Tag Archives: news

Life-size Angry Birds game swoops into Electric Gamebox

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Electric Gamebox, the immersive group gaming platform, has announced a partnership with video game developer Rovio Entertainment to launch a lifesize Angry Birds game, in a partnership facilitated by IMG.

The one-of-a-kind gameplay is the first time an Angry Birds game has had multiplayer slingshot enabled. The game will be available to play at all 12 Electric Gamebox locations across the US and UK from June 29, 2022.

Based on the Angry Birds game, the multi-level gameplay will have players competing in teams to destroy digital adversaries with the slingshots on either side of The Gamebox. The hyper-immersive digital experience uses motion tracking sensors worn by players surrounded by touch screens, and offers a collaborative twist on the beloved Angry Birds games and familiar characters with multiplayer action for two to six players in a private Gamebox.

“Rovio’s mission is to craft joy, so being able to bring the iconic Angry Birds game to an in-person, life sized environment is a wonderful opportunity and Electric Gamebox is the perfect partner to do this with,” says Katri Chacona, Director, Brand Licensing at Rovio Entertainment. “Our fans are ready to have yet another way to play a game we all know and love!”

Co-founded by Will Dean, founder of popular obstacle race Tough Mudder, and CFO David Spindler, founder of Tough Mudder Bootcamp, Electric Gamebox delivers hyper-immersive games in interactive digital smart rooms, or ‘Gameboxes’. The Gameboxes can host two to six players for experiences lasting between 15 and 60 minutes. Each gamebox features a range of cutting-edge technologies such as projection mapping, touch screens, patent-pending Lidar and 3D motion tracking as well as surround sound, all without the need for headsets.

Angry Birds joins a growing library of licensed and original IP games created by Electric Gamebox’s in-house studio. Electric Gamebox currently has 12 locations across the US and Europe, with more locations opening in cities around the world by the end of the year.

“We are in the business of using technology to bring people together through shared play. We could not be more excited to revisit the iconic Angry Birds franchise through a totally unique format,” adds Will Dean. “The interactive, competitive yet friendly version of this game will be exciting for long-time and new fans alike.”

For more information on Electric Gamebox, and to purchase tickets to play Angry Birds, visit https://electricgamebox.com/.

Ravensburger debuts Minecraft jigsaw puzzles

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Ravensburger, a leading publisher of puzzles, board games and toys, is partnering with Minecraft to translate the much-loved online universe into jigsaw puzzle form for the first time ever. The new line features both adult and kids puzzles and is now available for pre-order in the U.S. on Amazon.

“Ravensburger is proud to have been selected as Minecraft’s global puzzle partner,” says Thomas Kaeppeler, President of Ravensburger North America. “It was important for us to ensure the puzzles had authentic landscapes that capture what people love about Minecraft to help invoke an immersive feeling of being in the game.”

The Minecraft puzzles allow fans to piece together some of their favourite scenes from the Overworld, visiting different biomes, exploring structures and encountering familiar foes such as mobs. The line includes 3 x 49-pc, 100-pc, 300-pc, 1000-pc and 1500-pc counts and will be officially on-sale starting July 1, 2022. (Ages 5 – 14+ / $14.99 – $34.99 MSRP)

Dan Dee partners with Afro Unicorn for plush and décor products

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Dan Dee International and its affiliate, Animal Adventure, has announced a multi-year licensing deal with Afro Unicorn – a lifestyle brand representing women and children of colour. Through this agreement, Dan Dee will create plush and décor products based on Afro Unicorn characters and designs, set to launch at retail in 2023.

“Dan Dee is delighted to have been selected as a key licensing partner by Afro Unicorn,” says Mark Matheny, Head of Licensing. “This is an exciting opportunity to help promote the brand’s mission of inspiring children of colour through products that represent their uniqueness. We are proud to be partnering with the team at Afro Unicorn and look forward to playing a pivotal role in delivering their message through our broad retail distribution.”

“I created Afro Unicorn to remind women and children of colour how unique, divine and magical they truly are,” says April Showers, Afro Unicorn’s Founder. “My goal from the beginning was to help normalise black beauty; to give black and brown girls a unicorn that represents them and encourages them to love the skin that they are in and embrace the crown on their heads, [to remind them that] you are unique, you are divine, and you are magical.

“When choosing a company to partner with it’s important for us that they understand the under-representation for children of colour in the market and want to fill that void in a major way to not only change the trajectory on how little brown and black girls see themselves but also how the world views them as well. Dan Dee and Animal Adventure not only understand it, they are committed to carrying out the vision of Afro Unicorn globally. Looking forward to all the unique, divine and magical unicorns that will come out of this partnership.”

