TTPM (Toys, Tots, Pets & More)

The Insights Family announced growth and expansion across its Manchester operations, following significant investment from BGF, one of the largest and most experienced investors in the UK and Ireland. Building on the successful funding round, The Insights Family has strengthened its Manchester team with key appointments, including Adam Woodgate as VP of Research Solutions. Woodgate brings a wealth of expertise in programming, content creation, and media research to the role. He will oversee the research solutions team, working closely with brands, media buyers, and content creators, providing strategic advice based on media consumption patterns and emerging kids and family trends from the 700,000 interviews conducted annually by The Insights Family. Other key additions include Stephen Finch as VP of Product. He brings 13 years of experience in product management, including a significant tenure at Dunnhumby. Finch has a proven track record of guiding teams through the entire product lifecycle, leveraging data science and machine learning. Sophie Tanner, VP of Marketing, joins with a strong background in driving growth across different revenue streams through strategic marketing initiatives. Tanner previously worked at Thomson Reuters and The Business of Fashion, where she led marketing for their subscription and events business. Andrew Roocroft, VP of Finance, brings a decade of experience in enabling and scaling high-growth finance teams, most recently at Gartner Magic Quadrant software businesses Blue Prism and Dematic Software. He trained as a Chartered Accountant at Grant Thornton in Manchester and Paris. Victoria Cookson, People & Culture Manager, has a strong background in the AI and digital agency landscape, managing HR strategies and large-scaled culture intiatives for global businesses. She most recently worked for Resonance Labs and Havas Lynx. The strategic hires follow further investment in the company’s data science and technology capabilities, underpinned by academic research. This strengthens its ability to provide organizations with deeper insights into the kids and family ecosystem. These include: the nuanced preferences, behaviors, and evolving needs of the kids, teens, and family demographic; the dynamic market landscape, including emerging trends and new entrants; and the consumption patterns of kids and their influence on parental and household purchasing decisions. The Insights Family team will be at Brand Licensing Europe in London from September 24-26. Visit stand D218 or book a meeting in advance: https://lnkd.in/dF7t9wnz #pressrelease #licensing #news

Mattel, Inc. debuted a new animated video and re-imagined lyrics for Barney’s classic “I Love You” song alongside new images from the upcoming series "Barney’s World". Watch the music video here: https://lnkd.in/e98RaMhB Consisting of 52 11-minute episodes, "Barney’s World" will begin streaming on Max October 14, followed by a linear premiere on Cartoon Network starting October 18. The series also launches on Cartoonito in EMEA and APAC, and Discovery Kids in LATAM. Select episodes will be available on YouTube, where the first episode will debut early on October 11 in specific countries. Today’s release features updated lyrics from the classic “I Love You, You Love Me” to “I Love You, I Love Me Too,” emphasizing to young audiences that loving oneself is just as important as loving others. While "Barney’s World" was developed for preschoolers, viewers of all ages will feel the nostalgia that comes with knowing Barney and his friends. Today's parents, many of whom grew up with the lovable dinosaur, can now create memories with their own children as they together experience a new take on the original they once loved. "Barney’s World" is co-produced by Mattel Television Studios and Corus Entertainment’s Nelvana. #toyindustry #pressrelease #news

PLAYSTUDIOS, Inc., launched a new Tetris-branded integration in Fortnite Creative. The integration reimagines Color Climb!, the popular island developed by Dylan “Dilly” Johnson, CEO of Good Gamers, a leading collective of Fortnite Creative developers. On the heels of the Tetris brand's 40th anniversary, the island integration launches with a series of four tournaments spanning three weeks, where fans can submit their high scores from the official Tetris mobile app by playing Ultra Mode to enter for a chance to compete against leading streamers and gaming influencers in partnership with Cherry Pick Gaming, the gaming division of Cherry Pick Talent. Winners will claim a portion of the prize pool, with each of the four tournaments giving $10K. The new Tetris integration reimagines Color Climb!, a familiar parkour platformer island in Fortnite Creative where players race to climb colorful blocks without falling. The integration replaces the traditional blocks with the iconic Tetriminos that Tetris fans know and love. It also features the famous Tetris theme song (aka Korobeiniki) from the Tetris mobile app, fun Tetris Easter eggs, and a new thumbnail and title featuring Tetris branding. Multiple portals to this special edition, Tetris-themed island will be included in several other Fortnite Creative islands from Dilly, encouraging players of all types to take part in the celebration. The four tournaments will be hosted by popular streamer and gaming creator The Peach Cobbler (@Thypeachcobbler) on September 17, 25, 28, and Oct 2. Each will feature eight players in total, including six influencers who will promote and livestream across Twitch, TikTok, and YouTube. The other two spots will be reserved for members of the general public, who can enter for a chance to compete by downloading and playing Ultra Mode in the official Tetris mobile app for iOS and Android, then submitting their interest to be selected for the tournament into a form. During the tournaments, players will enter the “speed run” mode within Color Climb! where they will compete to climb as high as they can, as quickly as possible. Players with the fastest times will advance to the next round, and in the final round, the player with the fastest time will be declared the winner. All eight players will receive a portion of a $10K prize pool for each tournament. In addition to the four tournaments on Color Climb!, playSTUDIOS will offer a special collection of additional real-world rewards via the Tetris mobile app between September 12 through October 4. Players can utilize the app’s in-game currency to enter for a chance to win prizes like a Playstation Gift Card, a Nike shopping spree, and a vacation to the Luxor Hotel & Casino in Las Vegas with two tickets to “Friday Frags Fortnite” at the HyperX eSports Arena. The Tetris integration on Color Climb! is live through October 4th. Players can access the island in Fortnite Creative with code 9056-2612-1999. #pressrelease #news

