Animation Café and WildBrain Spark team up for Sunny Bunnies sing-along series

Media I.M. Incorporated, a London-based content distribution company specialising in premium animation and family entertainment, has announced that Sunny Bunnies Sing-Along, a new spin-off from the hugely popular Sunny Bunnies preschool series, will go into production this month, with the first episode due to be released in August.

The new series of 26 x 2.5-min episodes is a co-production between kids’ and family AVOD network WildBrain Spark, and Poland’s Animation Café, which took over the production and rights to the preschool phenomenon in March this year. The partnership will see Warsaw-based Animation Café ramp up production of the new Sunny Bunnies music sub-brand, which is being developed off the back of the global success of the Sunny Bunnies series, now in its sixth season. Sunny Bunnies has amassed more than 3.8 billion views and 2.6 million subscribers since it launched on YouTube in 2015.

Animation Café aims to produce two new episodes for Sunny Bunnies Sing-Along per month from mid-August. Launching initially on the official Sunny Bunnies YouTube channel, each episode of the new series will feature a popular nursery rhyme, which will be ‘Bunnified’ with funny new lyrics, musical arrangements and the brand’s signature animation. US-based children’s animation veteran Michael Mennies (The Fixies; Kit ‘n’ Kate; Take My Muffin) has been named as the music producer on the new series. Sunny Bunnies Sing-Along is already poised to become a YouTube hit, following the release of a Sing-Along pilot series of 6 x 2.5 mins in July 2021, which has since generated 32 million views.

Media I.M., which manages global distribution rights for Sunny Bunnies and Sunny Bunnies Sing-Along, has also extended its agreement for WildBrain Spark to continue managing the official Sunny Bunnies YouTube channel, as well as distributing both shows via its global network of hub channels for the next five years. WildBrain Spark has been the driving force behind the success of Sunny Bunnies on YouTube since 2016.

Andrei Ledzianeu, Director of Animation Café, says: “While developing a new Sunny Bunnies spinoff, we wanted to add a musical aspect to the franchise. One obvious complexity is that none of the characters in the series can sing; however, we came up with a solution which fits perfectly with the overall feel of the show. We are really excited to have our little fans enjoy this new musical content – the Sunny Bunnies Sing Along.’’

Matt Rennie, VP Content & Operations at WildBrain Spark, adds: “The global success of Sunny Bunnies is testament to the strength of our YouTube network to drive the growth of a kids’ brand – especially one with such captivating and engaging stories and characters. Exploring the development of a sing-along series was a natural extension for the brand, and we’re excited to be working with Animation Café and Media I.M. on the creative execution of new original content as we continue to build the Sunny Bunnies brand on YouTube and beyond.”

Maria Ufland, co-founder of Media I.M. Incorporated, says: “WildBrain Spark has been a very supportive partner to us since we started to manage Sunny Bunnies and has helped us grow the brand into a truly global phenomenon. WildBrain Spark’s endorsement not only speaks to Sunny Bunnies’ creative excellence but also confirms that the brand is highly valuable and highly investable IP – and we have five strong years of YouTube data to prove it.”

Launched in 2015 on YouTube, Sunny Bunnies was picked up in 2016 by Disney Channel, Disney Junior and DisneyNOW in the US. A wave of high-profile sales across Europe and Asia-Pacific followed, as the preschool animation’s popularity built around the world. It now airs in more than 160 countries and is supported by a comprehensive L&M strategy encompassing toys, publishing and apparel.

Sunny Bunnies are five beaming balls that can appear anywhere there is a source of light, from sunshine to moonlight. In each episode, the cheeky creatures bring their fun and games to a different location – a circus, a sports stadium, a park – embarking on mischievous adventures and spreading laughter and happiness. And at the end of every episode, the fun continues with a collection of bloopers.

 

 

 

 

 

Derry Girls star joins voice cast for Aardman’s Lloyd of the Flies

Multi-award-winning independent animation studio Aardman has launched a new teaser from its latest comedy series, Lloyd of the Flies, to celebrate Insect Week. The studio has also announced Jamie-Lee O’Donnell as a new addition to the voice cast.

