Hasbro Named Master Toy for New Preschool Series
Hasbro has entered into an agreement with Sutikki, the new kids and family division of Bento Box Entertainment, to create play experiences for kids based on its new original preschool series, Moon and Me, from Foundling Bird.
Moon and Me was developed by Andrew Davenport, the creator of global preschool franchises Teletubbies and In the Night Garden. Inspired by tales of toys that come to life when nobody is looking, Moon and Me is the comical story of a special friendship between two characters from completely different worlds. Moon and Me will combine the latest production methods with traditional storytelling, comedy and music to create a picture book-like world for today’s preschoolers.
Moon and Me will air on BBC’s CBeebies in the UK in early 2018.
As the global master toy and game licensee, Hasbro plans to launch its line based on the Moon and Me series in 2018 under its PLAYSKOOL brand in the UK with additional markets to follow as the series rolls out worldwide.
Cra-Z-Art to Bring BeatMoovz to U.S.
Cra-Z-Art has signed a strategic licensing agreement with Japan-based Dmet Properties to market and distribute BeatMoovz in the U.S. The item is a new musical electronic device for kids as well as young adults.
BeatMoovz is motion-activated and plays music and special sound effects as you move. The product comes with two special wristbands that users wear to enable the device. Once connected via an app and Bluetooth technology, consumers can move, dance, and create unique musical beats.
BeatMoovz is expected to be available at major retailers in August. Global patent is pending.
TRU Named Lightseekers’ Exclusive In-Store Launch
TOMY International, the master toy licensee for Lightseekers, has announced Toys “R” Us as its exclusive in-store retail launch partner. Lightseekers smart figures, trading cards, accessories and more will roll out in its stores nationwide beginning Saturday, July 1. Pre-sale for the assortment will begin online at Toysrus.com starting on Monday, April 17.
Lightseekers, the action adventure roleplaying game from PlayFusion fuses fantasy and reality powered by a proprietary technology platform. It integrates video games, smart AI action figures, augmented reality, interactive trading cards, and more. TOMY will manufacture, distribute, and market the entire toy line.
Dark Horse Unveils New Game of Thrones Figures
Dark Horse and HBO Global Licensing are introducing new looks for some familiar characters in their bestselling line of Game of Thrones (GoT) figures. The new figures will be released in June 2017, coinciding with GoT’s season seven premiere this summer. To date, Dark Horse and HBO have released 27 GoT figures.
The new Game of Thrones figures feature fan-favorite characters in detailed interpretations with new sculpts and updated deluxe packaging. Dark Horse revealed the opening figures, Daenerys Targaryen and Melisandre, at New York Toy Fair. A previous Daenerys figure, featuring “The Mother of Dragons” alongside her soon-to-be-hatched dragon eggs, was among the first figures released in Dark Horse’s line of GoT figures. Dark Horse will also reveal fresh sculpts of previously released character figures for Tyrion Lannister, Jon Snow, and Arya Stark at a later date.
USAopoly’s Project Raygun Signs New Partners
USAopoly announced two collaborations for the company’s Project Raygun division. Project Raygun will team with Steff Bomb, an L.A.-based artisan plush crafter, and Sideshow collectibles for a global partnership.
The new partnership with Bomb will take her creations out of art galleries and TV shows like TLC’s Craft Wars and put high-end, soft prop plush collectibles into the hands of collectors, cosplayers, craft enthusiasts, and pop culture fans alike.
Bomb will work to bring the legendary Gjallarhorn rocket launcher—from Bungie’s Destiny—to market in late 2017.
Project Raygun’s line of soft prop collectibles will also include Bomb’s designs for properties such as Adventure Time, Game of Thrones, John Carpenter’s The Thing, and more.
Owing to the overwhelmingly positive fan reception to Court of the Dead, Sideshow’s proprietary brand of celestial armies of Heaven and Hell, Project Raygun has stepped in to help grow the dark fantasy brand. The deal was brokered by Los Angeles-based Evolution. The partners are working together to produce various new signature games and collectibles for release in late 2017 and beyond. A new, original Court of the Dead tabletop board game already planned for a 2018 release. This game will expand on the lore of the property currently available as digital comics on the Court of the Dead website and in the 200-page handbook, The Chronicles of the Underworld. The game will feature original artwork.