Mattel announced Wednesday the expansion of its global licensing agreement with Disney to affect new titles and to design and develop toys inspired by characters from all Pixar Animation Studios’ film properties.
The new agreement includes upcoming 2020 movie releases, including “Onward,” as well as beloved titles, many of which are Academy Award winners or nominees, among them “Coco,” “Finding Nemo,” “Monsters, Inc.,” and “The Incredibles,” among others, Mattel said in a statement.
Mattel’s licensing rights in North America, Europe, Latin America, Australia, and New Zealand will include a wide variety of products, such as action figures, miniature and novelty figures, plush and playsets available beginning in May 2020.
“This agreement builds on Mattel’s strong relationship with Disney and Pixar, which includes the success of “Toy Story 3” and the “Cars” franchise, ahead of the highly anticipated “Toy Story 4,” opening June 21, 2019.
“Pixar is a legendary animation studio renowned for creating some of the most iconic and diverse sets of characters,” said Janet Hsu, Chief Franchise Management Officer of Mattel. “We look forward to bringing these characters to children of all ages so they can create their own adventures and stories through play. This relationship is the latest example of Mattel’s commitment to collaborate with globally recognized franchises as part of our transformation into an IP-driven, high-performing toy company.”
“Whether under the sea, in the clouds, on the racetrack or in deep space, we’re thrilled to bring Pixar’s innovative creativity to life through new interactive play experiences with Mattel,” said Josh Silverman, a vice president for Global Product Commercialization, Disney Parks, Experiences and Products. “These new lines of toys and products will celebrate Mattel’s commitment to imagination and extend Pixar’s iconic characters and stories in unique ways.”