The brand new patented and trademarked Booksy collectible toy line from PMI Kids World unites the world of toys with the world of books. Featuring tiny books housed inside unique collectible figures, Booksy engages children in the tactile and imaginative experience of play and reading. The line will launch in October with PMI's original "Monster Tales" at Amazon, followed by an expansion in November with licensed character versions from the worlds of "PAW Patrol" and "Tales of the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles" at 3,000 Walmart stores across the U.S. The Booksy Monster Tales Six Pack features Monster Tales Dome figures. This collection offers six unique characters for children ages 3-8 to collect. The Booksy Monster Tales Bookshelf Collector Set includes a Monster Tales Booksy figure and a Collector’s Bookshelf. The Booksy One Pack PAW Patrol and Tales of the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles dome figures offer 12 characters for young fans. Globally, the Booksy Monster Tales toy line is set for a Fall 2024 release, with key markets including the United States, United Kingdom (exclusively distributed by Character Options), France (exclusively distributed by Bandai France), the Middle East (exclusively distributed by iBrands), Canada (exclusively distributed by Red Planet), and more. The Booksy toy line and the Monster Tales brand are PMI’s very own intellectual properties that introduce an innovative story-focused product variety featuring the talents of Christian Tremblay, branding specialist with more than 30 years of experience in the family entertainment industry. #toys #toyindustry #pressrelease #news

Little Rebels announced a new partnership with Beverly Hills Teddy Bear Company, securing a master plush licensing agreement. This collaboration will bring Little Rebels' unique line of interactive plush dolls, inspired by iconic women, to shelves across the country. Little Rebels award-winning collection of plush dolls celebrates the groundbreaking achievements of historical figures such as Amelia Earhart, Marie Curie, Mary Jackson, and Malala Yousafzai. Through integration with an interactive app, Little Rebels provides a playful and educational experience, empowering young minds to explore the incredible legacies of these trailblazing women. Since its introduction in 2019, Little Rebels has grown into an award-winning brand, available at major U.S. museums and retailers nationwide. With Beverly Hills Teddy Bear now on board, the partnership will elevate the quality and reach of the plush line, expanding its impact on young learners everywhere. #toys #toyindustry #pressrelease #news

Disguise, Inc., the costume division of JAKKS Pacific, Inc., announced a new agreement with Innersloth (via Dual Wield Studio) for global costume rights for Among Us. With first product planned for a fall 2025 launch, Disguise takes on worldwide rights to design, market, manufacture, and distribute costumes and costume accessories reflective of the game’s unique characters and designs. Developed by Innersloth, Among Us is a social deduction game set in space that revolves around one simple hook: one or more random players among your crew are intent on sabotaging the ship and killing off the crew. Among Us rose to popularity in 2020 since its release date in June of 2018 and, at its peak, saw 7% of the entire planet playing the game. An animated show is also currently in development at CBS Studios produced by Owen Dennis ("Infinity Train"), with an all-star voice cast including Elijah Wood, Randall Park, and Yvette Nicole Brown. #toys #toyindustry #pressrelease #news

University Games announced the release of The Dog Ate My Homework! This new release takes the classic excuse and turns it into a fun game, letting players transform a mischievous dog’s mess into a masterpiece of family entertainment. In The Dog Ate My Homework ($24.99 for ages 5+), players face off against a dog with a taste for homework. Players take turns feeding homework sheets into the dog’s mouth, turning its ear, and retrieving the pieces from its rear end. The goal? Unscramble the shreds to correctly guess the hidden image before the timer runs out. Each successful guess earns a doggie treat, and the player with the most treats after three rounds is the winner.   #news #toys #toyindustry #pressrelease

