Category Archives: Highlight

Boat Rocker announces key hires within its NYC and London offices

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Boat Rocker has announced the appointments of EJ Minor as Brand Director for the Americas and Emmanuelle Cadet (pictured) as Licensing Director for the UK, Australia and EMEA for its Brand Management & Content Marketing division.

Minor will be taking the lead for franchise management, brand marketing and retail marketing for the Americas, while Cadet will lead the licensing sales strategy across the key markets of the UK, Australia and EMEA, where there is significant growth ahead. This includes the hit animated preschool series Dino Ranch, which is already seeing widespread global expansion just a year on from launch. Dino Ranch toys launched in the US and Australia late last year with a planned roll-out across the UK & Europe this summer, and Cadet will be working on securing additional partners across all key categories for franchise growth in 2023.

Kate Schlomann, EVP Brand Management and Content Marketing, Boat Rocker, says: “We’re delighted to welcome EJ and Emmanuelle to the Boat Rocker team. With their talent, flair and experience they will play a vital part in further driving our expansion in building global franchises across our growing portfolio in kids and family, scripted and factual entertainment.”

EJ Minor joins Boat Rocker from Wildbrain, where he was responsible for the relaunch of the Strawberry Shortcake franchise, including the all-new YouTube series, Roblox game and CP partnerships including toys from Moose. He also led the push for Teletubbies with all-new music videos and a partnership around NYC Pride this year.

Prior to Wildbrain, Minor was at SpinMaster, Mattel/Hit Entertainment and Hasbro, where he managed brand franchises and played a key role in toy development. He will be based at Boat Rocker’s New York office and reports directly to Kate Schlomann.

Emmanuelle Cadet has extensive experience across toy and consumer products, having held senior licensing and marketing positions across several companies including Disney, Cartoon Network, Rovio and Tomy. Her most recent role was as Head of Marketing, Flair UK, where she led the marketing department for a portfolio of 30+ toy brands. Cadet will be based at Boat Rocker’s London office and reports to Nicola Herrmann who was recently promoted to VP Brand Management & Licensing.

In an additional appointment to the London team, Dwayne Clarke has joined as Brand Manager for the UK, Aus & EMEA, reporting to Nicola Herrmann. He joins from Lime Pictures, where he was Brand Partnership Manager, and his 10+ years’ experience in the media industry also includes brand management roles at the BBC and ITV.

 

Spin Master seals content licensing deals for its preschool series Mighty Express

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Spin Master has announced content licensing deals for its CG animated preschool series Mighty Express. Continuing to expand the franchise’s global footprint, Mighty Express is laying new tracks with broadcast networks POP UK (United Kingdom), SUPER RTL (Germany), TVP (Poland) and Tele-Quebec (Canada).

Featuring action-packed missions starring cool trains and their kid best friends, the Mighty Express series aims to take a contemporary approach to the timeless genre of trains. The licensing deal includes 60 11-minute episodes in addition to 26 3-minute shorts for over 700 minutes of Mighty content.

“From promoting teamwork and friendship to celebrating accomplishments, Mighty Express appeals to a global audience through engaging characters and exciting storylines,” says Jennifer Dodge, Spin Master’s President of Entertainment. “At Spin Master Entertainment, we are committed to developing evergreen global properties that capture the hearts and minds of children around the world and broadcast partners like these help deliver our stories to preschoolers globally.”

The Mighty Express franchise is part of the company’s commitment to a multiplatform content strategy boasting discoverability for both kids and their parents. The franchise ecosystem includes a YouTube destination that has amassed over 165 million views amounting to 4.5 million watch time hours and counting.

Hasbro promotes Sally Carnota to Senior Director of UK Licensed Consumer Products

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Hasbro has announced the promotion of Sally Carnota to Senior Director of UK Licensed Consumer Products, effective immediately. Carnota will be based at Hasbro’s Warren Street office in the UK and report to Marianne James, Vice President of EMEA & Asia Licensed Consumer Products at Hasbro. 

“Sally has been integral in expanding Hasbro’s EMEA licensing business,” says Marianne James. “She continues to build strong licensee and retail partnerships across the UK and Ireland and execute at scale, which has helped grow our brands significantly across those markets. We’re confident that Sally will continue making our UK licensing business a huge success in her new role and excited to see how she’ll take our brands to the next level.”

“Products, brands and retail are all passions of mine, along with being with people and building relationships,” said Carnota. “I am a proud mother of two preschool boys who remind me every day what a magical industry I am so lucky to be working in. I am excited to continue growing with Hasbro and proud to lead such a talented team to make our amazing brands come to life.”

