investors Thursday that total net revenue for the first half of the fiscal year was up more than 11% to $252.6 million.
Lego Sales Hit Record as Toy Market Rebounds. The company launched 314 new toy sets in the first half, increasing its appeal to customers across generations and interests.
Lego's 2025 H1 revenue hit 346B DKK (~$54.3B), up 12% YoY, driven by brand collaborations with Formula One, Jurassic Park, and others. Strategic partnerships expanded market reach, diversified revenue streams, and maintained competitiveness amid a crowded toy industry.
WEBTOON Cuts Losses in Q2. The earnings improvement was primarily the result of a more than $70 million reduction in general and administrative expenses, which the company attributed to the expenses of going public last year.
A Wild Card for the Board Game Business: Trump’s Tariffs. Trade war uncertainty is forcing board and card game publishers in the United States to make tough decisions, putting the future of the industry in jeopardy.
Higher tariffs are kicking in. Here’s what Walmart and other retailers said about their impact. As some of the biggest names in retail, including Walmart and Home Depot, delivered earnings results in recent weeks, they updated Wall Street on how they and their shoppers...
Resilient Consumers Lift Five Below’s Results as Transactions Surge 8.7%. Five Below’s second quarter results spotlighted a resilient consumer, as comparable sales surged 12.4% year over year.
Best Buy reports modest sales recovery, but says tariffs are complicating its turnaround. Best Buy surpassed revenue and earnings expectations for its most recent quarter, but stuck with its full-year forecast, citing tariff uncertainty.
BJ’s Hits 8 Million Members Amid Consumer Stress. The warehouse retailer released earnings on Friday (Aug. 22) showing a new membership milestone of 8 million, with 90% of those members renewing their subscription.
Games Workshop Projects Tariff Hit. Without efforts to adjust to the new U.S. tariffs, Games Workshop would experience a $16.1 million impact to profitability in its next fiscal year, CEO Kevin Rountree said in the report.
Action Figure Toys Market to Reach US$ 11.15 Billion by 2033. Action figure toys market thrives on licensed hero media, appealing to both nostalgic adult collectors and discerning parents seeking developmental, safe products.
As tariff shock sets in, small toymakers fear for holiday stockpiles, even survival. One family-run business, which expects a 30 percent revenue loss this year, won't have enough inventory for the holiday season.
Temu Restarts China-to-US Shipments After Tariff Truce. Suppliers, partners and investors said the eCommerce platform resumed making “fully-managed” shipments, the Financial Times reported Tuesday (Aug. 26).
Trump warns of 200% tariff on China if exports are curbed: 'They have to give us magnets'. Trump also said that airplane parts were a key leverage that Washington has to counter Beijing’s grip on rare earths.
Trump vows 'substantial' new tariffs, chip restrictions on countries with digital taxes. President Donald Trump said taxes on massive tech companies like Facebook, Google and Amazon are designed to "discriminate against" American technology.
Canada drops many of its retaliatory tariffs on the U.S. Canada made the announcement Friday, though the 25% counter-tariff on autos, steel and aluminum remains.
U.S. economy expanded 3.3% in Q2, with growth even stronger than initially thought. Consumer spending helped push the number higher, rising by 1.6% compared to an initial 1.4% estimate.
Tariffs Boost Number of Americans Buying Luxury Goods in Europe While travelers are required to declare the items they purchased abroad, it’s hard for customs agents to determine if clothing worn by a traveler, for example, is new, according to the report.
Consumer confidence dips on anxiety about jobs, income. The average 12-month expectation for inflation jumped to 6.2% this month from 5.7% in July, the Conference Board found in a consumer survey.
The U.S.-EU deal is here. Europe's businesses remain on edge. The U.S. and European Union shared an updated trade framework on Thursday, granting businesses some much needed clarity.
Trends, Lists, Market Research, and State of the Industry
Selfridges releases list of top trending Christmas toys.
Adults driving surge in toy sales as ‘kidult’ trend grows... still!
