Toy & Game International Excellence Awards - the TAGIEs
July 28 - August 4, 2023
Welcome to Your Weekly News Brief!
Happy Bloomin' Friday!
The Toy and Game Innovation Excellence Awards are The TAGIES Now's the time to recognize the people behind outstanding innovative achievements this past year! Nominate colleagues, suppliers, retailers, designers, PR and marketing teams, licensors, rising stars, unsung heroes, game changers, your company, or yourself! You can even nominate luminaries to be considered for the TAGIE Lifetime Achievement Award. It is FREE, EASY and just takes a minute to Nominate! We will keep the nomination portal open until this Sunday at midnight! Click HERE!
Check out the POP Book and Movie Reviews! There are dozens of reviews here, including the blockbuster Barbie movie! Do you have a suggestion for a book or film we should review? Let us know!
POP Week is November 1st- 5th! Register HERE, and then reserve your hotel room HERE! Join us for one or all of these awesome events: Inventor Pitch and Innovation Conference, Toy & Game Innovation Excellence Awards - the TAGIEs, Young Inventor Challenge, POP Roast of Rich Mazel, Toy Takedown (Inspired by Family Feud) with Brian Turtle, Tom Rushton and Matt Nuccio, PlayCHIC Influencer Event and the Chicago Toy & Game Fair.
Once you’ve got POP Week plans locked up, if you’re going to LA Previews, our Directory is ready! You can book a room through us to get into the directory so you can find and be found by the players you want to meet in LA.
Thank you for reading the Bloom Report here or on the Bloom Report 24/7 News Feed!
Mary
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The BLOOM REPORT is fantastic and it allows me to stay on top of all the breaking news in the Toy industry! - Wai Or, Longshore Ltd.
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“I seriously look forward to each Friday to learn most every update + more in the Industry. Priceless info! Thank you” -Michael Kohner, The Michael Kohner Corporation
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"TBR is required reading for: inventors, manufacturers, retailers, marketers, suppliers, absolutely everyone!" - Robert Fuhrer, Founder, NEXTOY
Film Review by POP's Julia DeKorte - Barbie
Spoiler Alert if You Read Entire Review!
The widely anticipated live-action Barbie movie was released on July 21, 2023, and has been a smash hit. Grossing over $774 million worldwide so far, Margot Robbie as Barbie and Ryan Gosling as Ken have led Barbie to be the third-highest grossing film of 2023. The film was directed by Greta Gerwig, written by Greta Gerwig and Noah Baumbach, produced by David Heyman, Margot Robbie, Tom Ackerly, and Robbie Brenner, and of course, based on America’s favorite doll, Mattel’s Barbie.
Barbie lives in Barbieland with all the other Barbies and Kens. Barbieland is a matriarchal society, where Barbies hold all the ... Fast forward to end of review...
With such high expectations set ahead of its release Barbie had a lot to live up to, but it absolutely succeeded. The film featured a wonderful inclusion of Ruth Handler and her dreams and visions for Barbie. It was funny, visually gorgeous, and entertaining. The cast was incredible, with America Ferrera, Kate McKinnon, Michael Cera, Issa Rae, Rhea Perlman, Will Ferrell, and Dua Lipa starring alongside Robbie and Gosling. And while it was fun to watch and hilarious, it also passed along messages of feminism and the impossibly high expectations of womanhood. Fun for any viewer of any age and interest, Barbie is a wonderful showing of all parties involved and the perfect movie to watch with family, friends, or any inspiring woman you know. READ MORE...
Book Review by Julia DeKorte
Tomorrow, and Tomorrow, and Tomorrow by Gabrielle Zevin
Calling all video game lovers and book lovers! Tomorrow, and Tomorrow, and Tomorrow by Gabrielle Zevin, named the best book of 2022 by Amazon, is a touching story starring two longtime friends who make a business out of creating and designing video games together. Sam Masur and Sadie Green’s friendship began at the same time their love for video games did. Though they fell out of touch in their teenaged years, they are reunited in their late college years in the 1990s, and before they graduate they have produced a smash hit video game: Ichigo. Spanning over 30 years and telling tales of friendship, love, failure, disability, fame, and heartbreaking tragedy, Tomorrow, and Tomorrow, and Tomorrow tells a uniquely captivating story.
Sam and Sadie meet in the game room of a hospital: Sam has been hospitalized for months due to an intense injury to his left foot that leaves him disabled for the rest of his life, and Sadie’s older sister has cancer, so Sadie finds herself in the hospital on a daily basis, looking for something to do. The two find one another and end up playing video games together for hours, for weeks and weeks and weeks. They grew apart after an emotional fight, but when Sam spotted Sadie in a crowded train station over a decade later, the friendship is rekindled.
After learning that one another are still passionate about video games and a lot of convincing from Sam, the two team up to create a video game of their own: Ichigo. READ MORE...
The Toy and Game Int'l Innovation Awards - The TAGIEs!
The Toy and Game International Excellence Awards Submissions close Sunday evening at midnight on the 6th! Free and easy - less than a minute of your time.
Celebrate innovation and excellence by recognizing a colleague, PR agency, marketer, retailer, supplier, designer, inventor, game changer or yourself!
Cartoon Lovers, Lexophiles & People in Need of a Smile!
Cartoon of the Week: This cartoon was sent by both Greta Pennell and Robert Fuhrer - a doubly funny one!
Quote of the Week: ""The toy industry is like a never-ending game of Monopoly; we're always trying to build hotels on the board." - Brian Goldner, former Hasbro CEO
Lexophile Lovers: "I don't know what you call a small spillage from a pen but I have an inkling." Thank you, Jerry Cleary for sharing with our readers!
"If you think your boss is stupid, remember: you wouldn’t have a job if he was any smarter." - John Gotti
Have a cartoon, quote or a joke to share with your colleagues? Send it to me! Mary
Toys Matter: The Power of Playthings
From antiquities to AI, baby dolls to board games, character toys to card games, toys in museums to toys in the marketplace and much more, the 2023 International Toy Research Association World Conference is poised to shine a global spotlight on cutting edge toy research, design, and pedagogy. The conference will be held 9-11 August, 2023 at The Strong National Museum of Play in Rochester, NY, USA and is open to interdisciplinary toy researchers, designers, students and industry professionals.
With keynote speakers, workshops, symposia and more than 80 paper presentations by scholars from more than 20 countries across 6 continents the biggest challenge for conference participants is deciding between which presentations to attend.
Registration fees are $425 ($225 for students). Space at the conference is filling up fast, so reserve your spot today by registering through The Strong’s online click here. The Hampton Inn and Suites in the Neighborhood of Play right across the street from the museum (101 South Union Street Rochester, NY 14607) is available at a special conference rate of $149/night +taxes. 1 585-450-3801
Founded in 1993, the International Toy Research Association is the longest running international research conference focused specifically on the wide, wide & wonderful world of toys & games. Learn more at: https://www.itratoyresearch.org
More information about the Conference here!
