From the launch of Minecraft 14 years ago, the Minecraft universe has continued to expand, evolving into a global entertainment powerhouse with new merchandise, media content, in-game events, retail launches and promotional partners. Ahead of Licensing Expo in June 2023 and Minecraft’s 15th Anniversary in 2024, multiple new licensing partners are joining the brand that strives to build a better world through the power of play.
Women in Toys, Licensing & Entertainment (WiT) is pleased to announce the appointment of five accomplished industry leaders to its Board of Directors. With their wealth of experience and commitment to WiT’s vision and values, these exceptional women are poised to play a pivotal role in further shaping the strategic direction and driving the mission of the organization.
Licensing International is proud to announce the full list of finalists for the prestigious 2023 Excellence Awards, dedicated to recognizing outstanding achievements and innovation in the global brand licensing industry. The 2023 Excellence Awards feature 201 finalists in 30 categories. More than 850 submissions were reviewed by a panel that includes 200 judges from 20 countries. Several new categories were introduced this year, including the award for Most Impactful Service Provider, which honors companies that help the industry run more effectively, including accounting and law firms, brand protection and approval software companies, and design agencies. And the Best Sustainability Initiative award recognizes a licensed product or product range that is making measurable improvements in sustainability.
Arcade1Up has once again leveled up game night with the release of the Infinity Game Board. Building off the success of the Infinity Game Table, an innovative digital table that connects family and friends through a vast library of popular games, Arcade1Up has gone one step further with the Infinity Game Board, creating a portable and easily accessible board game experience that everyone in the family can enjoy. The Infinity Game Board is available now for $499.99 at Best Buy retail stores and BestBuy.com.
Lisa Marks Associates (LMA), a leading licensing and branding agency, is pleased to announce the expansion of their management team with the addition of Maureen Taxter as Senior Vice President of Licensing and Donna Moore as Director of Product Development.
Industry veteran Laura Tommervik has joined Fun In Motion Toys in the new post of Director of Marketing, it was announced by Kevin Daniels, Founding President. Her distinguished career in the industry spans 25 years in Marketing and Brand leadership with such leading firms as…
Amuse Animation, a boutique digital-centric animation studio, has entered an agreement with Hasbro entertainment studio, eOne to produce a digital-led animated series. The eOne deal marks Hasbro’s first collaboration with Amuse Animation, and their first ever original, direct-to-digital preschool project. “In an ever-changing media landscape, it is clear that digital-born properties are winning the hearts of children and families around the world now more than ever before. Hasbro has long been at the forefront of innovation in play and entertainment, and this move into digital-first IP generation will allow us to build fandom by reaching our audience directly via YouTube and learning from their viewing behavior in real-time,” commented Tom Hartley, VP of Digital Content at eOne / Hasbro. “With its strong positioning as a digital-first preschool animation studio and its rapid-response production, Amuse Animation is the perfect partner for this new endeavor.”
During the recent D&D Direct video presentation, Wizards of the Coast was excited to announce new partnerships that expand the breadth of the D&D brand from digital games to physical collectibles from top toy manufacturers Hasbro and WizKids. The first of these new partnerships is with Minecraft and the launch of a new Minecraft D&D DLC, available on the Minecraft Marketplace Spring 2023! “We’re incredibly excited to partner with Wizards of the Coast, to introduce a brand new, story-driven Dungeons & Dragons DLC to Minecraft! We can’t wait for the community to dive in and experience a blocky take on the world of D&D,” said Riccardo Lenzi, Senior Producer at Mojang Studios.
The Dungeons & Dragons Coffee Club, under license from global branded entertainment leader Hasbro, is open for fans to register to join and curate their own brewing experience, with the launch of four new quality coffee blends based around some of the game’s most iconic monsters. These new blends are sure to entice Kaeth lovers (that’s coffee for those who are unfamiliar with the game’s universe) as each, and every blend is freshly brewed with top quality flavor notes suitable for adventurers.
