The Natural History Museum Shop has launched a range of gifts inspired by its brand-new exhibition, Titanosaur: Life as the Biggest Dinosaur.

For the first time in Europe, the Museum will showcase the magnificent titanosaur cast, Patagotitan mayorum – one of the largest creatures to have ever walked the Earth.

After coming face to face with the jaw-dropping cast of the most complete gigantic dinosaur ever discovered, visitors will be able to purchse gifts and accessories, many of which feature the iconic Titan the Titanosaur character.

From plush toys and t-shirts to stationery, keyrings and tote bags, the full range will be available in store at the Museum, with a great selection available online at nhmshop.co.uk.

In keeping with the Museum’s commitment to sustainability, the t-shirts and tote bags are made from recycled cotton, while plush from Keel Toys is manufactured and stuffed with 100% recycled polyester from plastic waste.

Every purchase from the Natural History Museum Shop and online store helps to support the Museum’s 350 scientists and their work, including finding solutions to the planetary emergency.

The Natural History Museum is both a world-leading science research centre and the most-visited indoor attraction in the UK, attracting millions of visitors each year. Its website has had 17m visits in the last year and its touring exhibitions have been seen by around 20m people in the last 10 years.

The Museum is custodian of one of the world’s most important scientific collections comprising over 80m specimens accessed by researchers from all over the world both in person and via over 50b digital data downloads to date. The Museum’s scientists are finding solutions to the planetary emergency from biodiversity loss through to the sustainable extraction of natural resources.

The Museum uses its global reach and influence to meet its mission to create advocates for the planet – to inform, inspire and empower everyone to make a difference for nature.

Under the terms of the agreement Mondo TV Studios would be integrated into Squirrel Media.

Squirrel Media has announced it has reached an agreement with Mondo TV – one of the largest European producers and distributors of animated content – through a binding letter of intent for the integration into Squirrel Media of Mondo TV Studios.

Squirrel Media, a communication technology group chaired by Pablo Pereiro Lage, works globally across four main business areas: advertising, communication media, content (creation and distribution of all types of audiovisual content) and technology (TMT services).

Under the terms of the agreement, Mondo TV Studios would become part of a leading Spanish group in technology within the media sector. The company would join Squirrel Media’s content business segment, creating a new animation vertical to produce and distribute new IPs, and at the same time offer animation services as a recurring activity engine, along with the distribution of animated content. It would also develop and build on synergies with the other business units that make up the Squirrel Media Group.

Although Mondo TV would join Squirrel Media Group, it will retain its brand identity and entire organizational structure, maintaining the management team led by CEO Maria Bonaria Fois along with the operational team.

“The acquisition of Mondo TV Studios, with its animation studio and its catalogue, is deeply valuable for our growth strategy, since it will mean adding to the group one of the largest European producers and distributors of animation content,” commented Pablo Pereiro Lage, president of Squirrel Media. “In addition, it will consolidate our leadership in the creation and distribution of content in Spanish, Portuguese and Italian,”

“The integration of Mondo TV Studios into a group with exponential growth projections such as Squirrel Media is an undoubted high point for our strategic growth plans,” said Maria Bonaria Fois, CEO of Mondo TV Studios. “We are grateful to Mondo for supporting us throughout all these years and helping us to reach this stage in our development. We are proud of our achievements and looking forward to a very bright future. We will continue to work hard on our traditional business lines, exploring synergies with the other Squirrel Media companies, as well as offering our much-admired international animation services and continuing to develop IPs that add value.”

The new NickWatch connected smartwatch from Watchinu will harness the popularity of global kids brand Nickelodeon.

Israeli start-up Watchinu has launched a new connected smartwatch for six to nine-year-olds, NickWatch, under licence agreement with Nickelodeon. Offering a wealth of entertainment based on Nickelodeon’s iconic characters, NickWatch features a variety of games, dances, crafts, music, safe connectivity, communication and customisation, all in one device.

