Netflix’s former director of kids & family acquisitions and co-commissions Amy Takahara is accusing the company of wrongful termination, gender bias and fostering a toxic workplace.

President Donald Trump told CNBC on Tuesday that he has narrowed the field of potential future Federal Reserve chairs to four candidates, a list that does not include Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent.

The U.S. should deploy a small nuclear power plant to the surface of the moon before China and Russia are able to do so, the interim head of NASA has told the space agency’s staff.

US President Donald Trump, hailing his “good relationship” with his Chinese counterpart Xi Jinping, said on Tuesday that a deal with China was taking shape, a week after officials from both countries concluded talks on tariffs in Sweden.

The move builds upon the company’s initial plan to invest $500 billion in the US over the next four years, and includes a new American Manufacturing Program that the company says will bring more of Apple’s “supply chain and advanced manufacturing” to the US.

President Donald Trump will sign an executive order on Thursday to allow alternative assets such as private equity, cryptocurrencies and real estate into 401(k)s, according to a senior White House official.

The bankruptcy of Diamond Comic Distributors continues to be profitable for the professionals working on it; professional fees billed from filing through the end of June now total over $9 million.

The motion also lays out amounts of money owed to the 12 companies in the Ad Hoc Committee for product sold between filing and the sale to Sparkle Pop, and after the sale.

It was a strong quarter for America’s biggest companies — less so for many under-the-radar firms. 

In April, US President Donald Trump announced a list of individual tariffs that he said would be levied against goods from almost every country in the world. Shortly after, he hit pause on implementing them—but promised to resume by August 1 if countries did not make agreements with the US.

A Challenger, Gray & Christmas report points to tariffs and broader economic uncertainty as the catalysts driving a retail workforce contraction. 

Small-business owners say they are raising the price of their consumer goods by the end of the year to offset tariffs. 

Trump's announcement on CNBC's "Squawk Box" came on the heels of him unveiling new tariff rates on numerous countries, with some facing steep hikes.

Disney reported results for its fiscal third quarter – posting earnings that topped expectations but revenue that came in just shy of analyst projections – as the company’s streaming business grew and its theme parks saw higher spending from consumers. 

The White House announced Wednesday that it is imposing an additional 25% tariff on India, bringing the total levies against the major United States trading partner to 50%.

Trump just announced he’ll putting an enormous 100 percent tariff on chips and semiconductors — unless your company kisses the ring like Apple CEO Tim Cook just did, perhaps.

Tom Conrad took over as CEO of Sonos in January as it continues to recover from last year’s disastrous mobile app update, and now the company has issued its first quarterly earnings report after he dropped the interim tag from his title.

At peak, Labubu dolls weren’t just collectibles, they were emotional currency. But the latest drama feels like a turning point.

The adorable tiny monster that’s taken over social media feeds speaks to a larger phenomenon of the need for trending trinkets.

Some environmental and social concerns have been raised as Labubu Dolls soar off store shelves.

After detailed consultation, Russian collector Ilya Popov shook hands with a Chinese toy designer to finalize a 15,000-yuan ($2,070) purchase.

Koreans have fallen in love with Pop Mart’s Labubu character, which has caused chaotic scenes and prices for limited editions to skyrocket.

It’s been a year of mixed messaging for the U.S. toy industry amid inflation, tariffs, and an erratic earnings season.

Amid the Delta Air Lines dynamic pricing controversy, Wharton marketing professor Z. John Zhang argues that the approach is likely to become more widespread — especially in an environment shaped by rising tariffs and shifting consumer expectations.

While toycos have had to pivot strategies and rejig their supply chains to navigate President Donald Trump’s ongoing global trade war, the US toy industry is proving to be more than just resilient.

The Kruger Street Toy & Train Museum in Wheeling, West Virginia is now giving the public a rare opportunity to actually see those original molds, used by Ideal to produce millions upon millions of Rubik’s Cubes, helping to turn the toy into a worldwide sensation!

Haribo is one of the largest gummy candy manufacturers in the world, with its Wisconsin factory producing 60 million Goldbear gummies a day. Hershey, best known for chocolate, has expanded into pretzels and dipped fruit snacks.

