The International Longshoremen’s Association (ILA) and the U.S. Maritime Alliance (USMX) are set to sign their six-year master contract agreement.

WHSmith is reported to be making progress on the sale of its high street business. According to Sky News, just two bidders remain in contention to acquire the retailer’s store portfolio.

Toy Association CEO Greg Ahearn expects price increases of 15% to 20% on games, dolls, cars, and other toys by the back-to-school shopping season.

With a strong 96% eligible voter turnout, the new agreement was accepted with 93% in favor. Production management workers at Burbank’s Walt Disney Animation Studios have ratified their first union contract. Represented by The Animation Guild/IATSE Local 839, this milestone moment has been two years in the making.

Once known as a cruel villain in Disney’s animated film “Toy Story 3,” Lots-O’-Huggin’ Bear, or Lotso, with his pink fur, big plum nose, and signature strawberry scent, has now become a darling of young toy collectors in China.

The struggling retail pharmacy chain’s nearly 100-year run as a public company could end following an agreement to be purchased by private equity firm Sycamore Partners. The private equity firm will pay $11.45 per share in cash for Walgreens, giving the company an equity value of about $10 billion. But shareholders could earn another $3 per share based on...

But Chancellor Kathaleen McCormick will still consider an injunction presented by a collective New York City pension group before the merger's end date on April 7. A Delaware judge has declined to issue a temporary restraining order (TRO) yesterday that would have stalled the US$8-billion merger between Paramount Global and Skydance Media.

Financial terms have not been made public, but this acquisition should buoy See-Saw by providing it with access to more financing and sales capabilities under the growing auspices of Mediawan’s conglomerate, as well as opening up more co-pro opportunities with some...

A jury has ruled that the team behind the 2016 film did not have access to animator Buck Woodall's script or outlines, which he claims were copied.

President Trump has announced a delay in tariffs on goods imported from Mexico and Canada until April 2.

Here are the creators who raised $706 million. In mid-2024, Kickstarter highlighted how more creators are using its platform to crowdfund projects that are offshoots of their usual content. YouTube animator CircleTunesHD raised $729,197 to bring his fantasy tabletop game Fool’s Blade to life. Then there’s YouTuber and inventor Simone Giertz, who raised nearly $1.2 million...

Striking voice performer union SAG-AFTRA claims negotiations with major video game studios continue to stall due to "alarming loopholes" in proposals that would leave members open to AI abuse.

Consumers are growing increasingly pessimistic about their financial future as a wave of economic uncertainty takes hold.

Get the inside scoop on this year's hottest games and gadgets!

The analysis of over 43,000 stories submitted by 5-11-year-olds to the BBC 500 Words 2024 competition highlights intriguing trends in vocabulary and themes.

Sales Rankings Based on Comic Store POS Data

Curious Universe, Huggables, Sinco and The Brand Department are the latest companies to advertise job vacancies.

Rory Partis from Circana expects 2025 to be a good year for the toy market, with consumers expected to seek out an increase in everyday value over promotions.

Retail job outlook is bleak as retailers have announced over 45,000 layoffs to date, nearly 7 times more than last year, and store closures will far outpace openings.

Brands are increasingly leveraging pop-ups, and hospitality concepts to bring a new dimension to their retail offerings centered around engagement and immersion.

Lego is the unmatched leader in the construction category, but two new bricks brands are aiming for a piece of its market share.

Zack Farber, CEO of RMS USA, discusses how the company is making a splash in the U.S. this year with great products at competitive prices.

The company behind L.O.L. Surprise! and Little Tikes takes on the action aisle and makes plans for the future.

This showcase features upcoming action figures, playsets, collectibles, and more that kids can use to bring some excitement to playtime.

A sustained cargo surge at U.S. ports will continue as Trump administration policy uncertainty continues, per the National Retail Federation and Hackett Associates' Global Port Tracker.

