CBS to Release New Series of Star Trek Die-Cast Models

Mattel, under license from CBS Consumer Products, will create a line of die-cast models inspired by the iconic Star Trek franchise in anticipation of the upcoming Star Trek movie next year.
The detailed miniatures will include the U.S.S. Enterprise, and will hit retail in May 2013. The deal is similar to the agreement the companies reached for the 2009 theatrical reboot. The next Star Trek movie arrives in theaters on May 17, 2013.

MGA Entertainment, Justice Reveal “Stellar” New Brand

MGA Entertainment and Justice have partnered in the release of Novi Stars, a new line of dolls for girls ages 6 and up. Available at Justice stores and major retailers beginning in August, Novi Stars are on a galactic mission to meet new friends and try new things.
Alie Lectric lights up in multiple cosmic colors; Una Verse is a diva and has a body filled with glitter and water; Mae Tallick has a metallic body and speaks cosmic phrases in a robot-like voice; and Ari Roma has a bubble-gum scented atmosphere and removable bubble helmet. Each doll comes with a pet, glow-in-the dark doll stand, and package handle that becomes an antenna headband for the girl.
The marketing campaign will include online, print media, and in-store exposure. Justice will carry the line of Novi Stars dolls and accessories and will unveil an exclusive line of cosmic Novi Stars apparel. Justice will feature Novi Stars and the Novi Stars webisodes on the Tween Network in-store media screens, brand ads, in the Justice Catazine, and on their website, shopjustice.com.

Jakks Pacific Named Master Toy Licensee for Daniel Tiger’s Neighborhood

Jakks Pacific, Inc., has been appointed North American master toy licensee for Daniel Tiger’s Neighborhood, a new multi-platform animated series inspired by Fred Rogers. As part of its long-term agreement with The Fred Rogers Company, owner of the property, and Out of the Blue Enterprises, licensing agency for the new show, Jakks will manufacture, distribute, and market a broad range of preschool toys based on Daniel Tiger’s Neighborhood.
The new licensing agreement includes plush, figures, play sets, vehicles, dolls and doll accessories, ride-ons, play tents, ball pits, role-play, dress up, novelty, bulk, seasonal toys, children’s furniture, and Halloween costumes. Jakks’ Daniel Tiger’s Neighborhood product line targets children ages 2-4 and is slated to launch at retail throughout North America beginning in spring 2014.

Walls 360 Graphics Feature Penguin Picture Book Characters

Walls 360, an on-demand wall graphics company, has launched an exclusive collection of Penguin picture book wall graphics. The first collection features Llama Llama, Ladybug Girl, Skippyjon Jones, Corduroy, and Spot.
The repositionable wall graphics for kids are available in a range of customer-selected sizes, from sets of 6-inch wall badges to 8-foot-tall characters, classic book covers, and panoramic wall murals.
The wall graphics are self-adhesive, easy to install, and can be removed and re-used up to 200 times without leaving a mark or damaging surfaces.

Sprout Launches Licensing and Merchandising Business

The preschool television channel Sprout is launching its licensing and merchandising business. Starting this summer, new products will be available based on the network’s shows The Sunny Side Up Show and Noodle and Doodle.
In addition, Sprout is preparing for the debut of The Chica Show in November with a collection of merchandise featuring the series’ chicken, who rose to fame as the co-host of Sprout’s The Sunny Side Up Show, the only live program on television for preschoolers.
All of the products will be available at specialty retailers, as well as ShopSprout.com, which will launch in the fall. Chica merchandise will be available beginning this month with a 13-inch plush, soon followed by a 6-inch plush. Additional Chica products, including plush backpacks, will be available early next year. The Noodle and Doodle DVD is available now, with an additional release launching in October. Sprout is also exploring other categories such as e-books and apparel.

Gund Signs Licensing Deal for Uglydoll Plush

Gund has signed a licensing deal with Pretty Ugly, LLC, to make Uglydoll-branded plush characters. Gund, the plush division of Enesco, LLC, will begin selling and shipping Uglydoll plush products to current and new retail customers worldwide this summer, while Pretty Ugly, LLC, will focus its efforts on expanding licensing programs across multiple product categories for the Uglydoll brand.
The Uglydoll line was launched in January 2001. Created by artists David Horvath and Sun-Min Kim, who started with a drawing of a playful orange character known as Wage, the line has grown into a line of characters, stories, and products for all ages.

