Moonbug Entertainment partners with Virgin Media to expand kids’ programming in the UK

Posted on 24th September 2020 by Sam Giltrow

Moonbug Entertainment is partnering with Virgin Media to expand its children’s programming across the UK. Under the partnership, ten new shows will air on Virgin Media’s TV platform, starting with a roll out from mid October.

The children’s programming set to air includes Blippi, Little Baby Bum, Playtime with Twinkle, Go Buster, Toddler Fun Learning, Digley and Dazey, Dr Poppy, Supa Strikas, My Magic Pet Morphle and Gecko’s Garage.

“We couldn’t be more delighted to enter this strategic partnership with Virgin Media, one of the leading platforms in the UK,” said Nicolas Eglau, head of EMEA and APAC at Moonbug.

“Brands like Blippi and Morphle have become household names in the UK and by bringing them to Virgin Media customers, even more families will have the opportunity to enjoy these blockbuster titles. We look forward to working with Virgin Media on bringing more Moonbug shows to their viewers in the future.”

David Bouchier, chief digital entertainment officer at Virgin Media, added: “We’re constantly looking for ways to expand our kids offer and we’re very pleased to add Moonbug’s impressive range of popular children’s characters for our customers.

“Not only will families gain access to more than ten new franchises, but they’ll have exclusive access to new episodes of Blippe before anyone else, from November 2nd.”

Blippi is the most recent program to join Moonbug’s impressive lineup. Through singing, dancing, and exploring, Blippi helps children understand the world around them and encourages vocabulary development. Virgin Media exclusively gets a selection of new Blippi episodes for one month before they air on other platforms in the UK.

My Magic Pet Morphle, an animation show loved by children aged aged three to six, follows Little Mila and her magical pet Morphle as they turn playtime into a series of fun and educational adventures while teaching themes of friendship, problem-solving and creativity.

Gecko’s Garage is a show about friendly neighbourhood mechanic Gecko and his team of clumsy robot Mechanicals who together help any vehicle in need. Whether it’s a bus with a leaky oil tank, or a goldfish trapped in an exhaust, they’ll always try their very best and get the job done.

Banijay puts Peaky Blinders fans’ knowledge to the test with the Peaky Blinders Quiz Book

Posted on 23rd September 2020 by Sam Giltrow

Banijay and the Peaky Blinders brand owner, Caryn Mandabach Productions is putting fans’ knowledge to the test with the launch of the first Official Peaky Blinders Quiz Book.

Inside the Official Peaky Blinders Quiz Book fans of the show will find over 1,000 questions from across the five series, varying in difficulty level from the criminally easy to the murderously hard. The quiz book is suitable for all ages, and aims to provide hours of fun for the family.

The book arrives on the heels of the success of the first official Peaky Blinders book, By Order of the Peaky Blinders: The Official Companion to the Hit TV Series, which launched last year.

Published by Michael O’Mara Books, the book is an ultimate call-out to fans; exploring the key themes, characters and plotlines.

Jane Smith, group director, brand licensing of Banijay Brands, said: “The new Official Peaky Blinders Quiz Book is incredibly exciting, and demonstrates yet another way of how Banijay Brands are able to work with licensees to come up with innovative ways to extend the brand into multiple product lines that consumers will love.

“At a time when quizzing has never been so popular, we really hope fans of the show enjoy delving deep, and testing their knowledge, as they will no doubt find out interesting facts they never knew.”

Susan Waddell, commercial director, Caryn Mandabach Productions, added: “We have had so much fun working with Matt Whyman and the talented team at Hodder on the creation of the first official Peaky Blinders Quiz Book. It’s a brilliant way to relive the Show and we are sure our fans will love the chance to put their Peaky knowledge to the test.”

Peaky Blinders boasts a successful licensing programme that now spans over 40 licensees across multiple territories. This includes product ranges across apparel, gifting, stationary, men’s grooming, games and puzzles, video games and experiential. The brand continues to appeal to the TV series’ dedicated fan base in a growing number of international markets.

Created and written by Steven Knight (Dirty Pretty Things, Eastern Promises and Locke), the multi-award-winning BBC One series is produced by Peaky Blinders owner, independent production company Caryn Mandabach Productions and by Banijay’s Tiger Aspect Productions.