NickWatch has been developed by the team at Watchinu and will be operated via a licensee agreement with Paramount Global, Nickelodeon’s parent company.

The connected smartwatch features characters from a range of beloved Nickelodeon series including Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, SpongeBob SquarePants and more. NickWatch allows parents to monitor their child’s use of the watch and most importantly, keep track of their child’s location via the NickWatch Caretaker App.

Downloadable on all app stores when subscribed, the Caretaker App gives parents and caregivers peace of mind and reassurance when away from their children. Adults can use the app to enable two-way messaging and calls, and even manage the user account on the watch. This includes muting the device, for example during school hours, and choosing who can connect and communicate via messaging and voice notes with their child – and children can’t override the actions taken. Social media platforms are not accessible from the watch.

NickWatch includes eight key features, to provide an imaginative and explorative environment for children (and their parents), helping to spark intuitive play. The NickWatch’s variety of games encourages roleplay and enhances physical and social play, allowing children to interpret the tasks presented and let their imagination run wild.

“NickWatch is set to shake-up the wearables market with some of the animation world’s most iconic and best loved characters baked into the experience – from SpongeBob to Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, the NickWatch delivers an experience like no other with the perfect combination of imaginative play and peace of mind for parents and carers,” said Udi Miron, CEO at Watchinu.

Doug Rosen, senior vice president, Games & Emerging Media, Paramount Global, added: “We are delighted that Watchinu is launching a new connected smartwatch harnessing the power of our consumer brands and that our iconic Nickelodeon characters will be used to help kids embrace technology and create immersive experiences that unlock a boundless world full of imagination, creativity and connectivity.”

NickWatch comes with two straps (one simple strap and one Snazzy strap featuring famous Nickelodeon characters) and the Connect-O-Cable (USB charger) in the box. Soon, customers will be able to choose whether to purchase their NickWatch with or without the charging station, which can double as a night light. Additional accessories available at a later date will include headphones, bag clips/holder, power station skins and a neck hanger.

From May, new games will be released every couple of months, along with new stickers and watch face designs, new sound effects, musical instruments and voice filters.

The yeti-focused animated series will bring to life characters from the popular Katmandu theme parks and games.

Following the grand opening of Katmandu Park in Punta Cana, the Caribbean’s first world-class theme park, entertainment company Falcon’s Beyond has announced its first animated series is now in development.

The pre-school show features Boro the Yeti, one of the breakout characters first introduced at the original Katmandu theme park in Mallorca, Spain, and a group of fun-loving, mischievous young yetis.

In the mission-oriented show, the young yetis go on adventures across Katmandu, helped by Kilgore Goode and Busby the Robot, also from the Katmandu franchise, who provide them with all the tech they need to complete their missions. Their headquarters is in the iconic upside-down house as seen in the Katmandu theme parks. Additional details, including the series’ distribution partner, creative team and title will be unveiled in the coming months.

“Yetis have quickly become beloved by visitors of our Katmandu theme parks, especially our youngest guests, so when we started to explore new entertainment concepts, we all agreed yetis were perfect leads for our first pre-school series,” said Cecil D. Magpuri, Falcon’s Beyond CEO. “With the recent opening of Katmandu Park in the Dominican Republic receiving tremendous fanfare, our consumer products programme, digital games, and now our first series in development, we are proud to see our 360-degree approach to expanding IP come to life.”

This series’ announcement follows the recent appointment of accomplished entertainment industry executive Simon Philips as the company’s president. In his previous roles, Simon’s approach to brand building helped shape the strategic direction of some of the world’s most iconic franchises, including Disney, Pixar, Star Wars, Marvel, Pokémon, Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, Yu-Gi-Oh, and most recently CoComelon.

Last year, Falcon’s Beyond announced plans to become a publicly listed company through a business combination with Fast Acquisition Corp. II. Upon the closing of the transaction, the new combined company will be named Falcon’s Beyond Global, Inc.