Lloyd of the Flies shines a light on the weird and wonderful world of insects. The series follows the adventures of Lloyd B Fly, a housefly and the middle child of 453. Lloyd lives with his parents, his little sister PB and their 225 maggot siblings inside a compost bin. In the series, Lloyd is always accompanied by his best and only friend, Abacus Woodlouse, PB, and eccentric tag-along, Cornea Butterfly. Together they explore the strange world beyond the compost bin, where there is no shortage of lessons for Lloyd to very nearly learn.

 

Developed in-house and supported by the BFI-managed Young Audiences Content Fund (YACF), the new series is Aardman’s first “in-house” CGI production. The studio is working to develop a broad range of partnerships around Lloyd of the Flies, developing the brand’s presence across all major touchpoints including consumer products, attractions and interactive entertainment. An AR experience app will be launched to coincide with the series.

Jamie-Lee O’Donnell (Derry Girls, Screw) also joins the cast as the voice of Louse Hunter, a spider who only hunts woodlice for the challenge and thrill of the chase, and Yard the bumble bee who regularly frequents the local Pancake Diner.

She stars alongside Tom Rosenthal (Friday Night Dinner, Plebs) who voices Lloyd, Alex Lawther (The End of the F***ing World, Black Mirror), who voices Lloyd’s best friend Abacus, and Lauren Patel (Everybody’s Talking About Jamie) who takes on the role of PB. Teresa Gallagher plays Cornea Butterfly, with Callum Scott Howells (It’s A Sin) voicing Lloyd’s nemesis, Berry.

Sean Clarke, Managing Director of Aardman, says: “Launching our first in-house CGI series marks an exciting new development for Aardman as well as the advent of new talent from the studio bringing their ideas to life. With a host of incredible voices alongside exceptional crew, drawn from all over the world, we can’t wait to share Lloyd of the Flies with audiences from this autumn. This comedic new series will entertain the whole family and we are sure that it will create a real buzz in living rooms.”

The 52 x 11’ animated sitcom series will be premiering on CiTV in September 2022.

THE INSIGHTS FAMILY I Why embracing multiple touchpoints is key for kids’ IPs

A global leader in kids, parents, and family market intelligence, The Insights Family surveys more than half a million kids and parents every year, providing real-time data on their attitudes, behaviours and consumption patterns.

In its latest feature for Licensing Biz, the company explains why targeting multiple touchpoints is key to the success of kids’ IPs.

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Creating appeal to the family in today’s marketplace requires understanding a range of behaviours, attitudinal preferences and purchasing influences.

Not only this, but once created, appeal must also be sustained in the long term to achieve maximum engagement. Understanding not only what kids and families like but also ‘where’ they are and how they interact with their favourite brands is essential.

The content that is attracting licensed purchases is constantly changing. While toys related to the favourite TV shows of kids aged 3-9 remain the most popular licensed product category (43%), this category has experienced the lowest year-on-year across all the mediums we track globally (+8%).* The highest growth area is in fact toys related to video games (+25%), while YouTuber related toys are also experiencing a significant level of growth (+14%). In the UK, licensed toy purchases in relation to the favourite video games amongst kids aged 3-9 have grown by +18% in the last 12 months (25%).

As kids are exposed to more content touchpoints, there are more opportunities for new characters and IPs to enter the content ecosystem from different mediums. IPs can be adapted to suit numerous touchpoints that resonate across generations. Batman is a great example of this. Ranking as a top 10 favourite character across all ages from 5-18 when we look globally at our data, various iterations of the character, from LEGO Batman to the Batman Arkham games, have all helped provide a reference point to the character to all age groups. This allows the character to grow and change while still resonating as recognisable IP to this changing audience.

There are also more touchpoints where creators have more autonomy over their content. YouTube and TikTok are prime examples of spaces where kids are now able to enter the market place and build their own brands. Ryan’s World is a prime example of kid creators licensing their likeness to produce toys for their audience. On average, he is the second most popular YouTuber globally amongst 3-5s on account of his presence in the UK, US and Canada. Creators now have more ability than ever to leverage their likeness in other industries. In the UK, YouTuber related toy purchases have increased +62% year-on-year among 3-9 year olds, compared to the +17% growth in the case of films. This shows how content is shaping the kids ecosystem, in terms of attitudes, behaviours and consumption patterns, highlighting the importance of understanding the next generation.

