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Doll of the Year Finalist, the Fresh Beats Dolls Set for Animated Short Series

Rocking to the rhythm of authenticity and diversity, The Fresh Beats Dolls, Doll of the Year Finalist at the 2023 Toy of the Year (TOTY) Awards, will come to life in an animated short series from EPI, the toy and publishing division of The Dr. Lisa Company, founder Dr. Lisa Williams, and Carl Reed’s animation studio Composition Media. “From being honored as a Doll of the Year Finalist with the biggest names in the toy industry, showcasing our diverse line at Toy Fair, and preparing for our first animated series, this is a monumental week for EPI,” said Dr. Lisa Williams, The Dr. Lisa Company, CEO and Founder. “We’ve been working to expand into content behind the scenes for some time,” Williams continued. “Carl’s extensive experience and mission to highlight minority and underrepresented communities perfectly align with our vision – to ensure Black and Brown children see themselves reflected in toys and entertainment, to embrace their beauty and build their self-esteem.”

News

Steiff Announces Retirement of Jim Pitocco, President of Steiff North America

Steiff has announced the retirement of Jim Pitocco as President of Steiff North America, effective December 31st, 2023. Pitocco will continue his long association with Steiff by transitioning to the Steiff North America board, where he will support the ongoing development of the organization on an as needed basis. “During the last two decades, there have been many successes, challenges, and changes at Steiff North America,” said Pitocco. “The repositioning of Steiff from a collectible brand to a plush-based business in the North American market creates the strongest foundation for future success.”

TFE/TFE Licensing, October 2023

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Entertainment News

Spin Master Entertainment, Nickelodeon Movies and Paramount Pictures Announce Third PAW Patrol Feature Film In the Works

Spin Master Corp, a leading global children’s entertainment company, announced today that it will produce a third feature film for its preschool powerhouse franchise PAW Patrol. A Spin Master Entertainment production in association with Nickelodeon Movies, the film will be distributed by Paramount Pictures and is set for an exclusive theatrical release in 2026. Spin Master celebrates PAW’s ten-year anniversary on the heels of the soon to be released second movie, PAW Patrol: The Mighty Movie, premiering exclusively in theatres September 29th, 2023. Also on September 29th, Spin Master founders Ronnen Harary, Anton Rabie and Ben Varadi will be inducted into the Toy Industry Hall of Fame at the Toy Foundation’s TOTY Awards gala.

Bababoo and Friends Reveals New Product Offerings at Toy Fair

The European experts in making stories come to life through its fully developed character-driven toy line are hitting the Toy Fair floor, revealing some adorable additions to their already award-winning product line. Slated to launch at New York City’s iconic Toy Fair, Bababoo and friends is expanding its categories, recently teasing the release of its “Best Friend” plush line on social media. For children ages 0+ years, Bababoo and his diverse and fun-loving character friends, Yuki, Pippa, Wilma, and Lolo offer children additional ways in which they can play and explore the world of Bababoo and friends. These fully developed characters that once only existed in board books are made using high-quality, soft-textured materials, and each has a personality that children can relate to. Their backstories radiate positivity, inclusion, friendship, and courage, and with them now being available in plush format bring the characters to life like never before.

Curiosity Ink Media Announces Major Cats Vs Pickles Licensing Deal With Well Played Toys

Ahead of the New York Toy Fair 2023, Curiosity Ink Media, the original storytelling and Intellectual Property (IP)-generating subsidiary of Grom Social Enterprises, Inc, announces a new expansion of its Cats vs Pickles licensing program in association with Cepia, LLC. This licensing partnership with Well Played Toys is poised to introduce a diverse and innovative range of Cats vs Pickles products to the market. Managing the phenomenal VS World property, where the uniqueness of quirky and unexpected friendships shine, Curiosity Ink is committed to supporting the growing Cats vs Pickles fandom, a group that consistently collects 80 or more distinctive and charming characters. The anticipated new product line is slated to hit retail shelves by Q2 2024, offering fans new options to expand and display their Cats vs Pickles collections.

Sunlight Entertainment and Toei Animation Announce the Debut of The Brand-New Series ‘Elemon’

Sunlight Entertainment, the production studio owned by the Kaji family of the international phenom Ryan’s World, and Toei Animation, the globally acclaimed and industry leading animation studio, have announced the debut of the brand-new animated series, Elemon. The stunning anime-style adventure show treats kids and families to “edutainment,” a genre of work that combines education and entertainment. All casting and recording for Elemon were contracted and completed before the SAG-AFTRA and WGA strikes and are compliant with SAG-AFTRA rules and conditions.

Moose Toys’ Social Media Sensation Cookeez Makery Sees Retail Sell-Out

Moose Toys, a leading product and marketing innovator in the toy industry, marks its first appearance back at North American International Toy Fair with the display of its most sought-after holiday toys, including TOTY finalist and social media sensation Cookeez Makery. The latest release from Moose to mirror the smashing success of Magic Mixies, Cookeez Makery launched in July and has flown off shelves, requiring air freighting to keep up with growing retail demand. Cookeez Makery solidifies Moose’s domination in the new era of toy design by perfectly blending traditional play patterns with never-before-seen tech features designed to ignite multiple senses.

Crazy Aaron's slime Charmers Toy Fair 25th

Crazy Aaron’s Celebrates 25th Anniversary at Toy Fair

Crazy Aaron’s, the creator of the award-winning, U.S.-manufactured Thinking Putty and Land of Dough, continues to celebrate its 25th anniversary at the iconic Toy Fair in New York City on September 30th – October 3rd. The company, which reinvented putty play, has now revolutionized another childhood classic with Slime Charmers, a line of uniquely themed slimes with delightful scents and exceptional textures. The new Slime Charmers, along with Thinking Putty and Land of Dough, will be on display at booth 1965 during Toy Fair, held at the Jacob Javits Center in New York City.