In yet another sign of the challenges ahead for cinema in 2021, the Disney blockbuster release Raya and the Last Dragon showed sluggish box office results in its first weekend in theaters. The film, produced by the same Walt Disney Animation team that put out Moana, would normally have been expected to be a tentpole event for the company, but Raya opened over the weekend with a … [Read more...] about Box Office Sluggish for Raya and the Last Dragon
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LEGO Takes Kids to the Hundred Acre Wood
LEGO this week launched a superb new product for fans of the Winnie the Pooh books to embrace their nostalgia with a Hundred Acre Wood play set. The set came to life from the mind of super fan Ben Alder who collaborated on the design through the LEGO Ideas program, and was made possible through a licensing partnership with brand owner Disney. Beneath a large oak tree, complete … [Read more...] about LEGO Takes Kids to the Hundred Acre Wood
Boat Rocker’s Dino Ranch Lassoed by Disney
The highly rated kids show Dino Ranch from Boat Rocker Studios has been snapped up in a deal with Disney+ that will see the program air in the UK, Ireland, Australia and New Zealand starting in April. The show takes dinosaurs from Jurassic Park to a Jurassic farm, with a cute assemblage of dinosaur steeds that has already premiered for audiences on Disney Junior and DisneyNOW … [Read more...] about Boat Rocker’s Dino Ranch Lassoed by Disney
Disney’s Toy Onslaught For Raya and The Last Dragon
It's been a while since a Hollywood tentpole movie has inspired a major launch of new toy lines, but Disney is taking a crack at it as Raya and the Last Dragon debuts on March 5. The COVID-19 pandemic has badly stalled releases of major films in theaters, and different studios have reacted with different strategies. Warner famously (or infamously) announced all of its films in … [Read more...] about Disney’s Toy Onslaught For Raya and The Last Dragon
LEGO Named World’s Most Popular Kids Entertainment Brand
By Gary Symons TLL Editor in Chief According to a sweeping new report on brands for children, LEGO is now the most popular kids’ entertainment brand in the world, followed by Disney, Marvel, Barbie, and with Paw Patrol rounding out the Top 5. The data comes via a report from Brand Trends, in which mothers provided answers to a survey on behalf of their children, from ages 0 … [Read more...] about LEGO Named World’s Most Popular Kids Entertainment Brand
Hasbro Not Toying Around With Gina Carano
By Gary Symons TLL Editor in Chief Talk about a rough week at the office. Toy giant Hasbro says it will no longer produce any toys featuring former Mandalorian star Gina Carano, who plays the part of the popular character Cara Dune. Carano was fired from her role in the hit Disney+ series after posting a series of controversial social media messages, she was dropped by her … [Read more...] about Hasbro Not Toying Around With Gina Carano
Casetify Unveils Tech Accessories Based on Disney’s Mickey Mouse
The smartphone specialist tech accessory company Casetify is ringing in the New Year with a new collection of tech based on the beloved Disney character Mickey Mouse, who started it all. In collaboration with Disney, the company will be producing this year a wide range of cases and other accessories for iPhones, Samsung phones, AirPods, iPads, and Apple Watches. Included in … [Read more...] about Casetify Unveils Tech Accessories Based on Disney’s Mickey Mouse
Key Exec Ricky Strauss Leaves Disney
Deadline reports that Ricky Strauss, one of the key executives who launched Disney+ and former head of marketing for Walt Disney Studios, is leaving the company after nine years. The announcement was made internally through a memo obtained by Deadline, and Strauss also reportedly shared the news with his staff. The decision to leave comes as Disney has launched a full-scale … [Read more...] about Key Exec Ricky Strauss Leaves Disney
New Lego Sets Create Disney-based Art
It's said that a single picture is worth a thousand words, but in the case of the new Lego Art series, that single picture is also worth 2,658 plastic blocks. Danish building toy giant Lego is once more expanding its line of Lego Art kits with the addition of two Disney-themed, 2-D mosaics, featuring Mickey and Minnie Mouse. The kits are aimed at older Lego and Disney fans who … [Read more...] about New Lego Sets Create Disney-based Art
Who’s News Roundup: Week of Dec. 9
Bad Robot Tags Veteran Developer Michael Booth for New Video Game Studio The accomplished Bad Robot studio made a serious move this week, launching a video game division-Bad Robot Games—that will be guided by newly hired industry veteran Michael Booth as its General Manager and CEO Anna Sweet. Bad Robot, founded and led by renowned producer JJ Abrams, will now partner its … [Read more...] about Who’s News Roundup: Week of Dec. 9