Category Archives: Entertainment

Fanattik nets SpongeBob SquarePants in first partnership with animated property

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The pop culture specialist, Fanattik has signed a pan-European gift licensing partnership with ViacomCBS Consumer Products that will bring Nickelodeon’s SpongeBob SquarePants into new home decor, barware, gifts and collectables.

The new collection of collectables and products will be available from September this year across gift and toy stores throughou Europe.

Fanattik managing director, Anthony Marks, said: “An internationally beloved and timeless brand, SpongeBob SquarePants is one of the most watched programmes in the world with 100 million global viewers monthly and a feature film on the way in 2021. This was a brand the whole team wanted to have in the Fanattik portfolio.”

Fanattik has received multiple awards and enjoyed ‘phenomenal growth’ over the past three years with multiple pan-European licensing agreements now signed up to the portfolio. Its partnership with Nickelodeon’s SpongeBob marks the first time the company has partnered with an animated show.

“With half of all viewers being adults, we are going to make sure the products we create appeal to the original fans as well as new ones. Each item will have that Fanattik twist which makes our pieces stand out from anything else in the market,” said Melissa Tudor, head of product development.

Mark Kingston, senior vice president, international, ViacomCBS Consumer Products, added: “SpongeBob continues to permeate pop culture with boundless positivity and fun. We’re excited to expand this iconic franchise in the gift license space through a partnership with Fanattik, a company which shares many of the same fun brand tenants as our favourite absorbent sponge. True to SpongeBob form this product is sure to deliver happiness.”

Since its launch July 17, 1999, SpongeBob SquarePants has reigned as the number one kids’ animated series on TV, while generating a universe of beloved characters, pop culture catchphrases and memes, theatrical releases, consumer products, a Tony Award-winning Broadway musical and a global fan base.

SpongeBob SquarePants is the most widely distributed property in ViacomCBS Networks International history, seen in more than 170 countries and territories, translated in more than 30 languages, and averaging more than 100 million total viewers every month.

Meanwhile, Fanattik works with retailers and partners of all levels across Europe. Retailers not already working with the team can find out how to do so by contacting Luiz Ferreira, head of sales on luiz@fanattik.co.uk

Nerd is the word | From video gaming to toy collecting, the Insights Family explores the Kidult market

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Jurassic Park and Transformers mash-ups, LEGO sets exploring themes of travel, history, science – and iconic worlds of science fiction, of course – and a healthy gaming scene that simply continues to expand and capture new audiences (and that’s just the news this week); the entertainment space is reaching wider audiences and appealing across the generations. Here, The Insights Family’s founder, Nick Richardson explores the topic of the booming Kidult market

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Nostalgia is a powerful tool when marketing products. The emotional pull of recounting past experiences has enabled brands who ordinarily target children to penetrate an older market, expanding their brand presence.

Recently, the kidult trend has accelerated, as adults have reverted to the familiar nature of reliving childhood memories that have provided comfortable experiences in the wake of the pandemic. Some brands have sought partnerships in order to appeal to older audiences for their products which traditionally appeal to younger demographics.

While in our data, the audience for Pokémon in the UK is five to 13-year-olds, the company sought out collaboration with musician Post Malone for its 25th anniversary this year, perhaps aiming to recapture his older teen audience (14 to 18) to celebrate this event. Additionally, the firm’s remake of the Diamond and Pearl editions in the gaming series, originally released in 2006, is a clear attempt to target an older audience of active gamers.

It’s no secret that more adults than ever now play video games. According to our Parents Insights data, gaming is a top five family hobby, as the younger generation of parents who have grown up as gamers themselves carry their hobby into their adult years.

In the UK, LEGO is the most popular toy among kids of every age bracket we survey, but the company is regularly expanding its product offering to target those beyond the initial demographic of kids. This includes creating building sets of flowers and football stadiums, or those themed around travel and history; all aimed at an older audience.

Meanwhile, the popularity of collectables such as Funko Pop! vinyl figures – a top 10 toy for kids aged 11 to 13 in the UK, and a collection of toys that have representation from a range of different IP and brands across different mediums – among adults is indicative of the very real presence of the kidult trend.

Likewise, the effort from Disney to remake and remaster its library of classic animated films for a new generation is also indicative of the older market of fans. The excitement for these films is not only created by the anticipation from kids, but also their parents who want to relive their childhood experiences.

Brands are currently looking to classic brands and IP to guarantee revenue in the fallout of 2020, targeting adults through nostalgic content in the process. Through the success of these films, Disney not only recaptures the imagination of their long-time fans but creates new brand advocates in the younger generation.