Just Play’s latest campaign sent influencers an Easter mailer packed with Disney Doorables from Series 9 to inspire treasure hunts in their own homes.

This Easter, families were challenged to organise their very own Easter treasure hunt by Just Play, and to hide their Doorables around the house, garden or location of choice.

The fun and interactive campaign saw a host of influencers receive an ‘a’Doorable’ Easter mailer, jam packed with Disney Doorables from Series 9, the latest drop of the Disney Doorables collection.

The collectibles recently featured on ITV This Morning and BuzzFeed UK as one of the collectible toys to watch for 2023, and also featured in Disney’s Wonder-ful Playhouse activation.

The Doorables figurines series 9 features 50 new characters to collect from beloved Disney and Pixar movies, including pearlized translucent, metallic, limited-edition characters from Mulan.

During the treasure hunt, Disney Doorables allow the magic of finding the treasure to continue with a surprise in store behind every door. Starting off small, families are encouraged to find the Disney Doorables Mini Peeks which when found and unboxed reveal either two or three figures hidden inside. For a big prize at the end of the hunt, the Disney Doorables Multi Peek offers a multi pack of five, six, or seven Disney figurines.

The fun Easter activation is designed to encourage children and parents to get creative and imaginative with their Disney Doorables through the art of play, whilst celebrating together over the holiday weekend.

The figures are perfect for recreating classic Disney tales, and the play value expands with the collection, as additional figures & playsets are collected, displayed and shared.

Along with Disney’s 100th anniversary this year, the Disney Doorables range looks set to be a popular pocket money purchase this year. The collection is aimed at children aged 5+.

The next Lego set in the Ultimate Collector Series celebrates one of the most iconic Star Wars ships, as seen in Star Wars: A New Hope.

The Lego Group has announced the new Star Wars Ultimate Collector Series X-wing Starfighter building set. Based on the iconic T-65 X-wing Starfighter from the Star Wars saga, the new 1,949 piece Lego Star Wars set is highly detailed and includes the Incom 4L4 fusil thrust engines and the Taim & Bak KX9 laser cannons.

The X-wing Starfighter was designed by the Incom Corporation for use by the Rebel Alliance in long missions and dog fights. First seen in Star Wars: A New Hope, the X-wings were manned by elite pilots in the Rebel Alliance – including Luke Skywalker. In the same film, the Rebel Alliance deployed the X-wings in the Battle of Yavin, where Luke joins the Red and Gold Squadrons as call-sign Red Five, alongside Biggs and Porkins, in an attempt to destroy the Empire’s Death Star.

In one of cinema’s most iconic scenes, the battle ends with a tense moment between Luke and Darth Vader in the Death Star trench – where Luke has one chance to fire his seemingly impossible shot into the exhaust port that is “not much bigger than two metres”, and destroy the Empire’s ultimate weapon.

At over 21.5-inches long, the set is the perfect addition to the Ultimate Collector Series, joining the AT-AT, Millennium Falcon, Razorcrest and Luke Skywalker’s Landspeeder building sets. Once complete, fans can display the X-wing model with either the wings open or closed. Plus, it comes complete with Luke Skywalker and R2-D2 astromech droid minifigures, and a display plaque with technical details about the X-wing.

“Whilst this is not the first time we have brought the X-wing Starfighter to brick life, this is the most detailed and I am so excited with the final design. It is such an iconic ship, by designing at this new larger scale we were able to include more specific details such as the thrusters, the cockpit and the wings. We are so excited to now share this with fans,” said Henrik Andersen, Lego design master.

The new set will be available from 1st May for Lego VIP members exclusively on L.com/star-wars and in Lego Stores for everyone from 4th May. Fans will have the chance to see the new set at the Star Wars Celebration event, which runs from 7th – 10th April at ExCel London.

Celebration attendees will also able to get their hands on the new Lego Star Wars BrickHeadz Battle of Endor building set which features Luke Skywalker, R2-D2, Lando Calrissian, an Ewok and Princess Leia-inspired Lego Star Wars BrickHeadz.

