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BBC Studios expands its NFT trading card game Doctor Who: Worlds Apart with new series launch

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Reality Gaming Group and BBC Studios have expanded on their existing partnership to launch a new Doctor Who: Worlds Apart permanent card set, Time Lord Victorious, featuring two new packs of cards following the Doctors from across the series as they face Daleks and the ancient alien race, the Kotturuh.

Doctor Who: Worlds Apart is an officially licensed digital trading card game published by Reality Gaming Group that has been in development since early 2021, combining the richness and variety of Doctor Who lore with a strategic game mechanic for PC and Mac.

The ‘Time Lord Victorious’ set marks the first time that completely new cards have been added permanently to the game, alongside the original cards released as part of the “Unearthly Origins” set in November 2020.

Each of the 50 new cards features hand-drawn artwork, characters, companions and enemies from the Doctor Who universe, classic and new.

All Doctor Who: Worlds Apart cards available to purchase use Non-Fungible Token (NFT) technology, which enables players to sell and trade the cards with each other on an open marketplace. Every card in the game is available in 3D frames, which allow players to create custom decks that are truly unique, making every card a collector’s item.

All the cards, artworks, characters and stats are the same between the packs, so you only need the Core Pack to enjoy the new mechanics and gameplay. The Premium Pack, designed with collectors and NFT enthusiasts in mind, features the new  ‘Time Lord Victorious’ and ‘Kotturuh’ frames and will only be available for a limited time.

All Doctor Who: Worlds Apart cards get minted onto the blockchain when players open packs, and are assigned a unique serial number so every card is one of a kind. Serial #1 cards of popular characters can reach high values among digital collectors on the marketplace and can even be exported to public marketplaces like Opensea, representing true digital ownership.

“This latest set of cards will provide players with new ways to experience the game when the alpha launches later this year,” said Reality Gaming Group’s co-founder Tony Pearce.

“Because every Time Lord Victorious card is an NFT that you own, you can trade and sell your cards directly with other players and Doctor Who fans, building your unique collection of cards and frames just like you would in a physical trading card game.”

WildBrain CPLG lands raft of UK partners for Dr Seuss’ The Cat in the Hat, How the Grinch Stole Christmas

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Dr Seuss’ The Cat in the Hat, How the Grinch Stole Christmas, and Green Eggs and Ham will all be expanding their UK licensing presence in the coming weeks, thanks to a raft of new deals and consumer products programmes landing courtesy of the licensing agency, WildBrain CPLG.

Among the new signing, Brand Alliance will be delivering a range of apparel and accessories based on the How the Grinch Stole Christmas IP, where it will be joined by Solent Brands and its ‘bag for life’, H&A’s health and beauty items, and Fizz Creations’ gifting and kitchenware range.

Meanwhile, Beautiful Games will be developing stickers and decals for various Dr Seuss titles.

Further UK deals will see Brand International release How the Grinch Stole Christmas footwear and accessories, as well as nightwear for The Cat in the Hat and Green Eggs and Ham. Stor is creating a line of How the Grinch Stole Christmas kitchenware. The new ranges will roll out from Autumn/Winter 2021, with the How the Grinch Stole Christmas lines being available for the festive 2021 season.

John Taylor, VP northern Europe and managing director UK and France at WildBrain CPLG, said: “The iconic brands of the Dr. Seuss portfolio continue to celebrate enduring popularity among consumers, licensees and retailers alike. We’ve already established significant licensing partnerships for Dr. Seuss across Europe and these latest wave of deals will offer fans in the UK even more unique products across a compelling array of categories, such as health & beauty and kitchenware.”

Susan Brandt, president of Dr. Seuss Enterprises, L.P., said: “We’re very happy with our partners continued success in the UK, making the Grinch a best-selling character at retail each year. It’s also exciting to see new and existing partners expanding our product categories for Green Eggs and Ham and The Cat in the Hat, two properties that continue to make Dr. Seuss the number one licensed children’s book brand in the US.”

