Tag Archives: lead

Animaccord launches Masha and the Bear e-shop

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Personalised giftware company Star Editions has announced the opening of the first stand-alone online store for popular kids’ animation series Masha and the Bear, produced by award-winning entertainment company Animaccord. The store features an exclusive range of print-on-demand merchandise and products from existing licensees.

The available assortment now contains 10 product categories of the POD line, including T-shirts, mugs, puzzles, bottles and more, in addition to the master toy licensee collection from Simba Toys.

The variety of e-store products under the Masha and the Bear branding will be increased later next year.

shop.mashabear.com is now live.

BBC Studios signs new UK deals for Bluey

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BBC Studios has signed UK licensing deals for Bluey with Character Options for Weebles, as well as Danilo (calendars, cards and gift stationary) and Amscan (party wares).

The deal with Character Options should see Bluey versions of classic toy Weebles on UK shelves in July 2022.

Mark Hunt, Marketing Director, Character Options, says: “We are delighted to be a part of the Bluey family. Weebles has heritage with iconic branding that is highly recognisable amongst parents, and we believe Bluey figures that wobble but don’t fall down, is a play pattern that perfectly aligns with the target age group.”

Danilo product lines are set to include calendars, cards, gift wrap and sets and will launch in spring/summer 2022.

Amscan have extended their partnership with BBC Studios to include Bluey, and will have foil/latex balloons, party goods and dress up/costumes available for fans from January 2023.

Mandy Thwaites, Director, Magazines & Consumer Products, UK Division at BBC Studios, says: “Bluey has been a huge success for us in 2021, rounded off with a great performance at Christmas in the UK. We’re delighted to bring new partners on board to continue this growth and can’t wait to work with Character Options, Danilo and Amscan on exciting new products for Bluey fans.”

These new product lines complement a growing range across UK and EMEA which has been bolstered recently by licensing expansion in Italy and Greece. New products will also be launched in Spring 2022 from master toy partner Moose, including talking plush toys and the Bluey caravan. Crayola are also set to launch product lines in the UK in early 2022.

Bluey is produced by multi-Emmy award-winning Ludo Studio for ABC Kids Australia, co-commissioned by ABC Children’s and BBC Studios, and distributed internationally by BBC Studios outside of Australia.

New licensing opportunities for hit animation Bluey as it launches in Italy and Greece

New Angry Birds consumer products programme to accompany Netflix series

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Ahead of the global debut of Angry Birds: Summer Madness on Netflix on 28 January 2022, Rovio Entertainment is working with IMG to build a consumer products programme for fans of the popular franchise.

The 32 x 11-minute and 4 x 22-minute special episodes is the latest collaboration in a long-term partnership between Rovio and independent entertainment company CAKE, which includes international distribution rights to Rovio’s expanding library of non-dialogue shorts.

Angry Birds: Summer Madness will see sparks and feathers fly when a teenage Red, Chuck, Bomb and Stella spend a wild summer together with other Angry Birds at Camp Splinterwood. Explosive antics, improbable pranks and crazy summertime adventures will see the birds pushing boundaries and breaking all the rules while fending off the brash, obnoxious Pigs on the other side of the lake.

IMG has signed deals across core categories including apparel, QSR, confectionery and promotions in location-based experiences in the US and Europe and is now targeting other licensees in key categories including F&B, promotions, apparel, plush, hardlines and more.

Sam Barker, Senior Licensing Director at IMG, says: “Following the global success of the movies, Angry Birds: Summer Madness marks an exciting new step in Rovio’s evolution of this iconic franchise and is a fantastic opportunity for brands and licensees to become part of it. The new series promises to deliver a fresh perspective on these globally loved characters, and even more fun for fans, with the same humour of the movie franchise.”

