WiT Announces 2022 Wonder Women Award Winners

Women in Toys, Licensing & Entertainment (WiT) announces the 2022 Wonder Women Award winners on the first day of Women’s History Month, and as the global organization celebrates its 30-year anniversary. Honoring the brightest women in toys, licensing & entertainment, the WiT Wonder Women Awards is an annual celebration of the industry’s remarkable thought leaders, entrepreneurs, and changemakers.

TONKA Celebrates 75 Years as an Icon of Vehicle Play

Basic Fun!, a leading global producer of toy and consumer products and master toy licensee for TONKA, is launching a year-long celebration for the beloved brand’s 75th Anniversary. Superstar Shaquille O’Neal will kick-off the “Together, We Tonka” campaign with a photo contest, followed by a call-to-action to take a screen-free summer “Tonka Playcation.” The introduction of an exciting collection of new yet nostalgic TONKA vehicles will also honor the brand’s legacy. Licensed by global play and entertainment company, Hasbro, Inc., TONKA has been the standard for high-quality, imagination-powered toy vehicles since 1947 and a rite-of-passage for generations.

PlayMonster Brings Award-Winning Bluey License to New Activities in 2022

Australia’s favorite Blue Heeler pup, Bluey, will be coming to exciting new brands in 2022, as PlayMonster announces a strategic licensing agreement with BBC Studios in 2022. Bluey has won the hearts of families around the world since it first launched in Australia in October 2018, and has quickly become a global hit. Now families in North America can share their love for Bluey with the award-winning license making its debut with Hasbro’s Spirograph and 9 Story Brands’ Colorforms.

PlayMonster Takes Off in 2022 with Significant Capital Injection and New CEO Tim Kilpin

PlayMonster launches into 2022 with fresh capital from global private markets firms Adams Street Partners and H.I.G Capital, and promotes tenured industry leader Tim Kilpin and former PlayMonster President to the role of CEO. This significant capital investment and leadership change symbolizes PlayMonster’s latest chapter as a top international toy and game company, and sets the foundation for continued growth and innovation in 2022 and beyond.

Ireland’s Lighthouse Studios Names Michael Downey as Talent Management Director

Addressing the need for talent created by an ever-increasing production pipeline, Lighthouse Studios has appointed long-time animation consultant, Michael Downey, to the newly created position of Talent Management Director for the Kilkenny-based Irish studio. The announcement was made by Lighthouse Studio’s Managing Director, Claire Finn.

WiT Announces New Plans for Wonder Women Awards

Women in Toys, Licensing & Entertainment (WiT) announces that the in-person event for its Wonder Women Awards, originally set for Sunday, February 20, 2022, will be canceled due to the cancellation of Toy Fair New York and concerns over COVID 19. Instead, the organization will announce winners on March 1, 2022 via press release, and shortly thereafter, will deliver a special “Wonder Women at Home” experience to winners and honorees, with a Tribute Video to follow.