Australian toyco Moose Toys is partnering with KIDdesigns and their eKids brand to take Shopkins high-tech. Characters from Moose Toy’s popular collectibles line will be incorporated into a variety of interactive youth electronics products later this year.
The Shopkins-branded eKids products will include volume-limiting headphones, a karaoke machine with microphone, walkie-talkies, a singalong microphone and a purse-shaped boom box. The agreement, brokered by Toront0-based The Licensing Shop, covers North America, the UK, Benelux, the Nordics, Iberia, Italy, Germany, France and Eastern Europe.
This new partnership isn’t Moose Toys’ first foray into the world of electronics. Last year the toyco launched its Qixels 3D Maker, a 3D printer that creates tangible, pixelated designs.
Since its launch in 2014, Shopkins has grown to include more than 140 collectible toys characters, a line of Shoppies Dolls, a direct-to-video movie and an animated webisode series with more than 180 million views on YouTube.
The brand continues to be the top girls’ toy and license in major categories including apparel, room décor and sleepwear.