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
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LEGO Deal With SEGA Results in ‘Super Sonic’ Collection
Video gaming's most iconic speedster is now coming to a box of LEGO near you, as LEGO Ideas announced it is releasing a line of products for Sonic the Hedgehog. Even more interesting, the partnership is happening because of a concept design submitted by a 24-year-old LEGO superfan in the UK, Viv Grannel. LEGO says Grannel, also a passionate Sonic fan, created her design as a … [Read more...] about LEGO Deal With SEGA Results in ‘Super Sonic’ Collection
Lego and Universal Music Group Launch Music Video Maker
In yet another example of how the world of music licensing has evolved over the past two years, LEGO and Universal Music Group (UMG) announced on Jan. 26 the launch of LEGO VIDIYO, "a playful and innovative music video maker experience designed to celebrate and expand children’s creativity and passion for music." The companies say in a joint statement that LEGO VIDIYO is a … [Read more...] about Lego and Universal Music Group Launch Music Video Maker
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
Toys’R’Us Reveals the 20 Hottest Toys for Our Covid Christmas
Looking for the hottest licensing properties in the toy world? You could do worse than heeding the advice of retailing giant Toys’R’Us, which has relaunched its annual Geoffrey’s Hot Toy List for the 2020 Yuletide season. This year the Toys ‘R’ Us team has selected the top 20 hottest toys of the year from well-known toy brands including Fisher-Price, Hasbro, LEGO, Mattel, Spin … [Read more...] about Toys’R’Us Reveals the 20 Hottest Toys for Our Covid Christmas
Experiential, Social & Retail: Updates
Contact the editor at karina@plainlanguagemedia.com. Dr. Seuss Enterprises and its licensed partners are celebrating the graduation season with Oh, the Places You’ll Go!—for graduates young and old, rich and poor, silly and smart—with the book from Random House, a gift line from Hallmark, a Walgreens program with Vandor, and tumblers from Tervis. Funko adopts the home field of … [Read more...] about Experiential, Social & Retail: Updates
Show Me the Money: Toycos Report Depressed Sales FY2018
With a few exceptions, every major publicly-traded toyco reported a drop in sales of licensed toys/games. TLL breaks down how the year went for Mattel, Hasbro, Jakks Pacific, Lego, and Funko. The bankruptcy and subsequent liquidation of Toys"R"Us (TRU) stores (which immediately impacted the U.S., U.K., and Australia in 2017) remained a drag on 2018 performance thanks to store … [Read more...] about Show Me the Money: Toycos Report Depressed Sales FY2018
L.O.L. Surprise! Sweeps Toy & License of the Year Awards
This year, L.O.L. Surprise! by MGA Entertainment received the distinguished “Toy of the Year” and "License of the Year" awards at the 19th Annual Toy of the Year (TOTY) Awards. MGAE took home two more awards in the Doll and Playset (tied) categories for a total of four honors. Lego tied for the most number of awards with four of its own: Collectible, Construction Toy, Playset … [Read more...] about L.O.L. Surprise! Sweeps Toy & License of the Year Awards
Store Check: Holiday 2018 at Rockefeller Center
Contact the Editor at karina@plainlanguagemedia.com. FAO Schwarz has returned to New York City with a brand new flagship store at 30 Rockefeller Plaza. The toy store spans 2.5 levels with over 20,000 sq. ft. of FAO's signature toys, interactive experiences, and themed partner areas. In addition to holiday exclusives, the store's collaboration with specialty candy retailer … [Read more...] about Store Check: Holiday 2018 at Rockefeller Center
One-Quarter of Top 2018 Holiday Toys are Licensed
Contact the Editor at karina@plainlanguagemedia.com. Roughly 29% of the top 2018 holiday toys are licensed, according to lists created by Walmart, Target, Amazon, and Kmart. In 2017, retail sales of licensed toys/games sank -4.4% to $7.7 billion in the U.S./Canada, according to TLL’s Annual Licensing Business Survey. This was largely due to the impact of the Toys 'R' Us … [Read more...] about One-Quarter of Top 2018 Holiday Toys are Licensed