Diversity and innovation celebrated as Licensing Expo Virtual’s License This! crowns its 2021 winners

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An animated brand with diversity at its centre, a refillable snack jar, and a children’s animation that brings African and African American culture to the super hero sector have each been named the winners of the inaugural US version of the popular License This! competition.

Held during this past week’s Licensing Expo Virtual – which ran from August 24th to 26th – License This! in partnership with InventHelp, is a global competition that culminated at the online trade event, by providing select illustrators, designers, animators, and product inventors the chance to pitch their concepts to a panel of expert judges.

Spanning three categories in its online format, including Character and Animation, Brand and Design, and Innovations and Product Innovation, the live finale is now available to watch via the Licensing Expo Virtual platform. It witnessed finalists making their pitch to a panel of licensing experts, who then deliberated over this year’s winners.

a staple of London’s Brand Licensing Europe trade show, this marks the first time that the License This! competition has been held for the US licensing industry.

The winners of the inaugural US version of the License This! competition, are:

License This! Character & Animation winners:

  • Emily Blumenthal & Lindsay Kaye Lippman, The Charmsters, a diversity-based animation brand. 

License This! Brand & Design winner:

License This! Innovations & Product Innovation winner:

The License This! competition’s 2021 judging panel comprised of 18 senior executives from every corner of the industry, including Bioworld Merchandising, Boat Rocker Studio, Crayola, FYE, Hallmark, Licensing International, Lisa Mark Associates, Product Counsel, PowerStation Studios and Redbubble, in addition to partner InventHelp and official sponsor WestEnd Software.

“We at the Goodie Jar are excited to have been chosen as a License This! winner,” said Lawrence Canada, The Goodie Jar. “This is a dream coming to fruition. We look forward to the opportunities and experiences that accompany this accomplishment at Licensing Expo.”

Fellow License This! winner Xavier Smith, added: “Winning License This! is an exciting and epic opportunity for The Kujifunza Kids brand and the II Tribes Entertainment family! We look forward to all opportunities from this wonderful experience.”

Finally, founder Emily Blumenthal, and creative director Lindsay Kaye Lippman, of Kanvas Brands, said: “We are excited to win the Character & Animation category for the License This! Competition. We believe this will bring awareness and opportunities to The Charmsters, a diversity-based animation brand rooted in joy, inclusivity and girl empowerment.

“We are grateful to the industry for giving us this platform to introduce our mission and female founded brand and look forward to what happens next.”

This year’s License This! winners receiveone-to-one consultation with members of the judging panel and competition sponsor WestEnd Software, free-of-charge turnkey booth at Licensing Expo 2022, one-year Licensing International membership, one-year Products of Change membership and – exclusively to the winner of the ‘Inventions & Product Innovations’ category – one-to-one consultation with InventHelp.

“I thoroughly enjoyed being a part of this year’s panel,” said Steven Ekstract, managing director of Global Licensing Advisors and Chair of the License This! Judges. “We are really excited to announce the winners and wish them all the very best of luck.”

Brand Licensing Europe’s (BLE) popular License This! competition, which has been running for over a decade, is now open for entries and announces a new third award category, the Inventions & Product Innovations category.

ARTiSTORY adds Boston’s Museum of Fine Arts to its growing art and culture portfolio

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Boston’s Museum of Fine Arts has become the latest cultural tourism hot spot to join the ARTiSTORY portfolio, offering the art and culture licensing specialist access to nearly 500,000 works of art to inspire designs to be licensed globally.

Founded in 1870, the MFA is recognised as one of the most comprehensive art museums in the world. Having first opened its doors to the public on July 4th, 1876, the Museum’s collection spans Egyptian, Greek, and Roman masterpieces, renowned works of art from the Americas, Asia, Europe, and Africa, and significant holdings of photography, prints and drawings, textiles, fashion, and musical instruments.

