Licensing Expo kicks off in Las Vegas next week, and kids brand owners are busy inking new deals in the lead-up to the year’s biggest consumer products market. 

Moose Toys

The Australian toyco has signed a new global master toy deal with Universal Products & Experiences for Illumination’s Despicable Me and Minions franchises. As part of the multi-year partnership, Moose will manufacture and distribute new lines of action figures, playsets, collectibles, roleplay items and co-branded toys, starting with an initial wave of products slated to roll out to retailers worldwide next spring, ahead of the July 3, 2024 theatrical premiere of Despicable Me 4.

BBC Studios 

The Beeb’s commercial arm has signed 30 new licensees for Bluey’s consumer products program. New partners in the US and Canada include Basic Fun (Mash’ems toys), Jakks Pacific (ball pits and trampolines), Kidz Toyz (musical instruments), KIDdesigns (headphones and speakers) and Galerie (seasonal treats and advent calendars). In LatAm, Bestway has been tapped to produce new lines of arts & crafts products for Mexico; Carnival Design is working on party goods for Central America, the Caribbean and Ecuador; and Wabro will roll out backpacks and tableware in Argentina, Uruguay, Paraguay and Bolivia. 

Cartoon Saloon 

France’s Asmodee is developing a new kids board game based on Cartoon Saloon’s Irish Folklore trilogy of 2D-animated fantasy films, which consists of WolfWalkers (2020), Song of the Sea (2014) and The Secret of Kells (2009). Part of Asmodee’s Unlock! Kids range, the new game will see up to six players use a deck of cards featuring the characters from Cartoon Saloon’s films to solve puzzles and escape from a villain. 

Princess Sam Entertainment

UK-based Tonies is gearing up to launch a Tara Duncan figure for its Toniebox audio system in France, Belgium, Monaco, Luxembourg and Switzerland this fall. Kids can place the toy onto their Toniebox players to unlock stories and music from Princess Sam’s CG-animated series (52 x 13 minutes), which stars a girl who uses magical powers to defeat evil. More figures based on Tara and her friends will hit retail at a later date.