Jakks makes Daniel Tiger’s Neighborhood master toy deal

June 12, 2012 by Jeremy Dickson

US toymaker Jakks Pacific has been named the North American master toy licensee for Daniel Tiger’s Neighborhood, the new preschool series inspired by the classic Mister Rogers’ Neighborhood.

The long-term deal, which was made with the IP’s owner, The Fred Rogers Company, and the show’s licensing agency, Out of the Blue Enterprises, will see Jakks produce and distribute a range of preschool toys based on the series including plush, figures, playsets, vehicles, dolls and doll accessories, ride-ons, play tents, ball pits, role play, dress up, novelty, bulk, seasonal toys, children’s furniture and Halloween costumes.

The products, aimed at kids ages two to four, are set to hit North American retail stores from spring 2014.

Daniel Tiger’s Neighborhood is the first television series from The Fred Rogers Company since Mister Rogers’ Neighborhood ended its run in 2001 as PBS’ longest-running children’s series.

The new series, which will make its television debut on PBS Kids this fall, features Daniel, a shy but brave four-year-old tiger who lives in the Neighborhood of Make Believe. Daniel is also the son of Daniel Striped Tiger from Mister Rogers’ Neighborhood.

The latest deal follows on the heels of the show’s international distributer, Toronto’s 9 Story Entertainment, signing a deal giving Spanish and Portuguese rights to Daniel Tiger’s Neighborhood (80 x 11 minutes) to Barcelona-based Luk Internacional.

Tags: 9 Story Entertainment, Daniel Tiger's Neighborhood, Jakks Pacific, North America, Out of the Blue Enterprises, PBS Kids, The Fred Rogers Company

http://www.facebook.com/mrgrinch09 Charles Tyrrell

No toy products until 2014?
http://www.facebook.com/desiree.letourneau Desiree J. LeTourneau

i hope its a lot sooner than 2014!
http://www.facebook.com/angela.mckernan.3 Angela McKernan

agreed, you want our kids who love Daniel Tiger to wait more than a year for a doll? That’s crazy! Guess I will be making one myself….
so sad

my son will be onto the next thing in year and a half,
he is two and a half now and has been asking for D.T. since the previews were on.
he was the happiest kid when i made him a t shirt
Brooke

Rediculous! The show’s out now, my daughter is asking for a Daniel tiger toy and this seems like very poor planing on the merchandising front. Guess I will be making my own like lots of other moms!
Elise

Seriously???? 2014?!?! That is absurd!
kristinemay

That is poor merchandise and business planning. There have been multiple toys that came out shortly (~6 months) from the show airing. There is no guarantee my now 3 1/2 year old son will be interested in the show to want the toys in the next 15+ months.
Jennifer

Yeah, my son will be totally over Daniel Tiger by the time the toys come out…
MrsTashaG

2014?????? You release a new show in 2012 and don’t plan on releasing toys for 2 years? That is a huge loss. We need toys now. Spring of 2013 would be far more reasonable. If it takes Jakks that long to get them on the shelves, perhaps you should go with a different company. You could have made a killing on the toys this Christmas alone!
Amy

I agree! My daughter is two and loves Daniel tiger! I’ve been searching for toys this Christmas! 2014!! She’ll be four and probably be into something else! Big loss!
Jala

2014 is ridiculous! My kids LOVE this show and are asking for Daniel Tiger stuff NOW!!! I’m a creative mom, but not sure I can hand make to their approval. I guess I’m going to be forced to try! PLEASE try to get Daniel Tiger toys out sooner than 2014! This is frustrating.
Jill

Wow – I have to say, I agree with these other parents. Very poor planning. I find it hard to believe that they couldn’t at the very least come out with a Daniel plush toy, along with a few of the other key characters. I’d order one in a heartbeat for my little Daniel fans. But at 3 now, I’m sure they’ll be on to something else by 2014. Really too bad.
fatherof2yrolddaughter

my 2 yr old daughter is also a big fan! She keeps asking for a daniel tiger toy! I hope pbs is still on when this comes out! I’m from pittsburgh and the network keeps getting more and more desperate for donations! Extremely poor planning! Who is jakks anyway? Never heard of them. I think I could make them quicker!
fatherof2yrolddaughter

and I hope all the money made from jakks toys goes towards keeping the network on the air.
Greg

Funny how everyone’s so quick to judge.

Here’s a show that most kids in the age demographic seem to love. They’ve apparently done their homework, in that there’s plenty of good in the show for my kids (& for me to give the nod).

If the Fred Rogers Co & Out of The Blue Ent focused on the toys 1st and released a marginal show thereafter, everyone would’ve been up in arms over the consumerism of Daniel Tiger’s Neighborhood.

Yes, we have to wait longer than we’d like, but to me, it looks like they got their priorities in order & for that I say “Bravo”!
vanessabq

Disappointing! By the time my daughter can have a DT toy, she may have aged out of enjoying the show. Sad. I never buy this kind of thing…not even Caillou, but my daughter so loves this show, and it’s quality is something I feel good about supporting and sharing with her in toy form!
http://www.facebook.com/gwfox Gina Fox

What a shame I would have loved to see my daughters face when I produced one of those…but who knows if she will love daniel in another year. Not sure what the marketing company was thinking on this one. That was a lot if sales that have been missed by those who will soon put grow Daniel.
http://www.facebook.com/people/Amanda-Davis-Reeves/1505242610 Amanda Davis Reeves

Well, I plan to go to build a bear and make a tiger with a red hoodie and sneakers and jeans…that will be MY Daniel tiger for awhile….2014! geez that is ridiculous! well my niece will be 4 by then…so she will at least be interested around that age.
Useyourbrain

So glad theres not a huge commerial market for toys right now. I love the show and my 3 yr old daughter plays make believe which is more special to me than having a stuffed tiger. We dont need a toynfor everything on tv or video. Let our kids make believe they are the characters. And pretty smart marketing. Make sure the show is a hit before producing tons of stuff to clutter stores. Learning and fun isnt always about how much stuff you have!
anilise

My son is hugging and kissing a tablet b/c the app is the closest he can get to Daniel Super poor planning. makes me sad for him
hid

such a shame, my son would love a Tigey stuft animal now- I almost gaurentee he wont at the age of 4 or 5 when they’re finally available. Loss of business
Nancy

Nooooo!!! I need toys now, not in a year! My son is obsessed.

Photos

MIPCOM 2012 - Myles Hobbs of Kidscreen with Olivier Dumont of eOne Family