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BLE’s License This! adds new category, expands into US, and appoints Ian Downes as chair

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Brand Licensing Europe’s popular License This! competition is now opens for entries, as it welcomes a new third award category, courtesy of Mojo Nation, as well as its expansion into the US market.

License This! has been helping brands and designers to break into the licensing industry for over a decade and now, thanks to the launch of the all-new Inventions & Product Innovations category in partnership with Mojo Nation, it will provide a springboard for inventors keen to break into the sector, too.

The competition will also debut in the US market this year at Licensing Expo Virtual, with the same three categories open to entrants from both Europe and the US:

  1. License This! Character & Animation
  2. License This! Brand & Design
  3. License This! Inventions & Product Innovations

The Character & Animation and Brand & Design categories are both aimed at unlicensed brands and properties looking to use the platform to secure a licensing deal or agency representation. Judges are looking for new creative concepts which have the potential to spread across multiple product categories. Typically, applicants are illustrator, publishing, or animation focused.

Meanwhile, the Inventions & Product Innovation category is about tangible product inventions that are patented or patent-pending, or innovative product designs that would benefit from licensing.

Judging is based on the invention’s product design uniqueness, brand-ability of the product, and presentation and pitch of the submission video. All three categories will take sustainability into consideration for the very first time.

The European judging panel will be chaired by Start Licensing managing director Ian Downes who takes over from licensing industry legend Kelvyn Gardner, who sadly passed away at the start of the year.

Anna Knight, VP of licensing, Informa Markets, said: “Discovery and creativity are pillars of the Brand Licensing Europe and Licensing Expo trade shows, both of which are foundational to the License This! programme. By expanding the programme geographically and demographically we want to drive new artists, illustrators and product inventors into the industry on a global scale providing them with a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to mark their place in the licensing industry.

“I also want to take this opportunity to welcome Ian as our new chairman in Europe. Filling Kelvyn’s shoes isn’t going to be easy, but we know he’ll do an amazing job.”

Ian Downes added: “License This! is a great initiative and is now firmly established as part of the licensing calendar. Licensing needs new ideas and fresh creativity to flourish. License This! provides a great platform for people to engage with the licensing world and to start building a network within it.

“I am delighted to be involved in the competition again and look forward to reviewing the entries. I am sure there will be some exciting new concepts to review. I thoroughly recommend it to the creative community.”

The winners from each category will receive a free exhibition stand at BLE 2022, one-on-one consultation with members of the judging panel, and free one year memberships to Licensing International and Products of Change.

Previous License This! entrants, both winners and finalists, have gone on to sign successful licensing agreements.

The 2016 winner Charlotte Reed, May The Thoughts Be With You, said: “Since winning, I signed with licensing agent Clare Piggott, and we have since signed three major deals and the May The Thoughts Be With You range from Half Moon Bay was a finalist in the gifting category at the 2020 Licensing Awards.”

Entry into License This! is free and open now online https://www.brandlicensing.eu/en/learn-brand-licensing/license-competition.html. Closing date is Monday 11 October at 5pm.

BLE’s License This! adds new category, expands into US, and appoints Ian Downes as chair

Posted on by

Brand Licensing Europe’s popular License This! competition is now opens for entries, as it welcomes a new third award category, courtesy of Mojo Nation, as well as its expansion into the US market.

License This! has been helping brands and designers to break into the licensing industry for over a decade and now, thanks to the launch of the all-new Inventions & Product Innovations category in partnership with Mojo Nation, it will provide a springboard for inventors keen to break into the sector, too.

The competition will also debut in the US market this year at Licensing Expo Virtual, with the same three categories open to entrants from both Europe and the US:

  1. License This! Character & Animation
  2. License This! Brand & Design
  3. License This! Inventions & Product Innovations

The Character & Animation and Brand & Design categories are both aimed at unlicensed brands and properties looking to use the platform to secure a licensing deal or agency representation. Judges are looking for new creative concepts which have the potential to spread across multiple product categories. Typically, applicants are illustrator, publishing, or animation focused.

Meanwhile, the Inventions & Product Innovation category is about tangible product inventions that are patented or patent-pending, or innovative product designs that would benefit from licensing.

Judging is based on the invention’s product design uniqueness, brand-ability of the product, and presentation and pitch of the submission video. All three categories will take sustainability into consideration for the very first time.

