Cars 2 Appmates for the iPad

Disney and Spin Master have introduced its Appmates Mobile Application Toys, a new toy line that comes to life digitally when used with an Apple iPad, turning the tablet’s screen into a virtual play mat.

Developed in collaboration between Disney Consumer Products (DCP) and Disney Mobile, and featuring patent-pending technology, the Appmates toy line features miniature Disney·Pixar Cars 2 vehicles with sensors on the base of each toy. Users download the free Cars 2 Appmates app from the iTunes app store (available in mid-October), place the Appmates toy character on the screen, and play. By guiding the Appmates vehicle on the screen, kids can experience the world of Radiator Springs via the iPad, and also race against World Grand Prix opponents.

Each toy unlocks different features and content within the app, specific to the character. Fans can download and test the app using their fingers, but the play experience is optimized with the Appmates toy vehicles.

The Disney Appmates toys, by Spin Master, will launch October 1 at retailers nationwide. Available will be Lightning McQueen, Tow Mater, Finn McMissile, and Holley Shiftwell, with Francesco Bernoulli and Shu Todoroki launching in November (exclusively through Apple stores).

Spin Master is launching its new boys’ action property, Redakai, at hobby and specialty stores June 4, followed by a mass retailer launch nationwide in August. Redakai features fresh, strategic gameplay and Blast3D technology. A new ”stack to battle” gaming advancement automatically tracks players’ progress and allows them to see the damaging effects of their attacks.

Starting on launch day, kids will be able to play Redakai through Official Redakai Organized Play programs. Organized Play kits will contain everything needed to run league events and tournaments, including prize cards, training materials, and game accessories. Redakai Organized Play will be fully supported at Redakai.com, including nationwide leaderboards and achievements. Redakai: Conquer the Kairu airs on Cartoon Network.

Regal Logistics, a leading third-party logistics provider specializing in high volume, mass retailer production, was awarded the prestigious honor of 3PL of The Year by Spin Master. Spin Master has been the largest customer of Regal Logistics since 2008. Regal Logistics provides transportation, warehousing, supply chain movement, and IT services to the toy industry leader. The 3PL of The Year Award speaks highly to the company’s hard work and dedication to its customers, as well as its reputation as an industry leader.

Nickelodeon Consumer Products announced its first toy lines for Victorious with products from master toy licensee Spin Master as well as Sakar International. The Victorious toy lineup, which debuted at Toy Fair, will feature fashion dolls, role play, play sets, and consumer electronics.

From Spin Master will come the Make it Shine Doll, Tori Doll, Victorious Locker Decorator, and Victorious Microphone, all to be released in October.

Beginning this fall, Sakar will ship more than 20 Victorious-branded electronics and computer accessories, including MP3/4 players, boom boxes, karaoke machines, text messengers, doorbell answering machines, digital cameras, and portable DVD players. Non-electronic merchandise, such as computer sleeves and gaming accessories, will also join the lineup.

For more information on the Victorious lines, click here.

Photo Credit: Nick.com

Spin Master, Ltd.’s Liv brand is exhibiting at Magic Marketplace this week as Cartoon Network Enterprises (CNE), the licensing and merchandising agent for the brand, helps the doll line make its first push into secondary categories. CNE will be meeting with partners and is actively seeking new licensees in the apparel and accessories categories for Liv. CNE is also seeing partners in other product categories, including footwear, sleepwear, publishing, and interactive. Liv was launched at retail last fall.

Spin Master is expanding into the board games category with the acquisition of eight board games from Imagination Games. The acquired games are Quelf, Fact or Crap, Battle of the Sexes, Would You Rather, Beat the Parents, Urban Myth, Scabs ’N Guts, and Left Center Right.

Earlier this year, Spin Master was appointed partner for production, sales, and marketing for Stratego in North America by owner Royal Jumbo.  That partnership is effective beginning in January 2011. Also earlier this year, Spin Master acquired rights to distribute the board game Hedbanz.

We have a giveaway!

Spin Master, Ltd.’s Tech Deck brand has hooked up with some of the biggest stars in skateboarding for a collection of autographed fingerboards. Skateboarding stars such as Tony Hawk, Ryan Sheckler, and Chris Haslam have personally signed around 100 Tech Deck board packages that are being randomly distributed to mass-market retailers across the nation. The packages can be identified by a special holographic Tech Deck sticker affixed to the front.

The collectible boards include packages signed by:

Tony Hawk – Birdhouse

Chris Cole – Zero

Ryan Sheckler – Plan B

Paul Rodriguez – Plan B

Chris Troy – Black Label

Corey Duffel – Foundation

Shuriken Shannon – Black Label

Chris Haslam – Almost

Ronnie Creager – Blind

David Navarette – Creature

And as a special thank you to our blog readers we are giving away an autographed board by Tech Deck that was signed by Canadian pro skateboarder Chris Haslam.  All you have to do is comment on this blog by Tuesday, August 10th and we’ll pick a random winner!

Are you a skateboarding fan? Who is your favorite ‘boarder? Do you know a skateboard fanatic? Can you skateboard?

No skateboarding story to tell? Just comment anyway!

Spin Master is teaming with Toys “R” Us to bring Bakugan tournaments to 300 stores nationwide. The Bakugan Battle League will last five months beginning this Saturday, July 24, and will run until Saturday, November 13. Participants bring their own Bakugan Battle Brawlers to the event and can work their way up a ladder.

As a part of the unique, story-based league, how kids play events can directly affect how the story unfolds. Each game point won during the course of the league will count as a vote for what they want to happen next. Participants will receive a Bakugan membership card, league book, exclusive Special Ability Card as well as be able to receive gifts during giveaways. A special commemorative certificate, available to those who complete the league, will be presented during the finale.

A full list of dates, as well as a list of participating Toys “R” Us, can be found after the jump.

The list of dates and times are as follows:

Saturday, July 24: 12 p.m. to 2 p.m.

Saturday, August 28: 12 p.m. to 2 p.m.

Saturday, September 18: 12 p.m. to 2 p.m.

Saturday, October 9: 12 p.m. to 2 p.m.

Saturday, November 13: 12 p.m. to 2 p.m.

For a list of participating Toys “R” Us locations, click here.

Spin Master has signed Zapak Games, the licensing and merchandising arm of Zapak Digital Entertainment, Ltd, as the exclusive distributor for many of the company’s brands in India. Spin Master toys in India will be released in phases. The first releases will be launched this month and will include brands such as Air Hogs, Bendaroos, GloDoodle, Liv Dolls, and Moon Sand.

Disney Consumer Products (DCP) has unveiled its fall lineup of TRON: Legacy-inspired electronics and toys, including action figures featuring impulse light projection technology. Walt Disney Pictures’ TRON: Legacy will hit theaters December 17 in Disney Digital 3-D and IMAX 3-D.

Featuring dark finishes, neon lighting, and a cyber aesthetic, DCP’s new TRON: Legacy line was developed in collaboration with Spin Master, Monster, Performance Designed Products (PDP), Razer, and more. TRON products will be available at retail beginning this October. In addition to the action figures, the line also features core and deluxe vehicles, the TRON Zero Gravity Light Cycle, and more.