Toy & Game International Excellence Awards - the TAGIEs
October 13-20, 2023
Welcome to Your Weekly News Brief!
Happy Bloomin' Friday!
Stop reading and VOTE for the TAGIE Awards! Today is the last day to cast your ballot, and your vote counts! Okay – now continue reading…
Stop reading again and tell every kid you know that they should enter the Young Inventor Challenge – the deadline to enter is October 22.
Okay, back to reading the Bloom Report… POP Week starts November 1st and you’re crazy if you miss it because all good stuff goes POP! Sign up to pitch, peruse, party and play. C’mon all you procrastinators, let’s get POPPIN’!
Bloom Exclusive! Congrats to Matt Nuccio who scooped a major celeb deal! Read all about it in the feature article below. You can catch a tuxedoed Matt Nuccio at the TAGIE Awards in just a couple of weeks! Get your TAGIE Tickets here.
Speaking of TAGIE Awards, did you see the news? This year's Lifetime Achievement Award will go to two people that changed the trajectory of Barbie to new heights years ago: Jill Barad, Consultant and former CEO and Chairman of Mattel, and Rouben Terzian, Founder of Terzian Enterprizes and Co-Founder of BMT – Big Monster Toy. JoAnn McLaughlin, EVP Merchandising - Hard lines at Marvel Entertainment, will welcome attendees and the evening Keynote by Tim Kilpin, President, Toys, Licensing & Entertainment at Hasbro. The TAGIE Awards will be hosted by the talented Karri Bean, Senior Licensing Manager, Disney Parks Experiences & Products.
Thank you for reading the Bloom Report here or on the Bloom Report 24/7 News Feed!
Mary
POP Week is November 1st- 5th!
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Attend the Inventor Pitch and Innovation Conference, POP Roast, Toy Takedown
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Celebrate at the Toy & Game Innovation Excellence Awards - the TAGIEs
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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
Person of the Week - Design Edge's Matt Nuccio
Co-creator and Host of “TOYS OF OUR LIVES”
New TV Celeb Toy Talk Show under development at Drake Media Studios. Donna Drake, the host of The Donna Drake Show a weekly, 60-minute television and digital talk series, and President of Drake Media Network, Inc. today announced the creation of a new talk show, “Toys of Our Lives” co-created and hosted by toy industry executive, inventor and designer, Matt Nuccio. The show will be filmed in studio as well as include shopping field trips to iconic toy stores.
Drake Media Studios, a full-service production studio is the former CBS/WLNY TV 10/55 studio space located at 270 South Service Road in Melville.
Drake chose Nuccio to embark on this new show when she realized he was the toy designer co-credited with designing Creepy Crawlers, Tickle Me Elmo, Nintendo Power Glove, P.O.G's, Laser Challenge and Barbie Sparkle Kingdom among other iconic beloved toys. "I grew up in a candy distribution family and candy and toys both bring about wonderful nostalgic memories for me. The opportunity to work with Matt Nuccio elated me. Matt’s warm and charismatic energy and intrinsic knowledge of the toy industry will make this show fun to produce and watch. Seeing and hearing about magical moments with toys and how “play” may have contributed to a celeb’s success has not been revealed in this same way before,” said, Drake.
Person of the Week: Justin Mayer, Gen Mgr, Hess Toy Truck
Trucks, Trucks and More Trucks!
Thank you, Justin, for taking time to share a bit about yourself with our readers! What are your roles and responsibilities in our industry?
JM: As General Manager, I oversee all aspects of Hess Toy Truck, including operations and marketing.
What is your claim to fame?
JM: As one of the best-selling and longest running toy brands in America, we’ve had an unmatched reputation for outstanding quality at affordable pricing since our humble beginning in 1964, and we’re really proud of it. Our iconic Holiday Toy Truck continues to be among the largest holiday gift giving traditions for generations of families across the country – so popular that toys sell out every year – and we’re immensely proud of that too!
While our famous holiday trucks have certainly put us on the map among families and collectors nationwide, ideating and executing new ways to provide kids with high-quality, affordable fun (including our Plush collection, Minis series, and so much more!) is what makes our jobs at Hess Toy Truck so special.
What are you working on now?
JM: This has been a very busy, but very fun year for Hess Toy Truck. This week, we released our annual Holiday Toy Truck, back and better than ever as… drumroll please… the 2023 Hess Police Truck and Cruiser! It’s a heroic pair of first responder vehicles with amazingly realistic details and high-quality features. We’ve already seen incredible praise for the product among Hess fans, families, and collectors nationwide, and we’re excited to add it to our expanding roster of highly sought after collectible toys that often soar to the top of holiday gift lists! READ MORE...
Person of the Week: Sean Jacquemain
Diced Veggies: A Family Meal
At 11-years-old, the most important stuff to be focusing on should be things like your favourite baseball team (Blue Jays, if you’re curious), school work or debating the relative qualities between Cinnamon Toast Crunch and Cocoa Puffs. For cousins Jory and Rowan Cappel, these things definitely are important, but they added another cool item to their resume this year, becoming first time game designers.
Diced Veggies came together really smoothly. It’s not all that common for a game (especially by first time designers) to be signed within a few months of the initial idea. There’s something to be said about taking a kid’s approach to design and looking for the fun.
Together, they worked on developing their idea with dad/uncle Josh Cappel. The first spark of an idea came to the trio in Summer 2022. Getting together and developing the idea a bunch over the following months into the Fall and by early 2023 the game was signed and production had started.
The concept of the game is quite simple: you collect ingredients to complete different international recipes for points in the game. However, there’s a lot more fun packed into this straight forward concept. Players are chopping sets of dice away from the central block using the unique Diced Veggies cardboard cleaver. They can take up to 10 pips worth of dice with each chop and then apply those ingredients to the recipes they’re working on. As recipes are completed, players have the opportunity to add Hype cards. These can be things like “World’s Greatest” and “Just Like Mama Used to Make”. They usually require some sort of dice combination in the recipe, like all even numbers or a total that adds to 17 or higher.
Cartoon Lovers, Lexophiles & People in Need of a Smile!
Cartoon of the Week: Thank you, contributor who wishes to remain anonymous for the funny cartoon this week!
Lexophile Lovers: "A boiled egg is hard to beat." Thank you, Jerry Cleary for sharing with our readers!
Memorable Quotes:
"Imagination is more important than knowledge. Knowledge is limited. Imagination encircles the world." - Albert Einstein
Operator! Give me the number for 911! — Homer Simpson, “The Simpsons”
Have a cartoon, quote or a joke to share with your colleagues? Send it to me! Mary
Financial and Legal
Publisher Scholastic Backtracks on Isolating Works on Race and Gender. The company was faulted for the practice, which it said was an effort to help schools navigate new laws restricting books about racism and L.G.B.T.Q. identities. Among the books included on the list were biographies of Justice Ketanji Brown Jackson of the Supreme Court and the civil rights activist and congressman John Lewis; a novel about a Lakota girl...