Monchhichi makes a comeback at 51, riding Gen Z and Art Toy trends to a new golden era. According to Bloomberg, the phenomenon is exemplified by Australian influencer Sam Todd, who travelled to Tokyo chasing vintage fashion—and secretly hunting for a fluffy Monchhichi keychain.
Fall Toy Preview 2025: What Buyers Should Expect from Emerging Design Trends. Each year, Fall Toy Preview sets the course for the future of play — not for this holiday season, but the next one.
The secret to Labubus' success? China's 'blind box' craze. Mania over "blind box" shopping is catching on across the Chinese economy with everyone from travel agents to supermarkets offering their own versions.
How China’s Gen Z sparked a doll fashion craze – and its impact on the economy. Some owners compare the dolls, including the hit Labubu, to children – driving a splurge in spending.
John Lewis spotlights top toys for Christmas. With 120 days to go, John Lewis has released a list of the toys it considers will be best sellers this Christmas.
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Stories, Comments, and Advice
John Baulch, Toy World - After the toys of summer have gone … it’s the Friday Blog! I hope you all had a splendid Bank Holiday weekend. We’ve officially reached the end of the summer holidays – kids return to school next week, although traffic on the roads has already felt heavier this week.
Nerd! How the word popularized by Dr. Seuss went from geeky insult to mainstream. The leading theory about the origin of nerd is that it likely first appeared in print in the 1950 children's book If I Ran the Zoo written by Dr. Seuss, the pen name of Theodor Seuss Geisel.
How Jay Horowitz Ended up with Ideal. Back in the late 1980's, American Plastic Equipment and its founder/owner, Jay Horowitz purchased much of the tooling and intellectual property of CBS Toys, which owned Ideal Toys at the time.
When Sports Games Feel Like Casinos, Players Rarely Win. Popular franchises like NBA 2K, FC and Madden entice players to keep spending. Critics say it’s ruining the games.
The rise and rise of fantasy football – and why its creator refuses to play. The game has mutated into something more complicated, bigger and far stranger than its creator could ever have imagined when he created it over 30 years ago.
Disruption Report: Sourcing Roulette. A story in The New York Times about a U.S shoe company and its challenges with tariffs after having located production in Brazil underscores the crushing impact of the current situation on a small company.
How Trump’s China tariffs pushed 2 US retailers to brink of bankruptcy. The trade war hit the businesses hard, though analyst suggests they faced challenges before Washington’s duties.
Why Custom Dice Matter in Game Design. The world of board games, RPGs, and tabletop adventures is such that each design decision can cause greater immersion. Custom dice provide makers to express their theme of the game in a physical manner- colors, symbols, typography...
'Punk rock' dinosaur with metre-long spikes discovered. The animal has come as a surprise to experts, who now have to rethink how these armoured dinosaurs evolved.
Losing at Checkers: A Learning Experience. How to Win at Checkers, How to Beat Grandad at Checkers, Play Winning Checkers. These are the titles of just a few of the books from Alfred C. Darrow’s checkers library, which recently found a new home at The Strong Museum.
Chores Are More Fun When They’re Fake. As I begin a new decade of my life, I’ve become more aware of the toys that model real-world “adulting.”
Dobble Dinosaurs pops up at the Natural History Museum. Visitors to the Natural History Museum over the weekend of 15-17 August, saw the much-loved Dobble Dinosaurs game arrive, complete with the Dobble mascot in tow.
History and Nostalgia
On September 1, 1972, in what’s billed as the “Match of the Century,” American chess grandmaster 29 year old Bobby Fischer defeats Russian Boris Spassky - the first American to win the competition since its inception in 1866.
*** The above posted after tBR ciruclated August 29th ***
Spars & Stripes from TOMY. Released in 1976, Tomy’s Spars & Stripes was a new “unsinkable” sailboat that actually sailed. It offered toy sailors ages 7 and up the clean, distinctive design of a classic 12-meter racing yacht, completed with adjustable sails, weighted keel, and automatic steering.
Mechanical Hi-Way Road Set (#612) from Ohio Art. In 1960, Ohio Art released the Mechanical Hi-Way Road Set, a playset that combined wind-up vehicles with a multi-level metal track.
