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Cityneon partners with Museo Larco to introduce Machu Picchu and the Golden Empires of Peru

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The exhibition and live event specialist, Cityneon Holdings has entered into an agreement with Museo Larco and Inkaterra Asociacion, with the support of the Ministry of Culture and the Government of Peru, to debut an exhibition of over 200 piece of rare artefacts from Peru that pre-date the Inca empire.

Called Machu Picchu and the Golden Empires of Peru, the exhibition will feature pieces that are valued at around $250 million and will travel to various cities around the world.

Partnering with World Heritage Exhibitions as the exclusive global show operator and promoter, Machu Picchu and the Golden Empires of Peru will feature the largest gold collection to travel the world. It will also include a virtual walkthrough of the UNESCO World Heritage Site Machu Picchu.

Recent restrictions put in place to preserve the invaluable historical site, fewer than 1 million travellers are allowed entry into Machu Picchu every year. With the recent global pandemic situation, the need for social distancing and other measures to prevent the spread of the coronavirus, this number has further dipped to 250,000.

In Machu Picchu and the Golden Empires of Peru, visitors will be treated to the story of the transformation of dozens of ancient cultures in Peru, starting with the Chavín culture, one of the earliest civilizations in the Americas, and stretching 3,000 years to the discovery of Machu Picchu by Hiram Bingham III in 1911.

The highlight of the exhibition is a fully intact Gold attire of a Chimú emperor, that dates back to 1300 AD. The Chimú empire was born from the previous Moche state in the northern coast of Peru, centuries before the expansion of the Inca empire, that formed the largest empire of the Southern Hemisphere.

The Chimú attire is the expression of an imperial body dressed in gold, channelling the power of the Sun, representing this Andean God on earth, and it will be surrounded by more than 10 earlier royal gold and silver ancestral attires from the land of the Incas.

Ron Tan, executive chairman and chief executive officer of Cityneon, said: “We are honoured to be trusted by Museo Larco and the Government of Peru to showcase these treasures to the world. We believe our expertise and track records will let us do justice to these remarkable pieces of rare Machu Picchu artefacts and allow us to take visitors through big, wonderful experiences.

“We are thankful to work with partners as established as the Museo Larco, Inkaterra Asociación and World Heritage Exhibitions. Together, we are confident to showcase this thrilling exhibition about the ancient cultures who lived in this city 7,000 feet above sea level in the Andes Mountains.”

With the limited entertainment options available as the world recovers from the unprecedented global pandemic situation, Machu Picchu and the Golden Empires of Peru will differentiate itself as a safe entertainment option due to the sheer size of the exhibition spanning over 1,500 square meters, allowing social distancing between visitors while they savour the 228 pieces of original Peruvian artefacts.

José Koechlin Von Stein, president of Inkaterra Asociación, added: “We are delighted to announce this partnership with Cityneon. Their track records of holding interactive exhibitions means Machu Picchu and the Golden Empires of Peru will be just as engaging as all their previous works, and we look forward to hosting millions at this historical, educational and fun exhibition while visitors learn about Peruvian history.

“We trust Cityneon’s vast expertise will truly bring ancient Peru to life.”

Andrés Alvarez-Calderón Larco, president of Museo Larco said: “We’re incredibly proud of our rich history and trust that Cityneon is the best partner to showcase the extraordinary and rich history of ancient Peru, bringing to life the various cultures that have lived in the land of the Incas and Machu Picchu over an astounding 5,000 years. We cannot wait for people all over the world to view these amazingly preserved artefacts up close.”

To hold the exhibition, Cityneon has assembled an experienced global team who would be able to handle the historical treasures. The Group’s subsidiary Victory Hill Exhibitions holds the world’s largest market share of Hollywood exhibition IPs globally, and it will make use of its vast industry experience in the curation of intellectual property in the travelling museums artefacts space.

Snowman Enterprises celebrates ‘togetherness’ in winter roster with Royal Mint, British Red Cross, and Luna Cinema

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The Penguin Random House company, Snowman Enterprises is weaving a central theme of ‘togetherness’ through all of its brand activations for The Snowman this winter, with a focus on bringing families together in celebration, even when they are separated by Covid-19 restrictions.

High profile brand partnerships have been revisited including a licensing collaboration with The Royal Mint who recently launched a commemorative 50p coin design. The new design was created by Robin Shaw, lead animator on sequel The Snowman and The Snowdog, and features The Snowman hugging James,marked as a reflection on how the timeless tale brings people together at Christmas.