The Insights Family’s content report discusses the importance of embracing multiple touchpoints in further detail. It also looks at today’s popular IPs, the linear TV vs streaming battle and the issue of platform saturation, exploring these trends and how they are impacting content creators and companies in the industry. Sign up to download your free copy of our report here: get.theinsightsfamily.com/content2022.

* All statistics taken from the last six months of Kids Insights data (November 2021 – May 2022)

Kids Insights surveys 7,780 children every week aged 3-18. Parents Insights surveys more than 3,800 parents of children between the ages of 1 and 16 every week. Both services operate in 22 countries across six continents and in total survey more than 469,040 kids and 228,800 parents a year. This means that the company interviews a new family member somewhere in the world every 45 seconds.

The LEGO Group unveils host of new products at LEGO CON

The LEGO Group has launched its 90th anniversary summer celebrations with the virtual and free to attend LEGO CON. Designed specifically for brick-loving families, the two-hour live show, hosted by Vick Hope, Joel McHale and Melvin Odoom, gave LEGO fans a sneak peak into a new range of exciting products, including a host of sets celebrating the world’s biggest movie, sport and gaming franchises.

Among the new products revealed, fans were treated to an exclusive look at the brand-new LEGO Avatar product range celebrating the overall franchise to-date in advance of Avatar: The Way of Water premiering this December. The newly revealed set features the LEGO Avatar Toruk Makto & Tree of Souls that lets fans recreate the moment from the first film when Jake, as Toruk Makto, rallies the Omatikaya Clan to defend not only one of their most sacred sites, the Tree of Souls, but all of Pandora.

Another big reveal saw viewers given an exclusive first look at new LEGO Star Wars sets. LEGO Star Wars The Justifier and LEGO Star Wars AT-TE Walker will offer fans the chance to recreate the epic Star Wars: The Bad Batch stories with the incredible model of bounty hunter Cad Bane’s starship, The Justifier, or power into battle against the Separatist Droid Army with the AT-TE.

Fans of LEGO Marvel, meanwhile, were treated to a first look at a new Doctor Strange set showcasing the Sanctum Sanctorum as featured in a number of films, giving them a chance to open up their very own multiverses. LEGO Minecraft builders were spoilt with two brand new sets to add to their collection: LEGO Minecraft The Abandoned Village and LEGO Minecraft The Skeleton Dungeon.

Lovers of LEGO Super Mario were given a glimpse at the brand-new Character Packs that will be introduced to the LEGO Super Mario universe, with fun characters including Nabbit, a Purple Toad, Hammer Bro, Waddlewing, Toady, Baby Yoshi, Red Yoshi and Blue Shy Guy joining the fun. They were also shown how new and existing characters alike can interact with the LEGO Mario, LEGO Luigi and LEGO Peach Starter Courses.

There was also a preview of a new sporty range of LEGO Brickheadz, allowing fans to become a FC Barcelona player in LEGO BrickHeadz form. Viewers were the first to be shown the very latest LEGO Minifigures collection that will be joining the LEGO range later this year.

To top the many product reveals and sessions, the jam-packed show was also full of opportunities for fans to immerse themselves in live building activities and conversations with experts from around the globe.

Event highlights included a creative masterclass from inside Pixar Animation Studios, given by the director of Disney and Pixar’s Lightyear, Angus MacLane. LEGO Harry Potter fans, meanwhile, were given the chance to see how movie sets are turned into LEGO sets through a magical building tour of the Warner Bros. Studios London – The making of Harry Potter, with Harry Potter film actress Evanna Lynch and LEGO designer Marcos Bessa giving audiences tips and magic tricks for building their very own creations along the way.

LEGO CON 2022 is now available to stream for free in full at www.LEGO.com/LEGOCON or on the LEGO YouTube channel  http://youtube.com/LEGO.

