The Miraculous franchise has signed new deals with companies including Netflix and Ravensburger to bring new products to fans worldwide.

Global independent animation studio Zag has signed a roster of new multi-media deals for its multiple-award-winning global franchise, Miraculous.

On 12th March, Netflix added season four of the Zag Heroez Miraculous TV Series, and in July 2023, the blockbuster animated feature Miraculous: Ladybug & Cat Noir, The Movie debuted in second place on Netflix’s global top 10 for English-language films for the week of July 24-30.

The new Netflix deal coincides with the premiere of Miraculous: Tales of Ladybug & Cat Noir, volume 3, from global publishing partner Kodansha on 19th March. Written by Koma Warita and illustrated by Riku Tsuchida, Kodansha’s earlier volumes are listed by the School Library Journal as ‘Winning Manga for Grades 1-8’.

With an ever-increasing 360-presence on platforms around the world, Zag has signed multiple additional new multi-media partners for this globally popular superhero brand that continues to charm fans who are always on the hunt for new ways to engage with their favourite characters.

Publisher Insight Editions has signed a global deal for the first ever hard-cover Miraculous cookbook to launch in June 2025. Targeted to fans of Miraculous, the cookbook will celebrate recipes inspired by the show and Marinette’s family bakery.

Miraculous will be available for the first time this year on the Yoto Player screen-free audio platform, available in the US, Canada and the UK.

New multi-media deals in Europe include Ravensburger, which, following the successful launch of the Miraculous movie novels last year, will be offering novels and early reading learning books in the German language in summer of 2024.

Ciela Norma, a new publishing partner for the Bulgarian market, is developing a range of activity and colouring books. Italian children’s publisher Pon Pon Edizioni is extending its licences with Zag and will feature arts and crafts activities available in kiosks, newsstands and bookstores. Play Press will continue to produce colouring books and albums for kiosks and newsstands, and Albatross Media continues to publish a full range of Miraculous books from novels, story books and comic books, to activity and novelty books.

Jeremy Zag, founder and CEO of Zag, said: “I would have never imagined that one of our creations would resonate across the world and through different generations. Ladybug embodies beautiful values, and most importantly, the powerful message that girls can also be superheroes.

“I am happy to see that the passion of children and adults, wherever they may be in the world, continues to endure. It encourages us to give even more love and create more stories. We are incredibly grateful to our partners across all categories of the franchise – from our content partners who have brought these stories to children and families around the world to our consumer products partners who bring Miraculous to life through products and experiences.”

The perfect set for DC fans, the Lego Gotham City Skyline set is a stunning display piece which can be wall-mounted or placed on a shelf.

The Lego Group, in collaboration with Warner Bros. Discovery Global Consumer Products and DC, unveils the Lego DC Batman Gotham City Skyline set, an amazing recreation of Gotham City as it appears in Batman: The Animated Series. This atmospheric set, a 3D recreation of the Gotham City skyline in Lego bricks, releases as Warner Bros. Discovery celebrates 85 years of Batman throughout 2024.

The 4,210 piece set is a Batman fan’s dream as every tower and building meticulously recreates iconic locations from Warner Bros. Animation’s Batman: The Animated Series including the Gotham City Court, Arkham Asylum, the classic Batwing and Bat Signal. The set is also full of Easter eggs and beloved characters including Catwoman, The Joker, Harley Quinn and Batman himself. In addition, parts of the set open up to reveal further intricate details.

The Lego DC Batman Gotham City Skyline set is available for Lego Insiders from 1st April 2024 at www.lego.com/Batman and Lego Stores for all from 4th April 2024 priced at £259.99.

Mattel will carry on as UP&E’s global toy licensee for Jurassic World toys based on more than 30 years of franchise characters and stories, as well as future content plans.

Mattel and Universal Products & Experiences have announced they have renewed their licensing partnership to produce toys inspired by the iconic Jurassic World franchise.

