Genius Brands unveils global distribution strategy for Kartoon Channel! Worldwide

Following the pending acquisition of Canada’s WOW! Unlimited Media Inc. and strategic investment in Germany’s Your Family Entertainment AG, Genius Brands has unveiled a new “block” of children’s animated series and expanded distribution for its international channels.

The new lineup and branding is spearheaded by Kartoon Channel! Worldwide’s new Managing Director Paul Robinson, who previously served as Managing Director of Walt Disney Television International and Senior Vice President Disney Channel Worldwide.

The new block on the YFE International channels will be branded KARTOON GENIUS and will deliver positive entertainment for children, underscored by “safety and enrichment”.

KARTOON GENIUS will air every morning on Genius Brands International’s new channel footprint across Europe, the Middle East and Latin America, and is the first step in enhancing the quality and range of content on YFE’s existing platforms.

“With his background as Managing Director of Walt Disney Television International and his successful history setting up children’s content delivery systems worldwide, there is nobody in my opinion more qualified than Paul Robinson to build value for this company and create the next great global children’s distribution system,” says Genius Brands Chairman & CEO Andy Heyward.

Paul Robinson commented: “I am pleased to announce the first global initiative to enhance and deliver even better content and experiences to kids, families, and our affiliate partners across international markets through KARTOON GENIUS, a daily block of top quality, exclusive, branded, first run animated content, that will be defined by being not just entertaining, but also by being safe and enriching.

“In today’s world, more than ever, parents want to know that what their kids are watching on television is safe. We hear this over and over again, and Genius Brands is committed to fulfilling it not only as a producer, but also now as a global broadcaster through Kartoon Channel! Worldwide.

“There will be no violence, no inappropriate language, images, negative role models, or stereotypes. Kartoon Channel! in the U.S. has embraced these messages, which we plan to now elevate globally to the next level through our expanded lineup and increased distribution footprint across Europe/Middle East/Africa, Asia-Pacific, and South America. We believe that there is no other global channel system for children out there delivering this level quality of curated safe content today.”

KARTOON GENUIS’ new global lineup will include first run and exclusive content led by:

  • Stan Lee’s Superhero Kindergarten (pictured), starring Arnold Schwarzenegger: health, exercise and nutrition
  • Rainbow Rangers: protecting the environment
  • Warren Buffett’s Secret Millionaires Club: financial literacy for kids
  • Albert: answering kid’s questions, such as the origins of life and how things work
  • Space Yoghurt: creative problem solving and teamwork
  • Kids Songs: have fun, sing together and get up and dance
  • Reboot: adventures around the first fully computer-generated characters

Robinson adds: “Kartoon Channel! Worldwide plans to grow the existing footprint of its YFE international channels by partnering across Europe, the Middle East, Africa, Asia, and Australasia with pay tv platforms that currently don’t carry the channel and need a high quality, safe children’s channel.

“Additionally, as Kartoon Channel! has done in the U.S., we plan to expand distribution in the international markets on connected devices, smart TVs, tablets and mobile devices, with access through Android TV and Apple TV, as well as AVoD, SVoD and FAST channels in international markets.”

Andy Heyward commented: “This launch immediately follows and builds upon the Company’s pending acquisition of WOW! Unlimited Media and strategic investment into YFE, as one of Europe’s largest distributors and broadcasters of high-quality programs for children and families.

“YFE brings a global award-winning streaming and broadcast footprint on satellite, cable, OTT, and terrestrial networks—providing us a streaming foothold outside the United States, in Europe, and the rest of the world.

“The vision of YFE’s CEO Stefan Piech, and the broadcast experience of COO Bernd Wendeln, enriches the Genius Brands’ management team and helps position the Company to become the leading children’s content provider and broadcaster in the future.”

Reemsborko signs artist Matt Bailey

Artist Matt Bailey has signed with Reemsborko exclusively for all territories and categories.