Financial and Legal
The private equity firm KKR has purchased Simon & Schuster, which in addition to being one of the largest publishers in the U.S. is also the largest distributor of graphic novels. Simon & Schuster Distribution Services distributes VIZ Media, BOOM! Studios, AWA, Oni Press, Mad Cave Studios, Andrews McMeel, and a host of other graphic novel publishers; it will add Image to its list in September.
***The above posted after tBR started sending August 4th***
In a big win for Moonbug Entertainment, a California jury has awarded the company US$23.4 million in its copyright case against China’s Babybus for “blatantly copying” hundreds of CoComelon videos. Moonbug sued the Fuzhou-based company in 2021, alleging that it was infringing CoComelon’s copyright with its animated series Super JoJo. The case also claimed that hundreds of Babybus videos contained replicated...
It’s official: Hasbro to sell eOne Film and TV business to Lionsgate. Ahead of today’s second quarter earnings call, Hasbro revealed that both companies’ Boards of Directors signed off on the deal which offloads the eOne assets for approximately $500 million. The transaction is set to close by the end of the year. The sale brings a tumultuous period to a close after Hasbro acquired...
Lionsgate Closing In On eOne Acquisition As Hasbro Q2 Earnings Call Nears. Speculation is intensifying that Lionsgate is getting closer to a deal to acquire the Hasbro-owned Entertainment One. The timing is not coincidental. Hasbro is set to report second-quarter 2023 earnings Thursday morning. The company’s CEO Chris Cocks had said in February that “we expect to have an update in the second quarter,” so he...
MyCelia Barbie? Mattel Target of Elaborate Hoax Mounted by Climate Activists, Daryl Hannah. A very convincing promotional campaign launched this morning with press releases, spoof websites playing on Mattel-owned URLs, phone numbers, a video starring actor and activist Daryl Hannah (Splash, Kill Bill), a phony product line, and user profiles on all the major social networks.
Chinese regulators have proposed rules that would limit the smartphone screen time of people under the age of 18 to a maximum of two hours per day. The radical draft rules laid out by the increasingly powerful Cyberspace Administration of China (CAC) highlight Beijing’s desire to exert control over more parts of the country’s digital life. If the rules are brought into law, they could have implications for companies such as...
NY-based audio company Realm, best known for its adult-skewing fiction podcasts, has acquired Pinna to get into the kids & family part of this market. Pinna targets three- to 12-year-olds and has more than 150 original titles on its platform, including popular original series such as Grimm, Grimmer, Grimmest and Opal Watson: Private Eye, as well as songs, audiobooks, interactive audio games and licensed podcasts.
The ongoing restructuring within Funko will result in a workforce reduction involving approximately 180-200 employees. In a filing with the SEC this afternoon, the Washington-based company stated that it implemented the layoffs yesterday which represents 12-13% of the company’s workforce. Immediate charges in the $2.4-2.8 million range are expected to be felt in the third quarter due to one-time termination...
GameStop Corp., the struggling video game retailer, said CFO Diana Saadeh-Jajeh resigned, effective Aug. 11. The company appointed Daniel Moore as interim principal accounting officer and interim principal financial officer, according to a statement Thursday. The resignation was not the result of any disagreement, GameStop said in a filing. Led by hedge fund billionaire Ryan Cohen, GameStop...
British firms can continue to use CE mark. Reversing its previous advice, the Department for Business and Trade has announced an indefinite extension to the use of the CE mark for businesses. As part of the government’s ‘drive for smarter regulation’, the Department for Business and Trade (DBT) has confirmed indefinite CE mark recognition beyond the previously announced 2024 deadline.
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Visit the York-Jersey Underwriters website at www.toy-insurance.com
Financial Reporting
‘Barbie’ Reaches $1 Billion at the Box Office, Studio Says. No movie in Warner Bros. history has sold so many tickets so fast, the studio said of the movie directed by Greta Gerwig. In the history of Hollywood, very few people — 28 to be precise, all men — have had the sole directing credit on a billion-dollar movie. Make that 28 men and one woman: Greta Gerwig.
***The above posted after August 4th***
Hasbro to Refocus on Core Toy and Game Business Amid Mixed Q2 Earnings, eOne Sale to Lionsgate. Hasbro beat revenue estimates amid a challenging second qtr for the entire toy industry. Revenue slipped 10% to $1.2 billion compared to the same period last year... revenue from Consumer Products dipped 11% to $655 million. In the Consumer Products segment, an 18% gain in licensing revenue as part of its ongoing …
Spin Master looks to Bitzee, PAW Patrol for back half sales spike following Q2 revenue dip. Spin Master is the latest to check in with revenue falling 16.9% to $420.7 million in Q2 versus $506.3 million during the same period last year. Spin Master, which reports across three “creative centers” says that a 20.9% decrease in revenue from Toys was offset by a 19.4% spike in Entertainment and a 0.5% gain in Digital Games.
Funko to reshape its core business following Q2 losses. The Pop! manufacturer took a US$75-million hit in net sales for the quarter, driving the company to reduce its total number of product lines and simplify its business.
Box Office: ‘Barbie’ Dances to $775M Globally, Days Away From Joining Billion-Dollar Club. Barbenheimer is real as 'Oppenheimer' hits its own milestone in crossing $400 million worldwide.
Jakks generated US$166.9 million in global net sales this quarter, representing a sharp 24.3% decline compared to the historic US$220.4 million it sold last year. Despite this negative result, the company reports that net sales for the whole first half of 2023 are still its second-highest in 15 years at US$274.4 million.
Comcast’s revenue was up 1.7% to US$30.5 billion in Q2 compared to the year before, driven by the success of its theme park business and The Super Mario Bros. Movie.
Warner Bros. Discovery loses streaming subscribers in Q2. The company sustained a net loss of US$1.24 billion this quarter, and has also lost 1.8 million subscribers since Q1.
Box Office: ‘Elemental’ Weathers Summer Storm, Crosses $400M Globally. The Pixar movie started off alarmingly slow but has since made a comeback after enjoying one of the best multiples ever for the storied animation studio.
Game sales fall "below expectations" at Sega but revenue remains steady. Game sales fell "below expectations" at Sega during the first quarter of the fiscal year.
Switch nearing 130 million lifetime sales after Tears of the Kingdom boost. Nintendo experienced a bumper quarter thanks to the launch of The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom which sold 18.5 million units in under six weeks to help drive both software and hardware sales. A
Trends, Market Research, and State of the Industry
JULY 2023 CIRCANA BOOKSCAN - TOP 20 AUTHOR, MANGA, SUPERHERO GRAPHIC NOVELS - Spider-Man, Batman, Webtoons, 'Disney Twisted - Wonderland'
JULY 2023 CIRCANA BOOKSCAN - TOP 20 KIDS GRAPHIC NOVELS
JULY 2023 CIRCANA BOOKSCAN - TOP 20 ADULT GRAPHIC NOVELS
***The above posted after tBR started sending on August 4th***
Authentic Brands Beats Out Warner Bros. and Mattel in List of Largest Global Licensors
Hobby game sales rose 7% in 2022... Collectible games carried the category in dollars, while roleplaying games had the fastest growth rate (at smaller dollars). All other subcategories were flat or down.