 

 

Licensed toys account for 30% of UK sales

With several blockbuster movies set to launch this summer, The NPD Group has looked at the links between the big screen and toy sales and concluded that 2022 could be the year of the ‘blockbuster’ toy.

Licensed toys account for 30% of all sales this year, their highest level since 2008. By remaining relatively flat at -1%, licensed toy sales have out-performed non-licensed toy sales which are currently down -11% in value (Year-to-date May 2022 vs the same period last year). The largest licences this year are Star Wars, Harry Potter and Minecraft, with content including movies, streaming shows and video games.

The big screen is back

Three of the most anticipated films of the year are released during June and July: Jurassic World Dominion (released 10 June), Lightyear (released 17 June) and Minions: The Rise of Gru (released 1 July).

Melissa Symonds, NPD’s Executive Director of UK Toys, says: “We’ve already seen strong growth from movie releases this year such as The Batman driving toy sales up 84%, and Marvel Universe up 12%. Even ahead of their film launches, the Jurassic World toy license is up 63% and Minions up 79% so far this year. While prices and the cost of living pose a real-world challenge, cinema can provide an escape from everyday life. By buying toys related to the film they’ve just seen, kids can live in that world a little longer.”

Additionally, most of the big studios have implemented a multi-channel strategy that allows them to offer new content to fans continuously, instead of being restricted by one big movie release every three years.

“Many of these summer blockbusters have additional content available. There are series available on video-on-demand platforms such as Camp Cretaceous for the Jurassic saga, or Star Wars’ Obi-Wan Kenobi, not to mention the various Marvel streaming shows such as Ms. Marvel and Moon Knight developed around the lesser-known characters which enrich and extend the appeal of the franchises,” comments Symonds.
 

The top five movie properties YTD May 2022*
1.       Star Wars
2.       Marvel Universe
3.       Barbie
4.       Pokémon
5.       Paw Patrol
Source: The NPD Group

A record year for licenses for UK Toys

Symonds concludes: “2022 looks set to be a record year for licensed toys. With the big screen making a comeback, all eyes are on the summer blockbuster movies, but we also expect to see non-cinema licensed content performing as a powerful catalyst for the toy market thanks to TV, YouTube, subscription video-on-demand and video games. This should bring us one or two points of growth over the whole year.”

 

Man vs Bee-no: Rowan Atkinson immortalised in iconic comic

British comedy legend Rowan Atkinson has been immortalised in a special bespoke Beano comic strip, to celebrate the upcoming release of new nine-part Netflix series: Man vs Bee.

This ultimate British pop-culture comedy crossover, drawn by celebrated Beano illustrator Nigel Parkinson, stars Atkinson as the Netflix series’ eponymous hero ‘Trevor,’ a hapless house sitter who attempts to take care of a luxury mansion before chaos ensues after the property is invaded by a mischievous bee.

Inspired by his unique slapstick comedic credentials from the show, the bee-spoke strip transports Trevor to Beanotown. He runs into serious difficulties alongside a cast of favourite characters, including Dennis, Gnasher, Bea (Dennis’s baby sister), Minnie, Pieface, JJ and Rubi.

In the comic strip, Atkinson’s character attempts to house-sit for the Mayor of Beanotown (Walter’s  father), as the family head off on holiday. Chaos ensues as Trevor tussles with a bee whilst leaving a trail of utter devastation in their wake to hilarious comic effect.

Rowan Atkinson says: “Like many British school children I was an avid Beano reader. Beano remains a unique piece of our pop culture, and something that has been shaped by and shaped British comedic sensibilities for over 80 years. I am genuinely thrilled that my alter ego, Trevor, has been immortalised in the Beano world.”

Mike Stirling, Director of Mischief at Beano Studios, adds: “Beano has always been a hive of comic chaos, so there was a real buzz about the place to have the comedy legend that is Rowan Atkinson visit Beanotown to make mischief with another troublemaker identified by their stripes: The Bee! I’m only worried Dennis and Minnie will sting us for new stripy jumpers in tribute. We think it was meant to bee, that when Netflix was looking for a unique new way of telling the world about the show, they thought of us. We hope everyone has as much fun reading the strip as we had making it.”