Bailey is an internationally renowned artist with a serious fanbase and social media following, whose work is always in demand on people’s bodies as both apparel and tattoos. He has worked with Mighty Jaxx on a collectable toy and also with the hip-hop artists Run The Jewels, designing a label for one of their beers.

Max Arguile of Reemsborko commented: “Reemsborko constantly seeks the most interesting IP out there and I first heard about Matt when he was suggested for a screen print license for one of our anime properties. Unfortunately, the licensor felt it was a little too out-there for the brand. His style and content is often not for the faint-hearted and much of it is frankly NSFW but that still leaves a lot of really commercial imagery that are proven best-sellers and which is already in demand from the retailers that have seen it.

“Funnily enough, in a presentation to a licensee last week, merely the mention of his name was sufficient for them to exclaim, ‘Oh, I love Matt Bailey – if we sign this, please can he also tattoo me?’”

“As my artwork has grown over the last few years, demand for my merchandise has overwhelmed my ability to keep up with it,” says Matt Bailey. “The idea of licensees putting this into retail is very appealing. The fans won’t have to wait for items as they will be able to buy it locally and I won’t have the hassle of shipping and the stress of returns.”

For licensing and merchandise enquiries, email max@reemsborko.com

Ubisoft joins Fabacus to unlock digital licensing possibilities

Ubisoft, Venum and Fabacus are launching an activation using physical licensed products to unlock digital rewards and experiences for consumers, in a deal brokered by IMG.

For the first time, Fabacus, the global technology business and creator of proprietary technology platform Xelacore, has partnered with interactive entertainment and gaming company Ubisoft to integrate its licensed product into the Assassin’s Creed Valhalla brand universe with a dedicated capsule collection with the combat sportswear brand Venum.

Fabacus is levelling up the possibilities of its technology to cross formats and consumer ‘worlds’ with codes on physical Ubisoft x Venum products to unlock in-game rewards for players and their digital avatars. This is not the first time that Venum and Fabacus have collaborated together, having also partnered up earlier this year for a UFC x Venum collaboration to unlock exclusive products and UFC prizes.

“We are very excited to be kicking off this partnership with Ubisoft and breaking the boundaries between on-and-offline brand integration,” says Andrew Xeni, CEO & Founder of Fabacus. “Not only are we fuelling Ubisoft’s data driven strategies, but we are also broadening brand universes for consumers, using their Assassin’s Creed x Venum apparel purchases to unlock in-game rewards such as Shields. The possibility of what our technology can achieve within the advancement of gaming for licensors and licensees alike truly excites me.”

Addie Dorsey, Licensing Consumer Products at Ubisoft, commented: “As we move towards a world of new possibilities within AR & VR gameplay, we wanted to integrate our licensed products into our digital brand ecosystem, to not only provide our consumers with exciting, unique experiences, but also to allow us to expand the Assassin’s Creed Valhalla brand universe across sectors, in a way we had never been able to before.”

The campaign is due to go live today across the world, with codes concealed within selected Venum products for consumers to discover. Anyone who takes part in the activation will receive a free in-game reward: the Ouroboros Shield, a sturdy black metal shield decorated with a representation of a snake eating its own tail infinitely. Participation will also provide a chance to win Eivor figurines from the Assassin’s Creed game and discounts codes on Venum products.

Yin’s Brazil partners with Emoji by BRITTO for school and travel collection

In partnership with the brand Emoji by BRITTO, Yin’s Brazil has presented its first licensed collection for 2022.
Designed for the school and travel markets, the products capture the personality of world-renowned Brazilian artist, painter and sculptor Romero Britto and the contagious joy of Emoji – The Iconic Brand.

Known for his use of vibrant colours and geometric lines, Romero Britto conveys optimism, happiness and love through his art, and his joyful style is captured in each piece of the new collection.

Combining practicality with great design and quality, the Emoji by BRITTO product line includes backpacks, thermal bags, cases, accessories and travel bags, all decorated with exclusive prints. Aimed at teens and twentysomethings, the collection will be available from January in all Brazil’s major stores.

