Category Archives: Live

Walthamstow Wetlands and the William Morris Gallery to celebrate Moomin creator Tove Jansson with trail and exhibition

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The London Wildlife Trust is to host a special exhibition and outdoor trail across Walthamstow Wetlands and in the William Morris Gallery, dedicated to the Finnish artist, writer, and creator of the Moomins, Tove Jansson in a project supported by Jansson’s family and estate.

Starting with an indoor exhibition and outdoor trail opening to the public in June this year, the collaboration will mark a year-long celebration of Jansson, a much-revered painter, cartoonist, satirist, writer, and – as dubbed by author Philip Pullman – genius.

The Woman Who Fell In Love With An Island will draw on the parallels between the island of Klovharun in the Finnish archipelago, where Jansson spent her summers immersed in nature, and the scenery at Walthamstow Wetlands which is Europe’s largest urban wetlands with eight islands of its own.

Visitors to the Wetlands will be able to enjoy an exhibition about Jansson’s island home and the inspiration she took from nature, featuring rendered and displayed facsimiles of photographs taken of Jansson on Klovharun, quotes, and her own work including her nature studies and descriptions of birds.

The trail will be accompanied by a unique downloadable audio piece from multi-instrumentalist and composer Erland Cooper, which includes field recordings from Klovharun and a new reading of Jansson’s essay ‘The Island’ by her niece Sophia Janssson

Cooper said: “Tove Jansson was an inspirational creator and cultural icon. To be able to score an exhibition and retrospective of her work is a great honour. I have a fondness for London’s Walthamstow Wetlands and so to try and transport a listener through that world and into hers, over to the tiny island and cabin on her remote, treeless Klovharun where she created a timeless body of work, is a joy.

“She seemed like a child of nature and I’ve tried to bring that gentleness into a score to support this exhibition. To me it feels almost like a soundwalk through her creative world, across the seas and back again into a city where local sounds of birds may interact freely with those of the score itself. She seemed to have such grace and affection towards her surroundings, and I hope this meditative score touches on just a little bit on her magic.”

The Woman Who Fell In Love With An Island will run at Walthamstow Wetlands from June 2021 until January 2022. It will be followed by a second exhibition which will open at the William Morris Gallery in 2022.

This landmark exhibition will bring together personal objects, photographs and archival material to tell the story of Jansson’s life and development as an artist through the lens of her deep affinity with nature, which is something that she shared with William Morris. The exhibition will invite visitors to consider Jansson’s most famous creations – the Moomins – as creatures in touch with the environment and connected to nature in a powerful way.

The year-long celebrations are being curated by Alison Williams and Mhairi Muncaster on behalf of the William Morris Gallery.

Alison Williams said: “We are delighted to bring Tove’s island, the inspiration behind the Moomins, all the way from the Baltic Sea to London. Walthamstow Wetlands Nature Reserve is a very special place – it has the same conservation status as the Amazon and the Nile, right here in Walthamstow.

“These exhibitions will explore how island life, the weather and an ever-changing landscape informed Jansson’s work, which still captures the imaginations of children and adults alike, and share some thoughts on what we can learn from the Moomins when it comes to ecology, conservation and the climate crisis.”

Mhairi Muncaster, added: “There are more similarities between Tove’s archipelago and our Wetlands than you might think – from the islands and their rich ecosystems to the fact that Finland and Walthamstow both have a history of pioneering social progress. After a year filled with challenges, we’re looking forward to safely welcoming visitors to a pair of exhibitions that will inspire, delight and offer new ways of looking at the natural world. And you don’t have to be a visitor to enjoy Erland and Sophia’s piece – fans from all around the world will be able to download it and enjoy the magic of the island wherever they are.”

Leah McNally, director of strategic projects and engagement at London Wildlife Trust, added: “London Wildlife Trust is delighted to host ‘The Woman Who Fell In Love With An Island’ exhibition and outdoor trail at Walthamstow Wetlands, we can’t wait for visitors to explore and experience the new show on site, learning more about Tove Jansson’s love of nature and linking that to conserving London’s nature.

“Walthamstow Wetlands is a special place, designated as a site of Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI), a Special Protection Area (SPA) and internationally designated as a Ramsar site, as well as being an operational Thames Water reservoir.”

Sony Pictures partners with Moscow’s Dream Island Theme Park to open Hotel Transylvania attraction

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Dream Island Theme Park, Europe’s largest indoor theme park located in Moscow, has officially opened its much-anticipated Hotel Transylvania attraction, established in partnership with Sony Pictures Animation.

