Category Archives: Highlight

Scholastic’s The Magic School Bus lands feature length film deal

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The Magic School Bus is heading to the big screen for the first time in its 26-year history, thanks to a new deal between Scholastic Entertainment, Brownstone Productions, Marc Platt Productions, and Universal Pictures.

The feature length, live action hybrid film will star Elizabeth Banks as the widely-popular Ms Frizzle. Banks will also take on a producer role alongside Max Handelman for Brownstone Productions, as well as Scholastic’s president and chief strategy officer Iole Luchesse and SVP and general manager, Caitlin Friedman.

“We are delighted to bring to life the iconic Ms. Frizzle and her zest for knowledge and adventure in a fresh new way that inspires the next generation of kids to explore science and supports the dedicated teachers who help make science real and accessible for young learners every day,” said Lucchese.

“We’re also extremely excited to be working with such top-tier partners as Elizabeth Banks, Marc Platt Productions, Brownstone Productions, Universal Pictures, and all of the amazing talent assembled for this noteworthy feature film.”

Ryan Christians from Marc Platt Productions will oversee production with Sara Scott and Lexi Barta from Universal Pictures.

The upcoming The Magic School Bus film is based on the best-selling Scholastic book series by author Joanna Cole and illustrator Bruce Degen, now with over 80 million books in print worldwide. The science-focused series features the intrepid Ms. Frizzle and her class, who set out on field trips in their familiar-looking yellow school bus that magically transforms into a plane, submarine, spaceship, or surfboard, depending on the science concept being explored.

The popular books were first adapted into an animated TV series, featuring Lily Tomlin in the starring role as Ms. Frizzle, on PBS in 1994. The show aired for 18 consecutive years in the US and has been broadcast in more than 100 countries around the world, making it the longest-running kids science series in history

The standout program has earned more than 100 prestigious awards, including an Emmy Award, Annenberg Award and National Education Association Award. The Magic School Bus has also garnered high praise from parents and educators for making science education fun and appealing to all audiences.

An animated sequel to the original series, The Magic School Bus Rides Again, featuring Kate McKinnon (SNL) as Ms. Frizzle’s sister, Fiona, debuted on Netflix in 2017. Multi-award-winning composer/lyricist/playwright Lin-Manuel Miranda (Hamilton, In the Heights) sang the theme song.

Nickelodeon and Kongregate team up for TMNT: Mutant Madness mobile game

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The free-to-play mobile game developer and publisher, Kongregate has detailed the new TMNT: Mutant Madness title, a result of a partnership with Nickelodeon and its classic Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles franchise.

Developed by Kongregate’s Chicago-based studio, Synapse, TMNT: Mutant Madness lets players explore the world of the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles by building their own squad of heroes, which includes classic villains, and battle a new menace on the streets of New York City.

TMNT: Mutant Madness will launch worldwide on iOS and Android this September.

“We’re excited to reveal TMNT: Mutant Madness especially to longtime fans,” said Tony Perkins, TMNT: Mutant Madness Game Lead at Kongregate. “Our team has been hard at work bringing these classic characters to life, knowing our players will appreciate the level of detail and heart we’re bringing to the game.

“From the Turtles’ sewer lair, to fighting the Foot Clan in the streets of NYC, to Krang in his Technodrome… This game was made by fans for fans.”

Acquired by Kongregate in October 2017 after co-launching several titles together, Synapse specialises in IP-based mobile games with deep RPG and PVP mechanics. Its previous hit game, Animation Throwdown: The Quest for Cards has been downloaded more than 20 million times and was a breakout title for the studio.

Fortnite partners with Warner Bros. Pictures to screen movies in its gaming world

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The global video gaming franchise Fortnite has found yet another means to captivate its audiences and pull in all of the headlines at the same time, thanks to a newly forged deal with leading content owners that will allow it to screen films to players through an in-world cinema feature.

Yes, it’s an entertainment system within an entertainment system, making it wonderfully poetic that among the first films to be screened when the Epic-published games begins testing its ‘Movie Nite’ feature this Friday, will be Christopher Nolan’s Inception. It will be joined by Nolan’s Batman Begins and The Prestige.

Players will be able to watch one of the three Nolan films – all owned by WarnerMedia’s Warner Bros. Pictures – all while inside the Fortnite world.