UK traditional TV viewing sees record decline, Ofcom report says.
Stateside streamers are expected to earn US$10 billion in ad revenue by 2027
TOP 20 GRAPHIC NOVELS - JULY 2023
Amazon, Netflix and Paramount+ top new subscriber chart in Q2
Stories, Comments, and Advice
Steve Reece's Toy Industry Journal - Q4 2022 was pretty horrible for the Toy & Game business overall, consumer sell through was really poor. The stock mkt listed companies reported double digit sales decreases year on year and inventory levels in warehouses and in retail soared leaving our industry with a significant inventory overhang heading into 2023. As we’ve moved further into 2023, there are some positive signs...
The Heroes of Gen Con!. With record-breaking attendance at Gen Con, many of our vendor partners were thrilled with the traffic and sales at the show–until they started running out of games! What happened next was a true Gen Con miracle with people across the country & across co. lines springing into action to save the show. It all began Friday afternoon when John Ferret of Smirk&Dagger approached PSi’s Megan Kanous...
Can You Solve the World’s First Crossword Puzzle? Hopefully you know a thing or two about the gomuti palm. Crossword puzzlers everywhere owe their thanks to Arthur Wynne, who in 1913 created what’s often cited as the world’s first crossword puzzle. There are a few notable differences between Wynne’s puzzle and those of today. His is a perfect diamond, rather than the asymmetrical designs of many modern grids...
Check your attic to see if your old Barbie could be worth a small fortune! There’s no denying it: Barbie is back. Thanks to the new Barbie movie, which is set to earn a whopping $1 billion during its first two weeks at the box office, the interest in Barbie and all things pink has skyrocketed. Not only are fans heading to theaters clad in Barbie-esque outfits, but there’s also been renewed interest in the dolls themselves.
The Definitive Ranking of Movie Monsters. Massive prehistoric sharks are about to return in ‘Meg 2,’ so our resident pop culture rankers set out to determine the greatest movie monster of them all. Before we get started, here are some parameters: We decided not to include movies that incorporate existing animals as monsters. In other words, the shark from Jaws is excluded, but the Megs from The Meg are fair game...
Summer Camp: Sun, Swimming, Archery. And Therapy. As the United States grapples with a mental-health crisis, summer camps are looking more closely at the children in their care. During the pandemic summers, many camp directors say, campers arrived with mental issues of a severity they had not seen before, exceeding the capacity of counselors in their teens and 20s.
In an Open Loft in Gowanus, Six Authors and Artists Collaborate and Commune. For the children’s book creators Doug Salati, Brian Floca, Sophie Blackall, Rowboat Watkins, Johnny Marciano and Dasha Tolstikova, the light-filled space has become much more than just a place to work. When Doug Salati won a Caldecott Medal this year for his children’s book “Hot Dog,” the five authors and illustrators with whom he shares...
***The above posted after tBR started running on August 4th***
John Baulch, Toy World - Heroes, villains and paradoxes …it’s the Friday Blog! I’ve written extensively about the success of the Barbie movie in recent weeks. The good news is that I am reliably informed that the huge box office numbers are also translating into strong sales of Barbie merchandise, including toys (even though Mattel opted not to release a specific movie range of toys). One major retail owner described his sales...
UK Indies asking for a fair race. When it comes to product launches, Midco’s Dave Middleton believes we need to level the playing field between indies and nationals. Dave is an independent toy retailer with three successful stores under his belt: Midco Toymaster, Midco Toy Planet and Freak Treats. In a Viewpoint column this month, he explains why he thinks toy companies should level the playing field where product launches are...
Post Malone has bought the one-of-a-kind Magic: The Gathering Card, Lord of the Rings' The One Ring, which was valued at $2 million. Though the owner of the One Ring card was previously unknown, a social media user called Brook Trafton shared a video of (presumably) themselves meeting Post Malone and selling the card. The 13-second clip doesn't show much but does see the rapper evaluating the card...
How to Beat Your Friends at Scrabble. Tips and tricks from elite players to help you score more points. Scrabble, like many board games, is very different when played at its highest level compared with what people are used to around their kitchen tables and in their living rooms. Many of the game’s top players have spent countless hours studying dictionaries and anagrams to best their opponents.
This Barbie is the toy industry. Why manufacturing hopes are pinned to the movie’s popularity. For more than a year now, the shipment of goods around the world has been in decline as households spend more money on travel and leisure than buying more stuff to add to the already large pile that they bought during the pandemic.That’s led to a slump for manufacturers.
Toy Association's "Back to School" Shopping List features 25 STEAM toys for kids. The Toy Association™ today unveiled its "Back to School STEAM Toy Shopping List," which includes 25 officially accredited STEAM (science, technology, engineering, arts, and math) toys that will enrich kids' learning during the academic year. Families can now shop the list of toys (below), choosing from a variety of hands-on building sets...
Apple TV+'s The Beanie Bubble Explores the True Story of the Women Behind the Beanie Baby Fad. In The Beanie Bubble, three women—Robbie, Sheila, and Maya—help turn Beanie Babies into the coveted products they became. It’s a fictional retelling, but is based on three real women—Patricia Roche, Faith McGowan, and Lina Trivedi—each of whom worked with Warner (played in the film by Zach Galifianakis) on the toy.
“Barbie” is running into censorship headaches in the Middle East. Leading regional exhibitor Vox Cinemas – which is Warner Bros.’ local distribution partner – has pushed back the release of the hit Greta Gerwig film to Aug. 31 after initially setting a July 19 rollout out date for “Barbie” in the Middle East that would have allowed local audiences to see the film two days before its U.S. release. The reason for the delay...
Magic: The Gathering’s card collecting boom continues as empty boxes and booster pack wrappers appear on eBay for wild money. Even empty boxes for vintage Magic: The Gathering sets are due to fetch hundreds of pounds at auction on eBay as the trading card game’s ongoing collecting buzz continues to thrive. Magic: The Gathering cards have sold for record prices in recent years, as rare MTG cards boomed in value...
One of Pokémon’s rarest modern-day cards could only be won by rock-paper-scissors, and it just sold for a record amount. Pokémon collectors’ sought-after “waifu” Lillie fetches over $100,000 at auction. A Pokémon card that could only be obtained by winning a game of rock-paper-scissors against some of the TCG’s top players has sold for a record amount at auction - helped by a recent controversial trend..
History and Nostalgia
But Who Gets the Comic Books? When collectors die, their families face a lot of decisions, including what to do with a hundred Superman figurines. “More times than I can remember, a spouse or child has said to me, ‘If he wasn’t dead, I’d kill him all over again for leaving me with this mess,’” said Greg Rohan, the president of Heritage Auctions.