Banijay represent a range of global ancillary rights for Peaky Blinders which is distributed by Banijay Rights across more than 183 countries and airs widely on Netflix internationally including the USA.

Sony, Penguin and Clarkson Potter cosy up with Outlander Knitting

Posted on 23rd September 2020 by Sam Giltrow

Clarkson Potter, Penguin Random House, and Sony Consumer Products are cosying up this autumn to launch Outlander Knitting, a collection of knitting projects inspired by the hit TV series Outlander, an adaptation of Diana Gabaldon’s best-selling novels.

The new launch will feature 20 projects for apparel, accessories, and home decor that relate to specific episodes of the TV series, allowing fans to recreate rustic knits – both those worn on the show and other items imagined from the story of Jamie Fraser and Claire Beauchamp Randall.

Fans will be able to knit the capelet cowl that Mrs. Fitz gives to Claire at Castle Leoch, warm their feet with Clan Mackenzie Boot Socks, swaddle the bairn with the Mo Chridhe Baby Blanket, and dress their very own Jamie in a warm waistcoat. From beginner-friendly chunky knits to more advanced Celtic cables, each project includes a clearly written pattern, photography, and scenes from the set.

Billed as ‘a love letter to the fans’, Outlander Knitting aims to ‘transport you back in time to the Scottish Highlands.’

“We are very excited to partner with Clarkson Potter|Penguin Random House on Outlander Knitting. The book happens to be a passion project of mine because it not only rounds up and beautifully displays the unique pieces of knitwear seen on the show, but it also encourages fans to tap into their creativity to make their favorite Outlander-inspired knits that they can proudly say they created on their own,” said Jamie Stevens, EVP, worldwide consumer products, Sony Pictures Entertainment.

“With projects for beginners to advanced knitters, Outlander Knitting is sure to keep fans entertained when they are watching the show and even when they are not.”

WWE steps into the ring with Wines that Rock for first WWE Wines collection

Posted on 23rd September 2020 by Sam Giltrow

WWE has stepped into the ring with the entertainment and lifestyle wine company, Wines That Rock, to launch a new WWE Wines collection, featuring WWE Legend, The Undertaker, and WWE Hall of Famer, The Ultimate Warrior.

Both special vintages of limited edition wines developed in collaboration with WWE have been chosen to represent each wrestling Superstar’s unique personality and will feature individually numbered labels, unique glass, artwork, and the winemaking talents of 2020 Wine Enthusiast’s 40 under 40 Tastemaker, Andrew Nelson.

They will be available for pre-sale beginning today via wwewines.com with a shipping date of Thursday, October 22 in time for the holiday season.

“We knew these bottles would look amazing and be perfect for collectors and fans alike but wanted the quality of the wine to ultimately be the real winner here,” said Wines That Rock winemaker, Andrew Nelson.

“For The Undertaker’s Limited-Edition 30 Barrel Series, we used 100 per cent premium Cabernet Sauvignon from Lodi, California aged in oak. For The Ultimate Warrior, we looked to Mendocino County for a high quality, full bodied and flavorful Zinfandel.”

The Ultimate Warrior was one of the most iconic Superstars in WWE history and captivated audiences around the world with his distinctive ring entrances and larger-than-life personality. The powerful and flavorful wine features a rich and dark 80 per cent Zinfandel and 20 per cent Sangiovese blend from the Northern Coast of California.

The bottles will feature three unique corks produced with different images and quotes from the WWE Hall of Famer, hand-filled and expertly hand wax-dipped in his signature bright neon colors.

“It was an amazing experience to collaborate with the team at Wines That Rock on this special Ultimate Warrior wine project,” said Dana Warrior. “From the quality of the wine, to the unique bottle, label and signature wax colors, it was clear they were committed to capturing his essence and honoring his legacy with impeccable attention to every detail.”

The Undertaker Limited-Edition 30-Barrel Series is a premium Cabernet Sauvignon wine consisting of a 30-barrel production run honoring his 30-year anniversary with WWE. Each bottle is marked with an individual number and the barrel it came from, hand-filled and expertly hand wax-dipped using his signature purple color while featuring a unique tombstone shape and glow-in-the-dark label.

