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Toys for Tots Literacy Program Celebrates National Reading Month in 2023

March is National Reading Month, and the Toys for Tots Literacy Program continues its commitment to helping children “Unplug and March into Reading” by placing books into the hands of less fortunate children and encouraging families to unplug from their screens and electronic devices and enjoy a book together! The Toys for Tots Literacy Program was established in 2008 as a year-round effort to offer our Nation’s most economically disadvantaged children the ability to compete academically and to succeed in life by providing them direct access to books and educational resources that enhance their ability to read and communicate effectively.

News

Mattel to Launch Owned Publishing Imprint

Mattel’s imprint is expected to launch in the United States and Canada in 2024 and will complement content, support brand initiatives, and create new stories based on iconic Mattel franchises including Barbie, Hot Wheels, Fisher-Price, Thomas & Friends, Monster High, Polly Pocket, Barney, and more. Releases will include print books, audio books, eBooks, as well as digital content on Caribu, Mattel’s direct-to-consumer entertainment platform with a video calling feature that allows users to read books, watch videos, draw, and play games or engage in an interactive video call with friends and loved ones. Titles from Mattel’s imprint will complement programs from its best-in-class licensing partners with formats to include board books, storybooks, leveled readers, middle-grade titles, activity titles, guidebooks, and more.

Warren Buffet Secret Millionaires Club Genius Brands AI

Genius Brands to Release New Warren Buffett’s Secret Millionaires Club Minis, Produced by Genius AI Studio

Genius Brands International has announced a new AI-generated animated “shorts” series based on the original children’s show, Warren Buffett’s Secret Millionaires Club, launching on Kartoon Channel!, YouTube and Genius Brands’ social media channels on May 15, 2023. The Warren Buffett’s Secret Millionaires Club shorts will be produced by Genius AI Studio, utilizing various AI tools and pulling from stories co-created with, and voiced by, Warren Buffett for the original Secret Millionaires Club series, which focused on teaching enduring life lessons around financial literacy to children. Aimed at children aged 4-12 and their families, Secret Millionaires Club Minis combine cutting-edge technology, creative storytelling, and short-form vertical video, bringing a whole new format to the children’s entertainment space. Each video will educate children worldwide, and feature fun and interesting lessons and facts around business and money. Shorts will start rolling out May 15.

Nintendo Powers up MAR10 Day With a Month Full of Mario-related Activities

With MAR10 Day hitting soon on March 10, Nintendo is celebrating another exciting year for their mustachioed hero with not only a day but a month’s worth of activities. Let’s-a go! Yesterday, Nintendo officially kicked off the MAR10 Day celebrations with a party at Nintendo NY starring Mario, Luigi and YouTube superstar Ryan Kaji from Ryan’s World. The celebration continues with a Mushroom Kingdom’s worth of exciting announcements, including a reveal of the new Nintendo Switch Mario Choose One Bundle arriving in stores starting on March 10, additional details about Wave 4 of the Mario Kart 8 Deluxe – Booster Course Pass DLC (including full track list and the March 9 launch!), a sweepstakes for a chance to win a trip to Super Nintendo World at Universal Studios Hollywood, an upcoming Nintendo Switch game sale perfect for Mario fans of all ages and so much more.

United Airlines Names Oscar the Grouch as First Chief Trash Officer

United Airlines has named Sesame Street’s Oscar the Grouch as its first Chief Trash Officer as he and the airline celebrate his love of rubbish. United Airlines’ new, consumer education campaign is designed to promote the expected benefit of using sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) more broadly. The new campaign – which features Oscar in more than 30 pieces of original video, digital, social and out-of-home content – follows the iconic character’s journey from job listing to c-suite office starring alongside real United employees. SAF is an alternative to conventional jet fuel that, on a lifecycle basis, reduces greenhouse gas emissions associated with air travel compared to conventional jet fuel alone. SAF is being made from used cooking oil and agricultural waste, and, in the future, could be made from other feedstocks including household trash or forest waste. To date, United has invested in the future production of over three billion gallons of SAF – the most of any airline in the world.

Yoto Launches New Disney Digital Stories – ‘Luca’ & ‘Raya and the Last Dragon’

Yoto, the interactive audio platform for kids and creator of the critically acclaimed and award-winning Yoto Player and Yoto Mini, has announced the launch of new content inspired by Walt Disney Animation Studios’ Raya and the Last Dragon and Pixar Animation Studios’ Luca, now available as Digital Cards in the Yoto Store. These two beloved tales are the first Disney titles to be released as Yoto Digital Cards, an important step forward for Yoto in making their cards accessible to a wider audience.

Rovio & IMG Expand Partnership to Include Angry Birds Publishing Rights

IMG has been announced as the exclusive publishing agent for the popular mobile game franchise Angry Birds, expanding its existing global licensing representation agreement with the brand’s parent company Rovio Entertainment. This is the first time the Angry Birds brand’s consumer products and location-based entertainment licensing and publishing rights will be consolidated under one global agency. IMG will look to expand the franchise’s current publishing programme, which includes regional deals with Penguin Children’s Puffin and Nordic publishing house Storytel, with new global and regional deals for books, comic books, audiobooks and activity books featuring the brand’s beloved characters.

New Cry Babies Little Changers Hits Shelves

IMC Toys is launching Cry Babies Little Changers, an eco-friendly toy made with plant-based materials, to help make the world a better place. IMC Toys’ newest collection taps into major trends in the toy industry, including sustainability, collectibility, and micro-size. Sustainability is at the core of the brand, with environmentally-friendly materials used to create the toys, and each character is based on elements found in nature. Kids can add six new characters to their Cry Babies collection – Greeny, Sparky, Aqua, Sunny, Moon, and Windy.

Xilam Animation’s Slapstick Comedy Karate Sheep Launches Globally on Netflix

Academy Award-nominated French animation studio Xilam Animation’s new CG animated slapstick comedy series Karate Sheep is making its worldwide premiere on Netflix March 2nd, marking the launch of Netflix’s first animated commission that is supported by the French public funding body CNC. Xilam has developed an extensive digital and social media campaign to build awareness for the Netflix launch. As part of the activity, Xilam has created a Karate Sheep YouTube channel, which features episodes, compilations and shorts and has achieved nearly 500k views since launching in January. Alongside this, a dedicated TikTok account has generated 3M views and a branded Karate Sheep filter is now available for use on the platform. On TikTok, over 25% of the Karate Sheep audience is from the U.S. market. Xilam is also developing a Karate Sheep gaming app for launch later this year.