***The above published after October 20th***
Activision Blizzard joins Xbox after Microsoft completes seismic acquisition. Microsoft has completed its $68.7 billion acquisition of Activision Blizzard, meaning the Call of Duty and World of Warcraft publisher has officially been welcomed into the Xbox Game Studios family. It's a seismic moment for both companies that unites one of the most influential hardware platforms in Xbox with one of the most prolific publishers in the …
Universal Music Files $75M Lawsuit Against Amazon-Backed AI Firm for Ripping Off Rolling Stones, Beyonce Lyrics. Major players across Hollywood are taking to the courts to address what they argue is mass copyright infringement in violation of their intellectual property rights.
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Financial Reporting
Hasbro reported a 10% dip in revenue to $1.5 billion in Q3. Compared to the same period last year, its Consumer Products division (including toys) slid 18% while Entertainment revenue declined by 42%. The losses were offset by strong growth in Wizards of the Coast and Digital Gaming where revenue spiked 40% in Q3 driven by the licensing success of Baldur’s Gate III and Monopoly Go!, which Hasbro says contributed $63 million in incremental revenue to the bottom line.
Mattel Q3 Earnings: Barbie, Hot Wheels Drive 9% Sales Spike... in net sales to $1.92 billion alongside gains in gross margin and operating income. Classic categories, including dolls and vehicles moved the needle back in the right direction amid a challenging year for Mattel and the rest of the toy industry. Additionally, the co. repurchased $60 million in its own shares and raised its 2023 guidance for adjusted gross margin, adjusted EBITDA, and adjusted earnings-per-share (EPS).
***The above posted after October 20th***
Funko outperforms the market across EU5. YTD August statistics from Circana*. Across Licensed Toys, Funko is the No. 3 corporate manufacturer in EU5 YTD, with sales up +17%, outperforming a softening market. Funko is outperforming the total toy market in every EU5 country. Funko sales are up +13% in France whilst the Total Toys market is down -4%, and +17% in Spain. In Germany, Funko sales …
Smyth’s Toys UK revenue surpasses €1b. Revenue surged by 16% or £122.78m, from £788m to £910.78m (€1.05b). The business operates Smyths stores across England, Scotland and Wales, where pre-tax profits increased by 8% from £18.11m to £19.49m (€22.46m). The co. stated that the increase in revenue was due to rising footfall in stores as customers returned post Covid-19 restrictions. The opening of five new stores in 2022 also added to the total.
Character World Brands (CWB) has announced a 19% growth in its UK business this year as Danny and Mark Schweiger step into non-executive roles.
COMIC STORE MARKET SHARES – Q3 2023. Marvel, IDW Gain Ground; Titan Enters the Chart
Trends, Lists, Market Research, and State of the Industry
‘The Marvels’ Tracking for $75M-$80M Domestic Debut in Latest Test of Box Office Superhero Fatigue. The sequel looks to come in notably behind the $153.4 million launch of 'Captain Marvel' in 2019.
***The above posted after October 20th***
Meijer Reveals Season's Top Toys in Holiday Toy Guide, Including Barbie, LEGO and Disney 100. Retailer's annual Toy Guide arriving two weeks early to kick off extended shopping season
The Entertainer is the latest to release its Top Toys predictions.
Selfridges reveals its Top 10 Toys for Christmas.
What are the brand licensing and extension trends to look for in 2024?
Kids for Culture reveals its Top 5 Baby Gifts to pick something positive for the tots on the list
Best Halloween card games in 2023.
Best Halloween board games for kids in 2023.
Best Marvel Legends action figures in 2023.
An expert shares the hottest holiday toys to shop at Target this year — starting at $15.
The best toys for 6-year-olds they won’t get tired of playing with.
Mastermind Toys reveals 2023 Holiday Play Guide with top gifts of the season.
Stories, Comments, and Advice
Steeve Reece, Toy Industry Journal - BOARD GAME MANUFACTURING: TRENDS, TRIVIA & TOP TIPS. WHY IS THERE MORE BOARD GAMES CAPACITY IN ‘NEAR SHORE’ OR DOMESTIC LOCATIONS VERSUS TOY MANUFACTURING CAPACITY? Games manufacturing is much more easily automated versus Toy production and therefore the labour cost element for Games production is much lower.
Tapping into the licensing power of gaming. Executives from Microsoft, SEGA of America, Toikido and PhatMojo discuss their strategies for adapting video game IPs into booming consumer product lines for retailers. The success of The Super Mario Bros. Movie is spurring the industry to get in the game with video game adaptations.
How toy and game companies are winning back their grown-up former customers. I was on vacation and hanging out quietly in the hotel room with my friend when, out of nowhere, she screamed “Zoo Pals are back!” We immediately tried to buy some. But to our misfortune, they were sold out. For days we refreshed the page to see if they were back in stock. Sure enough, I got my Zoo Pals a few weeks later.
As striking actors enter spooky season, SAG-AFTRA released guidelines for members looking to “celebrate Halloween this year while also staying in solidarity” with the strike. That means union members can hang up their “Oppenheimer” porkpie hats and put away their “Barbie” pink.
“Choose costumes inspired by generalized characters and figures (ghost, zombie, spider, etc.),” the actors union recommended in a website...
***The above posted after October 20th***
John Baulch, Toy World - All change (again) …it’s the Friday Blog! When I switched on my phone last Saturday morning, the first text which greeted me simply said: “Woah Toy Fair.” Although my initial reaction was ‘what on earth has happened now?’, I think I had guessed by the time I opened my inbox, which contained a round robin email sent by ‘Crazy’ Aaron Muderick, current chair of the Toy Association Board.
Toy Industry Rallies in Support of Israel. Members of the toy and play community in the U.S. and beyond have been mobilized to provide aid and support following the terrorist attacks on Israel that sparked the beginning of the Israel-Hamas War on October 7, 2023. The Toy Foundation (TTF) was quick to act, sending out a call to the industry soliciting product and monetary donations in an effort to provide aid and comfort...
Work With Indies donating all October revenue to Palestinians in need of humanitarian aid. Indie job board Work With Indies has pledged to donate 100 percent of revenue made during October to organizations providing humanitarian assistance to families in Palestine. In a blog post announcing the move, company general manager Nathan Bosia said Work With Indies will be supporting three organizations...
FEATURE: The craft of adapting video games. WildBrain, TeamTO and Somewhere Animation map out the creative process and considerations that go into setting up a lucrative game-to-screen pipeline. The success of The Super Mario Bros. Movie is spurring the industry to get in the game with video game adaptations. This week, we’re publishing stories from our October/November magazine issue...
YouTube is rolling out a new set of features for better mobile-based playback, song search and creator-friendly tools, including a feature that will highlight the “like and subscribe” buttons when a creator utters those words. The company is making it easier for users to increase playback speed. With the new update, users can just tap and hold anywhere on the player to increase the speed to 2x, and once they reach...