The Origins of 7 Famous Toys. Think back to holiday seasons and birthdays past — what was the toy you dreamed of unwrapping? Year after year, the “it” gift that every parent scrambles to find changes, from Cabbage Patch Dolls to Beanie Babies and Game Boys to Tamagotchis. While many are soon forgotten, others have stood the test of time. Discover how breakthrough experiments, bold innovation, and even bizarre...
Inchworm from Hasbro (1971). In 1971, Hasbro released Inchworm, a ride-on toy for children ages two to six. Designed by Marvin Glass & Associates, the toy was designed to resemble a giant green caterpillar and was adorned with a yellow hat, yellow wheels, and a large yellow saddle. Fabricated from heavy-duty plastic, Inchworm could support a rider of up to 75 lbs.
Kovels Antiques and Collecting: Antique toys. Antique toys can give us a glimpse into the time they were made. Even if they are not exact models, we can get ideas of the cars people drove, how they dressed and furnished their homes and what professions they had or pastimes they enjoyed. If antique toys teach us about the past, they taught the children who played with them about the future.
Dark Horse and Super7 announce ‘The Art of Super7’ Book. Dive into the nostalgic world of Super7. Dark Horse Books and Super7, a pop-culture design house and producer of collectibles, are partnering to publish an artbook called The Art of Super7 . This book will feature a behind-the-scenes look at the art, design, and packaging of product collections that Super7 has released since the company’s founding in 2001.
Medieval Toys. In honor of the new Barbie movie, Danièle talks about the games medieval children played, and the toys they played with. The creator and host of The Medieval Podcast is Danièle Cybulskie. Click here to visit her website or follow her on Twitter @5MinMedievalist
Top Image: This bronze toy mounted knight dates to the 13th century and is one of the earliest known toy soldiers.
How the Beanie Baby craze came to a crashing end. Beanie Babies were one of the 1990s biggest fads: colorful, pellet-filled plush toys given cutesy names and an aura of collectability. By mid-decade, investment mania reached such dizzying heights that an active collectors’ “gray market” developed. Like tulip mania before it, and cryptocurrency after, Beanies became a popular alternative asset...
Licensing and Entertainment
Mattel announced Friday that fans of Kate McKinnon’s funky character from the hit Greta Gerwig-directed “Barbie” movie will soon be able to play with their own wacky doll. The film stars Margot Robbie as in the titular role of Barbie and Ryan Gosling as Ken. And yes, she can do the splits. Weird Barbie comes in the same pink dress and green snakeskin boots McKinnon wore in the film. She also sports the...
PLAYMOBIL 1.2.3 & DISNEY: A journey of discovery with Disney’s Mickey Mouse and Winnie the Pooh begins! Fans of all ages have excitedly been waiting for the new PLAYMOBIL 1.2.3 sets with popular Disney characters – now the first license within PLAYMOBIL‘s toddler portfolio is available: In six new, educative sets, Disney’s Mickey and Minnie Mouse as well as Winnie the Pooh, Tigger and Piglet are inviting children...
***The above posted after tBR starting running on August 4th***
Global leader in the toys and games industry, Goliath, is partnering with Restoration Games (RG) to bring back the 1980s cult classic board game Crossbows & Catapults (C&C). Restoration Games is committed to reviving out-of-print gems from the 1960s - 1990s and reigniting nostalgic fun to board game nights. In less than one month, their Kickstarter campaign for the game garnered just under $1 million in support.
PBS KIDS is building some new tech into episodes of its upcoming series Lyla in the Loop where kids can talk to its main character, who will utilize AI to understand viewer responses and then respond. Ordered this past January and set to launch in February 2024, the 40 x 30-minute series for four to eights centers around a young girl who looks for creative ways to craft new things and learn along the way.
WildBrain has inked three new distribution deals with Amazon, loading up the e-commerce giant’s VOD platforms with more than 850 episodes of kids content from its considerable portfolio. Prime Video cherry-picked a total of 218 episodes to launch in Germany, including 90 eps of WildBrain’s 2017 live-action Teletubbies series (90 x 15 minutes), as well as two seasons (14 and 15) and three 60-minute specials of the ...
Lion Forge Entertainment (Hair Love) and media agency dentsu are hooking up to create content for brands looking to build awareness and audience reach. The companies have inked a non-exclusive strategic partnership to co-develop and co-produce brand-centric films, TV series, shorts and digital content for dentsu’s global client roster, which includes Mattel, Crayola, Oreo and Hershey’s.
Crayola is pulling back the curtain on its new kids content division, Crayola Studios, and its first project comes from former Nickelodeon president Cyma Zarghami’s production company. The Alien Adventures of Finn Caspian is an animated series based on Gen-Z Media’s sci-fi podcast of the same name. Crayola Studios and Zarghami’s NY-based MiMO Studios are co-developing the 52 x 11-minuter about an 8-yr-old...
Sony Pictures has made some significant release date shifts for its upcoming films, including “Kraven the Hunter” and “Spider-Man: Beyond the Spider-Verse.” The delays come as dual union strikes disrupt the day-to-day business of Hollywood, and the SAG-AFTRA conflict makes it particularly difficult to open major fall movies without the participation of star talent.
Nickelodeon and CBS Sports are gearing up to score a touchdown when they deliver the first-ever alternate telecast of the Super Bowl for kids and families next year. The slime- and surprise-filled edition of Super Bowl LVIII will air exclusively on Nickelodeon on February 11, 2024, in tandem with CBS Sports’ coverage of the event on CBS and Paramount+. The show will feature special on-field graphics, virtual filters...
ABC Australia, WildBrain (Canada), Discovery Kids (Latin America) and France Télévisions have commissioned 9 Story Media Group’s new 2D-animated series Open Season: Call of Nature. Targeting kids ages six to 11, the toon kicks off with Boog the bear and Elliot the deer (the main characters in Sony Pictures Animation’s Open Season feature film franchise) discovering an abandoned summer camp.
Netflix has dropped the first look images and teaser trailer for Spy Kids: Armageddon which introduces Gina Rodriguez and Zachary Levi’s family. Robert Rodriguez, who created the original franchise, is behind the reboot of the new film that introduces the next gen of spies with Everly Carganilla as Patty Torrez and Connor Esterson as Tony Torrez. The preview shows the kids receiving a message from their mom...
Netflix rolled out three seasons of digital short series Om Nom Stories from Spanish game developer ZeptoLab on its global service today. With a total of 25 seasons to its name, Om Nom Stories first launched on YouTube in 2011, and has since racked up more than 15 million subscribers across all social media platforms. Episodes star a cute green monster who finds himself in random, comical situations.
Expecting the Microsoft Activision Merger to Go Through, Hasbro Team Mentions the Possible Addition of Archived ‘Transformers’ Games to Xbox Game Pass. People really appreciated Hasbro’s statement as many of those classic games were on demand for a long time. If these games are included in the Game Pass, then Xbox can also attract a lot of Activision Blizzard fans. True or not, fans really appreciated these...