In the TV industry, there is also clear evidence of a conscious effort to appeal to this trend. Tracy Beaker returned to screens in February this year in a series designed to appeal to kids and their parents alike. Meanwhile the Biff and Chip reading books, used in schools for more than 30 years, have been made into a TV series, coming to CBeebies.

The growth in popularity of adult cartoons such as Rick and Morty – the favourite show amongst 16 to 18 year olds boys in the UK – is evident that there is a distinct market for mediums traditionally utilised to appeal to younger audiences. Dragon Ball and SpongeBob SquarePants also appear in the top 20 shows among this demographic.

So what, then, does this mean to you?

Well, quite simply, the kidult trend represents an opportunity for brands to expand their revenue streams beyond their kid audiences. By creating collectables that may be aimed at an older demographic, brands can extend their revenue streams while building advocacy with an audience who may pass on their interests to their kids, creating a new generation of fans in the process.

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The Insights Family, is the global leader in kids, parents, and family market intelligence, providing real-time data on their attitudes, behaviour, and consumption patterns. Every year the company survey more than 362,100 kids and more than 176,800 parents.

Gigantosaurus stomps into the European dress up sector in Smiffys partnership

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Smiffys is bringing the cast of the popular children’s CGI animated series Gigantosaurus to the dress up and costumes space thanks to a new partnersip with Cyber Group Studios and the licensing agency Brand-Ward.

Characters Rocky, Bill, Tiny, and Mazu will each find themselves receiving the dress up treatment in a new range that will launch in time for World Book Day next year. The range will be distributed across Europe.

“This is an exciting opportunity for Smiffys to build on our award-winning children’s licensed costume portfolio with these adventurous characters,” said Dominique Peckett, director at Smiffys.

Bruno Danzel D’Aumont, international licensing and marketing vice president at Cyber Group Studios, said: “Smiffys is a talented company and well recognized in its market. I am proud that Gigantosaurus will be part of the range and I am looking forward to seeing children wearing the costumes of their favorite dinosaurs characters around Europe.”

The partnership was forged by the licensing agency, Brand-Ward Services who has been tapped to help grow the property’s presence across the European consumer products space.

Trudi Hayward, co-founder of Brand-Ward, said: “We are delighted to be partnering with Smiffys across Europe in the dress up category, as they are an extremely dynamic company that has established distribution across Europe and we are all very excited to be working with them on Gigantosaurus costumes which will launch in time for World Book Day 2022.”

Beano Studios marks 70 years of Dennis with Royal Mail stamp collection

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Beano Studios is celebrating the 70th year of the iconic British comic character, Dennis the Menace, with the launch of a new stamp collection in partnership with Royal Mail.

The new series of six stamps will look back at Dennis through the ages, from the character’s first black and white comic strip in 1951, through important events in his life, including meeting his baby sister, Bea, adopting Gnasher, and finding out that his dad is a grown-up version of Dennis from the 1980s.

A further four stamps, exclusively illustrated by the current Dennis artist, Nigel Parkinson, show the culmination of an exclusive comic strip. The strip, written especially for Royal Mail, is featured in the Presentation Pack as it tells a story focused on Dennis’ birthday celebrations and includes a brief ‘history of Menaces.’

Vanessa Andre is, franchise planning and partnerships director, Beano Studios said: “Dennis has stamped his spirit on generations of kids for the last 70 years and continues to spread smiles and laughs between kids, parents and grandparents. Having Royal Mail join our licensing programme to mark this incredible year is very special and we can’t wait for fans to get their hands on this latest piece of Dennis history.”

Charlie Donaldson, joint managing director, Rocket Licensing, added: “We are delighted to be celebrating the birthday of this national treasure in partnership with this quintessentially British institution, Royal Mail. The bespoke artwork is so fun and eye-catching, it’s a very special collection for Beano that we are excited to see shared.”

For more than 50 years, Royal Mail’s Special Stamp programme has commemorated anniversaries and celebrated events relevant to UK heritage and life. Today, there are an estimated 2.5 million stamp collectors and gift givers in the UK and millions worldwide.

Natasha Ayivor, Royal Mail, said: “For seven decades Dennis has been entertaining children by getting into all manner of mischief fand mayhem. Generations have experienced the excitement and anticipation of reading about Dennis’s latest prank. Royal Mail is delighted to be honouring Dennis and Gnasher with a set of stamps as the ultimate birthday present.”

The full set of 10 stamps, available in a Presentation Pack, retails at £13.65. The stamps and range of collectible products are available today (1 July) from www.royalmail.com/dennisandgnasher.

