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Andersen Press readies for a bumper Elmer Day celebration

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Elmer Day is back on 28 May with a return to in-person and bookshop events around the country, a herd of new and exciting partnerships, and a new paperback edition of the latest Elmer picture book, Elmer and the Bedtime Story, by the late, great David McKee. Rounding off the celebrations is the first Elmer title available on Yoto, the interactive kids’ audio platform.

Elmer Day is Andersen Press‘s annual celebration of David McKee’s iconic patchwork elephant, encouraging bookshops, libraries, schools, nurseries and families at home to celebrate Elmer’s message of friendship, inclusivity and embracing everyone’s colours.

A free activity pack, which has already had over 1,500 downloads in the run-up to the day itself, is available here. The pack is a selection of activity sheets and ideas for games, lessons and story times featuring Elmer, with new resources from charity partners The Sleep Charity, with sleep hints and tips based on the latest Elmer book Elmer and the Bedtime Story, activities from LGBT+ charity Just Like Us extending Elmer Pride activity from 2021, and resources from anti-bullying charity partner Kidscape.

In-person events are also back following their temporary suspension during the COVID-19 pandemic, with Elmer costume appearances and story times in Waterstones stores in Kensington, Altrincham, Manchester Deansgate and the Arndale Centre.

Chessington World of Adventures will celebrate Elmer’s Flying Jumbos ride with its special Mardi Grrra! event from 27 May, which will see Elmer and his own ‘Kolour Krewe’ take centre stage in the park with songs, dance and character meet-and-greets. For more information on the event, click here.

In the licensing space, kids’ audio platform Yoto has launched its first-ever Elmer title. The Elmer Collection will be made available for use with the award-winning Yoto Player and new Yoto Mini.

In addition, Dennicci has launched new babywear ranges with Matalan and Tu at Sainsbury’s, and Robert Frederick has launched Elmer storage boxes with The Works. Plush and toy licensee Rainbow Designs and greetings card licensee Danilo are hosting social media competitions.

Elmer Day is on 28 May 2022. To download a FREE activity pack, click on the link here: https://www.elmer.co.uk/elmer-day/

Banijay unveils slate for Licensing Expo

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Banijay Brands, in collaboration with Endemol Shine North America, will be attending Licensing Expo on 24-26 May in Las Vegas, showcasing its diverse portfolio of IP, including the worldwide smash-hit cookery show MasterChef; the multi-award-winning cult drama Peaky Blinders; the Netflix hit anthology series Black Mirror; internationally-loved digital animation Simon’s Cat, and British icon Mr Bean.

Banijay Brands is co-sponsor of this year’s Licensing Expo opening party, which will feature a Peaky Blinders branded bar. It is also sponsoring the show badge, which incorporates a competition for attendees to win a case of MasterChef wine.

In addition, MasterChef and Peaky Blinders have been shortlisted in the 2022 Licensing International Excellence Awards for Best Live Action Entertainment Brand, and Best Product – Appliances, Electronics or Housewares for an Entertainment Property respectively.

Owain Walbyoff, Chief Commercial Officer, Banijay, says: “We are keenly exploring new opportunities and emerging technologies as we continue to drive consumer engagement with our brands. Banijay’s world-class portfolio provides endless opportunities for authentic products and experiences, and we look forward to forging new partnerships across multiple categories.”

Banijay Brands controls the brand licensing rights to some of the most high-profile and creative IP in the world across multiple genres, from scripted to entertainment.

Award-winning anthology Black Mirror explores themes of contemporary techno-paranoia. Available on Netflix globally, the series, created by Charlie Brooker, boasts a stellar fanbase with numerous industry accolades including Emmys, International Emmys, BAFTA Craft Awards and a Rose d’Or.

Peaky Blinders is the award-winning crime drama that is sold to more than 180 countries, airing on BBC One in the U.K. and widely available internationally on Netflix. The final season will be launching in the U.S. and other international markets from 10 June. The recently aired season six was the UK’s number-one drama of the year for young adults, with over 17 million views on BBC iPlayer to date. Brand-owner and series producer Caryn Mandabach Productions recently announced an immersive theatre show and a first-of-its-kind dance theatre show which will run through to 2023.

Simon’s Cat is one of the biggest YouTube sensations of recent years. From a single free-to-air, two-minute cartoon, it has gone on to become a major global success, with not only 1.3bn views and 5.7 million subscribers on YouTube but also over 15m followers and over 1bn views across social media too.

MasterChef is the most travelled food format, last year celebrating 500 seasons airing globally since its 2005 reboot. With more than 65 local versions aired in over 200 countries, the MasterChef brand is respected and recognised all around the world.