Toy World caught up with Gill Archer, VP Hardlines & Food+ at Disney Consumer Products EMEA, to gain insights into how the studio's most popular IPs translate into plush toys and discover the latest major new lines its licensees are releasing.

The marshmallow test, first devised by Walter Mischel in the 1960s to measure a young child’s ability to delay gratification, helped usher in a fascination with early childhood capacities and skills that has persisted to the present day.

Sales Rankings Based on Comic Store POS Data

Sales Rankings Based on Comic Store POS Data

The inclusion of the "Toy Story" characters coincides with the 30th anniversary of the first movie in the series. Long-time butter cow sculptor Sarah Pratt said she's created a connection between the series and Iowa. 

In 1982, TOMY released Dingbot, a small toy robot whose design was heavily influenced by the fictional film character E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial. The toy was part of the company’s Home Entertainment Robot series, which also included Verbot and Omnibot.

The Colonial Viper and Cylon Raider shown in this vintage advertisement were two of the four model kits released by Monogram following the 1978 premiere of Battlestar Galactica.

In honor of Spider-Man Day, get your first look at Tom Holland's new suit in the upcoming movie, Spider-Man: Brand New Day.

The superstar released the music video for her latest single, her first new music since releasing "The Giver" back in March.

Marvel’s The Fantastic Four: First Steps easily stayed atop the domestic box office chart in its second weekend with $40 million, but tumbled a worrisome 66 percent.

How is this for an ironic twist — as Stephen Colbert is preparing to say goodbye as the host of CBS’ The Late Show, he also is portraying a late-night host for CBS with a guest role on the upcoming third season of the network’s crime anthology Elsbeth.

NBC has renewed “American Ninja Warrior” for Season 18, Variety has learned. The new season of the hit summer competition series will begin filming in Las Vegas this fall.

The people yearn for a no-frills adaptation of the Resident Evil franchise, but Zach Cregger probably won’t be the one to make it.

Baby Evie makes her highly anticipated television debut today on Nickelodeon. The TV premiere is accompanied by the release of the new 11-episode season of Peppa Pig.

Little Tikes’ Story Dream Machine is a kid-sized projector. It shines storybook pages onto flat surfaces and reads the story to children ages 3 and up. Dr. Seuss is available as an expansion pack through a licensing agreement.

No kid will feel blue when they wear these new Bluey-themed shoes. Families can add Heeler fun to their everyday lives with the limited-edition Converse x Bluey collection. Kids can step into new adventures with Bluey-inspired footwear.

Jazwares’s popular Squishmallows line joins the beauty world in a unique collaboration with Ulta Beauty. Consumers can combine their love of plush and beauty products with the eight-piece Squishmallows makeup line. 

License Global has released its annual Top Global Licensors 2025 whitepaper, revealing that the world’s largest brand owners collectively generated more than $307 billion in retail sales of licensed consumer products in 2024.

The four series, commissioned by BBC Studios Digital Brands, BBC Studios Kids & Family and the Australian Broadcasting Corporation, are Bluey Tunes, Bluey Puppets, Bluey Cookalongs and Bluey Fancy Restaurants, all 10 x roughly two to five minutes.

The fallout from the US government clawing back the Corporation for Public Broadcasting’s funding is already hitting home, with the org deciding to wind down its operations. And the stations CPB funded are expressing grief over losing the institution.

The anime follows the core story of the ongoing mobile game, which sees a high schooler named Yuuken Enma transported to the Disney villain-themed school for aspiring mages, Night Raven College. Enma will clash with the school’s dorm leader Riddle Rosehearts on his quest to return home. 

Frozen’s princess sister duo is joining the American Girl Disney Core Collection. The 18-inch dolls, designed for kids ages 6 and up, come with their signature outfits as seen in the animated film.

Internationally, Hulu will be pushed as Disney’s general entertainment brand. Outside the US, Disney’s general entertainment content is currently available under the Star tile, and this will be replaced by a Hulu tile.

The punk rock-inspired iteration of Spider-Man first stole the show in the 2023 sequel Across the Spider-Verse (pictured), which, thanks to universe-hopping shenanigans, featured multiple variants of the friendly neighborhood webslinger.

A Minecraft Movie—which debuted in April to a strong US$955-million run—was among the major releases that helped fuel a 38% jump in Q2 theatrical revenue. With this boost, the company’s overall studios segment revenue increased 54% to $3.8 billion compared with last year.

