Hasbro Acquires Boulder Media Animation Studio
Hasbro announced yesterday that it has acquired Boulder Media, an Irish animation company based in Dublin. Boulder has produced a variety of award-winning series for Cartoon Network, Nickelodeon, Disney, and BBC. As a wholly owned subsidiary, Boulder will continue to produce animated series on behalf of third-party clients, in addition to producing animation projects for Hasbro’s brands. Terms of the transaction, which closed on July 13, 2016, were not disclosed.
“At Hasbro, we’re building our brands through storytelling, and today, we’re telling richer stories across more platforms than ever before,” said Brian Goldner, Hasbro’s chairman, president and CEO, in a statement. “We are also reinventing traditional modalities of animation production, both creatively and financially. With Boulder, we will deliver the highest quality animation that will engage our audiences with deep storytelling and great characters in a very cost-efficient manner.”
Founded in 2000 by Robert Cullen, Boulder is one of the fastest growing animation studios in Ireland with approximately 150 full-time employees. Boulder will retain its brand and report into Stephen Davis who leads Hasbro’s entertainment and consumer products licensing division.
Kidrobot, Sonic in Deal
Kidrobot announced a new partnership with SEGA that includes a line of Sonic the Hedgehog collectibles. In celebration of Sonic’s 25th anniversary, the collection features Sonic captured in various game moments. Launching in late 2016, the line includes a Sonic the Hedgehog blind box mini series, a Sonic the Hedgehog blind box keychain series, and a Sonic the Hedgehog medium figure.
ASTRA Announces Best Toys for Kids
The American Specialty Toy Retailing Association (ASTRA) unveiled its 2016 Best Toys for Kids award winners. The list includes 24 winning toys in 17 categories.
“ASTRA’s Best Toys for Kids award program is different from other top toy lists because it reflects the collective expertise of hundreds of toy retailers who know toys inside out,” said Kimberly Mosley, president of ASTRA, in a statement. “The list of winners is a well-balanced representation of the fun, top-quality, high play value products consumers can find in locally owned neighborhood toy stores around the country.”
The Best Toys for Kids program was created by ASTRA to help its retail members attract media coverage and customers to their stores during the fourth quarter. “The Best Toys for Kids awards program is one more way to differentiate the outstanding value of specialty toys and to differentiate ASTRA stores,” said Mosley. “We encourage specialty retailers to use this program to educate their customers and sell more toys.”
Click here for the list of the 2016 Best Toys for Kids award winners.
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