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BlackMilk partners with Nintendo to launch Super Mario and Animal Crossing: New Horizons collections

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The globally loved Nintendo franchises, Super Mario and Animal Crossing: New Horizons are finding a new footing in the fashion world, thanks to a partnership between the video game maker and apparel specialist, Black Milk Clothing.

Renowned for its unique take on licensed collaborations, BlackMilk Clothing is offering gaming fans a new way to express their love for both Super Mario and Animal Crossing through the brand’s signature styles, including leggings, dresses, overalls, and more.

BlackMilk x Super Mario will be the first of the two collections to be released, going live at 7am on October, 6th 2020. The collection features some of the franchise’s favourite characters, including Princess Peach, Yoshi, Bowser and, of course, Mario. It will also feature the game’s iconic power-ups and numerous items. Active wear and unisex pieces are on offer alongside a variety of fun outerwear styles. 

Meanwhile, customers will then be treated to an entirely new collection when BlackMilk x Animal Crossing: New Horizons is released a week later, landing at 7am on October 13th, 2020.

Fans of the Nintendo Switch game will be able to shop a range of pieces featuring their favourite islanders and collectibles. Alongside BlackMilk’s signature bold printed styles, the collection includes designer pieces made with specially created fabrics, such as a unique flocked Timmy and Tommy design. 

BlackMilk is expecting both collection ‘to be hugely popular, with some limited edition pieces likely to sell out fast.’

Acclaimed British artist Charlotte Posner turns to lifestyle licensing with WildBrain CPLG

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The acclaimed British contemporary artist, Charlotte Posner, the mind behind Pop Dolls, a work that sent social media into a frenzy in 2015, has appointed WildBrain CPLG as the European Licensing agent for her move into lifestyle licensing.

Under its lifestyle division, WildBrain CPLG will assemble a design-led consumer products programme inspired by Posner’s vibrant artwork with an initial focus on the UK market. The firm will target categories such as beauty, stationery, homewares and soft furnishing, fashion and accessories, luxury ceramics, and gifting.

John Taylor, VP Northern Europe and managing director UK and France at WildBrain CPLG, said: “Charlotte’s work is captivating and original, both accessible and uniquely creative, and we are excited to collaborate with her to develop innovative and design-led product ranges.

“The licensing programme will sit closely alongside Charlotte’s art, offering fans of her work another chance to own a little piece of Posner magic.”

Posner’s style and popularity exploded onto the public scene in 2014 when she was featured as part of the Royal Academy Summer Exhibition and was profiled on the BBC’s The Culture Show. A social media frenzy then erupted when she first introduced her ‘Pop Dolls’ series to the public in 2015. Coca-Cola, Walls, Kellogg’s and Cadbury’s all complimented the works, and one piece later became the creative for Magnum’s UK social media platforms.

Posner said: “I am excited to be working with WildBrain CPLG to expand my brand. We are at an exciting stage of development and it is a great opportunity to share our creativity with more companies.”

In the face of severe dyslexia, Posner’s undaunted creative approach shows extraordinary versatility. She has now collaborated and worked with some of the world’s leading luxury brands and retailers including Brown Thomas, Louis Vuitton, Nicholas Kirkwood, Crème de la Mer, London Fashion Week, and Japanese cosmetics brand Shiseido.

Inspired by people, places and popular culture from all over the world, Posner’s signature art style is distinguishable by its expression of shape and form, colour and confidence. She uses her art to transcend the invisible barriers that divide people and evoke emotion. Although working in a variety of media, it is traditional dip-pen and ink with acrylic and watercolour that she has become most noted for.

With an international following and requests for commissioned works by both private collectors and corporations, Posner holds art shows twice a year to showcase her latest pieces. She believes artwork should be accessible, so releases a series of limited edition signed prints of 50-100 for Spring/Summer and Autumn/Winter.

Brand Central named global consumer products agency for US YouTube-created lifestyle brand Full Send

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Brand Central LLC has been appointed the global consumer products agency for the US lifestyle brand Full Send, a label created by collaborative portfolio of YouTube content creators, including the popular Nelk Boys.

Under the partnership, Brand Central will look to develop strategic collaborations as it extends the Full Send brand into retail, tapping into the popularity of the brand’s collaborative popularity across content creators such as @kyleforgeard, @mtvjesse, and @stevewilldoit.

 The licensing agency is looking to attract licensees and retailers on a mission to tap into the world of digital influencers. Both the FULL SEND brand and the Nelk Boys were founded in 2010 and have to date amassed more than 27 million followers across all social platforms. 