What players will be able to watch will depend on the territory they are in. Players in Germany will be shown The Prestige, while those in France can sit back and enjoy a screening of Batman Begins.

The limitations to the test roll-out of the feature have been addressed by Epic who said that “navigating distribution rights for different countries and languages for full movies is challenging.”

“As part of this first test, we wanted as many people to experience Movie Nite as possible. The film you’ll be able to watch will depend on your country, and unfortunately we couldn’t reach everyone with these screenings,” the company stated.

“We believe the idea of getting together with your friends and family at Party Royale to watch a movie is powerful and exciting, and we’re looking at ways to increase global participation in the future.”

Like cinema screenings in the real life, the Movie Nite screenings will not be able to be broadcast – or live streamed – on platforms like Twitch.

#ToyLikeMe lands pre-school series MixMups to give disability better visibility on screen

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A new pre-school, stop frame animated TV series that highlights the importance of giving disability better visibility on screen and in children’s entertainment and media is going into production.

Called MixMups, the series concept was devised and created by Rebecca Atkinson, founder of the viral #ToyLikeMe campaign that has been the catalyst for many changes in attitudes towards inclusivity and representation both in the toy space and the wider children’s entertainment sphere.

Atkinson is recognised as a forerunner in the disruption of the global toy industry with the #ToyLikeMe campaign, which has now helped to deliver inclusivity for 150 million disabled children worldwide. Her latest achievement for the movement sees Raydar Media join forces with Mackinnon & Saunders to bring the new pre-school series into production.

The exciting new series – developed with support from the BFI’s Young Audience Content Fund – sees Pockets, Giggle, and Spin transported from their Helter-Skelter home, through a Magic Box Dress-Up portal, to embark upon costume-filled, problem-solving adventures which address the day-to-day life experiences of children living with and without disability.

“In MixMups I wanted to create an innovative show and brand, bursting with fun, magic and play, which would bring disability representation into the mainstream in a way which has never been done before,” said Atkinson.

According to Raydar Media’s Alison Rayson, the “dream team” that Atkinson has assembled to work on the series is a particular feather in the cap for its production, with all involved having first hand experience of disability and the ability to make that experience a central part of the series.

“Debbie Macdonald who is also co-writer on MixMups brought Raydar into the team and I feel very blessed that she did. Having a son with Down Syndrome, I know first hand that MixMups is the opposite of a “tick box” series,” said Rayson.

“It’s a character driven, funny show that everyone will be able to enjoy. We wanted to show that all children play differently and that this is something to embrace – MixMups encapsulates the joy of individuality and demonstrates that “there is always another way to play”.

Mackinnon and Saunders, whose credits include work on global preschool brands such as The Twirlywoos, Postman Pat SDS and Raa Raa the Noisy Lion will produce the show from their Manchester based studio and workshop facilities.

“We fell in love with MixMups the moment we saw it and are delighted to be able to use our considerable experience in producing preschool programming to bring the show to life,” said studio co-founder, Peter Saunders. “MixMups is first and foremost a fun filled entertaining show about these three lovable, highly authentic and highly individual kids through who audiences around the world can experience all the comedy ups and downs of pre-schoolers at play but in this wonderful, magical world that Rebecca has created. It truly is a show for everyone.”

There are licensing plans afoot for the series, too and the team has enlisted the licensing expert, Valerie Fry, as part of the Radar Media team to oversee the development of a global consumer products programme in tandem with the television rights team.

LEGO and Disney go retro with classic Mickey Mouse and Minnie sets

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The classic look Mickey Mouse and Minnie are to be immortalised in brick form, thanks to a new partnership between Disney and LEGO that will see the Danish toy company launch new building sets depicting the animated icons in their original look.

With this new construction set, fans can re-live memories and immerse themselves in the worlds of both LEGO and Disney.

The large-scale LEGO|Disney Mickey Mouse and Minnie Mouse Buildable Characters come with nostalgic and stylish details that not only includes their recognisable original outfits, but a series of buildable accessories to pose with, including a retro camera, a guitar, and a photo album complete with pictures of the iconic duo’s adventures from years gone by.

Each figure in the new set also stands on a base that resembles an old-time film reel, complete with the original character signatures. Mickey Mouse stands tall at 14 inches high and Minnie Mouse at 13 inches, while the set boasts an impressive total of 1,739 bricks to build with.

