Tag Archives: lead

The Breakfast Club: Richard Pink on five successful years with Kellogg’s and Kimm & Miller

Posted on by

It’s a partnership that has spanned the last half a decade and one that continues to move from strength to strength with each year that passes and each new range that finds more and more shelf space within some of the UK’s most popular retail destinations. Kellogg’s and Kimm & Miller have become almost as synonymous as eggs and soldiers, or Snap, Crackle, and Pop.

And there in the middle, the broker of this breakfast behemoth’s gifting gallery, is Pink Key Licensing’s Richard Pink. Together, this formidable trio has managed to push the envelope for food brands in the gifting and the classic brand with vintage appeal sector, building up a portfolio that from small beginnings now sits on shelves at some of the country’s biggest grocers.

And still, there is more to come. 2021 has been earmarked as the year that Kimm and Miller takes the Kellogg’s brand into the housewares sector, a ‘key push for the brand’ that has successfully navigated the waters of 2020 so far to have maintained its strength of position in the market, even throughout its most tumultuous moments.

Here, Licensing.biz catches up with Pink Key Licensing’s Richard Pink, and Kimm and Miller’s Dave Kimm to talk about those future plans, the demand for the Kellogg’s brand, and the secrets to a successful licensing partnership.

 

Richard Pink of Pink Key Licensing

Richard, it’s been a while. Thanks for chatting with us and to kick us off can you talk us through the strength of the Kellogg’s brand? 

Kellogg’s is a hugely important brand in our portfolio. Firstly, it has terrific awareness across  every territory that we manage in Europe which allows not only local activity but also  activity that goes cross-border and even global. Secondly, it’s a very adaptable brand and  works on many levels because it has a contemporary aspect as well as a rich heritage. It appeals right across a very large consumer demographic. 

What does the brand bring to the gifting and vintage/classic brand sector? 

Obviously, there is the food element which works so well for the Kimm and Miller gifting  sets, but there is also the amazing artwork which allows it to work almost like an art license as well. 

Your partnership with Kimm and Miller has been one stretching over the last five years. What success have you had with the Kellogg’s range over that time? 

The range started quite small but has expanded each year based on the success that we  have had. Initially, it was only available in Debenhams and it grew there to become the  largest Christmas gifting range. Since then, Kimm and Miller have developed additional products which have been listed by other retailers such as Tesco and Morrisons that still use the same characters but are distinct from the large range that remains in Debenhams.

Every  year the range has grown and become more successful for us. 

How have you seen the collection develop over that time? 

At this point I think I’ll turn this question over to Dave Kimm who has developed and managed the range…

Dave Kimm, commercial director, Kimm & Miller: Working with the UK’s favourite cereal brand has been and continues to be a great experience. In conjunction with Pink Key we launched our first Vintage Kellogg’s gift range in 2015 with seven SKUs and, in a clear sign of the affection the consumer holds for the  brand, that SKU count has grown fourfold since then, helped on with a move into the  housewares category.

It’s absolutely essential to continually update and refresh the winning  core lines with the wonderful assets available to us whilst also introducing new product  uniqueness into the range on an annual basis.  

What makes Kimm and Miller the ideal partner for this sector and for this brand? 

Richard Pink, Pink Key: Kimm and Miller have enormous experience in understanding brands and which kind of  products will work. They understand the core elements of what appeals to consumers and are able to translate that into products the consumers want to buy, either for themselves or as gifts for others.

They also have first class processes to ensure that the quality of the  product is maintained which is always so important for food and to the brand.

What’s the secret to a successful and long-standing relationship like yours with Kimm &  Miller? And how has that helped in the success of the range and brand at retail? 

The key word here is partnership: We always work together to understand each other’s  needs and we instinctively know when we need to push things a little with the brand to create innovative product.

Kimm and Miller has fantastic retail relationships; they include us in their discussions when necessary so that we can have a direct understanding of what their customers want. And, because of the huge amount of art we have available, we are then able to give retailers things that they want to build on; past successes or respond to emerging trends. 