Saltsea Chronicles climate impact report shows how development affects our planet. An extensive climate impact report published by Saltsea Chronicles developer Die Gute Fabrik (DGF) shows how the project's near four-year production cycle affected this little blue dot we call home. The Danish studio commissioned Benjamin Abraham, author of Digital Games After Climate Change, to produce the report with a view …
Report: Netflix wants a Grand Theft Auto game on its platform. Netflix's aims for getting further into the game market involves adding Grand Theft Auto onto its game platform. According to the Wall Street Journal, a licensing deal with Rockstar will allow the streamer to release a title from the popular open-world crime series onto its titular service. In recent months, Netflix has been acquiring studios and key creative talent …
Once left for dead, Toys R Us continues its comeback. Over the last six years, Toys R Us has had a rocky ride full of store closures and bankruptcy. More recently, the company has had a resurgence, including a partnership with Macy's and special sales last holiday season, and plans for an airport location set to open this holiday season. Now, Toys R Us has announced its plans to open two dozen stores across the U.S...
The Van Gogh Pikachu is Pokemon's worst failure in years. Who knew a shiny piece of cardboard with a picture of Pikachu wearing a funny little hat would cause so much trouble? Everyone did, apparently, except The Pokemon Company. This has happened before, and it will definitely happen again if Pokemon doesn’t change its ways. What’s frustrating about the situation is that the solutions are so obvious.
Toys produce far more electronic waste than vapes. Over 3 billion kilograms of valuable electronics inside children’s toys are thrown away each year, and very few people are aware of this hidden e-waste. Toys are a much larger contributor to electronic waste than vapes, according to an analysis by the United Nations.
WHY DO SUPERHEROES WEAR SPANDEX? The rise, fall, and return of the super-stretchy material. In the year 2000, superhero movies were at the precipice of a mainstream revolution, and leading that charge were the X-Men. But this was a new millennium and a new format. The tight, stretchy outfits worn by the team in their comics and iconic ’90s cartoon wouldn’t do. Instead, these X-Men donned black leather bodysuits.
A 17-year-old West Australian has taken out the Guinness World Record for the fastest time solving a rotating puzzle cube in freefall. Singleton teenager Sam Sieracki solved a Rubik's Cube in 28.25 seconds. He accomplished the feat while skydiving over Jurien Bay. It was the 17-year-old's fifth attempt at breaking the record. “It’s really intense. It’s very loud, because you’ve got all the wind in your face,” Sam said.
Hershey Has S’more Success With Ads on LG Home Screen. Hershey, a longtime television advertiser that has already shifted most of its video budget to streaming and connected TV, was willing to try putting ads directly on the home screen of LG smart TV sets. ”We are a fairly significantly large category,” Vinny Rinaldi, head of media and analytics at Hershey, told Broadcasting+Cable. “Penetration on candy, mints...
Culture Shift: Why Is Hollywood Ignoring the Data When It Comes to Latino Representation? (Guest Column). U.S. Latinos remain chronically excluded from the media and entertainment industry in direct contradiction to their growing population size and demonstrated buying power, writes Fuse Media chairman and CEO Miguel Roggero.
FEATURE: Kids TV gets in fashion. Style programming has traditionally catered to adults, but there’s a closet-full of new fashion-forward shows for much younger viewers about to hit the runway. For most visitors to Las Vegas, it’s the bright lights and mammoth buildings that catch their eye first. But something much closer to the ground struck awe in producer Antoine Wade. “I saw this 12-year-old kid wearing the same Versace...
Amid a mental health crisis, toy industry takes on a new role: building resilience. As more children emerge from the pandemic grappling with mental health issues, their parents are seeking ways for them to build emotional resilience. And toy companies are paying close attention.
While still in its early phase, a growing number of toy marketers are embracing MESH — or mental, emotional and social health — as a ...
History and Nostalgia
‘Star Wars’ X-Wing Fighter, Which Had Been Lost for Decades, Sells for Record $3.1 Million at Auction. The 20-inch model of an X-wing starfighter was used in filming the climactic space battle in 'A New Hope,' and according to Heritage Auctions, it "just set the record for the most expensive 'Star Wars' screen-used prop sold at auction."
Them Bones from Mego (1976). Released in 1975 from Mego, Them Bones drew gameplay inspiration from Milton Bradley’s Operation, albeit in a spookier setting. Running on two D-cell batteries, Them Bones challenged players to use tweezers to extract “bones” from a mysterious skull without touching any of the metal contacts. Them Bones was easy to setup.
Beetlejuice Gross Out Meter from Kenner (1990). The fictional character of Beetlejuice was first conjured into popular culture in Tim Burton’s Beetlejuice film in 1988. The comedy-horror was a hit with audiences thanks in part to the colourful antics of the eponymous character, a havoc-wreaking spirit with a fondness for the grotesque and a penchant for unsavoury deeds.
Licensing and Entertainment
BBC Studios Kids & Family and CBeebies have commissioned new preschool series Hey Duggee’s Squirrel Club from Studio AKA. A spinoff of the London-based prodco’s Hey Duggee (pictured), the new 2D-animated series centers around a friendly dog who encourages his animal friends to try new things. A release date hasn’t yet been announced for the 26 x seven-minute show.
The Smurfs are turning 65 Y.O. and are celebrating with new announcements for more Smurf-fun to come! IMPS, the global distributors of The Smurfs CG-animated series, together with co-producers Peyo Productions, Ellipse Animation, KiKA, Ketnet, RTBF, and with TF1, have announced that a third season of the global hit series The Smurfs is in production.
IMC Toys has announced a shift in its content strategy. Kitoons, the umbrella brand that encompasses all of IMC Toys’ entertainment, which includes the popular Cry Babies Magic Tears series, is launching as a distributor of third-party content, transforming its platforms and channels – including YouTube, OTT and social media – into powerful outlets for recently acquired high-quality educational series.
Skydance Animation jumps from Apple to Netflix. The surprise move was announced in tandem with Netflix highlighting the importance of animation in its Q3 financial report. LA’s Skydance Animation has inked a multi-year deal to develop and produce feature films for Netflix. The studio’s entire catalogue of animated features will also be exclusively available on the streamer.
BBC Children’s has ordered a trio of new shows for CBeebies and CBBC. For CBeebies, the pubcaster has commissioned Mojo Swoptops (52 x 11 minutes) from Blue Zoo and Tararaboom. The CG-animated preschool series stars an anthropomorphic vehicle who solves the problems in his local community by literally donning new headgear, such as helicopter blades. The series is based on Cindy Black’s book series of the same name.
Ravensburger releases Disney Around the World board game. Ravensburger has added a new product to its line of Disney games. Disney Around the World is a board game in which players explore lands from classic Disney films. Disney Around the World contains a gameboard, a bag, 24 stamp tokens, 15 sun cards, four balloon movers, four passport cards, one die, and one cloud mover.
Sunlight Entertainment and pocket.watch expand Ryan’s World with ‘Ryan’s World Pirate Adventures’. Pocket.watch, a kids’ and family creator content and IP company, and Sunlight Entertainment, the Kaji family-owned production studio, are building upon the Ryan’s World Pirate YouTube videos. They plan to expand the Ryan’s World brand with “Ryan’s World Pirate Adventures,” through new mobile game integrations...
Zoonicorn and Toonz Entertainment greenlight Zoonicorn season 3. Zoonicorn LLC and Toonz Entertainment have inked a new deal to greenlight season three of the popular preschool series, with 52×7 new episodes now in development. The global preschool property currently streams worldwide, with consumer products rolling out for Q4, 2023 and into 2024.
