PlayMonster is proud to announce the appointment of Darby Zahradnik to the American Specialty Toy Retailing Association’s (ASTRA) Board of Directors. This appointment supports the company’s continued commitment to serve specialty toy retailers in North America. Zahradnik will serve on the Board of Directors for a three year term, serving through 2025.
Nifty’s, the platform for NFT-powered fan communities, and Warner Bros. Consumer Products are partnering once again, taking their collaboration to a whole new level, with the launch of an all-new story-driven blockchain program that will engage Looney Tunes fans like never before! Looney Tunes: What’s Up Block? will use digital art as a new medium for storytelling, creating a fresh narrative for the Looney Tunes franchise that will be revealed through NFTs.
Parents who witness children playing with schleich toys know there is much more to the brand than what can be seen from the store shelf. They’ve seen kids pick up the brand’s iconic animal characters and playsets and get drawn into unseen, magical worlds of story and imagination. As the beloved global brand enters its 87th year, it is redefining its mission and branding to align with this higher purpose, rich history and enduring connection to childhood joy. With a new mission of “creating characters and sets that let kids’ imaginations run wild,” a global brand reset begins with values that include sparking the storyteller in all of us, championing the limitless possibilities of free play, recognizing that there are always more stories to be told and setting children on a playful path of learning and discovery.
Licensing Expo 2022, organized in partnership with industry trade association Licensing International, drew thousands of attendees from the world’s most reputable retailers and licensees, with the number of retailers in attendance rising 42% from the 2019 event, marking record growth for Licensing Expo.
Fittingly, in time before World Environment Day on June 5th, Playmobil presents Wiltopia, the first sustainable product range. The new theme provides the answer to the question of how children can be taught about animals, nature and the environment as well as the importance of sustainability. Without dry facts, and with a huge amount of fun!
Countless writers have sought to capture the history of American pop culture in magazines, newspapers and books, but the material artifacts are often an afterthought. In My Life and Toys, acclaimed director, writer, and producer, Brian Levant places his extraordinary collection of toys from comics, TV, and films on the center stage. The toys, reverently photographed by Joe Pellegrini, span media history from the shows of the author’s childhood, such as The Flintstones and The Lone Ranger, to mementos from the programs Levant grew up to write or produce, including Mork & Mindy and Happy Days, and films he directed, including Beethoven; this unparalleled collection is only possible from a devoted fan and toy collector.
American Girl, a cornerstone in the Mattel (NASDAQ: MAT) portfolio of purposeful brands, announced the return of a true original—1940s-era historical character and fan favorite Molly McIntire! One of the company’s first three historical characters to debut in 1986, Molly—a nine-year-old girl growing up on the home front during World War II—has inspired a generation of girls with her patriotic spirit and story of resilience. Now, back from the American Girl archives, Molly is set to spark nostalgia and win over a new legion of fans with the release of a core selection from her classic product collection, plus a host of engaging new content and immersive experiences that bring her world to life in a fresh, fun way for fans of all ages.
Moonbug Entertainment Ltd., is announcing a special licensing and merchandising agreement with baby brand Rascal + Friends featuring a new premium CoComelon branded diaper and training pants line available across six different markets. The deal is confirmed for four years, with the product set to hit shelves in June 2022. The new CoComelon line will be available in major retailers including Walmart, Tesco, Coles, Lazada and Foodstuffs.