Hasbro Preps New Beyblade: Metal Fusion Line

A new line of Beyblade toys, based on the Japanese manga series, will hit Canada this spring and the U.S. this fall. Hasbro introduced the first toys worldwide in 2002 in partnership with Tomy.

The latest line from Hasbro, called Beyblade: Metal Fusion, will include battling tops, each with five interchangeable parts for building, and a unique Web code to unlock real-time battles at www.beybladebattles.com.

"Beyblade is a powerful worldwide brand, and we are confident that a new generation will fully embrace our all-new line of high-performance Beyblade battling tops," says John Frascotti, chief global marketing officer of Hasbro. "The re-launch of Beyblade will provide kids with an immersive brand experience through great product and entertainment.  Our Beyblade: Metal Fusion line takes a new approach to the top toy category, while the introduction of BeybladeBattles.com gives kids the opportunity to compete with other fans around the world like never before."

In 2008, the Beyblade brand re-launched in Japan with Tomy. This year, D-Rights and Nelvana Enterprises tapped Hasbro as the master toy licensee outside of the Middle East and Asia, where Tomy holds the rights. "Beyblade: Metal Fusion," an animated series, is set to debut this fall with 51 episodes and a new cast of characters.