This is the third commemorative Snowman coin released by The Royal Mint in collaboration with Snowman Enterprises and officially licensed by Penguin Ventures (part of Penguin Random House UK), with previous coins released in 2018 and 2019.

The coin comes a range of finishes – including brilliant uncirculated, silver proof and gold proof versions.

In addition, a long term brand partnership with The British Red Cross has continued this year during the 150th anniversary of the charity, with a message of kindness for the UK.

The Snowman and The Snowdog are heading up a schools Kindness Calendar campaign, with the activity available as a free download to all primary schools. The calendar will help children learn about kindness, the importance of having connections and friendships with others and how to cope with change.

The Snowman and The Snowdog will inspired the winter social media campaign for The British Red Cross once again this year and a co-branded version of the audio book is available exclusively at TKMaxx, with profits donated to the charity.

Izzy Richardson, global brand director, Penguin Random House Children’s UK, said: “We could all do with some extra magic this festive season and it’s our hope that the timeless magic of The Snowman, will provide a familiar warmth and reassurance to families everywhere this winter.

“We have had to rethink many of our planned activations and are proud to be entering the Christmas season with a robust programme of Snowman activity that celebrates theme of togetherness, even when we are apart. We are delighted to continue long term brand partnerships with the British Red Cross and The Royal Mint, whilst welcoming new experiences that bring the ‘World of The Snowman’ to life through new partnerships with Luna Cinemas and Forest Holidays, who’s Snowman experiences will offer families and loved-ones surprising ways to come together in celebration this Christmas.

“In among all of this exciting activity, is our recently launched ‘Winter Windows’ initiative, that places The Snowman at the very heart of British Christmas this year and raising vital funds for children’s hospice charities with every window created.”

The Snowman Winter Windows campaign which is supported by Peter Andre and his family, aims to spread some magic around the UK this Christmas whilst raising vital funds for children’s hospice charities, Chestnut Tree House and Together for Short Lives.

Every Wednesday for six weeks a new line art illustration from The Snowman is made available at https://www.thesnowman.com/winter-windows and shared on The Snowman social media channels. These can be printed and coloured and then added to a window to build a scene from the classic story.

Snowman Enterprises Ltd has pledged £1 for every Winter Window scene shared on social media and a bumper Snowman prize bundle will be awarded to one lucky winner.

New partnerships have been confirmed for The Snowman this winter including family trails at Forest Holidays. The Snowman and The Snowdog interactive family trails have launched in nine locations around the UK, ensuring that families who book a Forest Holiday break will have an extra magical experience.

Every guest will receive a special, bespoke edition of the classic Raymond Briggs’ The Snowman, whilst all Forest Holidays gift shops will stock a range of Snowman licensed merchandise.

Finally, whilst many screenings and live performances have sadly been cancelled this year, a collaboration with Luna Cinemas will ensure that families can come together with The Snowman this winter.  The Snowman and The Snowman and The Snowdog animations have been included in the Luna Drive In Winter Cinema, offering families the opportunity to continue their festive tradition of watching these classic films in an exciting new way.

Sony to purchase anime entertainment powerhouse Crunchyroll for $1.175bn

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Sony Pictures Entertainment has reached an agreement with AT&T to purchase its Crunchyroll anime business – a direct-to-consumer service within the WarnerMedia segment – for a proposed $1.175bn.

Under the deal, Crunchyroll anime will fall under Sony Pictures Entertainment Inc and Sony Music Entertainment Inc’s Funimation Global Group, a giant on the anime scene.

Crunchyroll is recognised as a premier anime direct-to-consumer service within AT&T’s WarnerMedia segment with more than 3 million SVOD subscribers and growing. It currently serves 90 million registered users across more than 200 countries and territories offering AVOD, mobile games, manga, events merchandise and distribution.

The combination of Crunchyroll and Funimation will provides the opportunity for Sony to broaden distribution for its content partners and expand its offerings for consumers, while cementing itself as one of the largest global players in the anime scene.

“The Crunchyroll team has done an extraordinary job of not only growing the Crunchyroll brand but also building a passionate community of anime fans. Crunchyroll’s success is a direct result of the company’s culture and commitment to their fans,” said Tony Goncalves, chief revenue officer, WarnerMedia.

“By combining with Funimation, they will continue to nurture a global community and bring more anime to more people. I’m incredibly proud of the Crunchyroll team and what they have been able to accomplish in the digital media space in such a short period of time. They’ve created an end-to-end global ecosystem for this incredible art form.”

