With Technology Leading the Way
February 10, 2002
Just twelve months after the major toy companies were talking about preferring 'play value' over 'property recognition,' licensing is back thanks to strong fourth quarter performances from Harry Potter and Lord of the Rings and the continuing sales of merchandise associated with perennial TV series like the Simpsons.
Action Figure Category Leads
February 9, 2002
Although the total for sales of traditional toys rose only 2% in 2001, the action figure category registered a solid increase of 36% according to figures released at Toy Fair by Toy Industry Association.
New Cards Parody Rock Idols
January 27, 2002
Jay Lynch and John Pound, two of the bent and twisted creative geniuses behind Wacky Packages and the Garbage Pail Kids, have joined forces once again to provide us with a mega-dose of gross-out humor in the Silly CDs series of trading cards which parody today's over-exposed and over-hyped rock stars.
From Action Figures to the Big Screen
November 11, 2001
Today's Variety reports that Clive Barker and Todd McFarlane have sold the motion picture rights to their Tortured Souls toy line to Universal Pictures.
Q1 2002
October 31, 2001
Along with the release of Ultima Online: Lord Blackthorn's Revenge McFarlane Toys will release a collection of six action figures and two comics.
Signs, Wind-ups, More
September 23, 2001
Rocket USA, a leading manufacturer of retro toys, has announced an agreement with 20th Century Fox to create a line of licensed Simpsons tin and metal toys, games, and collectibles.
One-shot Movie Adaptation
July 18, 2001
Dark Horse Comics announced the acquisition of the license to publish a one-shot comic book adaptation of the Disney/Pixar computer animated film Monsters, Inc.
Toy Sources for Retailers
July 17, 2001
This is a directory of toy distributors with links to profile pages, which provide additional information and ordering contacts.
Alliance and Diamond To Distribute
July 3, 2001
Fantasy Flight Games plans to announce the acquisition of the Lord of the Rings board game license (formerly held by Wizards of the Coast), with distribution to be handled exclusively by Alliance Game Distributors and Diamond Comic Distributors.
Disney/Pixar Film Bows November 2
June 25, 2001
The Topps Company announced today that it has acquired the license to create trading cards for Monsters Inc., the next computer animated film from Disney/Pixar, the studio that created Toy Story I and II and A Bug's Life .
