During a Nintendo Direct on June 21,2023, The Pokémon Company International and Nintendo announced that Detective Pikachu Returns is scheduled to release exclusively for Nintendo Switch on October 6, 2023. More details were also shared for The Hidden Treasure of Area Zero, the upcoming downloadable content for the Pokémon Scarlet and Pokémon Violet video games.
Miraculous Ladybug fashion dolls and a vehicle inspired by the highly anticipated animated feature Miraculous: Ladybug & Cat Noir, The Movie, will debut this summer from Playmates Toys and ZAG. The product rollout is timed to coincide with the film’s release on Netflix on July 28, 2023, and theatrically in France, Germany, China, Belgium, Switzerland, Poland and the Eastern Europe region, Russia, Greece, Turkey, and Israël. Playmates Toys and ZAG continue their mission to deliver quality and engaging Miraculous toys and dolls. The line includes the Ladybug and Cat Noir fashion dolls; a limited-edition Marinette Grand Ball collector doll; and Marinette’s brand-new Volkswagen e-Beetle, inspired by her electric concept car which will be making its first appearance in the movie, alongside other vehicles in the Volkswagen ID. family!
Hips – and toys – don’t lie, the excitement is growing for the Toy of the Year (TOTY) Awards, hosted by The Toy Foundation (TTF). Taking place Friday, September 29 at Cipriani’s 42nd Street to kickoff Toy Fair, the TOTY Awards will roll out the best of the best as it’s a night to celebrate the very best in the toy industry. Featuring an exclusive performance by three-time Grammy Award winner and “Hips Don’t Lie” songwriter, Wyclef Jean, the TOTY celebration will also name the top toys, people, and campaigns in the toy industry, pay tribute to industry icons, and feature a one-of-a-kind auction. The best part, the night is the ultimate fundraiser that supports TTF’s work to deliver the extraordinary benefits of play to children in need.
Disguise, Inc, world-leading costume design and manufacturer, has announced worldwide rights to design, market, manufacture and distribute costumes, costume accessories, inflatables, adaptive costumes and trunk-or-treat kits for Hasbro’s Transformers: Rise of the Beasts. The latest installment in the Transformers movie series from Hasbro, a toy and game company, premiered globally on June 9th, 2023. Disguise is thrilled to introduce their new lineup for the movie featuring classic Transformers characters Optimus Prime and Bumblebee, as well as newcomers Rhinox, Optimus Primal, and Cheetor. The Transformers franchise has been a significant contributor to Disguise’s retail success and, after years of collaboration and development with Hasbro, they are confident that this new line will be a huge hit.
Angry Birds’ parent company Rovio Entertainment has partnered with award-winning educational gaming platform Legends of Learning to bring the globally-loved media franchise into the world of education. The partnership, which was facilitated by Angry Birds’ global licensing agency IMG, will result in a series of educational games that leverage the iconic characters and settings of the Angry Birds franchise. Using player-focused gaming experiences, interactive gameplay and hands-on problem-solving, the games are designed to help students learn important STEM concepts, ranging from collisions and forces to angle measurement.
Plush toy maker and lifestyle gift creator, Douglas Company, has taken the baking tradition to another level with the introduction of Scented Holiday Sugar Cookies that look good enough to eat! Mmm’ Mmmm’ Goooood! Cut-out decorated cookies with no mess! These micro-fiber plush cookies have just the right amount of rise and golden-brown edges. The frosted look is delicious and not at all sticky, but boy do they smell yummy. There are four in this initial assortment.
VidCon is back and just around the corner! YouTube is excited to return as the title sponsor and exclusive livestream sponsor for VidCon Anaheim 2023, providing attendees with new content and experiential activations across all three of VidCon’s signature tracks, in addition to taking the stage to deliver the Industry Track keynote address. Some of the biggest YouTube creators including Alan Chikin Chow, Blogilates, Colin and Samir, Ian Boggs, Jeenie.Weenie, KallMeKris, Ludwig, Manny MUA, SSSniperwolf, Steven He, Sydney Morgan and more will be attending and diving head first into VidCon – participating in engaging panel conversations, merch pop-ups, meetups, and more.
The American Specialty Toy Retailing Association (ASTRA) just wrapped up their 2023 Marketplace & Academy show in Columbus, OH, where thousands of new toys were featured, from plush to science kits to puzzles to toys you didn’t know your kids needed, but now can’t live without! The ASTRA team, composed of ASTRA staff, small retailers and Certified Play Experts, scoured the floor and spoke with members to discover the top trends in the industry.
Stokke, the Norwegian leading children’s premium products company, best known for its iconic Tripp Trapp chair, is partnering with Disney to launch a selection of premium products and accessories on July 5th in celebration of Disney’s 100th anniversary! From mealtime to bathtime to bedtime, Disney magic is captured in Disney and Stokke’s two new original patterns, “Mickey Signature” and “Mickey Celebration,” starring the one and only Mickey Mouse! Mickey Signature is a sophisticated, yet lighthearted monochrome pattern that incorporates a variety of elegant, hand-drawn Mickey Mouse heads, which are looking in all directions for the next adventure and are offset by simplified outlines of the Mickey Mouse silhouette. Every adorable element of this design sits on a warm beige background for a timeless, versatile look.