In her new role, Carnota will continue to lead Hasbro’s UK Licensing Business, focusing on expanding its brands into new categories and channels of distribution whilst leading and strengthening the company’s extensive base of existing partners and retailers. She will be responsible for the vision, growth and performance of Hasbro merchandise across all categories and brands in the UK. She will also work closely with the Entertainment Brand Marketing team to ensure the UK continues to lead in delivering innovation, consumer relevance and exciting brand campaigns for its licensees and retailers.

Previously, Carnota was the Director of Licensed Consumer Products for UK & Ireland. She joined Hasbro in 2015 where she led the UK & EMEA Retail Development team. Prior to Hasbro, Carnota spent years at Viacom Paramount Pictures where she was responsible for Franchise Activation, Partnership Management and Commercial Business Planning.

Bulldog signs Wow! Stuff for master toy global deal

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Licensing agency Bulldog has agreed terms on a deal with Wow! Stuff for the toy company to become the first licensee for the ‘boundary breaking’ 2.5D animated series Odo.

Created by Sixteen South Originals and co-produced with Letko, Odo has now sold into more than 128 countries. In the new Master Toy global deal, Wow! Stuff will create a comprehensive range of toys including plush, dolls, figures and accessories, role-play toys, play sets, track sets, construction toys and bath toys.

Odo is a little owl with big ideas and was recently selected to join the Bulldog family of brands following its stellar TV launch last year. The first series comprises 52 x 7-minute stories and has already been pre-sold to many leading networks and broadcasters worldwide. The series is now airing every weekday on Milkshake! in the UK.

Odo has also been signed by HBO Max in the US and is airing on MiniMini+ in Poland, TVO Kids and Knowledge Kids in Canada and ABC in Australia. Many more territories will roll out throughout 2022.

The series combines humour and heart and aims to teach young children self-efficacy and to believe in themselves to help combat the troubling rise in childhood anxiety and depression levels. Each episode sees Odo positively tackle challenges with the help of his best friend Doodle, under the loving watchful eye of Camp Leader, an eagle.

Wow! Stuff’s Director of Licensing, Kenny McAndrew, is delighted with the deal. “We were pitching against some of the biggest toy companies for Odo,” he says. “Everything Odo stands for resonates and aligns with our own values, we wanted this with all our hearts – and I think that showed through in our pitch! Odo is unique; Odo the owl is gender neutral, the themes are groundbreaking and the series is grounded on social justice. And it’s very, very funny.”

Vicky Miller, Licensing Director of Bulldog Licensing, adds: “Wow! Stuff’s reputation for innovation is really unmatched in the industry and that’s what we wanted for Odo. The series is breaking boundaries in its approach to children’s mental health and wellbeing, it’s a trail-blazer in the preschool entertainment arena. Similarly, Wow! Stuff always goes above and beyond to create innovative, show-stopping product ranges and that’s just what Odo deserves”.

 

TSBA Group secures adidas and Arsenal collaboration with Transport for London

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adidas and Arsenal have today launched a collection in collaboration with Transport for London (TfL) to celebrate the historic connection between the football club and the London Underground. The collaboration was brokered by TSBA Group, TfL’s global licensing agent.

Available from today, the range celebrates Arsenal station – the only Underground station to be named after a football club, following its change from Gillespie Road in 1932.

The collection is inspired by the seat pattern or “moquette” that appears on the Piccadilly line trains that run through Arsenal Tube station and the bold and disruptive all-over print is seen on the prematch jersey and warm top, which the players will wear to warm up in ahead of games between now and the end of the season.

There are five pieces in the range, which also includes a youth jersey – matching the adult shirts – as well as a reversible padded vest and pant, both of which have navy base colour and subtle Arsenal Tube station sign-off.

Julie Dixon, Head of Customer Information, Design & Partnerships at Transport for London (TfL), says: “It’s been great to collaborate with adidas and Arsenal on this new pre-match range, which reflects our iconic Piccadilly line moquette. Arsenal Tube station has had a deep relationship with the football club for almost 90 years and for staff and fans alike – there is nothing quite like the atmosphere and excitement on a match day. We look forward to seeing fans around the world wearing this eye-catching new pre-match range.”

As part of the campaign, adidas has also teamed up with London-based artist and Arsenal fan Reuben Dangoor to create and design a special, limited-edition Oyster card.

Consumers can have the chance of claiming the card, which is pre-loaded with £15, by purchasing an article in the range via the adidas app. There is also a chance to win one via a first-come-first-served free to enter opportunity to adidas Creator Club members.

The range will be available across adidas.com, in store as well as at Arsenal official club stores and selected retailers.

For the chance to claim a bespoke Reuben Dangoor designed Oyster Card, visit adidas.co.uk/adidasapp.

