Category Archives: Highlight

Gigi Coffee teams with emoji – The Iconic Brand

Posted on by

The emoji brand and Medialink, local agent of emoji – The Iconic Brand in Malaysia, have teamed with Gigi Coffee for a brand partnership.

As a lifestyle coffee brand, Gigi Coffee’s identity is about “inspiring people and spreading good vibes through a cup of great coffee”. By teaming up with the emoji brand and its iconic icons, Gigi Coffee hopes to deliver a brand message to customers: to express themselves through coffee, in the same way that they express themselves daily using different digital icons.

Gigi Coffee aims to drive more customer engagement through the marketing collaboration with the emoji brand and to connect to its audience in a fun way.

The collaboration can be found in all Gigi Coffee outlets in Malaysia starting on May 1, 2022.

“The Gigi Coffee x emoji brand collaboration is a truly emotional and expressive partnership to make all coffee lovers out there feel happy when enjoying the products and services from Gigi Coffee,” says Marco Hüsges, CEO of the emoji company. “It’s another great execution and proof how well the emoji brand works in the promotional segment.”

TGI Fridays and Iceland launch new range of products for summer

Posted on by

TGI Fridays, the iconic American bar and grill, has expanded its exclusive strategic partnership with the UK’s leading frozen food retailer, Iceland, with a range of new products available throughout Iceland and The Food Warehouse stores. Created solely with the BBQ season in mind, the new range includes a variety of main dishes, sides and sweet treats. Beanstalk, TGI Fridays’ long-standing brand extension licensing agency, brokered the partnership with Iceland.

The range will include nine new products, inspired by dishes from TGI Fridays’ restaurant menu. The new and exclusive products offer an option for all consumers, including TGI Fridays’ Beef Short Ribs with Maple BBQ, Cheese & Jalapeño Hot Dogs and Chocolate Cookie Pie, with prices starting at £2.

The TGI Fridays’ licensing programme has proved hugely popular with UK consumers. Since launching its first range in Iceland stores in 2020, sales have continuously exceeded expectations. The new range will accompany a variety of existing TGI Fridays mains, sides and desserts, exclusive to Iceland, including BBQ Ribs, Sharing Pizzas and Boneless chicken wings.

“TGI Fridays and Iceland have developed a strong and successful partnership since first coming together in 2020, and we are delighted to be growing it further with these new BBQ-inspired products,” says Louise French, Senior Vice President, Business Development & Operations at Beanstalk. “Through their mouthwatering licenced range, TGI Fridays continues to offer consumers even more ways to experience the world-famous American bar and grill.”

The exclusive range will be available throughout the summer, in-store or online at https://www.iceland.co.uk and The Food Warehouse.

 

 

Dan Dee International and Graco announce multi-year licensing agreement

Posted on by

Dan Dee International, a global leader in baby, pet, plush, and home décor products, and Graco, one of the world’s most recognised and trusted children’s products brands, have announced a new multi-year licensing agreement.

Dan Dee has plans to help expand Graco with an extensive line of innovative play, activity, storage, and functional baby products for at-home and on-the-go, set to launch in North America in 2023.

“We are delighted and honored to be partnering with Graco,” says Mark Matheny, Head of Licensing, Dan Dee. “This agreement will showcase our creativity and product development capabilities. We will continue to drive Graco’s brand message with products that are authentic, innovative, fun, and safe.”

“We are excited to partner with Dan Dee International to bring fun and innovative products to our littlest consumers,” adds Kerry Strzelecki, VP of Brand Development, Graco Children’s Products.  “Dan Dee’s expertise in these categories is a welcome addition to the Graco product mix.”

Sanrio creates My Hello Kitty Cafe on Roblox

Posted on by

Sanrio has debuted My Hello Kitty Cafe on Roblox. The immersive experience, created in partnership with game development studio Rock Panda, enables visitors full control over their very own cafe in the Hello Kitty universe. Community members have the chance to build from the ground up, manage, and expand their cafe with help from Hello Kitty and her friends.

