Latest news with #toys
Yahoo
18 hours ago
- Business
- Yahoo
These toys are so hot that Chinese customs agents have seized hundreds of them in recent weeks
Unveiling their latest seizure in front of news cameras last month, two Chinese customs agents revealed not drugs or weapons – but suitcases full of plush toys. The stash on display included dozens of Pop Mart Labubus - the toothy, fluffy figurines that have sparked buying frenzies around the world, and in some cases, brawls among fans outside shops selling them. Even in China, where Pop Mart is based and most of its toys are made, people are struggling to get their hands on Labubus. When CNN recently visited a Pop Mart store at a bustling shopping mall in downtown Beijing, Labubu dolls were nowhere to be found on shelves, with only display samples remaining in glass cabinets. Labubus are typically 'sold out in seconds' when released, longtime Pop Mart fan Evelyn Lin told CNN. 'It's almost impossible to get a Labubu via the official channels,' she said. Fans are instead turning to unusual sources - including buying from smugglers. A total of 462 Pop Mart toys have been confiscated by customs authorities across China since April, according to a CNN compilation of multiple official posts. Details and footage of one seizure were posted by China's Customs Administration on social media, which stated that that the toys were intended 'for profit by resale' and seized in accordance with law. The post did not say whether any of the Labubu smugglers faced other legal consequences. Labubu is the brainchild of Hong Kong-born illustrator Kasing Lung, and it has quietly built a loyal following since its 2015 debut. But in recent months, the bunny-bodied, elf-faced creature — equal parts grotesque and adorable — has soared in popularity. Stars including Rihanna, Dua Lipa, and Lisa from K-pop group Blackpink have worn Labubus like lucky charms, and the toys were even spotted at Paris Fashion Week this year. According to Chinese state-owned media outlet Cover News, a blind box from the latest Labubu 3.0 series, originally priced at 584 yuan ($81), has been selling for between 1,000 ($139) and 2,000 yuan ($278) on the second-hand market. Pop Mart's annual results show that the company's global gross profit surged by over 125% last year, while its revenue in mainland China reached more than $1.09 billion, 34% higher than 2023. But buying from resellers carries risks. Kate Yang, a Beijing resident and Labubu enthusiast, told CNN that her two last purchases from resellers both turned out to be fakes. 'Because they are not available on official platforms, if you're in a rush to get a gift for a friend, you just can't manage to get the popular ones in time,' said Yang. 'You can only pay extra to buy from resale platforms.' CNN's Marc Stewart and Martha Zhou contributed reporting
CNN
18 hours ago
- Business
- CNN
These toys are so hot that Chinese customs agents have seized hundreds of them in recent weeks
Unveiling their latest seizure in front of news cameras last month, two Chinese customs agents revealed not drugs or weapons – but suitcases full of plush toys. The stash on display included dozens of Pop Mart Labubus - the toothy, fluffy figurines that have sparked buying frenzies around the world, and in some cases, brawls among fans outside shops selling them. Even in China, where Pop Mart is based and most of its toys are made, people are struggling to get their hands on Labubus. When CNN recently visited a Pop Mart store at a bustling shopping mall in downtown Beijing, Labubu dolls were nowhere to be found on shelves, with only display samples remaining in glass cabinets. Labubus are typically 'sold out in seconds' when released, longtime Pop Mart fan Evelyn Lin told CNN. 'It's almost impossible to get a Labubu via the official channels,' she said. Fans are instead turning to unusual sources - including buying from smugglers. A total of 462 Pop Mart toys have been confiscated by customs authorities across China since April, according to a CNN compilation of multiple official posts. Details and footage of one seizure were posted by China's Customs Administration on social media, which stated that that the toys were intended 'for profit by resale' and seized in accordance with law. The post did not say whether any of the Labubu smugglers faced other legal consequences. Labubu is the brainchild of Hong Kong-born illustrator Kasing Lung, and it has quietly built a loyal following since its 2015 debut. But in recent months, the bunny-bodied, elf-faced creature — equal parts grotesque and adorable — has soared in popularity. Stars including Rihanna, Dua Lipa, and Lisa from K-pop group Blackpink have worn Labubus like lucky charms, and the toys were even spotted at Paris Fashion Week this year. According to Chinese state-owned media outlet Cover News, a blind box from the latest Labubu 3.0 series, originally priced at 584 yuan ($81), has been selling for between 1,000 ($139) and 2,000 yuan ($278) on the second-hand market. Pop Mart's annual results show that the company's global gross profit surged by over 125% last year, while its revenue in mainland China reached more than $1.09 billion, 34% higher than 2023. But buying from resellers carries risks. Kate Yang, a Beijing resident and Labubu enthusiast, told CNN that her two last purchases from resellers both turned out to be fakes. 'Because they are not available on official platforms, if you're in a rush to get a gift for a friend, you just can't manage to get the popular ones in time,' said Yang. 'You can only pay extra to buy from resale platforms.' CNN's Marc Stewart and Martha Zhou contributed reporting
CNET
a day ago
- Entertainment
- CNET
Get Your Hands on a Toniebox for as Little as $70 Right Now, Plus Get Headphones for Free
While screens aren't all bad for kids, it's still nice to be able to entertain them without them when you can. Reading books, singing songs, playing with toys and just getting outside are all fantastic options, but they're not always achievable. Well, that's where the Toniebox comes in. Right now, you can get your hands on a Toniebox with different figures starting as low as $70. Not only that, you can get some free headphones thrown in as well. You can also choose to get them in different colors, with red, purple, gray, green and light blue all having at least one version on sale. Toniesbox is an audio player that works with special figures and can play a massive host of songs, stories and more. They're easy to operate, which means that kids can often play around with them themselves, and you know that the things they're playing are always designed for kids, not designed to get more out of them. They're just great. Hey, did you know? CNET Deals texts are free, easy and save you money. We really like the Toniesbox in all its forms, and it makes for one of the best toys for kids. The fact that you can also get more figures as and when you want only makes it better too. Why this deal matters Toniesbox can be a great addition to any little one's bedroom. They read stories, sing songs, and can just generally be a really solid bit of screen-free entertainment. They cost a lot though, and sales don't happen often, so deals like these ones shouldn't be missed.
