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New Blog Posted:
9th October

Tag Archives: news

Hunter teams with TV’s Killing Eve for capsule collection

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Launching in February 2022, Hunter is introducing a new capsule collection in collaboration with BBC AMERICA’s and Sid Gentle Films’ BAFTA, Emmy and Golden Globe-winning television series Killing Eve, in a partnership facilitated by IMG.

The limited-edition capsule is inspired by the spirit of the show and its iconic style moments, and features two new designs for the brand. The Hunting is a mid-calf style boot available in Black and Olive and The Chasing is a knee-high style, available in Black, Olive and Camel colourways.

According to Hunter, the new designs aim to marry style with functionality and have been crafted to embrace the outdoors and exploration of the unknown – “reinterpreting the tough, daring and bold themes of the show to create something that could be worn in its cinematic world”.

Protection, innovation and intricate details are at the heart of the capsule, with each design made from waterproof Stetson leather, light natural rubber and recycled ballistic nylon with a recycled vegan shearling lining. The shorter Hunting Boot has a leather foot with a nylon upper and features a removable ankle strap and pouch, perfectly sized for essential items. Both styles are finished with Hunter’s new chunky high-grip sole made from FSC-certified rubber.

The collection will launch exclusively with SSENSE and globally on Hunterboots.com in early February before being available with selected stores including Selfridges, Harvey Nichols, and Liberty.

Paolo Porta, Chief Executive Officer, Hunter Boots, says: “We are incredibly excited to be collaborating with the cultural phenomenon that is Killing Eve, marrying our utilitarian heritage with the award-winning television series renowned for its empowered fashion moments. These innovative boots, incorporating recycled materials, strongly express the fusion of function and style, for which all Hunter iconic products are known.”

 

Popeye and Angry Birds Friends unite in support of ocean conservation

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Popeye the Sailorman and video game developer Rovio Entertainment have announced a partnership for a new, co-branded Angry Birds Friends x Popeye tournament in support of ocean clean-up organisation The SeaCleaners.

Running from January 31 to February 6, the tournament contains 24 Popeye-themed levels of competition alongside in-game ocean conservation messaging from The SeaCleaners.

Throughout the seven-day tournament, players will be tasked with stopping Bluto and the piggies from polluting, while collecting plastic waste in the game. As players advance through the game, they will learn unique and eye-opening facts about how our oceans are impacted by waste. For example, according to The SeaCleaners, every year between 9 and 12 million tons of plastic waste is tipped into the ocean. To combat this, the organisation advises players in the game to avoid single-use plastic by choosing reusable bags and bottles and plastic-free packaging.

“Rovio is delighted to team up with The SeaCleaners and Popeye to do our part for ocean conservation,” says Heini Kaihu, chief sustainability officer, Rovio. “Combining compelling games content with this very important message is a meaningful way of impacting our environment. We have a large audience through our games, and if we can contribute to increasing the respect for and safety of our planet, we want to take that opportunity. The Angry Birds may be angry, but they want to use their powers for good!”

Additionally, The SeaCleaners will host a giveaway where players will have the chance to win Bird Coins that can be used to purchase items in Angry Birds Friends such as power-ups, Mighty Eagles, avatars and more. For a chance to win, players will be invited to answer four questions about plastic pollution, which can be found on The SeaCleaners’ website. Winners will be chosen at random the week after the tournament concludes.

“The fight against plastic pollution is a collective battle,” says Yvan Bourgnon, president, The SeaCleaners. “We are extremely grateful to Popeye and Rovio for their commitment. Raising awareness about the dangers that threaten the ocean is part of our mission. What better vehicle for this than Angry Birds Friends, an incredibly popular game around the world? And what better spokesperson than Popeye, a timeless sea hero whose values we share? We feel privileged to be able to count on them!”

“Popeye is thrilled to join Red and the other Angry Birds on their mission to save the ocean from polluting piggies,” comments Beth Nock, brand marketing director, King Features. “This exciting partnership unites two incredibly popular character brands — providing fans with entertaining game play, while promoting a great cause. The SeaCleaners’ ocean clean-up technology is unprecedented, and we are grateful that the Angry Birds have joined forces with Popeye to shine a light on their impactful work.”