Meanwhile, launched in January 2021, ARTiSTORY’s vision is to extend the reach of its cultural partners to engage a wider global audience via comprehensive licensing programmes with global retailers, manufacturers, direct to consumer brands, and online retailers.

The programme reflects ARTiSTORY’s core capability of turning “Artefacts to Merchandise” and extends beyond with storytelling content through hybrid / digital exhibitions and immersive experiences, each supported by narratives that resonate with their targeted audience.

Katsushika Hokusai, Wassily Kandinsky, Piet Mondrian, Alphonse Maria Mucha, Paul Gauguin, Claude Monet and Paul Cézanne’s masterpieces will be some of the sources of design inspiration for ARTiSTORY’s annually refreshed themes of design assets, including patterns, prints, icons, stories and immersive experiences.

“We at ARTiSTORY are very pleased to have signed this iconic American institution. Having worked with Debra at the MFA previously I know first-hand what incredible artworks we will gain access to, and the beautiful designs our in-house creative team can produce,” said Yizan He, Co-founder and CEO at ARTiSTORY.

Debra LaKind, senior director, intellectual property and business development at the MFA, said: “At the MFA, we believe in the power of art to bring people together and foster cross-cultural understanding. Our mission includes reaching beyond the walls of the Museum, by pursuing collaborative opportunities to share our diverse collections with world-wide audiences.

“ARTiSTORY is uniquely positioned to help expand the MFA’s global presence in creative and engaging ways through storytelling and merchandise, bringing art into the everyday life of the consumer. We are thrilled to be working with the team at ARTiSTORY.”

Funko turns Christmas Pop! in exclusive Hallmark and Walmart gifting and wrapping partnership

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Funko is expanding across the seasonal aisle this year thanks to an exclusive partnership with the US retailer Walmart that will see the pop culture specialist release Pop! inspired Hallmark ornaments and wrapping paper in time for the Christmas and holiday season.

Hallmark has been a staple of the holiday product roll-out across the US since 1910. This year, it will join the pop culture explosion by partnering with Funko to deliver a 2021 ornament collection featuring Pop! versions of celebrated characters from TV, comic books, films, and more.

“The Funko team is always working on new and exciting product ideas to delight our fans. We’re excited for holiday shoppers to experience this upcoming season in Funko style with new décor that fits perfectly around your Christmas tree or on your mantel,” said Andrew Perlmutter, president at Funko.

“We’re excited to share this collection with our dedicated fanbase and reach new pop culture enthusiasts through an expanded holiday program for the most wonderful time of the year.”

Nicole Reid, vice president of ornaments and gifts at Hallmark, said: “For decades, Hallmark has designed and sold licensed ornaments and gifts for people like us who love a pop of culture in our homes and on our Christmas trees, whether that’s a favorite character from a comic book or even a nostalgic video game from our childhoods.

“Hallmark and Funko are excited to join forces and bring the Pop! versions of these popular licensed characters to add to fans’ trees this holiday season.”

Funko will also be debuting a range of Christmas and holiday season wrapping paper, all featuring pop culture icons in the Pop! styling. Available at Walmart this autumn, Funko’s debut line of wrapping paper will feature iconic TV shows, comic book characters, video games and more.

Funko’s holiday collection will also include advent calendars, games, mugs and more.

King Features expands global publishing to tap into new audiences for its classic IP

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King Features Syndicate is revitalising its global publishing programme in a move to deliver its classic franchises, such as The Phantom, Flash Gordon, and Popeye to younger generations through graphic novels, coffee table books, YA books and more. The initiative to develop new partnerships for original content is being overseen by publishing director, Christina Nix Lynch

To date, the traditonal publishing programme, spanning IP including Prince Valiant and Mandrake the Magician has focused on comic reprints. While maintaining its reprint market, King Features recently shifted the focus on developing new content for both its classic and new IP.