Through the agreement, Mattel will continue as UP&E’s global toy licensee for Jurassic World action figures, play sets, role-play, pre-school, vehicles, games and plush based on more than 30 years of franchise characters and stories as well as future content plans. This includes the all-new Jurassic World event film just announced for 2025, and the upcoming animated series – Jurassic World: Chaos Theory from Universal Pictures, DreamWorks Animation and Amblin Entertainment – which will be available on Netflix later this year.

The renewal builds upon a longstanding licensing partnership between Mattel and UP&E for toys celebrating globally beloved IP which also includes DreamWorks Animation’s Trolls and Universal Pictures’ Fast & Furious.

“We’re thrilled to announce the continuation of our best-in-class partnership on this blockbuster franchise,” said Nick Karamanos, SVP Entertainment Partnerships at Mattel. “Together, we’ve not only established Jurassic World as a top-tier toy property, but also built a legacy of evergreen success. Jurassic World fans are incredibly devoted and we are committed to delivering consistently stunning products, innovative marketing strategies and impactful retail programs.”

“Mattel offers incredible innovation and craftsmanship along with a storied history of creating enduring toy lines,” said Rafa Macias, EVP and global commercial officer for Universal Products & Experiences. “The 30-year legacy of the Jurassic World franchise is stronger than ever and we’re excited to bring fans of all ages even more inspiring and thrilling toys through this extended partnership.”

Cobi has announced the acquisition of the Jeep licence in a worldwide deal that will see six Willys Jeeps from WWII launch in different scales and price points.

The first products to come off the production line will be six Willys Jeeps from WWII. Three of these Jeeps will be in a 1:12 scale. They will consist of the Willys MB & Trailer consisting of 1510 pieces, the Willys MB Medical with 1070 pieces and the Willys MB with 1150 pieces. These will range in price from £100 – £140.

The next three products will be the same items from the 1:12 scale, but in a smaller 1:35 scale. The Willys MB & Trailer consisting of 200 pieces, the Willys MB Medical with 130 pieces and finally the Willys MB with 132 pieces. These will range in price from £18 – £25.

Lee Crocker, country manager, said: “For over 25 years, Cobi has been producing construction bricks, with an emphasis on scaled military vehicles including tanks, planes and ships. The introduction of Willys Jeep is another important historical licence and adds further strength to the brand and the forth coming D-Day 80th Anniversary.”

To watch the YouTube trailer for Cobi’s Jeep Willys 1:35 scale, click here.

For more details, please contact Lee via l.crocker@cobitoys.co.uk or on 07584 858 978.

Toy World’s Rachael Simpson-Jones was invited for a behind-the-scenes tour of the Natural History Museum to find out about its new licensing deals.

Under the experienced eye of senior licensing manager Emma Russell, the Natural History Museum – one of Britain’s most beloved institutions – is digging deep into the past (and its vast archives) to sign new licensing deals across multiple categories, including Toys & Games, that will provide today’s kids with fun, educational and sustainable new products with tangible heritage and brand awareness. Rachael, editor at Toy World and natural history geek, shared her experience of the tour.

The museum welcomes some five million visitors every year from across the globe, hosts a raft of events (from sleepovers and film premieres to the Wildlife Photographer of the Year Awards and Dawnosaurs, an accessible morning for neurodiverse children), is home to some of the world’s foremost scientists and of more than 80m objects spanning billions of years of our planet’s history. There’s a lot to see and do – and a lot of licensing possibilities to boot.

For Emma, who prior to joining NHM’s team in the summer of 2022 was Hardlines manager at Entertainment One and Hasbro, it’s this breadth and depth of heritage and history that offers unparalleled opportunities for licensees to tap into. While we peer into tanks and jars of all manner of preserved creatures in the museum’s subterranean wet specimen vaults (a giant squid, a python, Darwin’s octopus, oh my!), she tells me her remit is very much focused on the Toys & Games category, a hitherto untapped area for NHM. The museum has previously seen great success amongst the adult and heritage licensing markets, but feels the time is right to prioritise the Toys & Games category. Emma has therefore devised a licensing strategy that a) will introduce a raft of new deals aimed at younger audiences and b) introduce science and STEM to kids in the form of NHM-backed product.

