Wicked Cool, Crayola Team Up for New Toy Line
Wicked Cool Toys and Crayola have joined forces on a new line of creative plush toys and activities based on the Crayola brand. The agreement grants Wicked Cool Toys the rights to create a dynamic line of color-on plush that features Crayola washable markers, paints, and more for a no-mess activity. In addition, Wicked Cool Toys plans to develop a line of pixelated art puzzles and creative activities using slow-rise foam.
Wicked Cool expects to launch its Color ‘N Plush product line for this fall, with the pixelated art puzzles and slow-rise foam lines coming for 2019.
Sunny Bunnies Beams Into Toy Aisle with Funrise
Funrise, Inc., will debut the Sunny Bunnies toy line at New York Toy Fair, developed in partnership with Media I.M. Incorporated Ltd and Digital Light Studio.
The new preschool toy line will be available at retail in the U.S., Canada, Australia, and New Zealand starting this fall. Product will include light-up and bounce plush, talking plush, super-sized huggable plush, and the bunny blast cannon playset.
The agreement was brokered by Evolution USA, the licensing agent for Sunny Bunnies in North America, Australia, and New Zealand.
After its rise to fame on YouTube with more than 260 million views in less than 18 months, Sunny Bunnies started airing on Disney Channel and Disney Junior worldwide.
Cartoon Network Unveils New Plans, Partners for Powerpuff Girls 20th Anniversary and More
Cartoon Network Enterprises will introduce new licensing partners throughout the year for the upcoming 20th anniversary of The Powerpuff Girls, Ben 10, and other properties including Adventure Time, Steven Universe, and We Bare Bears.
For Ben 10, global master toy partner Playmates Toys will expand its toy line in 2018 to include a new assortment of action figures, feature-driven deluxe figures, Omnitrix-inspired roleplay, and more. Rubies will launch an assortment of Ben 10 dress-up and roleplay outfits this fall across all retail channels. Ben 10 Halloween costumes and accessories will also be available at specialty Halloween retailers and online starting this August. Toy Factory will introduce a new collection of Ben 10 plush toys in March for outdoor and traveling amusement venues as well as family entertainment centers.
In celebration of its 20th anniversary this year, The Powerpuff Girls will include a global rollout of new episodes, events, and products that will continue into 2019. New partners include LEGO Group, which will create two new building sets featuring Blossom, Bubbles, and Buttercup.
In addition, Monogram Direct will launch We Bare Bears 3D Foam Key Ring Blind Bags; Tastemakers will introduce Steven Universe Micro Pozers Series 1 (bendable collectible figures with magnetic hands and feet) this May; and Kidrobot will release its Adventure Time line items in April, including Adventure Time Fresh 2 Death Mini Series and BMO Medium Figure.
Buddy Thunderstruck Heads to China
American Greetings Entertainment (AGE), the intellectual property and outbound licensing division of American Greetings, has partnered with Uyoung Media to sell and distribute all media rights for Buddy Thunderstruck in mainland China.
Buddy Thunderstruck, the action-comedy and stop-motion animation show created by AGE and produced by Stoopid Buddy Stoodios, follows the adventures of a semi-truck racing dog named Buddy and his albino ferret mechanic in the race-obsessed town of Greasepit.
The show premiered last March as a Netflix Original series and was recently nominated for two Annie Awards: Outstanding Achievement for Character Design in an Animated Television/Broadcast Production and Best Animated Television/Broadcast Production for Children.
Evolution, Lisle Licensing Tapped for Smooshy Mushy
Evolution USA, LLC and Lisle Licensing have been named by OLO Industries, LLC, in partnership with RedwoodVentures, Ltd, as global licensing agents for Smooshy Mushy, the slow-rise collectible line. Both will leverage the line, first introduced in fall 2017, with its vast loyal consumer base.
Evolution USA, LLC, will launch Smooshy Mushy brand licensing opportunities in North America and worldwide, excluding UK, EMEA, and South Africa. Retail relationships will be expanded through representation in several categories such as apparel, sleepwear, swimwear, accessories, soft home goods, and more.
Lisle Licensing will customize a strategic brand and marketing program that supports the Smooshy Mushy trademark into additional categories in the UK and Europe.
New Sesame Street Fashion, Lifestyle Collections Debut for 2018
The Sesame Workshop has teamed with creators in the fashion and lifestyle industries to create new Sesame-branded collections spanning everything from graphic tees and handbags to canvas prints and premium skateboard decks.
Sesame Street will see new collections from Bioworld, Mad Engine, Zara, Lauren Moshi, and Drake General Store. Bioworld will launch pieces from its initial collection at Urban Outfitters, BoxLunch, and Spencer’s in early 2018. Sesame Street expands its partnership with Mad Engine, which now includes apparel for all ages, and will be releasing Sesame Street x Neff-branded T-shirts and beanies for adults in 2018. The Zara collection includes apparel for men, women and kids as well as accessories (backpacks, handbags and shoes) for children, tweens, and teens. New product for girls will launch in Zara stores worldwide in April. For last year’s Sesame Street x Lauren Moshi capsule collection, Moshi interpreted classic Sesame Street characters through a lens of high fashion and fine art in signature hand-drawn style. Additional capsules will include apparel, headwear, bags, and art canvases for women and children. Drake General Store, a Canadian retailer, will continue to carry a specialty line of apparel for kids and adults featuring Sesame Street characters.
New lifestyle partners include Globe Brand and The Land of Nod. Classic Sesame Street characters are now featured on Globe Brand’s premium skateboard decks. In-store for April, the decks feature Cookie Monster, Oscar the Grouch, Bert and Ernie, and Count von Count. All the decks in the collection are made from Canadian maple using Globe’s proprietary Resin-7 construction, with holographic prism foil, transparent and pearlescent ink details, and art plucked from the Sesame Street archives. Elmo and Big Bird will also make an appearance on similarly-styled cruiser boards. As part of the collaboration, Globe is supporting Sesame Street’s Yellow Feather Fund, which helps connect children and families in need with Sesame resources and educational materials all around the world. Each board sports an illustrated yellow feather and a tag promoting the Yellow Feather Fund. Read more on The Land of Nod collection here.