WWE taps skateboard brand Enjoi for exclusive new range as the sport readies for Olympic spotlight

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WWE has tagged in the California-based skateboard brand, Enjoi as its latest licensing partner in a new deal that will see the creation of a special collection of skateboard decks featuring a variety of WWE Legends.

The partnership was first revealed on the popular skateboarding podcast, The Nine Club and will see the likes of WWE Hall of Famers Jimmy Hart, The Junkyard Dog, and Gene Okerlund feature on the first wave of decks, with additional decks featuring WWE Legend Undertaker and WWE Hall of Famers Stone Cold Steve Austin, Ultimate Warrior, Macho Man Randy Savage, and Jake the Snake Roberts.

The first wave of decks will be available exclusively on thenineclub.com, while wave two will be released on enjoi.com.

The collaboration between WWE and the skateboard brand arrives during a spike in interest in the global skateboarding scene. For the first time, the sport is to be featured at the Olympic Games in Tokyo this year, placing it well within the spotlight for global audiences, while the pandemic has driven a worldwide resurgence in the hobby as audiences have either returned to the sport or taken it up for the first time under social distancing measures.

Here in the UK, skateboarding has been subject to a sweeping surge of interest, with the number of active participants somewhere between seven to nine per cent higher than the year prior. In fact, the UK skateboarding body, Skateboard GB has reported 2020 as the sport’s ‘first sell-out year in history’.

Last month, the US toymaker Jakks Pacific launched a partnership with The Heart Supply’s signature collection of ‘do-gooder brand’ skateboards, developed by the founder of Element Skateboards himself, Johnny Schillereff with the aim of making quality skateboards more inclusive, accessible and affordable to all audiences.

Meanwhile, Enjoi has previously collaborated with a diverse range of brands, including KISS and My Little Pony to create special skateboard decks for fanbases around the world.

Enjoi celebrated its 20th anniversary last year and was named Transworld’s Team of the Year in 2016.

Formula 1 eyes moves into NFT and Cryptocurrency through Crypto.com global partnership

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Formula 1 has embarked on a new partnership with Crypto.com that woll see the global crypto platform become a global partner, an inaugural partner for the sport’s new Sprint series this year, and the official Formula 1 NFT partner.

Under the deal, Crypto.com will have a trackside presence at every race for the remainder of the season as it continues to grow its brand awareness on an international stage. With 10 million users worldwide, Crypto.com is recognised as one of the world’s fastest growing crypto platforms.

As Formula 1 continues with its plans to explore new ways for fans to engage and become more immersed in the sport, Crypto.com will also become the Official Cryptocurrency Sponsor and NFT Partner for the motor sport brand. Mirroring the fan-first approach F1 has adopted to engage with new audiences, Crypto.com aim to democratize the world of cryptocurrency for fans, through education and experiences in the new partnership.

Crypto.com will also present a brand new award, which will be announced ahead of the Belgian Grand Prix.

Aligning with the sustainability plans for Formula 1 to be Net Zero Carbon as a sport by 2030, Crypto.com laid out an ambitious pledge in May 2021 to become carbon negative within 18 months. It aims to offer the industry a path and a model for ‘clean crypto’ by late 2022. This plan will initially focus on an assessment of the carbon generated through cryptocurrency trading, deposit and withdrawal activities across all of its own platforms.

Stefano Domenicali, president and CEO, Formula 1, said: “We are pleased to welcome Crypto.com to the Formula 1 family, as we continue to attract progressive global brands anchored in performance and innovation.”

Ben Pincus, director of commercial partnerships at Formula 1, added: “We are thrilled to announce Crypto.com as a Global Partner and lead partner of the Sprint event as we bring this exciting new format to fans for the first time this year. We will rely heavily on their expertise as we explore the world of cryptocurrency, an area we are very interested in, and this will be the first time as a sport we are able to offer fans the opportunity to explore this exciting world as we further increase our digital presence.

“Crypto.com is revered in the industry and its experience was key in the decision to partner with them, as well as the company’s commitment to becoming carbon negative, as we continue to move towards sustainability goals of our own.”

Kris Marszalek, co-founder and CEO of Crypto.com, said: “We are extremely proud to be the first cryptocurrency sponsor of Formula 1, joining a prestigious collection of brands supporting a sport with technology and innovation at its core. We look forward to many years of innovating together, and will begin at the Belgian Grand Prix where we will present a brand new award.

“We’re also excited to partner with F1 in the development of exclusive NFTs, connecting fans to the sport in new and innovative ways.”