To read the rest of this feature, written for the March issue of Toy World, click here.

The Path Entertainment Group has announced that tickets for The Paddington Bear Experience in London Southbank will go on sale from Monday.

Created by The Path Entertainment Group in collaboration with The Copyrights Group (a Studiocanal company) and Lionsgate, Copyrights’ agent for experiences, this unique interactive experience inspired by the nation’s favourite bear will open on Friday, 31st May. The Paddington Bear Experience will span more than 26,000 square feet of London’s iconic County Hall on the riverside of the Southbank.

Tickets will go on sale to the general public for The Paddington Bear Experience at 10am on 4^th March at www.paddingtonbearexperience.com.

Visitors are invited to step into Paddington’s world and embark on an exciting immersive adventure through some of the most memorable locations from the Paddington stories. Starting with the hustle and bustle of Paddington Station, guests will be greeted by a friendly Station Master and taken on a lively train journey through London’s most famous landmarks all the way to the Browns’ charming house at No. 32 Windsor Gardens.

Once inside the famous tree adorned hallway, the Brown family will whisk guests into a whirlwind of multi-sensory activities as they need to help Paddington and his family prepare for a very special occasion – The Marmalade Day Festival.

With numerous themed rooms to explore, interactive games, character interactions and lots of surprises along the way, the adventure will culminate in a Windsor Garden Street party where visitors will have the chance to enjoy the Marmalade Day Festival. A range of food, including Paddington’s famous marmalade sandwich, and beverages will be available, as well as the opportunity to enjoy fun and games with the Brown family.

Mr Gruber’s Shop opens on 1st March at County Hall, inspired by the enchanting antique store in the Paddington stories. The shop will give a first glimpse into what to expect from The Paddington Bear Experience as well as the opportunity to purchase tickets and Paddington merchandise.

David Hutchinson, CEO of The Path Entertainment Group, said: “For over three years we have been working diligently on the launch of the most ambitious Paddington inspired experience in the world, opening in the heart of Central London. The Paddington Bear Experience will allow visitors to fully immerse themselves in the wonderful world of Paddington and the Brown family as they journey through the iconic locations of the much-loved stories in a sensory, thrilling experiential adventure for all the family. We look forward to welcoming fans of all ages to enjoy the magical world of Paddington that our incredible team has created.”

Françoise Guyonnet, CEO of The Copyrights Group and EVP Kids Brands at Studiocanal, added: “We’re thrilled to be partnering with location based experience experts at The Path Entertainment Group to bring all generations the opportunity to immerse themselves in the magical world of Paddington. We’re sure that The Paddington Bear Experience will be a great success, as Path’s attention to detail and passion for storytelling has really brought to life the marvellous world of our beloved bear. This very rare sort of experience is the perfect destination for families looking for a fun-filled adventure, full of interactive gameplay and exploration. We cannot wait to see individuals of all ages come together to celebrate The Marmalade Day Festival.”

Hunter Price will be bringing the playful and imaginative nature of Gabby’s Dollhouse to life through an assortment of consumer products, including reusable bags, gifting and apparel accessories.

Hunter Price International has partnered with Universal Products & Experiences to develop an impactful and design-led home and lifestyle range for DreamWorks Animation’s Gabby’s Dollhouse, the hit pre-school series on Netflix.

Hunter Price will bring the playful and imaginative nature of Gabby’s Dollhouse to life through an innovative assortment of consumer products. The collaboration, which focuses on hero product categories for the Home and Lifestyle division, includes hair accessories, reusable bags, gifting and apparel accessories.

Hair accessories will be the headline category within the partnership, an area in which Hunter Price is quickly becoming the category leader. Whether it be licensed or own-brand retail solutions, the business aims to deliver design-led products with impact.

