Man vs Bee-no: Rowan Atkinson immortalised in iconic comic

British comedy legend Rowan Atkinson has been immortalised in a special bespoke Beano comic strip, to celebrate the upcoming release of new nine-part Netflix series: Man vs Bee.

This ultimate British pop-culture comedy crossover, drawn by celebrated Beano illustrator Nigel Parkinson, stars Atkinson as the Netflix series’ eponymous hero ‘Trevor,’ a hapless house sitter who attempts to take care of a luxury mansion before chaos ensues after the property is invaded by a mischievous bee.

Inspired by his unique slapstick comedic credentials from the show, the bee-spoke strip transports Trevor to Beanotown. He runs into serious difficulties alongside a cast of favourite characters, including Dennis, Gnasher, Bea (Dennis’s baby sister), Minnie, Pieface, JJ and Rubi.

In the comic strip, Atkinson’s character attempts to house-sit for the Mayor of Beanotown (Walter’s  father), as the family head off on holiday. Chaos ensues as Trevor tussles with a bee whilst leaving a trail of utter devastation in their wake to hilarious comic effect.

Rowan Atkinson says: “Like many British school children I was an avid Beano reader. Beano remains a unique piece of our pop culture, and something that has been shaped by and shaped British comedic sensibilities for over 80 years. I am genuinely thrilled that my alter ego, Trevor, has been immortalised in the Beano world.”

Mike Stirling, Director of Mischief at Beano Studios, adds: “Beano has always been a hive of comic chaos, so there was a real buzz about the place to have the comedy legend that is Rowan Atkinson visit Beanotown to make mischief with another troublemaker identified by their stripes: The Bee! I’m only worried Dennis and Minnie will sting us for new stripy jumpers in tribute. We think it was meant to bee, that when Netflix was looking for a unique new way of telling the world about the show, they thought of us. We hope everyone has as much fun reading the strip as we had making it.”

Launching today, Friday 17 June, the bee-spoke comic strip is available exclusively on beano.com and gives a teaser of what’s to come ahead of Man vs Bee landing on Netflix.

Promising viewers a hugely enjoyable mix of wacky hi-jinks and physical comedy for which Rowan’s comedy characters have become synonymous, Man vs Bee is set to be this summer’s much-watch family comedy series, available on Netflix in full from 24 June.

 

Spotlight to represent Samurai Rabbit

2022 may be the Year of the Tiger but it is also shaping up to be a big year for the rabbits of the highly anticipated Netflix animated kids series Samurai Rabbit: The Usagi Chronicles, and the long-running and award-winning Stan Sakai comic book series Usagi Yojimbo that inspired it.

Spotlight Licensing has been appointed by Gaumont to launch and manage the global merchandise licensing programme for Samurai Rabbit: The Usagi Chronicles (which debuted on Netflix April 28).

“We are incredibly proud of Samurai Rabbit! It’s a fun, funny, action packed, gorgeous, animated kids series that younger viewers will love. Creator Stan Sakai was involved every step of the way so we hope his comic fans will love it as well,” says Terry Kalagian, Executive Vice President of Creative Content at Gaumont US.

Spotlight has simultaneously been tapped to handle global merchandise licensing for Sakai’s creator-owned Usagi Yojimbo.

Usagi Yojimbo’s Miyamoto Usagi is an ancestor of Samurai Rabbit’s teenage star Yuichi Usagi  and – because Miyamoto is such an integral figure in Yuichi’s life and story – it made sense to consolidate and coordinate licensing efforts for both the series and comics with one agency,” says Sakai, who is an executive producer of the Samurai Rabbit series and has remained involved throughout development to ensure the show would be well-crafted and respectful of Japanese culture.

“We are thrilled to be working with Gaumont and Stan Sakai to find the right licensing partners in the U.S. and around the world for each property, Samurai Rabbit: The Usagi Chronicles and Usagi Yojimbo, either separately or together if appropriate,” says Spotlight Licensing President Carole Postal.

