Leading international toy and game company PlayMonster Group LLC announced that Tim Kilpin will transition to the newly created role of Executive Chairman and a member of the Board of Directors, focusing on long-term opportunities and partnerships and leading the search for acquisitions. Sitting President, Steve Adolph has now been appointed to Chief Executive Officer, effective immediately.
In celebration of Warner Bros Studios’ 100th anniversary, Warner Bros Discovery Global Themed Entertainment and Fever, the leading entertainment discovery platform, are proud to launch Candlelight: 100 Years of Warner Bros, a commemorative international concert series coming to 100 cities worldwide. Part of the company’s global centennial campaign, the series will feature music from award-winning films and unforgettable television shows from the Warner Bros. library in a one-of-a-kind musical experience taking place in majestic venues, noted for their historic nature or unique character, from iconic cathedrals, theatres, museums and gardens, with breathtaking candlelit settings. The concert series will kick off in April and run through December 2023.
Popeye the Sailor Man and Lefties, international leader of affordable and inclusive clothing, have teamed up for an apparel collection featuring the iconic character. The exclusive collection began rolling out designs worldwide this past Fall including T-shirts, shorts, tops, sweatshirts, socks, pajamas, and jogger pants for both men and women. The colorful graphics utilized throughout the collection are inspired by Popeye’s qualities of strength and heroism, and feature the Popeye cast of characters including the Sailor Man himself and his longtime rival, Brutus.
The Pokémon Company International revealed more details about the Pokémon Trading Card Game (TCG): Scarlet & Violet expansion, launching worldwide beginning on March 31, 2023. The new expansion will adopt an updated take on Pokémon ex, a gameplay mechanic featuring Pokémon with high HP as well as powerful attacks and Abilities. Unlike Pokémon-EX from the Black & White and XY Series, which were all Basic Pokémon, the Pokémon ex in the Scarlet & Violet Series can be Basic, Stage 1 or Stage 2. Though powerful, Pokémon ex give up two Prize cards when Knocked Out.
Dan Povenmire, co-creator and executive producer of the global super-hit Phineas and Ferb, has entered into a new overall deal with Disney Branded Television which includes production of 40 all-new episodes of Phineas and Ferb, a second season renewal of the animated superhero series Hamster & Gretel and the development of live-action projects. Phineas and Ferb is a five-time Emmy Award-winner and the most successful animated series for Kids 6-11 and Tweens 9-14 in Disney Television Animation history. Since its premiere, Hamster & Gretel ties as the #1 cable series among Kids age 6-11 delivery.
On the heels of a record-breaking year where Disney Junior ranked as 2022’s #1 TV Network among Kids 2-5 overall and retained its standing as the #1 Preschool Network for the last 10 years (every year since its launch), Disney Branded Television has ordered second seasons of its newest animated series Firebuds and SuperKitties, as well as an early season two renewal for upcoming series Pupstruction. The announcement was made by Ayo Davis, president of Disney Branded Television, during the Disney Branded Television presentation at the 2023 Winter Television Critics Association taking place at the Langham Hotel in Pasadena, California.
Bulldog Licensing, one of the licensing industry’s leading agencies, has welcomed Alex Salisbury to its team as Senior Licensing Manager, covering categories such as Publishing and Toys for all brands. Alex Salisbury joins Bulldog fresh from a three-month trip travelling around Southeast Asia. Before her well-earned break, she had been at Paramount since 2017, where she held roles as Retail Licensing Manager (UK and Eire), Senior Category Manager (Hardlines, UK and Eire) and Senior Category Manager (Toys, EMEA and ANZ, part of the Global Toy Team). Prior to that, Alex’s roles at Wicked and Mattel ensure that she has a wealth of experience to bring to her new role at Bulldog.
Creative Fold is happy to announce that Edoardo Kulp has joined the company as its Director of Business Development and co-owner. Edoardo has consulted with Creative Fold for over a year and, together with his duties in Business Development, will continue to be a part of Creative Fold’s product development team, helping create amazing results for Creative Fold clients. “As we head into 2023, we look forward to Edoardo further developing our client base, expanding Creative Fold’s reach within the toy and game industry and beyond,” says Katie LaSeur, Creative Fold’s COO and Creative Director.
At the Television Critics Association Press Tour, PBS KIDS announced the production of Lyla in the Loop, a funny and engaging animated series for kids ages 4-8 from Mighty Picnic and Pipeline Studios. The show stars Lyla, a dynamic 7-year-old Black girl, her close-knit family, fantastical blue sidekick Stu, and a host of relatable and quirky characters living in her community, who together spotlight creative problem-solving and critical thinking skills while working collaboratively with others.