Can you talk us through any new developments, launches or plans for the Kimm and Miller  partnership? 

My view is that every year we develop the core range, keeping the bits that work and adding  to it so that it always has a certain amount of innovation as well as the core products that we know work so well.

It’s probably a bit early to say how we are going to develop things for next Christmas, however, now that we are working with Kimm and Miller on a broader housewares range, we are able to access new retailers with an all year round  offering.

Dave might also have a view on this…

Dave Kimm: I couldn’t agree more with Richard – the expansion of the housewares range is key to us for 2021 and we are at the beginning of that process as we speak. Even in these extremely testing times for us all, this year our retail channels for Kellogg’s have grown both online and  with the bricks and mortar retailers. I believe that in itself is proof of the affection and  fondness Tony, Cornelius, Coco et al are held in and we need to ensure both our housewares  range and Vintage gift sets continue to reflect that popularity.

How strong will the range be this Q4 and as we move into the new year? 

Richard Pink: I’m glad you asked me that! Every year the range just seems to get stronger. Even in a  difficult year like this we have been able to maintain the sales of our range. It makes me  believe that, as (hopefully) retail begins to open up next year our range will be stronger than  ever.

Thank you both, is there anything you’d like to add? 

I’d like to leave the final words to Alex the designer at Kimm and Miller for the Kellogg range whose input is absolutely invaluable: 

‘Working with a brand like Kellogg’s is a total privilege – the archive is really well-managed  and it’s always enjoyable to come up with new ideas that work with the classic characters. 

‘Kellogg’s and the Pink Key team give us a lot of trust and flexibility, which we have built on  over the years. I always get a real buzz when I see the finished range come together – it’s so vibrant and bright and I hope it makes people happy when they receive one of our gifts for  Christmas.’

Local shops will be able to trade 24/7 over Christmas and January to recoup lockdown losses

Posted on by

The government is to allow local shops to trade around the clock in a move to support the retail industry and its bid to recoup some of the losses it has suffered during the pandemic, a cabinet minister has said.

Communities secretary, Robert Jenrick has said he wanted to remove the bureaucracy involved in enabling retailers to trade beyond the hours of 9am to 7pm, and is “issuing an unambiguous request to councils to allow businesses to do so.”

Retailers normally have to go through a lengthy and time-consuming process to apply to local authorities under the Town and Country Planning Act if they wish to extend their trading hours. However, in light of the sweeping closures across the country at the hands of the coronavirus and restrictions, the government is ready to remove the barriers and allow shops to open for up to 24 hours a day in December and January.

Writing in the Daily Telegraph, he said: “With these changes local shops can open longer, ensuring more pleasant and safer shopping with less pressure on public transport.

“How long will be a matter of choice for the shopkeepers and at the discretion of the council, but I suggest we offer these hard pressed entrepreneurs and businesses the greatest possible flexibility this festive season.

“As Local Government Secretary I am relaxing planning restrictions and issuing an unambiguous request to councils to allow businesses to welcome us into their glowing stores late into the evening and beyond.”

Recent research from the Local Data Company has revealed that a record number of shops closed during the first half of 2020 due to the coronavirus lockdown. The Retail Gazette reports that a total of 11,000 chain operator outlets shut between January and August this year, while around 5,000 shops opened. The net decline of 6,000 is almost double the drop during the same period last year.

Kids’ mental wellness card game Book of Beasties partners with Great Ormond Street Hospital Children’s Charity

Posted on by

The children’s mental wellness game developer, Book of Beasties, has partnered with Great Ormond Street Hospital Children’s Charity in a bid to raise vital funds to support seriously ill children from across the UK.

Book of Beasties is a multi-award winning children’s mental wellness resource developer and creator of the university accredited mental wellness card game that aims to raise emotional literacy, teach resilience, empathy and encourage open conversations about mental health and wellness.

The new partnership will see the launch of a resource platform on the Book of Beasties’ website that is dedicated to GOSH Charity. New features on the platform will include creative and playful wellbeing resources.