Rock Paper Scissors from Ideal. Released by Ideal in 1967, Rock Paper Scissors was a board game adaptation of the classic hand game, played with levers, cards, and coloured game boards.
Everyone had this toy in the ’90s, and it now sells for over $3,000. The nostalgic wave sweeping through collector markets has transformed childhood memories into lucrative investments.
Lost in Space Action Figures from Trendmasters. “Danger, Will Robinson.”
Licensing and Entertainment
First Look at Conan O’Brien’s Smarty Pants Character in Toy Story 5. “Smarty Pants” is a potty training toy, shaped like a toilet paper roll with large eyes and a small mouth.
*** The above posted after tBR circulated August 29th ***
Nintendo: Warpstar has now become Nintendo Stars. Nintendo says that “Nintendo Stars Inc. aims to expand the number of people who have access to Nintendo IP through cooperation with partners around the world, and strengthen the relationship between Nintendo and its customers.”
Toei Animation establishes a new anime studio in Osaka. It will cultivate talent from across the Kansai region to help mitigate rising costs stemming from the anime industry's growing labor shortage.
McFarlane Toys Gives Us Our First Look at Pennywise Design(s) from 'Welcome to Derry' Series. Oddly enough, our first real look at the show’s Pennywise comes our way today courtesy of two action figure reveals from McFarlane Toys.
ABC commissions two new kids series for 2026. ACTF will distribute the live-action comedy from Easy Tiger Productions and animated sitcom from Media World Pictures.
Apple TV+ has cracked the case with The Sisters Grimm. The streamer has set an October 3 launch date for this 2D toon based on a series of bestselling children’s fantasy books by Michael Buckley.
Knight Rider revs up for a big-screen comeback. This popular NBC live-action series ran from 1982 to 1986, with David Hasselhoff headlining all four seasons as Michael Knight, a crime-fighter who works (and banters) with an artificially intelligent supercar named KITT.
Netflix Sets Premiere Dates for ‘Sesame Street,’ New Season of ‘Ms. Rachel’. The streaming giant also announced a slate of kids video games based on IP from Dr. Seuss and 'Paw Patrol.'
‘KPop Demon Hunters’ Sequel Moving Ahead As Sony and Netflix Engage In Deal Talks. The dealmaking comes as the runaway sensation lands on the list of the streamer's most-watched English-language films of all time — a feat few could have imagined.
Emil Wakim Not Returning to ‘SNL’ After One Season: “Gut Punch of a Call to Get”. The comedian had joined the NBC late night series as a featured player for season 50.
‘Smiling Friends’ Gets Season 3 Premiere Date, First Look From Adult Swim. Adult Swim announced Thursday that the absurdist animated series is set to return with its third season on Oct. 5.
Mattel partners with Alex and Ani on Polly Pocket jewellery collection. Designed to capture the magic and wonder of Polly Pocket, this limited-edition Alex and Ani collection features three of the beloved brand’s most iconic compacts.
Michael Longfellow Exits ‘SNL’ After Three Seasons. The news comes after the departure of cast members Devon Walker and Emil Wakim, as well as writers Celeste Yim and Rosebud Baker, ahead of Season 51.
The cutest new show on Netflix is an incredible stop-motion anime. The general premise revolves around My Melody, a sweet little bunny who runs a bakery with her best friends, Piano-chan (a non-verbal pink sheep) and Flat-kun (a talkative blue mouse).
KPop Demon Hunters is officially the most watched Netflix Original movie of all time. KPop Demon Hunters' final challenge was to surpass Red Notice, the 2021 heist movie starring Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson, Gal Gadot, and Ryan Reynolds.
Hazbin Hotel season 2 gets first-look images and sing-along event details. A24 released a series of images on Tuesday for season 2 of Hazbin Hotel, Vivienne Medrano's fan-beloved, adults-only animated musical series about a princess of Hell trying to redeem its denizens and get them into Heaven.
New plush collection brings Sesame Street to life. The collection features fan-favorite characters in two of TeeTurtle’s best-selling formats, Cloudheads™ and Reversible Plushies, blending iconic Sesame Street designs with TeeTurtle’s signature style.