In the traditional toy industry, plush toys have always been linked to childhood, with interest fading once consumers hit 18. But that's no longer the case.

As consumer demands and technologies evolve, the Science and Nature category is also adapting to new and innovative play patterns.

TCGplayer Top 25 Sealed TCG Products Chart Analysis for February 2025.

Two Second Volumes Point to Strong Manga Debuts

Ian Weber has around 5,000 Hot Wheels cars in his collection. The three-time American Ninja Warrior competitor’s collection started growing when he got into customizing the cars nearly two decades ago. The awards that adorn the walls come from customizing Hot Wheels at different conventions around the country.

Charlie Choo-Choo from Child Guidance was an action pull-toy for children ages one to three. 

Released in 1975 from Milton Bradley, Land of the Lost board game was adapted from the Sid and Marty Krofft science-fantasy television series that ran from 1974-1976.

Released in 1977 from Playskool, the Gilligan's Floating Island playset inspired children to recreate scenes from the Gilligan's Island television series and use their imaginations to create their own desert island scenarios.

More than 400 German toys dating from the 19th Century have sold at auction for almost £200,000.

If you happen to have any of these LEGO kits in your collection, you might be sitting on plastic brick gold!

The five carved figurines are about 2,400 years old, and they may help shed new light on an ancient Mesoamerican society.

The industry is asking Trump for relief. President Donald Trump’s trade war with China could have unintended consequences for the littlest Americans, such as increased choking hazards, lead paint contamination and other risks, if there’s a sudden global shakeup of the toy supply chain. At least that’s what the industry is warning.

*** The above posted after tBR circulated on March 14th ***

'That sounds a little counter-intuitive, but I would always trust parents to make their own decisions.'

Vietnam is stepping up inspections of particular children’s toys over concerns that imagery on the model’s face resembles a map China uses to stake competing territorial claims in the South China Sea.

Toy Association staff attended and led a panel discussion at the International Consumer Product Health and Safety Organization (ICPHSO)’s 2025 Annual Meeting & Training Symposium.

Kevin Woods has teamed with Mattel in securing €8 million in funding for a children’s TV series. Those involved include a former Disney exec, the creator of Bob the Builder, a one-time Ireland ambassador to the US, and Woods himself, with their series tapping into a worldwide recognition of Irish legends that is reinforced every St Patrick’s Day.

In line with the global trailer release, and ahead of the HBO Original series premiere date on April 13, Sony Pictures Consumer Products reveals the first product lineup inspired by the second season of “The Last of Us.” The comprehensive collection captures key themes from the storyline, such as love and loss, and incorporates unique...

*** The above posted after tBR circulated on March 14th ***

Upper Deck has released its inaugural DC trading card set – DC Annual, marking the first full DC Comics-based set available for purchase through the company’s collaboration with Warner Bros.

New for 2025 and also an all-new tooling, Jim Hopper´s Chevy Blazer K5 is a Level 4, 1:25 scale model kit for intermediate builders.

The trailer gives a detailed look at what Stitch will look like and a sneak peek at what audiences can expect from the 120-minute film.

Bandai Namco Toys & Collectibles America becomes the first major toy sponsor of an American professional women’s soccer team.

TOMY International is set to launch new toy lines with Momiji, a brand known for its collectible friendship dolls.

Film bosses are said to have originally planned glitzy events around the world to mark the release of the $269.4 million live action remake.

A limited edition Ipswich Town sticker will be gifted to fans at Portman Road on Saturday 17th March.

More details relating to a new Death Star set supposedly releasing this year have leaked.

Veteran filmmaker Jon Favreau (Iron Man) is spearheading the development of a new series in the works for Disney+ that will adapt an IP that’s nearly 100 years old.

“Stumble Guys,” the action-packed game acquired by Scopely in 2022, is starting its latest season with a new theme: “Cowboys & Ninjas.” 

The LEGO Group, in collaboration with The Walt Disney Company, has unveiled the LEGO Disney “Beauty and the Beast” Castle Set.

