POP JUNIOR: NERDY NEWS
NERDY NEWS
THE LEGO MOVIE WORLD LAUNCHES AT LEGOLAND FLORIDA RESORT The LEGO Movie World will open on March 27 at the LEGOLAND Florida Resort. The new expansion features three new rides and numerous attractions, all inspired by the characters and themes of The LEGO Movie and the recently released The LEGO Movie 2: The Second Part. Collaborating with Warner Bros. Consumer Products, the team from Merlin Magic Making recreated Bricksburg with its characters, creative eating spaces, and authentic cityscape, where guests can experience Emmet’s Super Suite. Rides include The LEGO Movie Masters of Flight, Unikitty’s Disco Drop, and Battle of Bricksburg. The LEGO Movie World will also feature a Taco Tuesday Everyday eatery; The Awesome Shop, filled with take-home collectibles; and a space-themed playground structure inspired by Benny’s spaceship. ✪
MATTEL ANNOUNCES HOT WHEELS LIVEACTION MOVIE Hot Wheels is racing from the toy aisle to the big screen. Mattel announced that its film division, Mattel Films, will partner with Warner Bros. Pictures for the very first live-action Hot Wheels movie. The Hot Wheels brand celebrated its 50th anniversary last year and sells more than 500 million toys annually. This marks the second partnership between Mattel Films and Warner Bros. Pictures, following the news that Margot Robbie will star in a Barbie feature film. ✪
SPIN MASTER ENTERS THREE-YEAR TOY LICENSING AGREEMENT WITH DC Spin Master entered into a three-year global licensing agreement with Warner Bros. Consumer Products (WBCP). Beginning in spring 2020, Spin Master will be a new toy licensee for DC in the boy’s action category, remote control and robotic vehicles, water 52 | Issue No. 2 | THE POP INSIDER
toys, and games and puzzles. Spin Master continues to expand its portfolio of licensed products, including its 10-year licensing partnership with Feld Entertainment as the worldwide master toy partner for Monster Jam. ✪
POCKET.WATCH EXPANDS RYAN’S WORLD INTO GLOBAL LIFESTYLE BRAND Following last year’s foray into toys, pocket.watch unveiled plans to turn Ryan’s World—based on the kid-host of the Ryan ToysReview YouTube series—into “a true global lifestyle franchise.” New partnerships and licensees, including Just Play, Jada Toys, Kids Preferred, American Greetings, and
Zak Designs, anchor the expansion of Ryan’s World. pocket.watch will extend Ryan’s World beyond toys and introduce new categories, including sleepwear, backpacks, lunch kits and accessories, Halloween costumes, party goods, social expressions, hydration, furniture, and home goods. Just Play will make a variety of products, including toys, play sets, a range of role-play and dress-up clothing, musical instruments, and seasonal products, such as inflatables. Jada Toys is the global vehicle partner for Ryan’s World. The comprehensive range will include vehicles in all sizes and scale— R/C and die-cast—and will debut in time for Easter, exclusively at Walmart in the U.S. American Greetings expands Ryan’s World into party, social expressions, and seasonal goods, and Zak Designs brings Ryan’s World home products, such as dinnerware and water bottles, to stores this spring. pocket.watch is also working alongside Accessory Innovations, Komar Kids, High Point, Handcraft, Fun World, Sun-Staches, Idea Nuova, Far Out Toys, Walmart, and others on a range of Ryan’s World apparel, Halloween and back-to-school items, homegoods, accessories, seasonal toys, and wheeled goods. ✪