Join our Waitlist for Expert Advice!

'Frozen' Gives Licensed Toy Sales a Boost Licensed toys from Disney and Pixar are a bright spot in the overall toy category, which saw a 1-percent sales decline in 2013.

By Krystina Gustafson

This story originally appeared on CNBC

Cars, turtles and princesses caught the eyes—and squeals—of children across the U.S. last year, helping to boost sales of licensed toys across the country, according to data by The NPD Group.

The research firm reported on Monday that sales of licensed toys rose 3 percent to $5.3 billion in 2013, with movies such as "Cars," "Frozen," and "Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles" among the top licenses. The segment accounted for 29 percent of total bricks-and-mortar toy sales, and 23 percent of online sales for the category.

Frozen-obsessed tots drive toy sales
Kristen Bell, who played Anna in the blockbuster film "Frozen," poses with Anna and Elsa "Frozen" singing dolls during the D23 Expo--The Ultimate Disney Fan Event--last year in Anaheim, California.

It represents a bright spot in the overall toy category, which saw sales decline 1 percent to $22.1 billion last year.

#insert RSS here#

"Children respond to the characters that are brought to life in animated movies, and the prevalence of those movies in 2013 clearly had an impact on sales of related licenses," NPD said in a release.

The firm noted that 2014 is also off to a solid start for licensed toys, thanks to Disney's hit movie "Frozen," which led the segment in the first quarter. Disney said in its first-quarter earnings report in February that demand for "Frozen"merchandise continues to drive strong sales.

"I would say 'Frozen' items were the single-most demanded items at Disney Store," CEO Robert Iger said in the company's conference call.

That demand has, in some cases, led to frantic searches from desperate parents. Earlier this month, NBC News reported that the supply of "Frozen" goods did not meet the heavy demand, resulting in eBay listings of more than $1,000 for the official blue dress worn by Princess Elsa in the film.

Other top licenses in the first quarter included Mickey & Friends, "Star Wars," "Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles" and Disney princesses, NPD said.

Content Editor for CNBC

Want to be an Entrepreneur Leadership Network contributor? Apply now to join.

Side Hustle

At 16, She Started a Side Hustle While 'Stuck at Home.' Now It's on Track to Earn Over $3.1 Million This Year.

Evangelina Petrakis, 21, was in high school when she posted on social media for fun — then realized a business opportunity.

Business News

Hybrid Workers Were Put to the Test Against Fully In-Office Employees — Here's Who Came Out On Top

Productivity barely changed whether employees were in the office or not. However, hybrid workers reported better job satisfaction than in-office workers.

Business Ideas

63 Small Business Ideas to Start in 2024

We put together a list of the best, most profitable small business ideas for entrepreneurs to pursue in 2024.

Leadership

Fixing Every Problem Isn't Your Job — Here's How to Empower Your Team to Handle Issues Without Your Constant Involvement

Here's how to enable your team to solve problems on their own so you can focus on strategic planning and growth.