Category: Events

ASTRA unveiled its 2022 Best Toys for Kids award winners. The list includes twelve winning toys in twelve categories. “ASTRA’s Best Toys for Kids award program reflects the collective expertise of hundreds of toy retailers who know toys inside out,” said Sue Warfield, president of ASTRA. “The list of winners represents the best of the fun, top-quality, high play value products consumers can find in locally-owned neighborhood toy stores around the country.”

The Pokémon Company International and Creatures Incorporated have announced the winners of the Pokémon Trading Card Game Illustration Contest 2022, a fan art contest that invited Trainers from the U.S. and Japan to illustrate upcoming Pokémon TCG cards.

The Children’s Media Conference (CMC), now in its 19th year, has announced its keynote speakers for the 2022 hybrid event, which will run in-person and online from 5-7 July 2022 and is themed ‘What Next 2.2’. The opening keynote will be delivered in-person in Sheffield, on Tuesday 5 July, by YouTube’s Managing Director for the UK, Ben McOwen Wilson. Ben works with some of YouTube’s largest global media partners as well as many of the platform’s most-recognized creators. As a senior figure in broadcasting and digital media, working across five continents over the last 25 years, Ben is uniquely placed to consider ‘What Next’ – as young people’s media consumption undergoes immense change.

Toys”R”Us, the world’s leading authority in toys, unveiled plans for Geoffrey’s World Tour, the brand’s first 360-degree global marketing campaign set to launch in June. The new campaign will follow beloved Toys”R”Us mascot Geoffrey the GiraffeTM as he embarks on a world tour beginning at the Toys”R”Us global flagship in the U.S.A., followed by planned visits and activations in London, Madrid, Saudi Arabia, South Africa, Dubai, and markets across greater China, Japan and southeast Asia.

Bandai Namco Toys & Collectibles America (BNTCA) is set to entertains fans attending this year’s Star Wars Celebration on May 26 – 29 in Anaheim. BNTCA offers one of the most extensive range of licensed Star Wars toys and collectibles available, which includes Tamagotchi, Meisho Movie Realization and S.H.Figuarts from Tamashii Nations as well as a wide selection of scale figure and vehicle model kits. For this year’s Star Wars Celebration, BNCTA’s line-up will include a limited availability event exclusive, special photo op, future product display and workshops as well as curated showcase of model kits (both figures and vehicles) available for purchase. Attendees are welcome to visit BNTCA’s booth (#1905) daily during regular show hours all weekend long.

Feld Entertainment, a family-owned company and worldwide leader in live entertainment experiences, announces the long-awaited return of Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey. The American icon emerges as a dynamic, multi-platform entertainment franchise, providing families the opportunity to connect in fun, engaging ways. The live production of The Greatest Show On Earth will debut fall 2023.

Dress up and join the party with “Disney Junior Live On Tour: Costume Palooza” launching September 2 in Southern California. The all-new show features the first appearance of characters from “Marvel’s Spidey and his Amazing Friends” in addition to Mickey, Minnie, Goofy, Doc McStuffins, the Puppy Dog Pals, and Alice from Disney Junior’s newest hit series “Alice’s Wonderland Bakery,” live on stage. The immersive, interactive concert experience includes singing, dancing, acrobatics and 3D special effects. It will feature favorite songs from hit Disney Junior series, as well as new original music. In “Disney Junior Live On Tour: Costume Palooza,” Mickey, Minnie, and their pals are getting ready to throw a huge costume party but mysterious weather keeps interrupting the fun. Can Team Spidey help save the Costume Palooza?

The Loyal Subjects (TLS) – a collectible company known for selling millions of action figures and collectibles, will expand its global toy presence at this year’s Distoy show. Building on its success in North America and having disrupted the market with its fan-coveted, playable, poseable, high quality, detailed, and affordable product lines, the US-based company promises the lineup will continue to trail-blaze the global toy industry with its original and licensed products.

The global licensing community is ready to re-convene at Licensing Expo 2022, held this May 24-26 at the Mandalay Bay Convention Center for its first in-person gathering since 2019. Attendees and exhibitors are eager to meet with existing and potential new partners, as indicated by the 3,000+ meetings confirmed to date on the event’s online platform. Thousands of registered guests are leveraging the online platform as a strategic tool to preemptively book meetings in advance of the in-person event before schedules fill up, guaranteeing face-to-face time with brands of interest. Register here to access the online platform and proactively plan your agenda.