New Angry Birds Rio plush line available at Toys R Us

Birds of a feather will once again flock together as the blockbuster 3-D animated comedy adventure RIO and the phenomenon that is Angry Birds match up for a line of co-branded plush. The plush will add to an exclusive toy line for RIO already in place at Toys“R”Us® stores nationwide and online at Toysrus.com, featuring the film’s most beloved characters – Blu, Jewel, Nigel, Pedro and Nico – designed in the unmistakable fashion of Angry Birds Rio. The plush, developed in partnership with Rovio’s primary toy partner Commonwealth Toys, will be available exclusively at Toys“R”Us stores beginning in mid-August.

Additionally, on August 2, Fox Home Entertainment will release RIO on Blu-Ray and DVD. Included in the Blu-Ray and DVD release, Fox Digital and Rovio will offer a clue granting fans access to 15 new and long-awaited levels of Angry Birds Rio, the record-breaking app from which fans downloaded ten million games in ten days. The app has now been downloaded over 60 million times.

Toys“R”Us stores nationwide and Toysrus.com will offer fans an exclusive opportunity to purchase Angry Birds Rio plush through Fall 2011. The line features both 5” and 8” plush with sounds derived from the characters in the Angry Birds Rio app.

“It’s a partnership that just makes sense,” said Robert Marick, Executive Vice President of Fox Consumer Products. “The consumer market has already gone crazy over the Angry Birds app, and now fans who have also enjoyed the hit sensation RIO can have the best of both worlds.”

Capitalizing on the considerable success of RIO, which grossed $473 million worldwide at the box office this year, Fox Consumer Products has seen an enormous consumer response to its RIO merchandise line, which launched in April and features video games, toys, books and more.

Angry Birds has quickly evolved from an addictive mobile application to a merchandising phenomenon. Since its release in 2009, the game has been downloaded more than 300 million times, becoming the most successful app of all time. Its worldwide popularity is now being catapulted by Rovio into various areas of consumer products, including plush, figurines and apparel.

Fox and Rovio partnered to create Angry Birds Rio, the next game and chapter in the Angry Birds franchise, which launched in March 2011. Angry Birds Rio is now available on app stores worldwide.

“Angry Birds Rio has really been a special partnership for us, and the response from Angry Birds fans has been incredible,” said Mikael Hed, CEO of Rovio. “We are proud and excited to continue our collaboration with Fox, and plan to create more delightful experiences and products in the future.”

The introduction of the Angry Birds Rio plush line from Commonwealth Toy is only the beginning. There are plans to introduce additional RIO characters to the line and expand the co-branded line to vinyl figures and other product forms.

“This is far from the last product being released by these two brands,” Marick said. “We intend to continue what we believe is a very productive and mutually beneficial partnership.”