Hess Toy Truck releases highly anticipated annual Holiday Toy Truck – the Police Truck & Cruiser. This holiday season, Hess is back and better than ever to help unleash the hero in everyone. Just announced, The 2023 Hess Police Truck and Cruiser is a highly specialized, heroic law enforcement response team that is here to take on any task imaginable!
Epic Story Media and CBC Kids jump into new deal for Marc Brown’s preschool series ‘Hop’. Independent content creation, distribution and licensing company Epic Story Media Inc (ESM) and CBC Kids, the children’s programming division of Canada’s national public broadcaster, have confirmed a deal for “Hop”, the forthcoming new preschool comedy series from the creator of “Arthur”, Marc Brown.
MGA inks deal with Cake to distribute new ‘Armorsaurs’ series. The series is expected to premiere in 2025 across the globe. MGA Entertainment subsidiary MGA Studios is remaking the 2021 South Korean television show Armored Saurus with its new video series Armorsaurs. A new series means new distribution deals, and MGA has signed on with Cake to handle media distribution rights globally outside of S. Korea...
NYCC: Mattel, IDW, Abrams launch ‘Welcome to Monster High’ publishing program. Mattel inked deals with ABRAMS and IDW to create a new Monster High Publishing Program. The Monster High universe expands with the launch of two new novels and a comic book series. “Ever since Monster High’s original launch in 2010, the franchise has been rooted in storytelling,” says Ryan Ferguson, Global Head of Publishing...
Mattel Creations collaborates with Daniel Arsham for Hot Wheels collection. Mattel Creations introduces a new addition to the Hot Wheels collection in collaboration with contemporary artist Daniel Arsham. The collaboration will consist of eight reimagined Hot Wheels 1:64-scale vehicles to be released across four drops.
The LEGO Group and Nintendo bring 'Animal Crossing' to LEGO brick form. The LEGO Group has revealed new "Animal Crossing" sets inspired by the video game series from Nintendo. The five new play experiences, created in partnership with Nintendo, allow LEGO builders to explore the world and characters from the video games and play out different stories in the brick-built landscape.
NFT Brand World of Women to release special edition Monopoly game. The World of Women (WoW) NFT universe is expanding to include an iconic board game. Under license from Hasbro, the digital art collectible brand WoW and WS Game Company have just revealed the new Monopoly: WoW Galaxy Edition, which will be released online on Oct. 17. This special edition is a new take on the popular game...
Banijay Brands confirms U.K. version of 'Big Brother: The Game'. Banijay Brands, the commercial arm of Banijay, has announced the release of "Big Brother: The Game," as a localized version in the U.K. The launch coincides with the return of "Big Brother" to U.K. screens earlier this month across ITV1, STV, ITV2 and ITVX.
Ryan’s World expands to pirate-themed toys, entertainment. Pocket.watch and Sunlight Entertainment are launching Ryan’s World Pirate Adventures, a new set of toys and content that takes the popular YouTube brand to the high seas. Ryan’s World Pirate Adventures episodes and specials are available on Ryan and Friends Plus, the Ryan’s World YouTube channel, and HappyKids. In the brand new live-action...
Moonbug Entertainment announces ‘Blippi’s Playground’ Roblox experience. Moonbug Entertainment has announced “Blippi’s Playground,” a multiplayer game, will be available exclusively on Roblox. The game, accessible on mobile, tablet, PC or Mac, will allow kids to explore Blippi’s world as they complete fun quests to earn Blippi tokens, dress up their avatar with exclusive Blippi items...
Chuck E. Cheese signs licensing deal with California Dreamin’ Water Park. California Dreamin’ Entertainment and CEC Entertainment, the licensing, media, and entertainment division of Chuck E. Cheese, have partnered to expand the Chuck E. Cheese brand. The multiyear entertainment, marketing, and licensing partnership will result in Chuck E. Cheese-branded rides, a themed area, food and beverage...
Goliath named global plush partner for The Garfield Movie. Goliath, a family-owned toy and game company, has announced an extension of its global partnership with Paramount Consumer Products. Under the terms of the new deal, Goliath will design, develop and manufacture cuddle-worthy plush toys for the new theatrical film The Garfield Movie, starring Chris Pratt as the voice of Garfield.
Natural History Museum announces collaboration with Galt Toys. The Natural History Museum (NHM) has announced an exciting licensing collaboration with James Galt & Co. Ltd (Galt Toys), part of Jumbo Group. The museum is working with Galt Toys to develop a new range of learning and activity kits, inspired by the amazing natural world.
Nacelle inks licensing deals for NacelleVerse properties across toys, collectibles, publishing. The NacelleVerse is expanding at a rapid pace. Ahead of its panel at New York Comic Con (NYCC) and hot on the heels of its first appearance at Toy Fair, Nacelle — the multimedia company behind The Toys That Made Us and A Toy Store Near You — inked a raft of licensing deals to extend its reach across multiple categories.
Kids can dive into a cuddly mystery in Clue: Squishmallows. Family game night just got cuddlier. The Op | USAopoly is continuing its trend of releasing funky pop-culture versions of classic board games with Clue: Squishmallows edition! Designed for kids ages 8 and up, this version of Clue is much softer than the traditional game of crime and killing.
Disney100 celebrations continue with more product releases. Disney is continuing its 100th anniversary celebration this year, partnering with industry bigs for products dedicated to its most popular brands. We’ve already covered new releases such as LEGO’s castle set and murals as well as Just Play’s new Disney Doorables, but that’s just scratching the surface of toy makers getting in on the event.
These Animal Crossing: New Horizon Tomodachi toys are cute collectibles and on sale. Animal Crossing is easily Nintendo's most delightful intellectual property, and if you've been looking to create your own cozy village of adorable animal citizens, you're in luck. As part of the post-Prime-Day sales happening on Amazon, Prime subscribers can get not only a cute $28.49 (normally $39) collection...
People of Play
ICV2 INTERVIEW: ASMODEE USA GENERAL MANAGER JULIEN SHARP. The first question is asking if you could share with our readers Asmodee's view of the big picture: how is the overall games market performing in 2023? Julien Sharp: Right now, Hobby seems to be doing quite well; it's very stable for us. We're pretty happy with how things are going there. That is our really important channel for Asmodee historically and currently
On most days, Ray Adler, the global head of games for Mattel, carries a deck of UNO cards in his pocket, just in case someone might be up for a friendly round. The nice thing about the game, he said in an interview, is that it transcends language barriers and is familiar to just about everyone. Sitting down to a spontaneous game is a great way to break the ice.
Exploding Kittens founder on his board game philosophy. What if the goal of a board game wasn’t entertainment? What if, instead, it was about making the people around you entertaining? That is the mission Exploding Kittens Inc. has been on since it was founded in 2015. Elan Lee is leading the charge. The co-founder and CEO of the game maker is an experienced game designer who spent time at Microsoft and Xbox before...
Joe Barron, Mary Couzin, Dan Facchini - The Chicago Toy & Game Fair and the importance of play with Innovation DuPage. Managing Director of Innovation DuPage Dan Facchini joins Jon Hansen on Your Money Matters to talk about how they are helping small businesses and entrepreneurs accomplish their goals. Dan talks about their member meet-ups where they provide resources and networking opportunities for...
