October 2023 - Page 11 of 13

Spookley the Square Pumpkin Joins the Tonies Collection of Characters

Holiday Hill Farm, home of beloved holiday icon Spookley the Square Pumpkin, and tonies, the world’s largest interactive audio platform for children, today announced the launch of the first-ever Spookley Tonie. The Spookley Tonie will appear at—and soon be disappearing from—major retailers and specialty stores across North America and online at Amazon and tonies.com. The Spookley Tonie is appropriate for children ages 3+. The Spookley Tonie features 25 audio tracks that combine songs from the popular Spookley movies and animated music videos with a brand-new story from Spookley himself of the amazing things that happened to him since the day he arrived at Holiday Hill Farm — especially just before Halloween that year. Along their audio journey, kids can dance to popular songs such as “The Transylvania Twist” and “The Boo Song,” and learn the importance of self-acceptance, friendship and empathy.

Cloudco Entertainment Welcomes New Talent Charlotte Payne and Noelle Nuñez to Amplify Global Licensing Initiatives

Cloudco Entertainment, the creative force behind iconic brands like The Care Bears, Holly Hobbie, and Madballs, is taking its Global Licensing team to new heights. The company proudly announces the arrival of Charlotte Payne, who steps into the role of Director of International Licensing, and Noelle Nuñez, who joins as Manager of Retail Development. Charlotte Payne takes the reins as the Director of International Licensing. Armed with over a decade of experience in international licensing, Charlotte honed her skills at Warner Brothers Discovery UK/EMEA. There, she led international brand and business strategies, orchestrated marketing retail activations, and curated fresh business development initiatives across a thrilling assortment of entertainment and lifestyle brands. Her mission at Cloudco is to redefine brand strategies and accelerate Cloudco into the global spotlight. Charlotte will be reporting to Robert Prinzo, Head of Global Licensing, to bring Cloudco’s portfolio of beloved characters to fans around the world and will be based in the UK.

Mattel Makes Wishes Come True with Disney’s WISH Product Collection

In advance of the upcoming November release of Disney’s highly anticipated animated musical, WISH, Mattel is unveiling a unique new product collection inspired by the movie. With Mattel’s new WISH doll line, fans excited for the film can now let their imaginations wander and bring their wishes to life.

Women In Toys, Licensing & Entertainment Unveils 2023 Wonder Women Award Winners in NYC

Women in Toys, Licensing & Entertainment (WiT) is proud to announce its 2023 Wonder Women Winners, who were celebrated at the 18th annual Wonder Women Awards at Pier 60, Chelsea Piers in New York City. The leading global organization focused on advancing and advocating for women in the toy, consumer products, licensing and entertainment industries, also honored Laura Zebersky with the Visionary Leader Award; Lisa McKnight, who received the Trailblazer Award, and Nyla Hayes, recipient of the Future Leader Award. The Wonder Women Awards honors top female executives, thought leaders, entrepreneurs and other changemakers for their extraordinary accomplishments and impact within the toy, licensing and the entertainment industries.

Events News

Moose Toys Wins and Wows at 2023 Toy of the Year Awards

Moose Toys, an innovative leader in the toy industry, won two prestigious accolades, including Champion of Diversity & Inclusion for Art Director Brent Bell in the inaugural people-focused awards, and an inaugural Marketing Campaign of the Year Award (Silver) at the Toy Foundation’s 24th annual Toy of the Year (TOTY) Awards. The TOTY Award winners were announced at an awards ceremony at Cipriani’s 42nd Street in New York City, opening day of The Toy Association’s 2024 Preview and 2023 Holiday Market. “A dynamic, dedicated and zealously active leader, Brent was the catalyst for adding the LQBTQIA+ Workstream to Moose’s global workplace D&I initiatives,” said Paul Solomon, CEO, Moose Toys. “Under his leadership, Brent and his small team of volunteers designed a program that supports Moose’s commitment to building a workplace where everyone can be themselves and thrive. We look forward to becoming further educated and enlightened under his thoughtful leadership and are so proud that his important efforts are being recognized and rewarded.”

MGA’s Miniverse Announces First-Ever Exclusive TikTok Reality Competition Series, ‘Bite Size’

MGA Entertainment, one of the largest and fastest growing privately held toy companies in the world, has announced the premiere of its new reality competition series called Bite Size exclusively on TikTok, from its globally popular brand, MGA’s Miniverse, a booming miniature collectible brand recognized for its virality across social and prominence in the cultural zeitgeist. With new MGA’s Miniverse collections launching this year as part of its iconic Make It Mini Food Diner and Café Editions, Make It Mini Lifestyle, and more, the TikTok-born brand is an interactive world of make-it-yourself mini collectibles. The original and first-ever make it collectible line, MGA’s Miniverse combines miniatures with a DIY element like no other brand on the market today. The brand has taken over the social sphere, racking up more than one billion views of #Miniverse on TikTok, and selling out fast as they hit shelves around the world. In fact, MGA currently has patents pending for its MGA’s Miniverse Make It Mini lines.

WHP Global Announces Toys”R”Us Retail Expansion to Air, Land and Sea

WHP Global (“WHP” or the “Company”), parent company of Toys”R”Us, unveils bold new plans for the expansion of the iconic toy brand. The Company announced a partnership with Go! Retail Group to roll out Toys”R”Us flagship stores nationwide in the U.S. beginning in 2024. In addition, WHP is set to bring Toys”R”Us to the travel industry with a new retail experience for airports and cruise ships. The first Toys”R”Us airport store will open in November at Dallas Fort Worth International Airport through a partnership with Duty Free Americas. “The Toys”R”Us brand is growing fast and our expansion into air, land and sea is a testament to the brand’s strength,” said Yehuda Shmidman, Chairman and CEO of WHP Global. “Since acquiring Toys”R”Us, we have increased our global retail footprint by more than 50% with openings in the United States, United Kingdom, India, Dubai, and Mexico. We now have over 1,400 stores and e-commerce sites across 31 countries, and as we head into 2024, we are excited to bring Toys”R”Us to consumers everywhere, whether you’re visiting one of our stores at Macy’s, at our flagships, in an airport, or onboard a cruise ship.”

CoComelon Introduces ‘Nina’s Familia,’ Bringing An Authentic Mexican-American Experience To Kids Entertainment

Moonbug Entertainment, a subsidiary of Candle Media, has announced the launch of Nina’s Familia, the newest CoComelon spinoff series starring JJ’s lovable, sporty classmate and friend, Nina Reyes. First debuting on CoComelon in 2019, Nina is ready to take on the world with all new adventures full of excitement, fun, friends and of course, familia. Nina’s Familia is an extension of the CoComelon universe, but now from the Reyes family perspective. Through the same style of three-minute songs and nursery rhymes that made CoComelon a worldwide phenomenon, children will now experience stories of family, social-emotional learning, positivity and healthy habits through the lens of a bilingual multigenerational Mexican-American family.

Unleash the Animatronic Chaos with Funko Games’ Five Nights at Freddy’s Fightline

Ahead of GameStop Expo, Funko Games recently announced their all-new collectible battle board game, Five Nights at Freddy’s FightLine. Arriving this October exclusively at GameStop, the award-winning tabletop gaming studio will offer a Premier Set and expansive Character Packs to build teams and go head-to-head in this battle of mechanical monstrosities. As a leader within the gaming industry, Funko Games consistently creates successful collectible game lines, offering immersive board game experiences to casual fans and board game enthusiasts alike.