Olivia Debuts New Consumer Products Partners, Fall Products

Classic Media has revealed new consumer products partners for Olivia, including Just Play (toy) and LeapFrog (educational entertainment). Dalmatian Press (coloring and activity books), Chronicle Books (novelty formats), and Publications International (sound and look and find books) round out the Olivia publishing program, anchored by Simon & Schuster.
New partners complementing Simon & Schuster’s publishing program include Dalmatian Press, rolling out a range of big crayon books, sticker books, floor activity books, and fun pads; and Chronicle Books, launching a series of novelty formats, including a cookbook with cookie cutters, a paper doll play-set, and flashcards.
Just Play, a leader in the licensed plush and role-play categories, has signed on as master toy partner. The new plush products will include Olivia 5- to 6-inch plush beanies, a medium-sized plush assortment, and an Olivia Bedtime plush that plays music. The role-play line will include dress-up shoes, a tiara, and a hanging dress assortment. Both lines will launch this fall, and Just Play will expand further into figures and play sets next spring. Also this fall, LeapFrog will launch an Olivia learning game for the LeapPad and Leapster Explorer platforms. The game will engage children in Olivia’s world while teaching early math concepts and logic.

The Character Group to Create Scooby-Doo Construction Toys

The Character Group PLC, in partnership with Warner Bros. Consumer Products, will launch Scooby-Doo construction vehicles, buildings, and collectible figures. The toys will allow kids to create traps like the ones Scooby-Doo and the gang use to catch monsters and ghosts that appear in every episode of the show.
WBCP and The Character Group have worked together on Scooby-Doo for more than 12 years. The company was awarded the Pan-European master toy licensing rights in 2006 and the North American distribution rights in 2010, as well as the addition of the Latin American region in 2012.

The Jim Henson Company to Develop Frog and Toad Animated Feature Film

The Jim Henson Company has acquired the rights to the children’s books Frog and Toad and is developing an animated feature film. Written and illustrated by Arnold Lobel in the 1970s, each of the four Frog and Toad books includes five short stories chronicling the exploits of a frog and his friend, a toad. Lisa Henson will serve as producer, and Adam Lobel and Adrianne Lobel will serve as executive producers. Craig Bartlett (Dinosaur Train and Hey Arnold!) will write the screenplay, and Cory Edwards (Hoodwinked) is slated to direct.
The Jim Henson Company has also signed a deal with HarperCollins Children’s Books to develop and implement the first-ever multi-category licensing and merchandising program in the U.S. and Canada for the classic literary property.

Miniclip Joins with Del Taco for National Kids Meal Promotion

Gaming website Miniclip will launch its first national promotion this month with Del Taco Restaurants.
The Miniclip Kids Meal promotion will be available in more than 525 restaurants in 17 states and provides consumers with an exclusive Miniclip decoder toy with their purchase. The decoder toy will reveal a special code for access to a secret area on Miniclip.com, allowing access to exclusive games with special trophies specifically for the Del Taco audience.

TIA Now Accepting Toy Industry Hall of Fame Nominees

The Toy Industry Association is now accepting nominees for the 2013 Toy Industry Hall of Fame Induction. The nomination period will run through June 30. TIA members and non-member stakeholders within the North American toy industry are eligible to submit candidates for consideration. There is no nomination fee. The Toy Industry Hall of Fame Committee will meet in July to review the nominations and to propose a slate of candidates for consideration via a ballot. An announcement of the 2013 inductees will be made in conjunction with promotion of the annual Toy of the Year awards program.
Consideration for the Toy Industry Hall of Fame are limited to individuals (living or deceased) who have made outstanding contributions or provided outstanding service to the toy industry and to the Toy Industry Association. To download a nomination form and to learn more about the selection process, visit TIA’s Toy Industry Hall of Fame website.

Report Measures Impact of U.S Toy Industry

The Toy Industry Association has commissioned an economic and fiscal analysis of the U.S. toy industry, the Economic Impact of the Toy Industry in the United States study, which found that the toy industry’s annual total economic impact is nearly $81 billion. From toy inventors to store clerks, the industry supports 533,177 jobs, generates $25.8 billion in wages for U.S. workers, and $11.1 billion in annual tax revenue ($5.2 billion for the states combined and $5.9 billion for federal).
The analysis was developed using figures from Dun and Bradstreet, Inc., and the U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, as well as toy industry data provided by TIA, The NPD Group, and other private sector sources.
The report has been used during TIA’s annual legislative events and relays information to legislators regarding the number of jobs, wages paid to employees, the value added, and total output of the toy industry. In addition to national data, economic impact reports are available for each of the states and for each congressional, state Senate, and state House district.
Copies of the national and individual state reports are posted for public access in the Toy Biz section of the TIA website.

Seattle-Based Wonder Forge Secures $1.75 Million to Fund Growth

Wonder Forge has raised $1.75 million to finance a projected 86 percent domestic growth and 49 percent international growth this year. The funds will also be used to launch new categories beyond the game aisle next year. Funds were secured through private investors and include both a debt and an equity round.
The company also announced it is projecting 49 percent international growth for the year, having doubled its number of international distributors.
Wonder Forge was founded by CEO Jacobe Chrisman, former head of product development at Cranium games. The company launched in 2007 and includes a product line of more than 60 games and puzzles, featuring children’s properties such as Disney Princess, Minnie Mouse, Jake and the Never Land Pirates, Dr. Seuss, DC Super Friends, Richard Scarry’s Busytown, Angelina Ballerina, Curious George, Chuggington, and MythBusters.