Popeye, the iconic, spinach-eating sailor and clean ocean advocate, is owned by King Features Syndicate, a unit of Hearst and home to some of the world’s most popular entertainment characters. Popeye first announced his representation of The SeaCleaners, an organization that focuses on long-term and worldwide preservation of the ocean, in 2020, joining its fight against plastic pollution and raising awareness of its ocean conservation efforts. This partnership continues Popeye’s commitment to sustainability and ocean conservation. Most recently, King Features debuted Popeye’s newest eco-conscious partnership, the Popeye® Sail Club, developed in partnership with Pick A Pier and Blue Flag to be the most advanced, rewarding and sustainable boating club in the world. In recent months, Popeye also launched sustainability-focused fashion collections with partners such as United Colors of Benetton, Original Marines, Brava Fabrics and À La Garçonne.

Launching on Monday, January 31, the Angry Birds Friends x Popeye tournament is available in 13 different languages including English, Spanish, German and more. Angry Birds Friends is available in the App Store and Google Play.

 

 

Lisle Licensing powers into 2022 with new website

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Leeds-based agents Lisle Licensing have kicked off 2022 with a “bright and bold” new website that has been designed to align with the company’s brand ethos.

Led by Managing Director Francesca Lisle, the business had a successful 2021 despite the ongoing global turbulence and has seen year-on-year growth in new categories, such as Home & Lifestyle, as well as within Character Entertainment, for which it is well known.

The new website, which stylistically draws upon the company’s widely recognised blue and green colour palette, details the five brand areas where Lisle currently operates: Character Entertainment, Gaming, Lifestyle, Publishing and Sports. The team, agency focus and current client portfolio are all profiled within the new website which has been designed to be easy to navigate, particularly for potential clients not familiar with Lisle and its work. The site is complemented with strong endorsements from existing clients Tetris, Animaccord and Kate Smith Company as well as licensees, and accompanied with video and stills from a number of its other clients.

Francesca Lisle says: “In the last six months we have invested in our team and work culture, as well as having on-boarded a number of new clients.  The time felt right to put further investment into a new website that demonstrated our creative strengths alongside our understanding and insight into licensing.

“It’s important for your ‘shopfront’ to align with the people inside the business and this wonderful new website does just that. Now we’re ready to conquer all that 2022 has to throw at us and we’ve got some exciting times ahead.”

Universal Brand Development celebrates E.T.’s 40th birthday

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Universal Brand Development (UBD) has given a first glimpse of the 2022 product launches marking the 40th anniversary of one of the most iconic properties in cinema history – E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial.

The birthday of the much-loved film from Universal Pictures and Amblin Entertainment will be marked with a curated mix of special screenings, new consumer products, digital and social media campaigns as well as unique retail activations that aim to capture the magic and timeless appeal of the movie.

“It is simply a masterpiece and still invokes such a strong connection and reaction from global audiences,” says Paul Bufton, Vice President, EMEA at NBCUniversal Brand Development. “It is also a particularly good time for this anniversary because recently so many families have rediscovered, together, the immense joy of the film. Parents have watched E.T. and the kids, of course, now love it as much as the previous generation – quality storytelling and genuine emotion never get old.”

E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial altered the pop culture landscape when it was released in June 1982, the story of a lost alien and the young boy who helps him to find his way home resonating with audiences worldwide. The film was one of the first global blockbusters to leverage consumer product tie-ins and the new campaign will be replete with nostalgic references that aim to please both the casual fan and the growing community of enthusiasts and collectors.

To mark E.T.’s anniversary, UBD has lined up a roster of global licensees to fully explore the product possibilities with organic extensions that leverage the toyetic and kidult appeal of the property. Toymaker Mattel has signed on to create E.T. feature plush, while additional global partnerships include Funko & Fisher Price (collectibles), WOW! Stuff (novelty), Tomy (pre-school plush), Basic Fun (retro collections) and Ravensburger (puzzles). UK-specific partnerships have been forged with Posh Paws (plush), RMS (amusement toys) and Nobel (chess).

