PlayMonster Named Master Toy Partner for My Singing Monsters
PlayMonster has joined forces with Wind Sun Sky, in partnership with Skybound Entertainment and Big Blue Bubble, as master toy license in North America for the top-grossing mobile game My Singing Monsters. PlayMonster plans a multi-year program for figures, playsets, games, and accessories.
In My Singing Monsters, players young and old add monsters to their islands to create songs. Each monster has its own personality and part in the song, so the song changes as more monsters are added. Along the way, players feed and breed their monsters, and add structures for hours of fun.
“Partnering with Wind Sun Sky is an ideal collaboration for us,” says Scott Flynn, vice-president of sales and marketing, PlayMonster. “My Singing Monsters is all about the unique personalities of the monsters, creative islands and scenery, and fun music. Players are very engaged when they play the game, and all of this will translate really well into toys. It’s definitely an exciting opportunity for PlayMonster!”
“As the My Singing Monsters franchise continues to grow through various products and a series in development, we’re excited to expand the brand into the toy aisle with PlayMonster. Their commitment to excellence and innovation in toys is second to none which is perfect for our monsters,” said Catherine Winder, CEO of Wind Sun Sky and Producer of the My Singing Monster’s animated series in development.”
My Singing Monster fans will be able to purchase merchandise at retail stores in the United States, Canada and United Kingdom in the fall of 2019.
The deal was brokered by Alita Friedman, CEO of Alita’s Brand Bar, and licensing agency for the My Singing Monsters franchise. The news follows the company’s other recently announced partnerships for the brand, including a deal with Commonwealth Toys for plush.
Hulu, Funimation Ink Expanded Partnership for Anime Content
Hulu and Funimation, a subsidiary of Sony Pictures Television (SPT), announced a multi-year partnership and output deal. The deal marks Hulu’s largest agreement for anime programming to date and will significantly expand its anime collection with new subtitled and dubbed titles from Funimation each year.
The new deal will grant Hulu a first look at U.S. streaming video on-demand rights to future anime series produced and released by Funimation beginning in 2019, and will make Hulu and Funimation the co-exclusive premiere destinations to certain new subtitled anime hits day and date with the worldwide premiere in Japan. It also broadens Hulu and Funimation’s previously-existing agreement and will make both Hulu and Funimation the co-exclusive U.S. premiere homes to dozens of highly-anticipated, new anime titles each year.
Hulu and Funimation continue to be the only platforms in the U.S. to stream all subbed and dubbed episodes of top anime hits including My Hero Academia, Attack on Titan and Tokyo Ghoul. Through its previous partnership with Funimation, Hulu has been home to a list of titles from Funimation. Funimation’s catalog of anime titles currently includes more than 600 shows offering more than 10,000 hours of subtitled and dubbed entertainment.
Tencent Pictures Teams with Paramount Pictures for Bumblebee, Top Gun Sequel
Tencent Pictures will collaborate with Paramount Pictures on upcoming films including Bumblebee, and the sequel to Top Gun. As the first spin-off movie of the Transformers film series, the science-fiction action film Bumblebee is scheduled to be released on December 21 in North America, and on January 4, 2019 in Mainland China. China Film Group Film Import and Export Corporation is responsible for the import of the movie, while China Film Group Corporation and HuaXia Film Distribution Co. Ltd. are responsible for the distribution. As an investor and co-marketing partner, Tencent Pictures will assist with the film’s marketing and promotions in mainland China. Hasbro, the creator and owner of the wildly popular Transformers toys on which the film franchise is based, is also a co-financier on Bumblebee.
Since its establishment, Tencent Pictures has prioritized exploring international markets, and Bumblebee is a key step for Tencent’s overseas business. Bumblebee represents Tencent’s first international project after Venom and its first collaboration with Paramount.
Singapore’s Marina Square to be Home to World’s First Nerf Experience
NAX Singapore Pte. Ltd., an indirectly wholly-owned subsidiary of Kingsmen Creatives and its subsidiaries, secured Marina Square in Singapore as the venue for the world’s first Nerf-dedicated family entertainment center, slated to open in the second half of 2019.
This follows the announcement made in February 2018 regarding the licensing agreement entered into between the Group and Hasbro, Inc. to co-conceptualize, create, build, and operate multiple Nerf experiences across Asia Pacific.
Plans are already underway to translate the Nerf brand values into a play experience occupying more than 18,000 square feet on the ground level of Marina Square. The indoor attraction will feature multiple activity zones that promote active play, team work, and encourage participants to explore beyond their comfort zones while having fun, according to the companies.