2023 - Page 12 of 124 - aNb Media, Inc.

Warner Bros Discovery Announces All New Wonka Merchandise for Fans

Warner Bros Discovery Global Consumer Products (WBDGCP) is unveiling a sweet collection of global merchandise to celebrate the highly-anticipated release of Warner Bros Pictures’ big screen holiday spectacle, Wonka, arriving in theaters and in IMAX internationally beginning 6 December 2023 and in North America on December 15, 2023. Based on the extraordinary character at the center of Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, Roald Dahl’s most iconic children’s book and one of the best-selling children’s books of all time, “Wonka” tells the wondrous story of how the world’s greatest inventor, magician and chocolate-maker became the beloved Willy Wonka we know today. WBDGCP is rolling out the candy-colored carpet to celebrate the film with a full spectrum of premium products from sought-after licensees such as Converse, Fossil, Funko and more, while exclusive retail partner Bloomingdale’s will host iconic Wonka window displays and has unveiled The Carousel @ Bloomingdale’s: Wonka, an online and in-store shop filled with fun fashions, accessories and home goods inspired by the famous chocolatier.

Little Tikes Story Dream Machine Expands Portfolio of Story Collections Through Collaboration with Sesame Workshop

The Little Tikes Company, a wholly-owned subsidiary of MGA Entertainment (MGA), one of the largest and fastest growing privately held toy and entertainment companies in the world, introduced the Little Tikes Story Dream Machine to the classic bedtime routine for parents of young kids earlier this year. The innovative toy launched with a robust catalog of story collections for extended story time. The brand has announced an expansion to this catalog via a collaboration with Sesame Workshop, the global impact nonprofit organization behind Sesame Street, welcoming the new Sesame Street Elmo & Friends Collection to shelves this month. The Story Dream Machine is a portable projector for read-along children’s stories that doubles as a white noise machine and nightlight. Little Tikes and Sesame Street have each been a part of children’s lives from early childhood to adulthood for more than 50 years. Today’s announcement marks a timeless, cross-generational moment of connection through story time for kids, parents, and grandparents to enjoy just in time for the holiday season.

Funko Launches Updated Collection Valuation Feature in App, Based on eBay Marketplace Data

Funko, Inc (Nasdaq: FNKO) has announced a significant update to the Funko app: the integration of new collection valuation capabilities, based on eBay transaction data. The update enables the Funko community to price their Funko Collections with increased accuracy, by seamlessly connecting the Funko catalog with recent, verified sales data from the eBay marketplace. Since announcing a commercial agreement in 2022, under which eBay became the preferred secondary marketplace for Funko, the companies have created unique and meaningful experiences for the collecting community, including a “List it on eBay button” in the Funko app, and access to exclusive product drops via Funko’s storefront on eBay. This latest app update represents the continued collaboration by the two companies to deliver best-in-class experiences for the Funko community and collectors at large.

Mattel Names Michelle Mendelovitz Head of Mattel Television Studios

Mattel, Inc (NASDAQ: MAT) announced today that Michelle Mendelovitz has been named Head of Mattel Television Studios. Mendelovitz will oversee the development, production, and distribution of Mattel’s robust slate of episodic content on broadcast and streaming globally. Mendelovitz reports to Josh Silverman, Chief Franchise Officer, Mattel. Ynon Kreiz, Chairman and CEO of Mattel, said: “Michelle is a powerful creative leader with a wealth of experience working with top studios and creators to make innovative, quality content across genres and platforms. We are excited for her to join at a time of such momentum for the company, and for the important role she will play in developing stories that resonate in culture and growing Mattel’s global fan base.”