The new attraction will launch in anticipation of the upcoming film release, Hotel Transylvania: Transformania, the final chapter of the $1.3 billion movie franchise from Sony.

Dracula has opened up his lavish resort to the human world and will allow visitors to tour and meet its unusual guests.  Visitors will begin their  journey by walking across a bridge over a foggy moat to enter the hotel’s lobby. There, they will meet Dracula, who will guide them through more than 10 locations.

“The attraction will be a worthy addition to our park. The work on the Hotel Transylvania theme area took more than three years, as we wanted to build a unique space for Russia, combining the latest technical and creative solutions to create a comedic horror experience suitable for the whole family,” said Ivan Scholl, technical director of Dream Island Theme Park. “We partnered with Sony Pictures in order to achieve an authentic experience that will be the first attraction of this level in Russia, in one of the world’s leading theme parks.”

Jeffrey Godsick, EVP of global partnerships and brand management and head of location based entertainment at Sony Pictures Entertainment, said: “In line with our growing Location Based Entertainment strategy, Dream Island Theme Park has done a fantastic job bringing this beloved brand to life and giving audiences the unique opportunity to transport themselves into the thrilling world of Hotel Transylvania.”

In addition to the Hotel Transylvania ride, guests will also find a Tavern of Fear snack bar, a Vampire’s Bite burger cafe and Transylvania Treasures, a gift store filled with Hotel Transylvania themed souvenirs and memorabilia.

The new theme area is included in the price of the Dream Island Theme Park entrance ticket. Fast pass tickets are also available for the Hotel Transylvania attraction, specifically.

Men in Black, Ghostbusters, and Jumanji land their own thrill rides at world’s first Colombia Pictures theme park

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Men in Black, Ghostbusters, Jumanji, and Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs will each be getting their own thrill rides thanks to a new partnership between Sony Pictures Entertainment and Amazon Falls to open the world’s first Colombia Pictures theme and waterpark.

The 14-acre location will be set within the seaside town of Bangsaray, located 90 minutes from Bangkok and will be a ‘unique themes and water park and entertainment destination for Thailand,’ that will feature rides and newly themed attractions based on some of the biggest movies from Hollywood.

Called Colombia Pictures Aquaverse, the park will play home to rides based on the likes of Ghostbusters, Jumanji, Bad Boys, Men in Black, and Hotel Transylvania.

 Catering to visitors of all ages, the park will encompass eight highly themed and immersive zones with a range of both water and land-based attractions as well as a program of live shows, immersive entertainment, interactive props, unique sets, themed restaurants, as well as specialty merchandise and retail locations.

Opening this year, rides like the Ghostbusters Supernatural Experience and the Men in Black Thrill Rides will include hair-raising water coaster rides and water domes, while the Bad Boys Raceway will be a new outdoor go-kart track in a neon Miami theme. 

“We are delighted to be teaming up with Liakat Dhanji and Amazon Falls on launching Sony Pictures’ first theme and water park and are inspired by his vision of creating an immersive entertainment destination for Thailand. Columbia Pictures’ Aquaverse is the next step in Sony Pictures’ larger global strategy to grow and expand location-based entertainment by utilizing its strong global film and TV brands,” said Jeffrey Godsick, EVP of global partnerships and brand management and head of location based entertainment at Sony Pictures Entertainment.

“We are creating opportunities for all audiences around the world to immerse themselves deeper into our stories through water parks, touring exhibitions, and theme park attractions.”

Liakat Dhanji, CEO and chairman of Amazon Falls Co. Ltd., owners and operators of Columbia Pictures’ Aquaverse, added: “Sony Pictures Entertainment and Columbia Pictures’ breadth of global content, technology and talent leadership will be invaluable in creating a fully immersive experience that will bring curiosity and wonder to a global audience. The launch of Columbia Pictures’ Aquaverse represents a first step in what we envision to be a broader collaboration that will pioneer the future of an integrated entertainment destination as part of the EEC’s smart city.

“Alongside our unique rides and attractions, we look forward to forging new partnerships with top accommodation, technology, retail and F&B partners as we curate an unmatched lifestyle experience that will resonate with all our visitors.”

Spielwarenmesse Summer Edition cancelled over prolonged pandemic problems

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Organisers of the Nuremberg toy fair, Spielwarenmesse have confirmed the cancellation of the show’s first Summer Edition, a postponed edition of this year’s show that was scheduled to take place this July.

