aNb Media, Author at aNb Media, Inc.

World’s Top Pokémon Competitors Crowned at the 2023 Pokémon World Championships

The 2023 Pokémon World Championships, hosted by The Pokémon Company International, drew to a close yesterday following three days of intense matches and friendly competition in Yokohama, Japan. The best Trainers from around the world attended the annual event to take part in the premier tournament for Pokémon video games and the Pokémon Trading Card Game (TCG). This year’s event featured the Pokémon Scarlet and Pokémon Violet video games, the Pokémon TCG, Pokémon GO, and Pokémon UNITE. More than 10,000 players and fans from around the globe gathered at the PACIFICO Yokohama Convention Center for the world’s most prestigious Pokémon event. Winners of each division can be found here.

The Op Games Launches CLUE: Diary of a Wimpy Kid

Usaopoly (The Op), the board game and puzzle publisher behind best-selling party games including Telestrations, Blank Slate and Hues and Cues, has launched the most humorous version of the classic mystery game with CLUE: Diary of a Wimpy Kid. Under license from leading toy and game company Hasbro and based on Jeff Kinney’s popular book series with over 275 million copies sold worldwide, the game will enable fans to play as their favorite characters from the Wimpy Kid world with a mysterious new twist.

Licensing International Global Study 2023 2024 finalists award excellence hall of fame winners

2023 Licensing International Annual Global Study Shows Industry Growth of $340.8 Billion in 2022

The 2023 Licensing International Global Licensing Industry Study, conducted by Brandar Consulting, captures the state of the licensing industry and highlights the impressive growth of licensed products in 2022. The 2023 Licensing International Global Licensing Industry Study highlights global sales of licensed merchandise reaching $340.8 billion in sales in 2022, an overall licensing industry growth of 8.02%. Insights from the report show that 2022 was defined by consumers diversifying their spending to navigate the higher pricing of historic inflation levels while shifting to have a very healthy appetite for experiences, entertainment, travel, dining and festive gatherings.

Ynon Kreiz, Mattel Chairman and CEO, to be Honored with Industry Leadership Award at 36th Israel Film Festival in LA

Ynon Kreiz, Mattel Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, who has transformed the company and spearheaded its global blockbuster film, Barbie, will receive the 2023 IFF Industry Leadership Award at the 36th Israel Film Festival in Los Angeles Opening Night Gala on November 1st. Meir Fenigstein, founder and executive director of the Israel Film Festival, made the announcement. Fenigstein noted: “Ynon Kreiz’s visionary leadership and incredible achievements at Mattel, most recently Barbie’s triumph at the worldwide box office, are exciting beyond imagination. In just over five years, Ynon has transformed Mattel into an IP powerhouse, with its first theatrical release shattering records and becoming a showcase for the expertise of the Mattel Films division he created. On a personal note, I fondly recall Ynon as a UCLA Anderson MBA student volunteering at the Israel Film Festival. Now, 30 years later, I am proud to be recognizing and honoring him at the Festival for his own amazing accomplishments.”

Playview Brands Inflates the Fun of Minecraft with New License Acquisition

Playview Brands’ ever-growing catalog of diverse brands and licenses has now partnered with the sandbox-turned-evergreen entertainment franchise Minecraft, with plans to blow up fun all year round. Introducing a collection of summer and winter inflatable products starting this fall, Playview Brands will bring the world-building fun of Minecraft to our own in a unique way! Playview Brands’ line of Minecraft inflatables brings the iconic looks and characters of the best-selling game of all time for real-world fun and thrills. This year, Playview will bring fans Minecraft Winter Fun World, a line of inflatable snow sleds to recreate the game experience on the slopes, alongside the Minecraft 6-Piece Building Block Set, life-size inflatable blocks that transform any indoor or outdoor space into a Minecraft-themed world!

Invisible Universe Appoints Former Disney and SkyDance Executive Jonathan Schneider as Studios President

Invisible Universe has announced the appointment of Jonathan Schneider as President, Invisible Universe Studios. Based in Los Angeles, Schneider will oversee the company’s continued optimization of its animation studio, while exploring other revenue-driving operations for the fast-growing media company. Schneider is a seasoned executive having held senior positions for powerhouse companies such as Disney and Skydance. He brings not only deep animation industry expertise to Invisible Universe but also more than two decades of proven experience growing and leading teams. In his new role, Schneider will lead the company in its adoption of new technologies, including those associated with AI, motion capture, and real-time rendering, while building new business verticals for the company.

Game and Toy Veteran Tami Murphy Launches Growth Strategy Consulting Business, Building on 20 Years in the Industry

Tamic Strategies is proud to announce its official launch, offering comprehensive business consulting services to vibrant toy, game and gift companies looking to continue their growth in the market. Led by Tami Murphy, an entrepreneurial professional with decades of industry experience, Tamic Strategies aims to empower businesses by providing strategic guidance and tailored solutions. Murphy has spent nearly 20 years in the toy and game industry at respected companies such as The Haywire Group, University Games and Grand Prix International (GPI), Inc.

Fun in Motion Launches Jumbie Artist Series Shashibo

Innovative toy company, Fun In Motion Toys, creators of the #1 best-selling and STEAM-accredited Shashibo magnetic puzzle cube, proudly present a new artistic collaboration with world-renowned artist, Jumbie. This groundbreaking partnership unites Shashibo with the visionary behind the unique art movement “Spectral Art,” where artwork animates in the presence of color-changing lighting. The new Jumbie Artist Series Shashibo collection transcends the boundaries of art and play. Jumbie, acclaimed for his exceptional mastery of RGB light reactive pixels, has been revolutionizing the art world with his breathtaking creations. This trailblazing artistry takes center stage on Shashibo, adding an enthralling new dimension to the beloved magnetic puzzle toy. Shashibo contains 36 rare earth magnets and can transform into over 70 different shapes adorned with colorful Jumbie art.

Itsy Bitsy Entertainment & Meteo Expert Launch “The Meteoheroes Adventures” Video Podcast into US Schools August 28th

Based on the #1 Kids’ podcast throughout Europe, Children’s and Family Entertainment mega-hit maker and producer Kenn Viselman, known for some of the most ground-breaking children’s TV series of all time (including Thomas the Tank Engine, Teletubbies and nearly 50 others) has teamed up with Luigi Latini, founder of Meteo Expert, the premier meteorology center in Europe, and Adventure2Learning, the preeminent provider of video into classrooms, to create “The MeteoHeroes’ Adventures Podcast Series.” This trail-blazing all-inclusive podcast is being hosted by Brianna Colson a 24 year old on the autism spectrum, a self-proclaimed MeteoHeroes uber-super fan and is the first phase of a massive climate education initiative and will be offered free to schools across America.