“Our team is thrilled to go all in with Brand Central as they are the go-to licensing experts in digital, lifestyle, and pop culture representing brands such as Jake Paul and Ninja,” said Full Send’s business manager, Drew Hill. 

“We are honored to work with the Nelk Boys and the Full Send brand which is the obsession of millions of young adults fans.  We are confident of the success of Full Send at retail and looking forward put together very compelling collaborations that will be become ‘must have’ products of 2021,” added Ross Misher, Brand Central CEO.

Groovy Chick taps new generation of fans with Organic apparel collection on ASOS

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Groovy Chick is tapping firmly into a new generation of fans, having seen its new range of Organic cotton t-shirts not only launch with the online retailer, ASOS this week, but achieve sell-out status on selected lines within only hours of going live.

The newly launched organic collection has proved a hit for Bang on the Door, the Groovy Chick brand owner, who delivered the exclusive range of Organic Cotton T-shirts to the online platform last week. A collection of Organic Cotton Hoodies and Organic Cotton Sweatshirts will follow soon.

Karen Duncan, director at Bang on the Door, said: “In recognising the Climate Emergency, we felt that Groovy Chick should be associated with responsible product and using Organic Cotton was a good starting point in the apparel sector.”

The new range has been developed by Groovy Chick apparel licensing partner, Daisy Street in a partnership brokered by Andrew Levy.

Levy said: “Not only have we insisted on Organic product, but we have reduced packaging by using a sticker in the product pack. Early sale indications are extremely positive, with one line selling out within hours and Groovy Chick trending on Twitter – demonstrating the enduring appeal of Bang on the Door’s Groovy Chick and that she has a new generation of fans.”

Asmodee brings iconic board games Android and Twilight Imperium to comic book space with CMON

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The board gaming giant, Asmodee Entertainment has entered into a licensing partnership with the tabletop gaming specialist, CMON Ltd, to bring two of the hobby’s most famous boardgame universes to the pages of a comic book series.

Best-selling games, Twilight Imperium and Android are slated to make their graphic novel debut in 2021 in a deal that goes to highlight Asmodee’s continued expansion into licensed publishing opportunities. For CMON, meanwhile, the deals secures the first licenses for its newly minted comic books arm, Guillotine Press.

“We are delighted to announce this new partnership on the run-up to exhibiting at the Festival of Licensing in October,” said Alexander Thieme, licensing manager for publishing and consumer goods at Asmodee Entertainment.

“Bringing some of our most iconic intellectual properties to the medium of visual storytelling through the pages of these first graphic novels is a natural step for us to be taking and we are absolutely thrilled to begin this exciting journey with the great team at CMON.”

As with CMON’s first set of graphic novels, these new books will be created by veteran writers and artists, who will bring their talents to the projects. Scheduled to be launched on Kickstarter in 2021, the books will be paired with tie-in game components designed to delight long-time fans of both franchises. 

CMON COO, David Preti, said: “All tabletop games tell stories, and we are especially happy to work with a great partner like Asmodee Entertainment to bring some of those stories to life. With our first wave of comics, the ones based on CMON titles, we worked hard to create book-and-game component combos that were exciting for comic fans and board gamers alike, making it one of the most successful publication Kickstarters of all times.

“With this second wave of books, we hope to continue that precedent, and we aim to become the go-to publisher for board game inspired comics.” 

Recognised as a genre defining strategy game that immerses players into interstellar conquest and diplomacy, Twilight Imperium is set against a back drop of a sweeping, epic space opera filled with iconic races, locations, ships, and characters.

Meanwhile, Android is known as a cyber-noir that explores a future in which mega-corporations compete across the globe and cyber-espionage is just business as usual, while criminals fight for dominance in the overcrowded streets below. Android has been explored thrugh board games, card games, and roleplaying games for over a decade.

Both titles are part of Asmodee’s renowned Fantasy Flight Games studio.

“Both graphic novels will make use of the combined three decades worth of Asmodee’s existing design and world development,” said CMON’s VP of licensing, Geoff Skinner.

“Both of these incredible games are fully realized and bursting at the seams with style, tone, and best of all, story possibilities. Our goal is for fans of the games to feel right at home in the pages of these books and to capture the essence of what makes each title special, while still making the titles accessible to newcomers who are in it for a great comic experience.” 

Andy Jones, head of Asmodee Entertainment, concluded: “I am delighted to announce this ground-breaking deal with the team at CMON. Bringing together just two of the many Asmodee IPs and telling their stories in this unique ‘comic book and game component’ format, initially via Kickstarter, with some of the very best talents in the industry, is a fantastic project to be working on.”