Tony Vinciquerra, chairman and CEO of Sony Pictures Entertainment, added: “We are proud to bring Crunchyroll into the Sony family. Through Funimation and our terrific partners at Aniplex and Sony Music Entertainment Japan, we have a deep understanding of this global artform and are well-positioned to deliver outstanding content to audiences around the world.

“Together with Crunchyroll, we will create the best possible experience for fans and greater opportunity for creators, producers and publishers in Japan and elsewhere.

“Funimation has been doing this for over 25 years and we look forward to continuing to leverage the power of creativity and technology to succeed in this rapidly growing segment of entertainment.”

The transaction is subject to customary closing conditions, including regulatory approvals.

Big Picture Licensing named UK and Eire licensing agent for Brave Bunnies as portfolio plans get underway

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Big Picture Licensing has been appointed the exclusive licensing agent for the UK and Eire, and master agent across EMEA and APAC for the animated pre-school series Brave Bunnies.

Created and developed by the Ukrainian creative production hub, Glowberry, the new series aims to blend the traditional feel of a pre-school property with modern and relevant themes of diversity and inclusivity. It follows the adventures of two brave and curious bunnies who journey through their world on the Bunny Bus in search of new friends.

52 episodes make up season one that, thanks to a partnership with Aardman as global content distributor, has already been placed with the likes of Milkshake and Nick Jr in the UK, SuperRTL in Germany, ABC in Australia, SVT in Sweden and more. The  show has already gone live in some territories, with further international roll-out scheduled during  Q1 2021.

On a global scale, Brave Bunnies has appointed a portfolio of licensing agents that includes DeAgnostini in Italy, and LaPanaderia, the master agent for the property in Latin America. Meanwhile, Big Picture Licensing has signed up a roster of leading agents in their respective regions, including CPLG for Benelux, Nordics, CEE, and Southern Europe, CLM for Africa, Centa IP in Australia and New Zealand, and Mediogen in Israel.

Brave Bunnies licensed products are set to roll out from Easter 2022, with Spin Master leading the charge as the property’s global master toy licensee. The firm will develop a range of pre-school toys based on the series. On top of this, Big Picture Licensing has signed up Penguin Random House as a strategic multi-territory licensee, joining Planeta Libra as publishing partners.

Brave Bunnies has already gone live in some territories, with further international roll-out scheduled for Q1 2021. A complimentary and comprehensive digital content plan is also in development. At MIPCOM last month, Brave Bunnies was the second most viewed show in the MIP Junior Screenings  Library (and number one in its preschool target-demo), and unsurprisingly interest is brewing in the licensing  arena. 

Sergey Molchanov, CEO at Glowberry, said: “We have taken a lot of care to ensure that Brave Bunnies has received the best quality treatment from the off, and we are delighted to maintain that  standard across our key commercial partner appointments.

“We’re grateful for the support and the  broad positive response to our property, and we’re just getting started.” 

Dan Frugtniet, MD at Big Picture Licensing, added: “We’re extremely proud and excited to be  working with Glowberry on this wonderful property, and delighted, but not at all surprised at the strong start – without exception, everybody who we have showed Brave Bunnies to has been  overwhelmingly positive about it.

“As well as finalising APAC agency appointments, we’re now  looking to secure UK licensing partners in all major product categories. Please get in touch to discuss  how you can hop on the Brave Bunny Bus.”

IMG to grow licensing programme for Planet Hollywood and Earl Enterprises’ restaurant portfolio

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IMG has been appointed to head up the brand extension programme for Earl Enterprises’ portfolio of entertainment, leisure, tourism, and hotels and restaurants brands.

Under the deal, IMG will be working with Planet Hollywood, Buca di Beppo, Bertucci’s, Bravo! Italian kitchen, Brio Italian Grille, and Earl of Sandwich to develop new global product and brand partnerships.

IMG will work with Earl Enterprises to creatively extend its diverse portfolio across food, beverage, lifestyle, gaming, and experiential categories through a range of product and brand licensing collaborations that reflect the characteristics of its hospitality and restaurant brands.

“We firmly believe that customers’ affinities for our brands extend well beyond the in-restaurant dining experience and we are always looking for new ways to connect with our customers and be at the forefront of new trends,” said Robert Earl, founder and CEO of Earl Enterprises.