***The above posted after October 20th***
Woman makes $278 per hour to play board game. 22-year-old Litzy Santana just graduated from college. Now, she's earning $4444 a week by playing Uno on the streets of New York City with strangers. It's all thanks to a new social marketing campaign from Mattel.
Dollar General Corporation board of directors appoints Todd Vasos as chief executive officer. Dollar General Corporation announced Todd Vasos, current Board member and former Chief Executive Officer (CEO), was appointed CEO effective Thursday. Vasos, who previously served as Dollar General’s CEO from June 2015 to November 2022, has agreed to return to lead the Company for the foreseeable future.
Bethesda's head of publishing Pete Hines is retiring now Starfield has launched. Bethesda's head of publishing Pete Hines has announced his retirement. In a post on X (formerly Twitter), Hines said he's leaving Bethesda (and seemingly the game industry) to "begin an exciting new chapter of my life exploring interests and passions." Hines has spent over 24 years at the Starfield, Fallout, and The Elder Scrolls developer...
GameFAQs editor Allen Tyner departs site. Current GameFAQs editor and owner Allen Tyner is resigning. Known by his online handle "SBAllen," Tyner says he's chosen to part ways with Fandom, which acquired the site last year. Tyner has been an employee of the guide and forum website since 2004.
'Scott Pilgrim Takes Off' and 'Invincible' S2 trailers; 'Daredevil: Born Again' unloads writers and directors; Melissa Mcbride returns to 'Walking Dead'; 'The Rocketeer' reboot fires up; 'Star Trek: Prodigy' boldly goes to Netflix. Showbiz round-up. It's one week closer to Halloween, Hollywood news is coming in, and it's time for a round-up! Amazon Prime Video released an official trailer for Invincible Season 2 .
Nacelle appoints Hud Woodle to lead its international sales division. Production and distribution company Nacelle has recently tapped Hud Woodle to head its International Sales Division. Nacelle is currently expanding its production, distribution, and toy manufacturing division as the company develops the NacelleVerse. Woodle most recently served as Head of Global Sales & Acquisitions at GRB Studios.
MV Sports welcomes John White. John joins MV Sports & Leisure from Wilton Bradley where he managed many important accounts across a portfolio of wheeled, outdoor and sports products. Reporting to managing director Phil Ratcliffe, John brings with him a wealth of experience in both the toy and wheeled sectors having also previously worked at Mattel, Magformers and KD Group.
Companies and Brands
Ultra PRO Introduces the Stackable and Waterproof Black Box™ Deck Box® Made With Highly Durable, Crush-Resistant Material. he Black Box™ Deck Box® is a stackable, waterproof container that can hold up to 100 double-sleeved standard size collectible trading cards. This newest addition to Ultra PRO's extensive array of protective accessories made for card collecting adds the ultimate element of security for...
***The above posted after October 20th***
How Mattel gave the Barbie brand a makeover. Lisa McKnight, Mattel's EVP and chief brand officer, spoke at Advertising Week about rebranding and relinquishing some creative control. The summer of girlhood may be over, but gal-oween is right around the corner. Nearly 3 months after the release of the hit film “Barbie,” Halloween costumes from the movie are almost entirely sold out...
Banijay Launches Accelerator Program For Women In Formats. To support the program, Banijay Americas has commissioned a first-of-its-kind study with the Geena Davis Institute on Gender in Media, in partnership with Everywoman Studios. Banijay Launch was inspired by the Propelle program, a female-focused accelerator initiative created and developed in 2020 by Everywoman Studios’ CEO, Abby Greensfelder.
Amazon is today launching a social shopping feature that will allow consumers to ask trusted friends for advice while they shop online through the Amazon app. The feature, dubbed “Consult-a-Friend,” lets shoppers send a message to people whose advice they want to receive. This message includes a link to the new experience where friends can react to the product shown using emojis and optionally add commentary.
Fat Brain Toys talks about where Christmas gifts really come from, and why it's even more magical than Santa. ELKHORN, Neb., Oct. 17, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- This year, Fat Brain Toys will introduce over 40 exciting new toys for the holiday season. But while most children will be writing letters to the North Pole asking Santa for these toys, Fat Brain Toys wishes to give credit where credit is due and celebrate the real-life...
Mattel’s Monster High project Belonging supports children’s mental health. In time for National Bullying Prevention Month, Mattel launched a new Monster High-inspired global program designed to increase a sense of belonging for children. Monster High Project Belonging aims to help children feel proud of who they are and feel connected to others while maintaining individuality.
Best Halloween LEGO sets in 2023. There's nothing quite like building a spooky Lego set in Halloween season. Building a LEGO set is a fun way to pass your time during any season. However, as with anything to do with Halloween, building a spooky set during this time of the year has its own special charm. Not only do these sets complement Halloween season, but they will also make great decorations...
Hasbro kicks off Transformers 40th Anniversary product line. 2024 marks 40 years of Transformers and 40 years of The Toy Book. This weekend, Hasbro kicked off its Transformers 40th anniversary celebration with new action figures inspired by four decades of battles between the Autobots and Decepticons. The initial assortment includes the Transformers Retro 40th Anniversary Autobot Blaster & Steeljaw and...
Tonies launches Tonieboxes in Canada. Tonies is expanding its interactive audio platforms with the launch of Tonieboxes in Canada. Customers will be able to shop the products at Indigo, Toys “R” Us Canada, and Amazon this month. “Our screen-free, educational innovation resonates deeply with parents. The early activation of nearly 5,000 Tonieboxes in Canada speaks volumes of the eager anticipation,” says Christoph...
VTech Launches Turbo Edge Riders Track Sets. Kids can build courses from everyday objects found at home. VTech has a wide variety of electronic learning toys for kids, with everything from walkable dogs to musical toy phones. Now, the company is inviting kids to build their own stunt tracks out of leftover cardboard and other everyday items with the new Turbo Edge Riders line. Kids can build their initial course…
Yu-Gi-Oh's Age of Overlord booster set is available now. The Yu-Gi-Oh! trading card game has been around for 25 years, and its creators have been doing a number of very special things to mark the occasion. Starting today, you can add the release of Yu-Gi-Oh's Age Of Overlord booster set to that list.
Furby supports latest launch with Furby-Festo initiative. Furby has been a unique symbol of self-expression since the 90s and its latest iteration is helping to pave the way for parents to foster environments where children can be their true authentic selves. To support this, Hasbro has revealed new research commissioned by Furby, shedding light on parent attitudes towards the increasing pressures...
MOTU and TMNT are getting epic mash-up action figures. The official toy line is set to drop in January 2024. The beautiful planet of Eternia is meeting the smelly sewers of New York City! Mattel has announced a collaboration between its Masters of the Universe (MOTU) brand and Paramount’s Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles (TMNT) franchise.
Crystalverse celebrates launch weekend with in-store influencer event. Leading Arts & Crafts and Toy retailer Hobbycraft played host to a crowd of Harlow Luna White fans this weekend, when the YouTube star was the main attraction at a dedicated launch event for the new Curious Universe Crystalverse range.
