- Mattel has partnered with Minnesota-based software developer GameMill Entertainment to create a new Hot Wheels-branded racing video game. Titled Hot Wheels Let’s Race: Ultimate Speed (pictured), the game will take players through 12 tracks inspired by the ongoing Hot Wheels Let’s Race Netflix series and features a range of boss battles against the evil Professor Rearview’s creatures. The title launches on October 24 and will be available on PlayStation 5, Nintendo Switch and Xbox Series consoles.
- BBC Children’s has ordered an eighth season of Numberblocks from Alphablocks and Blue Zoo Animation Studio. The batch of 15 episodes will premiere first on CBeebies and BBC iPlayer this fall and focuses on new math skills for the series, including subtracting two-digit numbers, understanding parts of 50 and 100, and bridging through 10 to make calculations easier for kids.
- Blushcrush Studios has named CultureFly as the first merchandise partner for its flagship Roblox multiplayer game Dandy’s World. CultureFly will manufacture and distribute a range of plush, toys, apparel and collectibles inspired by the IP to retailers worldwide by the end of the year. Dandy’s World has amassed more than 4 billion plays on Roblox since its launch in January last year, and follows a group of toon characters as they work together to descend deeper into the mysterious and horrifying Gardenview Center.
- The Roku Channel has picked up the exclusive US broadcast rights to Nelvana’s 2023 CG-animated preschool series Builder Brothers Dream Factory (40 x 11 minutes). The toon is inspired by the childhood adventures of Property Brothers Drew and Jonathan Scott and will premiere on the platform on August 15.
- Nashville-based animation studio Atrium has partnered with Visional Pop to expand its viral Quack and Lola IP into a fully realized franchise. The brand’s CG-animated skits have generated billions of views with young adult audiences on social media, which Visional will scale up by producing new content, consumer products and digital experiences. This plan also includes expanding the IP to younger audiences to widen its global reach.
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