The new publishing approach gives King Features the opportunity to introduce new audiences to its iconic properties via graphic novels, coffee table books, and YA and middle reader books.

This past year, King Features partnered with StoneBot Studios to relaunch Mandrake the Magician with a young adult comic miniseries that introduced his niece, Mandy, as the lead character. Legacy of Mandrake the Magician unveils a new generation of heroes anchored by a strong female lead who faces off against familiar Mandrake universe foes. By weaving in elements of the original storyline that first debuted more than 85 years ago, the series appeals to both old fans and new.

Last year also marked the 40th anniversary of the Flash Gordon cult-classic film and in celebration, Titan Publishing released Flash Gordon: The Official Story of the Film, a coffee table book filled with cast and crew interviews, never-before-seen concept art and more, allowing fans to find new things to love about the film four decades later.

In addition, King Features is planning to launch a YA graphic novel series for Flash Gordon with Macmillan that offers a new twist on the classic story as the original characters are re-imagined as young adult heroes. More information, including the imprint and launch dates for the series, will be released soon.

King Features is also reaching new audiences through publishing for its roster of syndicated comics and puzzles. Hermes Press is bringing Bill Holbrook’s On The Fastrack to young readers with a graphic novel centered around Dethany, one of the lead characters from the 36-year-old comic strip. Meanwhile, tapping into the surge in popularity that puzzles have seen over the last year, Leap Year Publishing is working to bring puzzle books based on King Features’ most popular syndicated puzzles to market.

King Features has also spotted the potential to grow its global fan bases through publishing, and in 2020 the firm’s international agents signed more than 50 publishing deals.

Since the first costumed superhero’s debut 85 years ago, King Features has continued to build awareness and grow The Phantom’s fanbase internationally. In India, where The Phantom has been a beloved character for decades, Regal Publishers is releasing 77 new titles in Malayalam and English to tap into affinity for the brand and keep the character fresh for his millions of fans. It is also introducing Mandrake the Magician to the region this year with 20 new titles.

Also in the territory, Shakti Comics will be releasing comics in English, Hindi and Bengali for Flash Gordon, The Phantom and Mandrake the Magician, while Lion Comics will launch Secret Agent X9, Rip Kirby, The Phantom and Mandrake the Magician comics in Tamil. The Phantom’s popularity also continues in Australia with comics from Frew, and has been thriving in the Nordics for decades thanks to the works distributed by Egmont.

“We are always seeking fresh approaches for our classic IP by partnering with a variety of publishing partners in cutting edge,” said King Features’ director of licensing Christina Nix Lynch.

“For both the longevity of our classic properties and the growth of newly launched or represented IP, it is critical that we find the right partners to develop unique and engaging takes on these characters that will appeal to both original fans and untapped audiences. We are thrilled to have such an incredible roster of publishers helping us achieve this and look forward to working closely together to continue bringing new content to fans worldwide.”

Carla Silva, King Features’ general manager and vice president, global head of licensing, added: “Publishing is a key driver in King Features’ strategic plan to re-imagine classic brands and introduce them to new audiences. And Christina’s work has been instrumental in achieving our goals. From her in-depth analysis of the category to creative thinking around formats, distribution channels and markets, while securing fresh, best-in-class publishing houses as well as emerging talent, she continues to successfully grow our program with partners that are passionate about comics and our brands. Thanks to her efforts, our publishing program is flourishing and positioned for continued growth.”

This autumn, King Features and Hermes Press will release a new coffee table-sized retrospective dedicated to the 90-plus year history of Popeye the Sailorman, while for the company’s slate of newer IP, publishing affords the opportunity to raise awareness for the brands and build a richer, more complex world for fans to explore.

One such example is the robust publishing program that King Features is developing for the acclaimed video game property, Cuphead. Ahead of the highly anticipated release of The Cuphead Show!on Netflix, King Features has signed on a full slate of global publishing partners for graphic novels, art books and middle grade readers.

