AKCO and BOTI team up for BATTLE CUBES content and sports licensing deals

AKCO (Andrew Kerr Consulting Inc) is to spearhead content development and licensing endeavours for BATTLE CUBES, the innovative toy from Dutch/Hong Kong toy company BOTI (Big On Toy Innovation). The partnership is kicking off with a global license agreement with the National Hockey League (NHL).

The arrangement between AKCO and BOTI will see AKCO drive the creation of animated BATTLE CUBES content by third party studios, and oversee global distribution and merchandising based upon it, including key global and pan-regional sports licenses for the BATTLE CUBES brand.

The deal between BOTI and the NHL involves BOTI bringing each of the NHL’s  32 teams to life as individual BATTLE CUBES in NHL-branded multi-packs and playsets beginning in mid-2022 in North America and Europe.

Andrew Kerr of AKCO commented: “I’m excited to be working with Nico Blauw (CEO) and his team at BOTI. They are genuinely one of the most capable and creative toy companies in the world.

“BATTLE CUBES is a remarkable toy platform and I’m incredibly pleased to have the NHL on board as our first global sports license – it’s a great combination!”

Nico Blauw of BOTI commented: “I’m very happy to be working with Andrew and AKCO on BATTLE CUBES. We’re off to a tremendous start in Europe with the BATTLE CUBES toy range, winning multiple awards and selling out entirely in many retailers.

“Creating animation for BATTLE CUBES and adding best-in-class sports licenses like the NHL are ideal next steps as we roll out the brand in North America and Asia in the months to come.”

BATTLE CUBES is a proprietary and patent-protected toy platform brought to market in Europe by BOTI in Spring 2021. BATTLE CUBES takes the classic ‘Rock, Paper, Scissors’ game play and incorporates it within a small, handheld cube that can readily battle with another.

BOTI has partnered with Spanish toy company EOLO to create licensed Marvel’s Avengers and Spider-Man BATTLE CUBES which have consistently sold out in Europe, and have been awarded Toy of the Year for 2021 for both the Netherlands and Belgium, and received the Seal of Approval from the National Parenting Center in the US.

 

EOLO Toys and Panini on board for new animated series and app game SuperMasked

EOLO Toys and Panini have been named among a portfolio of licensing partners already on board to launch exclusive toys and collectables based on an upcoming animated series and app game, SuperMasked.

A joint venture between Maya Studio and EOLO’s own toy design house and motion graphics centre, Toy Zone, SuperMasked is an animated superhero saga that teaches kids that they don’t need to be perfect to be a hero. The animated comedy will become the focus of its own app game this autumn.

Multiple licensing partners have already been tapped for the new IP, including Panini and EOLO Toys who will each launch ‘very unique and exclusive lines’ in the coming months.

“Our main mission is to make everyone happy and keep smiling even through difficult times,” said EOLO’s Toy Zone director of fun, Alex Prieto. “We love this property, its values and of course it’s going to be lots of fun. [It has been] great to work with Maya on this, they are very talented and know how to enjoy the process, this will for sure be reflected in the end result.”

Maya Studio has made a name for itself in the entertainment and licensing space through the success of its Catrinas Underworld brand, a playful adaptation of the Mexican skulls art and style. The brand has enjoyed vast success in licensing with products spanning books and bags to collectable dolls, costumes and more.

Maya’s creative director, Javi Monler, added: “The toy world is something that fascinates us. Seeing that the things you have created move and serve to entertain is the greatest thing a creative could dream of.

“Catrinas is the brand that has shown us the way, and while establishing itself with top products in the market, we present SuperMasked, a new property that will not leave anyone indifferent.”