Launching today, Friday 17 June, the bee-spoke comic strip is available exclusively on beano.com and gives a teaser of what’s to come ahead of Man vs Bee landing on Netflix.

Promising viewers a hugely enjoyable mix of wacky hi-jinks and physical comedy for which Rowan’s comedy characters have become synonymous, Man vs Bee is set to be this summer’s much-watch family comedy series, available on Netflix in full from 24 June.

 

Pinkfong announces second Baby Shark NFT collection

The Pinkfong Company, the global entertainment company behind the pop culture phenomenon “Baby Shark”, has announced a deeper dive into NFTs with the release of Baby Shark: Collection No. 2, a generative art collection of 10,000 unique NFTs featuring Baby Shark and his family, on digital collectibles marketplace MakersPlace.

With the world’s most viewed video in YouTube history, Pinkfong’s Baby Shark has grown into the most iconic earworm to emerge from the internet, recording a 20-week streak on the Billboard Hot 100 while its music video became the first video to hit 10 billion views on YouTube.

Baby Shark: Collection No. 2 is the latest in the company’s commitment to NFTs and Web3. Baby Shark’s initial NFT collection, Baby Shark: Collection No. 1, launched in December 2021, was an instant sell-out. Now, following their successful foray into the waters of NFTs, the company will release its second collection centered around strengthening and expanding the global Baby Shark community, both on and offline.

Pinkfong has joined forces with Nolcha Shows, the award winning events producers at the intersection of art, music and culture, to kick off celebrations for the upcoming Baby Shark NFT collection with an exclusive party during NFT.NYC. Expected to offer a night of fantastic entertainment, music and networking, Baby Shark Nite @ The Nolcha Shows: NFT Edition will take place on Monday June 20, featuring art from Baby Shark’s 1st NFT collection along with a teaser for the next collection.

With music serving as the pulse of Baby Shark, the company has plans to introduce a number of surprise remixes with notable musicians in the future. The project will also reward their community with unique perks, including special gifts and access to exclusive events and social activations (to view the roadmap in its entirety, click here).

“We’re incredibly excited to participate in and host our first offline title event at NFT.NYC as we lead up to the launch of our second NFT collection, Baby Shark: Collection No. 2. We will unveil a teaser of the collection for the first time during NFT.NYC and can’t wait to finally show our community what we’ve been working on,” says Bin Jeong, CEO of Pinkfong USA.

“Baby Shark has made its mark across generations and geographies,” says Craig Palmer, CEO of MakersPlace. “As early brand pioneers in the NFT space, they have displayed a true innovative spirit allowing for an even deeper appreciation and engagement from their massive fan base. It is an honour for MakersPlace to be a part of Baby Shark’s journey as they strengthen their impact both on and off the chain.”

Baby Shark: Collection No. 2 is set to launch on MakersPlace this summer. For more information, visit https://nft.babyshark.com/.

Epic Rights to develop a global retail merchandise programme for New Kids on the Block

On the heels of their latest release, the high-octane anthem “Bring Back the Time”, and their North American Mixtape Tour, multi-platinum pop artists New Kids on the Block (NKOTB) have appointed Epic Rights as their global licensing agent to develop a global merchandise programme.

Since the band first debuted in 1984, NKOTB, consisting of brothers Jonathan and Jordan Knight, Joey McIntyre, Donnie Wahlberg and Danny Wood, have sold more than 80 million records. To coincide with the tour and multiple initiatives, starting in 2022 through 2024, Epic Rights will develop a robust licensing programme for the band across multiple categories, including apparel, footwear, accessories, gaming, spirits, home décor, collectibles, and more. Initial product launch for some categories will hit retail shelves in time for the holiday season 2022.

“New Kids on the Block is one of the most successful pop boy bands of all time with multiple number-one hits and legions of fans just as eager to engage with them today as when they first started,” says Lisa Streff, SVP, Global Licensing, Epic Rights. “With the Mixtape 2022 tour starting in May, a cruise in October, and other initiatives in the works, we have endless opportunities to create a distinctive line of merchandise that represents the band, featuring retro nostalgia from the 80s and 90s as well as products that speak to who they are today.  We are so excited to add New Kids on the Block to our roster of amazing artists.”