The European judging panel will be chaired by Start Licensing managing director Ian Downes who takes over from licensing industry legend Kelvyn Gardner, who sadly passed away at the start of the year.

Anna Knight, VP of licensing, Informa Markets, said: “Discovery and creativity are pillars of the Brand Licensing Europe and Licensing Expo trade shows, both of which are foundational to the License This! programme. By expanding the programme geographically and demographically we want to drive new artists, illustrators and product inventors into the industry on a global scale providing them with a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to mark their place in the licensing industry.

“I also want to take this opportunity to welcome Ian as our new chairman in Europe. Filling Kelvyn’s shoes isn’t going to be easy, but we know he’ll do an amazing job.”

Ian Downes added: “License This! is a great initiative and is now firmly established as part of the licensing calendar. Licensing needs new ideas and fresh creativity to flourish. License This! provides a great platform for people to engage with the licensing world and to start building a network within it.

“I am delighted to be involved in the competition again and look forward to reviewing the entries. I am sure there will be some exciting new concepts to review. I thoroughly recommend it to the creative community.”

The winners from each category will receive a free exhibition stand at BLE 2022, one-on-one consultation with members of the judging panel, and free one year memberships to Licensing International and Products of Change.

Previous License This! entrants, both winners and finalists, have gone on to sign successful licensing agreements.

The 2016 winner Charlotte Reed, May The Thoughts Be With You, said: “Since winning, I signed with licensing agent Clare Piggott, and we have since signed three major deals and the May The Thoughts Be With You range from Half Moon Bay was a finalist in the gifting category at the 2020 Licensing Awards.”

Entry into License This! is free and open now online https://www.brandlicensing.eu/en/learn-brand-licensing/license-competition.html. Closing date is Monday 11 October at 5pm.

Moonbug Entertainment partners with Amazon Kids+ on original new content slate

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Moonbug Entertainment has teamed up with Amazon Kids+ to create, produce, and distribute a whole new portfolio of entertaining and educational children’s content, starring a cast of popular characters.

The first joint project under the partnership includes an original production of Arpo Robot Babysitter, based on the hit YouTube show Arpo. The production will premiere on Amazon Kids+ alongside a new Arpo mobile game.

“Our partnership with Amazon Kids+ expands Arpo’s world and takes children on new adventures,” said Andy Yeatman, Managing Director of the Americas at Moonbug. “Arpo’s unique format makes it accessible to kids across the globe, making them laugh as they meet new characters and sharpen their problem-solving skills.”

Veronica Pickett, head of Amazon Kids+ original series, added: “The arrival of Arpo into the Amazon Kids+ offering is a joyful example of our commitment to deliver content that kids and families will love.

“The heart and humor at the core of Arpo creates so many LOL moments that are inspiring the world of entertainment we’re building with the new original series and game.”

Arpo is an animated show based on slapstick humor for children three to seven years old. Its non-dialogue format entertains kids who speak all languages. The original production coming to Amazon Kids+ takes kids on a series of adventures as Arpo faces new challenges, between caring for Danny’s adopted Korean baby sister Cookie and adjusting to a team of new robots built by Mom.

On YouTube alone, Arpo has more than 5 million subscribers, 110 million views per month, and 1.9 billion lifetime views.

In addition to the new Amazon Kids+ relationship, Moonbug has brokered partnership deals for its programs with over 100 streaming platforms on a local and global scale, including Netflix, Hulu, Apple TV, Sky and Tencent, and has category-leading viewership on Amazon Prime Video and YouTube.

Children’s publisher AMEET partners with Skybound to launch new LEGO comic book series

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The children’s book publisher AMEET has detailed a new partnership with the multi-platform content company, Skybound Entertainment to launch a new series of LEGO comic books. The first in the series is slated to debut in 2022 and will be published by Image Comics and Skybound.

The exclusive English-language licensed publishing partnership will bring LEGO properties into Skybound’s vast slate of notable comic book series, that includes the likes of The Walking Dead, Invincible, and Ultramega.

“As a lifelong fan of LEGO toys and content, nothing brings me greater joy than partnering with AMEET on this iconic brand. Each title will be a portal to the endless worlds accessible in every LEGO play session, created to inspire the LEGO builders, readers, and thinkers of tomorrow,” said Sean Mackiewicz, senior vice president, editor-in-chief at Skybound Entertainment.