“Our collaboration with WWE has taken our creative and winemaking teams to a new level. Working together with their team to define the first two releases has been fun personified,” said Wines That Rock’s senior project manager Heather Hudson. “Our goal is always to create premium, limited-edition wines that we as fans want to own. These first two releases for WWE Wines are stellar. To quote WWE’s Ultimate Warrior: ‘Live Strong, Act Bold, Be Brave. Nothing’s too hard to do, always believe.”

As part of its Rock ‘N Roll tradition, Wines That Rock has also produced one-of-a-kind branded electric guitars for both The Ultimate Warrior and The Undertaker.

Reebok and Universal Brand Development launch Minions: The Rise of Gru footwear collection

Posted on 23rd September 2020 by Sam Giltrow

Reebok has partnered with Universal Brand Development, Illumination and the world renowned Minions franchise to grandly unveil its Minions: The Rise of Gru collection, a new footwear range celebrating the upcoming blockbuster release slated for July 2021.

Available globally from Reebok.com and select retailers beginning October 1, the exclusive full-family footwear collection ‘unfolds a real-life creative alliance of epic proportions revealing a master plan years in the making.’

Recognized globally as the world’s most successful animated film franchise of all time, Illumination’s iconic Despicable Me continues to capture the imagination of audiences worldwide. The Minions x Reebok collection injects inspiration directly from the forthcoming film that chronicles the untold story of one 12-year-old’s dream to become the world’s greatest supervillain.

The collection feature the Minions x Reebok Question Mid Gru’s Lab, an imaginative modification of Reebok’s Question Mid inspired by Gru and his laboratory. It uses different “metals” from around Gru’s lab to form a mostly unpolished silver upper, while a more-finished glossy chrome leather panel at the heel pops above his signature “G” logo stamped in place of the traditional Iverson “3”.

Looking inside, wearers will find asymmetric double-sided ‘trap door’ sock liners – a first-of-its kind sneaker innovation – that each hide top-secret elements from Gru’s lab on the underside.

Next up is the Minions x Reebok Instapump Fury Vicious 6, a take on the Vicious 6 that Gru must first defeat to become the world’s greatest super villain. Taking inspiration from the infamous group, this asymmetric fashion-forward take on Reebok’s historic ‘laceless’ Instapump Fury mixes a plethora of contrasting prints, colors, materials and textures, while the silhouette goes big like the villains themselves.

The Minions x Reebok Club C Vicious 6 meanwhile, nods to the film’s ’70s vibe and textures as well as retro colours, featuring corduroy, premium leather and nubuck panels and the Vicious 6 logo on the tongue.

The Minions x Reebok Instapum Fury Minions pays homage to the Minions iconic yellow and blue colour palette, as a vibrant take on the Instapump Fury imagined through the eyes of the Minions themselves. It feature particular nods to the film franchise, including a Minions party insole, Minion eyes on either pump button, a banana peel graphic on the left outsole, and more.

Completing the line up is the Minions x Reebok Club C Otto, a subtle yet bright take on the classic Club C which celebrates the franchise’s newest Minion, Otto. The silhouette, a second creation inspired by the Minions horde, is filled with yellow paint, Minions party insoles, pops of lime green and a splash of mud on either outsole – the meaning behind which will be revealed in the forthcoming film.

The partnership is completed with an apparel capsule collection that feature Minions x Reebok graphic acropss a range of short sleeved and long sleeved cropped and regular t-shirts. Each Reebok creation arrives in Gru’s Lab sneaker packaging, featuring hand-drawn orthographic views of Gru’s childhood bedroom and top secret lair, complete with Easter egss from the upcoming film.

Spin Master Entertainment’s The Mighty Express makes Netflix debut globally

Posted on 23rd September 2020 by Sam Giltrow

Spin Master Entertainment has made company history with the launch of its first straight-to-Netflix series, Mighty Express, a new CG animated pre-school series that is rolling onto Netflix globally from today. The launch of the new show marks the 11th children’s franchise to be developed by the children’s entertainment company.