Adventure-reality stalwart Survivor was last year ranked #1 Best Reality Show of All Time by Variety magazine. One of the most watched formats around the world, last year was its most successful to-date with 24 productions.

The global game show phenomenon Deal or No Deal has been commissioned in 83 territories worldwide with 324 productions internationally. A ground-breaking show known all around the world, contestants play and deal for a top cash prize in a contest of nerves, luck and raw intuition. 

Action-packed family entertainment brand Wipeout has won the world over with its zany crashes, smashes and hilarious mud splashes. Following the success of the recent U.S. reboot, which was the #1 unscripted series on cable, the John Cena and Nicole Byer fronted version has been renewed for a new season. Wipeout continues to grow a substantial digital audience with over 10 million active followers worldwide across Twitter, Instagram, Facebook and YouTube.

Banijay is home to a raft of homes and interiors titles including the award-winning Your Home Made Perfect, Your Garden Made Perfect and the Alan Carr-hosted Interior Design Masters. From the use of cutting-edge technology and VR to the competitive world of interior design, these increasingly popular brands are synonymous with innovative and stylish transformations.

Mr. Bean is a globally loved animation that has been in continual distribution for over 30 years. A pioneer for Banijay, the brand recently became the company’s first activation in the Metaverse with a Mr Bean NFT drop. The brand has amassed a huge digital following across a number of platforms with over 129 million followers on Facebook, making it the biggest TV brand on the platform; nearly 50 million subscribers and 15 billion lifetime views across official YouTube channels; 8.7 million followers on Instagram; and 8.3 million likes on TikTok.

Banijay Brands will be attending Licensing Expo, 24-26 May, in Las Vegas.

ITV Studios brings Love Island, The Voice, Hell’s Kitchen and more to Vegas

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ITV Studios’ Brand & Licensing team is excited to return to Licensing Expo 2022 to catch up face to face with existing and new partners and present its brand portfolio.

With its line-up of premium global brands including Hell’s Kitchen, The Voice, Love Island,  The Chase, Schitt’s Creek, Snowpiercer and many more, ITV Studios is looking forward to establishing successful partnerships with companies that are best in class and have a strong understanding of their market, region and consumers.

With ITV Studios’ extensive catalogue of over 90,000 hours of finished content and 150+ iconic formats – including some of the world’s most beloved brands – there is potential for creating a diverse range of brand licensing deals. ITV Studios is always looking for natural extensions of its brands and the potential to create a true experience, an amazing product or a new way for audiences to engage with its brands, while being relevant at the same time.

The Voice

An all-time favourite amongst families is talent show The Voice, which has been entertaining audiences all over the world for more than a decade. Some of its high-profile partnerships include The Voice of the Ocean with Carnival Corporation, where passengers of Princess, Aida and Costa cruises can experience being part of The Voice competition, and The Voice land-based slots with IGT starring celebrity coaches Ricky Martin, Blake Shelton, Adam Levine and Rita Ora.

On the digital side there is a premium Voice Karaoke App with Yokee and more recently The Voice of Avakin, a metaverse experience from Lockwood Publishing that had 7.5 million visits and over 80 million views on social media. The Voice of Avakin is nominated in the category ‘Best Licensed Product – Digital’ at this year’s Licensing International Excellence Awards. Further licensing  highlights for The Voice include a beauty partnership with MAC Cosmetics for a capsule in-store collection, supported by an on-air campaign and show sponsorships.

Hell’s Kitchen

Hell’s Kitchen is the most popular cooking show around the world. ITV Studios is growing the Hell’s Kitchen licensing programme, which to date includes four Gordon Ramsay Hell’s Kitchen restaurants with Caesars Entertainment in the USA and in the Middle East, offering fine dining in a unique ambience, and 2022 will bring another five brand-new restaurants to the USA. There is also cookware and kitchenware available at Macy’s, premium spices by Spiceology, and a mobile game with Qiiwi, in which you can manage your very own restaurant.

Given the popularity of the series amongst a wide audience demographic that spans men and women from 18 to 55 years old, Hell’s Kitchen lends itself to a variety of consumer products including apparel and accessories, collectibles, gifting and others. And that wide appeal is translating into success – the product Hell’s Seltzer by Brew Pipeline Inc is nominated in the category of ‘Best Licensed Product – Food or Beverage for an Entertainment Property’ at this year’s Licensing International Excellence Awards.

