PlayMonster is pleased to announce the appointment of Amy Graczyk to the new role of Chief People Officer. A cross-functionally talented leader with global expertise across multiple industries, Graczyk brings a specialized focus on supporting organizations and high performance teams amidst transformational growth.
The Pokémon Company International has launched the Pokémon GO expansion for the best-selling Pokémon Trading Card Game. Now available at participating retailers around the world — including Pokémon Center in the US, Canada and the UK — this special collaboration is inspired by the massively popular Pokémon GO mobile game and features photorealistic artwork and unique gameplay scenarios based on the app. Trainers will also recognize familiar Pokémon GO elements in the expansion, such as characters like Spark of Team Instinct, Blanche of Team Mystic and Candela of Team Valor, as well as objects including a PokéStop and Lure Module.
GigaPets, the take-it-anywhere interactive pets that need your love and attention to raise them into a healthy, happy virtual pet, celebrates 25 years since they emerged as the number one simulated toy pet brand in the U.S. in the 90’s! To commemorate the momentous occasion, the inventors of GigaPets, Top Secret Toys, is relaunching the original and nostalgic CompuKitty with a new friend, StartCat! The classic hit toy is back and better than ever – reimagined and redesigned for day after day engagement and entertainment for a whole new generation of fans.
Season two of the global-hit animation Bluey is set to receive its UK free-to-air premiere on CBeebies and BBC iPlayer on Monday 1 August. The first Season proved a huge hit with UK fans, being streamed more than 97m times on BBC iPlayer since its launch on iPlayer in April last year.
The Children’s Media Conference (CMC), now in its 19th year, will see its creative keynote delivered by award-winning performance poet, playwright and children’s author Joseph Coelho, who has been crowned the Waterstones Children’s Laureate 2022 – 2024. CMC runs in-person and online this week from 5-7 July and is themed ‘What Next 2.2’.
Global kids and family entertainment major Toonz Media Group is partnering with Leadbelly Productions to co-produce a brand-new animation property titled Creepy Candy. Developed by multi-award-winning creator and founding president of Leadbelly Productions, Alan Jude Summa, Creepy Candy is targeted at children ages 4-11. Season one of the 2D animation show will include 26 episodes of 3 minutes and is slated to be launched in October 2022. The project’s first phase will also include producing a 30 minute Halloween special episode to be released in October 2023.
Hey Duggee – the hit children’s TV show – is to tour the UK for the first time ever in a vibrant and new interactive stage show. Visiting 24 theatres with almost 100 dates the tour marks the biggest ever theatre production of its kind for Live Nation in the UK. Adapted from the smash hit TV series, Hey Duggee the Live Theater Show will tour the UK from December through to summer 2023 and includes a four-week residency at Southbank Centre’s Royal Festival Hall (London) this Christmas.
Rightsline, the industry’s leading IP commerce management platform, has announced the appointment of Melanie Nelson as Chief Marketing Officer and Jason Cheverton as Chief Strategy Officer to its senior leadership team. Ms. Nelson, a former VP at Samsung Electronics and Sony Corporation, will lead the company’s global marketing strategy and communication programs. Mr. Cheverton, having previous leadership roles at software firms Lone Wolf Technologies and Mi9 Retail, will oversee company-wide strategic and corporate development efforts. Nelson and Cheverton will report directly to CEO Patrick Arkeveld.
The Toy Association, the not-for-profit trade association representing all businesses involved in creating and delivering toys and youth entertainment products for kids of all ages, has announced that Kimberly Carcone has been promoted to executive vice president of global market events.