May Spotlight on Toy Association Members

May 22, 2018 | This month’s Toy Association member spotlight features Funko/Warner Bros. Consumer Products, Goliath/Tucker Toys, Hasbro, LEGO Group, Mattel, Redwood Ventures, and WowWee/TCG.

Funko Unveils 5 Star Collectible Figures; Warner Bros. Consumer Products to Collaborate on Harry Potter Collectibles
Funko, Inc. announced the launch of 5 Star, its newest brand and collection of vinyl collectible figures allowing fans to explore their favorite characters and worlds. Warner Bros. Consumer Products has collaborated with Funko to launch the first 5 Star series of vinyl collectible figures which will feature fan favorite characters from the beloved Harry Potter film series, available in July. Each three-inch vinyl figure will be accompanied by an animal companion such as Hedwig the owl or an iconic character-defining object such as Harry’s wand. Funko plans to expand the line to additional licenses, including DC, later this year.

Goliath Games Acquires Tucker; Sees “Enormous” Potential in the Outdoor Games and Toys Space
Goliath Games announced that it has acquired Tucker, one of the world’s top designers and marketers of innovative outdoor toys. Tucker’s award-winning, innovative sports toys complement Goliath’s extensive toy and game line. The company sees “enormous potential” in outdoor games and toys. Going forward, Tucker will operate as a center of ideation and R&D within Goliath to create fun and innovative new products.

Hasbro to Acquire Saban Brands’ Power Rangers and Other Entertainment Assets
Hasbro and Saban Properties LLC signed a definitive agreement for Hasbro to purchase Saban’s Power Rangers and several other entertainment brands, including My Pet Monster, Popples, Julius Jr., Luna Petunia, Treehouse Detectives, and others, in a combination of cash and stock valued at $522 million. The agreement includes all related intellectual property, category rights, and content libraries owned by Saban Properties and its affiliates. The first set of products from Hasbro will be available in spring 2019.

LEGO Group Unveils “Powered Up” Platform – Joining its Growing Portfolio of Connected Toys Bridging Physical and Digital Play
The LEGO Group has unveiled the Powered Up platform, which gives kids the ability to modify and personalize their experiences by adding dynamic motion control and in some instances simple coding. LEGO’s first Powered Up set to launch is the LEGO Batman app-controlled Batmobile – a buildable car that is also codeable, programmable, and fully controllable via smart device. Users can code and re-code speed, direction, sound, and duration to program various movements and stunts and create their own unique driving experiences. Additional Powered Up sets will launch later in 2018.

Mattel’s Hot Wheels Celebrates 50th Anniversary with Array of Events and New Initiatives
Hot Wheels celebrated its 50th anniversary on May 18 by kicking off a yearlong lineup of live experiences, new digital content, product, partnerships, and commemorative items. Among the live experiences, designed to bring kids, fans, and collectors together across the globe, is the Hot Wheels Legends Tour, a Hot Wheels travelling car show in search of a custom car worthy of being made into a Hot Wheels die-cast toy. The tour will be visiting 14 Walmart stores across America. One winner will be chosen from each stop to win a spot for their car to be shown at the world-renowned SEMA Auto Show where one vehicle will be chosen and immortalized as a Hot Wheels.

Redwood Ventures and OLO Industries Announce Smooshy Mushy Licensees Roster
Redwood Ventures, in partnership with OLO Industries, has announced the North American and European licensees for Smooshy Mushy, the successful girls’ collectibles line launched in the U.S. in 2017. Smooshy Mushy’s exclusive licensing and brand management agents, Evolution USA and Lisle Licensing, have released the first list of Smooshy Mushy licensed products to appear at retail in North America, United Kingdom, and Europe, which include: fashion apparel, t-shirts, swimwear, and outerwear from The Bentex Group of Companies – H.I.S. International, Dreamwave, and Extreme Concepts; bags, backpacks, and lunch kits from Fast Forward; arts and crafts and other activities from Horizon Group; games and puzzles from Spin Master and Cardinal (worldwide rights); and youth electronics from KIDdesigns Inc.

WowWee to License Fingerlings Brand; Partners with TCG and Penguin Random House
WowWee is extending the Fingerlings brand through recent licensing announcements for 2018 and beyond. Beginning this fall, TCG will introduce a line of puzzles and board games featuring Fingerlings. The new collection for kids will promote important developmental skills such as color- and pattern-matching, sequencing, turn-taking, and more. WowWee has also joined forces with Penguin Random House to create a global publishing program for Fingerlings including handbooks and guides, activity and sticker books, journals, picture books, and Mad Libs, that will hit retail shelves in August and through the holiday season.

Want to be considered for next month’s Member Spotlight? Email Laurie Chartorynsky with company news.