Mattel, Inc (NASDAQ: MAT) announced that Richard Dickson, President and Chief Operating Officer, will step down from his position with the Company effective August 3, 2023 to take the role of president and chief executive officer at another public company. Richard Dickson has been at Mattel for a collective 20 years.
Just Play, a leading global toy company, is announcing the addition of two key executives to the company’s business development team who will bolster growth across various categories. The recent hires at Just Play include Joel Berger as Senior Vice President (SVP) of New Business Development, and Jess Richardson as SVP of Global Licensing & Business Development. Geoffrey Greenberg, Just Play’s Co-President stated: “I am very excited to welcome Joel and Jess to our leadership team. They are both respected figures in the toy industry with years of experience which will amplify Just Play’s global growth. Jess is a dynamic and creative executive who will lead our global licensing partnerships and search for additional business opportunities. Joel will lead Just Play’s emerging channel and international product development efforts.
Corus Entertainment’s Nelvana, a world-leading international producer, distributor, and licensor of children’s animated and live-action content, has announced the studio produced its second original short film entitled Jelly, created and directed by Emmy Award-winning director Robin Budd (Beetlejuice, Hotel Transylvania: The Series), and reveals ‘first look’ images. Featuring music from esteemed composer Daniel Lanois, Jelly is a 2D animated short film exploring the universal reality that life is too precious to be unhappy at work and encourages the pursuit of one’s true passion. The 13-minute film is set to have its world premiere at the 27th Edition of Fantasia International Film Festival this month, and has started to receive interest among renowned festivals internationally.
Nxt Gen Brand Marketing, a global Licensing Agency, is pleased to announce they have appointed Richard Glassman as the EVP of Sales. Glassman, brings over 30 years of experience in the Toy Industry as V.P. Licensing, Marketing and Product Development with leading Toy, Novelty and Entertainment companies located in the US, Hong Kong, and the U.K. This latest addition comes as Nxt Gen Brand Marketing continues to strengthen their overall merchandising programs, with an emphasis on Toys, Novelties, Gaming, Publishing and more, for the upcoming August 2023 launch of “Creepy Candy”. An exciting new kid’s animated series from Toonz Media and Leadbelly Productions soon to be streaming on YouTube and YT Kids. Glassman will also play a key role with other Next Gen clients’ brands.
The Licensing Awards has once again attracted a phenomenal number of entries and nominations for 2023 across all the categories. Some 3,500 products were entered across the 11 Product awards categories, with the finalists being arrived at by some 250 retail buyers across the whole gamut of licensed and consumer products. These included executives from Tesco, Asda, Marks & Spencer, TruffleShuffle, My 1st Years, Card Factory, FatFace, Moonpig, TJ Morris, Next, Paultons Park, DFS, Character.com, The Works, HMV, The Entertainer, Fraser Group, Ted Baker, Vanilla Underground, Lakeland, Morrisons, JoJo Maman Bébé, Home Bargains, Sainsbury’s, Specsavers and B&M Stores.
The Western Toy and Hobby Representatives Association (WTHRA) announces the return of ToyFest to The Expo at World Market Center Las Vegas, March 3 – 5, 2024. The newly opened Expo Center in downtown Las Vegas served quite well for ToyFest the past two years. As an added benefit, ToyFest attendees have access to cross-over gift and accessory lines presented at the World Market Center’s permanent showrooms. Sandy Lepire, ToyFest President said, “ToyFest 2023 was filled with so many buyers from all over the country and manufacturers showing amazing new products! With the dates of ToyFest now set for 2024, the attendee registration open, the hotel booking site is available, and we have begun planning. Our goal is to make 2024 a great show for all to come play and learn.”
Kartoon Studios , through its controlling interest in Stan Lee Universe, LLC, has announced a total and near-instantaneous sell through of Stan Lee digital collectibles through its partnership with digital leader VeVe, on July 18. The total drop, of over 8,000 digital collectibles opened at 8am PST, and was sold out almost immediately. This news comes on the heels of a successful opening of the Stan Lee Exhibit at The Comic-Con Museum in San Diego, California. The Celebrating Stan Lee collection, joins Star Wars, Marvel and Disney amongst their elite collection of digital collectibles. Celebrating Stan Lee features four digital collectibles for fans in Chibi style, which is a popular style of caricature originating in Japan and common in anime and manga where characters are drawn in an exaggerated way, typically small and chubby with stubby limbs, oversized heads, and minimal detail.
Hasbro, an industry leader in toys and games, and Xplored, an innovator in gaming technology, have reached a strategic partnership to transform board games through the integration of smart-sensing technology, and dynamic multimedia content. Under the terms of the agreement, Xplored will collaborate with Hasbro to develop a new tabletop platform that integrates digital and physical play for fans around the world. Xplored’s technology connects physical and digital worlds, keeping players focused on the game they’re playing while the system intelligently resolves rules and character behaviors, and provides innovative gameplay, new scenarios and ever-changing storytelling events. The technology allows players to learn by playing with no rulebook needed, save games to resume later, enables remote gameplay, and offers features like immersive contextual sound and connected dice. Just play, and the game senses every move.
Mattel, Inc announced that it has renewed its licensing agreement with Warner Bros Discovery Global Consumer Products. Mattel will continue as a Warner Bros.’ toy licensee for the preschool, plush, dolls, vehicles, games, and novelty toy categories, developing and marketing products for more than 50 Warner Bros Discovery brands and franchises including DC Universe, DC Super Friends, “Batwheels,” Harry Potter, Fantastic Beasts, Friends, Seinfeld, and Ted Lasso, among others. “Mattel is incredibly proud of our two-decade long partnership with Warner Bros. to create products for fans featuring their favorite Warner Bros. characters and storylines,” said Nick Karamanos, Senior Vice President of Entertainment Partnerships at Mattel. “We are thrilled that Mattel is a partner of choice for the largest and most successful entertainment companies in the world, and are excited to continue our partnership with Warner Bros. Discovery as we accelerate our businesses together.”