Starting from a simple cafe truck all the way to a massive coffee house, the fun and creativity is endless. With a built-in Gacha system, members can collect an array of different Hello Kitty themed staff members along with multiple characters from Sanrio.

“For several decades, our core values of friendship and kindness have helped build a positive community in the physical world. As the world moves to the digital space, we are evolving with our audience to create authentic digital experiences that are uniquely Sanrio,” says Craig Takiguchi, Chief Operating Officer and Head of Business Development at Sanrio, Inc. “Sanrio’s online presence will allow players of all ages to express themselves through our characters and extend the inclusive and kind Sanrio community to the digital world.”

As visitors progress through the experience, they’ll unlock familiar characters such as My Melody, Pompompurin, and Keroppi, along with many surprise characters. They can style their cafes with unique Hello Kitty decor, create original menu items for their customers, or hop on the Shinkansen to explore Hello Kitty City and visit a friend’s Cafe Town to see what they are up to.

 

 

Wurlitzer partners with LMCA to extend the brand into new categories

Posted on by

WURLITZER, the iconic German-American brand known for its innovative musical instruments and equipment, has appointed global brand extension licensing agency LMCA to extend its brand into new categories in audio, music and entertainment areas.

LMCA will draw on the brand’s legacy in music innovation and long-lasting craftsmanship to extend WURLITZER’s footprint into new areas for the music enthusiast in North America and Europe.

Gudrun Wurlitzer, President of WURLITZER, says: “We are overjoyed to partner with LMCA to create new opportunities for our fans to experience WURLITZER. WURLITZER is our family’s brand and we have been making musical instruments and products since 1659. Through licensed product extensions, the company’s original brand mission of bringing people together through the joy of music will continue to live on and inspire music lovers in new and exciting ways.”

Ciarán Coyle, CEO of LMCA, adds: “We are delighted to be working with WURLITZER, an iconic, fun, and engaging musical powerhouse, to extend the brand into new and creative areas. WURLITZER’s reputation and influence in music and culture, and its unique designs, offer significant opportunities to create beautiful products that offer relevant, new touchpoints for consumers. We look forward to working alongside the Wurlitzer family to build out a successful international licensing programme.”

Hot Wheels is latest Mattel IP heading for the big screen

Posted on by

Mattel and Warner Bros. Pictures have announced that J.J. Abrams’ Bad Robot will produce Hot Wheels, a live-action motion picture featuring the iconic toy racing car.

“As the global leader in car culture, Hot Wheels has been igniting the challenger spirit in auto enthusiasts for generations,” says Robbie Brenner, Executive Producer, Mattel Films. “Fans of all ages are now in for the ride of their lives with the incredible talent of J.J. Abrams’ Bad Robot joining us alongside Warner Bros. Pictures to transform Hot Wheels’ legendary IP into a thrilling story for the big screen.”

Hot Wheels is the #1 selling toy in the world, with over 8 billion vehicles sold. The franchise has proven its influence through unparalleled collaborations with global leaders in automotive, streetwear, fashion, luxury, entertainment, gaming, action sports and motorsports.

“Growing up, Hot Wheels were more than just cars, they were vehicles for our imaginations,” says Peter Dodd, Vice President of Production, Warner Bros. Pictures. “Today, we at Warner Bros. are thrilled to bring that imagination to the big screen with Robbie Brenner and the creative team at Mattel along with the ingenious minds of J.J. Abrams, Hannah Minghella and the team at Bad Robot.”

Hannah Minghella, Bad Robot’s President of Motion Pictures, adds: “Before Hot Wheels became the global household name it is today, it was the dream of Elliot Handler, who was inventing and building toy cars at home in his Southern California garage. It’s that imagination, passion, and risk-taking spirit that we want to capture in this film.”

