Coolabi secures new content and licensing partnerships for Clangers

The independent media group, Coolabi Group has secured a raft of new partnerships for the award-winning pre-school property, Clangers spanning a deal with Gulliver;s Theme park Resorts, new episodes on CBeebies UK, and a YouTube Kids series.

A new Clangers licensing partnership with Gulliver’s Theme Park Resorts will see the launch of a live experience aimed at families with pre-school children launching this February half term. It features a 15 minute live Clangers stage show with Tiny and Small Clanger, as well as special hotel and birthday packages,

The partnership will run across four locations throughout the year.

On top of this, new episodes of the BAFTA winning show Clangers will air on CBeebies in March and will conclude series three. Narrated by Sir Michael Palin, the new eight x 11’ episodes will follow the Clangers on a host of new experiences and adventures.

The stop-motion animation series of Clangers is also continuing its global expansion on YouTube, by bringing more episodes to YouTube Kids in the US. The first 10 episodes of series three launched this week on the streaming service.

The recently launched YouTube seriesThe Tiny and Small Clanger Show, which has accumulated over 500k views so far, uses hand puppetry and is produced by Wildbrain Spark and Coolabi Productions.

Available to watch now on the Clangers official YouTube channel, the short-form series follows Tiny and Small as they embark on lots of educational adventures together from learning about recycling and nursery rhymes, to finding out more about music, shapes and counting.

Available for licensees, Tiny & Small Dreams will feature a unisex palette on a clean white base, with pops of colour, flat character art, stitching detail and applique details. The range will be launching on the Clangers official store this quarter.

Director of content at Coolabi Group, Michael Dee, said: “We are absolutely thrilled to be starting the new year with some brand new Clangers episodes on CBeebies and also celebrating our core pre-school family audience by focusing on the youngest members of the Clangers family, Tiny and Small, with a series of creative new brand extensions including live experiences and licensed apparel.

“YouTube is an essential platform for content creators to reach preschoolers. The Tiny and Small Show is full of educational messages, songs and adventure, and we are confident that it will resonate and be embraced by little Clangers fans across the globe.”

The National Hot Rod Association partners with Game Time for range of NHRA watches

The National Hot Rod Association has partnered with the watchmaker Game Time to develop a series of NHRA Premier Watches in a new deal brokered by JRL Group.

The NHRA is recognised as one of the world’s largest motorsports sanctioning body. Since its inception in 1951, the National Hot Rod Association has been a force in the world of Drag Racing and Hot Rodding. The NHRA fields race teams with over 11,000 horsepower that reach speeds of over 300mph in just under 4 seconds.

The partnership will kick off with the NHRA Black Pioneer Series, a full line of watches that tap into the history of NHRA speed and motor culture with a vintage twist. The initial run includes models named Nitro, Vintage Pioneer, Disturbing the Peace, and NHRA ’62 Nationals, with each face styled after iconic NHRA logos and artwork.

“We are excited to work with Game Time to expand the NHRA brand into new product categories and distribution channels with uniquely designed products that capture the iconic culture of NHRA Championship Racing,” said Andrew Lieb, president of JRL Group.

The NHRA Licensing Program will continue to focus on lifestyle products such as apparel and accessories, home decor as well as items for the garage for the serious race enthusiast such as automotive accessories, automotive tools, appearance and other automotive related products.

 

Moonbug has tapped Thinkway Toys as master toy partner for its new digital pre-school property Morphle

The global children’s entertainment company, Moonbug – the team behind the popular Little Baby Bum – has secured a new partnership with Thinkway Toys that will see the development of a global master toy line for its latest pre-school property, Morphle.

The partnership has been announced just days ahead of this year’s New York Toy Fair. The pair have set out an agenda ‘to transform preschool toys, through the deal.

A company that receives more than 2 billion average monthly views, Moonbug is responsible for the success of the likes of Little Baby Bum, Supa Strikers, and Go Buster. Its latest digital IP Morphle has already proved to be a success with US audiences.

With 180 episodes produced and distributed in six different languages, the story-led series encourages curiosity, imagination and kindness among its audience, along with a playfulness that Thinkway and Moonbug are “eager to expand upon in new toy lines set to launch in 2020.”

“This is a really important moment in Morphle and Moonbug,” said René Rechtman, co-founder and CEO of Moonbug. “Collaborating with a great partner like Thinkway to ‘morph’ the magic of the series into imaginative new toy lines is sure to delight our young fans, and further champion the success of digital-first entertainment franchises.”

Thinkway Toys has become one of the leading names in the global toy business over the course of its 30 year history. Breaking through the industry in 1995 with Toy Story, the company has now seen potential in Morphle.