The Premier Star Wars Rivals Set and expansive Character Booster Packs will be available from Funko Games soon.

Funko Games has announced the Star Wars Rivals Card Game, an all-new expandable card game experience featuring endless layers of strategy and fun within every era of the Star Wars galaxy. Arriving late spring 2023, the award-winning tabletop gaming studio will offer a Premier Set and expansive Character Booster Packs, encouraging fans to join the dark or light side of the Force, build teams and battle for control of locations in the Star Wars galaxy.

Inspired by one of the most iconic franchises in pop culture history, the Star Wars Rivals Game challenges players to choose a side and create a squadron of iconic characters in an attempt to collect the most location cards and win against their opponent. Each character from across the Star Wars galaxy has three unique action cards featuring exciting abilities, creating endless strategies when combined with other characters during their fight for the galaxy. The fully expandable game experience also offers fans never-before-seen art stylisation in miniature sculpts and card art.

“The latest collaboration with Lucasfilm for the Star Wars Rivals Game has continued to elevate Funko Games’ collectible offerings through its all-new art style, including awesome hologram variants,” said Deirdre Cross, head of Funko Games. “We’re excited to introduce fans to new immersive gameplay, allowing them to experience unforgettable Star Wars locations as they join the Force and battle it out with their favourite characters from every era.”

The Premier Set offers fans four character-themed game movers and character cards, an exclusive prism die, 14 action cards, 18 tokens and markers, and 12 location cards, which include four that are exclusive to the set. For Star Wars fans of all skill levels, the game system features fast-paced gameplay that’s easy to jump into, with exciting dice-rolling and card revealing moments.

An extension of the Premier Set, Light Side and Dark Side Character Booster Packs expand game play with each including one character-themed game mover and character card, two location cards, game die, five action cards, 16 tokens and markers. Also available in late spring 2023, Light and Dark Side Character Booster Packs can be combined for immediate play or added to Premier Sets, as they intensify gameplay and spark an epic showdown featuring characters from every era of the Star Wars galaxy.

A limited pre-release sale for all Star Wars Rivals products will begin at Star Wars Celebration, from April 7th-10th. Star Wars Rivals Premier set will be available to pre-order on Game.co.uk from April 7th and will be on general release from June 18th, in-store and online from Game.

You can see more about the game on this video:

The five new children’s books are based on the new movie Dungeons & Dragons: Honor Among Thieves.

With the release of the Dungeons & Dragons: Honor Among Thieves movie, which topped international box offices last weekend, Random House Children’s Books has published five movie tie-in books for children of varying ages.

The books, available in the US, include a junior novelization of the movie, a picture book retelling, an early reader for children just learning to read independently and a full-colour activity book—perfect for children who can’t get enough of the film’s immersive fantasy scape.

The fantasy film, from Paramount Pictures, features a glittering cast of heavyweight actors, including Chris Pine, Michelle Rodriguez, Hugh Grant, Rege-Jean Page, Justice Smith, Sophia Lillis and Daisy Head

The Quest Begins (Dungeons & Dragons: Honor Among Thieves), suitable for ages 3–7, is the perfect introduction to the Dungeons and Dragons franchise and fantasy realm.

Dungeons & Dragons: Honor Among Thieves Official Activity Book is also suitable for kids aged 3–7 and is a full-colour activity book complete with puzzles, posters and more than 50 stickers.

Dungeons & Dragons: Honor Among Thieves The Junior Novelization is suitable for ages 8–12 and retells the exciting story of the Dungeons & Dragons: Honor Among Thieves movie in the form of a paperback junior novelization, ideal for elementary to middle school aged fans. The book also features a full-colour eight-page insert with images from the film.

Also suitable for kids aged 8-12, Dungeons & Dragons: Honor Among Thieves The Deluxe Junior Novelization retells the feature film in this hardcover deluxe junior novelization. The deluxe edition also includes a full-colour eight-page insert, as well as a poster.

