From the Editor: Turkey Time and the Return of the King



A record-setting weekend looms on the horizon as families return to physical shopping amid renewed excitement for the holidays. To make the season merrier, our sister publication, The Toy Insider, has revealed its annual list of holiday shopping tips. Meanwhile, Bob Iger has returned to the helm at Disney, a move that could have ramifications in the toy department. Read more…

Jazwares’ Squishmallows Wins Additional Toy of the Year Awards



The Toy Foundation awarded Squishmallows by Jazwares both the overall Toy of the Year Award and the People’s Choice Award to conclude the 23rd Toy of the Year (TOTY) Awards program. Read more…

Spin Master’s ‘PAW Patrol’ Expands With New Spinoff, ‘Rubble & Crew’



The 10th anniversary of PAW Patrol kicks off in February with the debut of Rubble & Crew, a TV spinoff focused on Rubble and his posse of construction-minded pups. The series takes place in a new location called Builder’s Cove. Read more…

Mattel Launches Digital Collectibles Marketplace



Mattel first jumped on the non-fungible token (NFT) trend more than a year ago with the launch of Hot Wheels NFT Garage. Now, the company is taking things a step further in the digital space by launching its own digital collectibles marketplace within its direct-to-consumer platform, Mattel Creations. Get the details at The Pop Insider…

Paramount's Reindeer in Here Prances Into Target



Paramount Consumer Products and Target launched a line of exclusive products tied to the premiere of the CBS original holiday special, Reindeer in Here. The collection includes a standalone plush, a new Deluxe Book & Plush Gift Set, and more. Read more…

Funko’s Pop!apalooza Reveals a Festival Lineup’s Worth of Music Collectibles



Funko continues to grow its presence in the music collectibles space with new Pop! Vinyl figures, box sets, and products inspired by The Cure, New Kids on the Block, Pantera, and more. See the lineup at The Pop Insider…

LEGO Reveals Its Tallest Structure Yet: The Eiffel Tower



“We wanted to find the ultimate LEGO expression for the engineering and architectural masterpiece that is the Eiffel tower,” says LEGO Designer Rok Zgalin Kobe about the 10,001-piece set that comes to retail beginning Nov. 25. Read more…

Ryan’s World Decks the Halls with Thanksgiving Parade Balloon, Holiday Special, and New Merch



On Thanksgiving, Red Titan from Ryan’s World will soar above New York City in the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade for the third time. To celebrate, pocket.watch, the studio behind Ryan’s World, is launching new products and collaborations with Roku and the Drone Racing League (DRL). Read more at The Toy Insider…

AtGames Levels Up with ChizSix Marketing & Media



ChizSix is leading digital advertising for AtGames’ 2022 holiday campaign. The new campaign, “Legends Level Up,” is intended to raise awareness for the AtGames Legends Arcade family of products. The line includes home arcade machines and pinball tables. Read more…

Project Genius CEO Brandi Pinsker Talks Brainteasers on the ‘Power Kid Podcast’



In this week’s episode of the “Power Kid Podcast,” host Phil Albritton of Power Kid Design welcomes Project Genius CEO Brandi Pinsker to the show. Listen here…

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Talkin’ Toys: Diaframma’s Jehan Hindo on a Big Year in Toy Advertising and What’s Coming in 2023



The Toy Book checks in with the Italian studio behind some of the most-watched toy commercials in the world for an update on this year and how potential clients can be best prepared for what’s to come in 2023. Read more…

Talkin’ Toys: Taking a Peek Under the Hood of Intek Toys’ Hot Wheels Range with Ronen Dzienciolski



The Toy Book catches up with Intek Toys to discuss the company’s partnership with Mattel and how innovation is taking place in a unique category: die-cast vehicle storage. Read more…

Outside the Box: Package Design Goes Seasonal



Ted Mininni, president and creative director at Design Force, delves into the nuances of designing great packaging with seasonal variations in mind from the start. One big example of a brand refresh with seasonal options: Peanuts. Read more…

FAO Schwarz Celebrates 160 Years of Wonder



The Toy Book explores the legacy of Frederick August Otto Schwarz and how his iconic toy store has become a powerful brand that’s reaching more kids and families than ever before. Read more…

Macy’s CEO Says Toys ‘R’ Us is Fueling Cross-Category Shopping



Macy’s Chairman and CEO Jeff Gennette says that Toys “R” Us at Macy’s is off to a strong start with 85% of Toys “R” Us customers cross-shopping in other departments. Read more…

Spin Master Acquires 4D Brands International



The company behind PAW Patrol and Rubik’s Cube entered into a deal to acquire Canada-based 4D Brands International. 4D is a designer and manufacturer of 3D puzzles and construction kits. Read more…

Moose Games Acquires Distribution Rights for Nine Arches



Nine Arches is a “curiously daring game of adventures” that encourages offline, real-world experiences. The deal brings the Nine Arches Legacy Edition, Travel Edition, and all future games into the Moose Games portfolio. Read more…

Analei Samasei’a Launches Think Brilliantly



Think Brilliantly is a boutique marketing and creative agency founded by industry veteran Analei Samasei’a, the former longtime marketing manager at Yvolution USA. The firm offers public relations, marketing, and design capabilities across the U.S., Europe, and Asia. Read more…

Craig Gerber Returns to Enchancia with ‘Sofia the First’ Spinoff, Extended Disney Deal



The Emmy Award-winning creator of Sofia the First is plotting a spinoff set in Royal Prep Academy as part of his extended deal with Disney Branded Television. Spin Master will offer toys based on his latest series, Firebuds, beginning next year. Read more…