Exclusive: JAKKS Pacific Set to Unleash Sonic Prime Toy Collection this Summer 

Gotta go fast … into the Shatterverse! JAKKS Pacific in collaboration with SEGA of America will launch a new extension to its long-running line of Sonic the Hedgehog toys and collectibles with a range of products inspired by Sonic Prime and The Toy Book has your first look. Read more…

Calling All Toy and Game Makers: Submit Your New Products for The Toy Insider’s 2023 Holiday Gift Guide!



The toy industry’s most legendary consumer gift guide is back for another festive holiday season! The Toy Insider, the source for the hottest kids’ toys and gifts, has opened submissions for consideration for its 18th annual Holiday Gift Guide! All submissions are due by June 16. Read more at The Toy Insider…

Spin Master Unveils New Interactive Digital Pet Bitzee



This week, Spin Master unveiled a breakthrough in the digital pet category with its new interactive digital pet Bitzee. Housed inside a purple pod, Bitzee pets are colorful displays that kids can touch, feel, and interact with in a new kind of play experience. Read more…

Jazwares Partners With Sanrio as Master Toy Licensee for Hello Kitty and Friends

The maker of Squishmallows is adding another pop culture property to its portfolio. Jazwares inked a deal to serve as the global master toy licensee for the Hello Kitty and Friends brand from Sanrio. Jazwares will design, manufacture, and market a varied line of toys featuring Sanrio characters, expected to launch in 2024. Read more…

Mattel Plans Series of Activations and Sponsorships at Toy Fair 2023



Mattel is planning  a series of activations and sponsorships to take place throughout Toy Fair 2023. Mattel is sponsoring Toy Fair’s Hospitality Lounge as well as the Student Congress, which encourages students to learn about the toy industry as a potential future career. Read more…

The Dark Knight Returns to LEGO for a Massive New Batcave Set



The Dark Knight is returning to his brooding brick form for a set that’s sure to be at the top of any LEGO lover’s wish list. Complete with 3,981 pieces, the new LEGO Batman Returns Batcave Shadow Box set brings fans into Bruce Wayne’s vigilante man cave as they build one of DC Comics’ most iconic locations brick by brick. Read more at The Pop Insider…

Licensing Expo: It Starts Here!



The licensing industry is gearing up for Licensing Expo, taking place June 13-15 at the Mandalay Bay Convention Center in Las Vegas. The world’s biggest licensing show will be packed with brands seeking quality partnerships and collaborations. While “fashion” is the overall theme for this year’s event, toy and game makers will be out in full force alongside the top intellectual property owners in the world. Read more…

Disguise Enters Licensing Agreement with MGA Entertainment



The costumes and seasonal division of JAKKS Pacific inked a multi-year partnership deal with MGA Entertainment to design, manufacture, and distribute costumes and accessories globally for MGA brands including L.O.L. Surprise!, Rainbow High, Little Tikes, and Bratz. Read more…

WildBrain Secures New Licenses, Partnerships for Teletubbies



Teletubbies had its start as a live-action British series for children, first released in 1997. The brand has endured since then, with products, new shows, and more featuring the four colorful characters. WildBrain, known for its kids’ content, is continuing the trend by securing a number of new offerings for its Teletubbies franchise. Read more

Bandai Namco Seeks to Expand Tamagotchi into Lifestyle Consumer Products

Bandai Namco Toys & Collectibles America is heading to Licensing Expo with plans to expand the Tamagotchi brand into lifestyle consumer products geared toward the millennial market. Read more…

Skip Hop Readies Daniel Tiger’s Neighborhood Products



9 Story Brands and Fred Rogers Productions inked Skip Hop’s first-ever licensing deal for Daniel Tiger’s Neighborhood. The license covers backpacks, non-pedal ride-on toys, and kids’ mealtime items. Read more…

Talkin' Toys: Retevis Kids Connects Families with Walkie-Talkies



Communication is a two-way street and Retevis Kids knows all about that as a manufacturer of wireless, two-way communication equipment and accessories for both personal and commercial use. Retevis also makes products for kids, including walkie-talkies in colorful styles and fun shapes, such as mice, owls, robots, and more. Read more…

Slot Car Renaissance: The Race is On for Kids, Families, and Hobbyists



Slot cars raced onto the scene in 1912 when the Lionel Train Co. first introduced the idea of a four-wheeled vehicle riding a center-aligned rail set between the toy train tracks the company was known for. While the concept wasn’t an immediate hit and Lionel shifted its focus back to trains a few years later, decades of evolution dropped the green flag for a slot racing boom. Read more…

ASTRA Heads to the Buckeye State



With ASTRA’s Marketplace & Academy fast approaching, the excitement is building every day. This event is definitely “more than a toy show,” and this year, increased offerings make this statement truer than ever before. Read more…

Giving Back: Douglas Proves Smaller Toy Companies Can Invest in Local Communities

Douglas may be on the smaller side in the toy space, with about 55 employees total, but that hasn’t stopped the company from finding ways to give back to Keene, New Hampshire, the town in which it is based. The plush manufacturer juggles a variety of initiatives that provide aid across three distinct areas including arts, helping animals, and helping children. Read more…

Toys 'R' Us, Babies 'R' Us Canada Plots Expansion



The retailer will open nine new 25,000-square-foot Toys “R” Us stores and two new 24,000-square-foot Babies “R” Us locations. In total, this expansion adds more than 300,000 square feet of retail space and brings the company’s store fleet to 107. Read more…

Nintendo’s ‘The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom' Sells 10 Million Units Worldwide in Three Days



In just three days, Tears of the Kingdom has become the fastest-selling Nintendo game ever in the Americas. The game is a direct sequel to 2017’s The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild and is expected to spark additional sales for the Nintendo Switch. Read more…

Fisher-Price Debuts College Savings Mastercard



Mattel’s Fisher-Price launched the Fisher-Price College Savings Mastercard in partnership with Concerto Card Company, a platform that develops co-branded credit programs, and Gift of College, a gift registry that makes it easy to open new 529 accounts and accept contributions. Read more…

In Memoriam: Hasbro Legend Mark Boudreaux



Legendary toy designer Mark Boudreaux has become one with the Force. Best known for his work on Star Wars, Boudreaux retired from Hasbro in 2020 following a 43-year career working on some of the most iconic toys and vehicles inspired by a galaxy far, far away. Read more…

Toikido Appoints Darryl Lai as Managing Director for the Americas, Establishes a U.S. Division



Industry veteran Darryl Lai is set to take on the mantle of Managing Director for the Americas at Toikido. The London-based entertainment company is establishing Toikido USA in an effort to bolster Toikido’s brand and merchandising efforts to a worldwide audience. Read more…

Sesame Workshop Promotes Valerie Mitchell Johnston to EVP, Legal & Business Affairs, and General Counsel



Sesame Workshop, the nonprofit media and educational organization behind Sesame Street, has promoted Valerie Mitchell Johnston to Executive Vice President, Legal & Business Affairs, and General Counsel, effective July 1. In addition, Johnston has been named Board Secretary for Sesame Workshop. Read more…