Tokidoki taps IMG as licensing agent for Japan, Korea, and Taiwan

The lifestyle brand tokidoki, known for its cast of characters created by the Italian artist Simone Legno, has tapped IMG as its exclusive licensing representative in Japan, Korea, and Taiwan.

Launched in 2005, tokidoki has amassed a cult-like following for its diverse line-up of character families, each one with its own story. The brand is known for its apparel, handbag, cosmetics, accessory and toy collaborations with the likes of Hello Kitty, Karl Lagerfeld, LeSportsac, Barbie, Onitsuka Tiger, Sephora, Marvel and more.

Under the new deal, IMG will work with tokidoki to expand its global footprint in the three Asian territories through a programme of mono-branded and collaborative consumer products, with an initial focus on apparel, accessories and toys across a variety of distribution channels.

Pooneh Mohajer, co-founder and CEO, tokidoki, said: “One of tokidoki’s founding principles is my business partner Simone’s belief that everyone waits for moments that change one’s destiny. We believe our partnership with IMG is one of those moments and that their representation of us in Japan, Korea and Taiwan will simultaneously expand and complement our business in Asia as well as globally.”

Miki Yamamoto, SVP of licensing, IMG, added: “With its larger-than-life characters, bold designs and Japanese-inspired roots, tokidoki is already widely loved and in demand in Asia – and all around the world. The diverse choice of character families, each with its own identity and personalities, lends itself well to an array of potential products and collaborations which we look forward to exploring.”

Tokidoki character families include Cactus Friends, Donutella, Unicorno, Moofia, Mermicorno, ‘Til Death Do Us Part, Tiger Nation, Kaiju Tokimondo, Royal Pride, and Punkstar.

Simon Cowell and six year old son partner with Hachette Children’s on new kids’ entertainment series Wishfits

Simon Cowell and his six year old son, Eric have embarked on a business venture to develop a new children’s entertainment series with Hachette Children’s Group, called Wishfits.

Together, the trio will launch its unique partnership with the publication of three picture-led children’s books, beginning in spring 2021. Four more books will then follow the next year. The surprise collaboration was unveiled by Simon Cowell as the highlight of the annual Hachette Global Showcase at The Cambridge Theatre this week.

Wishfit is a world in which some of the most unusual animals exist. The Wishfits are magical and unusual creatures which have evolved in a weird and wonderful way, combining two different species to form hybrid animals with distinct characteristics.

Some of them are part friendly, part fierce, others are both furry and scaly. They are all busy forming unusual friendships, learning life lessons, sharing adventures and having a fun and magical time together.

Animals from the Wishfit world include the likes of Dat (dog/cat) and Cog (cat/dog), the Snog (snail/dog – the enthusiasm of a dog at the speed of a snail), the Peep (pig/sheep) the Chug (cheetah/slug – the slowest cat in the world), the Hipporoo (hippo/kangaroo), the Chimpanpoo (chimpanzee/poodle), the Polarbat (polarbear/bat), the Crocopuss (crocodile/cat), the Shiger (sheep/tiger – the most nervous cat in the world), and the Spikey (spider/donkey).

Simon Cowell said: “To be able to write a series of books with my son Eric has been magical. This idea was inspired three years ago by a very special friend of ours who runs a Children’s Hospice charity. I told her one evening about some of the funny animals my son Eric and I would invent, starting with the Cog and the Dat. And how every evening the two of us would think of the most unlikely animal we would like to have as a pet.

“We would come up with some very strange new animals and the naming of the animals was Eric’s favourite thing. She loved this idea so much she encouraged me to turn this into a book series.

“I really do believe it’s important to encourage kids creativity and imagination. I also believe kids have better ideas than most adults. I hope these books will be fun for kids to read, and we will encourage them to come up with new animals for the books.

“The books will tell how these unique friendships are formed and will celebrate individuality and positivity. We will see how the strengths of these animals are in their differences and make the point we live in a World where inclusivity is so important.

“I’m thrilled to be working with Hachette, an amazing publishing house. They shared our passion and enthusiasm from the moment we told them about Wishfits.”

Two of the children’s charities Cowell has close ties with will benefit from the profits of Wishfits; Shooting Star Children’s Hospices and Together For Short Lives.

Eric Cowell added: “My favourite Wishfits right now are probably the Snog and Dat, and Cog and the Chimpanpoo. I really hope that one day I can meet them all.”

Simon and Eric further developed Wishfits on the Tongal platform through a series of projects where creators around the world were able to contribute to and build upon their idea, before partnering with Hachette for the next stage of the project’s evolution.