 

IMC Toys signs Retail Monster for Cry Babies Magic Tears UK licensing programme

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Leading toy company IMC Toys has signed Retail Monster as its licensing agent and launched a licensing programme for Cry Babies Magic Tears in the UK.
The new partnership is testament to the performance of the Cry Babies Magic Tears brand in the UK, which has seen phenomenal growth and success over the last 18 months.
Licensing is a major part of IMC’s business in Spain, and other territories worldwide. In less than two years the company has entered into agreements with more than 65 licensees in 40 regions, launching more than 500 licensed products across publishing, apparel, educational games, personal care and confectionery categories.
IMC Toys hopes its licensing agreement with Retail Monster will translate into a similar success story for Cry Babies Magic Tears in the UK market, where the licensing roll-out will launch with apparel and publishing.
Gemma Witts, Managing Director EU at Retail Monster, says: “We’re excited about the opportunity to develop the Cry Babies Magic Tears licensing strategy at retail and with consumer fans, and to bring added breadth and growth to a top selling brand”.
“We’re experiencing rapid growth of our licensing programme worldwide, it’s a significant addition to our retail strategy,” adds Cristina Camprubi, Licensing Director at IMC Toys.  “We’re thrilled about our new partnership with Retail Monster and the potential their expertise can bring to the UK market for Cry Babies Magic Tears”.
For more information on ranges by IMC Toys, contact info.uk@imctoys.com

BlackMilk Clothing debuts Squid Game apparel

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Fans of Netflix’s hit series can showcase their Squid Game love with a capsule collection from BlackMilk, featuring instantly recognisable clothing and images from the show.

The 13-piece collection allows fans to cosplay their favourite Squid Game players with tracksuits inspired by those worn by characters on the show, featuring the numbers of fan favourites 001, 067, 218 and 456. A customisable tee also lets fans choose their own player number.

Other printed pieces feature icons and imagery from the show, including the Red Guards, the ‘Red Light Green Light’ doll and the iconic staircase that leads players to each game.

The BlackMilk Squid Game collection is now available on the BlackMilk website.

BlackMilk to release The Witcher capsule collection

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Warner Bros Games and DC announce Wonder Woman video game

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Warner Bros Games and DC have announced a new third-person, open-world action-adventure video game featuring the iconic DC Super Hero, Wonder Woman.

In development by Monolith Productions, creators of the critically acclaimed Middle-earth: Shadow of Mordor and sequel Middle-earth: Shadow of War, the single player open-world action game will introduce an original story set in the DC Universe and allow players to become Diana of Themyscira in the fight to unite her Amazon family and the humans from the modern world.

Powered by the Nemesis System, gamers will forge deep connections with both enemies and allies as they progress from a heroic fighter into a proven leader.

“Wonder Woman is one of the most iconic DC Super Heroes of all time, standing for truth, justice and equality for over 80 years, and we’re proud to be creating an exciting new gaming chapter in this legendary character’s legacy,” says David Haddad, President, Warner Bros Games. “The talented team at Monolith Productions is building upon their strengths to bring players a Wonder Woman game that is unlike anything they have ever experienced.”

“At Monolith Productions, we believe in the power of player-driven storytelling to unite people,” comments David Hewitt, Vice President, Studio Head, Monolith Productions. “The stories our players share inspire us every day, and we are honoured to take players on a unique personal journey, driven by the values embodied in Wonder Woman.

“The Nemesis System raised the bar for player-driven storytelling and we’re excited to push the open-world genre forward, combining cutting-edge action with inventive narratives to create a Wonder Woman game everyone will want to play.”

 

WildBrain CPLG kicks off MENA representation for FC Bayern München and Paris Saint-Germain FC

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WildBrain CPLG, one of the world’s leading entertainment, sport and brand licensing agencies, has grown its roster of high-profile football club brands in MENA, signing representation for globally recognised clubs FC Bayern München and Paris Saint-Germain FC (PSG), which is managed by Fanatics, a global leader in licensed sports merchandise. The deals expand the agency’s sports representation to seven globally recognised football club brands.

Additionally, the agency will handle rights for FC Bayern München in Israel, along with an expanded remit for FC Barcelona in that territory, while in India, it will add FC Bayern München and Juventus to its representation slate.

The new representations expand on WildBrain CPLG MENA’s portfolio of many of the world’s most successful football club brands, including Arsenal, FC Barcelona, Juventus, Liverpool FC and Manchester City, with extensive partners signed across a number of key categories.

Existing licensees include Sun Ce for back-to-school, Andy Enterprises for apparel at Babyshop, Riva Fashion for kids’ lifestyle apparel, Esal for footballs and Todo Mundo for apparel, with a new deal signed for health and beauty products with My Perfumes for Liverpool FC, FC Barcelona and Juventus.