“Spin Master Entertainment excels at developing evergreen global properties through compelling story telling and engaging characters that resonate with audiences,” said Spin Master Entertainment’s executive vice president, Jennifer Dodge.

“From the importance of friendship and teamwork, to boosting kids’ confidence in their own attributes and abilities, the Mighty Express series is a fun place for children to laugh and learn alongside the characters in the show. We are so excited for families to discover our first Netflix original series and we look forward to developing more content for the platform in the future.”

Animated by the Vancouver-based toon house, Atomic Cartoons, Mighty Express is created and executive produced by Keith Chapman, the name behind the global franchises PAW Patrol and Bob the Builder. The series is also executive produced by Dodge and Spin Master’s co-founder and co-CEO, Ronnen Harary.

Highlighting Spin Master’s latest commitment to its multi-platform content strategy, Mighty Express marks Spin Master Entertainment’s first series launching straight to a streaming platform. The Mighty Express franchise is wholly-owned by Spin Master and the company will retain the rights to distribution of the series, including the licensing of consumer products.

A toy line is expected to bow in 2021.

The Mighty Express is set in a vast, playful, and quirky world crisscrossed by railway tracks, a team of trains and their kid best-buddies keep things moving and get the delivery done no matter what the trouble. Each of the trains has a specialty which they use when going on Mega Missions or hauling cargo, be it animals, equipment, or giant dinosaur bones. They always rise to the occasion when trouble strikes.

The Royal Mint unveils its Winnie-the-Pooh commemorative coin collection

Posted on 23rd September 2020 by Sam Giltrow

The Royal Mint has partnered with Disney to reveal its latest commemorative coin, bringing the original and much-loved illustrations of the beloved Winnie-the-Pooh to the 50 pence for the first time. The new coin forms forms part of a wider collection of special 50p coins featuring Winnie-the-Pooh and friends.

Developed in collaboration with Disney, the 50 pence coin uses the original watercolour illustrations of E.H. Shepard, with the first coin in the series featuring Winnie-the-Pooh alongside his jar of honey.

The limited edition coin is available in a range of finishes, including base metal, Silver and Gold. Shepard’s illustrations have been digitally printed on each, which the Royal Mint says ‘brings them alive in vivid detail and colour.’

Daniel Thorne, product designer at The Royal Mint and part of the collaboration to have worked on the Winnie-the-Pooh collection, said: “Working with original illustrations from E.H. Shepard, supplied to us by Disney, my biggest priority with the coin’s design was to ensure we do these wonderful images justice.

“As the original maker of coins, The Royal Mint has a long history of exquisite craftsmanship and this coin is no exception. Bringing the illustrations of E.H. Shepard to life took a lot of craft and care.

“From the honey bee motif that runs throughout the series, to the grassy mound Pooh is sitting on, we tried many different techniques to create the flawless effect of watercolour on the coin, eventually settling on the one you’ll see on the final version.

“I’m honoured to have been able to work on this exciting coin. Winnie-the-Pooh was a huge part of my childhood and forms some of my fondest memories. So I wanted to make sure this series of coins truly encapsulated the spirit of Pooh Bear and all his friends.

“Creating these coins was a labour of love and I hope that collectors can appreciate the beauty in each and every design in the range.”

James Campbell at The Shepard Trust, added: “It’s wonderful to see the beloved Winnie the Pooh immortalised on an official UK coin for the first time. The craftsmanship involved in replicating E.H. Shepard’s original watercolour illustrations is truly remarkable.

“The Royal Mint has done an exceptional job in creating a collection that will be treasured for years to come by Winnie the Pooh fans of all ages.”

Clare Maclennan, divisional director of Commemorative Coin and The Royal Mint Experience, at The Royal Mint, said: “Over our 1,100-year history we’ve minted coins to commemorate key moments and figures in Britain’s history, including literary icons, like Shakespeare and Wordsworth through to Beatrix Potter’s mischievous Peter Rabbit, and we’re delighted to now add A.A. Milne’s loveable Winnie-the-Pooh to the list.

“Our childhood character coins are encouraging a new generation of coin collectors and we’re delighted to add this iconic character and his friends, to our range. We’ve all grown up with Winnie-the-Pooh and he remains a cherished character, not only in Britain but across the world.