The partnership between Formula 1 and Crypto.com was facilitated by CAA Sports, the global representative for F1.

Hasbro and eOne’s new animated comedy series Ninja Express to launch on CBBC next month

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Hasbro’s global entertainment studio, eOne, has launched a new kids’ animated series to the global stage, an ‘absurd 2D and 3D mix of animated comedy’ for six to 11 year old kids, titled Ninja Express.

The series – c0-produced with Creative Conspiracy and Frogbox – follows the antics of a special delivery service run by super-powered Ninjas and is scheduled to roll out globally, premiering on CBBC in the UK, from July 1st this year.

“We are so proud to share Ninja Express with kids around the world,” said Olivier Dumont, president of eOne’s Family Brands division. “The show balances the ultimate mix of over-the-top humor with real heart and we are confident that people will fall in love with our three colorful ninjas – Aka, Kiro and Konpeki. The teams at Creative Conspiracy and Frogbox truly created something special with this show.”

A description of the new series, issued by Hasbro, asks audiences to ‘imagine a delivery service that delivers anything, anywhere, and anytime. One that not restricted by limitations of time and space, and to top things off, imagine it being run by three little Ninjas.’

Ninja Express follows Kiro – a Yellow Ninja with the ability to look through space and time, Konpeki, the Blue Ninja with the power to travel through space and time, and Aka, the Red Ninja who can temporarily reduce the size of any object by inhaling its mass.

“We’re really excited to bring Ninja Express to audiences everywhere,” said Peter Decraene, partner at Creative Conspiracy. “The show was really fun to create and produce. We are thankful for having such amazing broadcasters on board and are very happy that kids all over the world will now get to know our little ninjas and join them on adventures as they travel through space and time.”

Ninja Express is set to premiere on WarnerMedia’s Boomerang (EMEA, APAC, LATAM) and Ketnet (Belgium) from July 1st onwards. It will air on CBBC in the UK from July 3rd this year, as well as on Gulli in France, and Huace in China later in the year.

Hasbro and Universal launch Transformers x Jurassic Park mash-up… proving that life does find a way

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Even if you could never have imagined it, life… (you’ve guessed it), finds a way. Hasbro has finally partnered up with Universal Brand Development and Amblin Entertainment to create the DNA mash-up we’ve all been waiting for; bringing Jurassic Park and the Transformers franchise together for the first time.

Under the new partnership, the iconic T.Rex and Ford Explorer from the blockbuster 1993 Jurassic Park have been transformed into… well, Transformers. And the names of these beautiful creations? Tyrannocon Rex and Autobot JP93, of course.

The new Transformers x Jurassic Park figure and vehicle pack celebrates the 1993 movie that set the course for Universal’s Jurassic franchise almost 30 years ago. Both the Tyrannocon Rex and the Autobot JP93 feature a combined 260 unique details inspired by moments from the Jurassic Park film.

The Tyrannocon Rex figure converts into T.Rex mode in 27 steps and features detailed molded dinosaur texture. The figure features a new head mold and stands at seven inches.

Meanwhile, fans can enjoy a heavy dose of nostalgia through one of the film’s iconic vehicles, as the Autobot JP93 converts into the licensed Ford Explorer mode in 18 steps. The figure stands at 5.5 inches and comes with a blaster accessory that can attach to the figure in both modes.

Dr. Alan Grant and the Game Warden inspired both the JP93 hat in bot mode and the JP93 blaster accessory.

Both figures are contained within packaging inspired by the unforgettable moment in the original film in whihc the T.Rex escapes her enclosure and crushes the Ford Explorer. The packaging also includes a cardboard backdrop illustration of the T. Rex’s cage, allowing fans to recreate the scene.

A press release from Hasbro read: “Transformers robots have always been… More than Meets the Eye, but now, through the Transformers Collaborative, fans can experience these larger-than-life characters as they team up, mash up, and meet up with other characters, teams and people who share this same special quality. It is a world of constant change where things are not what they seem.”

The Tyrannocaon Rex figure and Autobot JP93 vehicle pack are available to pre-order for $104.99 (around £75) on Amazon.

A second release of the figure and vehicle pack will be available starting December 1 this year via Hasbro’s fan-facing platform, Hasbro Pulse as well as select retailers worldwide.

Bluey billed “most important preschool IP since Frozen” as Stor SL readies merch portfolio for UK, Ireland, and EMEA

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Bosses at the global product manufacturer, Stor SL have hailed BBC Studios’ preschool property, Bluey “the most important property since Disney’s Frozen” as it prepares to launch a portfolio of more than 50 licensed items to the UK, Ireland, and EMEA markets in the coming months.