The fair had been moved from its traditional January slot in order to beat the restrictions in place at the hands of the ongoing coronavirus pandemic. Spielwarenmesse eG had pulled out all the stops to provide the industry with a suitable networking platform this year.

However, following the unrelenting uncertainty surrounding the coronavirus pandemic both on a national and international level, the organisers have decided to pull the plug on the event to to focus on Spielwarenmesse’s 2022 show.

The resolution was passed at the supervisory board meeting on March 25th.

Ernst Kick, CEO Spielwarenmesse eG, stated: “Initially, we received excellent feedback about the Summer Edition from both exhibitors and visitors. In recent weeks, however, the disappointingly slow improvement in the pandemic has been fuelling uncertainty across the industry.

“Our top priority remains the health and safety of all our participants.”

The lack of political perspective with regard to trade fairs has had a considerable impact on the ability of exhibition organisers to make firm plans and for international manufacturers and buyers to schedule and book their travel and accommodation.

‘Despite the measures already set in motion, it would be impossible to stage the Spielwarenmesse Summer Edition successfully without having the all-important run-up to the fair clearly mapped out,’ read a statement from the organisation.

The group has stated that from now on, all energy will be channeled into the regular Spielwarenmesse which is scheduled to run from February 2nd to 6th next year and will take place in conjunction with Spielwarenmesse Digital, a platform that – for the first time in the show’s history – will link the experience of the live show in Nuremberg with the virtual world.

“We’re receiving such a positive response from across the board. The market players cannot wait to get together again in February. And we’re very much looking forward to welcoming everyone back to Nuremberg for the 72nd Spielwarenmesse,” concluded Kick.

LEGO, Hasbro and Microsoft Xbox among second wave speakers at Brand & Licensing Innovation Summit

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The LEGO Group, Hasbro, and Microsoft Xbox have been unveiled among the second wave of speakers to take to the stage at this year’s Brand & Licensing Innovation Summit.

They will be joined by the likes of Revlon, Elizabeth Arden, Studiocanal, Chefclub, and Perry Ellis as well as the already announced BBC Studios and Asda for the three-day digital licensing event taking place from June 9th to 11th this year.

The LEGO Group’s Stephanie Freeman, global licensing manager – outbound, and Mark Bezodis, licensing managing director, Perry Ellis International will contribute to an opening day panel session called Brainstorming the future of licensing in retail and vice versa, alongside Penguin Random House and Licensing International MD, Graham Saltmarsh.

Day one of the event will focus on Trends and Retail and the five experienced panellists will cover questions being asked at retail right now, including:

  • Whether and how to pivot online
  • How stocking and selling licensed product could change in the future
  • The benefit of adapting to in-store experiential offerings
  • How to reinvigorate returning customers to bricks and mortar stores
  • The impact digital strategies are having on IP

Bezodis commented: “BL&IS is an important event for the licensing industry because, for many, it’s an opportunity to pause and listen to the pioneers of the industry and the only event which seems to have its finger on the pulse of all things licensing and retail.”

LEGO’s Freeman, added: “I am honoured to join a panel at B&LIS and provide my insights and experiences over my time in licensing and also during the last year. Touchpoints for people within the industry are essential during these times, to ensure we all keep connected and feel a sense of being part of a larger team, and I am looking forward to learning from fellow panellists and it will be great to engage with people I wouldn’t necessarily cross paths with.”

The second day of BL&IS will focus on sustainability and CSR with content curated by Products of Change and speakers from Hasbro, George at Asda, Lyfcycle, DNA Brands and Brands In Limited will address the damaging effects of the fashion industry on the planet, and how the industry is transitioning to a sustainable future.

John Friend, head of Halo and Xbox Consumer Products at Microsoft will join a day three panel alongside Difuzed head of gaming and esports Dan Amos and Scott Macrae, Asda’s new business and partnerships manager.

The summit’s third day takes a deep dive into content and digital transformation, and John Friend’s panel is called Next Level: Why Gaming and Esports is Dominating the Entertainment Leaderboard. He and his fellow panellists will help delegates to understand:

  • The types of games on the market and their relative franchise strength/accessibility to consumer products markets
  • The role of community and evangelism in gaming consumer products
  • Navigating rapid speed of consumption to capitalise on opportunity and maximise longevity
  • Tapping into the potential of streaming

BL&IS is a three-day virtual event that has been designed to help middle-management, business leaders and owners to navigate the changing retail, content and consumer landscape.