Carrera RC launches Mario Kart Mini Racers. Available now, Carrera RC has launched a new range of budget-friendly 1:50 scale Mini RC models based on fan-favourite Mario Kart characters.
Hello Einstein Studios Takes Babies to the Barnyard in New YouTube Series. Each episode blends music, interactive activities, and storytelling with early STEAM concepts to encourage little learners’ curiosity and creativity.
The Science Behind Pixar Exhibit Heads to COSI This Fall. Pixar Animation Studios has storytelling down to a science. This fall, it’s sharing its unique formula of artistry, problem-solving, and technology in a new exhibit at Ohio’s Center of Science and Industry (COSI).
Kids’ Media Brands Step Up to the Plate with MLB Collaborations. Mister Rogers, Sesame Street, and HPC highlight how licensing and live events connect beloved characters with new generations of fans.
World Poker Tour, Genco International Strike Licensing Deal for Gaming Products. World Poker Tour has a licensing ace up its sleeve. The global tournament is partnering with Genco International on a multi-year deal to create branded, competition-ready poker products.
Labor shortages are hampering the anime industry’s growth. While annual revenue is at an all-time high, Japanese studios are racking up significant costs from production delays and outsourcing talent.
WildBrain to shutter its channels business. With major Canadian carriers removing Family Channel and Family Jr., the channels are "no longer commercially viable" and will be shut down in the coming months.
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People of Play
Radial Entertainment sets up a senior content team. Longtime Shout! acquisitions exec Jordan Fields and FilmRise head of content Jonitha Keymoore have both been tapped to work as SVPs of content acquisitions.
POP MART Welcomes Artist Prodigy Yanran Chen With New Cyperpunk IP. The young, Beijing-born artist launches her new character, KeyA, through the massive art toy retailer, bridging luxury art collaborations with collectible culture's next evolution.
The Fidgety Entrepreneur. Evan Schweitzer, 16, was only five or six years old when fidget spinners became a world-wide fad.
Companies and Brands
Sega Co., Ltd. has newly revealed a collaboration illustration of "Shadow" and "Hangyodon" as part of its collaboration between "Sanrio Characters" and "SONIC & FRIENDS." Products featuring the five other illustrations will go on sale starting...
*** The above posted after tBR circulated August 29th ***
Stern Pinball have released a teaser video for their new pinball machine, Star Wars: Fall of the Empire, which will feature all-new SPIKE 3 technology when it launches next month, September 2025.
Pop Mart Rolling Out Mini Labubus and a Long-Fur Version of the Popular Plush Toy. Pop Mart’s plush toys revenue jumped more than 1,200% in 2024.
When University Games sponsored a contest to publish an original board game idea, a talented artist from Otis College of Art and Design scurried to gather they're fun dog themed concept to meet the deadline. National Game Design Contest winner, Samantha Back, said "I would...
Tonies unveils its Toniebox 2 audio system. The souped-up player rolls out in Canada first on September 15, featuring 12 new licensed games and experiences.
Hasbro Pulse unveils latest Black Series collectibles. Hasbro Pulse has revealed a fresh line-up of role-play gear and collector figures across the Marvel Legends and Star Wars Black Series, including the Wolverine Premium Roleplay Mask inspired by Deadpool & Wolverine.
Vivid Goliath launches Marshmallow Madness. Marshmallow Madness from PlayMonster is an easy-to-play game for friends and families looking for fun, screen-free options that deliver simple, shareable and laughable moments.
Billie Eilish launches signature Uno deck with Mattel. A description on Eilish’s website says the music artist designed the deck, which features “colours, symbols and numbers that showcase her artistic aesthetic, printed on 300-gram premium card stock”
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From India to Vietnam, Lego bets on Asia’s booming toy market Lego’s record sales prompt expansion in Asia, with new stores in India and a factory in Vietnam, aiming to tap into the growing middle class.
New @Hasbro #Marvel and #STARWARS ™ Products Unveiled at Fan Expo Canada 2025. During the Hasbro Panel at Fan Expo Canada 2025, brand team members announced the hottest new products based on Marvel and Star Wars™.
