Bravado launches capsule collab inspired by LEGO Vidiyo

Bravado, Universal Music Group’s global consumer, lifestyle, and brand management company, has announced the launch of a collaborative capsule inspired by LEGO Vidiyo, a video maker experience that allows children to dream big by directing, producing, starring in and sharing their own music videos.

Available now, the collection celebrates the intersection of LEGO play, music and fashion, featuring designs from P.A.M, Soulland, BBC ICECREAM and Bravado.

Sarah Andelman, co-founder of Paris boutique Colette, and the consulting and curating company Just an Idea, was tapped to oversee the creative for these capsules, and to capture “the universal essence of youthful creativity, bold thinking and optimism”.

The brand collabs include:

  • BBC ICECREAM: The skate-centric sub label of Pharrell William’s Billionaire Boys Club, known for utilising ice cream graphics and other lighthearted designs, has taken the sneaker community by storm since Pharrell previewed the concept in the Drop it’s Like it’s Hot video in 2004.
  • Bravado Collection: The global provider of consumer, lifestyle and branding services presents a 7-piece capsule inspired by L.L.A.M.A, the first-ever human version LEGO minifigure to sign a global record deal and to release a song via LEGO Vidiyo.
  • P.A.M: Australian lifestyle brand Perks and Mini (P.A.M) created two t-shirts and a hoodie featuring the slogan, “Let Your Mind Be Free.”
  • Soulland: A Copenhagen-based brand that strives to source as locally as possible and create healthier local relationships, offers a stylised button-up shirt and t-shirt.

Mimi Choi, Lead Designer, BBC says: “As a brand with DNA steeped in music culture and values in education led by Pharrell Williams, LEGO Vidiyo’s DNA aligns with our ethos in providing the youth with tools to explore their creativity and innovation.”

“We chose a motif of the most simple LEGO brick swirling into a vortex/portal, going into the unknown, a world of pure imagination,” says Mischa Hollenbach, Co-founder, P.A.M. In her view the LEGO Vidiyo collection is a celebration of individuality, and unique creativity. “Let your mind be free. No barriers, no borders, no worries: just creativity. Whatever you can imagine you can build, starting with one small brick”.

In celebration of the collaboration and upcoming launch, Bravado, LEGO Vidiyo and HBX by Hypebeast created a digital jukebox, a dynamic visual experience that reimagines designs from Soulland, PAM, BBC Ice Cream and Bravado as shoppable album covers.

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‘Hilda and the Mountain King’ to debut on Netflix this December

Silvergate Media is readying the upcoming release of Hilda and the Mountain King, an 80-minute movie special which will launch exclusively on Netflix’s global streaming platform from 30 December.

Adapted from Luke Pearson’s sixth graphic novel in the Hilda series, Hilda and the Mountain King picks up where the cliff-hanger ending of Hilda Season 2 left off: finding Hilda stranded in troll country with the body of a troll. Her quest to change back into her human form and reunite with her mum and friends brings her deeper into the world of trolls – their customs, their cuisine, and their legends; namely the infamous Mountain King. Meanwhile, as tensions rise between the gathering trolls and the city of Trolberg, Hilda’s mum scours the mountainside desperate to find her daughter before the conflict erupts into a full blown war.

“We’re really excited to bring audiences a new feature length format with the release of Hilda and the Mountain King,” says Ron Allen, EVP Commercial at Silvergate Media. “The epic scope of the storyline gives us the opportunity to explore the full potential of Hilda’s fascinating mythical world and we think fans are going to love getting lost in the hidden depths of Trolberg this holiday season.”

Co-produced by Silvergate Media and Mercury Films, Hilda and the Mountain King marks the end to a year filled with numerous critical accolades. The show’s second season was awarded two Daytime Emmys, including Outstanding Children’s Animated Series, and three Annie Awards, including Best Animated TV Production for Children.

Other award-winning productions from Silvergate include OctonautsPeter Rabbit and Chico Bon Bon: Monkey with a Tool Belt for Netflix, and Sunny Day for Nickelodeon.

 

Second Dave East x Nouvintage eyewear collection launches at LA Pop Up

Rapper and actor Dave East hosted a meet and greet at the weekend at Diplomacy’s Free the Future Pop Up in Los Angeles to celebrate the launch of the 2.0 Collection with Nouvintage luxury eyewear.

East signed the signature sunglass boxes created especially to package the frames in his second collaboration with the California-based Nouvintage brand. The collection is available for a limited time at https://nouvintage.com/collections/dave-east-2-0-signature-frames.

ON Kids & Family appoints bRAND-WARD to build Petronix Defenders brand

European studio ON kids & family, part of Mediawan, has appointed kids IP consultancy bRAND-WARD to develop a UK licensing programme for comedy-animation adventure series Petronix Defenders. 
The 52 x 13′ series is aimed at children from 4 to 7 years old. It is produced in association with the M6 Group (Gulli and M6Kid) and Super RTL, in partnership with the Chinese toy manufacturer and global media group Alpha, the segment leader in the Chinese market, and one of the main players in the toy market worldwide.

