Playmates Toys To Showcase Expanded Brand Portfolio at North American International Toy Fair

EL SEGUNDO, Calif., Feb. 17, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- Playmates Toys is set to showcase its expanded portfolio during the North American International Toy Fair, which includes product lines based on the year's most exciting entertainment properties. As the global master toy partner for Cartoon Network's refreshed take on Ben 10, Playmates Toys will introduce a full range of toys based on the animated series. Inspired by DreamWorks Animation Television's Voltron Legendary Defender, Playmates Toys, the master toy partner, will display an all-new expansive product offering. Additionally, as the longtime master toy licensee for Nickelodeon's Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, the powerful new 2017 collection will be introduced. The product lines will be on display in the Playmates Toys booth, #2469, at Toy Fair from February 18-21, 2017.

"We're excited to present our expanded portfolio which demonstrates the growth of the company, as valued new partnerships have been formed, while also cultivating existing ones," said Karl Aaronian, Senior Vice President of Marketing, Playmates Toys. "We are deeply committed to developing innovative product lines based on some of the hottest entertainment properties that will provide fans of all ages with unique play opportunities and the ability to bring their favorite characters to life."

Ben 10
As the global master toy partner for Cartoon Network's relaunch of the Ben 10 animated series, Playmates Toys will introduce basic, deluxe and giant figures, a vehicle playset, two different versions of the Omnitrix and additional roleplay in fall 2017. The new Cartoon Network series introduces an energetic, fun loving, 10-year old Ben Tennyson, who has the power to transform into 10 different heroic aliens using a mysterious watch called the Omnitrix.

Key highlights in the toy line include the Basic Action Figure Assortment featuring Ben Tennyson, the 10 different heroic aliens that he transforms into, as well as key villains from the show. Ranging in height up to 5" tall, each figure is highly detailed and articulated and also comes equipped with themed accessories.  With the Deluxe Omnitrix, kids can open up a world of alien superpowers by transforming into any one of Ben's 10 aliens. It features lights, sounds and great motion activated action, just like in the show! The Rustbucket Vehicle & Playset is a vehicle that transforms into a 3-level playset that stands over 2 feet tall and is packed with action features including an alien transformation chamber, plasma blaster, alien lab and more!

Voltron Legendary Defender
Playmates Toys is the master toy licensee for DreamWorks Animation Television's Voltron Legendary Defender. The critically-acclaimed series debuted as a Netflix original in June 2016, with a second season recently released on January 20, 2017. The series is a contemporary reimagining of the pop culture phenomenon featuring five young pilots of mystical robot lions that combine to form Voltron, the most powerful defender in the universe. The new toy line, available now, includes a wide range of action figures and various roleplay.

Highlights in the collection from Playmates Toys include the Basic Action Figure Assortment, allowing fans to collect all of the greatest heroes and villains in the Voltron universe.  Each 5.5" figure is highly detailed and articulated, with fun play features and accessories. The Legendary Lion Assortment features all five lions, which are fully articulated and include a miniature speeder with the lion's pilot. The lions can also transform and combine to form a 16" fully-articulated Voltron figure, with over 50 sounds unlocked when the lions are combined. With the Ultimate Voltron 14" Electronic Figure, kids can battle the evil Galra forces with a highly detailed and feature-packed version of Voltron. It includes over 20 phrases and sounds, its face and chest light up, and much more.

Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles
As the longtime master toy licensee for Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, Playmates Toys will introduce its all-new product line for 2017, inspired by Nickelodeon's hit TV show. The 2017 collection includes a new Micro Mutants segment, additions to the basic figure assortment based on season 5 of the Nickelodeon TV show, all-new customizable role play items and more.

