Media News - the multimedia rundown

NEWS In BRIEF...

Teletubbies set to go

WildBrain is launching new original Teletubbies music content consisting of 10 digital-first music videos and a full-length album entitled Ready, Steady, Go! Targeted at preschoolers, the album is the first music release from the Teletubbies in more than 20 years and is part of a multitiered franchise relaunch from WildBrain for the Teletubbies’ 25th anniversary in 2022.

Horrid Henry heads to Amazon Kids+

Novel Entertainment has partnered with Amazon Kids+ for all five seasons of its animated TV series Horrid Henry. Horrid Henry can now be found in the UK through Amazon Kids+ on Fire TV, Fire Tablets and compatible iOS, Android and Chrome devices.

Hornby steams onto TV

In a new TV series entitled Hornby: A Model World, the model-making company, home to four iconic brands - Hornby, Airfix, Scalextric and Corgi - has opened its doors to reveal how its team of designers strives to shrink a generation of mighty machines. The new 10-part series is available for catch-up on UKTV Play.

Crayola launches digital-first content

Crayola has launched a new season of its digital-first Scribble Scrubbie Pets series. The Crayola Kingdom channel is home to the Scribble Scrubbie Pets series. Based on the Crayola Scribble Scrubbie Pets creative toy range, the digital series was developed to engage kids through animation, real play, and drawing.

Strawberry Shortcake makes a return

Strawberry Shortcake is back with an animated series - Berry in the Big City - on the Strawberry Shortcake YouTube channel, plus a global franchise and licensing programme, with Moose Toys as Master Toy Partner. The company is developing a line of toys and playsets to be unveiled in early 2022. The bonneted little girl will also appear in Roblox.

Junkbots join Roblox universe

To celebrate the launch of the new collection of toy brand Hexbug’s Junkbots (Factory Collection), the online game platform and game creation system Roblox has introduced skills from Hexbug Junkbots. Roblox allows users to programme games and play games created by other users.

Junkbots is converging play, story, entertainment, and technology, allowing fans to immerse themselves with all-new Junkbot skins. Users can now be a Junkbot on the online interactive game from Roblox - just in time for the toys hitting the shelves with an all-new environment-based Junkbots Factory Collection.

Following this Summer’s drop of the Junkbots toy line and eight-part YouTube series, kids can transform into their favourite characters in the interactive game. They can immerse themselves in the universe of Junkbots by teaming up and joining the race to save the city alongside their friends.

Bluey’s first DVD hits shelves in the UK

Award-winning global hit animation Bluey is available on DVD for the first time in the UK.

Entitled Magic Xylophone and 14 other stories, the 100-minute DVD features 15 episodes from series one, plus the Bluey opening title sequence, and comes with colouring in postcards and a sticker sheet.

Bluey has become a global hit since it launched in Australia in 2018. In the UK, it was the most-viewed show on CBeebies in August, and is also available on Disney+.

The series follows Bluey, a six-yearold Blue Heeler dog who loves to play and turn everyday family life into extraordinary adventures that unfold in unpredictable and hilarious ways.

L.O.L. Surprise! launches live show

MGA Entertainment, creator of global fashion doll brand L.O.L. Surprise!, is bringing a live show to the UK called L.O.L Surprise! LIVE VIP Party in collaboration with VisitMalta.

The 15-city tour, which kicks off in Sheffield on 19 November, invites fans to stand out from the crowd and get runway ready with their favourite dolls. Featuring outrageous choreography, holograms, elaborate sets and new music, the show will be a concert-come-dance party for the whole family to enjoy.

Meanwhile, L.O.L. Surprise! Movie Night - the latest video game instalment based on the award-winning L.O.L. Surprise! toy franchise - launched exclusively for digital and retail on Nintendo Switch on 26 October. And MGA Entertainment is working with digital specialist Ioconic to bring its L.O.L! Surprise doll range into the NFT world. Available globally at www.playlolsurprise.com, the project enables L.O.L Surprise! fans to display their doll collections digitally and even mint them as NFTs.

Pokémon Trainer gameplay comes to smartphones

The Pokémon Company International has unveiled Pokémon TCG Live: a new app that allows Trainers to enjoy the Pokémon Trading Card Game in an updated digital format. Releasing as a free-to-play game, Pokémon TCG Live also marks the first time that the Pokémon TCG will be playable on smartphones in addition to tablets, PCs, and Macs.

Pokémon TCG Live is designed to be easy for beginners to learn how to play the game, while offering fresh challenges for existing players to improve and test their skills. Players will be able to enjoy some of their favourite Pokémon TCG activities, including building decks and battling other Trainers around the world. They will also be able to tailor their experience with customisable avatars and Pokémon TCG accessories, participate in daily quests, and more. In addition, Pokémon TCG Live will continue to be updated with new content and features following launch.

Meanwhile, The Pokémon Company International has also announced details of a new limited animated series created to celebrate 25 years of the global entertainment franchise. The eightepisode series, entitled Pokémon Evolutions, takes fans on a journey through all the known regions of the Pokémon world explored in the popular core video game franchise since it launched.