“We are excited to be partnering up with Moonbug over this unique digital IP,” said Albert Chan, CEO of Thinkway Toys. “It’s not every day that we come across a digital IP that is able to speak to any gender on so many diverse markets, which makes Morphle extra special.”

Born on YouTube in late 2011, Morphle is now distributed on top tier digital platforms like Netflix, Amazon, Samsung and Apple TV. In Q4 of 2019, more than 20 million American households watched at least one episode of Morphle weekly – a number that is expected to grow tremendously in 2020.

“The stats speak for themselves,” added Chan. “We are onto something big with Morphle and are looking forward to doing some really cool stuff with Moonbug – the future for this magical red creature is looking bright.”

Mattel celebrates Tokyo 2020 with the launch of the first Olympic Games toy line

Mattel is celebrating Tokyo 2020 with the launch of the first Olympic Games toy collection, featuring a variety of products from across its Barbie, Hot Wheels, and UNO brands.

In an exclusive licensing agreement with the International Olympic Committee, Mattel will launch a range of products and toys each reflecting the inclusivity and innovation, as well as a host of new sports, that the Olympic Games Tokyo 2020 will represent.

New sports to be represented at this year’s Olympics include baseball/softball, sport climbing, karate, skateboarding and surfing – all to inspire a new generation of athletes and fans around the world.

The Mattel toy and product launch is part of the International Olympic Committee’s ongoing global licensing strategy.

“In line with our Global Licensing Strategy, this new international licensing collaboration with Mattel is a great way to engage with an important audience, our younger fans and their families, and through these high-quality products to connect them with the Olympic brand and values,” said Timo Lumme, managing director of IOC Television and Marketing Services.

“Tokyo 2020 is a monumental event that brings the world together through sport and inspires fans of all ages,” said Janet Hsu, chief franchise officer of Mattel. “The Mattel Tokyo 2020 Collection honours these sports and inspires a new generation through the Olympic spirit and outstanding athletic tradition.”

Products will include Barbie Dolls Olympic Games Tokyo 2020, as the doll embraces five new sports added to the Olympic programme, and the Hot Wheels Mini Collection for The Olympic Games Tokyo 2020 representing iconic sports of Tokyo 2020, from historic sports dating back to the first Games in Athens, to new sports that make their debut this year in Tokyo.

Sports celebrated in Hot Wheels die-cast form include track and field, gymnastics, swimming, basketball and beach volleyball, and the newly added sports: baseball/softball, sport climbing, karate, skateboarding and surfing.

Two cars within the collection are Hot Wheels versions of Worldwide Olympic Partner Toyota’s vehicles ’10 Toyota Tundra and Toyota 2000 GT.

UNO will also be part of the celebrations, with the UNO Celebrating Olympic Games Tokyo 2020 line, featuring the mascot of the Olympic Games Tokyo 2020, Miraitowa.

The Tokyo 2020 Collection by Mattel will be available in retailers around the globe, as well as on the Mattel Shop.

Building on the Olympic Agenda 2020, the International Olympic Committee Global Licensing Strategy aims to create a tangible connection to the Olympic Games and Olympism through merchandising programmes that are aligned with the Olympic image and enhance brand value and goodwill.

The objective is to strengthen and promote the Olympic brand, not only during the Olympic Games, but between Games as well.

The IOC Global Licensing Strategy is divided into three core licensing programmes aimed at specific target groups: The Olympic Heritage Collection, The Olympic Collection and The Olympic Games Programme.

King Features rounds off Popeye’s 90th celebrations with Filson partnership

King Features Syndicate is expanding its licensing program for its classic property, Popeye, with limited-edition clothing, stickers and a stoneware mug from Filson.

Under the new deal, Filson – the outfitter and manufacturer recognised for its calibre in the outdooring market – will launch a collection of durable graphic t-shirts and pullover hoodies, all featuring the famous sailor man.

The Popeye short sleeve t-shirts are made with heavy-duty cotton, a rib-knit collar and come in both black and white, while the Popeye pullover hoodie in black is made with 100 per cent cotton fleece, and double-layer reinforced forearms.

In addition to the Popeye inspired clothing, Filson is also debuting a limited-edition Popeye sticker collection. Made locally to Filson, in Seattle, the sticker pack features four individual Popeye designs made from durable, waterproof vinyl, paying tribute the comic-strip icon.

“King Features had an incredible year in 2019 celebrating Popeye’s 90th anniversary and we are thrilled to cap it off with this limited-edition collection from Filson,” said King Features vice president and general manager, global head of licensing, Carla Silva.

The Filson collection closes out King Features’ year-long celebration for Popeye’s 90th birthday, which included a robust merchandising programme, featuring high-end fashion collaborations with HUF, Benetton, Scotch & Soda, and new products from Zara.