Every card revealed For Disney Lorcana's Rise of the Floodborn. The dust has finally settled on Disney Lorcana's The First Chapter. We've discovered the world of Lorcana, met the glimmers, and mastered the six inks. Now it's time for Rise of the Floodborn, Lorcana's second set, to shake up what we thought we knew, and delve into the backstory of Lorcana's most mysterious characters, the Floodborn.
Build up the 'Chicago & Northwestern' railroad lines. Rio Grande Games will release Chicago & Northwestern, a new John Bohrer train game, into retail in Q4 2023. In this game, players assume the roles of Robber Barons that are fighting for dominance over the rail lines that feed into and around late 1800s Chicago. To best their rivals, they will start railroads, invest in railroads, and build track across the Great Plains.
New 'D&D' Phunny Plush toys incoming. WizKids will release new Dungeons & Dragons Phunny Plush toys into retail in April 2024. The next round of D&D Phunny Plush toys by Kidrobot will feature four classic monsters from the RPG. There will be a Black Dragon, a Rust Monster, an Intellect Devourer, and a Bullywug.
Games Workshop announces 'Warhammer 40,000 Kill Team: Salvation'. Games Workshop announced Warhammer 40,000 Kill Team: Salvation, a new miniatures skirmish boxed set, which will be coming soon to preorder. This new boxed set features two kill teams: Striking Scorpions and a Space Marine Scout Squad. The Space Marines' mission is to head to Bheta-Decima to rescue a Farseer being held by Magos.
Mego 2 reveals new 2XL collaborative robot. The robot toy can hold conversations and speak more than 30 languages. A new generation of talking toys is coming soon. Mego 2, a collaboration between Mego and D1srupt1ve, is combining each company’s expertise in figure-making and artificial intelligence (AI) for a new toy designed to actively interact with kids.
Play-Doh launches Busy Chef’s Kitchen set with immersive restaurant experience. With new research confirming that Britain is a nation of picky eaters, and with half-term on the horizon in just a few weeks, the new Play-Doh Restaurant of Imagination is seeking to spark young imaginations and tastebuds whilst providing parents and caregivers with at least one stress-free meal this school break.
LEGO opens Superpower Academy. The LEGO Superpower Academy has opened its doors in Shoreditch, London. The experience forms part of the LEGO Group’s second annual World Play Day celebrations – a day dedicated to celebrating the benefits that play brings and encouraging families to take a moment to play.
LEGO brings you an exciting set that makes you forget fidget toys and pinball machines. LEGO, the iconic Danish toy manufacturer, is renowned for its innovative creations that capture the hearts and minds of builders young and old. In a world filled with pinball machines and fidget toys, LEGO takes a bold step forward with the introduction of the mesmerizing Magic Maze.
Smyths Toys to open new Irish distribution centre. The Irish Times reports that, following the purchase of Dundalk North Business Park for €8.9m to secure ownership of a 27-acre holding, a planning application was submitted for the development on the site of a distribution centre comprising a single warehouse of 37,289sq m (401,375sq ft) along with parking for 50 HGVs.
Gaming: Digital, Video, Hardware, and Development
Super Mario Bros. Wonder Is the Face of Nintendo’s Transformation. On the heels of The Super Mario Bros. Movie, the new Mario game sets up Nintendo’s future as more than a video game company. NINTENDO IS HAVING a very good year. The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom was a record-breaking success; Switch sales continue to climb even in the console’s sixth year. In Feb., the company opened Super Nintendo ...
***The above posted after tBR sent on October 20th***
Outright Games launches ‘The Grinch: Christmas Adventures’ video game. Outright Games collaborates with Dr. Seuss Enterprises to launch The Grinch: Christmas Adventures. This game is inspired by Dr. Seuss’ How the Grinch Stole Christmas! and follows the same plot of stealing Christmas from Who-ville. The Grinch: Christmas Adventures is a 2D platform adventure game where players help The Grinch...
Dovetail Games to bring Catan to Nintendo Switch. The game will be released on Nov. 9 with a special preorder promotion beginning Nov. 2. Catan, the popular board game where players build cities, is exploring new worlds on the Nintendo Switch. Catan – Console Edition from Dovetail Games will allow players to play the board game on the couch, online, or on the move.
Pinocchio-inspired soulslike Lies of P has topped 1 million sales. Lies of P has sold 1 million copies in one month, according to developer Neowiz. The macabre soulslike launched on September 18, 2023, and is a dark retelling of the story of Pinocchio. The title launched on console platforms including PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X | S, and was notably made available through Xbox Game Pass at launch.
Ubisoft secures exclusive cloud streaming rights to Activision Blizzard titles. Ubisoft now holds the cloud streaming rights for Call of Duty and all other Activision Blizzard titles releasing over the next 15 years. Microsoft agreed to hand those rights to Ubisoft to convince UK regulator the CMA to approve its Activision Blizzard merger.
Spider-Man 2: PS5 developer on stories, game length, and what's next. Spider-Man 2, one of the biggest games of the year, is out on PlayStation 5 this week. Reviews have praised the action-adventure's open world and technical leaps over its PS4 prequel.The PS5 exclusive, priced at £69.99 in the UK, has also reignited a debate about game-length, with its main story mission...
Xbox boss Phil Spencer is "all in" on revisiting dormant Activision Blizzard franchises. Last week, Microsoft completed its $68.7 billion acquisition of Activision Blizzard to provide Xbox Game Studios with a colossal shot in the arm. The deal means Microsoft now owns studios like Infinity Ward, Raven Software, Sledgehammer Games, Toys for Bob, and Treyarch.
Call of Duty will no longer do exclusivity deals, says Phil Spencer. Now that it owns Activision Blizzard and, by extension, Call of Duty, Microsoft plans to do away with the shooter's exclusivity deals. On the newest episode of the Official Xbox podcast, gaming head Phil Spencer said the shooter will have "100 percent parity" across all systems.
Kids can dive into a cuddly mystery in Clue: Squishmallows. Family game night just got cuddlier. The Op | USAopoly is continuing its trend of releasing funky pop-culture versions of classic board games with Clue: Squishmallows edition! Designed for kids ages 8 and up, this version of Clue is much softer than the traditional game of crime and killing.
Minecraft still the best-selling video game of all time (it's not even close). Announced during Minecraft Live 2023, Mojang’s massively popular survival crafting game has now sold over 300 million copies worldwide since its initial release in 2009. Minecraft Live 2023, the official and annual Minecraft conference run by Microsoft and Mojang, was held on October 15 and featured announcements of new features...
Safety and Counterfeiting
Fisher-Price is recalling about 21,000 units of some of their popular Thomas & Friends toys. Parents and customers are being advised to stop using Thomas & Friends Wooden Railway Troublesome Truck & Crates and Thomas & Friends Wooden Railway Troublesome Truck & Paint toys because a small magnet encased in a plastic piece that can connect the toys to additional train toy pieces "can detach or become loose...
***The above posted after October 20th***
7 recalled toys that sound like fun. Don't get us wrong. These are UNSAFE. Hear us out... We're not saying these toys should still be on the market. However, they do seem like they'd be a lot of fun. Unsafe fun, sure. But fun nonetheless. Some of these toys had classic runs before an unfortunate end. Others were taken off the market straight away.
