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News

Nelvana Embraces Creative Journey and Reveals First Look for Original Short Film ‘Jelly’

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.

News You're Hired

Nxt Gen Appoints EVP of Sales & Licensing

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: The 2023 Finalists in Full

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.

Events News

ToyFest Announces Dates for the 2024 Show

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.”

Stan Lee Digital Collectibles from Kartoon Studios Sell Out Almost Instantly

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 and Xplored Announce Strategic Partnership to Revolutionize Board Games

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 Renews Licensing Partnership with Warner Bros Discovery Global Consumer Products

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.”

Kids Preferred Announces its Lineup for Fall 2023: DC & Wizarding World

Kids Preferred, in partnership with Warner Bros Discovery Global Consumer Products, is rolling out an infant and toddler collection to gently introduce the magic of the DC Universe and Harry Potter to Generation Alpha. Zoomers to Boomers will be in awe of the cuddly and adorable plush, blankets, teethers and activity toys including My First Comic Book ($15) with a removable Batman and The Joker, peek-a-boo flaps and tactile ribbons. Kids Preferred creates products for the crib and nursery with many products priced affordably at $10 and under. The caped crusaders and beloved wizards are transformed into items like soft blankies adorned with Hogwarts crests or adorable plush and even a jack-in-the-box that pops up when you least expect it with Batman. Kids can cuddle with 15” Harley Quinn plush or swaddle the red cape of 10” Superman. Kids Preferred adds little details like Superman’s black lock of hair over his forehead or Harry’s barely-there lightning bolt scar.

Moose Toys Signs Agreement With Paramount for Sought-After Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles Property

Moose Toys, a leading innovator in the toy industry, has acquired a license for Paramount’s Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles. Under the new licensing agreement, the toymaker’s popular action-packed Akedo brand will be the first Moose Toys line of products to get the Ninja Turtle treatment. Akedo game pieces will feature the classic characters from the classic animated series and are on shelves now, ahead of the upcoming film, Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Mutant Mayhem, in theatres August 2, 2023. The agreement also allows for cross-collaboration with additional original brands from Moose Toys. Plans include the “Heroes in a Half Shell” debuting as characters in an upcoming line for Heroes of Goo Jit Zu in 2024.