For further information on the TfL brand, contact enquiries@tsbagroup.com

Cath Kidston partners with Beanstalk to extend the brand into new categories

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Cath Kidston, the British lifestyle brand known for its playful nostalgic prints, has appointed global brand extension licensing agency Beanstalk to extend its brand into new categories in home, fashion and gifting areas internationally.

Beanstalk will extend Cath Kidston’s footprint into new areas for all the family to enjoy, with a focus on key geographic markets, developed through Beanstalk’s extensive partnership network.     

Melinda Paraie, CEO of Cath Kidston, says: “We are thrilled with the new partnership, which leverages the licensing expertise of Beanstalk to create opportunities for our customers to experience Cath Kidston in new ways.  The expansion of our iconic print narrative into additional product categories and key global markets supports our long-term growth plan. Through licensed extensions, the brand vision will continue to bring nostalgic meaning and joy to everyday life.”

Louise French, Senior Vice President, Business Development and Operations at Beanstalk, adds: “We are delighted to be working with Cath Kidston, one of Britain’s best-loved brands, to extend the brand into new and creative spaces.

“The quintessentially British nature of the brand and distinctive print handwriting offer significant opportunities to create beautiful new products that offer additional touchpoints for consumers. We are looking forward to working alongside the Cath Kidston team to deliver a successful international licensing programme.”

Laurence King Publishing to produce two new gifts for the forthcoming The Amazing Maurice film

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Philip Contos, Commissioning Editor for Gift at Laurence King Publishing, part of The Orion Publishing Group, has acquired rights to produce a 250-piece jigsaw puzzle and children’s matching card game to accompany the release on Sky Cinema of The Amazing Maurice later this year.

The film – produced by Cantilever Media and Ulysses Filmproduktion in co-production with Sky – is based on Terry Pratchett’s novel The Amazing Maurice and His Educated Rodents (2001), the first Discworld novel for children, which won the Carnegie Medal in 2001.

The forthcoming Sky Original production features Maurice, a streetwise tom cat who comes up with a money-making scam by befriending a group of talking rats. When Maurice and the rodents reach the stricken town of Bad Blintz, they meet a bookworm called Malicia and their scheme soon goes down the drain.

The film features the voices of Hugh Laurie, Emilia Clarke, David Thewlis, Himesh Patel and Gemma Arterton, among others.

Philip Contos says: “I’m thrilled to be working on these games to help kids enjoy the world of the The Amazing Maurice, Bad Blintz, and the rat king. It’s the first-ever animated feature film based on a novel by Terry Pratchett and it’s a fantastic way of introducing younger audiences to his work.

“I watched the rough cut with my 7-year-old and he loved it, in spite of the fact that it was only a third finished. It’s like a cross between Ratatouille and Robin Hood, with the spirited Malicia as narrator giving lots of hilarious asides direct to camera. I can’t wait to see the finished film and it’s going to be so much fun exploring the world of the novel further in the jigsaw puzzle and matching game.”

The jigsaw and game will both be priced at £12.99 and are suitable for children aged 6+ and their families.

 

Vilebrequin appoints IMG for product and brand collaborations

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Vilebrequin, the French luxury brand specialising in swimwear, has appointed IMG to extend its brand globally through product and brand licensing partnerships, in a multi-year global deal.

Vilebrequin, which celebrated its 50th anniversary in 2021, will work with IMG to creatively extend the brand into wider lifestyle categories consistent with the brand’s cultivation of a sun-kissed “joie de vivre” spirit. Categories targeted include sunglasses, headwear, footwear, jewellery, resort and beach furniture and sun-care, featuring the brand’s distinctive fabric patterns and St. Tropez-rooted European flair.

Roland Herlory, Vilebrequin CEO, commented: “We are pleased to partner with IMG to help us identify the best product and brand collaborations for Vilebrequin. We plan to extend our ‘art of living at the beach’ philosophy to new categories, which will expand the reach and grow our brand. In doing so, we will bring luxury holiday wear to the next level, while always staying true to our St. Tropez heritage, without making any compromises on quality, comfort and style.”

Bruno Maglione, President of Licensing at IMG, added: “Vilebrequin has mastered the art of creating swimsuits that are not only instantly identifiable, but also evoke a free-spirited mindset inspired by the sun, sand and sea that nourishes the imagination. Its French Riviera heritage and bright colours are married to a lifestyle of freedom and relaxation that is equal parts glamorous and aspirational. This uniquely rich brand heritage will enable us to bring to life new products consistent with the brand’s DNA.”