When the world’s wild animals are in danger, a team of young superheroes rush to their rescue: their backpacks are transformed into small animals equipped with incredible technology, and together they set off on ever more daring missions to help them.

The series’ environmental values and the empathy created by the characters address the current concerns of young audiences and their parents.

In addition to bRAND-WARD Services, ON kids & family is setting up an international network of experienced licensing agents: Gulli (France), Super RTL (Germany, Benelux and GAS), Planeta Junior (Spain, Portugal, Italy, Eastern and Central Europe), Megalicense (Russia, Ukraine), Lotus Global (Brazil and Latam), and Plus Licens (Nordic countries).

In the UK, Tiny Pop will be the free to air broadcast partner.

“Our L&M strategy is based on major exposure of the series on the best free TV broadcasters, to ensure our partner Alpha the best possible visibility from the beginning of the broadcasts,” says Erick Rouillé, SVP co-productions, Business Development, Licensing & Merchandising. “Our series is generating an enthusiastic response from our broadcast and licensee partners who are convinced of the project’s potential. Alpha will also be launching its toy line worldwide, outside of China, for Christmas 2023. Our organisation also relies on the strong local involvement of agents to whom we have chosen to entrust the exploitation of the brand in many territories.”

Jean-Philippe Randisi, co-founder of bRAND-WARD, adds: “ A superb series, featuring engaging characters, fantastic toys and a very compelling message, Petronix Defenders will take the world by storm in 2023 and beyond. We are proud to be able to join forces with ON Kids & Family to make this series a success in the UK.”

BadHero Sunglasses signs worldwide deal with Netflix smash Too Hot to Handle

Following the huge success on Netflix of Season 1 and 2 of Too Hot to Handle, BadHero Sunglasses has signed a worldwide license deal to sell sunglasses based on the show.

In a deal that will see new ranges launched in spring 2022, BadHero will be selling direct to consumers and through traditional retail across the globe.

Too Hot to Handle is produced by Fremantle for Netflix and has become a massive worldwide viewing phenomena, attracting 16-34s in their millions.

Talking about the deal, Katie Smith, joint founder of BadHero, commented: Too Hot to Handle has become the talked-about TV series across the world, and we are delighted to now be creating an innovative high fashion range of new sunglasses and accessories to complement the viewing.

Magic Light Pictures teams up with ODEON for festive family experience

Magic Light Pictures and ODEON Cinemas have teamed up to bring a large selection of the multiple Oscar-nominated company’s animated specials to the big screen in the run-up to Christmas.

Since half term, double bills of half-hour family films have been rolling out in ODEON cinemas across the UK and Ireland. Screenings of the specials, based on the much-loved books written by Julia Donaldson and illustrated by Axel Scheffler, are set to continue throughout December to provide the perfect way to get the whole family into the Christmas spirit.

A double bill of The Gruffalo’s Child and Stick Man is due to begin from 4 December, showing in 113 locations to run across the month.

A selection of  cinemas are also airing the specials through the week outside of the traditional weekend children’s screenings.

Hannah Jones, Magic Light Pictures Distribution Executive, says: “We are delighted to partner with ODEON cinemas to offer families throughout the UK and Ireland another chance to watch these wonderful films on the big screen, and recapture the magic of these timeless films. The fabulous immersive experience that ODEON provides for its cinemagoers will be key to bringing these films to life, and it will make for a fantastic family outing.”

Magic Light’s award-winning festive family specials have become a Christmas tradition on the BBC, where they are watched by millions every year. New for 2021 is Superworm, featuring a hero with a difference and a wonderfully entertaining villain who clash to thrilling effect. Superworm premieres on Christmas Day on BBC One.

Jared and Esquire launch men’s jewellery collection

Retail jewellery chain Jared has announced the launch of estd. 1933 by Esquire, a collection designed in partnership with Esquire and SHR Jewelry Group. In a deal brokered by IMG, the collaboration will leverage increased visibility around the men’s jewellery category for Jared this holiday season. The new line features styles crafted in sterling silver with 10-14K gold overlay, and unexpected textures and materials.

“The men’s collection launch with Esquire and SHR reinforces our commitment to capturing market share in this ever-growing category,” says Ann Grimmett, Vice President of Merchandising at Jared. “As an expert in men’s fashion, Esquire is an ideal partner for this initiative to help elevate Jared’s current offerings and provide our customers with a well-made, stylish collection at an accessible price point.”

The collection is available to purchase on Jared.com and in stores now. The jewellery line will include a range of bracelets, rings, necklaces, pendants and earrings at a variety of price points starting at $199. Every piece is discreetly engraved with an unmistakable Esquire signature “E” to ensure authenticity.

“As more and more men are expressing themselves through jewellery, it’s critical to offer them the right blend of design, materials and craftsmanship that they can wear with confidence,” adds Scott Rauch, CEO of SHR Jewelry Group.

 

Skincare and yoga gear among Sesame Street’s latest direct-to-consumer collabs

Sesame Workshop, the nonprofit organization behind Sesame Street, is teaming up with a raft of direct-to-consumer (DTC) brands to let fans show their love for their favourite Sesame Street Muppets in new and fashion-forward ways.