New Disney ily 4EVER fashion dolls launch. Fashion doll line, Disney ily 4EVER, a range of trend-based fashion dolls and accessories inspired by Disney stories and characters by JAKKS Pacific, has some new members. Each poseable doll includes two outfits complete with shoes and purse, features articulation and rooted hair and comes with more than 10 pieces for kids to mix and match and create their own inspired looks.
MGA reveals Bratz x Kylie Jenner collaboration. The Bratz x Kylie collection gives Kylie the classic Bratz treatment, while also pulling inspiration from her personal style and most iconic fashion moments. The first-ever celebrity Bratz collection reimagines the pop culture icon as a Bratz doll. Beginning with the new Mini Bratz x Kylie Collectibles, the full line will be released over the coming weeks.
Ravensburger releases new Star Wars, Disney100 Villainous titles. Ravensburger adds two new games to its Villainous product line. Star Wars Villainous: Scum and Villainy and Disney Villainous: Introduction to Evil (Disney100 Edition) are now available. Star Wars Villainous: Scum and Villainy features three villain characters from the Star Wars franchise: Boba Fett, Seventh Sister, and Cad Bane.
Hasbro unveils new 'Star Wars: Black Series' figures. Hasbro unveiled a new wave of Star Wars: Black Series figures, which include holiday figures, for release into retail. The next wave of Star Wars: Black Series figures include an array of characters featured in the upcoming Ahsoka series. The following characters will get new figures in this wave: Pre Vizsla, Ahsoka Tano, Sabine Wren, Hera Syndulla, and R2-D2.
Playview Brands extends licensing agreement with NERF. Playview Brands, an established toy company with a diverse portfolio of brands and licenses that inspire families to see the possibilities of play, is proud to announce the renewal of its licensing agreement with NERF, the renowned Hasbro brand known for foam-blasting fun!
Spin Master introduces PAW Patrol: The Mighty Movie toy collection. Spin Master Corp, the leading global children’s entertainment company behind the global phenomenon PAW Patrol, officially unveils their toy collection for the franchise’s upcoming second feature film PAW Patrol: The Mighty Movie, a Spin Master Entertainment production, produced in association with Nickelodeon Movies and Paramount Pictures.
Wizkids unveils four 'Critical Role: Bells Hells' 'Phunny Plush' toys. WizKids unveiled four Critical Role: Bells Hells Phunny Plush toys for release into retail in March 2024. This wave of plush toys features notable characters from the Bells Hells campaign of Critical Role. The characters featured in this release will be Chetney Pock O'Pea, Laudna, Imogen Temult, and Orym of the Air Ashari.
Netflix show based on the Exploding Kittens card game is getting turned into a card game. The upcoming Exploding Kittens Netflix television show is getting adapted into a card game. The original Exploding Kittens card game sees up to five players taking turns to draw cards until someone draws an exploding kitten card, which causes them to immediately lose the game.
Sunlight Entertainment, Pocket.Watch release Ryan’s World Ninja Adventures. Ryan’s World is a well-known YouTube channel boasting more than 50 million subscribers. The channel stars Ryan, who makes videos featuring pretend play, science, crafts, and more. The brand has already seen expansion into the world of toys as well as an animated web series.
Every upcoming movie based on Mattel toys to keep on your radar. Barbie has taken the world by storm. During a year when films have struggled to succeed at the box office, Barbie has broken all-time box office records, scoring Warner Bros.' biggest Monday ever. The film was more than 10 yrs in the making, and its success will likely not only lead into a sequel, but also grow studio interest in producing films based on...
Legend Story Studios announces new 'Flesh and Blood TCG' booster set. Legend Story Studios announced Bright Lights, a new booster set for Flesh and Blood TCG, which will hit stores on October 6, 2023. The new booster set heads to the city of Metrix to focus on the Mechanologist class of heroes. This set will introduce the founder of Teklo Industries, Teklovossen, as a brand new hero.
Asmodee teams up with Sony for 'Cobra Kai'. Asmodee, in collaboration with Sony Pictures Consumer Products, will release Cobra Kai, a new board game by Mixlore, into Walmart on August 1, 2023 and globally later in 2023. In this game, players assume the roles of sensei of a dojo and prepare their students to face off against one another in the All-Valley Karate Tournament.
Barbie movie soundtrack breaks UK singles chart record. Barbie's already taken over the box office and now the film's soundtrack has conquered the UK music charts too. Tracks by Billie Eilish, Dua Lipa and Nicki Minaj have stormed straight into the top five since the pink-tinged blockbuster's release one week ago. And they weren't the only songs from the star-studded album to hit the chart.
Hasbro releases Monopoly: Barbie Edition. Hasbro has released Monopoly: Barbie Edition on the heels of Mattel’s theatrical release of Barbie: The Movie. Monopoly: Barbie Edition features Mattel’s iconic doll and her accessories throughout the game’s tokens, board, and gameplay. Players can choose from six Barbie-inspired tokens to play: a dog, a shoe, a sportscar, a speedboat, a roller skate, or Barbie herself.
Barbie You Can Be Anything: The Experience opens in autumn. Sheffield’s Meadowhall will host the new attraction which builds on the Barbie brand legacy and lets kids experience career options in bespoke interactive zones. Meadowhall is working with Mattel and award-winning experiential events production company Bakehouse Factory to bring the UK’s number one doll property and global phenomenon...
Aurora World partners with Smiley to welcome in a plush collection filled with smiles & happiness. Aurora World has partnered with the universally known brand SmileyWorld, where Aurora will produce and distribute SmileyWorld plush products with their famous emoticons. Into 2024, Aurora will be introducing a full line of exciting plush products incorporating the SmileyWorld emoticons...
PGS amplifies ‘Looloo Kids’ in LATAM with licensing and broadcasting initiatives. PGS Entertainment has announced an expansion of animated kids’ YouTube brand, “LooLoo Kids,” into the Latin American market.To help achieve this, PGS has partnered with Vertical Licensing to represent “Looloo Kids” in Brazil.
Melissa & Doug teams up with National Park Foundation for new collection: The new toys are inspired by wildlife and nature. Melissa & Doug, known for wooden and sustainable preschool toys, is partnering with the National Park Foundation for a new collection of toys inspired by national landmarks and wildlife.
Panini’s Premier League Adrenalyn XL TCG returns for new season. Premier League Adrenalyn XL’s 2022/23 collection saw unprecedented +100% growth and further growth is expected for the new 2023/24 season. Benefitting from a full re-design, the collection features new card categories, new materials and even more real autographs for collectors to chase.
Playview renews licensing agreement with NERF. Fans can expect to see new NERF products from Playview. Playview Brands has renewed its licensing agreement with Hasbro‘s NERF brand. As a result, fans of foam-blasting fun can expect to see new shapes, sizes, and features to keep the battle alive. Recently, Playview released the NERF Transport & Storage line.