Lastly, for those learning to read independently, is Heroes Unite! Dungeons & Dragons: Honor Among Thieves. This Step 3 Step into Reading leveled reader is based on the film Dungeons & Dragons and engages grade K-3 readers with a simplified retelling of the film’s plot. Step 3 readers feature engaging characters in easy-to-follow plots about popular topics.

Following the brand’s success on YouTube with over 12m views, two Magic Mixies specials are now available on streaming giant Netflix.

Moose Toys’ Magic Mixies brand, which has dominated toy lists seen launching in September 2021, is making moves to reach even more kids by widening its content on Netflix.

Magic Mixies has more than 12.7m views on YouTube, and is now available to stream on Netflix with two Magic Mixies specials. They include content from Magic Mixies season one and two, which follow Sienna, a young girl who unlocks a glittering pathway to Mixia, a mystical land filled with magic creatures, the Mixlings, and new adventures. Both specials are available in five languages: English, French, German, Spanish and Portuguese, further solidifying Magic Mixies’ worldwide appeal.

“Following the success of our first property on Netflix, Heroes of Goo Jit Zu, Magic Mixies is the latest Moose Toys original brand that has taken off beyond the toy aisle,” commented Moose Toys chief commercial officer Ronnie Frankowski. “Its entertainment and licensing extensions have translated into incredible sales and helped fuel growth for the property.”

He added: “Kids can’t get enough Magic Mixies, so we’re giving them more to love with engaging and fun licensed consumer products and entertainment, now on multiple platforms. We’re thoughtfully expanding our collaborations, and continuing to push our creative content is an important step in solidifying the entertainment appeal of the brand.”

Moose Toys recently teamed up with word-of-mouth marketing agency Come Round for a nationwide in-home marketing campaign to raise awareness of the Magic Mixies product range among families in the UK.

As part of the campaign, which started during the February half-term holidays, 500 families from across the UK were selected to receive a Magic Mixies Colour Surprise Cauldron and a Magic Mixies Mixlings Collector’s Cauldron.

Families were encouraged to share their experiences on social media and leave honest product reviews at retail and it has been a huge success so far, generating over 1,000 authentic social media posts and 500 honest product reviews.

Hey Duggee The Live Theatre Show won Best Family Show at the Olivier Awards, recognising its sell-out residency at the Royal Festival Hall.

Hey Duggee The Live Theatre Show scooped the Best Family Show award at the Olivier Awards 2023 with Mastercard, which took place on Sunday 2nd April at the Royal Albert Hall.

The award was collected by the co-adaptors for Hey Duggee The Live Theatre Show, Matthew Xia and Vikki Stone. Matthew also directs the theatre show and Vikki is musical supervisor.

The Olivier Awards celebrate the brightest and best of London’s world-leading theatre industry and Hey Duggee The Live Theatre Show, which is currently touring the UK, took home the award for Best Family Show in recognition of its four-week sell-out residency at the Royal Festival Hall, Southbank Centre in December 2022.

The Hey Duggee show was up against Blippi The Musical at Apollo Theatre, Midsummer Mechanicals at Sam Wanamaker Playhouse at Shakespeare’s Globe and The Smartest Giant in Town at St Martin’s Theatre.

The full ceremony was broadcast live from the Royal Albert Hall on Magic Radio and highlights aired on ITV1 and ITVX. TikTok also hosted a live stream on the Green Carpet, which among others was walked by the Hey Duggee puppet as seen in Hey Duggee The Live Theatre Show.

Hey Duggee The Live Theatre Show will continue to tour venues in the UK until the end of August this year. The show brings to life the smash-hit Studio AKA production with BBC Studios Kids & Family and CBeebies through innovative puppetry and storytelling, featuring a dazzling light show and projection.

Hey Duggee The Live Theatre Show is presented by BBC Studios’ licensing partners: the award-winning theatre producer Kenny Wax; and theatre and live entertainment promoters Cuffe and Taylor, in association with Live Nation.