Yahoo
2 days ago
- Business
- Yahoo
Cue the Confetti! BABY born's New Birthday Collection Adds Color-Changing, Mess-Free Fun
The 30-Year Nurture Play Legacy Brand Offers Memory-Building Magic for Birthdays Year-Round Baby born Birthday Baby Doll - Ava, Anabelle, Harper Baby born Birthday Baby Doll - Anabelle LOS ANGELES, May 29, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- MGA Entertainment (MGA), the largest privately held toy and entertainment company in the U.S., is introducing the new BABY born® Birthday Baby Doll collection – the perfect birthday gift for kids. Available now, the Birthday Baby Doll features a magical color-change effect on the face – when kids dip the included 'cake' in ice-cold water or put it in the freezer then swipe it on the lips and cheeks, colorful 'frosting' appears for imaginative birthday play. Perfect for children ages three and up. The BABY born Birthday Baby Doll is party-ready in a festive pink mesh dress with flocked dots and white shoes. The doll's special feature allows children to feed her cake and watch her face transform from clean to messy, just like a real baby! Put the cake slice in the freezer for 30 minutes or soak in ice-cold water, then press it to the doll's lips and cheeks to reveal a delightful color change, adding an extra layer of birthday fun! 'BABY born has been a trusted brand for more than 30 years around the world, known for encouraging nurturing play and empathy in children,' said Josh Hackbarth, Chief Marketing Officer of MGA Entertainment. 'BABY born has always had interactive features within our collection, from crying real tears to taking 'first' steps, taking pretend play to a whole new level. The new Birthday Baby Doll adds a new feature to the play pattern centered around the magic of birthday celebrations.' After the birthday fun winds down, children can gently wipe the doll's face clean using the included cloth napkin and warm water. After a joyful day of birthday celebrations, the doll can be laid down for a nap. Her eyes gently close, adding a sweet, nurturing touch to the play experience. Available in three styles — Annabell, Ava, and Harper — the dolls feature a range of skin tones and eye colors allowing children to choose the one that best reflects their own style and preferences. With rooted hair styled in cute top knots, the doll is a delightful companion for all kinds of imaginative play. The BABY born Birthday Baby Doll is available at all major retailers in the U.S. including Target, Walmart, and Amazon, as well as global retailers and the MGA Shop. The set includes a baby doll, party dress, undergarment, shoes, toy cake and cake slice, cloth napkin, party hat, and cake stand. To stay up to date with the latest news and content from BABY born, visit the brand's official website and social media platforms: Instagram, Facebook, and YouTube. About MGA Entertainment MGA Entertainment is the largest privately held toy and entertainment company in the U.S., known for its commitment to creativity, quality, and innovation. Headquartered in Los Angeles with offices globally, the company creates innovative, proprietary, and licensed consumer products and entertainment properties, including toys, games, dolls, apparel, consumer electronics, home décor, stationery, sporting goods, movies, and television series. The MGA family includes award-winning brands such as L.O.L. Surprise!™, Little Tikes®, Rainbow High™, Bratz®, MGA's Miniverse™, Yummiland™, CarTuned™, Wonder Factory™, BABY born®, and Zapf Creation®. For more information, please visit or check out at LinkedIn, TikTok, Instagram and Facebook. Attachments Baby born Birthday Baby Doll - Ava, Anabelle, Harper Baby born Birthday Baby Doll - Anabelle CONTACT: Amanda Magalski Finn Partners for MGA Entertainment MGA@ MGA Newsroom MGA Entertainment 818.221.4431 news@ in retrieving data Sign in to access your portfolio Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data
Geek Girl Authority
2 days ago
- Entertainment
- Geek Girl Authority
Game Review: PROJECTED DREAMS
I spent the better part of the month winding down with Projected Dreams , a casual and comforting puzzle sim from developer and publisher Flawberry Studio. It tasks you with manning a shadow play using all your favorite toys from the '90s and decades prior. Filled to the brim with nostalgia for a time before toys looked more like smartphones than something to be played with, you'll get equal parts puzzles and childhood memories when you cozy up with this one. Brain Teasers That Casually Tug At Your Heartstrings At its core, Projected Dreams is a puzzle sim. It's casual for the most part, and you won't spend too much time stressing over potential solutions for most puzzles. But with a subtle narrative to drive it along, the game's sentiment shines through