In the UK, there is a robust Fashion & Lifestyle programme that includes babywear launches from Poetic Brands, Crib Star and Sleep no More to meet the newest generation’s demand for E.T.-branded clothing. A slew of new adult soft lines are also set for release in the UK from established names such as BooHoo, Poetic Brands and Fashion UK.

On the global fashion front, UBD has ensured that the E.T. programme will be prominently spotlighted in high-end boutiques and elite shopping destinations across Europe throughout 2022. New partnerships with some of the most influential retailers across the continent include Difuzed (adult/young adult apparel and accessories), Mini Rodini (kids apparel and home textiles) and popular fast fashion online platforms such as Zalando, AboutYou and EMP. H&M Kids is putting the finishing touches on its exclusive offerings that will be launched later this year.

In addition, a replica of Elliot’s iconic BMX bike will hit mass retail later in the year (E.T. riding in the basket not included).

 

 

Bing strengthens US presence with launch on Cartoonito on HBO Max

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Acamar Films’ International Emmy Award-winning hit TV show Bing is set to make further inroads in North America with its launch on Cartoonito on HBO Max on Thursday February 24.

The HBO Max launch follows last September’s successful US debut of a new, bespoke American version of Bing on Cartoonito on Cartoon Network – created to make the preschool series as relatable as possible for US audiences.

According to WarnerMedia Kids & Family, Cartoonito, its new preschool block, offers “a modern approach to preschool programming with its proprietary educational framework, Humancentric Learning”. Bing, which celebrates the “joyful, messy reality of preschool life” is highlighted by Cartoonito as a series that helps young viewers understand how to manage emotions, understand others’ perspective and develop social skills.

Since Bing’s US premiere, six episodes have been running each weekday on Cartoonito on Cartoon Network. The show’s availability on HBO Max will further increase its reach in North America, with the popular streaming service having currently reached a US subscriber base of more than 45 million.

Jodie Morris, Chief Content & Audiences Officer, Acamar Films, says: “We are absolutely thrilled with our new American version of Bing, and are delighted that, through its launch on HBO Max, we now have an even greater opportunity to move and delight US audiences with our stories and characters.”

Bing 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.

Growth for Bing softlines as Acamar Films renews deals with apparel partners

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Pocket.watch appoints Manuel Torres Port as Global Head of Consumer Products

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Pocket.watch, the kids and family entertainment company that creates global franchises from the YouTube stars and characters loved by Gen Alpha, has announced the appointment of Manuel Torres Port as Global Head of Consumer Products, effective immediately.

Torres Port will oversee all consumer products licensing for pocket.watch brands, focused on the growth of each franchise and the launch of new ones. With an eye toward international expansion, Torres Port will help pocket.watch navigate new markets around the world and brings with him almost three decades of growth experience at leading companies like Mattel, Nickelodeon, NBC Universal and Zag Entertainment. Under his leadership, his deals have contributed to over $1B US in net royalties throughout his career.

“We are thrilled to add such a seasoned and dynamic global consumer products licensing executive to the pocket.watch family – which truly upgrades our leadership in this important division,” says Xavier Kochhar, COO/CFO of pocket.watch. “Manuel is a force and I am excited to have him by my side as we execute pocket.watch’s long term monetisation growth strategy for our licensing business.”

“I couldn’t be more excited to join pocket.watch at this pivotal moment,” says Torres Port. “I have admired for some time the power of pocket.watch and its disruptive force in the entertainment industry, and I am grateful to Xavier and Chris for inviting me in to contribute to the company’s very bright future.”

While at Zag Entertainment, Torres Port was instrumental in the consolidation of key strategic commercial global deals around their top IP including the worldwide phenomenon Miraculous LadyBug. He oversaw NBCUniversal’s Consumer Products global portfolio of franchises including Illumination Entertainment Animation (Minions, The Secret Life of Pets, and Sing), Jurassic World, Fast & Furious, Universal Monsters, Trolls, Spirit, Curious George, among many others, and was instrumental in the consolidation of Dreamworks Animation Consumer Products into NBC. He served in various global roles at Nickelodeon both in New York and Miami, and was key in the relaunch of the worldwide franchise Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles.