When toys go wrong: hidden hazards to watch out for. Make sure the most wonderful time of the year isn’t the most dangerous one. Moms and dads will spend an average of 300 dollars on their kids’ toys this holiday season but before you buy, make sure the toys are safe. According to the US consumer product safety commission, emergency rooms treated over 224 thousand toy-related injuries last year.
Associations, Shows, Awards, Events, and Festivals
Licensing International Announces 2023 Rising Star Award Recipients. The Global Rising Star Awards recognizes the next generation of leaders around the world for their commitment, passion and contributions to their company and the licensing industry. Since 2012, Rising Stars are nominated each year from across the global brand licensing community. Recipients will be recognized at the Hall of Fame Gala...
***The above posted after October 20th***
The 16th Toy & Game International Excellence Awards (TAGIES) will take place this year at a new venue, promising an impressive lineup of honourees, surprises and entertainment. People of Play will honour outstanding achievements at the 16th Annual Toy & Game International Excellence Awards (The TAGIEs) on November 3rd. With the theme Heroes of Play and sponsored by Disney, Oxford Games, Mattel, The Michael Kohner Corporation, Hasbro, ASTRA, Longshore and Nextoy, the evening’s festivities will kick-off at 6:00pm with a preview of the PlayCHIC toy inspired looks that will be on the runway the next day at the Chicago Toy & Game Fair.
FOX NEWS - Chicago Toy & Game Fair hosts Young Inventor Challenge. Calling all kid inventors, or parents of children with a gift perfect for the toy and game industry! Registration is open for this year’s Young Inventor Challenge coming up next month.
People of Play will host another Young Inventor Challenge on Nov. 4. The Young Inventor Challenge (YIC) is a competition in which children ages 6-18 can pitch their designs for original toys and games to industry professionals, major companies, the general public, and members of the media. The challenge is a STEM-accredited educational experience, as it encourages young minds to be creative and employ both...
Toy Fair New Orleans Called Off as Toy Association Plots Reimagining … Again. The Toy Association responds to member concerns by changing course on controversial decision to move Toy Fair from New York. It was the bomb heard ’round the toy industry. Not even halfway through Toy Fair’s much-anticipated return to the Javits Center in New York City after a 3.5-year pandemic-fueled pause,
New York Toy Fair reports successful show. Visitors to the 118th North American Toy Fair were able to shop, explore and see the latest trends and innovations in toys and play at Javits Center in New York City from September 30th to October 3rd. Tens of thousands of products were on display by 1,021 exhibiting companies, including nearly 400 first-time Toy Fair exhibitors.
Spielwarenmesse 2024 to feature special section focused on Kidults. Toys are not just for kids, and Spielwarenmesse 2024 will highlight this fact on the big stage. From Jan. 30 to Feb. 3, 2024, Spielwarenmesse will have a new interactive special area in Hall 3A entitled “Life’s a Playground — Toys for Kidsters, Kidults & Co.” Here the world of game-playing adults will be celebrated through products from four categories...
Revealed! The Influentials 2023 shortlist. License Global is pleased to announce the shortlisted finalists for The Influentials 2023. The Influentials pays tribute to the most prolific executives influencing the business of brand licensing in ways that will change the face of how we do business in the years to come. The nominations have been counted, the judges have gathered and License Global is pleased to release...
The 2023 Good Housekeeping Best Toy Awards. When it came time to put together a list of the best toys of the year — our 16th time around — we had a few goals in mind: First, to ensure that we considered every aspect of the play experience, from taking the toy out of the box — is it easy? is the package sustainable? — through how well it would hold up after heavy use.
These five toys are regular finalists for Hall of Fame honors. Now fans can vote one in. They are playfully called the "forgotten five": A handful of toys — the pogo stick, the Fisher-Price Corn Popper, My Little Pony, PEZ dispensers, and Transformers — that regularly approach toybox royalty as finalists for the National Toy Hall of Fame, only to be tossed back on the pile. For one of them, this is the year..
'Ducks,' 'Across The Spider-Verse' win Harvey Awards. Third win for 'Chainsaw Man' and 'Lore Olympus'. The 2023 Harvey Awards were presented on Friday, October 13, in a ceremony held in the Javits Center during New York Comic Con. Both Lore Olympus and Chainsaw Man won the award for the third year in a row in their respective categories. The Harvey Awards Steering Committee is co-chaired by Nellie Kurtzman
MadeForMums Toy Awards winners crowned. With the help of almost 500 children and families, hundreds of toys have been tested and rated, and MadeForMums has announced the winners of the MadeForMums Toy Awards 2023. The list reflects the priorities and trends influencing parents’ choices in the peak toy-buying season leading up to Christmas.
Calling All Kids: Young Inventor Challenge With People Of Play. Creativity is one of the most transferable skills for kids and adults alike. Chicago Toys and Games Fair is one of the greatest places to cultivate this skill. The Young Inventor Challenge at the fair encourages kids of all ages to pitch their creative game or toy ideas to major toy companies… And joining us now is young inventor Tait Hansen and Mary Couzin...
Kidscreen is on location in the south of France as MIPJunior kicks off in sunny Cannes. The annual event caps off a summer that has been full of industry shake-ups, including two prolonged strikes and content budget cuts from streamers and broadcasters. One focus of this year’s MIPJunior conference program is demystifying emerging technology and financing opportunities.
The 2023 Good Housekeeping Best Toy Awards. For our annual Best Toy Awards, we test and recommend quality toys that will delight parents and kids alike. When it came time to put together a list of the best toys of the year — our 16th time around — we had a few goals in mind: First, to ensure that we considered every aspect of the play experience, from taking the toy out of the box — is it easy? is the package sustainable? —
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
David A. Miller, 91, died in Rye, NY on October 24, 2023. A long-time resident of White Plains, NY, he is survived by his wife of 69 years, Elizabeth (Dubitzky), children Alison Gjersvik (Gilbert), Susan, David A., Jr. (Karen), Nancy, and Deborah Sindell (Matt), grandchildren Elizabeth, Rachel, Benjamin, Matthew, David A., III (Trey), Chloe, Paige, Sam and Charlie, brother Richard J. (Judy) and sister-in-law Mildred Dubitzky. Graduate of University of Pennsylvania (Wharton) and NYU Law School and served in the Coast Guard. Co-founder with his brother of Eden Toys, a leading toy manufacturer, and later president of the Toy Industry Association (TIA) and chairman of the International Council of Toy Industries. He was inducted in the TIA Hall of Fame and served on the boards of Blythedale Childrens Hospital and Head Start White Plains and advised FIT's Toy Design Program. Board member of JCC White Plains (Kol Ami). A quiet formidable presence. Donations in his memory can be made to Blythedale Children's Hospital.
Yoshitaka Tamaki. Japanese artist Yoshitaka Tamaki passed away earlier in the year at 55 years old. Per Time Extension, Tamaki died in mid-July from lung cancer, and private service was held in his memory at the end of September.
On X, Tamaki's family said at the time that the service "was attended only by close family members."