Each of the products within Hunter Price’s agreement, which also includes hats, gloves, scarves and umbrellas, have a natural fit with the Gabby’s Dollhouse core audience of three-to-five year-old girls and their parents.

The debut Gabby’s Dollhouse collections from Hunter Price have recently hit UK market, with retailer partners including Poundland and Studio.

Since launching, The Gabby’s Dollhouse series has spent six weeks in the Global English TV Top 10 list and has been in the Top 10 in TV in 57 countries on Netflix, delighting viewers around the world with the adventures of Gabby and her kitty friends.

Speaking about the Gabby’s Dollhouse collaboration, commercial director at Hunter Price, Allana Holmes, explained: “This partnership has so much potential and aligns perfectly with our business. Our hair accessories portfolio is growing in strength and depth, from our own brands, retailer own brands and licensed offering. It’s an integral stepping stone to building well rounded cross category product solutions for the UK market and beyond. With more signings to be announced over the coming months, I firmly believe our ability to bring to life impactful campaigns is second to none.”

Tim Juckes, director for fashion and lifestyle from Universal Products & Experiences, said: “Hunter Price is the perfect partner to bring the Gabby’s Dollhouse brand to life through elevated home and lifestyle product. The company has shown true understanding of the core audience and has demonstrated its capabilities when it comes to connecting with this audience, through engaging and imaginative products. We’re really looking forward to this adventure together.”

The agreement with Zynga’s Rollic marks the next step in Mattel’s mission to grow its digital games business for all audiences.

Mattel has announced a new partnership with Rollic, a subsidiary of Zynga Inc., a wholly-owned publishing label of Take-Two Interactive, to introduce a new mass-market Barbie mobile game. The game is slated to launch later this year.

Mattel’s ongoing expansion of its licensed digital games portfolio is part of a strategic initiative to bolster its digital games business. This endeavour aims to provide captivating and engaging entertainment experiences based on Mattel’s beloved intellectual properties that will resonate with fans across generations.

“Partnering with Rollic and Zynga enables us to bring a fresh and exciting mass market Barbie mobile game to fans worldwide,” said Mike DeLaet, global head of Digital Gaming at Mattel. “This collaboration underscores Mattel’s dedication to leveraging our iconic brands in innovative ways and propels our digital games division’s ability to deliver best-in-class immersive entertainment experiences for fans of all ages.”

The forthcoming Barbie mobile game will be published by Rollic, which recently surpassed 2.7b lifetime downloads worldwide. Rollic develops and publishes hit mobile titles in over 175 countries and has had 22 titles reach the No. 1 and No. 2 spot in the US Apple App Store. The company has redefined the hyper-casual genre, adding live services and a steady cadence of in-game events to encourage long-lasting player engagement. Rollic’s fast-paced data process allows its teams to quickly tap into of-the-moment cultural trends and to build updates that capture player reactions. This combination of creative and data-driven talent makes Rollic the ideal partner to bring a new Barbie gaming experience to life, accelerating Mattel’s strategic initiative to expand its iconic intellectual properties across all entertainment mediums.

“Barbie is beloved by generations of players around the world, and we are delighted to partner with Mattel to bring the latest iteration of this icon to mobile gaming,” said Burak Vardal, CEO of Rollic. “Our teams’ ability to translate cultural moments into lasting gameplay allows us to provide players with another place to engage with their favourite IP and we are excited to step into the world of Barbie with this brand-new title.”

Disguise is set to continue designing, marketing, manufacturing and distributing costumes and costume accessories for Halo due to the brand’s popularity among fans worldwide.

Disguise has announced the extension of its partnership with 343 Industries as a global costume partner for the Halo franchise. This renewal marks a significant milestone in the two companies’ collaborative journey, with Disguise slated to continue designing, marketing, manufacturing and distributing costumes and costume accessories worldwide for Halo fans of all ages.

The Halo franchise line has consistently proven to be a top performer for Disguise. Since the first introduction of the game and its iconic protagonist, the Master Chief, the franchise has transcended the gaming sphere, expanding its influence across various media platforms. The brand enjoys a broad portfolio of record-breaking games, best-selling novels, animated series, toys, collectibles and the critically acclaimed original television series Halo, available on Paramount+.

