Exclusively at playthings.com
By Staff -- Playthings, 1/1/2007
4Kids' trading cards, online gamingFor the first time, 4Kids Entertainment will directly produce trading cards under two newly formed subsidiaries: a trading card company, TC Digital Games LLC, and an online multi-platform game company, TC Websites LLC, both headquartered in San Diego. The first Web site launch will be for Chaotic, an animated series, which will premiere on Fox's 4Kids TV this month.
TRU debuts store in ChinaToys "R" Us has opened its first store in Mainland China in Shanghai. The store carries about 7,000 SKUs and is approximately 21,500 sq. ft. The TRU is operated under license by Li and Fung (Retailing) Ltd., part of the Li and Fung Group, the international sourcing and licensing operation, which operates 47 TRU stores in several Asian markets.
Elmer's buys Scientific Explorer...Columbus, Ohio-based arts and crafts, adhesives and educational products manufacturer Elmer's Products Inc. has acquired children's science and arts and crafts companies Scientific Explorer, GiddyUp and ColorLoco.
Product showcasesPrincesses, kids' DVDs, science kits and Western-themed toys were all recently featured in Playthings.com's weekly Product Showcase pages. Some highlighted companies include: Abrams Books, Accoutrements, Action Products, Be Amazing! Toys, Buena Vista Games, Destineer, Disney Consumer Products, Jasman Toys, Juno Baby, Käthe Kruse, Midway Games, Nintendo (Super Mario Galaxy game pictured right), Pelican Publishing, Playmobil, Sarah's Silks, Schleich, THQ and Workshop Toys.
Lucasfilm catches copycatsStar Wars has been copied—again! Following the October copyright infringement case against U.K.-based Shepperton Design Studios, Lucasfilm has filed suit again against William Osburn and his Maryland-based company High-Tech Magic., alleging that they willfully infringed Lucasfilm's trademarks. The company is calling for an immediate halt to the sale of High-Tech Magic's laser sword replicas.
Groovy Girls go lifestyleManhattan Toy's Groovy Girls dolls (pictured below) will be the inspiration for a collection of themed lifestyle products for tween and younger girls from Toy Concepts/GFT. The product line, scheduled for an unveiling July 2007, includes tween-appropriate toy instruments and room decor items.
T.O.T.Y nominees revealedThe Toy Industry Association released its list of nominees for the seventh annual Toy Of The Year (T.O.T.Y.) Awards in the following categories: Infant/Preschool, Girl, Boy, Game, Outdoor, Educational, Most Innovative, Specialty, Activity Toy and Property of the Year. Winners will be disclosed during the American International Toy Fair in February at an awards gala that will also include the induction of Star Wars creator George Lucas into the Toy Industry Hall of Fame.
Mega Brands builds NickelodeonThe Montreal-based construction toy manufacturer has entered into an international licensing deal with Nickelodeon & Viacom Consumer Products to market building toys based on Nick Jr. properties Go, Diego, Go!, The Backyardigans and Dora the Explorer, to launch in the U.S., Canada, the U.K., France, Australia and Latin America in 2007.