Spotlight is actively seeking licensing partners across a broad range of product categories including not only toys and games but also clothing, costumes, accessories, figurines, collectibles, and other items. As global agent, Spotlight will also be looking for evaluating potential licensing partners and sub-agents around the world.

 

Spotlight to represent Samurai Rabbit

2022 may be the Year of the Tiger but it is also shaping up to be a big year for the rabbits of the highly anticipated Netflix animated kids series Samurai Rabbit: The Usagi Chronicles, and the long-running and award-winning Stan Sakai comic book series Usagi Yojimbo that inspired it.

Spotlight Licensing has been appointed by Gaumont to launch and manage the global merchandise licensing programme for Samurai Rabbit: The Usagi Chronicles (which debuted on Netflix April 28).

“We are incredibly proud of Samurai Rabbit! It’s a fun, funny, action packed, gorgeous, animated kids series that younger viewers will love. Creator Stan Sakai was involved every step of the way so we hope his comic fans will love it as well,” says Terry Kalagian, Executive Vice President of Creative Content at Gaumont US.

Spotlight has simultaneously been tapped to handle global merchandise licensing for Sakai’s creator-owned Usagi Yojimbo.

Usagi Yojimbo’s Miyamoto Usagi is an ancestor of Samurai Rabbit’s teenage star Yuichi Usagi  and – because Miyamoto is such an integral figure in Yuichi’s life and story – it made sense to consolidate and coordinate licensing efforts for both the series and comics with one agency,” says Sakai, who is an executive producer of the Samurai Rabbit series and has remained involved throughout development to ensure the show would be well-crafted and respectful of Japanese culture.

“We are thrilled to be working with Gaumont and Stan Sakai to find the right licensing partners in the U.S. and around the world for each property, Samurai Rabbit: The Usagi Chronicles and Usagi Yojimbo, either separately or together if appropriate,” says Spotlight Licensing President Carole Postal.

Spotlight is actively seeking licensing partners across a broad range of product categories including not only toys and games but also clothing, costumes, accessories, figurines, collectibles, and other items. As global agent, Spotlight will also be looking for evaluating potential licensing partners and sub-agents around the world.

 

Cartoon Saloon Brand Development to oversee global licensing and merchandising for Netflix film My Father’s Dragon

Cartoon Saloon Brand Development, the ancillary rights division of five-time Academy Award, Golden Globe, BAFTA, and Emmy-nominated animation studio Cartoon Saloon, will spearhead the global licensing and merchandising strategy for the 2D animated family feature, My Father’s Dragon, a Netflix Film, to premiere in 2022. 

The announcement was made today by Brian Tyrrell, General Manager of Cartoon Saloon Brand Development, who will be attending Licensing Expo for in-person meetings.

My Father’s Dragon is inspired by the Newbery Honor Book of the same name by Ruth Stiles Gannett about a young boy who, struggling to cope with a move to the city with his mother, runs away in search of Wild Island and a young dragon who waits to be rescued. It was first published in 1948 and has since been published in over 20 languages.

My Father’s Dragon is the first book of a trilogy whose other titles are Elmer the Dragon and The Dragons of Blueland. All three were published in a 50-year anniversary edition in 2011 as Three Tales of My Father’s Dragon.

“My Father’s Dragon is a timeless and classic story with inspirational qualities which has been pleasing kids and adults alike across the globe for over 70 years, and will for years to come,” says Tyrrell. “Discussions are already well under way with key potential licensees and we look forward to presenting this evergreen property to a wider audience at the upcoming Licensing Expo.”

Directed by Cartoon Network’s Nora Twomey (Song of the Sea, The Secret of Kells, The Breadwinner), My Father’s Dragon is written by Meg LeFauve (Inside Out, The Good Dinosaur), with story by Meg LeFauve and John Morgan, who are also executive producers, along with Tomm Moore, Gerry Shirren, Alan Maloney, and Ruth Coady. Bonnie Curtis and Julie Lynn of Mockingbird Pictures (Raymond & Ray, Heart of Stone, and Albert Nobbs) are producing together with Cartoon Saloon’s Paul Young.