Tara Cortner, president and GM of Disguise, expressed her excitement about the continued collaboration. She said: “Disguise boasts the largest portfolio of gaming costumes in the industry, and Halo has consistently ranked among our top sellers. We are thrilled to extend our partnership with 343 Industries, a testament to the enduring appeal of the characters in the Halo franchise.”

Tara further emphasised the universality of Halo’s appeal, noting: “As we continue to grow internationally, we see that the Master Chief is a much beloved character for kids, adults and fans across the world. Our designs continue to refresh and reflect updates to the characters in each iteration of the game from the first release through Halo Infinite. We look forward to showing fans more innovation and creativity for years to come.”

Disguise’s extensive line of Halo costumes and accessories are online and at leading retailers and specialty stores worldwide.

February 23rd saw Wizards of the Coast host MagicCon: Chicago, showcasing cards, art and details about upcoming sets for Magic: The Gathering.

Magic: The Gathering, the world’s first modern trading-card game, recently celebrated its 30th anniversary and is more popular than ever thanks to collaborations in its Universes Beyond line with legendary partners. Since it was introduced in the mid-1990s, more than 50m people have played Magic in hobby shops and around tables across the globe.

At the weekend, thousands of fans and players descended upon the McCormick Place Lakeside Center in Chicago for an incredible weekend full of Magic. Fans gathered at special preview panels revealing information for upcoming titles including first looks for Outlaws of Thunder Junction, Assassin’s Creed, Modern Horizons 3 and Bloomburrow.

More information on each product and their release dates can be found below:

• Fallout (release date: 8th March 2024)

Magic: The Gathering – Fallout celebrates elements of all Fallout games from 1997 up to Fallout ’76. The set represents the first modern view of some of the classic Fallout games, including updates to characters and settings from Fallout and Fallout 2, and pays homage to Fallout’s high-energy, high-action, post-nuclear RPG roots. Whether players join the side of some of Fallout’s most infamous characters or choose to play as a Vault survivor fighting gangs of raiders, super-mutants, irradiated monsters, and pre-war robots, life in the wastelands won’t be easy.

The collaboration between Wizards of the Coast and Bethesda continues with Magic: The Gathering’s Secret Lair × Fallout drops, available exclusively through MagicSecretLair.com. These three limited print run Secret Lair drops, Secret Lair × Fallout: Vault Boy; Secret Lair × Fallout: Points of Interest; and Secret Lair × Fallout: S.P.E.C.I.A.L. come in regular and foil editions. Fans can sign up to get notified the moment these three Secret Lair drops go on sale.

• Outlaws of Thunder Junction (release date: 19th April 2024)

Outlaws of Thunder Junction is Magic’s rowdiest set, introducing a new Western-themed world that offers Magic fans a frontier fantasy gameplay experience and a high-action heist story featuring the return of fan-favourite Oko.

• Modern Horizons 3 (release date: 14th June 2024)

Modern Horizons returns in 2024 with Modern Horizons 3. Magic players love Modern Horizons sets for its rewarding draft format and nostalgic callbacks. Players can expect all of that and more with fan-favourite characters, twists on popular mechanics and new double-faced Planeswalker cards.

• Assassin’s Creed (release date: 5th July 2024)

In collaboration with Ubisoft, Universes Beyond will introduce immersive, epic historical adventures from Assassin’s Creed to Magic: The Gathering. The Assassin’s Creed set features most Assassin’s Creed games released to date, with mechanically unique cards and reprints that feature new artwork.

• Bloomburrow (release date: 2nd August 2024)

Magic fans can venture to Bloomburrow, a charming and cozy new world in Magic that doesn’t include humans at all. Instead, this release spotlights a bold adventuring party of anthropomorphic animal friends – such as squirrels, frogs, rats, and rabbits – that will need to band together on an important quest.