“Comic Books form a key component of the LEGO Books publishing strategy to bring LEGO stories to young readers everywhere,” added Eric Huang, vice president and publisher at AMEET. “Skybound is the perfect LEGO Books comics partner. They’re as passionate as we are about publishing books that encourage creativity and play.”

Skybound’s first venture into the LEGO Group’s vast library of intellectual property will be announced in the coming months.

Skybound Entertainment is a multi-platform content company that works with creators and their intellectual properties, extending their stories to platforms including comics, television, film, tabletop and video games, books, digital content, events, and more. The company is the home of notable properties including The Walking Dead, Invincible, and Super Dinosaur.

Skybound holds strategic partnerships across the entertainment industry, and has the in-house capabilities to serve as publisher, producer, and global distributor for tabletop and video games. On screen, Skybound holds a first-look television deal with Amazon Studios and a first-look movie deal with Universal.

Additional partnerships include comic book publishing with Image Comics, book publishing with Simon & Schuster, and a first-look narrative audio deal with Audible.

Children’s publisher AMEET partners with Skybound to launch new LEGO comic book series

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The children’s book publisher AMEET has detailed a new partnership with the multi-platform content company, Skybound Entertainment to launch a new series of LEGO comic books. The first in the series is slated to debut in 2022 and will be published by Image Comics and Skybound.

The exclusive English-language licensed publishing partnership will bring LEGO properties into Skybound’s vast slate of notable comic book series, that includes the likes of The Walking Dead, Invincible, and Ultramega.

“As a lifelong fan of LEGO toys and content, nothing brings me greater joy than partnering with AMEET on this iconic brand. Each title will be a portal to the endless worlds accessible in every LEGO play session, created to inspire the LEGO builders, readers, and thinkers of tomorrow,” said Sean Mackiewicz, senior vice president, editor-in-chief at Skybound Entertainment.

“Comic Books form a key component of the LEGO Books publishing strategy to bring LEGO stories to young readers everywhere,” added Eric Huang, vice president and publisher at AMEET. “Skybound is the perfect LEGO Books comics partner. They’re as passionate as we are about publishing books that encourage creativity and play.”

Skybound’s first venture into the LEGO Group’s vast library of intellectual property will be announced in the coming months.

Skybound Entertainment is a multi-platform content company that works with creators and their intellectual properties, extending their stories to platforms including comics, television, film, tabletop and video games, books, digital content, events, and more. The company is the home of notable properties including The Walking Dead, Invincible, and Super Dinosaur.

Skybound holds strategic partnerships across the entertainment industry, and has the in-house capabilities to serve as publisher, producer, and global distributor for tabletop and video games. On screen, Skybound holds a first-look television deal with Amazon Studios and a first-look movie deal with Universal.

Additional partnerships include comic book publishing with Image Comics, book publishing with Simon & Schuster, and a first-look narrative audio deal with Audible.

PAW Patrol: The Movie first trailer drops as ViacomCBS cites ‘major milestone for iconic property’

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The first trailer for the hotly anticipated PAW Patrol: The Movie has landed, offering a first glimpse at ‘the biggest adventure yet’ for the cast of pups as the film readies to open in cinemas on August 20th this year.

Featuring an original song from Maroon 5’s front man, Adam Levine and an all-star cast including Ian Armitage, Marsai Martin, Yara Shahidi, Kim Kardashian West, and Jimmy Kimmel, the film will follow a big screen adventure as the PAW Patrol pups take on their biggest rival, Humdinger.

An official synopsis of the film reads: “The PAW Patrol is on a roll! When their biggest rival, Humdinger, becomes Mayor of nearby Adventure City and starts wreaking havoc, Ryder and everyone’s favorite heroic pups kick into high gear to face the challenge head on.

“While one pup must face his past in Adventure City, the team finds help from a new ally, the savvy dachshund Liberty. Together, armed with exciting new gadgets and gear, the PAW Patrol fights to save the citizens of Adventure City!”

Brian Robbins, president, kids and family entertainment, ViacomCBS Domestic Media Networks, said: “Expanding PAW Patrol into the world of theatricals is a major milestone for this iconic property, and we can’t wait for kids and families everywhere to experience it together.

