LEGO Logo Chronicle 2023
News
The LEGO Group Outpaces Toy Industry Leaders in H1 2023 While Accelerating Long-term Growth Initiatives

The LEGO Group has announced earnings for the first six months of 2023. Revenue was DKK 27.4 billion, a growth of one percent compared with H1 2022. Consumer sales grew three percent, outperforming other leading toy companies and contributing to strong market share growth. Operating profit was in line with expectations at a solid DKK 6.4 billion compared with an exceptionally strong DKK 7.9 billion in H1 2022. The company continued to accelerate spending in long-term strategic initiatives including manufacturing, digital and sustainability.

Stargate Heathside
Licensing News
Heathside Trading to Launch Special Edition Stargate Line Through License Agreement with MGM

Heathside Trading Ltd has established an agreement with MGM to become a licensee for Stargate. The agreement was brokered by Rocket Licensing. The Stargate licensed line, which will launch spring 2024 through selected retail partners, as well as direct-to-consumer through MasterReplicas.com, will include die-cast ships, prop replicas and figures based on the Stargate library. Rather than releasing all the ships in one go, Heathside Trading Ltd through Master Replicas will be making a curated selection of vehicles, prop replicas and figures available over the course of the license. This will allow fans to add to the continuance of their collections. with selected resellers who will be making stock available on a limited basis online.

Green Sprouts O2C Brands
News
O2C Brands Acquires Green Sprouts Expanding Company’s Lineup of Sustainability-Minded Brands

O2C Brands announces the acquisition of Green Sprouts, an innovator in natural baby products that reimagines the possibilities for swimwear, sun wear, mealtime, bath time, hair care, toys and more. The line stands out for its wide range of products for newborns, infants, and toddlers up to 4 years old. “Green Sprouts exemplifies the very essence of O2C Brands core values – a fusion of innovation, sustainable materials, unwavering quality, distinctive design, and an emphasis on family. We are focused on strengthening Green Sprouts dedicated and loyal customer base, while building awareness through multiple market channels,” said Eric Lockwood, CEO of O2C Brands. 

Jamming on the Job PBS KIDS
Entertainment News
PBS KIDS Expands Growing Library of Podcasts this Fall with New Offerings, including ‘Jamming on the Job’

As podcast popularity soars among kids and families, PBS KIDS continues to deliver free, engaging, and entertaining content for young audiences nationwide. Just in time for the back-to-school season, things will kick off in September on the PBS KIDS Video App with a new original podcast series, Jamming on the job, which introduces kids to a variety of interesting jobs while helping them see how their own interests and skills relate to those of the professionals they meet in the series. An eagerly anticipated third season of The Arthur Podcast, the hit podcast based on the well-loved, long-running animated series, will premiere this November. And in January, Playdate with the Wombats! will launch, fulfilling many kids’ wishes for playdates with the characters they know and love from the animated preschool series Work it out Wombats!.

Ground Force Rad Rod
News
Razor Unveils the Ground Force Rad Rod, the First Electric Go Kart for Kids

Razor USA, the leading innovator of scooters and wheeled goods, announced the introduction of the all-new Ground Force Rad Rod, a small-sized electric-powered go kart for younger riders (6+) and the latest product in Razor’s Ground Force line. The Rad Rod is the smallest addition to the line-up, joining the mid-size Ground Force and larger Ground Force Elite. Its peak performance, agile drifting ability and parental speed control switch make it a perfect introduction to powered play for kids. Razor had the family in mind when creating the Ground Force go-kart series with compelling and age-appropriate options for children, tweens and teens, and they are excited to add the Ground Force Rad Rod to the crew.

Superights
News You're Hired
Superights Reorganizes Sales Team

Superights, international distribution division of Seperpod Group, ups Hugo Brochard to International Sales Manager and hires Élodie Friess as new sales coordinator. They will report to Nathalie Pinguet, Superights’ Deputy Managing Director Sales and Acquisitions. Based in Paris, Hugo will oversee sales in Eastern Europe territories, Spain, Portugal, Africa, Latin America and Inflight zones while Elodie will ensure sales coordination and administration. According to Pinguet, the appointments “support our objective of strengthening the team to manage a growing catalogue with many new series to come.

APC Kids Jade Armor
Licensing News
APC Kids Secures International Sales for TeamTO’S Jade Armor

APC Kids, part of leading co-production and distribution group APC Studios, has secured key international sales for TeamTO’s action-comedy series Jade Armor. New deals for the 26 x 26’ series, produced by TeamTO in partnership with France Télévisions and Super RTL, include: Téléquébec (Canada); WildBrain (Canada); RTBF (Belgium), and DR (Denmark). The martial arts action-comedy series, aimed at 6-10 year olds is currently airing on Cartoon Network (EMEA), France Télévisions (France), Super RTL (Germany); ABC (Australia), and SRC (Canada).

WildBrain MINISO
Licensing News
WildBrain CPLG Inks Global Partnership with Lifestyle Brand MINISO to Launch New Merchandise for Teletubbies, Strawberry Shortcake and In the Night Garden

WildBrain CPLG, one of the world’s leading entertainment, sport and brand licensing agencies, has struck a far-reaching direct-to-retail partnership with international lifestyle retailer MINISO, which will see hundreds of new consumer products for the iconic brands Teletubbies, Strawberry Shortcake and In the Night Garden launch in over 5,000 MINISO stores around the world. The partnership was brokered by WildBrain CPLG’s China team on behalf of WildBrain Ltd.

wondery seuss
Entertainment News
Dr. Seuss Enterprises & Wondery Partner for Slate of Original Podcasts

Wondery Kids & Family, a division of top podcast studio and network Wondery, and Dr Seuss Enterprises, a leading global children’s entertainment company, announced an expansive deal.  The two entities will bring the quintessential and beloved world of Dr Seuss to life through an upcoming line-up of podcast programming that is fun for the whole family, and will spark curiosity and imagination in young minds and nostalgia in Seuss fans of all ages.  Leading the content roster will be the September 18 premiere of The Cat in the Hat Cast, a fantastical variety show-style podcast series hosted by everyone’s favorite red and white hat-wearing Cat from the internationally renowned best-selling book The Cat in the Hat, available exclusively on Wondery+ through the Wondery app, and on Wondery Kids+ on Apple Podcasts.