“IMG is the perfect partner to help take this to the next level, with a series of thoughtful licensed products and experiences that will embody everything customers know and love about our brands.2

Bruno Maglione, president of licensing, IMG, added: “We’re thrilled to be working with Earl Enterprises and its diverse portfolio of established restaurant brands loved around the world, from the iconic Planet Hollywood to the fun and festive family-favorite, Italian-American chain Buca di Beppo.

“Using our specialized expertise, we are looking forward to building upon their success and creating products and experiences that will allow consumers to enjoy their favorite menu items in new formats, new occasions and at home.”

IMG will pursue opportunities that reflect the heritage and tastes of each of the brands. IMG will work closely with Earl Enterprises and licensees to leverage the strength of the brands across a variety of new retail channels, including grocery, club, specialty, ecommerce, and more.

Bulldog Licensing signs Bioworld for Care Bears apparel and accessories

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Bioworld is on board to create and launch a range of apparel and accessories inspired by the popular Cloudco Entertainment brand, Care Bears, targeting kids of all ages as the Care Bears licensing programme continues to grow.

Fast approaching its 40th anniversary, Care Bears continues to appeal to a wide range of fans, encouraged in their purveyance of the brand by an ever-increasing licensing portfolio, managed in the UK by Bulldog Licensing. The latest partnership with Bioworld will act to leverage the universal love for the property.

Fashion partners for the Care Bears brand already include the likes of Tikiboo and its athleisure range, Irregular Choice and its footwear line, and Dolls Kill with its clothing collection. The brand even returned to the kids’ aisles earlier this year when Basic Fun launched its toy line.

Having been met with strong sales and keen reception in the US market, Basic Fun recently launched its toy range to the UK where it is currently experiencing very strong sell-through already. The range is being supported with a heavyweight marketing campaign featuring two TVCs for both its plush and interactive Care Bears.

Meanwhile, the Care Bears’ broadcast partner Tiny Pop is supporting the series Care Bears: Unlock the Magic with daily slots on the channel. New partnerships with Sky and Moonbug now further position Care Bears for significant growth in the kids market here in the UK.

Bioworld joins other children’s partners, including Zak for homewares, Whitehouse Leisure, Redan, Aardvark, Crackerjack, and the Fun to Learn magazine.

Rob Corney, MD of Bulldog Licensing, said: “We’re thrilled to have Bioworld on board for Care Bears apparel. The brand has built a strong following over the past 38 years and has devoted fans who grew up with Care Bears, as well as an ever-growing following of little ones who are discovering the brand for the first time.” 

Roubina Tchoboian, VP of international licensing, added: “Bioworld joins at an exciting time for Care Bears, as the brand is continuously building with a range of best-in-class partners creating show-stopping ranges and collaborations.”

Chefclub partners with Tefal to launch limited edition Roi de la Raclette

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The leading French digital cooking brand, Chefclub has struck up a partnership with the kitchen brand, Tefal to launch the limited edition Roi de la Raclette, or to give it its English title, the Raclette King.

With the on-set of the winter months, those dark mornings and evenings usher in a whole new reason to get out of bed, the raclette season is now upon us, a time of year when food needs to be covered with thick, melted cheese, just to make the rest of the day seem worthwhile.

Now, through a union of culinary expertise, Chefclub and Tefal have joined forces to tap directly into the raclette market with the launch of Roi de la Raclette, a limited edition raclette and grill machine, along with a card game designed to liven up the evening and crown the Raclette King, to Chefclub’s digital audience.

Renowned for its videos of innovative recipes that continue to tantalize the tastebuds of some 90 millions food fans each month, Chefclub is helping its follows to rediscover the warmth of this ‘indulgent season’.

“Winter is approaching, families are together every night, and the world’s sporadic lockdowns continue,” read a statement from Chefclub. “So what could be more convivial than raclette? Well, raclette with a card game. Rediscover this warm and indulgent season, because fun with Le Roi de la Raclette is going to be so Gouda.”

LEGO opens its first airport LEGO Store in the US in Marshall Retail Group partnership

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The LEGO Group has opened its first airport LEGO Store in the US, having partnered with The Marshall Retail Group – a WHSmith Company – to set up shop inside Salt Lake City International Airport.

The all-new LEGO store allows visitors the opportunity to shop for hard-to-find products from the LEGO portfolio, as well as its top sellers, unique featured items, and more.

“Marshall Retail Group is honoured to open the first ever LEGO retail store in the United States in an airport and we’re thrilled to partner with The LEGO Group as it continues to inspire and develop the builders of tomorrow through creative play and learning,” said Michael C Wilkins, chief executive officer of Marshall Retail Group.