People of Play
(Some of you may remember Dave Okada...) In Mak’s search for a design team who could execute the vision for Jilly, Mak came upon Dave Okada and his family. Dave Okada was a toy designer for the company, Kenner, and had experience working with the renowned filmmaker of the Star Wars franchise, George Lucas, to create figurines of the franchise’s characters. The Okadas were an intergenerational family with Okada’s Japanese-American roots tracing all the way to his granddaughter who is tri-racial, half-Black and a quarter White.
Veteran independent game company All Things Equal announces The Mid-Life Crisis Tour to launch Loaded Questions Greatest Hits and celebrate the 26th anniversary of the popular family and party game. Kicking-off in September 2023, inventor Eric Poses will set out on a 20-state tour, proving life is just a game with the brand that started it all – Loaded Questions.
***The above was posted after tBR started sending on August 4th***
Barbie collector turned hobby into a 25-year design career at Mattel. Bill Greening is the principal designer for Barbie Signature at Mattel Toys. Not only does he create the infamous doll, but he has also been collecting Barbie since 1988 – a large number of them on display in his pink “Barbie room” in Long Beach.
“Power Kid Podcast,” host Phil Albritton of Power Kid Design welcomes Pat Linden, VP of Marketing at Playmates Toys to the show. Ahead of this week’s release of Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Mutant Mayhem, Linden shares insight on his experience working with every iteration of the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles (TMNT) since 1998, including how the team works on developing reimagined toys for the brand.
German figurine and playset manufacturer Schleich has appointed David Albert as President of Schleich North America. In this position, Albert will lead the team into its next phase and accelerate the company’s expansion in North America. The newly appointed president first joined Schleich in 2014. At a corporate level, Albert has led teams within Product Management, Strategic Business Development, and Global Analytics.
EA group exec in charge of Maxis, BioWare, and Motive departs. Samantha Ryan, the veteran EA exec who led the studios behind the publisher's single-player and lifestyle franchises, has stepped down. EA confirmed the news to VentureBeat and explained Ryan wanted to shake things up and undertake new professional projects. "We are sad to see her go but support her in her decision," added a company...
GameStop fired its CEO two months ago, now its CFO has resigned. Diana Saadeh-Jajeh, who was only named CFO in July 2022, will be departing on August 11. GameStop has lost its CFO around two months after the departure of former CEO and president Matthew Furlong. Breaking the news in a short press release, the U.S. retailer announced that CFO Diana Saadeh-Jajeh will be resigning on August 11, 2023. S
Elden Ring composer Yuka Kitamura departs FromSoftware. Yuka Kitamura, a longtime composer for FromSoftware, announced her leave from the developer. On Twitter, Kitamura revealed she would begin work as a freelance composer starting this month. A reason for her departure was not stated. "Thank you all for your continued support," she wrote. "I would like to continue to express myself in...
Magna-Tiles welcomes Rick Keuter as product development director. Keuter previously worked at Spin Master, Hasbro, and Jazwares. In his new role, Keuter will be responsible for spearheading the creation of cutting-edge products that align with the company’s mission of Promoting Meaningful Play to children of all ages. His strategic vision and passion for crafting engaging play experiences will contribute to the brand’s future.
Companies and Brands
Carrera turns 60 - record year and new plans. The boss's cars also fly out of the curve. "I'm not that good, but I know how to do it," says Stefan Krings. From the point of view of children and motorsport fans, the man has a kind of dream job. He runs Carrera. For 60 years now, miniature versions of real racing cars and other types of cars have been racing around courses with spin-prone curves, kept on track - or not - by...
***The above posted after TBR was sent on August 4th***
Mattel is hiring a ‘Chief Uno Player’ to test its new game for $17,000—here’s how to apply. Ken’s job is beach. Now, yours can be UNO. Fresh off of “Barbie’s” massive success at the box office, Mattel is hoping to make waves once again by offering one lucky fan the opportunity to make thousands of dollars as its first-ever Chief UNO Player. Mattel’s job listing reads.
Kickstarter - Introducing Our AI Policy. The policy – which prioritizes transparency, credit, and consent – goes into effect on August 29. As a platform for creators, we have a responsibility to directly engage in this ongoing conversation and to establish, for the first time, a clear framework for how Kickstarter approaches projects that incorporate or build AI.
Spin Master Entertainment might be “revamping” the look of its popular anime franchise Bakugan this fall—but what isn’t changing is its approach of using Roblox as a launchpad. The first two episodes of Bakugan (in English and Japanese) will premiere on August 4 in Gamefam’s All-Star Tower Defense Roblox game—a month before the show’s TV rollout gets underway. Netflix is launching the...
Fisher-Price Sensory Bright line will light up little minds. The new toys are designed to provide visual, auditory, tactile, and olfactory stimulation for kids! This new line of toys is made with curious kids in mind! Fisher-Price has every toy a kid could need, with Little People, Mega Bloks, and more all offering charming play experiences. Mattel is continuing to bring even more to the table with Fisher-Price’s first sensory line...
Yu-Gi-Oh! TCG releases first new monster since 2017. New Duelist Nexus booster sets debut Illusion monsters, the first new monster type for the Yu-Gi-Oh! TCG since Cyberse monsters in Starter Deck: Link Strike. Konami Digital Entertainment has announced that Duelist Nexus is available now for the Yu-Gi-Oh! Trading Card Game (TCG) in Europe and Oceania. .
MGA launches collectible plush Fluffie Stuffiez. Featuring a cast of huggable, lovable, fluffy plush characters with big personalities, the new line offers the experience of unboxing, collectability, ASMR, fidget and fun. Fluffie Stuffiez is a soft and fluffy all-in-one plush toy with three ways to play: kids can pull it, reveal it and stuff it. .
Fill your walls with fashionable paintings in Petrichor and Hamlet creators’ fetching board game Art Society. A new board game from the studio behind Petrichor, Vengeance and Hamlet will task you with curating your own home gallery of paintings, while managing to keep your collection in vogue. Art Society comes from publisher Mighty Boards and first-time designer Mitch Wallace, who put players in the role...
Alderac Entertainment Group announces 'Under Grove'. Alderac Entertainment Group announced Under Grove, a new board game by Elizabeth Hargrave and Mark Wooton with illustrations by Beth Sobel, which will head to retail soon. The design team for this game, Hargrave and Wooton, first worked together on Mariposas.
World War 2 deckbuilder Undaunted: Normandy lands in Early Access on PC, with a mobile version also planned. The digital adaptation of deckbuilding wargame Undaunted: Normandy has launched into Early Access on PC. Undaunted: Normandy looks to be a faithful port of Trevor Benjamin and David Thompson’s first instalment in the acclaimed series, which melds together tactical troop placement...
Hunter Price’s Toy Mania introduces Quick Pops. The Hunter Price team has responsed quickly to the viral push and pop games trend as the Toy Mania brand becomes a force to be reckoned with. Hunter Price’s Toy Mania brand is continuing to expand its market share with its latest launch, which has brought a globally trending product to the UK market.
