Introducing: Abi Toads
DBG is excited to announce it has signed Abi Toads, the artist-driven brand behind the adorable lineup of frogs, toads, bugs, and Mushlings, to develop and expand its licensing program. Created by New Jersey artist and animator Abi Roberts, the brand has hopped from hand drawn animations into a loyal, fast-growing fan community, and DBG is thrilled to help bring its whimsical charm to fans around the globe.
DBG will focus on expanding Abi Toads into categories including plush and toys, apparel, home goods, stationery, accessories and gifting, inviting fans to welcome a little cottagecore coziness into their everyday lives.
"I've been a fan and following on social media for years. It has been amazing to watch the brand grow as large as it has. One of the biggest perks of this industry is the opportunity to work with brand owners who inspire me and whose art puts a smile on my face. I can't wait to see some of the programs we have in the works come to life and help introduce more people to the amazing world of Abi Toads," said Andrew Neerdaels, Licensing Manager at DBG.
A little world worth slowing down for
Stepping into the Abi Toads world and you'll find a gentle, green corner of the internet where the pace is slow and the company is charming. At the heart of the brand are Abi's frogs and toads, who are soft, round, endlessly expressive little characters, including the beloved "emotional support toad". Around them lives a whole ecosystem of nature's smallest critters: bugs going about their tiny business and the Mushlings, a cast of huggable mushroom friends (of course, there are even the mischievous Fungis) that have become absolute fan favorites.
What ties it all together is a mood as much as an iconic look. Rooted in a nature inspired aesthetic with a softness fans lovingly call "forestcore," every hand-drawn moment is an invitation to take a breath and notice the little things that nature has to offer.
From a garden toad to a global following
Abi Toads is the creation of Abi Roberts, a self-taught artist and animator from northern New Jersey whose lifelong love of amphibians began with a childhood friend: a toad from her mother's garden named "Toady." That early bond with the natural world never left her and years later it became the beating heart of a brand.
In 2021, Abi taught herself animation from scratch through online tutorials and her own patient experimentation. What started as personal creative practice quickly struck a chord online. Her hand animated frogs and toads found a devoted audience across TikTok, Instagram and YouTube, where her short, soothing clips have grown into a genuine community of fans who return not just for the art, but for the calm and comfort it brings. Along the way, that community has followed Abi Toads out of the feed and into the real world through prints, apparel, blankets, pins, games and standout collaborations, proof of just how eager fans are to bring a piece of this world home.
Interested in licensing Abi Toads? Reach out to the Dimensional Branding Group team to learn more about the partnerships currently in development.