Yoto offers kids a new way to discover the magic of reading. After successfully adding Harry Potter to the platform last fall, the company is heading back to Hogwarts for a new series of kid-friendly audiobooks.

In Avatar: Journey of Aang, releasing in 2025, players assume roles of Aang's companions as they guide him on a quest to restore balance to the world.

One of the most popular accessories series that Ultra PRO has released in recent history was their Fine Art series. 

Families can dino-soar into building adventures with new playsets inspired by Universal Pictures’ Jurassic World Rebirth. 

Nintendo fans can celebrate MAR10 Day with a new set from The LEGO Group. The LEGO Super Mario: Mario Kart set is available for preorder and ships May 15.

Children’s entertainment company Spin Master is renewing its global master toy licensing agreement with Universal Products & Experiences for DreamWorks Animation’s Gabby’s Dollhouse.

The first ever collection includes a “CoComelon”-themed sleeper and T-shirt for stuffed animals, along with interactive 2-in-1 sound chips featuring popular nursery rhymes like “Twinkle Twinkle Little Star,” and “Old MacDonald.”

The Wiggles is preparing for its 35th anniversary with new consumer products, a tour and more.

Following its appointment by ADK Emotions NY and T-Licensing as U.K. and Ireland licensing agent for BEYBLADE X, Bulldog Licensing has announced its first licensing partnership for the toy brand.

Magic Presents: Pride events will occur during Pride Month, between the dates of June 27, 2025 and June 29, 2025.

Mattel has partnered up with G-SHOCK for a limited-edition GMA-S110BE timepiece inspired by Barbie. 

This original 2D-animated comedy series marks the second project to be greenlit from the US kidsnet's shorts incubation program.

His speech comes after a ceasefire was agreed between the two countries following days of intense shelling by both sides. CHANGE AS PER CLIENT's NEED

Amid deteriorating relations between the US and Canada, many Canadian video game developers are opting not to travel to San Francisco for next week’s Game Developers Conference. Every year, several key gaming events take place in the US, including DICE, PAX West and PAX East, Summer Games Fest, and GDC; it was also the home of the now defunct E3.

*** The above posted after tBR circulated on March 14th ***

*** The above posted after tBR circulated on March 14th ***

The company achieved record revenue and operating profit, outpacing the toy market with significant market share gains.

Dick's Sporting Goods issued weak guidance for 2025 as consumers contend with tariffs, persistent inflation and fears around a potential recession.

a second down year after a big year in 2021, when sales were $24.7 million

The Citywide Council on High Schools on Wednesday called on the Public School Athletic League to recognize chess as a sport. The PSAL currently oversees 25 sports in city high schools, from football, basketball and baseball to soccer, table tennis and double Dutch.

Historic Moon Mission. Your child's artwork will be permanently etched and sent to the lunar surface on LifeShip's historic Lunar Pyramid Capsule mission! This isn't just art class - it's a chance to be part of human history preserved on the Moon for generations to come. Children join our guided virtual workshop where they'll explore space concepts, create visionary...

*** The above posted after March 14th when tBR circulated ***

Several people asked me why I didn’t mention tariffs in my review of the New York Toy Fair last week. Predominantly, this was because I was already over the wordcount – and the tariff situation isn’t something you can sum up in a brief paragraph. In addition, I was – and remain – concerned that anything I write about tariffs on a Thursday afternoon could...

by Christopher Byrne. Shari Lewis’ Lamb Chop is currently the #1 dog toy, at least according to a recent article in the NY Post. How this happened, nobody quite knows, but there it is. The Post article indicates that this has all the makings of a fad among pet parents, including photos of dogs with many Lamb Chop toys.

The first astronauts preparing to fly to the moon in more than 50 years want your help identifying their fifth crew member — their "moon mascot." NASA's Artemis 2 crew is seeking an original idea for their zero-g indicator (ZGI), a stuffed toy or doll that will be suspended from a tether in their Orion spacecraft to...