Love Island

A reality television phenomenon that dominates social media wherever it airs, Love Island attracts a global audience, who eagerly anticipate watching their favourite islanders’ love lives unfold. Love Island has travelled to 21 countries, including the UK, USA, Australia, Canada, Germany, Spain and the Nordic countries. Current partners include a mobile roleplaying game with Fusebox, a partnership with I Saw It First for a capsule apparel collection and the iconic Love Island Water Bottle available via dedicated e-shops. New global partnerships in the beauty and mobile category will be announced soon. Licensing opportunities for the series include fashion, fitness, beachwear, events,  food and beverage, and more.

And many more popular brands…

The Multiple Emmy award winning Schitt’s Creek is one of those ITV Studios brands that continues to go from strength to strength, with over 20 partners producing carefully crafted products for the series’ many eager fans, ranging from collectibles to pop-up events, apparel and accessories, beauty, gifts and board games.

The current licensing portfolio for The Chase includes a bingo game with Gala Bingo supported by an on-air partnership and set tours, numerous board games and a new partnership in the mobile space to be announced soon.

Brand new to ITV Studios’ licensing portfolio is the acclaimed post-apocalyptic dystopian thriller series Snowpiercer, based on the French graphic novel Le Transperceneige and the film of the same name. Recently renewed for a fourth season, the series averaged 2 million viewers across its episodes on TNT and featured in Netflix’s Top 5 global shows in early 2021.

ITV Studios is currently at Licensing Expo in Las Vegas. To book a meeting, contact brandlicensing@itv.com

Beanstalk returns to Licensing Expo with new partnerships, clients and initiatives

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Celebrating its 30th year in business, global brand licensing agency Beanstalk continues to grow its clients’ licensing programmes, and has announced a series of recent new partnerships and clients in addition to new corporate initiatives in sustainability, diversity and charitable programmes.

Diageo’s Irish Stout brand, Guinness, has grown its presence in the aisles of UK supermarkets by expanding its partnership with The Flava People. The Irish beer brand launched two new sauces, the Guinness Smoky BBQ Sauce and Guinness Smoky Tomato Ketchup, bringing a twist to Britain’s much loved classic table sauces. This follows the Guinness cooking paste, a blend of Guinness beer, honey and soy, which launched in 2021.

Beanstalk also debuted a pair of cookbooks for two of its well-loved brands; Baileys partnered with HarperCollins to publish The Baileys Cookbook, featuring a collection of over 60 delectable delights, from sophisticated cocktails and desserts, to sensational hot chocolates and puddings. The recipes showcase the versatility and deliciousness of Baileys, inviting consumers to enjoy “the ultimate adult indulgent treat” at any time. Additionally, Guinness joined forces with publisher Insight Editions to bring the taste of Guinness to home kitchens with The Official Guinness Cookbook. Providing recipes for everything from savoury braised short ribs, to traditional Irish soda bread and decadent cheesecake brownies, this comprehensive book boasts over 70 recipes for dishes that feature or pair with the stouts, ales, and lagers of the Guinness breweries, including classic Guinness Draught, crisp Extra Stout, and citrusy Baltimore Blonde.

Chocolatier Godiva, together with Beanstalk, continues to expand its licensing portfolio in the U.S. and Canada with Godiva-inspired products developed in conjunction with new licensing partners, Boardwalk Frozen Treats for ice cream pints; Jimmy’s Gourmet Bakery for frozen cookie dough; Le Vian for special edition Chocolate Diamond jewelry at Kay Jewelers; and Cookies United for gingerbread house and cookie decorating kits. The four new partners join Godiva’s extensive North America licensing portfolio, including General Mills, The Cheesecake Factory and Jessica Pastries, which debuted as part of Godiva’s Holiday 2021 collection.

TGI Fridays, the iconic American bar and grill, expanded its exclusive strategic partnership with the UK’s leading frozen food retailer, Iceland, through a range of new sides, mains and sweet treats, created solely with the forthcoming BBQ season in mind. The mouthwatering dishes include Beef Short Ribs with Maple BBQ, Cheese & Jalapeño Hot Dogs and Chocolate Cookie Pie.

Long-standing client U.S. Army partnered with Manly Bands for U.S. Army branded rings; Ice Shaker, a “Shark Tank” success, for shaker bottles and stainless-steel drinkware; and Diamond Supply Company for skate apparel and accessories.

For The Metropolitan Museum of Art, Beanstalk has developed partnerships across home décor, fashion accessories, gifting and educational gaming categories. Inspired by the artworks and stories within its robust collection, The Met has worked closely with selected partners who exhibit the highest level of creative development, from home textiles to accessories to social expressions. The new licensing partnerships include Lingo for educational card games, Pura for home fragrance, Caspari for paper goods and social expressions, and Scalamandré for textiles, wallpaper and trim.