Dark Horse Comics has renewed its worldwide deal to further expand its lineup of Cuphead books, detailing the launch of the “Art of Cuphead” art book and the graphic novels.

Additionally, Little, Brown Books for Young Readers, who released two Middle Grade novels inspired by the video game in 2020, is expanding their program into Russia with the Exmo Publishing Group in 2021. In Spring 2022, Running Press (a subsidiary of Hachette) is joining the video game’s publishing roster with plans to release a Cuphead “Mini Kit”, consisting of a mini book and a Cuphead character figure.

In the future, King Features is also planning to introduce new graphic novels and early reader books to further expand the world of Cuphead for younger audiences.

Reemsborko details flurry of global partners for graphic novel IP Trese

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Reemsborko, the UK agency specialising in cult and pop culture licensing from across the world, has secured a flurry of new partnerships for the best-selling graphic novel series, Trese.

In a run of new deals for the series publisher, Ablaze Publishing, the graphic novel IP now finds itself expanding its consumer products presence across categories including apparel and accessories, drinkware, wall decor, statues, and more.

Joining the licensing portfolio is the likes of Bioworld who has signed on for apparel and accessories for global distribution, Goodie Two Sleeves who will be delivering apparel and accessories to the North American market, Pyramid America who will delight North American audiences with its wall decor and drinkware, and Great Eastern Entertainment, signed on for multiple categories across North America.

They are joined by IndieGo Distribution who will deliver apparel to the European market, and Bedrock Collectables whose polyresin statues will be distributed worldwide.

Trese is set in a Manila where the mythical creatures of Filipino folklore live in hiding among humans. It follows the story of the hero Alexandra Trese as she battles with a criminal underworld run by malevolent supernatural beings. Seven volumes of the comic have so far been released in the Philippines and are now being steadily republished worldwide by ABLAZE. 

Reemsborko is the agent for all categories and territories. The property has become even more popular this year since the Season One Anime series started streaming on Netflix in July.

Hello Kitty and Pusheen pounce on limited edition collaboration for plush, fashion, and more

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Sanrio has entered into a new collaboration with the Pusheen brand to launch a limited edition collection of Hello Kitty x Pusheen consumer products, spanning apparel, accessories, collectables, stationery, housewares, health and beauty products, and plush. The collection unites Hello Kitty and Pusheen for the first time in the consumer space.

The deal brings with a swathe of premium licensing partners already on board to launch a selection of Hello Kitty x Pusheen products, including Hybrid for apparel, Loungefly for bags and small accessories, Taste Beauty for health and beauty care products, GUND for plush and slippers, and Hamee for squishy toys and phone accessories.

They are joined by further licensing partners, Monogram for pins, bag clips, and lanyards, Stitch & Story for crochet kits and craft accessories, Blueprint for stationery, and Thumbs Up for housewares and figurines.

“Hello Kitty has always believed ‘You can never have too many friends’ and we couldn’t be more excited for Pusheen to join her side,” said Craig Takiguchi, chief operating officer at Sanrio, Inc. “With both of our avid fanbases and the wide range of products designed for every occasion, these pop culture icons will encourage friends to come together and make even more everyday memories.”

Claire Belton, creator of Pusheen, said: “It’s a dream come true to collaborate with Hello Kitty. It’s been so much fun to work together and see everything come to life. I grew up loving Hello Kitty, so it feels like coming full circle.”

Similar to Pusheen, whose animated comics and GIFs have spread smiles and laughter worldwide, Hello Kitty also stands for friendship, kindness, and inclusivity. These values have brought the two together to help spread positivity and acceptance to friends and fans everywhere.

The Hello Kitty x Pusheen collection will be available on September 3, 2021 at Sanrio.com, select Sanrio boutique stores, and Pusheen.com while supplies last. The collection will also be available at select specialty retailers such as Hot Topic, Claire’s, FYE, Barnes & Noble, and IT’SUGAR later this autumn.

