The finalists in the Product, Property, Retail and Rising Star categories for the Brand & Lifestyle Licensing Awards (B&LLAS) 2024 have officially been revealed. The B&LLAs attracted the largest ever number of entries this year, from companies large and small. And, not only was the volume of entries staggering, but the quality was also of the highest level.
Be ready for kids and grownups to take a second look at your wrist as Glow Watch are the newest accessory that’s youthful and useful. Watchitude, known for creative, vibrant, and exciting watches for kids ages 4 to 12 years old, offers something truly extraordinary – a wristwatch that projects a dazzling multicolor LED light show. With so many playful patterns, it might be hard to choose just one! Watchitude, as its name implies, has been setting fashion trends for kids since it first introduced colorful slap watches almost a decade ago. Today the company boasts eight unique watch brands with Glow being the brightest of all! The transparent watch casing has built-in LED lights and features a Japanese movement, so kids won’t miss the school bus or be late for practice.
Displate, makers of one-of-a-kind metal posters, announces Textra, challenging the status quo of traditional, two-dimensional posters with a first-of-its-kind 3D metal poster. Textra brings fans and collectors into another dimension of their passions, immersing them in designs with incredible textures and 3D effects that energize the characters and scenes, making them more life-like on the wall. Fans can choose from more than 250 designs here, with Textra designs starting at $69.
Hasbro, Inc, a leading toy and game company, has announced its Hasbro Women Innovators of Play 2024 lineup of events, networking moments, and other opportunities to celebrate and connect women toy and game innovators across the globe. Hasbro’s Women Innovators of Play launched in Fall 2023 to promote a more inclusive and equitable toys and games community, encourage more women’s participation in the space, inspire the next generation of young women and girls to unleash their creativity, and increase awareness and exposure to creative career paths.
WildBrain CPLG, a trusted licensing partner for leading brands worldwide, and MetaPals, an AI digital companion platform, have signed a global partnership to bring together one of the world’s most recognizable brands and the innovative digital era with the launch on April 20th of Teletubbies AI digital companions. With WildBrain’s iconic Teletubbies brand celebrating its 27th anniversary on 31 March, the collaboration marks the beginning of an exciting array of renowned IPs joining the ‘MetaPals Multiverse’ in 2024. Using AI and blockchain technology, pop culture darlings Tinky Winky, Dipsy, Laa-Laa and Po will become personalized, evolving digital companions within the MetaPals browser extension game engine.
The World-Famous Harlem Globetrotters – the originators of basketball style, captured by dynamic athletes with unmatched skills, have signed with licensing giant IMG to further develop the brand in anticipation of their 100th anniversary milestone in 2026, it was announced by Bruno Maglione, President of IMG’s licensing business and Keith Dawkins, President, Harlem Globetrotters & Herschend Entertainment Studios.
Play is a fundamental right for every child. Yet, the importance of play in helping children develop life-long skills is often forgotten. With only 30% of adults aware that play is a fundamental birth right adopted by the United Nations (UN) in 1989, there is an urgent need to put play back on the agenda. To drive this ambition forward, a dedicated network of global organizations, play experts and, most importantly, children & youth themselves, have called on UN member states to support the resolution for an International Day of Play. Mattel, Inc (NASDAQ: MAT) together with other founding members of the movement are proud to announce that the UN General Assembly has adopted this international awareness day.
Sesame Workshop, the global impact nonprofit behind Sesame Street, named Dannette (Danni) Hill to the newly created role of Chief People Officer overseeing Human Resources functions. Hill will be responsible for leading a division that supports innovative best practices and organizational excellence for Sesame Workshop. Hill will report to President and Interim CEO Sherrie Westin. “Through her extensive leadership roles and accomplishments across a variety of organizations, Danni has demonstrated an expertise in optimizing the employee experience, recruiting top talent, and building an exceptional Human Resources team,” said Westin. “We’re excited to have her guide the strategy and operations of the organization’s HR department, to help us deliver on the Workshop’s mission of helping all children grow smarter, stronger, and kinder.”
Bioworld, the leading manufacturer of licensed lifestyle pop culture products, continues its commitment to its continued creation of licensed adaptive backpacks that helps improve the lives of disabled fans as part of Disability Awareness Month. The adaptive backpacks created are inspired by the popular video game franchise Minecraft, which will be celebrating its 15th anniversary since its release. The simplicity behind the game’s graphics has made it aesthetically pleasing to all players, which has been key to its incredible fandom established over the years.