In the digital media space, Tinderbox continues to develop the licensing programme for Call of Duty. Call of Duty partnered with Middle Eastern manufacturer and distributor of licensed products, Trucare, expanding the brand’s licensing program into the MENA region, which has quickly proven to be a valuable emerging market for the global gaming industry. The partnership will see Call of Duty grow its consumer product reach into these new territories across categories including apparel, accessories, housewares, and gifting.

Keeping the momentum going, Beanstalk has also added to its diverse client portfolio of global brands. Earlier this year, Skullcandy joined the agency’s client roster to unleash the power of expression; the client partnership will extend the lifestyle audio brand across consumer electronics, sporting and outdoor goods, apparel and accessories, and experiential spaces. Beanstalk also signed Cath Kidston, extending the joyful British brand into new categories in home, fashion and gifting, globally. Most recently, Beanstalk announced its partnership with Audi, the German automotive manufacturer of premium vehicles, to extend the automotive brand into new lifestyle, technology and mobility categories.

“Throughout our 30 years, Beanstalk has strategically developed licensing programmes for some of the most globally recognised brands. These new partnerships and clients demonstrate how we continue to harness the power of licensing to successfully extend brands into new categories around the globe,” says Allison Ames, President and CEO of Beanstalk. “After a two-year hiatus, Licensing Expo 2022 provides the perfect opportunity to reconnect with our industry colleagues and forge new partnerships across industries, categories and territories.”

Complementary to Beanstalk’s robust client activity, the agency has premiered several corporate initiatives. In keeping with Beanstalk’s “best practices” model, it has established a global, cross-functional Sustainability Team. The key objectives of Beanstalk’s sustainability initiatives are to align clients’ sustainability goals with licensees’ efforts and capabilities and to share information across clients, licensees and industries.

Additionally, Beanstalk’s Antiracism, Allyship and Action programme continues to make diversity, racial justice and advocacy for marginalised groups a priority through education, client service and monetary donations.

Most recently, Beanstalk unveiled Licensing Labs by Beanstalk, an initiative to raise funds for charity while providing a service to the licensing community. Through the Licensing Labs by Beanstalk promotion, the agency will work with three winners to help them identify areas of opportunity for brand extension. In turn, the winners will be asked to donate to UNICEF to aid in Ukraine relief efforts. For more information on Licensing Labs by Beanstalk, visit https://www.beanstalk.com/licensing-labs-by-beanstalk.

 

BBC Studios showcases global brands for all ages in Las Vegas

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With Licensing Expo 2022 opening in Las Vegas today (24 May), BBC Studios is set to share an impressive roster of brands with delegates.

 BBC Studios’ raft of titles includes global preschool hit Bluey, adventures in time and space with Doctor Who, multi award-winning animation Hey Duggee, much-loved entertainment show Top Gear and natural history brand BBC Earth.

 “We’re so excited to share our incredible range of brands with the industry, update people on our latest plans and products and meet potential new licensees,” says Stephen Davies, Managing Director of Consumer Products and Licensing, BBC Studios. “It’s been a while since we’ve been able to get together like this and we’ve certainly got a lot to catch up on – not least global hit preschool show Bluey, new Doctor Who and so many more popular brands we have in our roster and in development.” 

Licensing Expo is also a chance for BBC Studios to discuss the recently launched Kids & Family Division, which combines the exceptional talent and expertise of the BBC Children’s Production team and the content investment, customer and brand experience within BBC Studios into a new and integral part of the BBC Studios content powerhouse.

Bluey

Global-hit animation Bluey was Disney Junior’s #1 ratings driver with kids 2-5 in 2021 in the US.

With audiences worldwide falling for the lovable Blue Heeler pup and her family and friends, Bluey has set viewing records in its native Australia and features in the top three Disney Junior shows in five EMEA markets. BBC Studios is establishing a long-term global licensing programme for the brand and has already appointed agencies and licensees in markets around the world. Key existing agreements include master toy partner Moose Toys and master publisher Penguin Random House as well as global and multi-territory deals including VTech, Crayola, Colgate and a recently announced deal with Hasbro.

Season three of Bluey debuted on ABC TV in Australia in November 2021 and is set to be released globally on Disney platforms later this year. It was recently announced that hit stage show Bluey’s Big Play will be touring in the US from November 2022 after a successful debut in Australia. The show has also made international headlines for an innovative partnership with Airbnb which saw the Heelers’ home recreated ‘for real life’ in Brisbane for a lucky family to stay at.

