March 2023 - Page 4 of 11 - aNb Media, Inc.

Erik Quam Joins Smart Toys and Games as Vice President of New Product and Business Development

Toy industry veteran, Erik Quam has joined Smart Toys and Games Inc, as the company’s VP of New Product and Business Development. Quam joins the US-based team and will also work closely with world headquarters based in Belgium. Quam is no stranger to the toy industry. His career spans more than twenty-five years, and he has played an instrumental role in the launch of several successful brands in the specialty toy arena. He is a well-known advocate for the inventor community and has worked closely with established inventors while also giving voice to young designers and inventors as a respected inventor relations executive.

Mattel Television Announces New Special, ‘Thomas & Friends: The Mystery of Lookout Mountain’

Mattel, Inc announced an all-new animated adventure, Thomas & Friends: The Mystery of Lookout Mountain. Thomas & Friends: The Mystery of Lookout Mountain will stream globally on Netflix on Saturday, April 1. The special will first broadcast on Canada’s Treehouse TV on Sunday, April 2 (6:30 pm ET) and in the US, Cartoonito on Cartoon Network on Monday, April 3 (7:30 am ET). Tied to Autism Acceptance Month in April, the movie is the first Thomas & Friends special to feature Bruno the Brake Car, the iconic franchise’s newest friend, an autistic character who was introduced to fans in September 2022 as part of the popular Thomas & Friends: All Engines Go series.

Jakks Pacific Reveals New ‘Super Mario Bros Movie’ Toys with a Super Audience Giveaway

JAKKS Pacific, Inc, leading toy manufacturer and Disguise Inc, world leaders in costume design have announced their panel at WonderCon in Anaheim, CA to take place on Friday, March 24, 2023 from 5pm – 6pm in Room 213CD. Get an exclusive sneak peek of JAKKS Pacific’s 2023 toy and collectible releases for Nintendo + Illumination’s new animated action-comedy, The Super Mario Bros Movie, including the Rumble R/C Kart Racer at the WonderCon panel. It is a full-function 2.4GHz R/C with a range of 100 feet. The tail pipes light up and rumble just like in the movie and Mario’s head and hands move when the vehicle turns!

Kabillion Announces Debut of New “Woody Woodpecker“ Animated Shorts

Kabillion, a top five AVOD network, announces another classic character joining the network on Wednesday, March 22. “Woody Woodpecker,” a series of animated shorts produced by Splash Entertainment, commissioned by Universal 1440 Entertainment, a production arm of Universal Filmed Entertainment Group, will be broadcast on both Kabillion’s cable and OTT services. The shorts, directed by Mike Milo, feature an array of the top animation voice artists in the business today, including Eric Bauza as “Woody Woodpecker,” Tara Strong as “Winnie Woodpecker,” Tom Kenny as “Wally Walrus,” Nika Futterman as “Knothead,” Kevin Michael Richardson as “Buzz,” and Dee Bradley Baker as “Chilly Willy.”

HGTV Brings Mattel’s Famous Dreamhouse to Life in New ‘Barbie Dreamhouse Challenge’ Hosted by Ashley Graham

One of the world’s most iconic toys will become reality when HGTV taps into the zeitgeist of Mattel’s Barbie in its new competition series, Barbie Dreamhouse Challenge, set to premiere on HGTV this summer. Inspired by the singular, enduring popularity of the global icon herself and by the excitement surrounding the upcoming release of the Warner Bros. Pictures film, Barbie, HGTV will harness the unmatched power of its corporate siblings to support four nostalgia-filled episodes and execute Barbie-themed cross-network content and promotions. Punctuated by celebrity guests, pop culture history and a plethora of Barbie surprises, Barbie Dreamhouse Challenge will be hosted by supermodel, designer, author and entrepreneur Ashley Graham and feature eight teams of HGTV superstars as they transform a Southern California home into a real-life Barbie Dreamhouse. In the end, one passionate Barbie fan will get the chance to win a once-in-a-lifetime stay in a home created for dreamers.

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PlayMonster Grows Strategic Sales Channels with New Hires Melanie Bailey and Dave Trentman

Leading international toy and game company PlayMonster Group LLC announced the growth of its sales division as it welcomes Melanie Bailey, National Account Manager, and Dave Trentman, Sales Manager Value Channel. The two toy and game veterans will lead PlayMonster’s specialty business and value channels, respectively. “Melanie and Dave are sales powerhouses who will be key in propelling PlayMonster’s trajectory in two strategic channels, as the retail landscape continues to evolve,” said Steve Adolph, PlayMonster CEO. “They are industry pros who have a proven track record in building long-standing relationships while delivering product and innovation to their partners. We’re thrilled to welcome them both during this pivotal time for PlayMonster.”

The Elmer’s Brand Launches New ‘Elmer’s Squishies’ Activity to Inspire Kids’ Imagination

Elmer’s, the #1 glue brand for crafts in school and at home, is expanding its activity collection with new Elmer’s Squishies, designed to inspire your child’s imagination. This DIY kit includes everything to make your own customized, surprise squishy toy. Simply mix the ingredients with colored glue, pour into the Mystery Mold, and after 60 minutes, pop out your mystery character and play! With more than 80 characters, including 12 rare characters, kids can play and swap with friends as they aim to collect them all for the ultimate adventure. The fun continues on ElmersSquishies.com where kids can learn more about their characters, including their names, birthdates, families, friends and even rivals, to bring storytelling into their play.

‘Brand-new’ Partnership Formed by Poetic Brands and Brand Collective

Poetic Brands, the specialist apparel licensee for adults, kids and babywear, and Brand Collective, known for its unique tech and lifestyle products, are delighted to announce they will be forming a collaboration to extend the potential leverage of both businesses. Being part of the PDS Multinational Group and already hugely successful as separate enterprises, the coming together of Poetic Brands and Brand Collective will see these two dynamic sister businesses making the most of each other’s skills and experience.

Paragon FX Batman Radio and Wizard Of Oz Slippers Make Collector’s Dream Come True

Pop-Culture aficionados are ecstatic to have an opportunity to add “grail” items to their collections thanks to Paragon FX Group. Dorothy’s ruby slippers and the 1966 Batman’s Bat-radio are two of the most recent museum quality items offered by the collective of artisans. Many screen used props are far outside the reach of most collectors, while the picture perfect recreations from Paragon FX Group are accessible for fans.