PlayMonster, LEGO, and Crayola among 2021 Licensing International Excellence Awards winners

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PlayMonster, LEGO, Crayola, and Hasbro have all been named among the winners of the 2021 Licensing International Excellence Awards at a ceremony held via a virtual gathering during this week’s Licensing Expo Virtual.

Big name toy companies featured among the 22 award winners from seven different countries, including China, Finland, France, Japan, Singapore, the UK, and the US at the event that brought together nearly 1,000 industry executives.

The winners were whittled down from a total of 152 nominees – itself a shortlist of finalists from more than 650 entries from around the world. An elite judging panel narrowed the entries down to the final ballot, which was then voted on by members of the licensing industry.

PlayMonster secured its win in the Toys, Games, Novelties for ages 0 to 8 category, receiving its accolade for its popular Peppa Pig Grow and Play Peppa Pots, while LEGO secured its Toys, Games, Novelties for ages 8 upwards category win for its Andy Warhol LEGO Art Edition.

Hasbro took home the Entertainment, Character Brand: Animated category win for Peppa Pig, and Crayola was voted Best Licensed Collaboration in its tie up with Adidas and Donovan Mitchell.

The Licensing International Excellence Awards honour innovation and creativity in licensing, as well as how licensees develop and bring to market products, and how retailers creatively spotlight licenses on their shelves. A special award this year – Pandemic Pivot – went to Peanuts Worldwide to honour its work in developing and making available for free in-home educational materials and lesson plans.

“In our 36th year of honoring the best of the global licensing industry, it’s inspiring to see the quality of the work produced by people and companies even as they were adapting to new ways of creating and collaborating amid the effects of the pandemic,” said Maura Regan, president, Licensing International.

“The achievements that we honor today are testament to the power of brands, and the power of licensing as a business to create products and programs with lasting appeal.”

Here are the 2021 Licensing International Excellence Awards winners:

Best Licensed Products

⦁ Apparel / Footwear / Accessories – Dr. Martens for Jean-Michel Basquiat Boots
⦁ Appliance / Automotive / Housewares / Electronics – Beijing Xiaomi Mobile Software Co. for Pokémon Travel
⦁ Toys / Games / Novelties for Ages 0 – 8 – PlayMonster for Peppa Pig Grow & Play Peppa Pots
⦁ Apps / Sofware / Video Games – Top Golf for Angry Birds Interactive Golf Game
⦁ Food / Beverage – Kinnerton Confectionery for Harry Potter Chocolate Range
⦁ Health and Beauty Aids – Mad Beauty for Friends Bath & Body Essentials
⦁ Home Decor – Secret Lab for Batman Gaming Chairs
⦁ Publishing / Back to School – Chronicle Books for LEGO Note Brick
⦁ Toys/ Games/ Novelties for ages 8 upwards – LEGO for Andy Warhol LEGO Art Edition

Best Licensed Brands
⦁ Art/ Design/ Celebrity/ Fashion Brand – The Very Hungry Caterpillar by Eric Carle Studio
⦁ Digital App/ Video Game Brand – Super Mario by Nintendo
⦁ Corporate Brand – Goodyear by The Goodyear Tire & Rubber Company and IMG
⦁ Entertainment/ Character Brand: Animated – Peppa Pig by Hasbro & Hasbro China
⦁ Entertainment/ Character Brand: Live-Action – Harry Potter by Warner Bros. France
⦁ Food/ Beverage/ Restaurant Brand – Coca-Cola, Hi-C & Sprite by The Coca-Cola Company
⦁ Sports/ Collegiate Brand – NFLPA by NFL Players Association

