aNb Media, Author at aNb Media, Inc.

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.

Paris Nights and Neon Lights – PUMA Announces Second Collaboration with Zag Heroez Miraculous

For footwear, PUMA x Miraculous part two offers up the Mayze Stack, RS-X Efekt, and Slipstream styles. The Slipstream and RS-X Efekt each feature a unique comic strip-style graphic on the tongue, once again showing the dynamic duo of Ladybug and Cat Noir, while the Mayze Stack is painted with a polka dot motif across the PUMA Formstrip. Including apparel, footwear, and accessories, the new collection for tweens is inspired by the unmistakable late-night glow of Paris, featuring high-energy manga graphics across a range of streetwear silhouettes.

Jazwares Teams Up with PUMA for Squishmallows-Themed Apparel & Footwear Collection

Jazwares, one of the world’s fastest-growing toy companies, today announced a partnership with global sports brand PUMA for an apparel and footwear collection featuring the iconic core characters of plush sensation Squishmallows. Set to launch in spring 2024, this is the latest collaboration for the Squishmallows brand, as Jazwares stays laser-focused on growing the #1 plush property in the U.S. as a global lifestyle brand. Inspired by Squishmallows’ signature soft and colorful styles, the PUMA x Squishmallows collection will include three stylish footwear options for kids and adults, plus hoodies and matching t-shirt and shorts sets. The launch will include exclusive, must-have items featuring favorite Squishmallows that fans and fashionistas will adore.

Spin Master Inks Global Toy Agreement with Paramount for ‘Dora’, An Upcoming, All-New Animated Paramount+ Original Preschool Series

Spin Master Corp, a leading, global, children’s entertainment company, announced that it has been awarded the global toy license for Paramount+ original Dora, an upcoming all-new preschool series that marks the return of the groundbreaking Latina heroine and the newest property in Nickelodeon’s award-winning Dora the Explorer franchise. Spin Master’s diverse toy collection, expected to launch in Fall 2024, will include figures, dolls, playsets, vehicles, plush, roleplay, games and puzzles, inspired by Dora, her companion Boots and other beloved characters and locales they explore.