Neesha Krishna, Managing Director MENA and South Asia, says: “The opportunities presented by these new additions to our football portfolio are very exciting and both clubs have a squad of not only exceptional players but international superstars.

“PSG is currently one of the fastest growing brands in football. FC Bayern München, which has the highest number of club members worldwide, is renowned for its consistent presence at the top of the sport. These brands are natural additions to our top-level sports pillar, which we are looking to grow and expand across new markets through our global presence.”

WildBrain CPLG India is the agency’s newest office and represents entertainment, lifestyle, and sporting properties from the agency’s portfolio, including Yale and Harvard universities, Tetris, Archie Comics, emoji® – The Iconic Brand, Juventus Football Club and OSPREY LONDON, plus Authentic Brands Group’s celebrity brands Elvis Presley, Marilyn Monroe and Muhammad Ali, fashion brands Aéropostale and Nine West and Prince.

WildBrain CPLG India will also focus on broadening licensing activity to support the ambitious global strategy for WildBrain’s proprietary brands, including Strawberry Shortcake and the Teletubbies.

 

Squishmallows pushes for global lifestyle brand status with cross-category product launches

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Jazwares, along with its Kellytoy subsidiary, today unveiled an expansive consumer products licensing programme supporting its Squishmallows plush brand sensation.

On the heels of the milestone of 100 million Squishmallows sold, Jazwares is teaming with a raft of licensees to make Squishmallows a global lifestyle brands for fans, families, and collectors around the world.

“As the Squishmallows brand evolves, we’re focusing on impactful category collaborations that entertain and delight our millions of fans in authentic, meaningful ways,” says Judd Karofsky, Executive Vice President, Jazwares. “Our licensing partners are embracing the Squishmallows brand DNA and we can’t wait to launch unique new merchandise to a wide range of retailers and consumers this year and beyond.”

Each Squishmallows plush has a unique name and backstory that brings its personality to life. Squishmallows are sold at thousands of retail outlets, including independent and speciality stores, amusement parks and U.S. national chains such as Target, Five Below, Walgreens, Walmart, Learning Express, Cracker Barrel, CVS, Costco, Justice and Hallmark, and in the UK at Smyths, The Entertainer, Argos, Toymaster and more.

Squishmallows licensee highlights:

  • Bioworld, the pop culture specialists, is known for delivering lifestyle collections to fans globally across apparel, loungewear, headwear, bags, socks, collectable accessories and more. In 2022 Bioworld will offer a full suite of Squishmallows branded merchandise.
  • BigMouth, a designer and manufacturer of fun lifestyle products, will make Squishmallows branded pool floats, cooler bags, beach chairs and pop-up tents.
  • BBC International is a global design, development and sourcing footwear company currently offering a full line of Squishmallows branded footwear.
  • Franco Mfg. will develop Squishmallows bedding and accessories including throws, as well as beach and bath blankets.
  • Fashion Angels Enterprises will offer students and teachers exciting new Squishmallows fashion stationery and back-to-school accessories.
  • In partnership with Parkside Collectibles (OEM), Jazwares will launch a new line of Squishmallows-inspired trading cards with Series 1 scheduled to arrive in the U.S. market this year. The cards feature Squishmallows favourites, with more than 650 cards to collect.
  • Primary Colors, a premier producer of cookies, candy and snacks, will partner with Jazwares to bring fun and innovative Squishmallows gummy and candy products to retail stores nationwide.

Established in 2017, Squishmallows has become a social media sensation that continues to cultivate a strong following online.

Organic Squishmallows content has generated nearly 5 billion video views on TikTok and @squishmallows (and related hashtags) have been tagged in more than one million Instagram posts. The Squishmallows social media channels have ballooned to more than 700,000 followers and nearly 100 global and local Facebook groups have been created by fans.

More than 1,000 Squishmallows ranging from two to 24-inches in size have gained the attention of bona fide Squishmallows fans in more than 40 countries. Such strong brand retention has resulted in multiple line extensions, including HugMees, Squish-Doos, Heroes, Flip-A-Mallows, and Squishville.

Ubisoft joins Fabacus to unlock digital licensing possibilities

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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.

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

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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.