The talented voice cast includes Jacob Tremblay, Gaten Matarazzo, Golshifteh Farahani, Dianne Wiest, Rita Moreno, Chris O’Dowd, Judy Greer, Alan Cumming, Yara Shahidi, Jackie Earle Haley, Mary Kay Place, Leighton Meester, Spence Moore II, Adam Brody, Charlyne Yi, Maggie Lincoln, Jack Smith with Whoopi Goldberg and Ian McShane.

 

Cartoon Saloon Brand Development to oversee global licensing and merchandising for Netflix film My Father’s Dragon

Cartoon Saloon Brand Development, the ancillary rights division of five-time Academy Award, Golden Globe, BAFTA, and Emmy-nominated animation studio Cartoon Saloon, will spearhead the global licensing and merchandising strategy for the 2D animated family feature, My Father’s Dragon, a Netflix Film, to premiere in 2022. 

The announcement was made today by Brian Tyrrell, General Manager of Cartoon Saloon Brand Development, who will be attending Licensing Expo for in-person meetings.

My Father’s Dragon is inspired by the Newbery Honor Book of the same name by Ruth Stiles Gannett about a young boy who, struggling to cope with a move to the city with his mother, runs away in search of Wild Island and a young dragon who waits to be rescued. It was first published in 1948 and has since been published in over 20 languages.

My Father’s Dragon is the first book of a trilogy whose other titles are Elmer the Dragon and The Dragons of Blueland. All three were published in a 50-year anniversary edition in 2011 as Three Tales of My Father’s Dragon.

“My Father’s Dragon is a timeless and classic story with inspirational qualities which has been pleasing kids and adults alike across the globe for over 70 years, and will for years to come,” says Tyrrell. “Discussions are already well under way with key potential licensees and we look forward to presenting this evergreen property to a wider audience at the upcoming Licensing Expo.”

Directed by Cartoon Network’s Nora Twomey (Song of the Sea, The Secret of Kells, The Breadwinner), My Father’s Dragon is written by Meg LeFauve (Inside Out, The Good Dinosaur), with story by Meg LeFauve and John Morgan, who are also executive producers, along with Tomm Moore, Gerry Shirren, Alan Maloney, and Ruth Coady. Bonnie Curtis and Julie Lynn of Mockingbird Pictures (Raymond & Ray, Heart of Stone, and Albert Nobbs) are producing together with Cartoon Saloon’s Paul Young.

The talented voice cast includes Jacob Tremblay, Gaten Matarazzo, Golshifteh Farahani, Dianne Wiest, Rita Moreno, Chris O’Dowd, Judy Greer, Alan Cumming, Yara Shahidi, Jackie Earle Haley, Mary Kay Place, Leighton Meester, Spence Moore II, Adam Brody, Charlyne Yi, Maggie Lincoln, Jack Smith with Whoopi Goldberg and Ian McShane.

 

Exploding Kittens heading for Netflix

Netflix is launching a mobile game and TV series from the same franchise, building on the popular Exploding Kittens card game. Exploding Kittens – The Game, an exclusive version of the popular mobile game, will launch on Netflix in May, followed by an adult animated comedy series coming in 2023, starring Tom Ellis (Rush, Lucifer), Abraham Lim (Clickbait,The Boys) and Lucy Liu (Shazam, Elementary).

In the animated series, titled Exploding Kittens, the eternal conflict between Heaven and Hell reaches epic proportions when both God and the Devil are sent to Earth – in the bodies of chunky house cats. The series comes from showrunners Shane Kosakowski and Matthew Inman; executive producers Mike Judge, Greg Daniels and Dustin Davis of Bandera Entertainment; executive producers Peter Chernin and Jenno Topping for the Chernin Entertainment Group; and executive producers and creators of the Exploding Kittens franchise, Elan Lee and The Oatmeal’s Inman.