OTHER AWARDS
⦁ BEST LICENSED PROMOTION – Direct Line & Born Licensing for “We’re On It” with Transformers, TMNT & Robocop
⦁ BEST LICENSED COLLABORATION – Crayola x Adidas x Donovan Mitchell
⦁ BEST RETAILER FOR A CHARACTER / ENTERTAINMENT INITIATIVE – BoxLunch for Marvel Eat the Universe
⦁ BEST RETAILER FOR A CORPORATE / LIFESTYLE/ SPORTS INITIATIVE – H&M for Coca-Cola
⦁ BEST LICENSING AGENCY – IMG
⦁ THE PANDEMIC PIVOT AWARD – Peanuts At-Home-Offerings by Peanuts Worldwide

 

YouTube star Like Nastya to launch Jazwares toy line and NFT collection

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The YouTube sensation, Like Nastya, has detailed the autumn launch of her first toy line, a range developed by the international toy maker, Jazwares in a partnership brokered by the global licensing agency, IMG.

The seven-year-old social media star’s toy line represents the latest expansion of Nastya’s universe in which Nastya and her parents play, learn, sing, explore, and share their life experiences on social media. Her YouTube videos cover topics from songs, nature, and animals, to the importance of eating healthily.

Like Nastya currently enjoys more than 220 million subscribers on YouTube, 5 million followers on TikTok, and a thriving Instagram channel.

The toy space is not the only sector into which the Like Nastya brand is expanding this season as IMG has also secured an NFT collection with Gary Vaynerchuk’s VaynerNFT.

Nastya, who at birth was diagnosed with cerebral palsy, which inspired her first YouTube video and has since significantly improved, and her family will be donating a portion of proceeds from her NFT collection to the Cerebral Palsy Foundation.

Eyal Baumel, CEO of Yoola and Nastya’s manager, said: “Millions of kids and families around the world embrace Nastya as a friend and role model, and we are excited to expand Nastya’s universe into the physical world with the new toy line, and in the metaverse with our unique NFT program.

“This will allow Nastya’s community to own a collectible memory of Nastya, but to also use some of the unique utility NFTs to engage with her in the most special ways, including birthday greetings, connecting on social media, shoutouts, and even a live video call.”

Laura Zebersky, president of Jazwares, said: “Based on Nastya’s unbelievable success as a young content creator and role-model, imaginative play is the focus in our toy line so we are bringing to life and extending Nastya’s colorful adventures and positive messages.”

The toy line has been created to appeal to girls aged four to six years old and features Nastya’s Fancy Princess Surprise Doll, an eight-inch doll in the likeness of Nastya and it includes 50 unique surprises such as outfits, wear-and-share accessories, and more.

Other toys in the line include themed Nastya eight-inch dolls such as Sleepy Time, Princess and Rock Star, 12 distinctive three-inch Collectible Figures, a Nastya Bedroom Playset, plush toys and headbands. The toys will range in price from $4.99 to $39.99 and will be available in the US and UK at retailers including Target, Amazon, Walmart.com and Claire’s starting this autumn, before being released worldwide in different drops through spring 2022.

Nastya’s NFT collection, meanwhile, presents a new way for Nastya to engage with her community; and capitalise on the hyper-growth NFT market. With multiple tiered price points, and plenty of surprise and delight activities, “Nastya’s Originals’ collection is designed to bring a smile to the face of her fans, and extend the Like Nastya community into the metaverse.

“There are very few people on earth that have ever amassed an audience the size of Nastya and we are thrilled to work with her and her family,” said Gary Vaynerchuk, CEO of VaynerNFT, who recently launched his own successful VeeFriends project in May, 2021.

“The fact that her circle is thoughtfully thinking about how to bring her audience value through an NFT project instead of trying to make a quick buck is exactly why we wanted to work with them and is exactly the way that VaynerNFT wants to structure projects.”

Van Kokeh, Associate VP, Licensing, IMG, added: “Nastya’s engaging content, reach and musical talent allows us to expand her licensing program across all key areas and categories. Our unique strategy to launch her toy program with Jazwares, alongside her first NFTs, is just the start of the incredible program we have planned for the long-term growth of the Like Nastya brand globally.”