The range, spanning drinkware, lunch bags, plates and bowls, cutlery, bottles, and more will be made from sustainable and eco-friendly materials such as stainless steel, aluminum, and porcelain and will add natural fibres to traditional plastics to reduce the percentage of plastics by up to 30 per cent.

Stor will also be offering tailor-made options to retailers who request an exclusive line.

Valentin Ortiz, CEO of Stor SL, said: “In my view, Bluey is without a doubt the most important pre-school property since Frozen. It has been a real phenomenon in Australia and the USA and is becoming a huge global hit. Our retailers, customers and Stor local office directors have been asking about this opportunity and we are proud to work together with them to develop our Bluey range.”

Anita Majhu, senior licensing manager, BBC Studios, added: “We are delighted that Stor is joining our raft of world-class partners for Bluey. This partnership offers a fantastic opportunity to reach fans across the UK and Ireland and EMEA markets.

“Stor’s commitment to sustainability also complements BBC Studios’ work in this area and we welcome bringing Bluey products to market that are responsibly sourced.”

The Bluey line of product from Stor will complement extensive launch plans for Bluey licensed product across UK and EMEA driven by ‘exceptional TV ratings’ and led by a comprehensive toy programme.

First launched in Australia in October 2018, Bluey is quickly becoming a global hit, achieving ‘outstanding ratings’ and attracting a multitude of best in class partners.

In its home market, Bluey was the number one children’s programme on metro broadcast television in 2020 and is the number one series of all time on ABC iview, with over 480 million views across series one and two. The property also won Pre-School License of the Year for the second year in a row at the Australian Toy Association (ATA) Awards.

Meanwhile in France, Bluey is available on France Télévision’s free-to-air channel France 5 and its catch-up kids’ platform OKOO. Toys from global master toy partner Moose is set to launch at retail in France in 2022.

The series is also available on CBeebies in the UK, where it has become the top programme on the channel since it launched in April. Its episodes constitute the top five most requested CBeebies episodes on BBC iPlayer. Toys from global master toy partner Moose will launch at retail in the UK in July.

BBC Studios has a global broadcast deal with Disney for Bluey and recently announced that the third season will debut on Disney Channel, Disney Junior and Disney+ in all territories outside of Australia, New Zealand and China.

Nickelodeon unveils its new family wearable device NickWatch at Mobile World Congress in Barcelona

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ViacomCBS and Nickelodeon have unveiled the firm’s first connected smart watch, a family-centric wearable device that promotes physical activity, helps kids explore the world around them, and features a cast of popular Nickelodeon characters.

First revealed at the Mobile World Congress in Barcelona this week, NickWatch by Nickelodeon features new technology developed with VCNI’s specialised tech partner, offering kids independence as well as access to a ‘robust entertainment offering fueled by Nickelodeon characters’. The device will be available for purchase in 2022.

“ViacomCBS is known for its portfolio of iconic brands that have shaped current events and pop culture for decades. Now, as we look to the future, the NickWatch marks a milestone as the first connected smart watch to harness the power of our consumer brands,” said Raffaele Annecchino, president and chief executive officer of ViacomCBS Networks International.

“This strategic product launch will leverage our IP and content to further strengthen our position as a leading commercial partner with diverse consumer touchpoints creating a new immersive experience.”

The underlying technology platform will provide a ‘direct line of communication to family and friends, promote physical activity, and help kids explore the world with confidence’. Each device will come with the smart watch body, two watch bands (one playful Nickelodeon band and one more adult, premium band) and a fun, character-led charging base.

The NickWatch will promote physical and social play activities, encouraged along the way with stories to aid imaginative play. Wearers will be able to play alone or with friends who have a NickWatch to set off on the same quest together. Entertainment based on Nickelodeon IP will include photo filters, motion sound effects and musical instruments that play out according to hand movements.

Content will be updated regularly with new games, stickers, sound effects, and more.

 The platform will also allow two primary modes of communication through text and voice calls. A child’s parent can text the child from their phone, and kids can respond with pre-written messages, voice to text, or emojis and photos.

The child can also call their parents and contacts within their directory, and they can receive incoming calls from pre-selected contacts. Caregivers can create group threads and can also send sticker messages, timers, reminders, photos, voice messages, and create polls.

There’s even a map feature, allowing caregivers and family members to see the location of everyone in the family via GPS and WiFi, just by downloading the app on their device.

The NickWatch by Nickelodeon has been developed in partnership with Watchinu, an Israeli technology startup, which has built and will be operating the device via a licensee agreement with VCNI.