Play Along Toys
Play Along Toys is a Florida-based toy company, and a wholly owned division of Jakks Pacific.
In 1999, the founders of Play Along (among them Charlie Emby and Jay Foreman) chose the Britney Spears Doll line as the first licensing venture with their new company.[1] The choice proved successful and was followed by other celebrity dolls including Aaron Carter, Venus Williams, Serena Williams and Mandy Moore. In 2001 Play Along partnered with toy design studio Art Asylum for production of the studio's toys. Then, in 2002, Play Along decided to bring back one of the plush doll lines of the 1980s, the Care Bears. This brand, for which Play Along was awarded "License of the Year 2002" by the Licensing Industry Merchandisers' Association (LIMA).
As the company's toy lines continued to grow, so did the Play Along team, having grown from a staff of five into a company with more than 100 employees, both in the U.S. and Hong Kong, producing toys for multiple brands including the Care Bears, THE DOG, The Lord of the Rings: Armies of Middle-earth, The Cat in the Hat, Teletubbies, Curly Q's, Doodle Bear, Sky Dancers and the Cabbage Patch Kids.
The success of the company and its licenses made it an attractive target for others, with Jakks Pacific buying the privately owned company in 2004, Play Along now run as a division within Jakks.
In Fall of 2007, Play Along released dolls and playsets based on Disney Channel TV series, Hannah Montana, and movie, the Cheetah Girls. The lines were very popular during the Christmas season. As of Fall 2008, more products have been added onto the Hannah Montana line, including the 2008 Holiday Popstar doll and Malibu Beach House playset; also, dolls based on the Disney Channel movie, Camp Rock, were launched.
Products
1999
- Britney Spears Dolls
- Sabrina: The Animated Series Dolls
- Bruce Lee
- Bubblegum
- Venus Williams and Serena Williams Dolls
- World of Biscuit Interactive Action Figures
- VIP Dolls
2000
- Mandy Moore Doll
- Sisqo Doll
2001
- Aaron Carter Doll
- Spy Kids 2
- Precious Moments
- Lisa Frank
- A*Teens Dolls
- Dream Dolls
- 2gether Dolls
- LFO Dolls
2002
2004
- Cabbage Patch Kids
- Doodle Bear/Doodle Monster (Discontinued 2008)
- The Lord of the Rings (2004 only)
- Teletubbies
2005
2006
- Domo
- Puppy in My Pocket
- Speed Stacks (discontinued 2008)
2007
- Cheetah Girls Dolls (2007 only)
- Hairspray Dolls (2007 only)
- Hannah Montana dolls
- Biscuit the Little Yellow Puppy
- Barney
- Play Along Club (2007 only)
- Sweet Secrets (Discontinued 2008)
2008
- Camp Rock Dolls
- The Chronicles of Narnia: Prince Caspian
- Clifford
- Curious George
- Miffy
- NASCAR
- Taylor Swift Doll
- The Wiggles
- SpongeBob SquarePants
2009
References
- ↑ Kapner, Suzanne (February 6, 2004). "Cabbage Patch: They're Baack!". New York Post. News Corporation. p. 038. Retrieved December 9, 2010. (registration required (help)).