“Bluey has had an incredible couple of years of rapid growth with strong sales across markets and product lines; we’re excited for the future of the brand and we’ve put a strong platform in place to support the development of Bluey for the long-term,” says Andrew Carley, Director of Global Licensing, BBC Studios. “The show itself is so special and touches so many people and we are delighted to have assembled a fantastic global licensing programme with partners around the world who are busy making great products and experiences for fans.” 

Doctor Who

With over 58 years of history as the world’s longest running action-adventure television show and the Doctor’s next regeneration due to air later this year, Doctor Who is a hit global franchise with hundreds of thousands of fans worldwide and over 50 long-standing licensees including Character Options, Moonpig.com Limited, Winning Moves, Eaglemoss, Build-A-Bear and Brand Alliance.

Titan has renewed its worldwide licensing agreement for collectible figurines, apparel, cards, art prints and gifting/novelties. Battlefront Miniatures will continue to produce toys and games across Europe, the US, Canada and New Zealand. 

Hey Duggee

Multiple BAFTA and Emmy award-winning preschool animation Hey Duggee continues to delight fans and was recently commissioned for a fourth series as well as hitting the headlines for special collaborations with fitness guru Joe Wicks, and naturalist David Attenborough who narrated The Green Planet Badge. Hey Duggee has an impressive global footprint in over 150 territories and more than 1.2million fans across its social channels, and its official YouTube channel has more than a billion lifetime views. In 2021 in the UK, Hey Duggee was the most-watched kids’ show on CBeebies and was streamed more than 250m times on BBC iPlayer. 

The licensing programme continues to grow with new UK licensees recently announced for health and beauty products, H&A and an expanded range of wheeled toys from MV Sports. Master toy partners are Golden Bear (UK), Bizak (Spain) and Lansay (France), with wooden toys from 8th Wonder in the UK and roleplay and bubbles from HTI Toys (UK). Master publishing agreements are with Penguin Random House (UK), who recently scored a #1 bestseller for The World Book Day Badge, and Hachette (France). Ypsilon Licensing were announced as agents for Spain last year while France TV are licensing agents for France.

Earlier this year a new attraction, Hey Duggee’s Big Adventure Badge, opened at CBeebies Land at Alton Towers Resort in the UK.

Mandy Thwaites, Director, Magazines & Consumer Products, UK Division, BBC Studios, says: “Hey Duggee continues to delight audiences and we continue to be delighted with the growth of the brand. We have great existing partners for Hey Duggee and we’re continuing to welcome more on board. It’s going to be an exciting year for the brand with new content to share later this year and new partnerships to announce soon.” 

Top Gear

Top Gear still sits in pole position with its 31st series and BBC Studios are looking to expand the licensing portfolio for the hit global brand. Current successful partnerships include Danilo for cards and calendars and TDP and Aykroyds for nightwear, DreamTex as bedding partner, and Assured Products Ltd for car-cleaning gift kits. Kimm and Miller are partnered for food gifting,  Immediate Media for magazines and recently signed Ginger Fox for board games. BB Designs will also be working on the direct-to-consumer website selling multiple product areas.

BBC Earth

As BBC Studios’ natural history content pipeline grows bigger than ever, the BBC Earth brand continues its partnerships with Teemill, who have added a fun children’s collection to its sustainable clothing range, and Danilo for cards and calendars.

BBC Studios is at stand N204 for the duration of Licensing Expo 2022 with representatives from offices in all global markets in attendance.

 

Banijay Brands strengthens Peaky Blinders portfolio with raft of new deals

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Banijay Brands has today announced new licensing deals for global hit drama Peaky Blinders, in collaboration with series owner and producer Caryn Mandabach Productions. These new partnerships build on the brand’s hugely successful portfolio, as the global hit series heads towards its dramatic conclusion, with season six launching on Netflix on 10 June in the U.S. and other markets.

Banijay Brands has collaborated with the leading craftsmen at Conway Stewart for a global limited-edition Peaky Blinders branded range of luxury pens, available online now. In addition, the brand is building its apparel offering, partnering with Drew Pearsons for a UK range of high-quality, Peaky Blinders-inspired caps.

Recent additions to the Peaky Blinders portfolio include Endemol Shine North America’s partnership with Bushmills Irish Whiskey, for the first official whiskey for the hit series, which is set to launch in 2022 in the U.S.; the Peaky Blinders themed Risk board game, which is now available to pre-order ahead of its UK April release in GAME retail stores; the recent opening of Endemol Shine Brazil and Escape 60’s Peaky Blinders-themed escape room and the upcoming launch of Peaky Blinders: The King’s Ransom VR game from Maze Theory.