“We anticipate the coins being hugely popular, especially in the lead-up to Christmas and look forward to both children and adults alike, enjoying the collection.”

Along with the Winnie-the-Pooh coin, The Royal Mint also revealed the next two coins in the collectable series, which feature Christopher Robin and Piglet respectively. These will be available later in the year.

Winnie-the-Pooh was first published in 1926 by A.A. Milne and was inspired by his son, Christopher Robin Milne, who was born 100 years ago this year. Winnie-the-Pooh was based on Christopher’s teddy bear, Edward.

Father and son then named him ‘Winnie’ after a black bear called Winnie that lived in London Zoo and ‘Pooh’, after a swan they met on holiday.

These stories from a father to his son have now been published in countries across the world, making Winnie-the-Pooh a global icon and a key part of the childhood and lives of millions of people.

H&A takes the plunge with The Simpsons health, beauty and bath range for Superdrug

Posted on 22nd September 2020 by Sam Giltrow

The beauty and bathing specialist, H&A is taking the plunge with The Simpsons this gifting season to release a range of health and bath time goodies based upon some of Springfield’s most popular residents. Developed exclusively for Superdrug, the new collection spans the likes of lip balm, face masks, and Duff Beer bath bubbles.

The longest running primetime scripted show in history, The Simpsons launched onto the scene in 1990 becoming a cultural phenomenon, and has remained one of the most groundbreaking and innovative entertainment franchises for the past 30 years. It is currently in production of its 32nd season.

In partnership with Superdrug, licensee H&A is reinvigorating the health and bath time aisle with a new collection of products taking inspiration from the town of Springfield. The new range includes treats such as a Squishee Lip Balm, Patty & Selma Face Masks, and a Kwik-E-Mart Beauty Basket packed with SPringfield-inspired goodies.

Fans will also be able to relax in a foamy filled bath with the Duff Beer Bubbles, while enjoying a sweet lather with the Donut Bath Sponge.

H&A’s licensing and marketing manager, Holly Orton, said: “We’re really excited to see this range hit the shelves. The Simpsons is an iconic, much-loved brand with a broad audience. There is something for everyone in the collection; current beauty and bathing trends are combined with pastel shades and novelty packaging to give a retro feel.”

The Simpsons was named the Best Show of the 20th Century by Time Magazine, called the Greatest American Sitcom by Entertainment Weekly in 2013, and declared The Best TV Show Ever in 2016 by vulture.com

H&A takes the plunge with The Simpsons health, beauty and bath range for Superdrug

Posted on 22nd September 2020 by Sam Giltrow

Fans will also be able to relax in a foamy filled bath with the Duff Beer Bubbles, while enjoying a sweet lather with the Donut Bath Sponge.

Billie Eilish launches her own doll line with Playmates Toys and Bravado

Posted on 22nd September 2020 by Sam Giltrow

The American singer-songwriter, Billie Eilish, has released a new line of collectable toys and figures inspired by the looks she adopts in her music videos for Bad Guy and All Good Girls Go To Hell. The new range has been developed by Playmates Toys in a licensing partnership forged by Bravado.

The toy line will launch this October and will be available via Eilish’s official website as well as on Target.com.

Drawing on the artist’s specific looks, the All Good Girls Go To Hell collectable figures comes in at six inches in height and features removable and poseable wings. The figure, taking the jet black look that Eilish adopts in the video, has 18 points of articulation. It arrives in a collectable box that flips open to reveal a diorama and stand.

Meanwhile, Eilish’s Bad Guy doll stands 10.5 inches tall and features a life-like sculpt of Eilish in her iconic yellow sweatsuit. There are 14 points of articulation, including the singer’s blue hair. Like the other figurine, this one comes in a box that transforms into a backdrop inspired by the Bad Guy music video.

According to a press release issued, Eilish launched the first 200 dolls this week exclusively on NTWRK, with fans and collectors able to score limited edition numbered dolls. The dolls are also now available to pre-order at Target ahead of the range’s October 15th release.

Eilish has teased that more additions to the collectables will be following shortly.