Ruth Alltimes, senior publisher, Hachette Children’s Group, acquired UK and Commonwealth publishing rights, for all formats from Matilda Forbes Watson at WME Agency.

Alltimes said: “Children are fascinated by the idea of mixing up two different things to create something new – it plays to their creativity and inventiveness. Wishfits combines this fun-filled idea with themes of acceptance and inclusivity, as well as being a great way for children to learn about animals, nature and the environment.

“We are extremely excited to be partnering with global entertainment icon, Simon and his son Eric to bring their brilliant ideas to life, and to introduce a generation of children to characters as unforgettable as Cog, Dat, and so many more.”

Simon Cowell and six year old son partner with Hachette Children’s on new kids’ entertainment series Wishfits

Simon Cowell and his six year old son, Eric have embarked on a business venture to develop a new children’s entertainment series with Hachette Children’s Group, called Wishfits.

Together, the trio will launch its unique partnership with the publication of three picture-led children’s books, beginning in spring 2021. Four more books will then follow the next year. The surprise collaboration was unveiled by Simon Cowell as the highlight of the annual Hachette Global Showcase at The Cambridge Theatre this week.

Wishfit is a world in which some of the most unusual animals exist. The Wishfits are magical and unusual creatures which have evolved in a weird and wonderful way, combining two different species to form hybrid animals with distinct characteristics.

Some of them are part friendly, part fierce, others are both furry and scaly. They are all busy forming unusual friendships, learning life lessons, sharing adventures and having a fun and magical time together.

Animals from the Wishfit world include the likes of Dat (dog/cat) and Cog (cat/dog), the Snog (snail/dog – the enthusiasm of a dog at the speed of a snail), the Peep (pig/sheep) the Chug (cheetah/slug – the slowest cat in the world), the Hipporoo (hippo/kangaroo), the Chimpanpoo (chimpanzee/poodle), the Polarbat (polarbear/bat), the Crocopuss (crocodile/cat), the Shiger (sheep/tiger – the most nervous cat in the world), and the Spikey (spider/donkey).

Simon Cowell said: “To be able to write a series of books with my son Eric has been magical. This idea was inspired three years ago by a very special friend of ours who runs a Children’s Hospice charity. I told her one evening about some of the funny animals my son Eric and I would invent, starting with the Cog and the Dat. And how every evening the two of us would think of the most unlikely animal we would like to have as a pet.

“We would come up with some very strange new animals and the naming of the animals was Eric’s favourite thing. She loved this idea so much she encouraged me to turn this into a book series.

“I really do believe it’s important to encourage kids creativity and imagination. I also believe kids have better ideas than most adults. I hope these books will be fun for kids to read, and we will encourage them to come up with new animals for the books.

“The books will tell how these unique friendships are formed and will celebrate individuality and positivity. We will see how the strengths of these animals are in their differences and make the point we live in a World where inclusivity is so important.

“I’m thrilled to be working with Hachette, an amazing publishing house. They shared our passion and enthusiasm from the moment we told them about Wishfits.”

Two of the children’s charities Cowell has close ties with will benefit from the profits of Wishfits; Shooting Star Children’s Hospices and Together For Short Lives.

Eric Cowell added: “My favourite Wishfits right now are probably the Snog and Dat, and Cog and the Chimpanpoo. I really hope that one day I can meet them all.”

Simon and Eric further developed Wishfits on the Tongal platform through a series of projects where creators around the world were able to contribute to and build upon their idea, before partnering with Hachette for the next stage of the project’s evolution.

Ruth Alltimes, senior publisher, Hachette Children’s Group, acquired UK and Commonwealth publishing rights, for all formats from Matilda Forbes Watson at WME Agency.

Alltimes said: “Children are fascinated by the idea of mixing up two different things to create something new – it plays to their creativity and inventiveness. Wishfits combines this fun-filled idea with themes of acceptance and inclusivity, as well as being a great way for children to learn about animals, nature and the environment.

“We are extremely excited to be partnering with global entertainment icon, Simon and his son Eric to bring their brilliant ideas to life, and to introduce a generation of children to characters as unforgettable as Cog, Dat, and so many more.”

Bulldog Licensing eyes cross-category licensing partnerships for Zag Studios’ new Power Players

Discussions are underway between Bulldog Licensing and a range of potential partners for Zag Studios’ newest animated property, Power Players, as the agency works to build a licensing programme for the series across the UK and Ireland.