“Priced at less than a cup of coffee, Howdy is ad-free and designed to complement, not compete with, premium services,” said Roku founder and CEO Anthony Wood.

Directors Maggie Kang and Chris Appelhans and Netflix film boss Dan Lin weigh in on how a unique concept and authenticity propelled the animated feature into long-term success.

Ohana means family, which means no one gets left behind, not even Stitch. “Lilo & Stitch,” the live-action remake of Disney’s classic animated feature, will be surfing into Disney+ on Sept. 3.

In the film, Fraser plays an American actor living in Tokyo. When he starts taking roles for the Japanese Rental Family Agency, he finds unexpected connections playing a stand-in in other people’s familial lives.

During the week of July 28-Aug. 3, “KPop Demon Hunters” achieved not only its seventh week on the Netflix Top 10, but became one of the streamer’s most popular titles ever.

Based in London, Rakesh will spearhead Striders’ global sales and business development efforts across all markets, with a sharp focus on scaling its flagship brand, Pugs at Play, along with the broader portfolio of proprietary and licensed products.

Scott Garnerbundy-Higgs has joined Cartamundi as UK Business Development manager, bringing with him over 25 years of experience in the Toy and Gift industry. Scott has held key roles at Fizz Creations and Rubber Road.

Skydance founder David Ellison (pictured) will take the reins as CEO with former NBCUniversal chief Jeff Shell joining as president—two appointments that have been more or less expected since the initial merger agreement.

In the new gig, Kazakos will continue to drive communications across the “Barbie” shop’s corporate, content, and franchise businesses – as well as oversee strategy for Mattel Studios’ film and series projects and verticals like digital games, brand partnerships, location-based entertainment, publishing and music.

Having recently parted company with Jakks Pacific UK, Tony is now looking to bring his expert sales experience in the toy industry to a new opportunity.  The senior sales professional's extensive experience includes 16 years as a National Account Manager in the toy industry. 

Karl Pollard has spent more than 25 years in the toy industry, including nearly a decade with Jakks Pacific, before parting company with the UK business earlier this year.

WildBrain CPLG is expanding its business with key leadership changes. The licensing agency has promoted Evi Sari to the newly created role of Vice President, Global Location-Based Entertainment.

Grossfeld, who produced the English-language versions of early Pokémon and Yu-Gi-Oh seasons back in the ’90s and early ’00s, is credited with helping launch the Pokémon brand worldwide.

If you tune into one of the nine different Evo Twitch channels, you'll see some of the top players in the world compete in fighting game staples like Street Fighter and Tekken and newer games like Fatal Fury: City of the Wolves and Rivals of Aether II.

AB Con in Nigeria has set its sights on more than doubling attendance at this year's event after pulling past its funding target for its latest Kickstarter campaign.

North America's biggest tabletop gaming convention, Gen Con, has scored another year of record attendance and exhibitor numbers, despite fears that ongoing US tariff volatility would see publishers and visitors choosing to skip the 2025 show.

2025 marks the brand’s fourth consecutive year at Gloworm Festival, where the Smoby Play Zone promises a fun-filled space for children and parents alike. Smoby is enjoying another successful summer as it gets ready to return to the much-loved Gloworm Festival.

Phil Seuling (1934-1984) was inducted into the prestigious Will Eisner Hall of Fame, an unprecedented honor. The Hall is filled with cartoonists, writers and artists who have shaped American comics or their international counterparts.

If this year's San Diego Comic-Con had a theme song, it would be REM's indie-rock classic "It's the End of the World As We Know It (And I Feel Fine)."

The show is designed to fill the gap left by ToyFest‘s cancellation, providing specialty retailers with a first-quarter opportunity to place orders following the holiday season.

The global toy and games industry is set to welcome a major new B2B event with the launch of Toy Sourcing International, taking place in Amsterdam from 3rd-4th June 2026.

Each puzzle in the Glimmers of the Realm series features original art from the Disney Lorcana trading card game and  include a Mickey Mouse - True Friend promo card. Ravensburger revealed the designs during the Gen Con Indy event.