Official partners of the Emoji Company include more than 1,000 world famous global license partners, amongst them Sony Pictures Animation, PUMA, L’Oréal, Ferrero, Unilever, Burger King, Zara, The Hershey Company, Walmart, Danone, Nikon, Fuji, Nestlé, Lidl, Kellogg´s, Danone, Nikon, Aldi, Pepsico, Miss Sixty, the BBC, C&A and more.

The Emoji brand was recognised as the third most influential brand in the world, behind Lego and Coca-Cola, by the Powerlist. See more at www.emoji.com

 

Coco de Mer releases Killing Eve lingerie collection

Luxury lingerie brand and Home of Pleasure Coco de Mer has joined forces with BAFTA, Emmy, and Golden Globe Award-winning television series Killing Eve to create a limited-edition collection, in a deal brokered by the show’s licensing agency IMG.

The Killing Eve by Coco de Mer collection features exclusive designs inspired by the synonymous style and locations showcased in the global hit show, produced in the UK by Sid Gentle Films for BBC America and BBC iPlayer. It comprises five luxurious ranges, each influenced by one of the fashionable cities forming the backdrop throughout the series: Berlin, Moscow, Paris, Vienna and London.

Available exclusively at Coco de Mer and Net-a-Porter, the collection will feature two SS22 drops, with Berlin and Moscow launching in December 2021 for the holiday season, followed by Paris, Vienna and London for Valentine’s Day in February 2022.

Designed by women, for women, the 10-piece collection includes a luxurious red silk kimono, a daring emerald bodysuit and an eye-catching black and gold intertwined cut-out bra set.

Lucy Litwack, Coco de Mer CEO, comments: “Not only does this partnership encapsulate the unapologetic female empowerment deeply ingrained in Killing Eve, it highlights the power a woman can feel when wearing Coco de Mer’s lingerie. It has been such a joy to bring to life the iconic award-winning series and we hope the collection inspires all women to feel their best, strongest self.”

Killing Eve by Coco de Mer will launch exclusively with two ranges (Berlin and Moscow) in-store at Coco de Mer’s Monmouth Street boutique in London and online at www.coco-de-mer.comas well as through Net-a-Porter from 6 December. The remaining ranges will launch on 3 February 2022.

Prices range from £115 for a thong to £595 for a kimono.

Animaccord marks 100 billion views on YouTube with special episode of ‘Masha and the Bear’

Animaccord Studio has created a new special episode to express its appreciation to viewers the world over for reaching a milestone of 100 billion views on YouTube.

The release of a short episode titled “We love you to 100 BILLION and back” took place on 6 December on the official Masha and the Bear YouTube channel.

The animated series continues to demonstrate its huge popularity among audiences in different regions. The official YouTube channel of Masha and the Bear in Arabic has passed 10 million subscribers. The fastest-growing Arabic channel (by subscriber growth rate), it has been awarded a YouTube Diamond Play Button, joining the five already awarded to Masha and the Bear’s English, Spanish, Portuguese, Russian and Ukrainian channels.

Moreover, Masha and the Bear’s English YouTube channel has repeated its success of 2020: in less than a year, it has gained another 10 million subscribers and has now reached the milestone of 30 million subscribers.

9th Impact and Tilting Point team up for Big Brother: The Game II

Banijay Brands is extending its deal with award-winning game development studio 9th Impact for the globally interactive Big Brother mobile game. 9th Impact has partnered with leading free-to-play games publisher Tilting Point for the upcoming launch of Big Brother: The Game II on December 16.

The multiplayer online reality TV game is available worldwide for Apple and Android devices and PC download. With a life-changing prize fund up for grabs, players can become virtual housemates, experiencing life as a Big Brother contestant. They must make strategic choices to remain in the house and ultimately become victorious.

Lex Scott, Commercial Director, Gaming & Gambling at Banijay Brands, says: “Following the success of Big Brother: The Game I, we are delighted to extend our partnership with 9th Impact. Bringing in Tilting Point’s publishing expertise, we are set to supercharge the upcoming game, and entertain Big Brother fans around the world with this unique and immersive experience.”