Power Players will launch in the UK on Cartoon Network this month. Bulldog Licensing is already eyeing partners across apparel, home, gifting, publishing and more.

The toy range from Playmates, distributed in the UK by Flair, is readying for release in Q4, along with other core merchandise, and will feature action figures, vehicles and role play items at launch. Retail reactions to the new line at the recent toy shows has been phenomenal and the range will be supported by a heavyweight marketing programme.

The TV debut will consist of 78 episodes following the adventures of a cast of super-powered characters disguised as toys, led by Axel, a human boy, who joins the smart toy world he is partly responsible for creating.

Rob Corney, MD, Bulldog Licensing, said: “We’re thrilled to welcome Power Players into the Bulldog family. The fun, fast-paced series is a real showcase of the huge talent at Zag, and the strong characters and storylines have made for a colourful and creative style guide which will inspire leading licensees across categories.

“Our initial discussions with potential partners have been overwhelmingly positive, and we are looking forward to announcing new deals and rolling out the consumer products soon.”

Acamar partners with Gulliver’s to bring Bing live shows and appearances to Gulliver’s Land

Gulliver’s Theme Parks and Resorts has detailed its new partnership with Acamar Films that will see stars of its flagship children’s property, Bing, brought to life at Gulliver’s Land, Milton Keynes.

Both Bing and Flop will be the stars of daily live shows and special appearances at Splash Tots sessions, birthday packages and themed activities for overnight guests. The new campaign will kick off from April 4th this year, with the first character appearances scheduled daily during the Easter holidays.

Dean Kimberley, director of guest services at Gulliver’s, said: “The partnership with Acamar Films and Bing is a brilliant addition to our very popular stay and play packages and entertainment offering within the Park. We are really looking forward to hosting the themed activities for our overnight guests, in addition to the mini show and character appearances throughout the year.

“We wanted to promote inclusivity, adventure and kindness, Bing encompasses all of these values and is ideal for families with children of pre-school age to enjoy.”

In addition to Gulliver’s Land, parents and their little ones can enjoy Bing’s live show at CBeebies Land, Alton Towers Resort which continues into 2020. Guests to the park will be entertained by some of their favourite CBeebies characters and can enjoy live show performances daily in Big Fun Show Time, as well as Bing’s Sleepover for overnight guests at the CBeebies Land hotel.  

Kirsty Southgate, director of promotions and partnerships at Acamar Films, said: “We’re delighted to see Bing and Flop make their debut at Gulliver’s Land. The new themed activity trail and guest experiences will create wonderful ways for young children and their families to engage and play with Bing.

“We’re equally thrilled to announce the renewal of Bing’s presence at CBeebies Land who has been resident at the Park since 2017. It’s another fantastic way to create special treasured moments for Bingsters and their grown-ups to enjoy.” 

Epic Story Media named US and Canadian licensing agent for Outfit7’s Talking Tom and Friends

Epic Story Media, the independent content creation, distribution, and licensing company, has been named the US and Canadian licensing agent for Outfit 7’s flagship family entertainment brand, Talking Tom and Friends.

Under the partnership, Epic Story Media will assemble a consumer products programme with key categories, including toys, plush, publishing, party/novelty, experiential/events, and promotions.

To date, Outfit7 has developed and launched over 22 Talking Tom and Friends mobile games, which have received over 10 billion downloads globally. In 2019, its innovative virtual pet game My Talking Tom 2 ranked as the sixth most-played mobile game in the world.

The Talking Tom and Friends brand is also one of the top 20 favourite game brands in the US and has amassed over 325 million local views across its YouTube content.

Its YouTube channel was the seventh most-viewed in 2018, and overall the brand has received over 23 billion views worldwide. Its popular, original content is a global sensation, with over 40 billion total views to date.

Ken Faier, El Presidente and founder of Epic Story Media, said: “We’re extremely excited to join forces with Outfit7 Limited and work on one of the world’s strongest gaming and video brands.”

Epic’s head of licensing and merchandising, David Sztoser, added: “We will leverage Talking Tom and Friends’ success and build an innovative and robust licensing program in the US and Canada.”

Bologna Licensing Trade Fair rescheduled for May as Italy is kept on lockdown after Coronavirus outbreak

The Bologna Licensing Trade Fair has been rescheduled to later on in the year, owing to the latest European outbreak of the Coronavirus that has seen Italy go into lockdown in the last few days.

Originally scheduled for March 30th to April 1st this year, the Licensing and Book fair have both been rescheduled to take place this May, Monday 4 and Tuesday 5 as the country deals with what has been cited as the largest outbreak within a single European country so far.