The company will donate £1 per month from each subscriber to its Wellness Champion Platform to support the Hospital’s specialist Play Team, who in turn, support children and young people during their treatment at the hospital. In return, subscribers will receive access to regularly published reading materials, mindfulness and well being activities, webinars, and more.

In early 2019, prior to the pandemic, Book of Beasties visited the psychology team at GOSH, to introduce the Mental Wellness Card Game and donate a number of copies that the hospital’s patients could use.

CEO and co-creator of Book of Beasties, Phil J Tottman, said: “We couldn’t be more honoured and excited to become an official partner of Great Ormond Street Hospital Children’s Charity.

“We were delighted to offer our Book of Beasties game to the Play team at GOSH, we think it is more important now than ever before to promote good mental health amongst children and young people. We hope our dedicated platform will give more people access to our Beasties and their wellness message, whilst donating to support the GOSH Play Team to help them continue their amazing work.”

Chris Carter, head of partnership development at GOSH Charity, added: “We are really pleased to be partnering with Book of Beasties to raise funds for the hospital’s team of play specialists, while simultaneously raising awareness about the mental health and well-being of children.

“We’re excited to work closely with Book of Beasties to develop and grow this partnership.”

Mandy Bryon, joint specialty lead for Psychological and Mental Health Services at Great Ormond Street Hospital, concluded: “I am very impressed with Book of Beasties. This is a really engaging resource for young children that supports them to talk about their feelings in a positive way.”

SILC 2020: LEGO’s dream to be “a playground of prototyping sustainable alternatives” for licensing partners

Posted on by

The LEGO Group has outlined its plans to bring its sustainable efforts into the firm’s wider LEGO licensing business through an overhaul of its product development and packaging, and to be a “playground of prototyping sustainable alternatives for its portfolio of licensing partners.”

Speaking at the first Sustainability in Licensing Conference this week, LEGO’s licensing sustainability transformation lead, Sine Klitgaard Moller, said that while its core toy offering is developed to be ‘hand-me-down’ or heirloom toy range, the company is aware that the ethos doesn’t necessarily apply to its extended licensed product portfolio.

The mission statement that the LEGO licensing division has now issued is to eliminate single use plastic completely and make all of its licensed products and extended lines sustainable by targeting packaging and other elements of production over the coming years.

Over the next year – from 2021 to 2022 – the LEGO Group will begin to transform all of its plastic packaging into paper packaging, starting with the five types of packaging that make the biggest difference to the environment.

“Our focus, for now, is first of all educating ourselves,” said Klitgaard Moller during a conference slot dedicated to sustainability in the toy industry. “We are also going to transform and help our licensing partners with the packaging challenge.

“I am personally very excited to learn about new materials and the journey that will challenge me to think about licensed products in new ways. It is important that designers and manufacturers join us on this journey, too.”

While the global coronavirus pandemic has thrown its many hardships at industries across the board and across the globe, it’s also expedited a number of social trends, not least the mass move towards online shopping. This move has been earmarked by LEGO as a potential avenue through which to re-think its product packaging.

Klitgaard Moller, said: “With Covid-19 pushing consumers hard into online shopping, suddenly packaging facings aren’t so important. This means we are now given the space to explore new ways of introducing sustainability to the packaging we use.

“By 2030 we want to see a clear path to a planet that is more in balance with consumption. The tools we are creating to educate ourselves, we are sharing with our licensing partners and are trying to make them as simple as possible.

“We are really good at making building instructions for complicated LEGO sets for children to understand, so we are trying to break sustainability and demands down for that single person sitting in their packaging and manufacturing office to help them make better design choices, too.

“We in LEGO Licensing would really like to function as that playground for sustainability, where we can prototype with big and small partners, big and small ideas and show children that we want to do something now, that we are truly listening and are taking action,” she concluded.

Funko’s Loungefly brand sees sales surge and global growth of 25 per cent

Posted on by

While it’s true enough that the world’s pandemic crisis saw some of the biggest forms of live entertainment hit the pause button for the best part of the year, the likes of Disney’s portfolio of theme parks that draw all manner of pop culture enthusiasts year on year, the desire among fans to buy into their favourite brands hasn’t been diminished.