Ghost Galaxy brings 'Mindbug' to North America. Ghost Galaxy has partnered with German publisher Nerdlab to bring Mindbug, a card game created by freshman designers Christian Kudahl and Marvin Hegan, Skaff Elias, and Richard Garfield, to North America. The game’s first set, Mindbug: First Contact, will release this autumn.
Thinkfun offers two titles for Summer. Ravensburger is releasing two more ThinkFun games this summer: Goats’ Day Out and Meet MahJong. Created by Nicholas Cravotta and Rebecca Bleu (Escape the Room), Goats’ Day Out asks players to help goats run amuck in town after escaping from the petting zoo. Their goal is to eat as much as they can before they are rounded up and taken back to the zoo.
Zapf announces new Baby Annabell launches for 25th anniversary. Zapf Creation’s Baby Annabell brand has new products in store for autumn/winter 2023 in line with the brand’s 25th anniversary. This September will see the launch ofthe Baby Annabell Emily Walk With Me Doll, for children aged three years and over.
In celebration of Black Business Month, Purpose Toys announces international expansion of its NATURALISTAS natural hair fashion doll line with Walmart Canada. In 2022, Purpose Toys successfully launched NATURALISTAS, as the world's first all-Black (Black-owned) Natural Hair fashion doll line sold at major retail. With the goal of celebrating children with naturally textured hair, NATURALISTAS have also become known...
Cryptozoic Entertainment to offer previews, exclusives at Gen Con Indy. Cryptozoic Entertainment, the company behind popular tabletop and trading card games, will preview upcoming releases and convention exclusives at Gen Con Indy. One game the company will preview at the convention is Adventure Time: The Roleplaying Game.
Gaming: Digital, Video, Hardware, and Development
Hasbro wants Activision-published Transformers games recovered, put on Game Pass. Update: Hasbro has now said Activision Blizzard hasn't lost its previously made Transformers games after all, and is open to working with the developer again. Hasbro thinks it's time for Activision Blizzard's Transformers games to come to Xbox Game Pass. During the late 2000s and 2010s, numerous games for the Transformers...
The Wii U versions of Splatoon and Mario Kart 8 are coming back online. Both games were taken offline for five months to let Nintendo address a vulnerability. Nintendo will resume network services for the Wii U versions of Splatoon and Mario Kart 8 on August 3 after an extended service period that lasted five months. The company apologized to players for the outage, and noted that anybody wishing to...
Remnant 2 has topped 1 million sales in one week Gearbox said the sequel has already exceeded its expectations. Remnant 2 has topped 1 million sales in one week, according to publisher Gearbox. Gunfire Games' third-person shooter launched on July 25 for PC, Xbox Series X | S, and PlayStation 5. Since then, it has set new concurrent player records by more than doubling the total its predecessor...
Microsoft now sells Xbox controller replacement parts. Spare printed circuit boards and buttons might make it easier to keep your Xbox controller going. It is far too often the case that failed hardware components lead to unnecessary disposal. That means another expensive purchase for you and more stuff sitting in landfills for the Earth.
August is an epic month for game releases. August is packed with big-name games, indie darlings, and the return of a FromSoftware classic. If you thought August was gonna be a snoozefest for gaming, I’m here to wake you the hell up because this month looks like it’ll have something for everyone—and that’s not just BS boilerplate.
Nintendo planning to release Switch successor in second half of 2024. Fresh reports indicate Nintendo is planning to release a successor to the Switch during the second half of 2024. According to VGC, multiple people with knowledge of the Nintendo's next-gen hardware plans have stated the device will be another hybrid that can be used as a home console or handheld.
Game Pass Ultimate signups led to Xbox revenue surge. The Ultimate tier of Xbox Game Pass has been a huge driver in the service's worldwide revenue in recent years. A newly revealed document from the European Commission (EU) on the Microsoft-Activision Blizzard deal shows just how vital the highest-price tier has been for Xbox.
EA is bringing Star Wars Jedi: Survivor to last-generation consoles. Star Wars Jedi: Survivor has been a hit for publisher EA, and the company hopes to further capitalize on that success by bringing the title to PlayStation 4 and Xbox One. EA CEO Andrew Wilson broke the news during a quarterly earnings call, and said developer Respawn has "committed" to releasing the game on older hardware.
Roblox to premiere new Bakugan series ahead of Netflix/Disney XD. Spin Master Entertainment might be “revamping” the look of its popular anime franchise Bakugan this fall—but what isn’t changing is its approach of using Roblox as a launchpad. The first two episodes of Bakugan (in English and Japanese) will premiere on August 4 in Gamefam’s All-Star Tower Defense Roblox game—a month before the...
Neopets is back with 50+ retro flash games that you can play online for some nostalgic good fun. That’s right, after the death of Adobe Flash in 2021, our favourite retro games are finally making a comeback through Neopets, the virtual pet website where many were addicted to exploring the virtual world of Neopia, playing games and caring for their digital pets.
Highlighted Press Releases
KIDS ALWAYS HAVE A BLAST WITH JAMM’D BLUETOOTH SPEAKER DESIGNED FOR AMAZING SOUND, GOOD LOOKS & LONG-LASTING PLAY. Jamm’d by Watchitude® $25 Bluetooth Speakers Now In Limited Edition Rainbow, Tie-Dye & Earthly Designs That Gets Everyone Up & Off The Couch. New Brunswick, NJ (August 1, 2023) – It’s hip to be square, just ask the kids! Square-shaped Jamm’d by Watchitude® Bluetooth Speakers ($25) is the kids way to pump up the jam that looks good, sounds great and lasts for 3 hours of wireless non-stop music. Function, form and beauty just for kids is a trademark of Watchitude®, the art-meets-toy maker. With this handsome little Bluetooth speaker that’s both lightweight and rechargeable, deciding where to have fun is unlimited! Look for them now at Watchitude.com.
Safety and Counterfeiting
Commission proposes clamp-down on hazardous chemicals in toys. EU toy safety rules should expand a generic ban on harmful chemicals to cover more hazard classes, the European Commission has proposed.
EU Commission steps up protection of children from unsafe toys. Today, the Commission proposed a Toy Safety Regulation revising the current rules to protect children from potential risks in toys. Toys put on the EU market are already among the safest ones in the world. The proposed rules will further improve this protection, in particular from harmful chemicals. They also aim at reducing the high number of unsafe...
BTHA Safety Update on SAPs and blasters. The BTHA has expressed safety concerns regarding the increased use of Super Absorbent Polymers (SAP) in toys, most notably blasters. Super Absorbent Polymers (a liquid absorbing material) have been used in toys for many years across different types of products, such as craft sets and expanding shapes. There are controls within the toy safety standards...
Associations, Shows, Awards, Events, and Festivals
Spielwarenmesse continues to welcome consumers on Model Railways, Construction Open Day. Spielwarenmesse, taking place Jan. 30-Feb. 3 at the Nuremberg Exhibition Centre in Germany, will again open its doors to consumers after positive feedback this year. On the last day of the event, consumers will be welcomed in Hall 7A for Open Day, where they will have an opportunity to experience the Model Railway...
