It's been a while since a Hollywood tentpole movie has inspired a major launch of new toy lines, but Disney is taking a crack at it as Raya and the Last Dragon debuts on March 5. The COVID-19 pandemic has badly stalled releases of major films in theaters, and different studios have reacted with different strategies. Warner famously (or infamously) announced all of its films in … [Read more...] about Disney’s Toy Onslaught For Raya and The Last Dragon
Entertainment/Character
YouTube Clones TikTok For March Launch
If imitation is the sincerest form of flattery, then TikTok must be positively blushing right now. The spectacular rise of TikTok as a social media and entertainment phenomenon has inspired Alphabet-owned streamer YouTube to face off directly with the upstart by launching its own version, called Shorts. Shorts is due to arrive in the United States in March, after a successful … [Read more...] about YouTube Clones TikTok For March Launch
LEGO Named World’s Most Popular Kids Entertainment Brand
By Gary Symons TLL Editor in Chief According to a sweeping new report on brands for children, LEGO is now the most popular kids’ entertainment brand in the world, followed by Disney, Marvel, Barbie, and with Paw Patrol rounding out the Top 5. The data comes via a report from Brand Trends, in which mothers provided answers to a survey on behalf of their children, from ages 0 … [Read more...] about LEGO Named World’s Most Popular Kids Entertainment Brand
Mattel TV Announces Two New Barbie Specials
Mattel has said it will be greatly increasing its film and television production efforts in 2021, and the company this week announced the launch of two new animated Barbie specials for streamers and broadcasters this spring. The first of the two specials is “Barbie & Chelsea The Lost Birthday,” the first dedicated television movie featuring Barbie’s younger sister Chelsea … [Read more...] about Mattel TV Announces Two New Barbie Specials
Hasbro Not Toying Around With Gina Carano
By Gary Symons TLL Editor in Chief Talk about a rough week at the office. Toy giant Hasbro says it will no longer produce any toys featuring former Mandalorian star Gina Carano, who plays the part of the popular character Cara Dune. Carano was fired from her role in the hit Disney+ series after posting a series of controversial social media messages, she was dropped by her … [Read more...] about Hasbro Not Toying Around With Gina Carano
Thinker-Tinker To Launch Trolls Music Stars
Thinker-Tinker, Inc., an innovative kid’s tech startup, has entered into a potentially lucrative deal with Dreamworks Animation to produce a line of interactive, collectible plush toys inspired by the studio's popular Trolls franchise. The young toy company is now launching Trolls Music Stars, which are toys that interact with a companion mobile app, on the crowdfunding … [Read more...] about Thinker-Tinker To Launch Trolls Music Stars
Wildbrain Launches Deal For ‘Assassin’s Creed’ Parkour Courses In Saudi Arabia
A deal brokered by WildBrain CPLG on behalf of Ubisoft will allow Assassin's Creed fans to release their inner Ninja with a blockbuster experiential attraction in Saudi Arabia. Wildbrain, a leading entertainment, sport and brand licensing agency, has secured a deal with Osool Entertainment to develop location-based entertainment (LBE) attractions for the blockbuster video game … [Read more...] about Wildbrain Launches Deal For ‘Assassin’s Creed’ Parkour Courses In Saudi Arabia
WildBrain Lands European Deals For The Boys, Outlander and Cobra Kai
WildBrain CPLG has secured a wave of cross-category licensees in Europe for a trio of Sony Pictures hit TV series; The Boys, Cobra Kai and Outlander. The Boys is a superhero series with a twist, in which the 'supers' are more villainous than heroic. Wildbrain has secured licensing deals in the UK for the popular Amazon show with the following parties: Forbidden Planet, for a … [Read more...] about WildBrain Lands European Deals For The Boys, Outlander and Cobra Kai
Penguin Random House Lands Netflix Deal For Redwall
Publishing giant Penguin Random House has inked a potentially lucrative deal with Netflix for the rights to all 23 books in the popular Redwall series, by author Brian Jaques. The world's dominant streamer is now planning an animated feature film and TV series based on the animal adventure franchise, which is aimed at a middle school children's audience. The Redwall series … [Read more...] about Penguin Random House Lands Netflix Deal For Redwall
Disney/Pixar Release Nascar Products for #CarsWeek
Disney and Pixar’s Cars Week is back, leading up to this year’s Daytona 500 on Feb. 14, with all new products and activations inspired by popular real-life NASCAR drivers and iconic Disney and Pixar’s Cars characters. Disney says its classic Cars characters like Lightning McQueen, Jackson Storm, Mater, Luigi and Guido have been "NASCAR-ified," and some of the most notable … [Read more...] about Disney/Pixar Release Nascar Products for #CarsWeek