From Cloud Nine to Toy Shelves: L.O.L. Surprise! x Care Bears Collab Brings Six Limited-Edition Dolls to Fans Worldwide. This collaboration emphasizes both brands’ commitment to expanding their collection of licensed partnerships embedded in pop culture, inviting fans to unbox six new L.O.L. Surprise! Tots.
@Walmart Unveils New Seller Capabilities and Tools, Growth Initiatives and Next-Level Omnichannel Opportunities at Marketplace Seller Summit. AI-powered tools, expanded fulfillment to major metro cities, and new incentives equip Marketplace sellers to grow faster and reach more customers.
Mattel Celebrates 80th Anniversary with Exclusive Hot Wheels Set. The anniversary set introduces premium replicas of the first Hot Wheels cars from 1968. With 16 original vehicles, collectors can collect well-known cars like Beatnik Bandit, Ford J-Car, Hot Heap, Silhouette, Cheetah, and more.
Melissa & Doug Gives Its Vending Machine Playset a Makeover. Following the success of its viral vending machine playset, Melissa & Doug is launching a new version of the toy — now carrying cosmetics.
The LEGO Group Raises Its Sails with Pirates of the Caribbean Set. In collaboration with The Walt Disney Company, the LEGO Icons Captain Jack Sparrow’s Pirate Ship set features details and designs inspired by the Pirates of the Caribbean movie franchise.
Faber-Castell’s Creativity for Kids Lands New Canadian Distro with Kroeger Marketing. The new deal ensures access to Faber-Castell and Creativity for Kids products across Canada during back-to-school season and into the holidays.
Gaming: Digital, Video, Hardware, and Development
Netflix unlocks a bunch of new preschool games. This latest batch of releases includes three Dr. Seuss games developed exclusively for Netflix: Dr. Seuss’s Horton!, Dr. Seuss’s The Sneetches and Dr. Seuss’s Red Fish, Blue Fish.
Report: King's leadership is 'skeptic' about AI mandate. In a report by MobileGamer.Biz, developers at Candy Crush maker King said that AI adoption, which was mandated by Microsoft, is being met with skepticism.
Capcom apparently tried to remake Dino Crisis but eventually canned it. Capcom fans have been asking for a new Dino Crisis games or alternatively remakes for years now and according to Capcom-insider Dusk Golem they’ve attempted to do it but their results lead to it being canned.
Atari Announces Strategic IP Agreement With Ubisoft To Revive Five Acclaimed Titles. This agreement reflects a shared commitment to delivering high-quality gaming experiences while honoring the original spirit of the titles.
KISS Icons Gene Simmons & Paul Stanley Reveal Which Video Games They're Most Fond Of. Rock legends Gene Simmons and Paul Stanley spoke with Screenrant about their gaming experiences and the numerous times KISS has been featured in the industry.
Crystal Dynamics is laying off more staff. As Embracer issued an absurd number of mass layoffs, project cancellations, and divestments across its portfolio, Crystal Dynamics conducted job cuts in 2023 and early this year.
450 Diablo developers vote to unionize under CWA. Diablo developers have assembled 'one of the largest wall-to-wall unions' at Blizzard Entertainment.
Outright Games, MGA Entertainment Reveal ‘Bratz: Rhythm & Style’ Trailer. The game follows Bratz Pack members Cloe, Yasmin, Sasha, and Jade as they explore cities like London, Tokyo, Milan, and their hometown, Stilesville.
Developer Rec Room lays off 'about half' its staff. Rec Room calls the job cuts a 'business necessity based on the financial trajectory of the company.'
God Of War Sequel May Be Hinted At In New Job Listing. Last month, Bloomberg reporter Jason Schreier claimed that Sony Santa Monica's next project is "not a new IP", fuelling speculation that the studio has been working on a new God of War game.
Rumour: The next LEGO project is a SEGA Genesis controller. This special LEGO controller will apparently be given away with LEGO purchases of $130 or more starting from 8th September.