Exploding Kittens – The Game retains the same classic gameplay where players draw cards aiming to avoid the Exploding Kitten. Plus, fans will enjoy two new exclusive cards: Radar, which reveals to players the position of the Exploding Kitten closest to the top of the card deck, and Flip Flop, which reverses the order of the cards in the deck.

Future cards and game mechanics will be themed around the animated series so friends and families can play with their favourite characters and bring the show to life. With both single and multiplayer options, the game will be available to Netflix members without additional fees or in-app purchases.

“The co-development of a game and animated series breaks new ground for Netflix,” says Mike Moon, Netflix Head of Adult Animation. “And we couldn’t think of a better game to build a universe around than Exploding Kittens, one of the most inventive, iconic and original games of this century. Netflix is the perfect place to explore this growing franchise and we are so fortunate to be working with this incredible team.”

“Our goal is to offer our members great entertainment they’ll love in whatever format they may enjoy – whether it be a game or an animated series,” adds Leanne Loombe, Head of External Games, Netflix. “As we expand our mobile games catalogue, we’re excited to partner with the Exploding Kittens digital team to bring this enjoyable game to all age groups, including a few exciting updates exclusively for our members.”

“Netflix is the only service that could bring Exploding Kittens to life in both a series and a game,” says Matthew Inman, Exploding Kittens Chief Creative Officer and Creator of The Oatmeal. “We actually launched Exploding Kittens on Kickstarter as a weekend project, but our community has been the heart and soul of the company over the past six years. The new series and game will give our fans new ways to connect and interact with the franchise.”

Additional details about the Exploding Kittens adult animated series will be announced at a later date.

Cry Babies Magic Tears launches on Netflix

Fans of leading doll brand Cry Babies Magic Tears now have even more options to follow their favourite characters’ adventures as IMC Toys has secured a global deal with the world’s leading entertainment streaming service, Netflix.

Full episodes of the popular animated series will be available to stream in homes in 24 languages and over 190 countries where Netflix operates.

The Cry Babies Magic Tears animated series originally launched in the UK on IMC Toys’ YouTube platform, Kitoons, in 2018, alongside the successful launch of the Cry Babies Magic Tears collectible line at retail; an extension of the popular Cry Babies brand. The new Netflix deal builds on the momentum the brand has garnered since entering the market and offers viewers 400 minutes of content that will be released between two seasons this year, the first on 18 April and the second in autumn.

“IMC Toys couldn’t be prouder to be part of Netflix’s content offering,” says Raquel Roca, Communication Manager, IMC Toys. “Our aim is to always provide the best possible experience for our consumers and this premiere on Netflix gives our fans even more accessibility to the content they love.
“Cry Babies Magic Tears is a global brand, and Netflix is the perfect platform to allow kids around the world to enjoy our amazing series and share the positive messaging it brings to our viewers.”
Cry Babies Magic Tears are cute little babies with big personalities. They live in an imaginative world where tears are magical and carry special powers that are used to overcome challenging situations. The series, which is designed for children aged three to six, uses each episode to instil positive values in an interesting and engaging way through content. Viewers will be able to enjoy the best of the best from Cry Babies Magic Tears seasons two and three.
This premiere on Netflix is the latest in a lineup of deals that IMC Toys has concluded with television and streaming entities across the globe, including Nick Junior (UK), Gulli (France), Disney (Spain), Frisbee (Italy), Togo (Germany), Telekids (Holland), RTL (Croatia) and Televisa (Mexico). All of which serve the goal of bringing fans into the world of Cry Babies Magic Tears and making the brand an international powerhouse for both children’s entertainment and toys.

For more information on Cry Babies and other ranges by IMC Toys, contact info.uk@imctoys.com

Netflix green-lights five new series based on the world of Dr Seuss

Netflix and Dr. Seuss Enterprises have announced they are bringing some of the most iconic and beloved stories and characters of Dr. Seuss to life with five new animated preschool series and specials.

