- YouTuber Ms. Rachel has partnered with baby product manufacturer NUK to launch a line of five-ounce and 10-ounce sippy cups for toddlers that rolled out this week at Target. An Amazon launch is planned later this month, followed by a Walmart rollout in November.
- France Télévisions has commissioned a second season of 2D-animated preschool series Billy the Cowboy Hamster from Paris-based Dandelooo and its Belgian co-producers Bardaf! Productions and RTBF. Launching next fall, the new season will see Billy and his friends go on new adventures in a rapidly evolving Wild West landscape that has welcomed the introduction of the railroad, the camera and the world’s first cinemas.
- Cottage Door Press has inked a deal to bring Mattel’s brands to its Luna StoryTime Projector. A new Luna Content Character pack for Thomas & Friends will drop later this month, followed closely by one for Angelina Ballerina in December, and for Barbie and Hot Wheels in the spring. When each character is attached to the projector, it displays a unique set of branded stories and songs.
- BBC Children’s and Education has appointed Serious Kids to distribute its My Life series of documentaries about children around the world. Originally produced for BBC iPlayer and CBBC, this will be the first time the films are available for acquisition in the international market, spanning 15 years of releases. BBC Children’s and Serious Kids will showcase the full package at MIP Junior next month, including Boy on a Bicycle, Girl Genius and Marvelous Messy Minds.
- Gamegenic has been granted a license by Wizards of the Coast to manufacture and distribute a range of Magic: The Gathering accessories featuring artwork from the trading card game’s upcoming Spider-Man booster set. This collection will roll out to specialty retailers worldwide next month, including several SKUs of deck boxes, playmats and card sleeves sporting images of the web-slinger and his iconic villains.
- Hasbro has paired up with Hershey to create a co-branded range of non-edible Furby micro-collectibles in time for Halloween. The Furby Hershey Candy Pack features a range of 12 Furblets inspired by the candy-maker’s sweets, including ones based on Kisses, Reese’s peanut butter cups and Twizzlers.
- Malaysia’s Niko Studio has unveiled a partnership with LA-based IP manager Visional Pop to expand its webcomic and lifestyle brand Bichi Mao into North America. Visional will spearhead the development of a consumer products program and new content strategy for the brand, which is all about a motley crew of chonky cats in heartwarming scenarios.
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