Yooka-Replaylee seemingly includes full game on the cartridge. That’s according to the game’s newly published box-art. A release date for Yooka-Replaylee has yet to be announced.
DigitalFoundry: Plenty of developers at Gamescom said they haven’t received Switch 2 dev kits. It seems that they have been distributed randomly with some smaller developers able to get them and some AAA publishers who have yet to receive one.
US: Nintendo Switch 2 has now sold over 2 million units. Circana which tracks sales figures in the United States says that the Nintendo Switch 2 is currently 75% ahead of the unit sales.
The Original Pokémon Logo Creator Wants to Do It Again. With the 30th anniversary coming up, maybe we'll see a special logo... maybe it'll even be made by the original logo's creator!
Mobile Spending Fuels U.S. Video Game Market’s 5% Jump in July. Projected U.S. total spending on video game hardware, content, and accessories grew 5% to $5.1 billion when compared to a year ago, Circana reports. Year-to-date spending is now at $32.6 billion, 1% behind last year.
Highlighted Press Releases
($100/week/press release in this highlighted section and on newsletter sent Friday)
DISNEY MINNIE MOUSE MAGNETIC TRAVEL SET & STITCH CUBES BRING CREATIVE FUN ON THE GO
Available now at Walmart, in-store and online, for imaginative play anytime, anywhere. Marshfield, MA (August 27, 2025) – Summer is here, and the forecast predicts sunny days and family trips to make the most of the season. Destinations can be a blast, but getting there is sometimes a slog, especially for kids. Whether by car, plane or train, long travel times equal restless minds and limbs, craving something fun to do. But what if you could take your favorite toys with you; a toy with endless play value that stimulates your imagination? Tytan Toys is here with an answer...
Safety and Counterfeiting
CPSC Passes Two New Final Rules for Toys & Issues Policy Updates. The updates consist approval of two final rules for toys, the withdrawal of certain pending regulations, pledging a dedicated focus on “real and substantial risk” and “uninterrupted agency operations,” despite changes at the Commission.
Associations, Foundations, Shows, Awards, Events, and Festivals
Hasbro and Amazon are coming together to bring a new Beyblade Tournament event to Atlanta next week. The Beyblade X Secret Showdown tournament event will be taking place at the Atlantic Station on Saturday, September 6. According to the event details, the top two qualifying Bladers will earn a trip to California on September 17 for a live-streamed finale.
Gamescom 2025, one of the world's largest trade fairs for computer and video games beginning on Wednesday, attracted a record of 1,500 exhibitors. It highlighted both the industry's global reach and the growing footprint of Chinese developers.
XTracks returns to El Segundo for a second summit. This five-hour licensing event will take place during the LA Fall Previews toy market on September 10.
2025 American Manga Awards Announced. The winners of the 2025 American Manga Awards, organized by Anime NYC owner LeftField Media and Japan Society, were announced in a ceremony at Anime NYC in New York on August 21.
Little Tikes, My Gym Celebrate National Literacy Month with Story Dream Machine Activation. The partnership sparks imagination and builds reading confidence by blending play, literacy, and innovation in early childhood programs.
FAN EXPO Chicago 2025 – Part 1. With the dog days of summer behind us, FAN EXPO held its fourth Chicago area show on August 15-17, 2025 at the Donald E. Stephens Convention Center in Rosemont, Illinois.
Deadline Approaching: Book Your Appointment with The Toy Association’s Trends Team in LA. If your company is showcasing 2026 products in Los Angeles this fall, don’t miss your chance to meet with The Toy Association’s trends team during LA Fall Preview® Market Weeks (September 8–19).
Prep for Fall Preview: How to Get the Most Out of Your Time in LA. Toy industry professionals are encouraged to make the most out of their time in Los Angeles by taking note of this information.
Reserve Your Spot for the Industry’s Golf & Give FUNdraiser on Sept 9. Tee up with industry friends for an evening of friendly competition, casual networking, and giving back at The Toy Foundation’s Golf & Give FUNdraiser, taking place Tuesday, September 9 at Topgolf El Segundo during The Toy Association’s LA Fall Preview® Market Weeks.