It also saw the of Popeye’s Barbershop & Shave Company—a special 90th anniversary collection of men’s grooming products.

The birthday bash launched with the debut of “Popeye’s Island Adventures,” a new animated short series for children, airing exclusively on the Popeye and Friends Official YouTube channel and the highly anticipated “Popeye’s Cartoon Club” comic strip series on ComicsKingdom.com.

 

Minions strut London Fashion Week’s catwalk with Bobby Abley collection

Illumination’s Minions has joined the ranks of London’s high street through a new collection launched by the UK designer, Bobby Abley at London Fashion Week.

In a first for both the designer and the blockbuster Minions franchise, the collection was unveiled on the catwalk this week before launching into Primark stores across the UK from today.

The Bobby Abley x Minions diffusion line has been developed in anticipation of this summer’s Minions: The Rise of Gru theatrical release. The collection will be supported with a display window at Primark’s Marble Arch flagship, as well as in-store POS and a heavyweight online and social media campaign.

Bobby Abley’s catwalk show has become a London Fashion Week highlight. Joining the designer this year was Illumination’s Minions. The property was put to work on a series of bespoke prints, includig an Argyle silk design, denim printed with an op-art Minions graphic and a neoprene Minions camoflage.

Key shapes in the collection include extra short and extra-long kimono-inspired robes, and oversized sweatshirts and shirts playing with the proportions of Minions verses humans. Workwear-inspired dungarees and boiler suits are also featured.

The range will now be displayed in Primark in a creative execution that has been curated and directed by Abley himself.  The speed to retail is a direct reaction to the ‘see now, buy now’ movement that is reshaping the traditional lag time between the runway and retail shelves.

‘Abley is renowned for his unique and inspired designs that draw upon animated characters, showcasing them in a whole new light,’ read a statement from Universal Brand Development.

‘His special gift for injecting humour to the world of fashion has catapulted him to the upper echelon of the profession and has made the fresh designer a favourite of celebrities and influencers.’

Bill and Ted licensing roll out will ‘intersect the retro revival and modern day’

Creative Licensing Corporation, the vintage and pop culture licensing specialist, has detailed a roster of new partners for the upcoming throwback film, Bill and Ted Face the Music.

According to the firm, the line up will reflect an intersection between the retro and modern day, in accordance to the tone struck by the latest instalment from a movie franchise that power-slid its way onto the pop scene back in 1989.

The latest slate of partners for the Keanu Reeves and Alex Winter film – in which both reprise their roles as Ted Theodare Logan and Bill S. Preston respectively – features the likes of American Classics, Blitzway, and Welbeck Publishing.

“Bill and Ted Face the Music” is a film that follows the current trend of ‘retro revival’ as the original film debuted in 1989. Fans will delight in reminiscing on the characters as they remembered them versus how they appear now (hint, Bill and Ted are dads) and get answers to the long-awaited question of what Ted and Bill have been up to over the past two decades,” said Stephanie Kupperman, director of business development at CLC.

“The merchandise lined up for the film will reflect this intersection between retro and modern by portraying the characters as they appear in the 2020 film release but also harkening back to 1980’s themes and neon colours.”

The licensee slate will see American Classics launch a range of licensed t-shirts, sweatshirts, and onesies, while Blitzway will launch a series of 1/6 scale articulated action figures.
Welbeck Publishing will offer a 192 page, full colour, hardcover making-of Bill & Ted Face the Music book, Mondo has been brought on to develop limited edition silk scren art posters, collectable enamel pins, t-shirts, sweatshirts, and pint glasses, and Dark Horse Comics will offer fans a series of comic books and graphic novels in both print and digital formats.
Directed by Dean Parisot, Bill and Ted Face the Music is scheduled to land at cinemas from August 21st this year.

Discovery to launch Coyote Peterson: Brave the Wild licensing programme, starting with toys

Discovery is developing a consumer products programme around the hit YouTube adventurer, Coyote Peterson, kicking off with the launch of a range of toy and aspirational play patterns for kids and families.

Peterson is the star of YouTube’s most-viewed animal channel – Brave Wilderness – with more than three billions views to date. The adventurer recently joined the Animal Planet slate with a new television series called Coyote Peterson: Brave the Wild.

Discovery will now represent Coyote across all licensing categories and develop a consumer products programme with the aim of encouraging and educating the next generation of animal enthusiasts.

In his new series, Coyote Peterson: Brave the Wild, Peterson brings the animal kingdom up close for the next wave of explorers in an entertaining way, while promoting compassion and welfare for the natural world.

Together with wildlife biologist Mario Aldecoa and his crew, Coyote shares their adventures with Animal Planet’s audiences and his “Coyote Pack” across all platforms.

