Unique: Highlight on Motion FiguresToy World Journal

In Toy World’s June problem, Rachael Simpson-Jones takes a have a look at the licences which can be at the moment dominating the Motion Figures class and asks main suppliers how stockists can meet the wants of followers and collectors.

The Motion Determine class is inextricably linked to the Character Licensed Toys class, with suppliers and producers leaning closely into evergreen or on-trend TV, movie and gaming licences. In 2024, this implies they will tie into some main anniversaries for regular, evergreen manufacturers in addition to just a few which can be having fun with a significant resurgence because of new content material.

Let’s begin with the evergreens. In response to Martin Rowe, senior Advertising and marketing supervisor at Hasbro UK & Eire, 2024 is ready to be an enormous yr for Transformers, with the model turning 40, the extremely anticipated Transformers One film dropping in autumn, and an array of selling activations going down all year long. Hasbro revealed its new Transformers One motion determine line-up in April.

Transformers isn’t the one franchise celebrating its fortieth anniversary this yr, with Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles additionally marking 4 a long time because the heroes in a half shell first appeared in comedian e book kind. Since then, the property has spawned a raft of video games, TV sequence and movies, the newest of which – Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Mutant Mayhem – can be adopted this summer time by Tales of the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles. The brand new content material has been bolstered by a powerful line of motion figures, not least of which is Playmates Toys’ vary.

With a lot to get behind this yr, followers are definitely spoilt for selection and retailers have a lot to keep watch over within the coming months. Whereas selection is a superb factor for customers, it may pose one thing of a headache for retailers, which – as Bandai UK’s Collector & Interest Model supervisor, Ciaran Chivers-Procter, notes – need to each maintain abreast of the most recent developments and be reactive to rising properties. For indies, meaning information is energy.

To find extra insights from suppliers and find out about upcoming developments within the class this yr, click on right here for the complete article which appeared in our June problem.