Founded in 1971, Vilebrequin was created in Saint Tropez by Fred Prysquel, a photographer and sports automobile journalist and Yvette, a fashion designer. Currently, Vilebrequin’s swim collections are developed from 50% recycled or recyclable materials and are expected to expand to approximately 80% by 2023. Additionally, Vilebrequin’s packaging is sourced from sustainably managed forests, contain 40% recycled materials and are fully biodegradable.

For more information on licensing opportunities, visit www.imglicensing.com.

New Chicken Run and Wallace & Gromit adventures in the works from Aardman

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Aardman Animation Studio has announced the cast lineup for its latest feature film Chicken Run: Dawn of the Nugget, and confirmed a brand-new Wallace & Gromit adventure for 2024.

Chicken Run: Dawn of the Nugget, the sequel to Chicken Run, the highest-grossing stop-motion animated film of all time, will be coming exclusively to Netflix in 2023.

Like its 2000 predecessor, Chicken Run: Dawn of the Nugget is a comedy action-adventure, in which our chicken heroes have to break into an impenetrable fortress. Ginger and Rocky will be played by Thandiwe Newton and Zachary Levi, respectively, while Bella Ramsey will voice their headstrong daughter, Molly. Reprising their roles are Jane Horrocks (Babs), Imelda Staunton (Bunty) and Lynn Ferguson (Mac), joined by new additions Josie Sedgwick-Davies (Frizzle), David Bradley (Fowler), Romesh Ranganathan (Nick), Daniel Mays (Fetcher) and Nick Mohammed (Dr. Fry). Sam Fell (Flushed Away and Oscar-nominated ParaNorman) will direct the film, on which production is already underway.

The BBC has also announced a brand-new Wallace & Gromit adventure for British audiences in 2024.

From the creative mind of Nick Park and the first Wallace & Gromit film since the 2008 BAFTA-winning and Oscar-nominated A Matter of Loaf and Death, the as-yet-untitled new film focuses on Gromit’s concern that Wallace has become over-dependant on his inventions – which proves justified when Wallace invents a “smart gnome” that seems to develop a mind of its own. As events spiral out of control, it falls to Gromit to put aside his qualms and battle sinister forces or Wallace may never be able to invent again…

The BBC has a long relationship with Aardman and this announcement follows the success of the latest Shaun the Sheep caper The Flight Before Christmas, which aired on BBC One over the festive period.

Sean Clarke, MD of Aardman, says: “Wallace and Gromit are so loved by everyone at Aardman – they’re like family to us, and we couldn’t be more excited to be creating a brand-new film for them to star in. When Nick came up with the concept for a ‘smart gnome’, we all agreed that Wallace would find the idea irresistible – despite warnings from Gromit, who is wise beyond his (dog) years. We’re sure audiences will find the story irresistible too.”

The film will premiere on the BBC in the UK, and on Netflix in the rest of the world. It will be directed by Nick Park (creator of Wallace & Gromit and Shaun the Sheep) and Merlin Crossingham (Creative Director, Wallace & Gromit and Animation Director, Early Man) with the story written by Nick Park and Mark Burton (Madagascar, Wallace & Gromit: The Curse of the Were-Rabbit, Shaun the Sheep Movie) and the screenplay by Mark Burton.

Bachelors partners with Pokémon to roll out exclusive promotion

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Batchelors is kicking off 2022 with an exclusive partnership with Pokémon, offering shoppers a raft of prizes through an on-pack promotion and campaign. Rolling out in stores nationwide from 27 January, the promotion is launching in the same week as the highly anticipated Pokémon Legends: Arceus.

The on-pack promotion will see Pokémon characters feature across packaging for Batchelors Super Noodles and Pasta ’n’ Sauce ranges, with shoppers able to win 100 prizes each week such as Nintendo Switch Consoles, Pokémon plush, copies of the Pokémon Brilliant Diamond and Pokémon Shining Pearl games, and cards from the Pokémon Trading Card Game.

Naomi Shooman, brand director for quick meals, soups and snacks at Premier Foods, comments: “Following on from the previous success of gaming partnerships for Batchelors, we are delighted to be joining forces this year with Pokémon, the highest media grossing franchise in the world. Our on-pack promotion will give shoppers the chance to win a range of prizes and Pokémon products, and is set to attract new shoppers to the category and encourage existing Batchelors fans to grab a pot or pack of Super Noodles or Pasta ’n’ Sauce more often. We know that Batchelors is particularly popular with those aged 35-44, and coupled with Pokémon’s wide-ranging appeal to younger adults, we see the partnership as a real recipe for success.”

The Batchelors and Pokémon promotion will be rolling out across retailers from 27 January, and will be supported through in-store activation in grocery and convenience.