The projects are inspired by treasured stories like Horton Hears a Who!, The Sneetches, One Fish, Two Fish, Red Fish, Blue Fish, and Wacky Wednesday, in addition to lovable characters like Thidwick the Big-Hearted Moose.

Executive Producer Dustin Ferrer (Esme & Roy, Shimmer & Shine, Daniel Tiger’s Neighborhood) will serve as showrunner across all five projects, and additional showrunners will be revealed in the coming weeks.

The announcement expands the partnership between Netflix and Dr. Seuss Enterprises even further, following the launch of the critically acclaimed animated series Green Eggs and Ham in 2019, which will have its anticipated second season premiere on April 8, 2022.

The new Dr. Seuss line-up will serve as an anchor for Netflix’s expanded focus on preschool. Introducing concepts of foundational learning, this new slate of programming will explore themes of diversity and respect for others, all told through fun and engaging stories that incorporate the whimsical humour, distinctive visuals and rhythmic style of Dr. Seuss.

“Netflix is a trusted home for characters that kids love, and generations of kids love the characters imagined by  Dr. Seuss,” says Heather Tilert, Director of Preschool Content, Netflix. “These beloved stories have been a core part of families’ libraries for many years and it gives me great pride that we are bringing them to our catalogue of Netflix shows, in a fresh and modern way that resonates with audiences today.”

Susan Brandt, President and CEO of Dr. Seuss Enterprises, adds: “Dr. Seuss Enterprises is proud of the collaborative relationship we share with Netflix.  We are always looking for new and engaging ways to share our stories, characters and messages with the next generation of fans, and Netflix has a unique ability to create original, delightful adaptations of our timeless classics with an emphasis on imagination, fun, and education.

“Our partnership has been very prosperous thus far with our award-winning animated series Green Eggs and Ham. We hope to continue that success with our upcoming projects.”

 

 

 

 

MGM powers up Vikings: Valhalla licensing programme following successful Netflix debut

On the heels of the recent Netflix series debut of Vikings: Valhalla, MGM is building momentum for the legendary brand with an action-packed licensing programme spanning all merchandise categories. 

Following on from the immense success of Vikings, which transported viewers to the world of Viking warrior Ragnar Lothbrok, and garnered an incredible 625 million cumulative views across its six seasons and 89 episodes, MGM Television’s Vikings: Valhalla is the newest chapter to thrill the franchise’s army of fans.

Set 100 years after the original series, it dramatically tells the stories of the most famous Vikings who ever lived: Leif Erikson and his sister Freydis, Harald Hardrada and Norman King William the Conqueror. Vikings: Valhalla Season One premiered on February 25 and ranks #1 on the Netflix Top 10 for the week of 2/28 with 113.38M hours viewed, making the Top 10 in 90 countries. The series garnered 80.5M hours viewed during its first two days the week prior, bringing it to an impressive 194M hours viewed in its first nine days.

For the original Vikings, MGM created a global licensing programme featuring more than 30 licensees across apparel, collectibles, publishing, novelty, and gaming. Now, MGM is building an expansive licensing programme for Vikings: Valhalla, with an extensive list of partners already signed on for the journey.

New products, available in the US and Europe, span all categories  and include apparel and accessories from Hot Topic, C&A Modas, Marketing Licensed Products, Hybris Productions, TatooedNow!, Nastrovje and Ecell Global. Viking-inspired costumes are also available from Fungilobal Development, along with collectibles, toys/games and decor from GB Eye and Winning Moves International.

These products are all designed with colours and styles specific to each Viking “clan,” making it a true Viking experience for fans of the hit series. MGM is also planning to expand Vikings: Valhalla’s international presence with new partners in South America and Brazil.

Robert Marick, Executive Vice President of Global Consumer Products and Experiences at MGM, says: “The franchise has such a dedicated fan base and we look forward to expanding our licensing programme to create exciting new products that allow people to unleash their inner Viking.”