“We are incredibly excited to work with Spin Master Entertainment and our sister division Paramount Pictures on this latest title from the Nickelodeon Movies slate.”

Aconyte Books details long-planned novel series based on hit board game Pandemic

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Aconyte Books, the fiction imprint of the global games group, Asmodee, has lifted the lid on its long-planned series of novels inspired by the global bestselling game, Pandemic.

The first title in the series will be Pandemic: Patient Zero, scheduled to land on shelves this September and promising to take fans of the franchise on a journey into the future, where an expert team of epidemiologists are tasked with tracking down potential outbreaks and resolving them before a pandemic breaks out.

A synopsis of the title reads: ‘In this first title, new recruit Bodhi Patel finds himself in South America, far from his comfort zone, where the clues to the source of a new mutated virus lie on land controlled by a local warlord.’

Aconyte’s publisher Marc Gascoigne, said: “To say this series has been long in the planning would be an understatement. Patient Zero was completely written and about to be announced in early Spring 2020 when… well, we all know what happened next. Even with a message as positive as the one enshrined in the game and the novels, the timing wasn’t right.

“Now updated, it truthfully and respectfully captures the courage and sacrifice of experts in the field, and shows what can be achieved when teamwork, cooperation, and empowerment are put to the test.”

The title has been written by Amanda Bridgeman, whose pair of futuristic crime thrillers, The Subjugate and The Sensation, have recently been optioned for a TV series by the team behind True Detective and Mr Robot.

The Perth, Australia-based writer has worked closely with the Aconyte and Z-Man teams, constructing a complete cast of relatable characters, and the organisation they work for, who will appear throughout the series. Two more novels are currently in development, for publication in 2022.

The Insights Family forges alliance with InspiredConsumer to tap 50 million US families for research

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The kids, parents, and family market research outfit, The Insights Family, has forged a new partnership with InspiredConsumer, a US youth experiential marketing agency, to ‘transform the research sector in the United States.’

Operating the largest and most singular community centre network across the US, InspiredConsumer not only boasts 20 years of experience in the field, but a client list that includes the likes of Nickelodeon, Disney, and Mars.

Meanwhile, The Insights Family has established itself as a global front runner in kids, parents, and family research, by providing real-time data to clients such as Amazon, BBC, Mattel, and Warner Bros.

Through the forging of a new partnership, the pair aim to ‘create unrivalled opportunities for kids’ research and insight,’ with solutions that will ‘drive significant value for clients; insightful data, cost reduction, fast turnaround, and elimination of the pain-points associated with traditional qualitative research.’

Nick Richardson, founder and CEO of The Insights Family, said: “Having spent the last four years developing the most comprehensive and dynamic real-time family insights solution, so many clients and partners have approached asking us to do something in the qualitative research space.

“Based on understanding their needs and requirements, we have developed a suite of solutions which meets their needs and removes the issues which they have previously experienced.”

As part of the partnership, The Insights Family will provide several research services to InspiredConsumer’s clients to help with planning and measurement, including evaluating and demonstrating the ROI of client campaigns.

Stav Vaisman, CEO of InspiredConsumer, said: “We have spent the last 20 years building and nurturing relationships that sustained our firm, while also investing in the communities we work in. So, it is with great pride that we are embarking on this new research endeavor with such an impressive partner. We will work tirelessly to ensure we provide incredible value to our clients, and participants.”

With kid’s influence now growing across 90 per cent of expenditure categories in the US, the pair believe ‘it’s more important than ever to understand the attitudes, behaviors and consumptions of the next generation of families.’

To find out more, and download the new free report on “The Next Generation of Families” visit https://get.theinsightsfamily.com/familyreport/

The Insights Family forges alliance with InspiredConsumer to tap 50 million US families for research

Posted on by

The kids, parents, and family market research outfit, The Insights Family, has forged a new partnership with InspiredConsumer, a US youth experiential marketing agency, to ‘transform the research sector in the United States.’

Operating the largest and most singular community centre network across the US, InspiredConsumer not only boasts 20 years of experience in the field, but a client list that includes the likes of Nickelodeon, Disney, and Mars.

Meanwhile, The Insights Family has established itself as a global front runner in kids, parents, and family research, by providing real-time data to clients such as Amazon, BBC, Mattel, and Warner Bros.