9th Impact have created new house designs, games and mechanics, such as house juries, for Big Brother: The Game II, and the new tournament is introducing more gameplay innovation, including real life auditions.

The new game has two modes: Housemate and Spectator.  The game is free to download, and the Spectator mode is free with optional purchases. To become a Housemate the player must use a Token to enter the House, which is an in-app purchase, or audition to get an existing Housemate to sponsor their Token entry.

Big Brother: The Game I ran for 288 days and ended with Amy from Delaware beating 33,724 rival contestants, to walk away with a $33,000 grand prize.

Big Brother first aired in the Netherlands over 20 years ago. Since then, over 500 series have aired across 69 markets, producing over 28k episodes. Over 7,000 housemates from around the globe have spent over 35,000 days in the house, with over 5,000 live evictions. The format continues to deliver hit primetime ratings in long-running markets such as the US, Canada, Brazil, Italy and Israel, while continuing to evolve, with high-profile comebacks in Australia and Benelux.

Moonbug Entertainment brands to arrive front-of-store in Asda this Christmas

Just weeks after The Point.1888 announced a record-breaking 66 new licensees across EMEA for Moonbug Entertainment’s leading IP CoComelon, the superbrand has secured a prime spot in Asda stores nationwide, for a dual-branded activation focusing on children’s brands Blippi and CoComelon.

Since coming on board as Master Licensing Agency for Moonbug’s portfolio of brands in EMEA* last summer, the brand licensing specialist has sought to leverage CoComelon and Blippi’s popularity with children by bringing the brands closer to their audience across a broad range of categories, including clothing, puzzles, arts and crafts, games, and outdoor, to name just a few.

As part of a special activation arranged by The Point.1888, George at Asda has been given an exclusive style guide to create market-leading products for CoComelon and Blippi. The products include branded daywear and nightwear clothing, accessories, bags and footwear, and will be on sale across 453 Asda stores. In addition to the activation, there will also be a TOY FSDU included.

The full branded cross-category activation commences today in storefront mobile event units. Having seen huge success with CoComelon and Blippi earlier this year at Easter, this new activation is welcomed by for Asda and George. The retailer will be supporting this new and exclusive promotion with POS activity and marketing.

“When it comes to the launch of soft lines across Blippi and CoComelon, the George and Asda buying teams have been excellent supporters of the Moonbug brands,” says Hannah Stevens, Head of Retail at The Point.1888. “It had a strong apparel launch in Q2 and has carried lines throughout the year so it seems fitting that it should end the year with a bang. George at Asda will have a fantastic range of products and designs available for their customers in the lead-up to Christmas.”

Jenna Perry, Buying Expert at George at Asda commented: “We’re really excited to partner with The Point and Moonbug to bring this collaboration to the market across George and Asda. Blippi and CoComelon resonate well with our preschool customer and this launch will be great to showcase the licenses just in time for Christmas.”

“At Moonbug Entertainment we pride ourselves on developing world-class partnerships with retailers that share our vision in creating amazing products that bring joy to kids and families,” adds Ryan Gorman, Global Head of Retail Development and Marketing. “The partnership with George at Asda is a prime example of best-in-class collaboration. We are elated to work together with the entire team at Asda to bring joy to all families this holiday season.”

*With the exception of CoComelon in Germany, Switzerland, and Austria, which are represented by Super RTL.

 

‘Vikings’ spin-off ‘Vikings: Valhalla’ to drop on Netflix on 25 February

Rocket’s stand at Brand Licensing Europe took visitors back in time, as the agency presented the much-awaited new addition to the global sensation that is MGM’s Vikings: brand-new series Vikings: Valhalla. 

Vikings: Valhalla will premiere on 25 February 2022 on Netflix, and fans are already eagerly awaiting the consumer products portfolio.

Following on from Vikings, which transported viewers through the epic adventures of  Ragnar Lothbrok, a Viking warrior and farmer, MGM’s Vikings: Valhalla is set to thrill the original series’ army of fans.