and speaks to a collective soft spot for childhood. Even its composition and sound design by Floris Demandt feels hauntingly familiar. (And you'll pick up collectible cassette tapes throughout to commemorate it.) The story follows Senka, who you get to know as you fill a photo album with snapshots of memorable moments shared by family members from the '50s onward. You'll solve visual puzzles that reflect the focal points of these photographs, using shadows as clues. Your job is to find the right items to build similar images with a variety of toys that were popular in decades past — many of which probably littered your bedroom floor once upon a time. RELATED: Cozy Game Alert: Little Friends: Puppy Island Think of it like one big shadow puppet show starring your favorite toys from when you were a kid. From the Game Boy to the Rubik's Cube to Furby, Bop-It and Tech Decks — you'll find them all here, waiting for their return to the spotlight. Depending on the chapter you're working on, different toys can be found lying around. This often falls in line with a larger theme torn from a page in Senka's scrapbook, like Halloween or a very '90s underwater aesthetic. But progression also brings with it new rules to follow. Casual Challenges Projected Dreams offers a casual gameplay experience to lovers of brain teasers, jigsaw puzzles and the like. Its visual challenges, while charming and undeniably creative, aren't so tough that you'll risk walking away more stressed out than when you sat down to play. A big plus, in my book. Now, I don't like my cozy games easy, per se. But like many fans of this subgenre, I find myself most invested in those that strike a balance between stimulating and de-stressing gameplay. Projected Dreams often has me scratching my head, but never pulling my hair out trying to find the right object to complete a puzzle. That's what I mean. (Although it can be pretty maddening rotating and flipping a Tech Deck to cast just the right shadow.) RELATED: Deliver At All Costs , Gigapocalypse and Sifu Are Free in the Epic Games Store I'll admit more than a few puzzles have left me stumped. A shadow of a cute cat is a lot tougher to replicate than you'd think. You may need a ghost's help to make an object invisible so you can use it to support other items without casting a shadow. Or you'll need to borrow some sticky goop from an octopus to fuse two objects together. I still haven't found a use for the giant yellow crayon hanging out in the background, but I'm sure that's coming. Just when you're on a roll, you'll start a new chapter and have to work with a new set of rules and toys. You can always flip through reference photos in the photo album to get a better idea of which toys to try. But if you find creative solutions outside the game's suggestions, that's often good enough to move on, too. Non-Stop Nineties Nostalgia Six hours into Projected Dreams , I found myself asking, 'Who is this for?' and arrived at my answer almost immediately. While most think of puzzle games as a kids' genre, this one's for the '90s kid in every Millennial and Gen-Z adult, particularly those of us born on the cusp between the two. It repurposes the toys we grew up with to illustrate the foundational role each played in the formation of our most beloved childhood memories and toughest lessons, and how these moments led to our growing up. RELATED: Can Nostalgia Save the Games Industry? These may seem like somewhat heavy themes for a scrapbook-style series of puzzles, but the nostalgia hidden in each of the projector's shadows is a comfort. Projected Dreams has the old-school charm of the CD-ROMs I'd play on my grandparents' PC anytime I'd visit as a kid. Much like the game's premise, it's like seeing the image of my childhood projected on my monitor in all its simplicity. The only difference is that no one can tell me I have to wrap it up so my brother can play. There remains some debate about what makes a cozy game, as the subgenre continues to grow, but Projected Dreams certainly has the cozy part down. Folks who like to unwind with a good puzzle or feel called to remember the stuff they loved as kids before the turn of the century may want to add this one to their evening routine. Projected Dreams is out on PC (Steam) on May 29, 2025. Cozy Game Alert: WITCHBROOK Olivia Rolls (she/her) is a weekly contributor at GGA, specializing in cozy games, anime and all things horror. Her byline has appeared at publications like The Mary Sue, The Escapist, GameSkinny and more. When she's not writing deep dives on her favorite games, shows, movies or characters, she's probably yapping about the latest pop culture trends or catching up on another Pokémon playthrough. E-mail professional inquiries to [email protected]. You can also find Olivia on Bluesky and LinkedIn.