H&A teams with Beano Studio to launch mischief-making bath accessories range

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The health, beauty, and bath accessories specialist, H&A has partnered with Beano Studio to launch a new and exclusive range of products inspired by the iconic British comic into Boots stores across the UK. The partnership was brokered by Beano’s UK licensing agency, Rocket Licensing.

Each product in the range will feature an extra element of mischief, such as a whoopie cushion, mini comic book, jokes and more, aligning the collection firmly with the Beano brand ethos. Highlights of the range include a MEga Stink Bath Set, Stink Bath Bomb, and Deniis Mug and Socks.

Licensing and marketing manager at H&A, Holly Orton, said: “We’re really excited to see this hit the shelves. Beano is a brand loved by generations and we’ve had fun developing the range. There’s definitely nothing else like it in the market and we’re looking forward to supplying some entertainment for Boots customers and their loved ones this Christmas.”

The new range from H&A forms part of an extensive licensed product offering for Beano, which continues to grow ahead of Dennis’ 70th anniversary next year.

Vanessa Andreis, franchise planning and partnerships director at Beano Studios, added: “This fantastic H&A range has allowed us to bring our unique creativity and mischievous fun to the health and beauty category. We’re thrilled to have Boots as our retail partner for this range and can’t wait for Beano fans young and small to be able to buy it or receive it across the festive period.” 

Argos launches LEGO Super Brick delivery van as online shopping reaches new heights

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Argos has teamed up with Diversity’s Jordan Banjo and Perri Kiely to unveil the first LEGO Super Brick delivery van, a new decorated van created to deliver the LEGO Super Mario range and celebrate the latest stats from the retailer that see more customers turn to online shopping than before.

New research from Argos has found that that almost half (49 per cent) of Brits are now doing the majority of their non-grocery shopping online, a trend that has seen Argos home deliveries increase by a huge 184 per cent in the past year.

According to the report, since the start of 2020, over half (53 per cent) of those surveyed ‘admit to getting overly excited on delivery day when they hear a knock at the door, looking forward to their delivery more than video calls with friends and family (16 per cent) and clocking off work for the day (11 per cent).’

It also found that 82 per cent of Brits now prefer internet shopping, due to its ease and the ability to track spending more closely and 68 per cent of Brits now constantly track the arrival of their new purchase on their smart phone or tablet, with more than one in ten (11 per cent) such regulars that they even know their delivery driver by name.

Following the results, Argos has now created the LEGO Super Brick delivery van, and has teamed with Diversity’s Perri Kiely and Jordan Banjo to launch the new service. On top of this, Argos is giving customers across the UK the chance to win the full range of LEGO Super Mario toys worth over £300, delivered in the unique Super Brick delivery van.

Speaking of the launch, Perri and Jordan commented: “We’re thrilled to have had a hand in bringing this incredible Super Brick van to life – it’s exactly the type of thing that used to live in our imaginations when we’d play with LEGO growing up. Even as adults, we’re still massive fans of LEGO, and we can’t wait for children to be just as amazed as we were when this turns up on their doorstep.”

Juliet Ward, head of toy buying at Argos, added: “With so much time spent inside over the past few months, we are really excited to be able to bring people an extra bit of joy along with their new products. Our customers have been huge fans of both LEGO and Super Mario for years, and we know they have loved getting hands on with this new range.

“As our study has shown, people are choosing online shopping as their preferred experience more than ever before and toys have once again made into the top three most popular categories purchased online.

There are so many benefits of online shopping and home delivery, and we pride ourselves in giving customers an experience, from selecting the product to delivering it at their door. But it’s interesting to see how in this digital age, it’s the doorbell ringing and getting that delivery which really excites the nation.”

Bing goes big in the Benelux as Acamar Films extends broadcast and licensing partnerships

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Bing is becoming rather big in the Benelux region thanks to a raft of new licensing partnerships that follow the news that Acamar Films has landed a live stage production of the popular pre-school IP in the Netherlands and Belgium for the first time.

Detailed just this week, the hit pre-school series will now air on the region’s major broadcaster Ketnet, where the newest series of Bing – series four – will premiere in the coming months. The 26 episode will be in Flemish for local audiences. In the Netherlands, all 104 episodes of Bing series one to four are already available on NPO Zappelin.

Meanwhile, thanks to Acamar Films and its Benelux agent, License Connections, Bing is currently enjoying rapid growth and momentum in the region. Following the success of the core toy launch in AW 2019, Bing’s homeware, publishing, and toy and games ancillary categories have expanded with new and extended licensing deals.

