Hasbro is teaming up with Britney Spears for the new Twister Dance game. The game combines today’s best dance movies with the iconic Twister spots to give girls a new way to learn moves to popular dance songs, including a customized Twister remix of “Till the World Ends” by Britney Spears.

In addition to having the remix of her song in the game, Spears will be featured on game packaging, in a television advertisement, and in dance instruction videos, all releasing this fall. Other artists include Ke$sha and Willow Smith. An exclusive Twister Dance song called “Caught Up in a Twister” will also make an appearance. The game, which features a built-in beat detection system, can connect to any MP3 player.

This post was originally written by Elizabeth A. Reid and published by ToyBook.com. For more news, visit www.toybook.com, follow The Toy Book on Twitter, and like The Toy Book on Facebook. The Toy Book is a bimonthly trade magazine covering the toy industry, published by Adventure Publishing Group.

Hasbro, Inc. announced that it will eliminate polyvinyl chloride (PVC) from all new core toy and game packaging, beginning in 2013. Hasbro has already begun to phase out PVC from some packaging.

Phasing out PVC in packaging is Hasbro’s most recent effort in a series of sustainable packaging initiatives by the company. The efforts, including eliminating wire ties, increasing recycled content, and sourcing paper, are designed to minimize the impact on natural resources.

To learn more about Hasbro’s corporate social responsibility (CSR) efforts, visit www.hasbro.com/csr.

This post was originally written by Elizabeth A. Reid and published by ToyBook.com. For more news, visit www.toybook.com, follow The Toy Book on Twitter, and like The Toy Book on Facebook. The Toy Book is a bimonthly trade magazine covering the toy industry, published by Adventure Publishing Group.

The fun of Twister is coming to Kinect for Xbox 360. Twister Mania is new spin on a Hasbro classic from Majesco Entertainment.

Twister Mania has the same cooperative gameplay of the iconic Twister board game. Players can also enjoy the modern updates as they play the game on screen with friends and family. The game can be played with up to eight players across three game modes that offer 16 variations and more than 1,800 shapes.

Twister Mania was developed by Naked Sky and is rated E for Everyone. The game retails for $49.99.

This post was originally written by Ericka Johnson and published by ToyBook.com. For more news, visit www.toybook.com, follow The Toy Book on Twitter, and like The Toy Book on Facebook. The Toy Book is a bimonthly trade magazine covering the toy industry, published by Adventure Publishing Group.

Interactivity

“One of the key items we selected is Fijit Friends. You look at Fijit and the ability to put it in dance mode, and the voice-recognition and built-in responses. Also, Let’s Rock Elmo is interactive for a much younger child, but we believe interactivity is important.”

Personalization

“We also believe personalization is important, like Barbie Designable Hair Extensions. It gives the girl the ability to not only create hair extensions for her doll, but to create her own personalized hair extensions. In essence, she’s role-playing, creating, and personalizing.”

Movie Releases

“As in years past, theatrical releases, and the great toyetic content associated with that, will naturally be important. One in particular that we believe will continue to be strong is Disney•Pixar’s Cars. One of the items we have selected is Cars 2 Charge Ups Charge ‘N’ Race Speedway, which is actually a Target exclusive.”

Classic Games

“We are also seeing a trend around modernized versions of classic games. So we believe Scrabble Flash, Simon Flash, and Yahtzee Flash will continue to be strong this fall season.”

Educational

“We know when mom is making the choice to spend her money on gifts for her children she has a desire that there will be an educational component. So, another item we have selected is LeapFrog’s LeapPad.”

Twilight Sparkle: Teacher for a Day

Last week, Hasbro, Inc. and Ruckus Media Group announced the English-language release of Twilight Sparkle: Teacher for a Day, a My Little Pony interactive storybook application for Apple’s iPhone, iPad, and iPhone touch, available for purchase for $3.99 through the iTunes App store. The app, designed for children ages 3-11, is Hasbro’s first mobile application for the popular brand franchise and television show, marrying interaction at home and on the go.