At Loungefly, the lifestyle and gifting division of the pop culture specialist, Funko, 2020 has seen sales ‘go through the roof.’ The business has told Licensing.biz that it has seen a massive surge in numbers of sales, amid a 25 per cent global growth of its branded products portfolio, proof that the pandemic hasn’t dampened the world’s culture of fandom.

Global sales at Loungefly are now estimated to generate up to $100,000,000 by 2021, while Truffle Shuffle, one of the company’s key retailers in the lifestyle space, has confirmed that it now manages to sell somewhere between 2,000 to 3,000 Loungefly bags per month on average.

Head of softlines, Funko EMEA, Rich Smith

“Sales this year have been incredible, and growth has exceeded expectations, with all things considered,” Rich Smith, head of softlines, Funko EMEA, told Licensing.biz. “We have seen huge success behind some of the Disney properties which are not as mainstream, such as Peter Pan, Lady and the Tramp, and Pixar’s Wall:E. Our evergreen properties such as Mickey, Star Wars, and Disney Princess have also continued to serve us well too.”

It’s according to Smith that demand in the pop culture lifestyle space this year has, in part, been fuelled by an unsatisfied itch among the fandom space; one that has been exacerbated by the closure of events and destinations like theme parks or conventions throughout the year. As a result, the scene’s audience of fans have taken to engaging with their favourite brands via other means.

“Due to Covid-19 restrictions, the gigantic fanbase who normally save up and visit the Disney Parks haven’t been able to and have therefore spent the money they would normally spend at the parks on product from retailers across Europe and Loungefly,” said Smith.

“Loungefly opens Funko up to a different customer base and vice versa for Loungefly. So many of the fans are wanting to get more product that ties into their collections. The beauty of the Funko umbrella is that you can buy a Marvel backpack, a Marvel t-shirt, a Marvel mug, a Marvel keyring, a Marvel advent calendar, and so forth, all under one roof, with consistent imagery: the perfect collection.”

Among the best-selling items within the Loungefly portfolio this year, it has been the mini backpack range that has stood out as its leading line. Across this range – and akin to its collectables business – Funko’s Loungefly works with a broad licensing portfolio that spans the likes of Disney, Marvel, Star Wars, Harry Potter, Warner Bros, DC, SpongeBob SquarePants, Hello Kitty, Pusheen, MTV, Clueless, and beyond.

“Loungefly is unique as we are a brand who collaborates with some of the world’s most loved licenses,” continued Smith. “We will continue to grow our offering and will continue to add more licenses to our already strong portfolio. We like to look for a license with an impeccable following, and who fits within our brand goals. They also, of course, need to appeal to our fanbase, who we listen to – a lot.”

Like the rest of the waking world, this year has seen Loungefly witness its biggest consumer trend within the online shopping space, and currently boasts a network of retailers 90 per cent made up of purely online players.

“To build on this from here, we will continue to push growth across the EMEA region with some key retail partners, as well as continue to expand our offering on our very own online store,” said Smith.

“Look out for a ton of new exclusives in 2021.”

Anderson Entertainment plans portfolio expansion following deal with ITV Studios

Posted on by

Anderson Entertainment, the content production company set up by the late Gerry Anderson, has signed a new license agreement with ITV Studios, to expand the Gerry and Sylvia Anderson portfolio into apparel, publishing, toys and figures, homeware and giftware – and then sell products worldwide.

Anderson Entertainment’s portfolio is home to iconic retro and heritage properties such as Thunderbirds, Captain Scarlet, UFO, and Space: 1999.

Today, with Gerry’s son Jamie, a respected writer and producer, as its managing director, Anderson Entertainment develops its own IP and projects from its founder’s personal archive, as well as manages his estate and existing works. Anderson Entertainment has also developed new content for delivery across a variety of viewing and audio platforms.