Italy confirmed this week that the number of cases of Coronavirus within the country had now risen to 229, with seven deaths now recorded. Eleven towns across Lombardy  -where the outbreak emerged suddenly on Friday last week, and Veneto have been quarantined for at least the next 15 days.

The majority of those that have died from the Coronavirus in Italy have been elderly people who had also been suffering from other health issues. The latest was an 80 year old man in Milan.

Around 50,000 residents in the towns under lockdown have now been told to stay at home and avoid social contact, while schools, shops, and businesses – apart from chemists and some supermarkets – have been closed.

The Bologna Licensing Trade Fair made public its shift in dates via its social media pages and its own website where it will continue to post updates throughout the day.

Global analysts have warned of a major knock on effect on the worldwide economy as production throughout China still remains – at large – on lockdown with many of its factories closed under quarantine. The full-scale of the impact on industries and businesses is yet to be measured.

MGA Entertainment partners with Uniqlo for exclusive LOL Surprise fashion line

MGA Entertainment has partnered with the fashion label Uniqlo for a nw LOL Surprise by Uniqlo fashion capsule, to launch across stores this April.

The new product assortment will include LOL Surprise t-shirts for young fashionistas. There will be familiar LOL Surprise brand attributes incorporated into the styles and messages that empower fans to be themselves.

As part of the launch, a new stop motion video will be released showcasing two of the new styles. The video features signature LOL Surprise dolls, Diva and Queen Bee, who embark on a fashion journey that ends in an epic runway show. The video will be featured in Uniqlo’s retail stores and digital/social, as well as shared with LOL Surprise fans around the world on the brands’ social channels.

Having debuted in December 2016, LOL Surprise has become a worldwide phenomenon and was named once again the Toy of the Year at this year’s TOTY Awards ahead of New York Toy Fair.

Edutainment Licensing named distribution partner for FUN Union’s adventure series PinCode

Edutainment Licensing has been named the distribution partner for FUN Union’s new adventure series, PinCode in the UK, Australia, and New Zealand, as well as worldwide for school and library digital platforms.

The 3D series for primary school children focuses on the adventures of Captain Pin and his crew and each episode contains an important and valuable science lesson as the crew members, under the leadership of Captain Pin, explore the principles of physics, chemistry and biology while traversing the world.

Each character has its own personality and strengths, bringing humour, fun and friendship to every challenge.

“We are delighted to be partnering with FUN Union to bring quality, uplifting, entertaining and educational content to our partners,” said Denise Deane, owner of Edutainment Licensing.

Diana Yurinova, CEO of FUN Union, added: “Our show highlight positive STEM (science, technology, engineering & mathematics) role models for kids aged six to 11. Edutainment Licensing is specialised particularly in this type of content distribution, so we couldn’t imagine a better partner for PINCODE.

“Today’s children are remarkably creative, inventive and curious. They inspired us every day.”

Warner Bros. Consumer Products opens first office in Poland naming Dorota Pawlowska director of licensing and retail

Warner Bros. Consumer Products has kicked off 2020 with the grand opening of its first dedicated office in Poland.

The office, located in Warsaw, is owned and operated by WBCP, joining other European offices in the UK, France, Germany, Italy, and Spain. The new team will represent WarnerMedia’s licensing business that also covers Cartoon Network franchises like Ben 10 and The Powerpuff Girls.

The portfolio also spans the Adult Swim hit Rick and Morty and HBO properties, including the globe-spanning mega hit Game of Thrones.

“We are very excited to set up a new office in Poland’s capital city,” said Julian Moon, senior vice president EMEA, Warner Bros. Consumer Products. “The potential for expanding our consumer products and licensing business in Eastern Europe is immense. We know that the top-tier properties we are representing have already proven to have incredible resonance in Poland.

“Having talented people on the ground will allow us to enhance our retail relationships and further explore many more opportunities throughout the country and the region.”

The new office will give the company a foothold in the burgeoning Eastern European market. WBCP will concentrate its efforts on leveraging WarnerMedia’s award-winning portfolio of franchises including DC Comics, Wizarding World and iconic classic animation including Scooby-Doo, Looney Tunes and Tom and Jerry.

To staff the new office, Dorota Pawlowska, has been appointed as the new director of licensing and retail. Joining from Cartoon Network where she held the position of licensing director for Central Eastern Europe, Pawlowska has a long track record of innovation and creativity in the licensing business and will leverage her years of experience within the Time Warner business to establish WBCP’s new footprint in the country.