Online registration for the Brand & Licensing Innovation Summits is now open at www.brandlicensinginnovationsummit.com.

Early bird discounts of 30 per cent are available until 16 April. A three-day delegate pass at the early bird rate will cost just £175 (£158 for Licensing International members). Qualified retailers are invited to register for free.

Toymaster cancels Harrogate May Show 2021 and looks towards its 2022 return

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Toymaster has confirmed that its annual Harrogate May show will not take place this year, but instead return for 2022 when it will take up its usual residence at the Majestic Hotel from May 17th to 19th.

The buying group has said that following the recent Government announcement setting out the roadmap out of lockdown, it was  clear that the Toymaster Show would not be able to take place on the original dates in May this year.

As a result, a survey was sent out to all Members and Suppliers regarding a potential alternative date at the end of August, asking if they would attend with any feedback.

The results of this survey showed that while there were still Members and Suppliers who would like the show to go ahead and be able to meet up, many were unable to commit at the date change at this stage, citing reasons related to safety, potential travel restrictions, the proposed dates plus the added “complication of the uncertainty regarding future Covid waves.”

Subsequently, the Toymaster Board has decided that the May Show will not take place in 2021,  and the next show will be at the Majestic Hotel in Harrogate May 17-19th 2022.

“While it is a huge disappointment to have to cancel the show, we believe it is the right decision for all  involved,” said the group in a statement issued earlier today.

“The Toymaster May Show is renowned within the industry, and we feel the show will be a much better success when we know all our Members and Suppliers are able to attend safely once again.

“We look forward to welcoming Toymaster Members, Independent Retailers and Suppliers back to a  spectacular show in Harrogate in May 2022, and invitations for next year’s show will be sent out at  the beginning of January as normal. Let’s look forward to making the 2022 show the best we possibly can.”

Asda, BBC, and Kantar among first speaker line-up for Brand & Licensing Innovation Summit

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Licensing experts from Asda, BBC and Kantar are among the first tranche of speakers announced for Brand & Licensing Innovation Summit, which takes place online from 9-11 June.

Early bird registration for the summit opens today, with three-day passes starting at just £175 (£161 for Licensing International members) and closes on 16 April. 

The three-day event will help middle-management, business leaders and owners navigate the changing retail, content and consumer landscape through keynotes, panel discussions, roundtables and workshops all providing actionable advice, information and strategies on the future of brands and licensing.

Insights leaders Claire McLelland (Kantar client executive, pictured above) and Gary Pope (Kids Industries Co-Founder & CEO) will tackle the ‘consumer’ as they join License Global’s content editor Ben Roberts to investigate the changing purchasing choices of children, Generation Z and millennials. 

Asda’s Ruth Golightly, who recently revealed the grocer was ‘unapologetic for its approach to own the market for licensed clothing in the UK’, will debate what’s next for bricks and mortar and the future of the high street consumer. 

BBC Studios’ Licensing Director Rikesh Desai, Nutmeg Licensing Managing Director June Kirkwood and SGLP MD Simon Gresswell will all take part in Day Two of B&LIS, which focuses on CSR and sustainability with a programme exclusively curated by Products of Change.

“We’re delighted to have such well-respected experts across retail, sustainability, consumer behaviour and content trends joining us for the first B&LIS in June and are really excited to firm up many more inspirational names over the next few weeks,” explained Anna Knight, VP of licensing, Informa Markets.

Claire McClelland, client executive, Kantar, said: “We as businesses and consumers have undergone over a year of constant change. It’s been harder than ever to unlock opportunities through our core shoppers – as behaviour is changing constantly to adapt to new rules.

“B&LIS will give attendees better clarity on the latest industry trends and provide actionable insight to plan with confidence.”

Products of Change CEO Helena Mansell-Stopher added: “Education is the most powerful tool we have to change our social norms and drive business forward to a more sustainable future, with the smart insights gathered by the wonderful team at Informa and the calibre of speakers and topics of the inaugural B&LIS conference, I cannot think of a better stage to continue the sustainable conversation outside the POC platform and the SILC conference.”

Online registration for the Brand & Licensing Innovation Summits is now open at www.brandlicensinginnovationsummit.com.