“The pandemic has changed the way consumers shop, accelerating e-commerce growth to new heights,” says Gabriela Arenas, Vice President, Global Licensing, Sesame Workshop. “With the DTC model taking centre stage and shifting even more retail activity online, we’ve pivoted our licensing strategy to meet this new consumer demand. As we continue building long-term relationships with our fans, we’re thrilled to collaborate with these trend-setting lifestyle brands and take an innovative multigeneration approach to propel our characters forward.”

Sesame Street’s latest DTC collaborations are as follows:

  • Hedley & Bennett has launched a Sesame Street-inspired collection of their chef-tested premium kitchen gear this month. Featuring Cookie Monster, Big Bird, Elmo, and Bert and Ernie, the aprons are handcrafted and super functional for any cooking adventure.
  • Nugget, makers of the original play couch and leaders in the play couch category, has teamed up with Sesame Street to create the Elmo Nugget. This is a one-of-a-kind, mixed-fabric Nugget featuring a soft patterned cushion in microsuede, a thick sturdy base in Elmo’s signature red, and two triangle pillows each with Elmo eyes and nose—all for endless mix-and-match fun.
  • Sesame Street and NYC-based Staple joined forces on a new streetwear collaboration. Mixing Staple’s iconic pigeon and colorful graphics with favorite Sesame Street characters, the collection includes adult shirts, hoodies, hats, outerwear, a rug and plush.
  • Skincare brand Starface has launched a limited-edition collection inspired by Sesame Street characters. Starface products including Hydro-Star pimple protectors and Lift Off Pore Strips have been redesigned to feature Elmo, Cookie Monster, Big Bird, and Oscar the Grouch.
  • Yoga accessory brand Yune Yoga is offering a new collection featuring Sesame Street’s Elmo, Cookie Monster, Big Bird, Oscar the Grouch, and The Count. Available now, the light-but-dense Trekk travel is made from eco-friendly PER, and features a soft, ridged surface and a firmer, stickier bottom for grip on any surface.

Earlier this year, Sesame Workshop announced a team-up with Hanna Andersson for an exclusive capsule collection of Sesame Street organic cotton pyjamas, as well as the launch of its sixth collection with Bombas – now including baby socks sized 0-6 months and 6-12 months, alongside adult and kids’ styles – and a collaboration with Designs by Chad & Jake for personalised gifts for infant and toddlers featuring Sesame Street characters.

 

Kelvyn Gardner License This! winners announced

The winners of the 2021 Kelvyn Gardner License This! competition were announced at Brand Licensing Europe on Friday afternoon after nine finalists battled it out in three pitches full of creativity, inspiration, laughter and emotion.

The winners are:

  • Brand & Design Category: Sophie Jonas-Hill and Tea for Tattoo
  • Character & Animation: Joel Mercer – SeedFolk
  • New for 2021! Product Design in partnership with Mojo Nation: Wayne Lindsay – Imaginnovation
  • Tea for Tattoo is a series of hand-drawn motifs which bring together the colour palette and style of traditional blue and white ceramics, with the aesthetic and cheeky edge of old-school tattoos.
  • SeedFolk has been developed by the innovative creative team behind Seedlings Cards & Gifts; a lovable range of characters, who care for our native habitats and wildflower seeds.
  • Wayne Lindsay designed a desk tidy based on Aardman Animations’ beloved Morph and Chaz characters, a product inspired by the ‘tension’ and ‘collaboration’ epitomised in their relationship.

When commenting on the final presentations, Ian Downes, chair of the judges and director of Start Licensing, said of the Brand & Design and Character & Animation categories:

“Congratulations to the finalists who presented very strong, well thought through and commercially mindful concepts. Lots of thought had gone into where the brands fit the market and the licensing potential of them.”

Of the Product Design category presentations, he said, “It was genuinely a very close call. The spirit of friendship between the designers – all three are sitting together – is a real credit to them and to design and creative people. It was a really good set of presentations, products and ideas and Aardman and Start Licensing would love to talk to all three designers afterwards about developing their ideas in the future and talk about how we can bring them to life.”

The Kelvyn Gardner License This! final can be viewed again during the online Brand Licensing Europe event, which takes place 30 November – 1 December. Brand Licensing Europe returns in 2022 from 20-22 September at ExCeL London.

Crunchyroll appoints Reemsborko as UK and Eire licensing agent for anime properties

Crunchyroll, which connects anime and manga fans across 200+ countries and territories through the content they love, has appointed Reemsborko Ltd as the UK and Eire licensing agent for One Punch Man, JoJo’s Bizzare Adventure, God of High School, Tower of God and Bananya.

“Crunchyroll are a great partner and I’m very pleased to be able to expand the Reemsborko roster,” says Max Arguile of Reemsborko. “Animé is a still growing genre, especially in the UK.”

Waell Oueslati of Crunchyroll adds: “Reemsborko have done strong work so far for Crunchyroll with Junji Itô Collection. It makes sense to expand this with these properties.”

For licensing opportunities, contact max@reemsborko.com