The app takes young Ponyville readers through the Kingdom of Equestria’s exciting past, and offers features ranging from new stories with My Little Pony characters and to games and activities that help develop vocabulary, reading, and motor skills.

Twilight Sparkle: Teacher for a Day joins Chuck and Friends: Friends for the Long Haul as the second Hasbro interactive storybook created by Ruckus Media Group. More apps are slated to release next year.

My Little Pony Friendship is Magic airs Saturday and Sunday mornings at 9 a.m. and 9:30 a.m. EST, and weekdays at 1:30 p.m. and 6 p.m. EST on The Hub TV Network.

Hasbro, Inc. has premiered an exclusive My Little Pony retail program at Target. The program includes an out-of-aisle premium space in the toy department devoted to My Little Pony merchandise, inspired by the magical world of Canterlot from the television series My Little Pony Friendship is Magic, which airs on The Hub. The new program debuted this week.

My Little Pony-branded products featured in the Canterlot section at Target include bedding, costumes, books, T-shirts, arts and crafts, activity sets, and exclusive toys, primarily focused on the ponies Princess Celestia, her sister Princess Luna, and Twilight Sparkle.

Warner Bros. Consumer Products has announced that the last installment of the best-selling Harry Potter film franchise, Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows — Part 2, will be ushered in with a wide array of merchandising products for fans of all ages. The movie hits theaters nationwide Friday.

Lego has released a variety of play sets that feature locations and scenes from the films, including Hogwarts, The Forbidden Forest, and the Knight Bus. The Noble Collection will offer intricately crafted wands and other artifacts replicated from the series. Additional global licensees include NECA, Tomy, Panini, DeAgostini, Hasbro, Rubie’s Costume Co., Artbox Entertainment, Gentle Giant, Bioworld Merchandising Inc., Hallmark, Mead, Tonner Doll, and Jelly Belly Candy Company, which will re-release its 20-flavor collection of Bertie Bott’s Every-Flavour Beans. The new products can be found at retailers nationwide and online at www.WBshop.com.

American Greetings Properties has announced an all-new, CGI-animated television series starring the Care Bears of Care-a-Lot. This new series will debut next year, which also marks the property’s 30th anniversary. Additionally, Hasbro is planning to premiere a new Care Bears toy line in 2013.

Care Bears debuted in 1982. The property has generated more than $2.6 billion in global sales since 2002.

At the International Licensing Expo in Las Vegas, Hasbro, Inc. highlighted some new products, spanning several lifestyle categories, that are based on its properties. Here are some highlights:

Apps, Gaming, and Technology

Updating the concept of a family game night, Hasbro Family Game Night was released by Electronic Arts for the Wii. Families can also read a Tonka Chuck & Friends storybook app from Ruckus Mobile Media for the iPad. A new Transformers-skinned smartphone cover from Anzo U.S.A will be available for adult fans of the movie franchise.

Movie and TV Entertainment

A double-feature Transformers DVD can be a welcomed addition to family movie night. Families can also watch Hasbro’s Daytime Emmy Award-nominated programs, such as Transformers Prime, Family Game Night, and Pictureka ,on The Hub.

Youth and Tween Room Décor

Children can jazz up their bedrooms with their favorite Hasbro characters through a number of licensed products. Room accessories include My Little Pony bedding from Crown Craft (agreement reached in principle and subject to a binding contract) and Candy Land rugs from Gertmenian. The characters are also available in a number of clothing apparel options.

Wheeled Toys for the Big and Small

Transformers fans can ride the General Motors Bumblbee Camaro. Young fans can race around the neighborhood on Dynacraft’s Transformers bikes. Also for little kids, there is the Bumblebee and My Little Pony electric ride-on car from Hunter Leisure.

The new Kre-O brand, available next month, will offer 12 building sets featuring the popular Transformers characters, including Optimus Prime, Bumblebee, Megatron, and Autobot Jazz. The new construction line is unique in that it is compatible with other brick-based construction sets on the market. The Kre-O Transformers sets also feature two types of build for one product so that the user can construct a vehicle or a robot with the same set. The collectible robot Kre-O figures can bring new action and excitement to a young builder’s world.