Licensing World

Sambro debuts new licensed TMNT range

As part of the three-year contract extension between Sambro and Paramount Consumer Products announced earlier this year, Sambro International will launch a new range of toys based on the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles franchise.

Timed to coincide with the highly anticipated movie Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Mutant Mayhem, Sambro will launch a new range of plush, novelty, stationery and outdoor toy lines featuring characters from the much-loved film and TV franchise. Plush, stationery and novelty lines will launch first, followed by outdoor lines in the following seasons. The range will be rolled out across the UK, Netherlands, France and Germany.

The plush range, featuring Donatello, Leonardo, Raphael and Michelangelo, includes 28cm character toys in standing poses, made from a durable, tough and wipeable Tricot fabric. There’s also a selection of TMNT Lil’ Bodz toys; Sambro’s successful own range of plush toys characterised by their small bodies and oversized heads.

Sambro’s extensive Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles stationery range features dynamic Turtles designs packed full of attitude. The line includes pens and pencils, notebooks, pencil cases and erasers.

Hero products in the range include the TMNT Triple Layer Pencil Case in a classic TMNT design, with zip closing and a selection of branded stationery inside and a metallic notebook and shaped notebook with pen. The stationery range is complemented by the Puzzle Palz novelty collectibles; four-character licensed jigsaw erasers can be built up and taken apart, providing hours of fun.

The three-year agreement across the UK & EMEA regions between Sambro and Paramount Consumer Products will see the development and distribution of Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles products until December 2025.

“Paramount Consumer Products has an impressive portfolio of amazing brands that we are already lucky to work with, and we’re excited to now add Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles to the mix,” said Clare Rix, Brand and Licensing director at Sambro.

Hunter Price to introduce first Crayola collections

The collections will launch in Tesco and Poundland this month. A capsule collection will debut in 200 Tesco stores for the brand-new range Crayola Kraft, which has been created by the team at Hunter Price in collaboration with Crayola. Crayola Kraft is a predominantly paper-based range which has the environment at heart and aims to inspire kids to craft with kindness. The first range is plastic free, recyclable, printed with vegetable-based inks and is FSC certified.

Key lines include the Crayola Kraft Activity Case, which comes with 12 colouring pencils, sticker sheets and a 30-page activity book containing colouring sheets, craft activities and paper sheets. The Crayola Kraft Scrapbooking Kit includes a 40-page kraft paper scrapbook, sticker sheets, patterned and coloured paper sheets, tissue paper, decorative tape and raffia paper ribbon.

Other products in the collection include a Card Making Kit and a 3D Wooden Animal Kit with five assorted animals which can be coloured and decorated.

The second new collection concept is Crayola Everyday, a range of 19 products designed to encourage crafting and creativity everyday which will launch in more than 400 Poundland stores nationwide. The range combines Crayola quality product with fun themes and characters, including monsters, unicorns and under the sea.

With a target demographic of children aged 3-11, the Crayola Everyday range features a variety of create-your-own items from puzzles to metallic canvases to a map of the world, as well as scratch art and paper pads. Most lines also include Crayola crayons, which are ideal for craft sessions with kids and adults alike.

“Over the past 12 months the team has worked tirelessly to develop more than 100 new product concepts and get them ready for retail. To launch one of our very first new ranges –Crayola Kraft – with Tesco will be a hugely proud moment for the whole team,” said Ben Cornwell, sales director for stationery, arts and craft at Hunter Price International.

Rubies launches new line for Gabby’s Dollhouse

Featuring Gabby, Mercat and Cakey Cat, the collection is set to join Rubies huge portfolio of licences and brands globally. As one of the first brands to bring DreamWorks Animation’s Gabby’s Dollhouse costumes to life for fans, Rubies is excited to see an already strong reception to the range of dress-up.

With four complete costumes including dresses and headbands in each, all finished off with a realistic all-over print, the dress-up is perfect for early years, one of the most popular markets for fancy-dress. The costumes include a Gabby Tutu dress based on the main character’s outfit, a Gabby and Pandy Paws costume, a Cakey Cat tutu dress and a Mercat tutu dress, each with a corresponding headband.

Pete Silver, head of Sales at Rubies Masquerade UK, said: “As we add yet another licence to our catalogue, Gabby’s Dollhouse is set to be one of the most exciting yet. With loyal fans ranging from pre-school to primary years from across the globe, this versatile licence is paving the way for four new, innovative and fun costume sets from us.”