LEGO designer, Ollie Gregory, who worked on the project, said: “We always look to design things that people would like to put on their shelf, including my own, which is why we went for the ‘classic’ Mickey Mouse design with the iconic silhouette and colour palette – as a surprise for builders, the characters insides are built from colourful elements inspired by classic outfits worn by the the pair in the past.

“The Mickey Mouse and Minnie Mouse Buildable Characters are extremely detailed and intricate, and there were lots of challenges to overcome. For example, to create the tips of their noses we even had to bring back the LEGO Classic Space Helmet in black, which hasn’t been seen since 1987. LEGO fans will also notice that we have debuted a new colour in this set, 363 – TR. Brown with Opalesence, the first time it is included in any set – so there’s lots to explore with this build.”

Siso Toys UK is launching The Child plush toys later this year

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Siso Toys UK has become the latest to tap into the popularity of one of the Star Wars canon’s most baby-faced characters, having detailed the forthcoming launch of its new plush range inspired by The Child from the Disney+ series, The Mandalorian.

Coming in at 25cm tall, and as cute as a button, the new The Child plush toy will be available to fans and collectors from October this year, giving 2020 the silver lining it truly needed.

Mayur Pattni, head of marketing at Siso Toys UK, said: “We’re excited to be bringing our new plush toy inspired by the Child to market. Made from quality fabrics, it is incredibly cute and is bound to capture the heart of every Star Wars fan.”

The new release will be promoted with fanzine sampling and social media activity that will run throughout the season.

The Child shot to popularity when the character appeared in Disney’s first live-action Star Wars streaming series, The Mandalorian back in 2019. A popular licensing programme swiftly followed, emerging from the US and now landing on UK shores to coincide with the launch of Disney+ earlier this year.

True and the Rainbow Kingdom to grow UK licensing roll-out with bRAND-WARD

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The children’s entertainment unit, Guru Studio, has tapped bRAND-WARD as its exclusive licensing agent for the hit pre-school series, True and the Rainbow Kingdom.

Under the new deal, bRAND-WARD will represent the property across the UK and Ireland as it looks to build a licensing programme spanning toys and games, apparel, publishing, housewares, accessories, food and drink, and live events.

“We’re seeing tremendous demand for True and the Rainbow Kingdom products from boys and girls all over the world,” said Jonathan Abraham, VP of sales and business development at Guru Studio. “We’re excited to have the experienced team at bRAND-WARD lead the charge for our consumer products program in the UK & Ireland, and continue to build upon the love people have for the show.”

Trudi Hayward, co-founder of bRAND-WARD, added: “True and The Rainbow Kingdom is a brand with great appeal, which has inspired award winning and top-rated content, widely available on many platforms, including pay TV, FTA, SVOD and digital media. Securing multiple platforms is a prerequisite nowadays if you want to achieve the necessary exposure. We are delighted to be working with Guru on this stunning property.”

True and the Rainbow Kingdom’s message aims to empower children to be mindful, compassionate and respectful of all living things. The series first launched on Netflix in 2017, and is now launching on linear TV around the world. Following the successful launch on Tiny Pop in the UK earlier this year, the demand for the hit preschool series continues to grow.

On AVOD platforms such as YouTube and YouTube Kids, the series has amassed a sizeable audience with over 300 million views. The show’s GIPHY page now boasts over 2 billion shares. The series recently received a Daytime Emmy Award nomination for Outstanding Directing for a Preschool Animated Program.

Consumer products for True and the Rainbow Kingdom already include a line of plush, Halloween costumes, activity books and storybooks across North America. New True and the Rainbow Kingdom content is continuing to roll out on Netflix throughout 2020.

The Copyrights Group lays plans for Paddington in Benelux with License Connection partnership

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Brand development agency, The Copyrights Group has appointed License Connection as its Benelux licensing agent for Paddington Bear. The outfit will represent the popular IP across classic, baby, movie, and TV for a broad range of products in the region.

Written by Michael Bond and first in print in 1958 in the volume titled A Bear Called Paddington, Paddington has become a literary icon that has gone on to sell 35 million copies worldwide. The series has since been translated in to over 40 different languages.

The Paddington movies produced by Studiocanal, with Harry Potter’s David Heyman have become the most successful independent family movie franchise ever, with more than $500m at the box-office.