Through the forging of a new partnership, the pair aim to ‘create unrivalled opportunities for kids’ research and insight,’ with solutions that will ‘drive significant value for clients; insightful data, cost reduction, fast turnaround, and elimination of the pain-points associated with traditional qualitative research.’

Nick Richardson, founder and CEO of The Insights Family, said: “Having spent the last four years developing the most comprehensive and dynamic real-time family insights solution, so many clients and partners have approached asking us to do something in the qualitative research space.

“Based on understanding their needs and requirements, we have developed a suite of solutions which meets their needs and removes the issues which they have previously experienced.”

As part of the partnership, The Insights Family will provide several research services to InspiredConsumer’s clients to help with planning and measurement, including evaluating and demonstrating the ROI of client campaigns.

Stav Vaisman, CEO of InspiredConsumer, said: “We have spent the last 20 years building and nurturing relationships that sustained our firm, while also investing in the communities we work in. So, it is with great pride that we are embarking on this new research endeavor with such an impressive partner. We will work tirelessly to ensure we provide incredible value to our clients, and participants.”

With kid’s influence now growing across 90 per cent of expenditure categories in the US, the pair believe ‘it’s more important than ever to understand the attitudes, behaviors and consumptions of the next generation of families.’

To find out more, and download the new free report on “The Next Generation of Families” visit https://get.theinsightsfamily.com/familyreport/

Sesame Street enters the mindfulness market with Headspace podcast and Penguin Random House books

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Headspace, a global leader in meditation and mindfulness, and Sesame Workshop, have launched a new podcast project that uses meditation and mindfulness techniques to help children relax during their bedtime routines.

The first episode will launch on June 13, 2021 with 11 subsequent episodes launching every Sunday through August 29.

Developed by a team of early childhood and meditation experts at Sesame Workshop and Headspace, Goodnight, World! looks to help children practice transitioning from their active days to naptime or bedtime. Each episode includes: a wind-down story narrated by a rotating cast of Sesame Street friends; a “sleep journey” led by one of Headspace’s sleepcast readers, and a soothing soundscape of music and relaxing sounds that evoke places like Big Bird’s nest and Abby Cadabby’s fairy garden.

“Maintaining healthy routines helps young children understand their world and feel secure – especially this year, when we’ve all experienced so much upheaval and disruption,” said Gabriela Arenas, Sesame Workshop’s vice president of licensing, North America.

“Even beyond bedtime and naptime, mindfulness is a powerful tool to help kids calm their bodies and regulate their emotions, skills that set them up for success in school and in life. We’re thrilled to work with Headspace to make the practice accessible to families everywhere.”

Episodes of Goodnight, World! are structured to follow families through a typical bedtime routine. In the opening stories, Sesame Street characters model the same feelings of reluctance that many kids experience before bedtime – and tap into the same mindfulness strategies described later in the episodes.

Guided “sleep journey” meditations use techniques like belly breathing, visualizations, and affirming self talk to help kids independently manage the transition from waking time to bedtime.

“Teaching kids the fundamentals of mindfulness and meditation that they can use not only at nap and bedtime, but any time of day, is critical in helping them grow and is at the core of our mission to improve the health and happiness of the world. That’s why we’re so excited to expand our resources for families through our partnerships with Sesame Workshop and Random House Books for Young Readers,” said Morgan Selzer, VP Content at Headspace.

Headspace and Sesame Workshop are also working with Random House Children’s Books to adapt their successful Sesame Street Monster Meditation series of animated shorts into a six-volume series of board books for children aged two to five years old.

The books will include the same characters, themes, and plotlines as the popular videos, which have been viewed more than 30 million times to date. The series launches with Sesame Street Monster Meditation: Being Patient with Cookie Monster on June 29, 2021, and continues with Sesame Street Monster Meditation: Getting Ready for Bed with Elmo on September 28, 2021.

More books are planned for 2022.

“Sesame Workshop and Headspace have created something truly exceptional with their Sesame Street Monster Meditation video series,” said Sonali Fry, VP and director of classic brands and preschool publishing, Random House Children’s Books.

“Through entertaining stories that feature fan-favorite Sesame Street characters, they provide young children with valuable mindfulness techniques. We are excited to continue their mission through our new collection of board book adaptations, which will introduce emergent readers to a variety of helpful meditation exercises for every occasion.”