Toy Association Member News Kicks Off New Year
January 6, 2020 | The holidays are a time to recharge and disconnect. So, in case you missed it, we’re recapping some of the latest headlines from Toy Association members that closed out 2019 and updates just announced for the new year.
American Girl, a wholly owned subsidiary of Mattel, unveiled its 2020 Girl of the Year, Joss Kendrick. The character marks another first for the doll maker: the first deaf American Girl.
Baby Yoda was all anyone could talk about when Star Wars: The Mandalorian launched on Disney+, and more specifically when we’d see product for “The Child” hit retail. Hasbro and Funko both obliged and announced preorders for product in December. Hasbro’s product featuring The Child includes a Star Wars: The Black Series The Child Figure (pictured) and a 6.5-inch The Child figure. Both will begin shipping this May. Fans can also preorder Funko's "The Child" Pop! Figure in both standard size and a near life-size 10-inch version.
Hasbro completed its previously announced acquisition of Entertainment One (eOne), adding top-performing global preschool brands such as Peppa Pig and PJ Masks to its portfolio and expanding storytelling through new avenues of entertainment. Darren Throop, president and CEO of eOne, will now report to Hasbro chairman and CEO Brian Goldner. eOne’s Olivier Dumont, president of family & brands; Steve Bertram, president of film & television; and Chris Taylor, global president of music, will also join Hasbro, reporting to Throop.
Jazwares signed a master toy deal with YouTube channel CKN Toys, which has amassed more than 12 billion views, for a toy line set to launch alongside a new preschool short-form series on Nickelodeon and Nick Jr. The deal was brokered by Haven Global on behalf of CKN Toys.
RedwoodVentures promoted Gary King to CEO and hired veteran toy sales executive George Funk as vice president of sales for North America. Since joining Redwood last March as executive vice president and general manager, King helped Redwood expand its channels of distribution with the launch of several new toy and novelty candy products and expand its portfolio with Foodie Surprise and other new toy lines.
In recognition of Sesame Street's 50th anniversary, The Strong Museum released a special issue of its peer-reviewed American Journal of Play in partnership with Sesame Workshop that features a series of articles and interviews that explore playful learning and Sesame Street’s influence on education. Click here to learn more.
Toys"R"Us and TTPM teamed up to host the first virtual awards show to announce the consumer product review site’s fifth annual People's Play Awards.
Want to be included in next month’s Member Spotlight? Email jlynch@toyassociation.org with company news.