Jada Toys unveils new product based on the hit Fred Rogers Productions Preschool series Donkey Hodie

For the first time ever, Donkey Hodie inspired toys will be available for purchase

New products set to roll out this fall and expand in Q1 and Q2 of next year

Jada Toys, one of the world’s leading toy and collectible companies, has announced a new licensing partnership with Fred Rogers Productions, the iconic children’s media company behind multiple well-loved, Emmy®-winning PBS KIDS series, to create and distribute consumer products based on its hit preschool series, Donkey Hodie. This will be the first time Donkey Hodie inspired toys will be available for retail purchase.

The initial Donkey Hodie toys to be available for young viewers and their families starting in fall of 2023 on Amazon include a 14-inch Donkey Hodie plush and 16-inch Purple Panda plush. These first two plushies will be followed by four more items set to launch through 2023 into 2024. Among the additional products in the new lineup are figures, vehicles, and finger puppets.

Now in its second season on PBS KIDS, Donkey Hodie is a puppet series inspired by the quirky, funny side of Fred Rogers and by characters from Mister Rogers’ Neighborhood. The Emmy®-nominated show from Fred Rogers Productions and Spiffy Pictures follows the adventures of Donkey Hodie, an enthusiastic go-getter who takes on each day with curiosity and resilience, and her pals Purple Panda, Duck Duck, and Bob Dog. Donkey Hodie empowers young viewers ages 3-5 to dream big and overcome obstacles in their own lives, work hard and persevere in the face of failure, be resourceful, and discover they can solve problems on their own—and laugh themselves silly along the way.

Since the series’ launch, seven highly rated games have been released, and 12 books have debuted from master publisher, Simon & Schuster, all furthering the series’ learning goals for children beyond broadcast. Donkey Hodie has consistently ranked in the top ten for children 2-8 on PBS KIDS since its debut in 2021, having great success on SVOD as well as the PBS KIDS Games app, website, and on the PBS KIDS Channel on Amazon Prime. * The series has been streamed more than 80 million times so far in 2023, and Donkey Hodie games regularly rank in the top ten on the PBS KIDS Games app.**

Media and influencers will have the opportunity to preview the new product at New York Toy Fair. Appointments to visit the Jada Toys booth can be made using the media contact below.

*Source: Nielsen NPOWER Avg Mo Series Reach (exclu specials). Google Analytics monthly streams, users, and game starts. Tubular Labs YouTube Views. * Users exclude Amazon Fire WebView Browsers from Sept 2021 to-date

** Source: Google Analytics monthly streams, users, and game starts. Tubular Labs YouTube Views.

About Jada Toys

Jada Toys is a privately held leading toy manufacturer. Founded in 1999, Jada has developed a worldwide presence at retail. Their strong focus on pop, trend, and car culture has grown their portfolio from die-cast vehicles and radio control to include collectibles and action figures, dolls, preschool toys, and more. Partnering with best-in-class entertainment studios allows collaboration that has resulted in extensive lines of licensed product that appeals to collectors, kids, and families. Proprietary lines accompany the licensed product to round out Jada Toys’ offerings. Jada Toys is the US based division of the Simba Dickie Group.

About Fred Rogers Productions

Fred Rogers Productions was founded by Fred Rogers in 1971 as the non-profit producer of Mister Rogers’ Neighborhood for PBS. In the years that followed, it created hundreds of episodes of this much-loved program and extended Fred’s values and approach to other efforts in promoting children’s social, emotional, and behavioral health while supporting parents, caregivers, teachers, and other professionals in their work with children. Fred Rogers Productions continues to build on Fred’s legacy in innovative ways through a wide variety of media and engages new generations of children and families with his timeless wisdom. The company’s highly rated children’s series, including Daniel Tiger’s Neighborhood, Peg + Cat, Odd Squad, and Through the Woods, have earned 30 Emmy® Awards among other important honors. The company’s latest series are Donkey Hodie, the innovative puppet series inspired by characters from Mister Rogers’ Neighborhood, and Alma’s Way, an animated series created by Sonia Manzano. Fred Rogers Productions strives to inspire a lifelong enthusiasm for learning through its series as well efforts beyond broadcast including games and digital offerings, community engagement activities, and much more. For more information, visit www.fredrogers.org or follow us on X, Facebook, Instagram, and LinkedIn.