Gamescom 2025 award winners. It wouldn’t be Gamescom without the Gamescom awards and Nintendo has scooped up a couple of awards this year with Best Gameplay award going to Donkey Kong Bananza.
Capcom announces Tokyo Game Show 2025 lineup. While they are the currently announced games from Capcom, hopefully the development studio will have a couple of surprises to get gamers excited.
Autumn Fair visitors promised supercharged experience. Autumn Fair has unveiled a suite of enhanced, highly interactive workshops, a brand-new content pre-registration system and one-to-one mentoring sessions.
Toy Retailers Association appoints WPR to spotlight 2025 DreamToys list. The launch of the DreamToys list, which has traditionally been through a media event in the run up to Christmas, will benefit from a reimagined approach this year.
Disney Store celebrates World Princess Week. The Disney Store at Westfield White City offered makeovers, face painting and interactive photo opportunities, plus curated shopping to ensure the magic will continue at home.
Save the date for the Fence Club Christmas Ball. The annual celebration will take place at the Hilton London Metropole in December as Fence Club members and guests enjoy an evening of good cheer all while supporting the charitable work of the club.
Hot Wheels Legends Tour UK 2025 announces winner. Essex-based father and son Paul and Ethan Foster’s unique creation claimed victory over more than 200 entrants to win the UK leg of the world's largest travelling car show.
Pink Fong Partners with NYC Ferry for Anniversary Ride. For one day, Aug. 30, families can hop aboard select Astoria route departures between 11 a.m. and 2:45 p.m. for a day of music, dancing, character meet and greets, photo opportunities, and special giveaways.
RIP - Rest in Play - Remembering Those that have Passed
If you know of a colleague's passing, please send us information so we may share with our readers. Archives can be found HERE
Richie Weintraub, August 22, 2025 — Tribute in the works by David Small and Paul Rago, details forthcoming.
David Ketchum. He also starred on 'I'm Dickens, He's Fenster' and 'Camp Runamuck' and wrote for nearly four dozen shows, from 'Hey, Landlord' and 'M*A*S*H' to 'MacGyver' and 'Full House.'
(from Robert Pasin) My dad, Mario, passed away peacefully this week at the age of 95. My mom, his wife of 66 years, was by his side. My dad was the CEO of Radio Flyer from the 1960’s into the 1990’s. He took over leadership of the company from his dad, Antonio, who founded Radio Flyer in 1917.
Terence Stamp, the English actor who played the arch-villain General Zod in the original Superman films, has died at the age of 87.
Dennis Schiefer, a producer on the Destroy All Humans! remakes, and worked at Black Forest for seven years.
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Toy Trade Monthly & Special Issues
Adventure Media & Events (US)
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‘KPop Demon Hunters’ Are Shining as Funko POP! Figures (The Toy Insider)
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Wear Wicked Wonders with Girls Crew’s Disney Villains Jewelry (The Pop Insider)
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The LEGO Group Builds Toward the Future with Strong H1 2025 Earnings Results (The Toy Book)
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Mobile Spending Fuels U.S. Video Game Market’s 5% Jump in July (The Toy Book)
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Melissa & Doug Gives Its Vending Machine Playset a Makeover (The Toy Book)
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MGA Entertainment, Cloudco Entertainment Reveal L.O.L. Surprise! x Care Bears Collab (The Toy Book)
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Pop Mart Announces New Peach Riot and Labubu Drops (The Toy Book)
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Monsters, Misfits, and a Haunted Video Store: Meet the Wayward Ghouls (The Toy Book)
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Tonies Introduces the Next Generation of Screen-Free Audio Players with Toniebox 2 (The Toy Book)
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Lego unveils Lego Ideas Willy Wonka & the Chocolate Factory set
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Mattel partners with Alex and Ani on Polly Pocket jewellery collection
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Boat Rocker Studios acquires a majority stake in Industrial Brothers
ICv2: The Business of Geek Culture (US)
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- Paizo Will Do Away with 'Pathfinder' 'Adventure Path' Softcovers
- Rolling for Initiative -- 'Dungeons & Dragons' Still Plays a 'Critical Role'
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