Born in October 1967, Tamaki was primarily known for being a character designer on Climax Entertainment's games, notably the Shining series. His debut game was as an outline and storyboard artist on 1991's Shining in the Darkness.
Tamaki's final credited game is 2007's Shining Force EXA as a designer for the game's monsters.
Outside of those Shining games, he wrote (and drew art for) 1992's Landstalker and designed 1994's FEDA: The Emblem of Justice and 1997's FEDA 2: White Surge of the Platoon. In 1997, he formed his own studio Salamander Factory, which helped work on titles such as Shin Megami Tensei IV: Apocalypse and Project X Zone.
In 1999, he joined developer Swallowtails, which is credited with helping development on 2020's Captain Tsubasa: Rise of New Champions.
"I hope that the work that he devoted his life to as a game creator will always be remembered," wrote the Tamaki family. "Thank you very much."
Ken Lally, video game actor, video game voice actor Ken Lally has died at the age of 52 on Tuesday, October 10. At time of writing, the circumstances of his passing haven't been revealed, but it was confirmed by actor Eva La Dare, who worked with him on Capcom's Resident Evil 5.
"It’s still so hard to believe. We will miss you and your amazing talent," she wrote. "Love you, Ken. Rest well."
Lally voiced NPCs in video games such as Spider-Man: Miles Morales and Call of Duty: Infinite Warfare. He also had in main roles in titles like Mortal Kombat 9 (as Smoke, Shinnok and Goro), the remakes for Resident Evil 2 and Resident Evil 3 (Robert Kendo), and Wolfenstein II: The New Colossus (Wayne Woods).
Outside of games, he did guest roles in Heroes and Star Trek: Enterprise.
"He brought Smoke, Goro, and Shinnok back to life in Mortal Kombat (2011)," wrote NetherRealm on X. "Rest in Peace Ken Lally, you will be missed."
Herb Feldman, APRIL 1, 1942 – JULY 29, 2023, Founder, Feldman & Assoc, toy reps. He grew up in Bayside, Queens, NY and was a good athlete and a passionate NY Yankees fan from the very beginning. Herb was an entrepreneur and after only a few years of work, he founded his own company where he thrived as an independent toy representative. After his retirement from the toy business, he split his time between NJ and Florida where he loved to spend time with friends and family.
Herb is survived by his wife, Sharon Goodhart Feldman, son David Feldman(Lucia), sister Judy Baumgarten(Harry), daughter in law Hope Feldman-Glassgold(Steven), step children Michael Kahn(Sharon), Julie Maloof(Brian), and Ross Goodhart, and 9 grandchildren, Julia and Brittney Feldman, Ethan and Olivia Glassgold, Evan and Hailey Kahn, and Jacob, Laila, and Skylar Maloof.
Herb is predeceased by his wife Bonnie Feldman, son Scott Feldman, and wife Annette Feldman.
A funeral service for Herbert will be held Wednesday, August 2, 2023 at 11:00 AM at Bernheim-Apter-Kreitzman Suburban Funeral Chapel, 68 Old Short Hills Road, Livingston, New Jersey 07039. Following the funeral service will be a burial at 12:30 PM at Beth Israel Cemetery, 1098 Woodbridge Center Drive, Woodbridge, New Jersey 07095.
Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at www.bernheimapterkreitzman.com for the Feldman family.
Pam Dobson. Toy World is sad to report that much-loved retailer Pam Dobson passed away last Friday, on the 29th September.
Ely’s Toys of Woodford Green was owned by Peter and Pam Dobson for many years. Peter passed away some years ago, and we are sad to announce the death of Pam on 29th September.
Elys Toys, which started life in 1920, closed in 2001, at the time citing growing competition from larger toy retailers and supermarkets. Peter and Pam were members of both Concorde Toys and Youngsters and were immensely popular throughout the toy trade. Many an agent used to remark what favourites they were on the territory.
Ely’s Toys was a traditional toy shop that was a popular part of the local community. Over the years Pam, Peter and their staff become friends with many of their customers, many of whom would visit the shop, not just to buy toys, but also just “for a chat and a laugh.” When the business closed, regular shoppers were dismayed and said they were very sad to see it go.
Pam and Peter met thanks to Pam’s brother, who was a good friend of Peter’s during his national service. The couple married in 1958, and shortly moved to London. Several years later, they took over Ely’s Toys, overseeing its expansion from a very small business to a much larger toy shop, a development which involved buying up the premises next door.
Toy World would like to add its condolences to Pam’s daughter Kim and her family at this very sad time.
Domenic Bettini, Director of Business Development at Playview Brands, passed away unexpectedly this morning, at the age of 55. Bettini was an esteemed expert in the toy industry and was recently appointed to his role as Director of Business Development. He was incredibly passionate and had a tremendous impact on the toy industry, with more than 20 years of notable success.
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Toy Trade Monthly Issues
Adventure Media & Events (US)
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NYCC 2023: All the Trailers, Teasers, & Clips that Matter from New York Comic Con! (The Pop Insider)
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Kids Can Dive into a Cuddly Mystery in Clue: Squishmallows (The Toy Insider)
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Mattel Reveals MOTU and TMNT Mash-Up Toy Line (The Toy Book)
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Hasbro Kicks Off Transformers 40th Anniversary Product Line (The Toy Book)
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MGA Inks Deal with Cake to Distribute New ‘Armorsaurs’ Series (The Toy Book)
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Jazwares Partners with All Elite Wrestling to Donate 50,000 Toys This Holiday Season (The Toy Book)
aNb Media (US)
Toyworld (UK)
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Change of plan: North American Toy Fair to return to New York
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The Entertainer is the latest to release its Top Toys predictions
Licensing.biz Powered by Toyworld
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Natural History Museum announces collaboration with Galt Toys
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IMC’s Kitoons launches as broadcaster for third-party content
ICv2: The Business of Geek Culture (US)
- Free League Reveals Illustrated Edition of H.P. Lovecraft's 'The Dunwich Horror'
- 'Warhammer: The Old World' Gets a Date
- Wizards of the Coast Will Consolidate 'Magic: The Gathering' Product SKUs Further
- New 'D&D' Phunny Plush Toys Incoming
- Games Workshop Announces 'Warhammer 40,000 Kill Team: Salvation'
- Van Gogh Museum Promo Card Surge Leads to New Pokemon Center Offer
- Toy Fair Backs Down – Not Leaving New York
- Kevin Eastman Onboard with New Edition of 'TMNT & Other Strangeness RPG'
- Rolling for Initiative -- Another Pokemon Kerfluffle and RIP Dave Hoover
- TOTY Awards Game of the Year Revealed
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Thank you for being a reader of the Bloom Report. — Mary and Graeme
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
and we've loved working with him. Here is a fun and interesting interview with Phil.
If you would like to reach Phil: philip.bloom100@verizon.net
Publisher: Mary Couzin, Chicago Toy & Game Group, Inc.
Managing Editor: Graeme Thomson
Assistant Editor: Patrick Fisher
Not only does the Bloom Report give you all the news you need to know...
we give you all the news you didn't know you needed to know!" -Phil Bloom
Do you have news to share? Send us a note! mary@chitag.com
