Let's Celebrate!!!! LOTS of Rio Licensed Products to make this a holiday to remember! #MakingMyList

FTC Compliant Review Policy:

The product(s) featured in this review were provided free of cost to me by the manufacturer or representing PR agency for the sole purpose of product testing. Opinions expressed are my own and are NOT influenced by monetary compensation.

 We fell in love with Blu (and Jewel) when we watched the first Rio movie... Then, when Rio 2 was released, we fell in love with the other family members...  Although it is an animated movie, it really is a great movie for all ages...  Now, they are expanding even further!
As with all movies that are hits, there have been releases of items that fall into the "Rio Franchise" and we were sent a couple for review...
Here is a small list of some of the items that have been released:

Leading licensing partners for Fox Consumer Products and RIO 2 include:

• Jakks Pacific – Bounce Sky Balls, Figures, Hula Hoop, Jump Ropes, Playsets, Plush, Musical Plush, Remote Control Toys, Role-playing Game Costumes and Seasonal and Novelty Toys are available at retailers nationwide now.
• H&M – Children’s apparel and accessories soon available in stores worldwide.
• Rovio Entertainment – Angry Birds RIO-themed merchandise available soon.
• HarperCollins Publishers – Five movie tie-in books are now available in stores nationwide. 
• Titan Books – The Art of Rio is now available in stores worldwide.  Revealing the creativity behind RIO and RIO 2, The Art of Rio features character sketches, storyboards and digital paintings, along with interviews with key animation talent. 
• Cupcake Digital – The RIO storybook app, based on the first film, is slated for release March 20. The official app for the RIO 2 movie will be available April 1, before the film hits theaters. The RIO and RIO 2 Movie Interactive Storybook, Activities & Games for Kids apps will be available in the Apple App Store, Amazon Appstore for Android and Google Play.
• Hallmark – a variation of greeting cards, stationery, ornaments and gifts available in the US.
• DecoPak – Cake Decorating Kits, Cake Toppers and Candles will be available in the US and Canada in bakeries, Kmart, Walmart, Target and more.
• Jay Franco & Sons Inc. – Bath accessories and bedding soon available.
• Bentex Group Inc – Sleepwear, sportswear and swimwear soon available in Old Navy, specialty stores and department stores in the US and China.
• Mashon Inc – Apparel, electronic, home and bath items and accessories soon available worldwide.
• SimEx-Iwerks – An all-new RIO Rainforest Adventure 4-D attraction recently opened at the San Diego Zoo in Fall 2013, providing a one-of-a-kind rainforest experience for zoo guests. SimEx-Iwerks Entertainment, Twentieth Century Fox Consumer Products and the San Diego Zoo, debuted this fully-immersive attraction with a 4-D Theater experience as the featured element.  The attraction is located in the Children’s Zoo, where an existing structure has been transformed into an immersive rainforest experience that celebrates the festive sights and sounds of Rio de Janeiro with live macaws, a waterfall and samba music. The 12-minute theater presentation takes guests on a journey through Rio de Janeiro with their favorite characters from the film.

Additional licensing partner highlights by region include: 

• Asia Pacific:  Richprime Global will be launching a full range of merchandise to include apparel, bags, accessories, footwear, inflatable toys and more by the end of March and will be available in all Toy Kingdom and SM Department Stores nationwide in the Philippines.  Richprime will also have new merchandise available in all leading department stores in Thailand and Indonesia beginning in April.
• Europe:  C&A International for children’s clothing, Pez for candy dispensers, Smith & Brooks for outerwear, Aykroyds for nightwear and Next, Asda, Tesco andPrimark for clothing; Russia partners include 15 licensees across the core categories: toys, apparel, stationery, homewares, food & beverage, health and beauty.
• Latin America:  Grow for vinyl dolls and board games, BBR for plush, Ri-Happy and PBKids in Brazil for toys and Ripley Department Stores in Chile, Peru and Colombia for toys, apparel and home décor.

We were sent two plush animals and the coffee table book.  

I was so excited for the book.  Of course, Broxton was thrilled to have the animals and he has been running around the house with them, but for me, the book was amazing!    They  have basic plush toys... as well as MUSICAL ones!  But, I want to tell you all about the book!!!!
I felt like I was able to be one on one with the director and was able to sort of have a behind the scenes look.  Yes, I know this book was published for everyone, but it felt (even if very brief) like it was just a special event for me!  

The Art of Rio is a hard back "coffee table" book that gives us a first hand look from the artists and director of Rio.  This book includes images from Rio, as well as Rio 2.   

If you are a fan of animation... or more specifically, if you know someone that has a desire to do animation for a living ---  THIS IS THE GIFT FOR YOU TO GIVE THEM!!!!!!!!!  Know a budding artist?  Look at this... it is really amazing all that goes into making an animated movie!  All the sketches, BEFORE you get to a final result... AWESOME!  

The colors are nothing short of amazing... It is about Rio afterall!  
The illustrations, the sketches, the thoughts and the process...   It is just too cool and I have NO DESIRE what so ever to be an artist.. but it is super neat to look at all of the pages!
Another thing I enjoyed?  I did not have to start at page one and go from there.. I have flipped from front to back , middle to front over and over again...
They broke the book down into two different categories for us to enjoy: Characters (with what looks to be all of them!) and then Locations.  

Did you know that in order for them to create RIO for us, they even TRAVELED TO RIO to let the artists get a first hand experience of the colors and culture of the area?  Talk about going above and beyond!  

So - bottom line is this...
If you have a Rio fan, you need to plan on making it a Rio birthday (or Christmas) this year and stock up on all that they have to offer!    You could even make a themed bag/box/ basket and give them a few different items, with copies of both movies of course!