Bandai has launched the new toy line for the Australian koala character Smiling Bear at Discover Australia stores in airports across Australia.

Anchored by a weekly web comic, the Smiling Bear brand currently has more than 250,000 fans on Facebook.

Bandai's plush toy and accessory range will expand to SmilingBear.com and retail doors in Asia in 2015.

The sale of Smiling Bear products will support the Australia Koala Foundation to help raise global awareness of the threat of koala extinction.

The Smiling Bear Company is currently in discussion with other prospective licensing partners in Australia and Asia for additional product categories.