Kevin McKeon, Vice President, and Andrew Scannell, Creative Executive, will lead the project for Mattel Films. Peter Dodd will lead the project for Warner Bros. Pictures. Hannah Minghella and Jon Cohen will oversee for Bad Robot.Mattel Films and Warner Bros. Pictures are also partners on the upcoming motion picture, Barbie. Now in principal photography, the film is targeted for theatrical release in 2023. The film stars and is produced by Margot Robbie under her Lucky Chap Entertainment banner and directed by Greta Gerwig, who also wrote the screenplay alongside her husband Noah Baumbach.

In addition to Hot Wheels, the Mattel Films development slate features movies based on American Girl, Barbie, Barney, Magic 8 Ball, Major Matt Mason, Masters of the Universe, Polly Pocket, Rock ‘Em Sock ‘Em Robots, Thomas & Friends, UNO, View Master, and Wishbone. Mattel Films is also developing Christmas Balloon, based on all-new IP.

MGM to host third annual virtual licensing summit

Posted on by

MGM Consumer Products announced today that it will host its third annual virtual licensing summit on 3 May, following up on the success of the previous year’s event. Upcoming initiatives and sneak peeks will be unveiled for iconic brands including Pink Panther, Wednesday, Creed III, Vikings: Valhalla and more.

In addition, MGM plans to discuss how the studio’s licensing division is building out its popular sci-fi and horror portfolios and reimagining those categories with the expansion of Midnite Movies and the introduction of Sci- Fi Stories. MGM will also spotlight several other iconic properties, including Pink Panther’s 60th anniversary and the expansion of licensing programmes around Creed III, Wednesday and Vikings: Valhalla tied to recent and upcoming series and movie debuts.

MGM continues to evolve and expand its strategy around an extensive roster of licensees and other strategic partnerships in apparel, accessories, gaming, home and collectible categories, as well as live events and location-based experiences. During the presentation, attendees will get an overview of the breakout events and anniversaries that lie ahead, opportunities for collaboration, and some special announcements.  Brands that will be presented during the virtual event include:

  • Creed III Creed is in the spotlight this year with the highly anticipated third installment, starring Michael B. Jordan in his directorial debut, set to hit cinemas on November 23, 2022. The MGM team is actively building a licensing programme around the tentpole after its success with the VR game, Creed Rise to Glory and the recently launched console game, Big Rumble Boxing: Creed Champions.
  • Vikings: Valhalla Following the immense success of Vikings, which transported viewers through the epic adventures of the world of Viking warrior Ragnar Lothbrok, with the series reaching an incredible 625 million cumulative views across its six seasons and 89 episodes, MGM Television’s Vikings: Valhalla is the newest chapter to thrill the franchise’s army of fans. Set 100 years after the original series, the heart-pounding, unstoppable action dramatically tells the story of family, loyalty, power and the most famous vikings who ever lived: Leif Erikson, Freydis, Harald Harada and Norman King William the Conqueror. Vikings: Valhalla Season One premiered February 25 and ranked #1 on the Netflix Top 10 for the week of 2/28/2022 with 113.38M hours viewed, making the Top 10 in 90 countries. Stemming off that success, MGM has exciting plans in the works for the new Vikings: Valhalla licensing programme, including apparel and accessories from Hot Topic, C&A Modas, Marketing Licensed Products, Hybris Productions, TatooedNow!, Nastrovje and Ecell Global. Viking inspired costumes are also available from Fungilobal Development, along with collectibles, toys/games and decor from GB Eye and Winning Moves International.
  • Wednesday and The Addams Family The Addams Family’s appeal spans generations with fans loving the timeless theme song and relating to the diverse cast of characters in their multigenerational family. Later this year, the new Netflix series, Wednesday, is set to debut and is focused on the beloved character  Wednesday, with Tim Burton as director. Wednesday follows Wednesday Addams’ misadventures as a student at Nevermore Academy, a very unique boarding school in New England.  This series introduces Wednesday not only in a new boarding school environment, but also as a teenager, where she attempts to master her emerging psychic ability, thwart a monstrous killing spree that has terrorized the local town, and solve the supernatural mystery that embroiled her parents 25 years ago – all while navigating her new and very tangled relationships at Nevermore. Wednesday and The Addams Family offer unique opportunities for licensing and merchandising and MGM will look to expand everyone’s favourite Halloween family into a year round seasonal programme.
  • Pink Panther MGM’s iconic character, Pink Panther, started life nearly 60 years ago in the front and end credits of the legendary detective series of the same name. Its popularity spawned TV series, specials, comics, merchandise and has even become associated with the colour pink worldwide. In 2020, MGM unveiled a brand-new shade of pink with Pantone for the beloved character, Pink Panther pink, which is a vibrant hue with undertones of blue and yellow, embodying the character’s famously smooth style that has helped to establish his place in the larger cultural zeitgeist. With a new colour tone, and a film in development, MGM is taking Pink Panther to exciting new heights and will be discussing special moments planned for 2023, including the first annual Pink Panther Month in June, ahead of its 60th anniversary in 2024, with a roster of new and first-time partners, as well as opportunities across merchandising, gaming, and other licensing categories.
  • MGM Horror Portfolio MGM has one of the most sought-after horror libraries and the studio’s  unique “Midnite Movies” umbrella branding provides licensing opportunities featuring retro-style designs inspired by MGMs cult classic gems including Killer Klowns from Outer Space. In addition to their expansive plans around “Midnite Movies,” the team also has plans heading into the next year around unique retail activations, robust merchandising, gaming products and more tied to their large portfolio of iconic films including Carrie, Poltergeist, Silence of the Lambs, Teen Wolf, and Amityville Horror. While MGM has a vast collection of classics, it also has newer breakout hits and upcoming debuts including recent box office hit Candyman, which earned nearly $60M in box office ticket sales, as well as Jeepers Creepers and Army of Darkness.
  • The Launch of Sci-Fi Stories, Robocop 35th Anniversary, + The Expansion for the Sci-Fi Portfolio New for 2022, MGM’s licensing team is introducing a new umbrella brand called Sci-Fi Stories, including beloved hits like Robocop, Stargate SG-1, War Games, Cyborg, Species and Outer Limits.  With Sci-Fi Stories, MGM aimes to partner with licensees to build out programmes that not only have nostalgic appeal for fans who grew up with the franchises, but also introduce this treasure trove of content to a new generation of fans. Among the properties in the Sci-Fi Stories collection  is Robocop, one of Hollywood’s most iconic film franchises, with five films that transcend pop culture and IP with a strong legacy in the gaming space.  Robocop is celebrating its 35th anniversary this year and continues to appeal to fans globally through a robust consumer products and licensing programme, along with timeless movies that introduced this pop culture phenomenon. Additionally, Stargate-SG1, which has captured the imaginations of sci-fi lovers and inspired legions of fans around the world, is turning 25 this year, and MGM is leaning into the gaming category for this property with recent launches of highly anticipated titles including Stargate: Timekeepers and Astrokings x Stargate. Beyond Stargate-SG1 and Robocop, MGM will be building out programs around the Sci-Fi Stories brand and the amazing IP within the portfolio.
  • Rocky The Rocky franchise has remained a global phenomenon because it presents moviegoers with universally relatable themes – ambition, passion, determination and giving it your all to be a champion, even when the odds are against you. MGM’s Rocky and Creed films have generated more than $1.3 billion in worldwide box-office sales, three Academy Awards, and 10 nominations. In addition, the Rocky franchise kicked off its 45th anniversary in November 2021 with a number of activations and new products set to roll out over the year, including a movie-themed concert series from TCG Entertainment, Rocky Tour Experience with the Bounce app, and Rocky-themed athletic run. Exciting new merchandise will also be available throughout the year, including footwear from Foot Locker x Diodoro, a stylish clutch from Olympia LeTan, Rocky apparel from Contenders, a new video game, Creed: Big Rumble Boxing, and collectibles from Funko and Fanatics.
  • Legally Blonde The box-office smash continues to resonate with new fans, and with Legally Blonde marking its 21st anniversary in 2022, MGM has planned a Legally Blonde Turns 21 licensing celebration built around the movie’s key tenets: empowerment, education, humour, and pink fashion. MGM has some exciting licensees on board, such as Olympia Le Tan, Park Agencies and Funko, and will also be launching a movie-themed concert tour later this year with TCG Entertainment to celebrate the fun music of this widely loved franchise. In addition, the first ever Legally Blonde mobile game will launch this year, combining puzzle and choice-based narrative mechanics with the empowering themes and positive messages of the films. Legally Blonde is also set to return to the big screen with Mindy Kaling and Dan Goor co-writing the script for the film’s third iteration, Legally Blonde 3, which will see Reese Witherspoon reprise her role as the beloved Elle Woods.
  • Reimagination of the MGM Logo– In 2021, MGM’s logo got a CGI makeover reimagining the beloved “Leo the Lion” for a new generation.  The team decided to reimagine the logo in anticipation of MGM’s 100th anniversary in 2024.  The new logo leans into the history of MGM’s iconic portfolio, while also giving the brand a fresh, modernised look. It has already inspired several new lifestyle guides starting this year with the MGM Trademark Licensing programme.  MGM will continue to grow their robust licensing program around the new logo, which in the past has included deals with popular fashion brands like Zara and H&M.