As Trump cracks down on diversity and inclusion policies, studios are at a crossroads with some observers questioning how effective the benchmarks were to begin with. If Hollywood’s answer to Donald Trump’s first months at the White House in 2017 was resistance, the 2025 edition so far appears more muted and a tad indifferent.

After a handful of California-based family influencers announced they were ditching the Golden State for Tennessee, other folks on the internet shared a theory: What if the reason they were leaving was because of a new child-labor law that requires parents to put a percentage of their earnings into a trust? 

The first visual we laid eyes on at Toy Fair 2025 in NYC, March 1-4, was a larger-than-life Rubik’s cube suspended in the air and surrounded by disco lights and bumping music. There was something about a handheld toy that has transcended generations, blown up in epic proportions, that activated the joy meter for this geriatric millennial. And there was...

Toy Fair, which is all about “the business of play,” is for adults' eyes only; more specifically, it’s for the toy industry insiders who come together once a year to network, talk shop and exchange information on the latest toy trends.

There’s more than one way to follow the stepping stones of progress, and kids of all abilities can make their own path, experts say. A small collection of private and public education providers in Kitsap County came together March 1 for Bainbridge Island’s first Neurodiversity Symposium, a networking and supportive learning event for families with neurodivergent children.

A Squishmallows crochet kit, family board games, and more toys your kid will be asking for.

For those of you taking notes, here’s a summary of tariffs over the past few weeks.

A little over 2 months into 2025 and it’s already been a rollercoaster ride!  Here’s what’s been going on so far in the state of freight!

Tariffs aim to insulate certain sectors from foreign competition. But evidence shows they often end up losing U.S. jobs.

Money is pouring into AI businesses seeking more capital, fuelling domestic competition.

Regional events promoting the Indian toy industry will be bolstered by support from the Indian government, as Kids India returns to Mumbai from 6th to 8th October. Offering expertise and contacts in the Indian toy market, the eleventh Kids India takes place at the Bombay Exhibition Centre in Mumbai from 6th to 8th October.

Driving innovation and expanding opportunities in licensing, the HKTDC Hong Kong International Licensing Show & Asian Licensing Conference takes place 28th to 30th April. The HKTDC Hong Kong International Licensing Show (HKILS) is back from 28th to 30th April 2025, turning Hong Kong into a buzzing...

*** the above posted after tBR started to circulate on March 14th ***

Largest Toy Show in Western Hemisphere Welcomed Play Professionals from Nearly 100 Countries.

Last week, during the 25th Anniversary Toy of the Year® (TOTY®) Awards and throughout Toy Fair®, $1.3 million in toy donations and financial contributions were generously donated by the toy community in support of children in need around the world.

Richard Gottlieb’s family and close friend and colleague, Steve Abdo, established a grant at the University of Richmond, along with The Toy Association in Richard Gottlieb’s name to carry on his legacy. The first recipients came to the NY Toy Fair 2025 for the weekend on March 1, 2025.

Plus a chat with GAMA executive director John Stacy. The Game Manufacturer’s Association GAMA), makes its return this year with a slate of industry and consumer-facing events, including GAMA Expo which took place last...

has left the event pressed for space once again – just a year after the show was transported to Louisville in an attempt to handle surging interest. More than 3,420 people attended this year’s GAMA Expo at the end of February – up 26% compared to its first event at the Kentucky International Convention Centre...

Toymaster, a buying group dedicated to supporting the UK & Ireland’s specialist independent toy retailers, is celebrating the successful completion of its Spring Regional Meetings.

Toy & Hobby China, taking place at the Shenzhen World Exhibition and Convention Center from April 7-9, is expanding its focus to reflect the changing manufacturers, according to Messe Frankfurt, organizers of the show.

Sinking Ship and WildBrain are among the Canadian companies dominating this year's nominees for outstanding work in children's production and broadcasting.