Discovery is building out a dedicated consumer products program specifically aimed at children aged four to eight. The core focus for the merchandising programme to start will be on toys and aspirational play patterns, with extensions into publishing, packaged goods and outdoor apparel, gear and accessories.

“Coyote Peterson is a great example of Discovery talent whose personality transcends the screen and connects deeply with our passionate fans around the world,” said Carolann Dunn, vice president, consumer products, Discovery, Inc.

“Animal Planet serves animal lovers of all ages, and with Coyote we are thrilled to be able to connect with that younger audience through a line of fun, innovative and inspirational toys.”

Mark Hamill, Lena Headey lead voice cast for Mattel’s Masters of the Universe: Revelation

Mattel Television and Netflix have revealed the cast of the upcoming Netflix anime series, Masters of the Universe: Revelation, a new series based in the iconic He-Man, Skeletor, Teela, and cast of classic characters.

The series is being produced by Mattel Television with Adam Bonnett (Descendants), Christopher Keenan (Justice League, Batman Beyond) and Rob David (He-Man and the Masters of the Universe) as executive producers.

Kevin Smith (Clerks, Chasing Amywill serve as show-runner and executive producer. In addition, Susan Corbin (Voltronwill produce the series.

But it’s the all-star acting cast that is sure to fire up much of the interest, with a line up that includes Mark Hamill as Skeletor, Game of Thrones’ Lena Headey as Evil-Lyn, Supergirl’s Chris Wood as Prince Adam/He-Man, and Sarah Michelle Gellar as Teela.

These will be joined by another Game of Thrones alumni as Liam Cunningham takes on the role of Man-At-Arms, Henry Rollins as Tri-Klops, Alicia Silverstone as Queen Marlena, Justin Long as Roboto, Jason Mewes as Stinkor, and Harley Quinn-Smith as Ileena among others.

Masters of the Universe: Revelation – animated by Powerhouse Animation, the team behind Castlevania – will focus on the unresolved storylines of the iconic characters, picking up where they left off decades ago.

“Masters of the Universe: Revelation is for the fans. Kevin Smith, as well as the rest of the all-star cast, share our love and passion for the iconic franchise and the deeper meaning of the property,” said Rob David, executive producer on the show.

“At its core, Masters of the Universe is all about wanting the power to be the best version of yourself, and the series will bring this message to life in an entirely new way.”

Kevin Smith added: “I cannot believe the lineup of talent I get to play with. The incredible, star-studded cast that Mattel’s Rob David and Netflix’s Ted Biaselli assembled for our Masters of the Universe series will let any lifelong He-Man fan know we’re treating this cartoon seriously and honouring the legendary world of Eternia with A-list talent.

“Chris, Sarah, Mark, Lena and the other amazing actors and actresses have given performances so powerful and real in a show that features a talking giant green tiger. With these fantastic performers behind our characters, it’ll be crazy easy to immerse yourself in the swords and sorcery of our epic sci-fi soap opera.”

Mattel’s reboot of the classic Masters of the Universe franchise also includes a comic book series by DC Comics (available now), reimagined versions of the ’80s toys (hitting retail shelves this autumn), a CG-animated series with Netflix (He-Man and the Masters of the Universe)and a feature film.

Sophie la Girafe makes US licensing move with Anjar Co and Becker Associates

Sophie la Girafe, the now famous baby teething toy, is making a move for the wider lifestyle licensing space, beginning with new property expansion efforts across the US.

DeLiSo (Development Licensing Sophie la Girafe) has appointed Anjar Co. and Becker Associates as its US licensing agent, with the remit of developing, licensing, and distributing Sophie la Girafe branded products across a multitude of categories.

The natural rubber teether has built up a global recognition over the decades since its launch back in 1961, and had accrued sales at more than 50 million units by the time it hit its 55th anniversary.

Anjar and Becker are now looking for new licensing and distribution partners and direct to retail programmes in all categories for the brand, including infant furniture, bedding, accessories, stationery, toiletries and more.

“Sophie la Girafe has a special place in the hearts of all infants throughout the world, so the new partnership is a great addition to our licensing and consumer products portfolio,” said Jonathan Becker, president of Anjar co.

“Sophie la Girafe is ubiquitous in France, where it’s part of the nation’s fabric, and immensely popular in the US and Canada, where it can be found on many baby registries. We aim to have one Sophie la Girafe product in every house, car, and grandparents’ home before Sophie’s 60th birthday celebration in 2021.”

Patti Becker, CEO of Becker Associates, added: “Sophie is a luxury lifestyle brand sold in more than 85 countries. One reason for Sophie’s immense popularity is that she’s all natural, and appeals to all five senses.”

Anjar Co and Becker Associates will present the Sophie la Girafe licensing programme in booth 2118 at Toy Fair New York, running from February 22nd to 25th.