Another important part of Anderson Entertainment’s business is its ecommerce offering – the Official Gerry Anderson Store, which sells and makes official and exclusive merchandise available to Anderson fans across the globe. The store has been trading for five years, selling licensed merchandise and a number of exclusive products. Its range encompasses such categories as DVD, Blu-ray, audio, toys, collectibles, clothing and accessories, books, comics, homeware and giftware

Under the terms of the new agreement with rightsholder ITV Studios, Anderson Entertainment is now able to build on the global recognition of the Gerry and Sylvia Anderson portfolio. Importantly, the new agreement also enables the company to build sales opportunities with other retail partners.

Recent years have seen a strong growth in the popularity of the classic Gerry and Sylvia Anderson hits and growing demand for new content from Anderson Entertainment. Product demand has also grown; sales from the Official Gerry Anderson Store are already on course to double the 2019 figure.

Jamie Anderson said: “We’re delighted to have come to this agreement with ITV Studios, which retains its interest in a group of properties with massive revenue-producing potential, while growth is driven by the instantly recognizable Anderson name and iconic brands – many of them known and loved around the world for more than 50 years.”

Christina Lima, VP global franchise management and creative services at ITV Studios, added: “ITV Studios has been working with Anderson Entertainment for some time now, and it’s very clear to us that they have a loyal, engaged and growing fanbase around the world.

“They are the perfect partner to drive consumer product development and sales in an authentic and sensitive way which balances a commercial approach with respect for a group of highly respected heritage brands.”

On the EDGE Conservation outlines licensing plans as it launches endangered animals virtual influencers

Posted on by

On the EDGE Conservation, a charitable foundation dedicated to the promotion of biodiversity and conservation, is building on its debut in the worlds of mobile gaming and educational publishing with a series of anthropomorphic virtual influencers set to entertain and engage young YouTube audiences.

The aim of the new influencer series of content is to highlight the predicament of each endangered creature while presenting it in a format recognisable and enjoyed by children and viewers today.

Launching today, OTEC’s new Youtube channel will host weekly, short-form video diaries posted by the first characters in the series: Lexi the Aye Aye and Eric the Pangolin. Tegan the Kakapo will join the group in the coming weeks, and each will have its own Instagram profile, and Tik Tok channels set to launch in February.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cLPQ1dKb2f4&feature=youtu.be

To allow the characters to behave with the timeliness of influencers popular with kids aged nine to 12 years old, OTEC has humanised them using a new form of motion capture, where the face, hands and body movements are rendered simultaneously (instead of afterwards). This process enables animation in real time, delivering the pace and feel of a classic vlogger.

These virtual influencers are the brainchild of experienced content-maker Bruna Capozzoli who has invented modern-day lifestyles for the characters and commissioned Emmy award-winning screenwriting partnership, Mark Huckerby and Nick Ostler to create culturally relevant storylines that will resonate with kids.

Lexi the Aye Aye is a wannabe superstar DJ living in London, whilst Eric the Pangolin is studying environmental science at Uni.

“In this project we have really evolved our storytelling,” said Capozzoli, head of creative content at OTEC.

“Through the beauty of virtual influencers, we have surpassed relaying retrospective news and moved towards cultural commentary. The key to ensuring our characters could evolve and gain lives of their own was mastering the technology that sits behind motion capture.”

As an extension of the foundation’s disruptive approach to the traditional model of conservation work, OTEC has ambitious plans to leverage its IP in future across different channels including licensing, third-party brand collaborations and co-produced content.

The adopted motion capture pipeline was designed by Doppelganger, a collaborative of technical specialists who came together to deliver OTEC’s brief for this project. In addition to using motion capture data to control the character 3D model live, Doppelganger used cutting-edge technology to capture data from face, hands and body movement together at the same time, which is usually combined afterwards.

The On the EDGE YouTube channel follows the launch of mobile game, Kakapo Run, and underpins OTEC’s ambition to promote biodiversity differently. By using popular digital platforms, OTEC hopes to inspire and engage a growing number of young activists to champion all of the diversity of life in our natural world.

Beth Blood, founder and CEO of OTEC, added: “By giving a voice to unfamiliar but endangered animals through modern story-telling techniques, we will promote biodiversity as something to be celebrated in pop culture.