Micro Mutants is an innovative new collection that's micro in scale but packed with playable features.  The line consists of 1.15" fully articulated figures with accessories, Turtles themed micro vehicles, and playsets with multiple levels of play. The Pet Turtles Playset Assortment lets kids transform their Pet Turtle figure into a multi-level micro mutant playset and discover over 10 different features including battle platforms, sewer slide, ejection stairs and more. With the two-toys-in-one Sweeper Ops Vehicle Playset, kids can first use the street sweeper to sweep up all of their Micro Mutants action figures and vehicles before transforming the vehicle into a multi-level Operational Headquarters playset designed with multiple levels of play and tons of play features.

Playmates Toys will also introduce new action figures throughout the year to its vast assortment. New stories, themes, characters and loads of ninja action will be featured in season 5 of the Nickelodeon TV show, with highly detailed and articulated figures launching to bring the themes and action to life.  

About Playmates Toys
With a history of over 50 years, Playmates Toys is today among the most well-respected and innovative marketing and distribution companies in the global toy industry with a proven history in the creation of imaginative products as well as the development and management of profitable, long-term brand franchises. Key brands include Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, Voltron Legendary Defender and Ben 10. From its offices in Hong Kong and California, Playmates designs, develops, markets and distributes its products in over 60 countries worldwide. For more information, visit http://www.playmatestoys.com.

About Cartoon Network Enterprises
Cartoon Network Enterprises (CNE) is responsible for building consumer products and merchandising programs for a wide range of brands by securing and supporting long-term licensing partnerships across all categories. As the global branding and merchandising arm of Cartoon Network and Adult Swim, the division manages the consumer product programs for the networks' award-winning original programming, brands and characters including Ben 10, Adventure Time, The Powerpuff Girls, Steven Universe, The Amazing World of Gumball, Mighty Magiswords, and We Bare Bears, as well as Rick and Morty on Adult Swim.

Cartoon Network  is Turner's global entertainment brand offering the best in original animation for kids and families and known as an industry leader for putting its fans at the center of everything by applying creative thinking and innovation across multiple platforms. Seen in 192 countries and over 370 million homes with the original hit series Adventure Time, The Powerpuff Girls, Steven Universe, We Bare Bears and The Amazing World of Gumball, Cartoon Network also takes its responsibilities to its audience seriously by addressing those issues affecting families with the Stop Bullying: Speak Up campaign and by promoting education and creative development through its commitment to STEAM enterprises and an integral involvement in Computer Science for All, the White House initiative empowering young people to generate skills to thrive in our digital world.

Cartoon Network is part of Turner, a Time Warner company that creates and programs branded news, entertainment, animation and young adult multi-platform content for consumers around the world. Turner brands and businesses include CNN/U.S., HLN, CNN International and CNN.com, TBS, TNT, TCM, truTV, Cartoon Network, Boomerang, Adult Swim, Turner Sports, Bleacher Report, iStreamPlanet and ELEAGUE.

About Universal Brand Development
Universal Brand Development globally drives expansion of the company's intellectual properties, franchises, characters and stories through innovative physical and digital products, content, and consumer experiences.  Along with franchise brand management, Universal Brand Development's core businesses include Consumer Products, Games and Digital Platforms, and Live Entertainment based on the company's extensive portfolio of intellectual properties created by Universal Pictures, Illumination Entertainment, DreamWorks Animation, and NBCUniversal cable and television.  Universal Brand Development is a business segment of Universal Filmed Entertainment Group, and part of NBCUniversal, a subsidiary of Comcast Corporation (NASDAQ: CMCSA).

About Nickelodeon
Nickelodeon, now in its 37^th year, is the number-one entertainment brand for kids. It has built a diverse, global business by putting kids first in everything it does. The company includes television programming and production in the United States and around the world, plus consumer products, online, recreation, books and feature films. Nickelodeon's U.S. television network is seen in more than 90 million households and has been the number-one-rated basic cable network for 20 consecutive years. For more information or artwork, visit http://www.nickpress.com. Nickelodeon and all related titles, characters and logos are trademarks of Viacom Inc. (NASDAQ: VIA, VIAB). 

SOURCE Playmates Toys