Robert Marick, Executive Vice President, MGM Global Consumer Products & Experiences, says: “MGM’s iconic roster of properties have resonated with generations and continues to be at the forefront of pop culture. We are always looking for new and exciting ways to connect with fans and build licensing programs and partners that bring these beloved stories to life.”

MGM is looking to continue to grow the brand’s licensing portfolio across multiple categories including collectibles, publishing, games, interactive, and more.  For more information on the Licensing Summit, contact consumerproducts@mgm.com.

RHS continues homeware expansion with Sofas & Stuff partnership

Posted on by

Continuing the successful expansion of the RHS brand into homeware, the Royal Horticultural Society has announced a major new partnership with British company Sofas & Stuff Ltd, a creator of bespoke sofas, chairs, beds, footstools and more.

The agreement will see RHS-inspired designs adapted for fabrics that can be used across any of the Sofas & Stuff range of handmade furniture, or purchased as fabrics for curtains and blinds or other soft furnishing projects.

Titled the RHS 22 Fabric Collection, the designs will be based on the vast range of assets available to RHS licensees from the RHS Lindley Collections, the world’s finest collection of botanical art. The RHS 22 Fabric Collection draws from a broad span of the RHS archive, taking inspiration from botanical artists and garden designers from the 17th through to the 20th centuries.

The new collection will be exclusively previewed at the Soane House Installation, Stand AR597, at the RHS Chelsea Flower Show between 23 and 28 May 2022.

Sofas & Stuff was chosen by the RHS not just for the durability, quality and British craftsmanship essential to its output but also for its strong environmental credentials. The company is committed to creating and promoting eco-friendly furniture; this includes sustainable sofas and fabrics and cushions made from recycled plastic.

The collection will be available to purchase exclusively through Sofas & Stuff, both in-store at the company’s 20 showrooms across England and Scotland, and online. Details of availability will follow in due course.

Andrew Cussins, Founder of Sofas & Stuff, says: “It was a real honour to be given the opportunity to delve into the world-renowned horticultural archives of this great British charity to select drawings and designs I could rework to create the first official fabric collection in collaboration with this iconic heritage organisation. Our customers expect quality, diversity and richness in design, and we are excited to be unveiling a preview of the RHS 22 Fabric Collection at the RHS Chelsea Flower Show this year, showcasing the designs in a situation that reflects both their origin and inspiration.”