New partners for the property include, John, Big Balloon and Mepal, with John’s toy range including Bing playing balls due to launch SS 2021 and Big Balloon launching Bing magazines in Q4 2020. Mepal is the number one brand and market leader in Benelux for melamine lunchboxes and drinking cups and will launch the Bing collection in AW 2020.

 Meanwhile, existing partner TM Essentials, with its number one brand Totum, has extended its current Bing range with new wooden toys, puzzles and car accessories launching AW 2020.

These deals are in addition to current partners Vadobag for bags and Aymax for bedding who have been on board since the beginning of the Bing licensing programme in the Benelux region.

Spectron, the local distributor for Golden Bear, has increased its listings to include Belgium following the success of the AW 2019 and SS 2020 launches in the Netherlands, where all toy products sold out within a few weeks. Spectron will be TV advertising to support the AW 2020 range.

John Boeyen, owner and managing director, Spectron, said: “For us, Bing is the fastest growing pre-school brand in the Benelux region. Our toy range was a huge hit in the Netherlands and we are excited to be bringing them to Bingsters in Belgium this autumn, where we are sure they will prove just as popular.”

Daphne Kellerman, founder of License Connection, added: “We are thrilled with the growing success of Bing in Benelux. Bing has really established itself in our local market and has been embraced by both retailers and consumers. We look forward to working very closely with the Acamar team and our local licensees over the coming months, with a particular interest to develop Health & Beauty, Electronic Learning and Wheeled products.”

Acamar Films will be exhibiting, with a virtual Bing booth, at the Festival of Licensing during the European-focused week, 6-8 October 2020. Search for “Acamar Films” or “Bing” in the exhibitor directory.

Dr Seuss Enterprises makes strides across Europe with German book publishing deal

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Dr Seuss Enterprises is making strides across Europe, having secured new and renewed international licensing deals with the German publisher, Verlag Antje Kunstmann for The Lorax and How the Grinch Stole Christmas. The German company has now landed the exclusive publishing rights to the titles across Germany, Austria, and Switzerland.

Verlag Antje Kunstmann first published The Lorax eight years ago, however the deal will mark the first time it has published the popular story How the Grinch Stole Christmas.

The publishing house will begin to release the titles this month, coinciding with the 50th anniversary of The Lorax. Both The Lorax and How the Grinch Stole Christmas will be translated by the award-winning German graphic artist and children’s book author, Nadia Budde for the German, Austrian and Swiss markets.

“Verlag Antje Kunstmann has been an excellent publisher for our titles and we’re looking forward to expanding this partnership as Dr. Seuss’s iconic library continues to perform outstandingly well in these European markets,” said Susan Brandt, president of Dr. Seuss Enterprises.

Illustrated books editor Heike Bräutigam at Verlag Antje Kunstmann, added: “We’re excited to expand our work with Dr. Seuss Enterprises as Dr. Seuss’s children’s books are timeless classics that deserve to be discovered, read and enjoyed by a broad young readership in our markets.”

The expansion of the partnership with Verlag Antje Kunstmann marks the latest growth for the Dr. Seuss portfolio globally. Recently, Dr. Seuss Enterprises announced deals with European licensees Verbarium Publishing, Botart Publishing House, and Thalia, and Australian licensees Amscan, Lake Press, MJM Australia, and Zak Australia.

Peppa Pig garden ornaments from Primus win Best of British Award at Glee Gathering

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A range of garden ornaments depicting Peppa Pig and her friends took home a double award win at last week’s Glee Gathering, where the new, licensed metal garden sculptures won both the Best of British Award and Best Garden Decoration Award.

Already an official supplier of Shaun the Sheep and Wallace and Gromit garden ornaments, the brand’s new range of Peppa Pig and Friends garden ornaments is offered in partnership with Hasbro.

These fully licenced characters have intricate detail and each ornament is made of metal with springy arms and base allowing them to dance in the wind and provide entertainment for children of all ages. The collection features Peppa, her brother George, Suzy Sheep, Rebecca Rabbit, and Gerald Giraffe.

Steve Perry, head of marketing at Primus, said: “The new Peppa Pig range received an overwhelming response from judges. We have taken great measures to make sure that these products stand out for our retailers. We’re anticipating high demand and hope our new range of merchandisers and incentive offers will be a big hit.”

Each character is available to order separately, and Primus has a fully branded merchandiser deal with a free floor standing unit on each first order, drawing attention to these unique sculptures, which RRP for £24.99. The smaller George pig ornament has an RRP of £17.99.

The company’s other range, Prehistoric Garden Dinosaurs, was also a finalist in the Garden Decoration category. To support retailers, Primus also launched a new merchandisers range at the event, including countertop spinners to FSDU’s and bespoke display stands.