Further extending the world of Peaky Blinders, brand-owner and series producer Caryn Mandabach Productions recently announced a brand-new immersive theatre show Peaky Blinders: The Rise, opening in summer 2022 at The Vanguard Theatre, Camden, London, and Peaky Blinders: The Redemption of Thomas Shelby, a first-of-its-kind dance theatre show, running 2022/23, written and adapted for the stage by Steven Knight.

Alice Bernardi, Director of International Brand Licensing, Banijay Brands, says: “Peaky Blinders is a global phenomenon which translates incredibly well in the brand licensing space. It is a hot property right now, with a surge in demand from both audiences, and licensees who are keen to work with us. By collaborating with experienced and reliable partners, we are able to continue offering high-quality products and experiences for fans of the show to enjoy for years to come.”

Susan Waddell, Managing Director, Caryn Mandabach Productions, adds: “We are thrilled with the response to the most recent book and game launches and even more delighted to see these new products come to market, which we know our global Peaky Blinders fanbase will be delighted with.”

The current portfolio of official Peaky Blinders products is performing strongly, with the Peaky Blinders cookbook from White Lion Publishing (Quarto Group) becoming a March 2022 bestseller in the UK, hitting number nine in the top-ten hardback nonfiction charts, and number five in the food and drink category; the limited-edition Peaky Blinders Monopoly board game which was recently released in the UK completely sold out; and the Peaky Blinders official webstore had a record-breaking month during the airing of series six in the U.K.

The recently aired season six was the UK’s number one drama of the year for young adults, with over 17 million views on BBC iPlayer to date. The final chapter will be released on Netflix from 10 June in the U.S. and other key territories. Sold to more than 180 countries, the series, distributed by Banijay Rights, is widely available internationally on Netflix. Banijay represents a range of global ancillary rights for the Peaky Blinders brand.

The multi-award-winning gangster epic series was created and written by Steven Knight (Dirty Pretty Things, Eastern Promises and Locke). Peaky Blinders is owned and produced by Caryn Mandabach Productions and co-produced with Banijay’s Tiger Aspect Productions. Caryn Mandabach Productions owns the global Peaky Blinders brand.

ZAG to unveil Melody, a new animated musical starring Katy Perry, at Licensing Expo

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Award-winning independent animation studio ZAG has partnered with Cross Creek Pictures to produce Melody, an animated musical feature created and directed by Jeremy Zag, and starring singer, songwriter and actress Katy Perry in the title role.  The announcement was made today by Jeremy Zag, Founder and CEO of ZAG, and Katy Perry.

Melody will be directed by Jeremy Zag, while Katy Perry will co-write and perform the songs for the film. The feature will be produced by Jeremy Zag, Cross Creek’s Tyler Thompson, Katy Perry, and Michael Gracey (The Greatest Showman), who also served as executive producer on the upcoming $US100 million+ animated film Miraculous Ladybug & Cat Noir: The Movie, produced by ZAG.

Jeremy Zag is best known as the creator, director and producer of the global phenomenon Miraculous – Tales of Ladybug and Cat Noir. ZAG will debut Melody to potential licensing partners at the upcoming Licensing Expo in Las Vegas.

In this musical adventure, kind-hearted, insecure yet prodigious singer Melody must overcome the evil plans of Rose Stellar, a jealous wicked pop queen who has vowed to destroy her. Set against the backdrop of New York City, Melody will take audiences on an adventure of song, laughter and heroic quest. With Melody are her “Seven Dwarves”-like musical notes that help guide her moral compass in more ways than one.

Packed with magic, love and wonder, Melody is an uplifting and inspiring story of self-discovery that celebrates the importance of fulfilling one’s dreams by believing in oneself and, above all, that to love is stronger than to be loved.

“I’ve dreamed of making Melody for years with a vision to convey messages of empowerment in a wondrous world full of music and adventure,” commented Zag.  “As a popstar, Melody is adored by her fans, but as a young artist, she struggles with insecurity.  On this journey of self-discovery, she comes to realise that the key to fulfilment of her life dreams is that she must learn to love herself first. Katy Perry’s journey to stardom is personified in Melody and, given her passion throughout her career to be an inspiration to her fans, she is the perfect collaborator for our animated extravaganza.”

Katy Perry is one of the best-selling artists of all time, having sold over 143 million records worldwide. All her studio albums released under Capitol have individually surpassed one billion streams on Spotify. She has nine U.S. number one singles, three U.S. number one albums, and has received numerous accolades including four Guinness World Records, five Billboard Music Awards, five American Music Awards, a Brit Award, and a Juno Award.  Her critically acclaimed Super Bowl halftime show performance is the most watched in history. She is also the most followed woman on Twitter with over 100 million followers.

