Toonstar, a Web3 animation studio, has announced it will become the official Web3 partner for national retail chain, Hot Topic. Hot Topic is one of dozens of retailers that attended the recent Licensing Expo in Las Vegas. The partnership represents an important move into the Web3 arena for a major retailer, with NFTs and other Web3 activations being sold in retail stores and online. Under the agreement , Toonstar will be the preferred Web3 provider to produce NFTs and other digital activations for original projects and Hot Topic developed IP. 

With more than 800 stores across the country stocked with merchandise representing the latest pop culture trends and 11M community members who are avid digital and physical collectors, Hot Topic is positioned to take Web3 to a broader audience with a powerful partner in Toonstar, the studio behind “The Gimmicks,” an animated series co-produced with Mila Kunis’ digital studio, Sixth Wall. The partnership with Hot Topic will further launch the Web3 movement into retail and create Web3 opportunities for Hot Topic’s other retail brands. As part of the deal, Toonstar will launch NFT sales and unlock the redemption of physical NFT merch in-store, launch community-driven Web3 projects at retail starting with “The Gimmicks” and curate exclusive Web3 activations for consumers' favorite Hot Topic brands to encourage participation and ownership. 

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“We’re on a mission to bring Web3 into the mainstream, and there is no better partner to make this happen with than Hot Topic,” says John Attanasio, chief executive officer and co-founder, Toonstar. “Entering the retail market is a huge leap forward for Web3 adoption. And with this partnership, buying an NFT will now be as easy as buying a T-shirt, opening the door to millions of new creators and owners.” 

“We strive to be the leaders in building fan communities and offering these fans the best products possible,” says Steve Vranes, chief executive officer, Hot Topic. “Toonstar has the same goals in the digital world, and together we look forward to building the most innovative and engaging fan-based digital products and communities in a Web3 environment.”