February 2024 - aNb Media, Inc.

Popular Poppy Playtime Universe Continues Expansion with Official Poppy Playtime Forever Game Launching on Roblox

Mob Entertainment, a rapidly-growing transmedia entertainment company, creators of the successful Poppy Playtime franchise and Huggy Wuggy global phenomena, has announced its collaboration with Jazwares, a leading global toy company and their renowned game studio to introduce the official game “Poppy Playtime Forever” to the Roblox platform. This marks a significant milestone in expanding the immersive gaming and user-generated content experience within the beloved Poppy Playtime universe. Set to launch on February 29, Poppy Playtime Forever lets players join forces with up to 10 players to overcome challenges, survive, and escape the confines of the Playtime Co. toy store, while unlocking new environments and creating user generated content along the way. Players will encounter some familiar faces throughout the game, including Huggy Wuggy and Kissy Missy.

BoxLunch Celebrates 30 Years of DreamWorks Animation With Exclusive Collection

Fandom-forward retailer BoxLunch is honoring DreamWorks Animation in their latest collaboration, available now and in stores. Inspired by Kung Fu Panda, How to Train Your Dragon, and Shrek, this 25-piece collection captures the joy these endearing films brought to the silver screen. Whether you’re visiting Po at the Valley of Peace, exploring the skies with Toothless, or kicking back in Shrek’s swamp, this assortment features t-shirts, woven tops, and pajamas, highlighting memorable moments across each franchise. The latest DreamWorks Animation collection from BoxLunch uniquely conveys fandoms built over the years by these adventurous, comedic and heartfelt stories. Each of these items are must-haves and with every $10 spent across the retailer’s themed product offerings, BoxLunch provides a meal to a person in need through its philanthropic partnerships, including Feeding America.

TV Rights for Puffin’s ‘Where’s Spot?’ Have Been Optioned for TV by Guru Studio

Puffin, part of Penguin Random House Children’s UK, is pleased to announce that the TV rights to its best-selling and hugely popular children’s book series Spot, have been optioned by Guru Studio, an industry leader in animated storytelling. Eric Hill’s loveable puppy Spot first appeared in 1980 in the first ever lift-the-flap storybook, Where’s Spot? and has since become a perennial best-seller with over 65 million books sold worldwide. The books have been translated into over 60 languages including braille and sign language across more than 20 formats including lift-the-flap books, board books and novelty titles with Puffin releasing new titles every year. The bestselling series has enjoyed notable recent growth throughout many key global territories including the US and Australia. In the UK, over 1 million Spot books have been sold since 2020 alone, more than double the volume sold in the prior 4 years.

Wind Sun Sky Partners with Da Vinci to Distribute Future Chicken Shortform Content Globally

Wind Sun Sky Entertainment (WSS), innovators in multi-platform entertainment, has partnered with Da Vinci, leaders in streaming content to families around the world, to expand the reach of Future Chicken, a multi-platform eco-initiative for kids, globally. Future Chicken is a climate justice initiative for kids (6-10+) created to address the eco-anxiety they are experiencing today by leveraging evidence-based positive storytelling to let children know that there is hope for the planet and that they can make a difference when it comes to their future. In November, Future Chicken launched in multiple formats of content, on Roblox, YouTube and website. Acknowledging that kids love to watch shortform content, a Future Chicken ‘Ecotainment’ shorts series laid the foundation for launch. A mixed media content offering, Future Chicken shorts feature Potato the Chicken (aka Future Chicken) and her team of planet protecting friends highlighting to kids the positive things happening to support the future of the environment.

Bene Buddies Welcomes Haylo into its Corral of World’s 1st Token Reward System in Plush

Parents, teachers, and childhood therapists in need have a friend indeed with Bene Buddies. This unique teaching toy set features a large plush, a storybook lesson and reward tokens to be inserted into a plush bear, dog, turtle and soon, a horse. It’s the first of its kind in the toy industry! Say hello to Bene (pronounced Benny) Bear and buddies Sparkle the Dog and Seawhee the Turtle. In April they will be joined by Haylo The Horse – each priced at $39.99 per boxed set. Amazingly, this reward token system – explained in each enclosed book — allows children to use them again and again by practicing good character traits like sharing or being respectful. Kids that deal, in the moment, with emotions, behavior modification and giving to others can earn a reward token. The opportunities to do “good” are endless!

Hasbro Launches US Pre-Orders for Popular ‘Life in Reterra’ Community (Re)Building Game Experience

Hasbro has announced a new community (re)building game, Life in Reterra, available for US pre-orders now. Life in Reterra takes place in a unique, bright post-apocalyptic setting where the world as we know it is an overgrown memory. Through this immersive experience, remnants of the old world become the foundation for something new. With three ready-to-play themed building sets, players can dive into the challenge of constructing their unique communities. The game unfolds as participants take turns laying tiles that represent diverse terrains, filling them with buildings and inhabitants to cultivate their society.

Mattel Partners with Zynga’s Rollic to Launch New Barbie Mobile Game Later This Year

Mattel (NASDAQ: MAT), a leading global toy company and owner of one of the strongest portfolios of children’s and family entertainment franchises in the world, has announced a new partnership with Rollic, a subsidiary of Zynga Inc, a wholly-owned publishing label of Take-Two Interactive (NASDAQ: TTWO), to introduce a new mass-market Barbie mobile game. The game is slated to launch later this year. Mattel’s ongoing expansion of its licensed digital games portfolio is part of a strategic initiative to bolster its digital games business. This endeavor aims to provide captivating and engaging entertainment experiences based on Mattel’s beloved intellectual properties that will resonate with fans across generations.

Peanuts Returns to the Seoul Living Design Fair Celebrating the 50th Anniversary of the Beagle Scout

WildBrain CPLG, a trusted licensing partner for leading brands worldwide, is pleased to announce that it will be in attendance at Korea’s largest interior design and lifestyle exhibition, The Seoul Living Design Fair 2024, with a comprehensive range celebrating the 50th anniversary of the Beagle Scouts from beloved character brand Peanuts. WildBrain CPLG represents the Peanuts brand in Korea and additional territories across Asia Pacific, China and Europe on behalf of Peanuts Worldwide. A dedicated Beagle Scouts-themed booth at Hall B – 601 will pay tribute to this milestone with a range of products including wooden furniture, camping themed items and Beagle Scouts artworks celebrating Snoopy’s Outdoor Adventures for both retailers and consumers in Korea.

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Crazy Aaron’s Enterprises Welcomes Cassie Slane Guglielmo to Corporate Licensing Team

Crazy Aaron’s, the mastermind company behind the iconic, U.S.-manufactured Thinking Putty, Land of Dough, and new Slime Charmers brands welcomes Cassie Slane Guglielmo as the Manager of Licensing and Content Development. Guglielmo has over ten years of experience in the toy industry. Most recently, she served as Vice President at Barry & Jason Games and Entertainment, overseeing licensing, business operations, and partnerships. Prior to this role, she launched the arts & crafts company Dreamland Fairy, which rapidly expanded into specialty markets, earning recognition as “Vendor of the Year” from Learning Express. This endeavor marked the onset of her career in the toy industry. Guglielmo also brings with her a robust background in television journalism, marketing and sales.