Toy World Publisher John Baulch spoke with the team at Ty and leading retailers to get all the details on the successful launch of the Beanie Bouncers range. 

Online creators MrBeast and Mark Rober are joining forces on #TeamWater, their latest in a string of environmental fundraising initiatives that also includes TeamTrees and TeamSeas. 

Elf Creek Games, makers of Merchants of the Dark Road, has fallen on hard times recently, and faces several challenges in fulfilling their recent Kickstarter campaigns as well as other financial responsibilities.

Woof & Co. is a brand-new doll line from Sunny Days Ent. that celebrates friendship in the cutest — and most fashionable — way. Each of the six characters features a unique personality and stylish outfit to match.

The LEGO Group has opened up a teaser site for their upcoming LEGO Pokemon which is set to make its debut next year. The teaser site features a video showcasing what appears to be the mighty Pikachu in LEGO.

In celebration of the hauntingly beautiful legacy of Tim Burton’s Corpse Bride ‘s 20th anniversary, Monster High and Warner Bros. Discovery Consumer Products unveil a spine-tingling tribute, the Monster High Skullector Corpse Bride Doll. 

The NacelleVerse is expanding even further with a new set of Power Lords figures, which were showcased for the first time at The Nacelle Company's San Diego Comic-Con panel on Thursday, July 24.

Zatu Distribution has signed distribution deals with two of the world’s leading licensed board game publishers: Steamforged Games and Maestro Media. This includes exclusivity for Maestro Media, and exclusivity for a number of Steamforged Games titles.

Rob McQuillan will oversee Scotland, while Graham Blair and Walter Cummins will cover Northern Ireland and Southern Ireland, respectively. Cobi has announced the appointment of new Sales agents within its ranks. 

The restructure and key appointments within the Sales team reflect Golden Bear’s evolution into a global, brand-led business. Golden Bear Toys is pleased to announce a restructure and key appointments within its Sales team, reflecting the company’s evolution into a global, brand-led business.

McDonald's is transporting collectors to an exciting new place with its new McDonaldland meal, which comes with a mystery shake and souvenir.

Elf Creek Games, makers of Merchants of the Dark Road (see "Origins Award Finalists"), has fallen on hard times recently, and faces several challenges in fulfilling their recent Kickstarter campaigns as well as other financial responsibilities.

The four new plush designs are named Phoenix, Aurora, Stella and Zephyr and take the shape of the sun, a rainbow, a star and a thundercloud, each featuring a cute smiley face.

Claire’s, a mall staple that was once a destination for teens and tweens, has failed to thrive since its 2018 bankruptcy. The retailer has struggled to keep up with its audience, according to Sarah Foss, global head of bankruptcy at Debtwire.

Connetix is releasing three new magnetic tile ranges – Portal, Glitter and Light Up are all making their international debut alongside an entirely new magnetic tile line designed for older builders, Connetix Pro.

As part of the collaboration, Little Dot Studios will manage and grow the Mo Willems Workshop YouTube channel, enhancing its reach and performance with a global audience of families, educators, and young readers.

Bandai Namco Toys & Collectibles America (BNTCA) introduces the latest version of its virtual pet brand, Tamagotchi. While the aesthetic and concept remain the same, this version has exciting new twists.

Based on the values of nature-connected childhoods and cross-cultural learning, the program, in collaboration with Hasbro and Peppa Pig, draws on the animated show’s playful spirit and life lessons.

Funko just revealed new Pop! collectibles inspired by the highly anticipated Wicked: For Good! These include new looks for Elphaba and Glinda, along with Dorothy, Scarecrow, Tin Man, and the Cowardly Lion!

Wilberry Toys, a part of The Puppet Company, has unveiled the latest addition to its range of soft toys. Introducing the Teddy Bears Picnic set, which captures the charm of traditional childhood play, sparking endless creativity and joy for children and parents alike.

Tuesday 2nd September will see Board Game Club holding a special event to celebrate the latest and greatest innovations in the board game space. Board Game Club is teaming up with Mojo Nation to celebrate innovation at Play Creators Special.

As the nation’s love for collectible toys grows, The Entertainer has revealed that it is bringing Pop Mart’s iconic blind box collectibles to fans in the UK. From Thursday 7th August, shoppers can find limited-edition favourites like Molly and Skullpanda at selected The Entertainer stores.