 

 

Guru Studio appoints Bandai as UK distributor for True and the Rainbow Kingdom toys

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Children’s entertainment company Guru Studio has appointed Bandai UK as its UK distributor for a new range of toys inspired by the hit series True and the Rainbow Kingdom.

Guru Studio teamed up with previously announced master toy partner United Smile to bring the product line to market, which has already launched in select markets including Israel, the Philippines and in Australia at Target, with Big Balloon handling distribution.

In the UK, True and the Rainbow Kingdom continues to be a breakout hit on TinyPop, currently ranking as the #3 most-watched series on the free-to-air kids’ channel. In addition to all four seasons now streaming on Netflix, the official True and the Rainbow Kingdom YouTube channel is nearing 1 billion views.

Licensing agency bRAND-WARD has been handling licensing and merchandising, bringing on an impressive number of top licensees including Fashion UK, Aykroyds, Roy Lowe, Imagine8, Smiffys and Warner Music Group.

“After so much anticipation and pent-up demand from our fans, we’re excited to be working with Bandai to launch this unique line of toys that we know kids in the UK have been waiting for,” says Jonathan Abraham, VP of Sales and Business Development at Guru Studio.

Nic Aldridge, Managing Director at Bandai UK, comments: “We are absolutely thrilled that True and the Rainbow Kingdom has joined our growing preschool portfolio, with a strong range focused in the key subcategories and most popular play patterns. Initial reaction from the trade has been very positive. So, we are very excited to launch True and all her friends to the market later in the year.”

The toy range – to include figures, plush, dolls, playsets and vehicles – is set to launch in A/W this year.

Susan Brandt promoted to CEO of Dr Seuss Enterprises

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Dr. Seuss Enterprises has announced that Susan Brandt, an entertainment industry veteran who has been leading the company for more than two decades, has been promoted to president and CEO. 

Brandt, who was previously president of the company, will continue to lead the charge around the iconic entertainment property and oversee the worldwide operations.

During her tenure Brandt has put a focus on finding new and innovative ways to connect with fans. The Dr. Seuss brand has expanded from books to include films, television, stage productions, theme parks, digital games, exhibitions, licensed products, and more while maintaining the integrity of the beloved Dr. Seuss stories and characters. Under Brandt’s stewardship, 2021 was the highest revenue year in the company’s history.

Some of Brandt’s most recent deals for the portfolio include a three-part movie deal with Warner Animation Group, the launch of the first ever NFT experience for Dr. Seuss with Dapper Labs, and conceiving the idea for the highly successful travelling exhibition, the Dr. Seuss Experience, with Kilburn Live. Brandt has also worked closely with Netflix on the hit series Green Eggs and Ham and with PBS-TV on the award-winning show, The Cat in the Hat Knows A Lot About That!

“It has been my distinct pleasure to work with Susan Brandt over the last twenty years, so I am delighted that the Geisel-Seuss Enterprises (GSE) Board of Directors has decided to promote her to CEO,” said Brian E. C. Schottlaender, Chair of the GSE Board. “Over the years, Susan has put her heart and soul into Dr. Seuss Enterprises, and under her leadership, the company has expanded into new markets and expanded its suite of products. We look forward to working with Susan to realise the myriad opportunities before us, while promoting our core values of literacy, education, and instilling confidence and creativity in children.”

Susan Brandt said, “I am a lifelong fan of Dr. Seuss and it’s been a privilege to be part of this company, collaborate with great partners, and wonderful employees to expand the Dr. Seuss universe in ways that continue to delight. I’m looking forward to continuing the wonderful work of guiding, innovating around, and protecting this widely beloved property.”

Prior to joining Dr. Seuss Enterprises, Brandt was Vice President of home entertainment at 20th Century Fox Film Corporation where, working with the President, she launched the $500M international video division and then ran the $320M Asia Pacific region while working and living in Hong Kong.