Over the course of three days at the end of February, the latest toys, games and products for children were on display at Kids’ Time as manufacturers unveiled their latest innovations.

Blizzard's (sometimes) annual event for its community hasn't been held since 2023.

Make-A-Wish, which grants wishes to critically ill children across the UK, is in need of sensory and outdoor toys, as well as arts & crafts products, for a special summer event.

The four-day event will take place in Spain this September at the Malaga Trade Fair and Congress Center, which can accommodate up to 20,000 guests.

Capcom today announced a three-year partnership with the Esports World Cup Foundation’s Esports World Cup (EWC) event held in Saudi Arabia as part of the company’s esports initiative.

"It's definitely an art as much as a science". What can we learn about games by comparing the thrill of a nailgun kill in Quake to the elation of triple word score in online Scrabble? For Richard Garfield, creator of Magic: The Gathering and KeyForge, it's actually quite a bit.

*** The above posted after tBR circulated on March 14th ***

They talk about the almost universally positive response to the show, the future of the NY show, what’s going on in LA, the exceptional work being done by the Association in DC, and the important work of The Toy Foundation.

As the toymaker celebrates its 80th anniversary, CEO Ynon Kreiz and senior leaders reflect on the company's deep roots and IP-focused future. It’s in the hand-painted eyelashes on every Barbie doll prototype. It’s in the meticulous detail found on the millions of Hot Wheels and Matchbox cars made every year.

Listen to the performer Eric Bauza voice the characters Daffy Duck, Bugs Bunny and more. His work appears in the new animated feature, “The Day the Earth Blew Up: A Looney Tunes Movie.” “We all want to be like Bugs, but we’re all really Daffy,” said the voice actor Eric Bauza with a hearty laugh during a recent interview in Los Angeles.

McNamara joined the company in November 2024 as an executive producer of development and live action—an area of expertise that she honed in her previous roles as head of live-action development at Disney EMEA (2014 to 2018) and VP of live-action development...

Their contributions have changed the gaming industry in both subtle and consequential ways. Female gamers are no longer the anomaly they once were, though it's still not easy for a woman who wants to break into video game design. Since the 1970s, women have had to fight to be included in the industry. And some were very successful.

Curious Universe is pleased to announce the appointment of Claire Hampshire (formerly Claire Grasby) as the new MD for the UK.

Generation Media, a trusted name in gaming media strategy, is expanding its specialist services with the appointment of Greg Weller as head of Gaming Partnerships.

The SVOD says its games division, which Verdu helped build, is honing in on a new gaming strategy that will focus on a few key genres, including kids titles.

The licensing veteran will help the newly relaunched game developer resurrect its legacy franchises and build consumer products programs for upcoming titles. 

Lego boss Niels Christiansen said the company was increasing its focus on video game experiences created by its own teams, following years of partnerships with outside companies. "We can definitely say, as long as we're...

Collectibles and pop culture merchandise manufacturer Pop Mart will open a new location, The SoNo Collection Store, in Norwalk, CT, marking the company’s first location in the state.

The beloved kids’ company is set to provide innovative and multi-level shopping experiences for one of the largest tourist destinations in the United States, with construction starting later this year. 

A new exhibition coming to Corey Helford Gallery on March 15 will be “the perfect kickoff” for toy company Mattel Inc.’s 80th anniversary.

Exploding Kittens unveiled two new card games. One features a collaboration with Tim Feriss.

The daily threat and potential impact of tariffs on the U.S. toy industry is prompting new moves to bolster domestic manufacturing capacity.

With many families looking for ways to keep their children’s bedtime routines on track, Tonies has announced its Sleepy Friends collection. 

Thames & Kosmos revealed two new games, 'Dice Words' and 'One of Us', which will head to retail soon.

R&R Games will release Shapely, a new party game, into retail in June 2025.

The Op Games previewed three new games at NYC Toy Fair, which will be coming to retail in the latter half of 2025.