This year will see a brand-new Paddington TV series designed for a pre-school audience launch worldwide on Nickelodeon. The Adventures of Paddington features a young Paddington and reaches out to a whole new generation of fans.

Franca Bernatavicius, senior international licensing manager, The Copyrights Group, said: “We are very pleased to be working with License Connection on Paddington Bear in the Benelux. This is a very exciting time for Paddington, with the rich publishing heritage and the success of the films now paving the way for the upcoming TV series and a new generation of fans across the Benelux.”

Daphne Kellerman of License Connection, added: “We are delighted that The Copyrights Group has appointed License Connection as the Benelux Licensing Agent for Paddington. We see great potential for the brand in the territory because of its heritage and the new adventures that are about to come.

“It is a well-known brand already globally and we look forward to add partners to create new products, so kids and parents can go on their own journey with Paddington.”

Riverside Brands scores Rugby League World Cup ahead of 2021 tournament

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The Rugby League World Cup has tapped Riverside Brands to lead its third party collaborations and licensing agreements in time for its much anticipated 2021 World Cup event. Under the deal, Riverside Brands’ remit will be secure partnerships across consumer products, drive brand exposure, and deepen engagement with the tournament.

Founded last year by Ashley Holman – formerly a senior director at Nickelodeon with 15 years sector experience – Riverside Brands will engage the global marketplace for RLWC2021 via the company’s industry network covering leading licensees and retailers.

The Rugby League World Cup is the pinnacle major event of Rugby League, globally contested every four years. England 2021 will be a breakthrough moment in the tournament’s history with the men’s, women’s and wheelchair competitions being staged together for the first-time during October and November next year.

RLWC2021 has also confirmed the appointment of Skew Studio to develop an insight led style guide for consumer products which will support the tournament’s values and brand story, and be used across retail and licensees. This follows the announcement last month of Kappa as the Official Apparel Partner of RLWC2021.

Jonathan Neill, commercial director at RLWC2021, said: “Our licensing strategy and delivery is a crucial part of our commercial programme. We need to transcend the sport of Rugby League and positively engage a new audience, and we feel that Riverside Brands and licensing will play a hugely important role in helping to achieve that.

“With 13 million people in the UK following Rugby League, 750,000 fans expected at the 61 matches at the tournament, coverage of all matches across the BBC, and international TV reach in over 100 territories, we have a significant platform and are excited about collaborating with brands on consumer products.”

Ashley Holman, managing director at Riverside Brands, added: “We’re really delighted to be working with the RLWC2021 team. After a tough year for sport, the prospect of extending the life of a much revered and eagerly anticipated tournament is really exciting to us. We’re looking forward to solidifying partnerships that champions the brand’s effervescent spirit, delights its loyal fans, as well as introducing it to new audiences.”

Aardman and Netflix partner for Chicken Run sequel on 20th anniversary of original feature film

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By today’s standards, 20 years is but a blip in a timeline of waiting for a movie sequel emerge, and exactly two decades on from the release of its first Chicken Run outing, Aardman has declared its intention to deliver the goods.

In partnership with none other than Netflix, the pair have confirmed that work is underway on a follow up feature to 2000’s hit movie, Chicken Run. The news was announced initially at a Making Of panel at the Annecy International Animation Film Festival by the directors at Aardman Animations.

Netflix confirmed the announcement shortly after via a post on its social media platforms.

‘Having pulled off a death-defyng escape from Tweedy’s farm, Ginger has finally found her dream – a peaceful island sanctuary for the whole flock, far from the dangers of the human world,’ reads the official line from the feature film’s developers.

‘When she and Rocky hatch a little girl called Molly, Ginger’s happy ending seems complete. But back on the mainland, the whole of chicken-kind faces a new and terrible threat. For Ginger and her team, even if it means putting their on hard-won freedom at risk – this time, they’re breaking in.’

In a statement, Aardman Studio’s Peter Lord added: “Fans around the world have waited patiently for a sequel idea worthy of Chicken Run so we’re delighted to announce, on the 20th anniversary, that we’ve found the perfect story.

“Netflix feels like the ideal creative partner for this project too – they celebrate the film-maker, which means we can make the film we want to make – the one we really care about – and share it with a global audience.”