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 platform, Kickstarter, on Feb. 23, 2021.
The designers say the innovative plush characters connect to a companion mobile app and enable users to bring their favorite Trolls characters to life. Fans can create music through the power of rhythm, remixing and endless play. Users can enjoy their favorite songs from the Trolls franchise, unlock different characters, customize their Trolls’ avatar and collect special items in the game.
Based in Pasadena, Calif., Thinker-Tinker was launched out of Comcast NBCUniversal’s LIFT Labs Accelerator, powered by Techstars in 2018. Thinker-Tinker also created the award-winning smart plush robot Octobo, launched at CES 2020. The deal with Dreamworks, however, provides the young company with a major and extremely popular franchise to work with.
Since the launch of the DreamWorks Trolls franchise in 2016, millions of fans across the globe have been transported into the Trolls’ vibrant world, filled with comic adventures and award-winning music. Starring Anna Kendrick and Justin Timberlake and featuring a dynamic cast of actors and some of the most acclaimed musical artists in the world, the Trolls films—2016’s Trolls and 2020’s Trolls World Tour—even earned an Oscar nomination for Best Original Song. The franchise now includes feature films, hit TV series, original digital content, video games and much more. Trolls has inspired live-entertainment touring shows, Universal Studios Parks’ attractions and experiential installations across the globe, as well as a consumer products campaign with high-fashion collaborations, toys, lifestyle collections and more.
The deal was put together by Universal Brand Development, which globally drives expansion of NBCUniversal’s intellectual properties, franchises, characters and stories through physical and digital products, content, and consumer experiences. Along with franchise brand management, Universal Brand Development’s core businesses include Consumer Products and Games and Digital Platforms based on the company’s extensive portfolio of intellectual properties created by Universal Pictures, Illumination, DreamWorks Animation and NBCUniversal Television and Streaming. Universal Brand Development is part of NBCUniversal, a subsidiary of Comcast Corporation.