Beacon Media Group is launching an in-house Integrated Agency Team management service. 

Jazwares is celebrating the third-annual Squismallows Day by announcing the largest single Squismallows donation of all time.

The independent buying group Toymaster has enjoyed a great turnout at its Dublin and Coventry Spring Regional Meetings.

The first ever Exploding Kittens board game marks the 10th anniversary of the card game's release and will release on August 1, 2025.

Celebrating its 30th year as one of the most recognizable and iconic games of the 21st Century, Catan is unveiling a fresh, new look.

Video games and cinema have always had a strong connection. With the rise of video game adaptations, these two mediums influence each other more than ever. But long before this trend, many games were already paying homage to iconic films, sometimes recreating legendary scenes shot for shot, other times just making clear references to their inspirations.

Anime is great. So are video games. Why not enjoy them together? There are thousands of anime games out there, some good and some bad, but anime fans flock to them anyway and sink hundreds of hours into games that remind them of the anime they love.

*** The above posted after tBR circulated on March 14th ***

As March 10 represents Mario Day for many in the gaming community, Nintendo celebrates this special occasion with popular games and special announcements for its devoted fanbase.

Pokémon GO was a key asset in the acquisition orchestrated by the mobile gaming studio behind Stumble Guys, along with a booming live fan event business.

K-pop group Le Sserafim has reunited with Blizzard Entertainment for a new Overwatch 2 collaboration that will bring stylish new skins to the game later this month.

Almost 19,000 titles went live on PC games store Steam in 2024 - about 360 a week. But for developers "discoverability", getting new releases noticed, has never been more challenging.

The company now hopes to develop the action-RPG 'without restrictions.'

The Seoul-based office will help Virtuos build on its relationships with various South Korean partners.

Pragma will use the new funds to continue 'delivering scalable, live-service infrastructure while expanding our suite of game dev tools.'

The company secured over $35 million to develop the free-to-play title, which will now be scrapped.

Generative AI is becoming more prevalent in games, and not every developer is completely honest about their intentions with it.

In the opening moments of Split Fiction, two aspiring novelists arrive at a publishing company, excited to broker a deal.

Microsoft's previously teased Xbox handheld may come out sometime this year. The tech giant is working with a PC gaming manufacturer to create a branded device that will look "unmistakably Xbox."

Hazelight's newest co-op adventure is hitting big and has the numbers to show for it. It's the fastest-selling game to date from the studio: 2021's It Takes Two and 2018's A Way Out took two weeks after their respective launches to reach that same milestone.

Every year, the Strong Museum in Rochester, New York inducts some games to be a part of the World Video Game Hall Of Fame that are considered to be among the very best that gaming has to offer.

The battle royale game has a global community of over 50 million monthly players. “Stumble Guys,” the action-packed game acquired by Scopely in 2022, is starting its latest season with a new theme: “Cowboys & Ninjas.”

Microsoft and Google have both recently released new generative AI models that simulate video game worlds – with notable limitations. 

Nintendo’s Switch Online retro library just inducted two more cult-favorites from the Game Boy. Mario’s Picross and Donkey Kong, commonly referred to as Donkey Kong ‘94, joined the subscription service overnight.

RoboCop: Rogue City is getting a standalone sequel. The new installment, as RoboCop: Rogue City - Unfinished Business is set to arrive later this year.

The Xbox that fans have known for decades is currently undergoing an unprecedented transformation as Microsoft sets its sights on a multiplatform approach to gaming and its console sales continue to decline year after year.

Apex Legends developer Respawn Entertainment laid off several developers earlier this week, and canceled an unannounced, incubated project.

EA alum and strategic advisor, a business development director and executive producer at several studios, recently passed away from cancer. He was 59.

a longtime voice actor across games and animation, has died at 76. For many, Mallow was best known as the voice of Baboo on Power Rangers and Angemon in the first two seasons of Digimon.