“With its inimitable products and playful atmosphere, we’re confident the LEGO storefront will provide visitors of all ages an unforgettable experience as they travel through the newly-constrcuted Salt Lake City International Airport.”

Among the ranges in stock at the new store will be toddler-friendly LEGO Duplo play-sets, best-selling LEGO City builds, LEGO Friends, and a raft of specialist builds from LEGO Technic, including the Lamborghini Sian FKP 37.

“We are proud to have the first out of many LEGO airport stores in the US here in Salt Lake City. The LEGO airport store offers a premium retail experience to the traveler and engages families, children, and adults​ with a broad range of products from LEGO DUPLO to very sophisticated LEGO Technic models,” said Simon S. Bast, head of sales for Travel Retail Americas.

ZAG names former MGA director Sarah Boyer is new VP or retail for North America

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The award-winning global independent animation studio ZAG has named the former MGA Entertainment director, Sarah Boyer, its new vice president, retail, North America. The announcement was made today by Julian Zag, executive vice president, global operations.

“We are entering the next phase of tremendous growth for ZAG and especially our flagship global brand phenom, Miraculous! Given the roster of new licensees coming on board, it is the ideal time to welcome an executive of Sarah’s caliber in the retail space to our robust consumer products’ team,” commented Zag.

“We have a wide range of new products slated to hit retail shelves in 2021 and 2022, culminating with the $100M theatrical release of Miraculous Ladybug And Cat Noir The Awakening and the launch of seasons four and five of the series. Miraculous continues to build across all touch points – television, retail, digital, theatrical – and we couldn’t be more thrilled with how our brand continues to resonate with audiences worldwide.”

Reporting directly to Kirk Bloomgarden, the ZAG’s SVP, global licensing, Boyer will manage strategic relationships across all tiers of retail for all of the properties under the ZAG Heroez label – an umbrella brand franchise that brings together the superheroes from ZAG’s animated properties.

She will continue our work in building best-in-class licensed programs, supporting licensees with product placement and promotion, working alongside our growing team of recent appointments, including Rebekah Belzer, VP, new business and retail development, Lisa Foster, VP, licensing, North America, and Elinor Schops, VP of games and interactive experiences.

“It is such an exciting time at ZAG with the global growth of the Miraculous brand, in particular, and I am excited to work with Julian, Kirk and the ZAG team to develop even stronger retail relationships to bring a wide range of products across all of the  ZAG Heroez™ brands to market in the coming years,” said Boyer.

Boyer’s immediate remit is to work with retailers for ZAG’s Miraculous™: Tales of Ladybug & Cat Noir, for which over 150M products have been sold during the past three years.

The new toyline from ZAG Labs and Playmates will debut in 2021 in North America.  Additional new products to rollout include books from Little, Brown Books for Young Readers (LBYR), a division of the Hachette Book Group; costumes and accessories for wholesale retailers from InSpirit Designs,a division of lifestyle retailer Spencer Spirit Holdings that owns and operates Spencer’s and Spirit Halloween.

Other new products soon to be available include bedding and home décor from Jay Franco, Bentex and Bioworld for apparel, Komar Brands for sleepwear, underwear from Handcraft Manufacturing, Hot Topic for DTR apparel program, PPE Foundation for face masks, Peachtree Playthings for craft and activity, Inkology for stationery, AXNY for smart watches, and Taste Beauty for beauty products.

Boyer will also work with ZAG Lab and Playmates across its portfolio of brands, including Power Players and Ghostforce, the company’s newest property, currently in production for Disney Channel EMEA, TF1, and Discovery Kids Latin America.

BlackMilk Clothing readies to launch Cyberpunk 2077 capsule collection as game lands this month

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BlackMilk Clothing is marking the release of what has been tipped to be the video game of the decade, with the launch of its own Cyberpunk 2077 capsule collection.

The launch of the Night-City-inspired clothing range will take place in tandem with the game’s release on December 11th. The eight piece capsule collection features skin-hugging leggings, dresses and long sleeve crops sporting cyberware-inspired designs, as well as a feminine take on V’s signature Samurai Jacket.

The range has been developed under license by and in partnership with Cyberpunk 2077’s developers, CD Projekt Red. The selection will be available at www.blackmilkclothing.com from 7am AEST on December 11th.

Cyberpunk 2077 is an open-world, action-adventure story set in Night City, a megalopolis obsessed with power, glamour and body modification. Players take on the role of V, a mercenary outlaw going after a one-of-a-kind implant that is the key to immortality.