“The characters in our animation are delightful and surprising, making refreshing new spokes-animals for the wonders of the natural world and the challenges it faces.”

Panini to launch Kid-E-Cats stickers and trading cards across the UK and Europe

Posted on by

The popular pre-school animated series, Kid-E-Cats is making its way to the collectables space thanks to a new pan-European partnership between the brand’s owner CTC Media and the stickers and trading cards specialist, Panini.

The partnership, facilitated by APC Kids, will cover the UK and Ireland, Benelux, Italy, Spain, Portugal, France, the Nordics, Greece, CEE, and Turkey. Across each of the territories, Panini will produce stickers, trading cards, and photocard collectables for the series.

Additionally, in Germany, Spain, and Italy, Panini will create sticker books and magazines, as well as publish a series of children’s books across Spain and Germany.

Lionel Marty, managing director of APC Kids, said: “We are delighted to welcome Panini on board for Kid-E-Cats and are confident in the expertise they will bring to the partnership as we strengthen and support our merchandise offering for the series as it continues to grow in popularity worldwide.”

Lluís Torrent Suñé, managing director of Panini Espana, added: “We have a long history of creating engaging content for kids all over the world and with harnessing the synergies that exist with APC Kids and CTC Media, we are excited to bring the Kid-E-Cats Collectible products to the marketplace.

“We feel privileged to be selected to work on such a cute and funny television series and look forward to working alongside APC Kids to create a complete program of Publishing products in selected countries such as Spain.”

Kid-E-Cats follows the adventures of three kittens, Cookie, Pudding, and Candy, who are always ready to jump into action with enthusiasm and energy. Their imaginations make them capable of some absurd problem-solving suggestions, while through life’s lessons they learn to look before they leap.

A third season is now ready to broadcast, while series one and two are currently available on Nick Jr internationally in over 170 territories following a partnership between APC Kids and Nickelodeon International that was signed in 2017. A further ten special episodes will be broadcast soon.

Ksenia Gordienko, director of animation, CТС media, said: “We have a very successful partnership with Panini in Russia on our Kid-E-Cats brand and we truly hope that this success will be scaled in other European territories. Growing the brand across Europe together with such respected partner like Panini is a great pleasure and honour for us.”

Warner Bros. drops first Tom and Jerry feature film trailer

Posted on by

Tom and Jerry are all set to make their big screen return with the release of the first full trailer courtesy of Warner Bros. for the upcoming, self-titled Tom and Jerry feature film.

Marking the pair’s first return to feature film since the 1992 Tom and Jerry: The Movie, Warner’s animation-live action hybrid looks to set a new standard for revamping of modern classics. Both Tom and Jerry – and indeed all other animals featuring within the film – appear in their animated form, while their surroundings are live-action.

Frank Welker, the longtime character voice actor takes on both Tom and Jerry, alongside a supporting cast that includes Chloë Grace Moretz, Michael Peña, Colin Jost, Ken Jeong, Rob Delaney and Pallavi Sharda.

The first full trailer shows the mischief that both Tom and Jerry get themselves into at a fancy New York City hotel on the eve of “the wedding of the century” to be held there. The Warner Bros. film is due out in theaters next year.

King Features rolls out extensive slate of activity for 40 years of the 1980 cult film Flash Gordon

Posted on by

It’ll be a full four decades since the release of the 1980 cult classic film Flash Gordon this December 5th, and King Features Syndicate has lined up a full roster of activity, including theatrical screenings, fresh content and home entertainment, as well as new licensed products and publishing, in order to best celebrate.

“Flash Gordon’s comic adventures have influenced how we define the modern science fiction genre, but the 1980 film is what really solidified the comic star as a lasting pop-culture icon,” said Carla Silva, vice president and general manager, global head of licensing for King Features.

“We are thrilled to celebrate the 40thanniversary of the film this year with such a strong lineup of partners from across the globe. It’s our mission to continue bringing fans new Flash Gordon products and experiences that showcase their love for the savior of the universe.”