Cathy Snow, Licensing Manager, RHS, says: “Sofas & Stuff craftspeople are true experts in making and upholstering bespoke sofas, chairs, beds and sofa beds, and these glorious new fabric designs are a delight. This is British craftmanship of the highest quality and we are delighted to endorse it – and indeed, to help inspire it.”

CluedUpp Games introduces new Smurfs experience

Posted on by

IMPS and CluedUpp Games have announced a brand new licensing agreement that will transform hundreds of cities into a giant Smurf-tastic experience in 2023.

In a number of city-wide events, players will immerse themselves in a unique experience which combines augmented reality with the physical world to turn their hometown into the setting of a brand new Smurfs adventure. Exploring city streets, solving wacky challenges, and meeting their favourite Smurfs characters along the way, players will attempt to save the day from the evil wizard Gargamel.

Tref Griffiths, founder and CEO of CluedUpp Games, says: “We’re absolutely thrilled to be developing a new range of events alongside such an iconic brand as The Smurfs. This partnership presents a wonderful opportunity for families to explore their city and discover The Smurfs in a completely new and exciting way.”

Véronique Culliford, President of IMPS and daughter of Peyo, the creator of the Smurfs, commented: “We’re so excited about this new collaboration with CluedUpp Games. Getting together and having fun, this is what every Smurf likes to do. We can’t wait to see blue waves of Smurfs fans from all around the world exploring their city and thwarting Gargamel’s plans.”

Events are scheduled to take place in more than 800 cities and over 20 countries worldwide. Tickets will go on sale to the public from October 2022.

Reemsborko signs on as EMEA agent for Gloomy Bear, All Purpose Bunny and Mimi & Neko

Posted on by

Reemsborko, the licensing agency specialising in animé and animé-adjacent properties, comics, films, TV and tattoo art, has teamed with Octas to bring Mori Chack’s Gloomy Bear and other IPs to EMEA.

Created by Japanese illustrator Mori Chack in 2000, the cute-yet-edgy, cuddly-but-violent Gloomy Bear took hold when counter-culture enthusiasts embraced him as the perfect antithesis to the typically cute but harmless kawaii characters loved by the mainstream.

Now, fueled by 30 short humorous animé episodes that will stream everywhere, Gloomy Bear is being licensed around the globe, with Funko, Bioworld, Isaac Morris, ID Supply, GE Animation and Fossil already on board as partners.

A long-form Gloomy Bear anime series is also planned, which will stream globally.

Other Mori Chack properties that will be represented by Reemsborko across EMEA include All Purpose Bunny – a genetically modified test-lab rabbit with strange properties and unnaturally long ears, who finally retaliated against humans for years of abuse. All Purpose Bunny and Gloomy Bear often team up to attack humans and get their revenge.

Also included in the Mori Chack portfolio are Mimi and Neko, a friendly duo of a cat and a bunny with cute bum cheeks as their charm point. Their origin story begins with Mimi and Neko as regular pets who aspired to become human. Suddenly, a magic star came along and granted their wish – but the wish was only 50 per cent effective. Mimi & Neko now have hands and feet, and distinctly cute behinds.

Max Arguile of Reemsborko commented: “Reemsborko continues to sign the most interesting IP out there. Octas are masters in securing very cool properties that will delight anime fans everywhere. There are some great partners on board already and if this looks right for you, please email max@reemsborko.com.”

Vince Shortino of Octas commented: “Octas brings Japanese artists and their IP to the world. We are delighted to have Reemsborko as the agent for all our cherished properties and look forward to the hustle they will bring.”

Octas was established in 2018 by Shortino, the founder of Crunchyroll Japan. With a mission to connect Japanese creators and their IP directly to fans around the world, Octas provides artists with collaboration opportunities, marketing support, brand management and business development.