In honor of National Hispanic Heritage Month and in continued celebration of the brand’s 65th anniversary, Mattel, Inc.'s Barbie honors Chilean American author and activist Isabel Allende with an Inspiring Women doll and with a guest appearance on the first-ever global Barbie Podcast.     Allende is the first internationally acclaimed Latin American female author, and through her writing and social activism, she has worked to give a voice to the voiceless and inspire hope worldwide. The Isabel Allende Inspiring Women doll wears a bold red dress with a gathered cape that drapes over the shoulder. Gold statement earrings, black heels, and bright red lips finish her signature bold yet elegant look. The doll comes with Allende's pet pup Perla and a miniature replica of "La Casa de los Espíritus", her first novel and international bestseller written while living in exile from the Chilean military coup. The Barbie design team worked closely with Allende to sculpt a doll that properly reflected her likeness. The Isabel Allende Inspiring Women doll is available for pre-sale on Mattel Shop for an SRP of $35. In tribute, the Barbie Dream Gap Project is making a donation to Girls Write Now to help the next generation write their own stories. Barbie and Girls Write Now will also host a series of virtual events beginning this month to spark discussion, creativity, and connection for girls directly with their role models. Allende will also be featured as the second guest on the Barbie Podcast, an experiential show for kids packed with inspirational stories, role models, and fun activities. In each 15-minute episode, hosts Barbie “Malibu” and Barbie “Brooklyn" introduce listeners to remarkable guests from all over the world who share their life, work, how they became trailblazers in their fields, and offer wisdom to the next generation. Today's inaugural episode features Katya Echazarreta, the first Mexican-born woman in space. Allende's episode launches September 17. Barbie is contributing a $65,000 Barbie Dream Gap Project donation to Girls Leadership, an organization that supports adults to teach girls how to exercise the power of their voice through programs grounded in social-emotional learning. Every episode of The Barbie Podcast will include a listener guide created in partnership with Girls Leadership that provides discussion and activity examples for families to delve into different kinds of leadership, passions, and careers based on each episode’s themes. The listener guides will be available on the Barbie Dream Gap website to deepen listeners’ engagement with episode content and spark meaningful conversations. The Barbie Podcast is a partnership between Barbie and Sony. The episode content and scripts were written and produced together. The Barbie Podcast will be available to stream on YouTube and at the link here: https://lnkd.in/ezbd_uPk. #toys #toyindustry #pressrelease #news

Dan Romanelli, Founder & Former President of Warner Bros. Consumer Products and 1995 Licensing International Hall of Fame Inductee, will present 2024 Inductee Stu Seltzer, President of The Seltzer Licensing Group, at the Hall of Fame Gala. Along with Seltzer, Joseph Kaminkow, Chief Innovation Officer, Pixie Dust at Aristocrat, and Maca Rotter, President & CEO, La Panadería Licensing & Marketing/Arena Esports, will be recognized this year at the 2024 Hall of Fame and Rising Star Awards in New York City on December 4. Taking place at Gotham Hall, the event will also spotlight rising talent currently making strides in licensing. As leaders in the licensing community, it is fitting that this celebration of the 2024 Hall of Fame inductees will also act as a fundraiser for Licensing International’s Scholarship Program. The program grants scholarships to deserving individuals around the world who are interested in a career in brand licensing. #licensing #pressrelease #news

Skybound Tabletop and Indie Boards and Cards announced a multi-year licensing partnership, kicking off with Invincible: The Card Game. Invincible: The Card Game is the first in a planned series of cooperative deck-building games based on the Aeon’s End and Astro Knights system, set in the world of the "Invincible" TV series.  Launching in August 2025, Invincible: The Card Game offers fans of the comics, games, and Prime Video series an early chance to get involved. Supporters can back the Kickstarter campaign beginning October 8 to receive exclusive updates. Each game and expansion can be played individually, combined for a more epic experience, or integrated with all existing Astro Knights content.    Fans can sign up at https://lnkd.in/e6Y6yYu5 to follow the Kickstarter campaign and get updated when the project launches on October 8. The pledge for the base game and first expansions starts at $55 and will come with a range of perks, depending on the donation amount. Additional pledge levels will be available to include all the previously released & compatible Astro Knights expansions.  #news #toys #toyindustry #pressrelease