 

Launch of Netflix show inspires raft of deals for Cuphead

Global gaming phenomenon Cuphead is building on its successful international presence with new products and partners tied to Netflix’s The Cuphead Show!, which debuted on February 18. Since launch, The Cuphead Show! has made the Top 10 Kids list in over 90 countries.

Studio MDHR’s eight-time platinum-selling video game Cuphead has been a global sensation since its 2017 release and is continuing the momentum with new licensing partners across a wide range of product categories tied both to the new Netflix series and the classic video game, including publishing, apparel, home decor and novelties. Cuphead is represented for licensing and entertainment by King Features Syndicate, a unit of Hearst and home to some of the world’s most popular entertainment characters.

Cuphead and Mugman characters and a few new faces from the show have jumped off the TV screen and into homes through a curated collection of products from iam8bit, available now. Known by fans for crafting unique and memorable experiences and products inspired by their favourite brands, the online store includes T-shirts, socks and pins as well as a limited-edition, 1930s-era-inspired art poster celebrating The Cuphead Show! launch.

Additionally, activewear, dresses, loungewear, jackets and more from Mad Engine are available at Amazon.com; a line of artisanal hot sauces and craft coffees starring Cuphead, Mugman, the Devil, Elder Kettle, Ms. Chalice and King Dice are also in the works with Jade City Foods and will be available at www.inkwellislesstore.com; and vinyl collectible figures from Youtooz will debut this spring.

The Cuphead Show! is also being supported by a full children’s publishing programme from Random House Children’s Books set to launch this May, which includes Screen Comix, frame-by-frame retellings of the episodes in comic book form, as well as Step Into Reading, C&A, Little Golden Books and 8×8 formats.

The first books in the series, a Screen Comix titled “Handle With Care” and a first Step Into Reading book titled “Welcome to the Inkwell Isles”, are available for pre-order now and will be officially released on May 3, 2022.

Additionally, The Art of The Cuphead Show! coffee table book is currently in development with Dark Horse Comics and slated for release in Q2 2023. Dark Horse has also renewed its worldwide deal to further extend the existing lineup of Cuphead books based on the original video game following the introduction of its The Art of Cuphead art book and graphic novels to international markets.

“It’s an unbelievable full-circle moment to see Cuphead, which was so inspired by classic cartoons of the 1930s, become a cartoon of its own made with such craft and care by the amazing team at Netflix Animation,” says Studio MDHR Co-Director Chad Moldenhauer. “We take great care in working closely with our merchandising partners to ensure that we are proud of the things that are created for the Cuphead community, and it’s wonderful to see the same care being taken by great partners to represent the world of The Cuphead Show!

Cuphead’s classic animation style and design will also be featured on new products, including metal art posters from Displate; additional vinyl figures and plushies from Youtooz; puzzles and novelty items from Toynk Toys; and Funko has recently launched new Cuphead collectible figures, apparel and accessories worldwide. Plus, hats, stickers, keychains and more from Scotty Gear Retail Corp will release later this year.

Cuphead publishing is still going strong with the aforementioned Dark Horse programme expansion, a series of game-based prose novels from Little, Brown Young Readers and a mini kit book from Running Press that will launch summer 2022. And in Japan, 1000Toys recently debuted new action figures, while new branded apparel and accessories are set to launch from Kaitentai and Smarprise, as well as new novelties and giftables from Ensky.

Cuphead’s incredible momentum continues with the debut of its groundbreaking animated series on Netflix and the DLC is hot on its heels,” says King Features Vice President, North America Licensing, Jarred Goro. “We are proud to work with these incredible partners to launch products that fans will love. Cuphead is a true pop culture phenomenon and we look forward to expanding the brand’s presence around the world.”

Cuphead is celebrated by fans around the world for its arcade-action gameplay, highly original art design and award-winning soundtrack, featuring almost three hours of original jazz, early big band and ragtime music. A true cultural phenomenon, the game has sold millions of units worldwide and won over 20 major awards. In addition to a wide range of new product releases, this year, fans can look forward to the June 30 release of The Delicious Last Course, the highly anticipated next chapter to the hit video game.