“Although we have seen activity at retail slowing, our business continued to perform well throughout the third quarter. Retail sell-through at our Top 3 accounts in the US were down low single digits on a year-to-date basis, while our inventory at those accounts is down over 20% year-over-year” said Stephen Berman, CEO of JAKKS Pacific.
Gamefam, the leading metaverse game developer and strategist, and Spin Master, a leading global children’s entertainment company, and Monster Jam has unveiled their second in-game integration within Gamefam’s ever-popular Car Dealership Tycoon. Back by popular demand, this new in-game integration follows up last year’s Car Dealership Tycoon Monster Jam experience which resulted in 124MM total global engagements and 6.6MM monster trucks unlocked.
Hasbro, Inc, a leading toy and game company, announces that it has renewed its long-standing partnership with TOMY Company, T-Licensing Inc and ADK Emotions NY to launch Beyblade X, the next generation of Beyblade products. Following a July debut in Japan, these much-anticipated Generation 4 products will expand the global launch in Fall 2024, coinciding with the brand’s 25th anniversary.
Cloudco Entertainment, the proud owner of the iconic Care Bears property, and Aquifer, an innovative instant animation technology for brands and IPs, are excited to announce their partnership to launch Care Bears Shoutouts, a heartwarming initiative that offers personalized animated video shorts featuring fan-favorite Care Bears characters. Families and friends will have the opportunity to order personalized video messages from Cheer Bear, Wish Bear, Grumpy Bear, and Tenderheart Bear to celebrate birthdays, milestones, friendships, and other special moments. The product will initially be available on the Care Bears Shoutouts website, and are expanding to major e-commerce platforms later in the year.
Nelvana, a world-leading international producer, distributor and licensor of children’s animated and live action content, and Toikido, a London based entertainment company at the cutting edge of digital design and toys, unleash six new Piñata Smashlings shorts on Nelvana’s ‘Keep it Weird’ YouTube channel which are featured on YouTube Kids home page. Produced by Nelvana, and based on the popular Roblox game, the original shorts immerse kids into the enchanting Piñataverse world ahead of the highly anticipated series in development that was announced earlier this year.
Princess Sam Consumer Products (PSCP) has announced that it has appointed a licensing agent for the children’s animated adventure-comedy-fantasy hit Tara Duncan in two key markets: Canada and Mexico. Visano Management, led by respected industry figure Tanya Visano, will handle licensing for this fast-growing property in these important North American markets. Tanya Visano brings a wealth of experience to this appointment. Her credits include building a consumer products team for Viacom (Paramount) Consumer Products in Canada and heading Paramount Consumer Products in Mexico, where she steered the business towards strong growth despite a turbulent political and economic environment.
JAKKS Pacific, Inc (NASDAQ: JAKK) a top manufacturer of toys and consumer products and its costume division, Disguise, announced a multi-year partnership with SEGA of America, Inc (“SEGA”) for Sonic the Hedgehog 3, Paramount Pictures’ feature film set to release on December 20, 2024. Through the collaboration, SEGA and JAKKS will design, develop, and manufacture a range of products including action figures, plush, playsets, costumes, and costume accessories, all set to hit the market late 2024.
Licensing International is pleased to announce that six licensing professionals will receive the 2023 Global Rising Star Award. For more than a decade, Rising Stars from around the world have been nominated by their peers and recognized for their contributions to, and passion for, the global brand licensing industry. “Licensing International is thrilled to shine a spotlight on the talented young professionals who will become the future leaders of the global brand licensing industry,” said Maura Regan, President of Licensing International. “We would also like to say a huge thank you to our Rising Stars committee members, who have the difficult task of selecting among the best of the best.”
Five-year-old Frankie Padilla of Florida won the nationwide contest and enjoyed his one and only day on the “job” at the Walkabout Australia kangaroo habitat at the San Diego Zoo Safari Park on Saturday, Oct. 21 where he also learned about kangaroo conservation. When ‘Doo’ty Calls: Five-year-old Frankie Padilla embarks on his first (and only) day on the “job” as a Kangaroo Cleanup Crewmember at the Walkabout Australia kangaroo habitat at the San Diego Zoo Safari Park. Frankie’s affinity for kangaroos won him the top spot in a national contest hosted by Moose Games to mark the release of its newest family game, Doo Doo Kangaroo.