 

 

ARTiSTORY appoints Markettcom to cover UAE and Saudi Arabia

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Specialist in art and cultural licensing ARTiSTORY is continuing to expand its global operation with the appointment of Markettcom agency.

Capitalising on the growing appetite for Western museums in the UAE following the opening of the Louvre in Abu Dhabi and the forthcoming Guggenheim opening in Abu Dhabi, which is scheduled for 2025,  Markettcom will represent ARTiSTORY in the UAE and Saudi Arabia to work across licensing, LBE and estate development, to gain early entry into this expanding market.

The addition of Markettcom gives ARTiSTORY representation in this new territory as well as in the UK, France, Spain, Italy, Benelux, Russia, North America, China, Singapore, S. Korea, Japan, Singapore, Thailand, Philippines, Indonesia, Taiwan, Australia and New Zealand.

Markettcom is a media and licensing agency headquartered in Dubai with offices in Saudi Arabia, Egypt, Lebanon, and Turkey, working closely with their partners and clients to grow their brand awareness and licensing business in the MENA region.

“I’m excited about the new partnership with ARTiSTORY,” Amer Bitar, CEO at Markettcom Limited comments. “We are very pleased with our new licensing partnership with ARTiSTORY, and we are confident we can grow the art licensing market in the Middle East. ARTiSTORY is an artistic content creator, and we will be able to utilise our strong expertise and relationships within the licensing and retail industry in the Middle East to introduce great innovative designs in that growing market.”

“We’re thrilled to be working with Markettcom,” says Natasha Dyson, co-founder and licensing director at ARTiSTORY. “It’s the perfect time for us to be expanding ARTiSTORY’s business in UAE and Saudi Arabia and with Amer’s background in art history, and extensive licensing experience, we couldn’t have found a better partner.”

Boat Rocker announces key hires within its NYC and London offices

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Boat Rocker has announced the appointments of EJ Minor as Brand Director for the Americas and Emmanuelle Cadet (pictured) as Licensing Director for the UK, Australia and EMEA for its Brand Management & Content Marketing division.

Minor will be taking the lead for franchise management, brand marketing and retail marketing for the Americas, while Cadet will lead the licensing sales strategy across the key markets of the UK, Australia and EMEA, where there is significant growth ahead. This includes the hit animated preschool series Dino Ranch, which is already seeing widespread global expansion just a year on from launch. Dino Ranch toys launched in the US and Australia late last year with a planned roll-out across the UK & Europe this summer, and Cadet will be working on securing additional partners across all key categories for franchise growth in 2023.

Kate Schlomann, EVP Brand Management and Content Marketing, Boat Rocker, says: “We’re delighted to welcome EJ and Emmanuelle to the Boat Rocker team. With their talent, flair and experience they will play a vital part in further driving our expansion in building global franchises across our growing portfolio in kids and family, scripted and factual entertainment.”

EJ Minor joins Boat Rocker from Wildbrain, where he was responsible for the relaunch of the Strawberry Shortcake franchise, including the all-new YouTube series, Roblox game and CP partnerships including toys from Moose. He also led the push for Teletubbies with all-new music videos and a partnership around NYC Pride this year.

Prior to Wildbrain, Minor was at SpinMaster, Mattel/Hit Entertainment and Hasbro, where he managed brand franchises and played a key role in toy development. He will be based at Boat Rocker’s New York office and reports directly to Kate Schlomann.

Emmanuelle Cadet has extensive experience across toy and consumer products, having held senior licensing and marketing positions across several companies including Disney, Cartoon Network, Rovio and Tomy. Her most recent role was as Head of Marketing, Flair UK, where she led the marketing department for a portfolio of 30+ toy brands. Cadet will be based at Boat Rocker’s London office and reports to Nicola Herrmann who was recently promoted to VP Brand Management & Licensing.

In an additional appointment to the London team, Dwayne Clarke has joined as Brand Manager for the UK, Aus & EMEA, reporting to Nicola Herrmann. He joins from Lime Pictures, where he was Brand Partnership Manager, and his 10+ years’ experience in the media industry also includes brand management roles at the BBC and ITV.

 

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