Gabby’s Dollhouse costumes and dress-up from Rubies are available now. New product is already in development for 2024, strengthening the range and brand, aligning with Rubies 365 strategy.

Disguise secures global costume rights to Rise of the Beasts

Disguise has announced that is has secured the worldwide rights to design, market, manufacture and distribute costumes, costume accessories, inflatables, adaptive costumes and trunk-or-treat kits for Hasbro’s Transformers: Rise of the Beasts.

Disguise’s new line-up for the movie, released in June, features classic Transformers characters Optimus Prime and Bumblebee, as well as newcomers Rhinox, Optimus Primal and Cheetor. The Transformers franchise has been a significant contributor to Disguise’s retail success and, after years of collaboration and development with Hasbro, the company is confident that this new line will be a huge hit.

“Disguise is immensely proud of its long-standing relationship with Hasbro, having collaborated on Transformers for several decades and achieving consistent success at retail year after year,” said Tara Cortner, president and GM of Disguise. “I’m confident the success of Transformers: Rise of the Beasts will make the costumes a must-have for dress-up this year around the globe. We look forward to continuing to work with Hasbro and bringing these beloved characters to life for years to come.”

Disguise’s line of costumes and accessories for Transformers: Rise of the Beasts will hit stores and online in North America, EMEA, ANZ and LATAM this autumn.

Lego reveals latest addition to Harry Potter range

The Lego Harry Potter Gringotts Wizarding Bank set, in partnership with Warner Bros. Discovery Global Consumer Products, follows the Lego Group’s rich history of designing and bringing to life many of the most iconic Harry Potter locations. The 4,803-piece set features a highly detailed representation of the bank from the film series and includes the exterior, main banking hall and the underground vault, complete with minecart rollercoaster.

In addition, the set includes 13 minifigures, based on characters from the movie, including Harry Potter, Rubeus Hagrid, Dragomir Despard, Ron Weasley, Bellatrix Lestrange, Hermione Granger, Griphook, Bogrod, Ricbert, a Death Eater, two goblin bankers and two guards.

The set also includes the Ukranian Ironbelly Dragon which can be placed on top of the building to mirror the iconic scene from the Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows movie. The new set is also compatible with the Lego Harry Potter Diagon Alley set.

Fans can meet the Lego Harry Potter The Gringotts Bank designer at the Lego Store, London Leicester Square on 1st September between 3pm and 5pm. From 1st-3rd September, at the same store, visitors can capture photos with the large Lego Harry Potter models with the chance to win Harry Potter and the Cursed Child theatre tickets.

Nationwide from 1st-3rd September (timings vary), at participating Lego Stores, fans can make a Lego Harry Potter Wand and take it home with them. Click here for more details.

The Lego Harry Potter Gringotts Bank Set is available from 1st September for Lego VIPs and 4th September for all, via Lego Stores and online.

Fisher-Price unveils Little People Collector Friends set

Fisher-Price has announced the launch of the highly anticipated Little People Collector Friends ‘The Television Series’ set. In collaboration with Warner Bros. Discovery Global Consumer Products, this collection captures the essence of the iconic TV show Friends and brings the beloved characters into the hands of fans of all ages.

‘The One Where They Became a Little People Collector Set’ epitomises the enduring popularity of Friends, showcasing the timeless appeal of Ross, Rachel, Chandler, Monica, Joey and Phoebe in an adorable and collectible form.

The set also marks the launch of the Little People collector line to Europe, as the first iconic collaboration available in the market to spark fun and bring a touch of nostalgia to fans of all ages. The set celebrates the ten remarkable seasons that have captivated audiences around the world. Each meticulously designed character reflects their unique traits and memorable moments from the show:

Rachel is dressed in her classic Central Perk apron and sports her iconic haircut that inspired a generation of fans, while Monica is depicted in her pristine chef whites, embodying her determination to achieve her dreams.

Phoebe, the wonderfully eccentric musician and free spirit, dons a yellow dress adorned with a Christmas ribbon positioned strategically to cover an amusing hummus mishap.

Joey showcases his signature style by layering himself in a full closet of Chandler’s clothes, Chandler is dressed for his enigmatic job (as a “transponster”?) and is accompanied by his trusty pet duck, and Ross is portrayed in a reference to the episode where he struggled to wear leather pants.

Little People has also incorporated special easter eggs throughout the packaging that will transport fans back to their favourite scenes.