Exclusive: Jazwares Enlists with ‘Call of Duty’ as Global Master Collectibles Licensee



Under a multiyear licensing deal, Jazwares will create and market a full range of action figures, vehicles, and playsets inspired by Activision’s Call of Duty video game franchise. The line will debut at Comic-Con International: San Diego (SDCC) this month with a full retail launch planned for fall. Get the mission details…

The Toy Insider’s Sweet Suite Event Is Next Week!



The Toy Insider’s 14th annual Sweet Suite event is set to take place Wednesday, July 12, 2023, at Pier Sixty in New York City. At Sweet Suite ’23, guests will get up close and personal with the coolest new toys, collectibles, video games, and more from more than 50 companies. Learn more about the event…

Yo Joe! Catching Up with Hasbro’s G.I. Joe Team on Dragonfly Success and the Future of the Brand



The Pop Insider sits down with G.I. Joe Product Design Director Lenny Panzica and Brand Manager Emily Bader to de-classify the latest intel from the frontlines as Hasbro expands its G.I. Joe Classified Series. Debrief at The Pop Insider…

New LEGO Creator 3-In-1 Sets Bring Kids Triple the Construction Fun



What’s better than a LEGO set? Three LEGO sets in one! Three new Creator 3-in-1 sets are coming to the world of LEGO, and like other sets in the series, each one has three different builds kids can make. Read more at The Toy Insider…

Pop Quiz with Wendy Smolen: The 2023 Licensing & Entertainment Issue



Great minds think alike — and such is the beauty of a successful licensing partnership. After perusing all the dream partnerships featured in The Toy Book’s 2023 Licensing & Entertainment Issue, see how your mind syncs with these brilliant collaborations. Read more…

How Package Design Can Be the Most Powerful Storyteller for Licensed Brands at Retail



It is said that packaging is a brand’s most enduring and accessible consumer touch point. It’s certainly the most compelling because it’s through packaging that consumers first come in contact with their favorite brands in a tangible manner. Therefore, great package design is paramount to a brand’s success at retail. Read more…

Raising the Bar: What Elmo Taught Me About Licensing



Licensing is an amazing way to expand your brand. Essentially, licensing is like “renting” out intellectual property to third-party companies that will create and sell branded products or experiences. And the actual licensing agreement sets the ground rules for what you as a company can or cannot do with the brand. Read more…

Connetix: Preparing Kids for the World of Tomorrow with STEAM Learning



With the rapid change in technology, we have already seen a rise in careers that didn’t exist 10 years ago. So, it doesn’t come as a surprise that parents and educators around the globe are searching for ways to prepare children to live in a world we cannot yet foresee. Read more…

Celebrating 100 Years of Warner Bros. with New Toys and Collectibles



Today’s kids may not have been alive when The Lord of the Rings movies debuted in theaters or when Friends aired its final episode, but the cultural impact of Warner Bros.’ tentpole franchises means that collectors and toy lovers of all ages are part of the celebration for Warner Bros.’ 100th anniversary. Read more…

Engaging Inventors on Entertainment Brands: It’s Complicated



Entertainment licensors have the desire to connect directly with inventors. But why? Don’t their licensees manage inventors and engage them to support the brands they have rights to? Whose responsibility is it to engage with, inspire, and manage inventors and their concept submissions — the licensors or licensees? Read more…