CAA Media Finance represents the worldwide distribution rights to Melody, with Rocket Science co-representing foreign sales.

Acamar appoints Spotlight Licensing to drive growth for Bing in North America

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Acamar Films has appointed Spotlight Licensing as licensing and merchandising agent for North America for its award-winning preschool series Bing.

The multi-year licensing and merchandising agreement covers the USA and Canada. Spotlight will drive strategic Bing licensing and retail programmes as the show’s footprint continues to grow in the region.

A bespoke American version of Bing made its US debut on Cartoonito on Cartoon Network in September 2021, to great success. The show then launched on Cartoonito on HBO Max in February this year. Cartoonito is highlighting Bing as a series that helps young viewers understand how to manage emotions, understand others’ perspective and develop social skills. In Canada, the series is available on TVO Kids, TFO and Amazon Prime Video. Bing is also available on YouTube and in the app stores in both the USA and Canada.

Spotlight Licensing is an award-winning and well-established boutique licensing and IP management company with considerable expertise and experience in the preschool sector. The agency has a reputation for innovation and successfully extending licensing programmes by tailoring strategy to reflect the unique DNA of an individual property. The Spotlight Licensing team will be exhibiting at this year’s Licensing Expo in Las Vegas and are looking forward to spreading the word about Bing and exploring exciting opportunities with attendees.

Sandra Vauthier-Cellier, Chief Commercial Officer, Acamar Films, says: “We are delighted to be partnering with the award-winning Licensing & Merchandising team at Spotlight Licensing. Their outstanding expertise of preschool properties and their strategic and innovative approach, coupled with their wholehearted passion for Bing, promises exciting results. Bing already enjoys a hugely successful licensing programme in Europe, with consumer products across a wide variety of categories, live shows and other immersive experiential offerings. Now we’re looking forward to launching and building Bing’s licensing programme in the USA and Canada to provide our audience with equally delightful products and experiences to connect them even more closely with Bing.”

Carole Postal, President, Spotlight Licensing, adds: “The whole team here at Spotlight has been moved and delighted by Bing and we’re excited to be working with Acamar Films on developing a dynamic and robust programme to accelerate its growth in the region. With its strong, unique and timeless values, the series is so relatable for toddlers and their families, and we want to help deepen their engagement and ensure its longevity.”

Bing is a celebration of the joyful, messy reality of preschool life. Set in a delightful community “round the corner, not far away”, its authentic, timeless stories follow the everyday ups and downs of Bing, Flop (Bing’s own “carer”) and their friends. Bing provides an honest depiction of the highs and lows of preschool life from a preschooler’s perspective – a unique viewpoint for a children’s property.

Acamar Films has established a successful licensing programme for Bing in European markets, with over 100 licensees on board across key categories, from toys and apparel to kids’ audio storytelling and games, and experiential activities. The show is currently distributed to over 130 territories and engages digital audiences on a daily basis via 20 language-specific YouTube channels, social media channels and a suite of digital apps, and is firmly on-track to become a global evergreen property, cherished by families and young children worldwide.

 

Beanstalk Latin America whips up sweet deals for Diageo

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Beanstalk Latin America is enjoying success with its first client, Diageo, and the development of the licensing programme for the world-famous Original Irish Cream liqueur brand, Baileys.

The brand has been extended across food and beverage categories throughout the region, with a robust strategy for further development of the Baileys licensing programme in LATAM. Over the past year, the brand has established a strong foundation of licensed products that is helping drive transformation for the brand in the region, repositioning Baileys from being your mother’s holiday drink to the indulgent adult treat to be enjoyed year-round.

Deals include:

Mexico

  • Confectionery: Baileys’ first and longest licensee in Latin America, Turin, has been in the market for nearly 15 years and continues to deliver impressive results. Turin offers premium Baileys filled chocolates at major retailers, travel retail and its own stores.
  • Gifting: One of Baileys’ newest partners, Marco Polo, will launch confectionery snacks and cocktail gift sets in August 2022.
  • Frozen desserts: A natural extension for Baileys in the world of treating, Iced Baileys ice cream by Helados Nestle launched in 2019 and is innovating with a novelty Iced Baileys Cookie concept – a chocolate-covered cookie sandwich filled with Baileys ice cream.
  • DIY cocktails: This revolutionary concept by Autentico Corajillo offers the perfect ready-to-shake Baileys Carajillo cocktail in a reusable, biodegradable shaker.
  • Baked goods: El Globo, Grupo Bimbo’s bakery chain, offers premium cakes for any moment of celebration. Rich’s, a bakery supply company, has developed a line of in-store Baileys bakery products that are available at Walmart and major chains around the country. Additionally, Walmart Mexico offers a variety of Baileys-flavoured cakes and desserts. Intercandy is developing a delicious individual cake imported from Italy, a soft sponge cake with a Baileys flavored filling that will launch at the end of 2022.
  • Licensing-In: In a first for the brand, Baileys licensed-in the Churreria El Moro brand, a churro store established in Mexico City in 1935, to develop a churro-flavored Baileys liqueur available exclusively in Mexico.

