This one slipped by us a few days ago, but it’s something we’re definitely going to be covering. You may remember that back in February, Mondo unveiled their Madballs collector series. Now we have word that American Greetings has teamed with a company called Just Play and announced that they will be releasing new Madballs. Not only will they be releasing new Madballs, but also a series of animated shorts. The toy line up will see standard sized and mini Madballs, and eventually playsets and more! Plus there are more licenses announced for more collectibles.
Twitter user @stevenganne shared a photo showing the first assortment of Madballs. Licensing.biz (thanks to @FakeEyes22) has a full press release on what to expect.
UPDATE:
More photos added, showing the Madballs in great detail, courtesy of @stevenganne.
Read on to see the images and press release.
American Greetings relaunches 80s entertainment brand, Madballs
The firm has named Just Play as its master toy partner as it embarks on a mission to relaunch the Madballs brand with new collectables, play-sets and more.
American Greetings Entertainment has detailed its plans to relaunch the 1980s cult entertainment phenomenon, Madballs.
AGE – the outbound division of American Greetings Corporation – has teamed with its master toy partner Just Play to bring the brand that sold in its tens of millions 30 years ago, to a new audience of youngsters.
New Madballs animated shorts are currently in production and set to launch in autumn this year to support a consumer products programme already underway with partners lined up in the physical and digital space.
Spring 2017 will see Just Play launch a variety of products, including classic and mini collectable Madballs before expanding into play-sets and accessories at retailers worldwide.
“We know that brand equity just isn’t enough these days, so we are proud to partner with Just Play and its strong track record of building great classic and modern brands,” said Sean Gorman, president of AGE.
“We are excited to re-introduce Madballs to fans, with a launch supported by ultra-fun, super-cool compelling content for a new generation.”
Geoffrey Greenberg, co-president of Just Play, added: “We are thrilled to bring back Madballs in a way that pays homage to fans of the original series and introduces new ways for today’s kids to engage with this exciting brand.”
Elsewhere, Kidrobot is delivering vinyl figures, collectables, soft foam balls and limited edition items for Christmas 2016, joining a growing list of licensees that includes Brunswick Bowling Products for bowling balls, Roar Comics for comics and graphic novels, Mondo Tees for further collectables and Gourmandise for mobile phone accessories in Japan.
In gaming, Las Maquinitas Studios is developing a free-to-play Madballs game for core gamers on iOS and Android mobile and tablet devices worldwide.
Neon Mob has been signed to deliver digital trading cards and Bare Tree Media has a roster of chat stickers n its Emojitap app.
“Madballs owned gross fun back in the 1980s,” added Gorman. “And with these best-in-class partners and this brand new content we know we can bring it back to be the same for kids today as well as those long-term fans from the 80s.”
Just Play's New Madballs Revealed
More, and better pics added.
I think the ones being released by Mondo look better. Will have to wait for more info/pics. The animated shorts should be fun.
Oculus Orbus ruined.
Of all the things I thought I'd feel nostalgic need for, Madballs was pretty low on that list. Those do look pretty great, though. I'm sold.
Those look great. If the price is right I'll grab a set...
New Preview of Madballs by Just Play - The Toyark - News
Are these more comic/cartoon inspired?
Because they look like something from a cartoon
Madballs Series 1 Showing Up In Target Stores - The Toyark - News
If my memory serves me correct. the orginal ones looked more mean looking. i think i have a few in my dad's garage from when i was a kid. i need to get a look at them tomorrow. but now my next 2 questions about these
1 - No bodies for the mad balls? the originals had bodies.
2 - what do they mean by more kid friendly? what were the originals ? more adult like ? im not getting that part.
1 - No bodies for the mad balls? the originals had bodies.
2 - what do they mean by more kid friendly? what were the originals ? more adult like ? im not getting that part.
I'll be sticking with the upcoming Kidrobot vinyl minis, but I am glad to see Madballs making a comeback, if even for a short while.
As for Madballs having bodies, while that did indeed happen for a short while, it happened near the end of their popularity. It was never a major aspect for them, just a sideline gimmick.
Went to Target today, just to check. No luck here. I'll be picking these up when I see them. I like them as more stylized takes. I'll be picking up the Kidrobot 4" Madballs as well, that way I have a nice mix of new and classic looks.
I think I'm just gonna go the route of Ebay for all of the vinyl minis. Getting doubles and triples of the same character over and over really doesn't sound like a fun time to me.
Found 3 of them today at a local Target. No Dustbrain tho.
Full Thread: More Madballs Coming Soon
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