This spring, a bevy of new licensed plush debuts from Gund, including the first-ever line launched in conjunction with a feature film. Streeting in early June to latch onto the Disney feature’s opening-night hype, the Tarzan line includes a high-end Terk the gorilla and Tantor the elephant, each priced at US$60. Gund’s licensing manager, Lisa Palermo, says she hopes the Disney feature tie-in will be the first of many.

Gund is also coming out with a new Noddy line this month, featuring a 10-inch Noddy, retailing for US$15, along with a six-inch Noddy & Friends assortment, priced at US$6 each. This follows the February launch of a new line of classic Mickey plush inspired by the early Walt Disney shorts. Four beanbag pals, priced at US$6 each, feature cream-colored faces as opposed to the modern white, with two of those sporting navy blue bodies rather than black. They’re joined by a 10 1/2-inch Mickey in an old-fashioned baseball uniform, priced at US$25, and a Mickey finger puppet in his old-style aviator get-up for about US$12.