Leading licensing agency, Bulldog, has agreed terms on a deal with Wow! Stuff to become the first licensee for the ‘boundary breaking’ 2.5D animated series, Odo. Odo was created by Sixteen South Originals and co-produced with Letko. In the new Master Toy global deal, Wow! Stuff will create a comprehensive range of toys including plush, dolls, figures and accessories, role-play toys, play sets, track sets, construction toys and bath toys.
2022 sees the launch of the first James Bond bear by German toymakers Steiff, the company that invented the Teddy Bear. Just 1,962 handcrafted collector’s bears will be made in a numbered series to mark the date of Dr. No’s cinematic release in 1962. Dressed in a tailored black cotton dinner jacket, white buttoned shirt, and black bow tie, the bear channels Bond’s effortless style, complete with black mohair legs and a 60th Anniversary embroidery on one foot. He features a gold-plated Steiff button in ear, bearing his individual number, and will come with a numbered certificate of authenticity within a special James Bond presentation box.
9 Story Media Group has announced the appointment of Katrina Hitz-Tough to the newly created position of SVP, Franchise Strategy & Marketing. Hitz-Tough will lead 9 Story’s recently established Franchise Management division to drive growth for select IP in 9 Story’s expanding portfolio of exciting kids’ properties, including the groundbreaking animated series Karma’s World (Netflix), the up-and-coming Ladybird Lu (HBO Max) and the evergreen toy-based property Colorforms. Reporting to Natalie Osborne, 9 Story’s Chief Strategy Officer, Hitz-Tough is tasked with leading the new Franchise division with the goal of extending key 9 Story IP beyond the screen. She will be working closely with 9 Story’s in-house Consumer Products division, led by Co-VPs Kristin Lecour and Kyra Halperin, as well as the company’s Marketing, Digital, Interactive, Production, Distribution and Research teams.
Genius Brands International “Genius Brands” (NASDAQ: GNUS) has announced the launch of season one of its flagship animated children’s series, Stan Lee’s Superhero Kindergarten, Executive Produced by and starring Arnold Schwarzenegger, on Alibaba Group’s (NYSE:BABA) video streaming platform, Youku, starting March 2022, which is one of the top three streaming platforms in the Mainland China territory. Additionally, the acclaimed series will be available via the Tudou and Kumiao apps.
The Houghton brothers — Chris and Shane — creators and executive producers of the animated comedy Big City Greens, Disney’s #1 show, will join the echelon of format-leaping creative talent as their popular series spins off a movie musical for Disney Channel and Disney+. Big City Greens also received a fourth season order from Disney Channel, tallying more than 100 episodes for the Daytime Emmy-winning and Annie Award-nominated comedy. The announcement was made by Ayo Davis, president of Disney Branded Television, a content engine for Disney+ and Disney Channels.
The Western Toy and Hobby Representatives Association (WTHRA) Board of Directors met Thursday, January 20 and voted to move forward with ToyFest West. President Lawrence Nissen said, “There are many things to look forward to this coming March 9-11, 2022. One being, WTHRA will celebrate its Diamond Anniversary, 60 years of producing the finest toy show in the West! Another is that exhibitors are purchasing more booth space to prepare for the retailers, new and old who are registered for the show.”
For parents looking for kid-friendly podcasts to fill the void of screen-free entertainment with multicultural role models and life lessons, meet Cairo! Wondery, the largest independent podcast publisher in the world, announced the release of their newest kid-friendly podcast Adventures of Cairo. Developed in partnership with ABF Creative (known for their award-winning, multicultural audio content), the 12-episode series follows the story of a curious 7-year-old living in a diverse, big city with his family.
“How many Mini Softs do you have” will be the trending topic come March 2022 as Douglas Company has taken its very popular Soft collection and made it in a brand new size! Six-inch Mini Softs will make their debut at all the winter shows. Be sure to check them out, but understand you may want to collect them all!
Rocket Licensing and Spotlight Licensing are set to build a global consumer products program for critically acclaimed fan-favorite television drama, All Creatures Great and Small with Rocket leading in all markets outside North America and Spotlight focused on North America. The series, based on best-selling stories written by Alf Wight under the pen name James Herriot, follows the heart warming and humorous adventures of a young vet from Glasgow working in the stunningly beautiful Yorkshire dales.