Kicking off the action, Universal Pictures and Fathom Events will present a line up of theatrical screenings in over 330 theatres across the US, each featuring an on-screen introduction to the film by actor Sam Jones (Flash Gordon), as well as the world premieres of a new Flash Gordon comic strip series called Flash Forward – the first ever motion comic strip for the brand.

Meanwhile, this summer, StudioCanal, Europe’s leader in production, distribution and international sales of feature films and TV series, brought Mike Hodges’ cult classic film back to the big screen in 4K Ultra-High definition at Picturehouse Central, The Luna Drive In Cinema and other select UK cinemas with additional screenings across France, Germany, Australia and New Zealand throughout the year.

Launched on Sunday, November 15, a new Flash Gordon original comic strip anthology project features 40 world-renowned artists and illustrators, each telling the story of Flash Gordon through their own unique lens. Talent includes Tana Ford (LaGuardia, Livewire, Black Panther), Jim Keefe (Flash Gordon, Sally Forth), and Liniers(Macanudo) among many others.

“The new product offering of Flash Gordon-inspired comic strips from King Features is an anniversary celebration that everyone who loves the Savior of the Universe will enjoy in both print and digital formats,” said the company.

Next up, Flash Gordon: A Minute to Save the World, the first-ever Flash Gordon motion comic series, made its world debut at the Fathom Events theatrical screening on November 15 when the first five 60-second episodes played on screen. This new twist on classic comic storytelling uses a fresh animation style to follow Flash Gordon’s battle to save earth from Ming the Merciless. The motion comic series is produced by King Features and drawn by David Reddick and will be available to watch on the Comics Kingdom YouTube Channel beginning Sunday, November 15.

In the consumer products space, a robust lineup of Flash Gordon-inspired merchandise and licensed products, including board games, artwork, collectibles and much is all scheduled to land.

Boss Fight Studio, a creator-owned company focused on high-quality, collectible toys, debuted its Flash Gordon figure for the 40th anniversary, which is the first Hero H.A.C.K.S. licensed character. The figure features extensive articulation, multiple hands, multiple heads and a “football” accessory to allow fans to build their collections and continue customizing in a special way.

This limited-edition figure comes packaged in a collectible retro lunchbox featuring a mix of classic movie poster art and brand-new art created by superstar comics artist, Erica Henderson.

This limited-edition figure is the first in the Flash Gordon line from Boss Fight Studio featuring both comic and movie version characters.

King Features is also in developing a new line of Flash Gordon figures with National Entertainment Collectibles Association (NECA).

Meanwhile, Plastic Meatball – creator of pop culture products that should have been, but never were – is developing a retro style Flash Gordon family board game that is launching with a Kickstarter campaign later this year, as well as a series of ‘70s style “Heat Transfer” t-shirts, enamel pins with iconography from the film, a set of four drinking glasses and ‘80s style jigsaw puzzles inspired by the film.

Additional product launches include new stylish art prints inspired by the cult sci-fi film from Art & Hue and Vice Press, Flash Gordon-inspired apparel from CEND International and Trademark Products and a Flash Gordon: Death to Ming card game coming soon from Wayland Games.

King Features is also expanding its publishing program for the brand with the launch of a 40th anniversary title from Titan Books titled Flash Gordon: The Official Story of the Film, on December 1.

Flash Gordon himself, actor Sam Jones, also embarked on an anniversary tour this year with stops across the country, including one where he was presented with a custom made 40th Anniversary Flash Gordon Harley-Davidson motorbike. Upcoming dates for Jones’ tour can be found on his social channels.

As King Features continues Flash Gordon’s 40th anniversary celebration throughout 2021, fans can expect to see a fresh look for Flash Gordon and his crew as new character art developed by popular comic book cover artist, Amelia Vidal (Marvel Studios, Boom! Studios), is released.

Looking ahead, a new Flash Gordon feature film is in development with 20th Century. Taika Waititi, director of Marvel’s Thor: Ragnorok and Jojo Rabbit, is attached to the production. In the meantime, the latest Flash Gordon content can be found at www.ComicsKingdom.com and the Comics Kingdom YouTube channel.