The series will feature an all-star cast including Sam Corlett as Leif Eriksson, Frida Gustavsson as Freydis Eriksdotter, Leo Suter as Harald Sigurdsson, Bradley Freegard as King Canute, Johannes Johannesson as Olaf Haraldson and Laura Berlin as Emma of Normandy.

The UK licensing programme is set to combine three key touchpoints, enabling fans to “look like a Viking, act like a Viking, and express their love of the series”. It will cover a range of categories including apparel and accessories, health and beauty, homewares, collectables, costumes, games, figures, publishing and stationery, interactive and gambling, as well as experiential events and collaborations. Existing licensees include GB Eye, Ecell Global and Winning Moves, with new licensees and categories coming on board soon.

A new style guide has been prepared for the new series, offering a wealth of assets across three main themes – Vikingr (harvest colours combined with woodland greens); Skjaldmaer (Rustic moods combined in neutral winter hues) and Meidmar (featuring the logos and Viking treasures).

Charlie Donaldson, Joint MD, Rocket Licensing, commented: “The anticipation for Vikings: Valhalla is palpable. The original series built up such a huge following as the most in-demand historical drama in the world, and the second most in-demand TV series in the world. The series had a stupendous 11.2 million viewers per episode, and all of those people are eagerly awaiting this follow-up now on Netflix, meaning the demand will be off the scale.

“We had a great response from potential licensees at BLE and are now looking forward to welcoming new partners to the Viking clan. There is so much potential for this brand and we’re excited to get the licensing programme into action.”

Robert Marick, MGM’s Executive Vice President Global Consumer Products and Experiences, says: “The Vikings series has been incredibly popular over the years, reaching millions of viewers and inspiring the pop culture lexicon.

“We are thrilled to work with our new licensing partners to bring fans an exciting slate of new products for the latest installment of the story, Vikings: Valhalla.”

During its successful run, Vikings garnered 11.2 million views per weekly episode.  Beginning 100 years after the original series concludes, Vikings: Valhalla, from MGM Television, dramatises the adventures of the most famous Vikings who ever lived: Leif Erikson, Freydis, Harald Harada and Norman King William the Conqueror (also a Viking descendant). Around the world, Vikings has accrued more than 30 licensees across apparel, collectables, publishing, novelty and gaming.

US streetwear brand FLAN teams with The Laughing Cow for capsule collection

In a deal brokered by Design Plus Licensing, streetwear brand FLAN has linked up with the iconic cheese snack brand The Laughing Cow to launch a football-themed capsule collection for the US market.

FLAN x The Laughing Cow continues FLAN’s tradition of mixing fresh, funky colours with cosy materials, and playing with themes and textures. The collection comprises give t-shirts, a vinyl hoodie, shorts and pants, fleece sweatpants and a polo jersey, all crafted from 100% organic fabrics.

The FLAN logo appears inside the ear tags of The Laughing Cow logotype insignia. Drawing inspiration from the familiar cheese packaging, blue diagonal stripes make a design statement throughout the capsule. Using 100% sustainable fabrics, the result is a half-cosy, half-sporty assortment highlighted by a soccer kit with the number 100 as a nod to The Laughing Cow’s 100th birthday.

FLAN Founder Jared Vinik says: “The Laughing Cow is an icon of the snack world, a globally recognised brand. Both familiar and nostalgic, so many of us grew up eating their cheese snacks and still do. It is an honour to collaborate on a capsule for their 100th birthday. At FLAN, if we are not eating we are laughing, so this collection really exemplifies why we do this.”

BEL SA Head of Licensing Patrick Tamburlin adds: “Thanks to Design Plus for brokering this exciting deal. I am impressed with The Laughing Cow x FLAN apparel range and FLAN’s creative interpretation of our band. It’s an astonishingly exciting collab to finish the year – the perfect Christmas gift!”

Price points ranging from $70 for t-shirts to $200 for a hoodie. The collection is available to purchase online via www.flanlabs.com only, from Friday 10 December.