WildBrain London Munich Angela Reuber-Gundolf Clare Vosper Mortimer

WildBrain CPLG Bolsters In-House Services and Commercial Teams with New Executive Hires in London and Munich

WildBrain CPLG, one of the world’s leading entertainment, sport and brand licensing agencies, has added two highly experienced executives to bolster its in-house services and commercial teams in London and Munich, respectively. In London, Clare Vosper Mortimer has joined WildBrain CPLG’s in-house services team in the new role of VP, Finance and Operations, overseeing the company’s finance function and enhancing its global in-house service offering for partners as it continues to see significant growth. With new offices opened recently in Indonesia and the Philippines as part of the company’s expansion into APAC—bringing the global total to 23 offices driving business in over 100 territories—WildBrain CPLG’s in-house services team is scaling to better support its partners around the world. Clare’s focus will be on enabling even stronger partner-centric financial and operational services, augmenting WildBrain CPLG’s best-in-class suite of other in-house services which include creative, legal and partnerships. She reports to Maarten Weck, EVP, Global Partnerships and Licensing.

2023 National Toy Hall of Fame Inductees Announced

It’s official! The National Toy Hall of Fame has inducted baseball cards, Cabbage Patch Kids, Fisher Price Corn-Popper, and NERF for 2023. The Fisher-Price Corn Popper is the special, fourth inductee in honor of the hall’s 25th anniversary and was chosen by popular vote from a group of “Forgotten Five” finalists. All four toys have been enshrined and are on view at The Strong National Museum of Play, home to the National Toy Hall of Fame. “These four deserving inductees represent a great blend of types of play for people of all ages,” says Christopher Bensch, vice president for collections and chief curator. “Baseball cards encourage lifelong playing and collection. Cabbage Patch Kids continue to encourage imagination and storytelling for kids. Fisher-Price Corn Popper, which is a forgotten finalist no longer, is a great activity for toddlers. NERF toys are designed for indoor and outdoor activity, and they often find kids and grownups playing together. This is an excellent class to honor the 25th anniversary of the National Toy Hall of Fame.”

Toys”R”Us to Open a Flagship Store at Mall of America Just In Time for the Holiday Shopping Season

WHP Global (“WHP” or the “Company”), parent company of Toys”R”Us, announced the location of its second US flagship store at Mall of America, the largest shopping and entertainment destination in North America. Set to open just before Thanksgiving, this marks the first flagship store in partnership with Go! Retail Group with additional flagship locations opening next year. Today in the United States, Toys”R”Us has a global flagship store at American Dream, and through a landmark partnership with Macy’s over 452 Toys”R”Us shop-in-shops are open inside every Macy’s store nationwide.

‘Miraculous – Tales of Ladybug & Cat Noir’ Celebrates the Holidays with the Launch of New Products

Enter a world of imaginative play with all new products launching in time for the holidays for fans of the globally popular animated series ZAG Heroez Miraculous – Tales of Ladybug & Cat Noir and the blockbuster animated feature, Miraculous: Ladybug & Cat Noir, The Movie. Set in modern-day Paris, Marinette and Adrien magically transform into crime-fighting superheroes Ladybug and Cat Noir to protect their beloved city from evil… with a little help from magical jewels known as Miraculouses and their Kwamis. Ladybug and Cat Noir are partners in action, but in their normal lives, neither of them is aware of the other one’s superhero identity! And while Marinette has a crush on Adrien, Adrien is in love with Marinette’s alter ego, Ladybug. With action, comedy, romance, relationship dynamics, and intriguing villains, “Miraculous” is a coming-of-age story about kids learning about believing in themselves and finding their true power – that they are the hero behind the mask!

ZAG Appoints Michael Berreth to New Franchise Marketing Director Role

Global independent animation studio ZAG continues to build its brand roster on a global scale and has created a new Franchise Marketing Director role, with the appointment of veteran industry marketing executive Michael Berreth to the position. The announcement was made by Jeremy Zag, Founder and CEO, ZAG. Michael Berreth joins ZAG with over 20-years of experience working on some of the world’s most beloved consumer brands including Disney’s Winnie-the-Pooh and girl property Strawberry Shortcake. In this new role, reporting to Julian Jacob Zag, EVP, Global Operations and Head of Consumer Products, he will be responsible for steering franchise marketing strategy for ZAG’s brands. These include the globally popular Miraculous™, which follows the adventures of secret superheroes Ladybug and Cat Noir as they defend their beloved city of Paris from evil villains; and the cinematic CG-adventure series Ghostforce, which centers on three elementary school students who secretly form a superhero team—the Ghostforce—to fight the ghosts of New York.