Early bird discounts of 30 per cent are available until 16 April. A three-day delegate pass at the early bird rate will cost just £175 (£161 for Licensing International members). Qualified retailers are invited to register for free.

Licensing International France Awards winners and first French Rising Star revealed

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LEGO Super Mario, The Pokemon Company, and Crunchyroll have been named among the winners of this year’s Licensing International France Awards in a live virtual event that brought together nearly 250 industry executives from France and around the world.

Hosted by Christophe Drevet from CDR Strategy and Licensing International France’s own Florence Ayem and Laurent Taieb, the event also named its first French Rising Star as WildBrain CPLG’s Jeanne Baledent.

Meanwhile, 12 Awards winners were named during the event, selected from among the 104 submissions received, an increase of 30 per cent on the number of nomiations last year. 

The 2021 Licensing International France Awards winners are:

BEST LICENSED PRODUCT – LEGO for the Super Mario Construction range

BEST RETAIL or DIGITAL ACTIVATION – PicWicToys for We need to find Santa Claus

BEST PROMOTION or EVENT – Warner Bros. Consumer Products for the LU x DC Comics x Funko activation

BEST LICENSED COLLABORATION– Crunchyroll for the Captain Tsubasa x French Football Federation

BEST DIGITAL BRAND – Super Mario / Nintendo

BEST ENTERTAINMENT BRAND – Harry Potter / Warner Bros. Entertainment

BEST SPORT BRAND – National Basketball Association

BEST LICENSEE – Funko

BEST CELEBRITY, CORPORATE or LIFESTYLE BRAND – Koh-Lanta / TF1 Licences

BEST LICENSOR or LICENSING AGENCY: The Pokémon Company International

FRENCH RISING STAR: Jeanne Balédent / Wildbrain CPLG

In addition to the Award Winners above, Licensing International France has extended a special mention to the following entries that, while not winning an award, still captured our attention.  

LICENSING INTERNATIONAL FRANCE CRUSHES:

  • Barbapapa x Merci collaboration / TF1 Licences
  • The Bureau – The Deep Game / Dama Dreams
  • Label Chaussette x RATP la ligne – socks line
  • Find Me in Paris – launch of the score with Wagram Music

 

Mattel moves into Berlin’s Potsdamer Platz with family entertainment venue Mission: Play

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Mattel has moved into Berlin’s Potsdamer Platz to open its first European entertainment experience, Mission: Play, a 4,000 square meter family entertainment centre in the middle of the capital’s tourist sector.

The toy brand’s latest enterprise will arrive as part of the redevelopment plans of the Arkaden shopping centre as it looks to bring in around 90 new shops, restaurants, and major names in sport and entertainment.

The new Mattel venue will house themed areas for Barbie, Hot Wheels, and Mega Bloks, and will boast an array of physical and digital play experiences, as well as edutainment, events, and experiential retail.

The site will be developed by iP2Development and operated by Planet Leisure Germany.

Roger Houben, CEO at the Amsterdam-based iP2Development, said: “Lifestyle malls such as Potsdamer Platz have a need for a diversified offering of entertainment where we aim at the high end of the offering. Our partnership with Mattel reimagines the indoor entertainment centre experience and the gamification system will be delivering all the fun challenging elements found in games to drive customer engagement and repeat visitation.

“We are creating a meaningful community for the children where they will learn by having fun, all the playful activities heighten creativity, boost critical thinking and improve collaborative and communicative skills.”

The London Stationery show moves as organisers set new date for October this year

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The London Stationery Show has been moved to a later slot this year, with organisers confirming a move of the show to October 5th and 6th 2021, taking place at the Business Design Centre.

With the UK’s vaccination programme well underway, and the Government due to announce a roadmap for easing restrictions next week, the show’s organisers have reacted to the expectation that exhibitions are to resume over the summer.

“We understand that it will take some time for retail to recover from the recent lockdown,” said event director, Alex Butler. “We believe that the October dates will allow for a successful show for visitors and exhibitors alike. 

“We’re very grateful for the support of the industry and are looking forward to welcoming everyone to the Business Design Centre in October when we can finally meet and do business once again.”

In the meantime, the team is working on a new venture launching in the spring. Stationery365 is an online directory showcasing new products and collections, connecting suppliers with stationery and gift buyers all year round. Retailers will be able to browse brands and products all in one place, and message suppliers directly to place orders. More details will be released in the coming weeks.

London Stationery Show will take place on Tuesday 5 October and Wednesday 6 October 2021.