The lineup includes a soft, collectible plush Popples collection, fashion-forward Jem and the Holograms dolls, and new M.A.S.K. vehicles as the brand gears up for its 40th anniversary.

Bigshot Toyworks, the award-winning creative agency behind licensed collectibles and original art toys, has unveiled Here There Bear, a charming new articulated plush that encourages kids to unplug and explore their surroundings.

Disney has capitalized on the Labubu hullabaloo. The media and retail giant has made a strategic play to capture the enduring bag-charm craze by launching its ultra-popular collection of plush keychains and clip-on charms in the U.S.

In this newly created executive role at the Robert Kirkman and David Alpert-founded company, Cole will lead the company’s global communications strategy, positioning, and brand narrative across Skybound’s comics, games, television, film, audio and collectibles divisions.

The campaign unveils the toy company’s ongoing sustainability journey and the innovation behind its products. The face of the campaign is a classic LEGO minifigure from the past.

Following its launch in June, the Switch 2 console has now sold 5.82 million units according to Nintendo’s Q1 earnings report, more than double the 2.7 million unit sales achieved by the original Switch in its first month.

Nintendo has just raised the price of the original Switch in the US. The console, which has cost $299.99 since its release in 2017, is now priced at $339.99 on Nintendo’s online store.

Roc Nest Games founder Mo Shawwa explains the lessons he learned from the Kickstarter success of his first game, Chroma Arcana last year.

The introduction of the Nintendo Switch 2 brought players more powerful hardware, a better eShop, and a slew of new games, but one change introduced with the new console has been almost universally criticized.

Getting work in gaming is harder and harder, especially for new starters. How are young developers following their passions?

A third-party Xbox controller based on developer Rare has been listed on Amazon, with an official reveal seemingly imminent. As spotted by Reddit user CyraxxFavoriteStylus, the controller has been listed on Amazon’s US site, but at the time of writing has yet to be officially announced by Microsoft, Rare or the controller’s manufacturer.

Nintendo’s latest livestreamed event is highlighting the smattering of indie games coming to the Switch consoles later this year, and the Indie World Showcase was on Thursday, August 7th, at 9 AM ET.

The PlayStation 5 sold 2.5 million units during the first quarter of the current fiscal year to eclipse 80 million lifetime sales. The console has now sold precisely 80.3 million units since launching in November 2020. 

Firestoke CEO and founder Paul Farley shared the news on Linkedin and explained the company ran out of runway despite being on the "path towards profitability." 

The team has revealed in a YouTube short that it is has been wrapping up work on the release date trailer which features Chris Sutherland.

Taking the reins as Barbie ‘Brooklyn’ Roberts or Barbie ‘Malibu’ Roberts, players will explore vibrant ecosystems, complete nature-inspired quests, and uncover hidden treasures.

This ODST faction box set provides players with all models and rules necessary to field them on the Halo miniatures game battlefield. The set features a Limited Edition MasterCraft Resin Sculpt of Gunnery Sergeant Buck as well as on of Captain Veronica Dare.

Marshfield, MA (August 1, 2025) – Tytan Magnetic Tiles continue to stand out in a crowded market thanks to their premium quality, environmentally friendly materials, accessible pricing, and standout licensing partnership with Disney. Backed by an official STEM.org certification, these magnetic tiles empower parents to support early learning through hands-on play that builds spatial awareness, geometry skills, and problem-solving. With a recently extended licensing agreement, Tytan is thrilled to continue offering Disney-inspired creativity...

Roblox introduces a new parental control descriptor. The Sensitive Issues tag will apply to experiences defined as 'any current sensitive social, political, or religious issue' that evoke 'polarized viewpoints' and 'strong emotional response' from players.

Diana Krogh, the Vice President of Social Responsibility at The LEGO Group, addresses a common concern for parents, how to keep online play safe for kids, with the help of organizations like UNICEF and The LEGO Foundation.

The program, which will celebrate its 50th anniversary next year, verifies more than 3,200 products across 30 categories throughout the U.S. and Canada.

He left the Activision Blizzard-owned subsidiary studio in 2022 for a job at Insomniac Games, where he helped implement the UI and accessibility features seen in Marvel's Spider-Man 2.