Dad’s Choice Awards 2023 opens for entries. Now in its 11th year, the Dads Choice Awards 2023 invites entries in 20 different categories, to be tried out by Dad testers and their children. Entries are now open for Dads Choice Awards 2023, and the closing date is 29th September. These are the only UK awards dedicated to Dads and their children and is now in its 11th year.
The National Sports Collectors Convention. Not just for sports cards anymore; games, comics, and more! ICv2 visited The National Sports Collectors Convention on Friday July 28, 2023, which was held at the Donald E. Stephens Convention Center in Rosemont, Illinois. In the past, this show had been primarily for sports cards and memorabilia enthusiasts. However, as Pokemon TCG, Magic: The Gathering, comics...
Gen Con news: 2023 Diana Jones Award winner announced. The Diana Jones Award committee announced that Coyote & Crow RPG,created by Connor Alexander and published by Coyote & Crow, has won the 2023 Diana Jones Award. Coyote & Crow RPG is a game that envisions a world where colonization never occurred and the indigenous people of North America controlled the land.
Toy & Edu China, Baby & Stroller China, Licensing China coming April 2024. Following a successful 2023, Messe Frankfurt looks forward to future China trade shows. The three concurrent events Toy & Edu China, Baby & Stroller China, and Licensing China are officially running once again this April 8-10 at the Shenzhen World Exhibition and Convention Center. The announcement of official dates follows successful 2023 ...
Preshow Noël Toys & Games offers inside looks to buyers. Preshow Noël Toys & Games is coming in time for Christmas, opening its doors once again this Nov. 20-24 in Deauville, France. The event will preview a number of Christmas 2024 collections, with more than 130 international suppliers coming together to preview what’s to come. 250 buyers are already registered for the event, with more expected as it draws nearer.
Gen Con 2023 news: Gen Con releases Trade Day event schedule. Gen Con LLC. released the 2023 Trade Day event schedule. This event will occur on Wednesday, August 2, 2023 at Gen Con Indy. This year's Trade Day offers 70 events run top tier companies. The panels revolve around education for retailers, educators, librarians, and other games industry professionals.
RIP - Rest in Play - Remembering Those that have Passed
If you know of a colleague's passing, please send us information so we may share with our readers. Archives can be found HERE
Paul Reubens, the actor best known for portraying Pee-wee Herman, died Sunday night after a private bout of cancer. He was 70.
“Please accept my apology for not going public with what I’ve been facing the last six years,” wrote Reubens in a statement posted to Instagram after his death. “I have always felt a huge amount of love and respect from my friends, fans and supporters. I have loved you all so much and enjoyed making art for you.”
“Last night we said farewell to Paul Reubens, an iconic American actor, comedian, writer and producer whose beloved character Pee-wee Herman delighted generations of children and adults with his positivity, whimsy and belief in the importance of kindness,” wrote Reubens’ estate in the caption. “Paul bravely and privately fought cancer for years with his trademark tenacity and wit. A gifted and prolific talent, he will forever live in the comedy pantheon and in our hearts as a treasured friend and man of remarkable character and generosity of spirit.”
Reubens began his career in the 1970s after joining the Los Angeles live comedy troupe the Groundlings as an improvisational comedian and stage actor. In 1980, he launched “The Pee-wee Herman Show,” a stage production centered on a fictional character he had been developing for years. As Pee-wee became a beloved comic figure, Reubens’ show ran for five sold-out months, and he landed a special at HBO. Reubens also committed to the character in his interviews and public appearances.
In 1985, he teamed with Tim Burton on “Pee-wee’s Big Adventure,” the character’s feature film debut, which was a critical and commercial success. Reubens returned three years later for a follow-up film, “Big Top Pee-wee,” helmed by Randal Kleiser.
Klash Singh - HTI has been in touch with Toy World to share the sad news about its employee. Klash Singh, who passed away last week, was a popular member of the HTI team and most recently worked as a Sales manager for the company.
In a statement, the company said: “It is with deep sadness and heavy hearts that we inform you of the death of Klash, who passed away on Thursday 27th July 2023.
Klash spent over 20 years in the toy industry, being employed by HTI originally back in 2003 and moving on to spend nine years at Kandy Toys before returning to HTI in 2023.
Klash was 59 years old when she passed away. She had an infectious personality, enormous enthusiasm and passion. This was loved and admired by all, not just within the companies where she worked, but by all her customers past and present.
Klash will be sorely missed by all those who knew her. She was a very generous, considerate and kind lady. She leaves behind her partner Kevin, three children and three grandchildren, with another grandson on the way.”
HTI’s owner, John Hutt, commented: “Klash will be missed greatly and remembered dearly.”
Worldwide Magazines Weekly Top Stories
Added Friday Morning Chicago Time. Check Back for Complete Lists.
Toy Trade Monthly Issues
Adventure Media & Events (US)
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Mattel Target of Elaborate Hoax Mounted by Climate Activists, Daryl Hannah (The Toy Book)
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Bratz Teams Up with Kylie Jenner to Release Celebrity Doll Collection (The Toy Book)
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Playview Renews Licensing Agreement with NERF (The Toy Book)
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Spin Master Reveals ‘PAW Patrol: The Mighty Movie’ Toy Collection (The Toy Book)
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American Girl Dolls Turn into Disney Princesses (The Toy Insider)
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MGA Reveals Fluffie Stuffiez 2-in-1 Sensory Plush Toys (The Toy Book)
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Fight the Foot Clan and Grab Some Pizza — New TMNT Merch From Youtooz Is Here (The Pop Insider)
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McFarlane Toys to Reintroduce SportsPicks Action Figures (The Toy Book)
aNb Media (US)
posts Friday morning
Toyworld (UK)
Licensing.biz Powered by Toyworld
ICv2: The Business of Geek Culture (US)
- Wizards of the Coast Updates Deets on 'D&D Planescape'
- Wizards of the Coast Offers First Look at 'Magic: The Gathering: Wilds of Eldraine'
- Post Malone Buys 'Magic: The Gathering's' The One Ring 001/001
- Hasbro Unveils New 'Star Wars: Black Series' Figures
- Rolling for Initiative -- Strike Settled, 'Commander Masters' Pricing, and 12,000 Watch an RPG Session
- SDCC News: Hasbro Announces New 'Marvel Legends Series' Figures
- Funko Cutting 180-200 Employees
- Enter 'Marvel HeroClix Iconix: Hall of Armor'
- Asmodee Teams Up with Sony for 'Cobra Kai'
- AMain Hobbies Buys HobbyTown
Nación Juguetes (Mexico, Peru, Argentina, Chile & Spain)
posts Friday morning
The Bugg Report (Australia)
Video of the Week
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Founding Editor and Publisher (1998-2020, Retired): Philip Bloom
We are honored to carry on Phil's 22 year legacy and continue the Bloom Report. Phil has been a mensch
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Publisher: Mary Couzin, Chicago Toy & Game Group, Inc.
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