Brazil

  • Glassware: Offering fine glassware for the Tanqueray, Guinness, Johnnie Walker, Smirnoff and Gordon’s brands, Globimport creates quality products for cocktail enthusiasts. For each brand, consumers can find individual glassware or gift sets. Products have an extensive distribution and are available on e-commerce and the main chains in the Brazilian market, including Pão de Açúcar, Carrefour, Havan and others.
  • Coffee: Tres Corações, a leading coffee manufacturer in Brazil, has developed and launched the first Baileys cappuccino pods in the country, offering high quality and convenience. The pods feature a balanced recipe and flavour that match with local culture and climate, naturally aligning with Baileys’ indulgent positioning. The product can be found on e-commerce and at the top retailers in Brazil.

Colombia, Central America and Chile

  • Chocolate: In Colombia, leading chocolate brand Mont Blanc launched the first line of several Baileys chocolates varieties in February 2022.
  • Frozen desserts: For Holiday 2021, Dos Pinos, a leading dairy company in Central America based in Costa Rica, launched the first Baileys ice cream in the territory to great fanfare and with a pop-up Baileys Treat Bar celebration.
  • Baked Goods: In Chile, Quinta has developed a line of Baileys cakes for major supermarket chain Cencosud.

“The interest we have seen for the Baileys brand has been extraordinary and we look forward to introducing more indulgent, culturally relevant Baileys treats for adults across the region,” says Director of Brand Management Carolina Verdugo. “We are currently working with other Beanstalk clients to develop their brands via licensing in the region, in addition to discussing opportunities for local and global brands outside of Beanstalk’s client portfolio.”

If you are interested in discussing opportunities with Beanstalk LATAM, contact LATAM@beanstalk.com.

Sustainable fashion brand Supacult to debut at Licensing Expo

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Supacult, a new sustainable fashion brand targeting the consumer-savvy and on-trend Gen Z consumer, will launch next week at Licensing Expo 2022 in Las Vegas. 

Lines from the Supacult range will be unveiled in the Products of Change Business Lounge over the course of the three-day show.

Supacult aspires to be a brand that is as sustainable as possible, focusing on the fashion conscious consumer who wants high-quality jersey-wear apparel that’s been ethically and responsibly produced. There will be six tees and sweats capsule ranges per year for men and women in a target age group of 15-35.  Supacult launches with its own DTC website and a select number of curated wholesale fashion accounts including Next and Zalando.

The designs are intended to be bold and bright, fusing the iconic artwork of pop culture with the world of on-trend fashion wear that is sustainably produced and easy to wear. Drawing upon the existing strong licensor partnerships already in place, Supacult designs will feature some of the world’s largest entertainment properties from Disney, Warner Bros. and global music artists in capsule collections that are both iconic and classic.

The product itself is at the heart of the Supacult brand. Blanks are sourced from a leading supplier which has been licensed under the Global Organic Standards (GOTS) since 2007 and manufactures organic, ethical and climate-neutral product produced exclusively from Indian cotton. With every item labelled as organic, the product blanks are produced in facilities powered by green renewable energy from low-impact raw materials, which adds to their sustainability manufacturing chain. Supacult’s exclusive product supplier has been the largest organic textile licensee of the Soil Association for the past five years, giving consumers the assurance and confidence that Supacult has sourced the best-in-class partner for its brand.

Once the blanks arrive at Supacult’s London production facility they are printed using water-based inks and printed as made-to-order garments.  Beyond this, all Supacult products are shipped using sustainable packaging, creating an entire process that is as sustainable as possible.

Commenting on the launch, Supacult managing director Rick Lowe says: “This is an exciting new move in the growth of our licensed fashion business; Supacult enables us to leverage our core business expertise and relationships, with a sustainable product offering for the discernible trend-led consumer. Our objective is to continually evolve our sustainability offering in line with market developments and consumer demand.”