NKOTB’s Danny Wood adds: “We can’t wait to get back on the road this summer and perform for our fans, old and new! With all of the exciting plans we have coming, we wanted to create a unique, fresh, and memorable product line, and Epic Rights is the premiere agency for artists who want to develop merchandise lines that speak to their fans.  We are thrilled to begin the process with Lisa and the team to bring all of our ideas to life!”

NKOTB has sold more than 80 million albums worldwide – including back-to-back international number-one songs, 1988’s “Hangin’ Tough” and 1990’s “Step By Step” – and a series of crossover smash R&B pop hits like “You Got It (The Right Stuff),”  “Cover Girl,” “Didn’t I (Blow Your Mind This Time),” “Hangin’ Tough,” “I’ll Be Loving You” and “Tonight.”

Since reuniting in 2007, NKOTB have toured consistently to sold-out arenas, have sold nearly 4 million tickets and have doubled their crowd sizes. The Boston natives have been bestowed with their very own “New Kids on the Block Day,” and have played Fenway three times before. The group solidified their place in Hollywood with a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame since reuniting and will continue representing Boston on their journey long into the future.

For more information on NKOTB, visit www.nkotb.com.

WildBrain drums up Jungle Beat partnership with Sunrise Animation Studios

WildBrain has partnered with Jungle Beat Animation to manage worldwide distribution rights for all content in the popular animated kids’ property Jungle Beat. The exclusive partnership will see WildBrain grow the global footprint of the Jungle Beat brand through worldwide distribution, including YouTube channel management and ad sales on its premium kids’ and family AVOD network, as well as linear broadcast in Canada on its Family Channel.

All Jungle Beat content is produced in a partnership between Jungle Beat Animation and South Africa’s Sunrise Animation Studios. Today’s news comes at a pivotal time, as Jungle Beat Animation in partnership with Sandcastle Studios announces the greenlight of their second feature film, Jungle Beat 2: The Past, currently in production at Sunrise Animation Studios for release in 2023. This follows the success of the brand’s first film, Jungle Beat: The Movie, released in 2021.

Deirdre Brennan, COO at WildBrain, says: “Jungle Beat is hugely popular with kids worldwide, who are drawn to its authentic, funny characters and adventures rooted in friendship. The Sunrise team believe in inspiring through story and we’re delighted to be partnering to expand that audience across all territories and platforms, harnessing the power of our YouTube growth engine, WildBrain Spark, delivering the content to our Canadian television audience through Family Channel, and exploring new opportunities to experience Jungle Beat through our consumer products licensing agency, WildBrain CPLG.”

Phil Cunningham, Founder of Sunrise Animation Studios, adds: “We’re delighted to be working with such an innovative, agile, fun and well-organised global company as WildBrain. We believe Jungle Beat is positioned to become a leading global property for preschool children, and WildBrain’s synergy and cohesion across all platforms and brand touchpoints is going to be a key part of making that happen.”

WildBrain will distribute the brand’s film franchise, comprised of Jungle Beat: The Movie (1 x 90’) and Jungle Beat 2: The Past (1 x 90’), as well as the entire 130-episode library of the Jungle Beat series, consisting of three seasons of Jungle Beat (13 x 5’ each), five seasons of Jungle Beat: Munki and Trunk (13 x 5’ each) and two seasons of Jungle Beat: The Explorers (13 x 2’ each).

 

 

 

Hasbro unveils Buzz Lightyear Monopoly board

Hasbro has revealed the new Disney and Pixar’s Lightyear Edition Monopoly board game, giving another sneak peek into the highly anticipated Disney and Pixar movie Lightyear, which hits UK cinemas on 17 June.

The board takes players on a journey with Buzz Lightyear and an adventurous band of misfits on a hostile planet. As players race around the board to build Towers and Bases, they must take actions shown on the Hyperspeed and Crystallic Fusion cards – all while avoiding meeting Zurg.

Monopoly: Disney and Pixar’s Lightyear Edition Game is suitable for 2-6 players aged 8 and above. Retailing at £29.99, it will be available shortly to pre-order at Amazon.