Hasbro Announces First-Ever Licensee Focused on Older Adults: Ageless Innovation

Ageless Innovation, a global company devoted to reimagining how we positively live and age together through the power of play, has been tapped by global branded entertainment leader Hasbro, Inc. to create new gaming experiences specifically for older adults and their families. Ageless Innovation will be the first-ever Hasbro licensee dedicated to enhancing the lives of older adults through classic gameplay. Building off Ageless Innovation’s extensive knowledge in creating play experiences for older adults – paired with Hasbro’s unmatched expertise in the branded entertainment industry – the partnership will aim to create fun and playful social interactions through intergenerational play via a collection of unique yet familiar games. The line-up, which will reimagine iconic Hasbro properties, will feature entirely new components and play experiences specifically designed with older adults in mind, including easy to grasp pieces, easy to read content, and intergenerational storylines.

JAKKS Pacific Reveals New Line of Toys Inspired by Illumination and Nintendo’s ‘The Super Mario Bros. Movie’

JAKKS Pacific, Inc (NASDAQ: JAKK) is excited to reveal more from the line of toys coming to retail on Feb 26 for the highly anticipated new film from Illumination and Nintendo, The Super Mario Bros Movie, arriving in theaters April 7, 2023. Bring home the excitement of The Super Mario Bros Movie. with these officially licensed toys and plush from JAKKS Pacific, Inc. Fans of all ages will enjoy recreating moments from the movie with movie-inspired mini figures and playsets, 5” premium figures, 7” feature Bowser, pull back karts and plush.

Kids and Kidults Flock to the New Crazy Aaron’s “Crazy Creator” Experience at the World-Famous FAO Schwarz

As Crazy Aaron’s embarks on its 25th anniversary in 2023, the company takes dough and putty play to a whole new level thanks to “Crazy Creator,” a brand-new play experience at the world-famous FAO Schwarz toy store at Rockefeller Center in New York City. This unique hands-on experience allows kids and “kidults” to create their very own unique Thinking Putty tin or customized Land of Dough cup. With various compounds, colors, and add-ons to choose from, the Crazy Aaron’s Crazy Creator experience has quickly become a smash hit with plans to expand throughout this fun anniversary year!

Little Kids Inc & World of EPI Hop on KidStuff PR’s Carousel as Agency of Record

KidStuff Public Relations founder Lisa Orman announced that Little Kids, Inc and World of EPI (Entertainment, Publishing and Inspiration) have retained KidStuff PR as their agency of record. Both beloved and respected brands will now have KidStuff PR handle its media, social and influencer relations, effective January 2023.  In addition, small businesses Fireside Games and FluffyWeight are joining as clients in February 2023.  Fireside is promoting several best-selling games with a focus on My First Castle Panic, while FluffyWeight is launching its weighted stuffed animal line, which got its start after mom Elena Foley searched high and low for a weighted stuffy when her child was diagnosed with ADHD (and she herself was subsequently, too) and the family doctor recommended getting one. Finding none, she staged a successful Indiegogo crowdfunding campaign in Q42020 for a weighted stuffed animal, and then her official launch was delayed due to the pandemic. 

Toy Industry Veteran Evelyn Mazzocco Joins Just Play to Launch Company’s New Division for Owned IP

Leading global toy company Just Play has appointed branding and strategy expert Evelyn Mazzocco, former General Manager of Barbie at Mattel and General Manager of Girls Products at Moose Toys, to lead its new division devoted to building the company’s portfolio of proprietary brands. Evelyn will be influential in driving the company’s long-term strategic goal of creating new wholly-owned intellectual properties. She will be heading up a new, fully integrated team including Product Development, Branding, Packaging, and Engineering based in Los Angeles. 

ZAG Partners with Playmobil for 2024 Global Miraculous Toy Range

Award-winning global animation studio ZAG and Horst Brandstätter Group have signed a global agreement to develop and distribute a diverse PLAYMOBIL toy range for the beloved and multi-award winning Miraculous – Tales of Ladybug and Cat Noir franchise. The announcement was made by Jeremy Zag, Founder and CEO, ZAG, and Sibylle Gondolf, Managing Director (Germany, Austria and Switzerland) at leading licensing agency, WildBrain CPLG, who represent the Miraculous brand in Germany, Austria and Switzerland, and brokered the deal for ZAG.

JAKKS Pacific Announces Toys Inspired by the New Illumination and Nintendo Film ‘The Super Mario Bros Movie’

JAKKS Pacific, Incorporated this week announced they will be bringing to market a toy line for the highly anticipated new film from Illumination and Nintendo, The Super Mario Bros Movie, arriving in theaters April 7, 2023. Look forward to posable figures, accessories, playsets, plush and a super cool RC from the movie coming to shelves and online in North America, Asia-Pacific, Latin America, Europe, Middle East and Africa on Feb. 26, 2023. “In partnership with Illumination and Nintendo, we have enjoyed collaborating with JAKKS Pacific to launch an all-new line of toys for The Super Mario Bros Movie,” said Joe Lawandus, Senior Vice President and General Manager, Global Toys, Hardlines & Publishing, Universal Products & Experiences. “We’re as excited as the fans for the film’s release and can’t wait for their reaction to our line of film-inspired toys.”

Hasbro Selects Just Play as Master Toy Licensee for FurReal Brand

Leading global toy company Just Play has announced a worldwide master toy licensing agreement with Hasbro, a global branded entertainment leader, for its FurReal brand. Just Play’s FurReal pets product line will launch globally in 2024 with a whole new collection of interactive pets. With authentic animatronic features that mimic the mannerisms and behaviors of both real animals and mythical creatures, the FurReal brand has led the interactive pets’ category for over eighteen years, selling over 100 million pets in more than 75 countries. Millions of children worldwide have learned about animals and pet care while nurturing their beloved FurReal friends.

Rainbow Friends & PhatMojo Team Up for Toys and More

Roy & Charcle LLC and PhatMojo have announced their partnership for the massive hit video game experience, Rainbow Friends. Under the worldwide agreement, PhatMojo will launch the Rainbow Friends master toy range this spring. Additionally, they will support the franchise via consumer products licensing and retail development. Rainbow Friends is a multi-player, mystery-style video game by Fragment Games, which premiered its first chapter on June 30, 2022. The game takes players on a bus trip to Odd World. Things go awry when the bus takes a wrong turn, and players are left to encounter mysterious monsters, including the iconic character, Blue. Other endearing Rainbow Friends monsters reveal themselves to players as they make their way through spooky settings. The widely appealing characters have captivated fans and generated pop cultural love. To feed this frenzy, two all-new chapters will release this year.