LMI to rep The Illuminated Film Company’s The Rubbish World of Dave Spud

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Illuminated Films has named LMI as its licensing partner for CITV comedy adventure series The Rubbish World of Dave Spud, a surreal animated kid’s adventure with a most unlikely hero, set in the UK town of Grimsby.

Ratings for the show since the launch of both series 1 and 2 have been strong for ITV, promising great things for the future of the brand and its licensing programme.

The Rubbish World of Dave Spud, produced by Illuminated Films, stars the voice talents of Johnny Vegas, Jane Horrocks, Gina Yashere, Philip Glennister, Lisa Hammond, Akiya Henry and Arthur Smith, and the musical talents of Basement Jaxx.

The new relationship between LMI and Illuminated Films comes from successful Brand Licensing Europe discussions and follows the recent RTS Award for Best Children’s Programme for The Rubbish World of Dave Spud.

Licensing International announces 2022 Accelerator Program participants

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Licensing International has announced the six companies selected to participate in the 2022 Diversity & Inclusion Accelerator Program. They are:

  • Blmrbl (Baltimore, USA)
    Blmrbl (“Blue Marble”) is a social shopping platform enabling global pop culture fan communities to buy and sell officially licensed merchandise online. Blmrbl provides a wide range of diverse products for minority fan communities and grading authentication services for the preservation of pop culture collectibles.
  • FanBase Africa (Cape Town, South Africa)
    Fanbase Africa is a print-on-demand, direct-to-consumer eCommerce company that sells licensed music and sports merchandise to fans across the world. (fanbaseafrica.co.za)
  • Happy Tottii (Funchal, Portugal)
    HappyTottii is a new emoji focused on love and happiness. Nature and the environment are also of great importance for this little ladybug whose aim is to make people happy while at the same time teaching core values of mindfullness and sustainability. HappyTottii embodies the co-existence of technology and nature, with its synergies and frictions. (http://www.happytottii.com)
  • Katalyst MGMT (Los Angeles, USA)
    Katalyst MGMT is a creative licensing agency based in Los Angeles specializing in art direction, cannabis licensing, and strategic collaborations. Clients include High Times magazine, Snoop Dogg, Marathon OG, Cheech & Chong, and Santa Cruz Shredder. The agency also provides consulting for manufacturing smoking accessories, packaging, and distribution.
  • Knotting Hill Inc. (Fergus, Canada)
    Knotting Hill Inc. was born when consumers were stuck at home. With more time to observe the need for fresh products, founder Tania James decided to take matters into her own hands. Knotting Hill Inc. was established in 2021 with the goal of bringing innovative household products to market through licensing agreements with forward-thinking companies. (knottinghillinc.com)
  • Little River Co. (Toronto, Canada)
    Little River Co. was established in 2020 with the goal of highlighting fashion and anime as a form of artistic expression. Initially offering embroidered apparel, Little River has expanded its product offering to include rugs and collectible plush toys. Little River Co. creates pieces that have gothic and streetwear overtones while embracing anime and manga iconography. (littleriver.company)

“The Accelerator Program is an important part of our work to help our members —and the broader licensing community — build diverse and inclusive workplaces,” says Maura Regan, president of Licensing International. “Licensing International is committed to supporting the global licensing industry as it works to attract, develop, and retain the best and brightest from all backgrounds.”

Each participating company will receive benefits valued at more than $100,000. These benefits include monthly mentoring meetings with industry leaders as well as a one-year Licensing International membership, including consultation services, networking resources, access to exclusive research, and business savings. Additionally, participating companies will be enrolled in Licensing International’s Coursework in Licensing Studies, an in-depth study of the business of licensing and the industry’s only training ground to become a Qualified Licensing Practitioner (QLP).

The Accelerator Program is sponsored by the NBPA, the NFLPA, Peanuts Worldwide LLC, Sony Pictures, and Amazon.

 

HIPPEAS launches Minion-themed snacks

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HIPPEAS is spreading The Peas & Love with the launch of its Minions-themed snacks for the summer. The Chickpeas Puffs snacks brand has replaced its iconic chickpea smile graphic on-pack with a Minion character for each flavour.

The new HIPPEAS products, in support of the new Illumination film Minions: The Rise of Gru (in cinemas 1 July), will be available in limited-edition packs of HIPPEAS Chickpea Puffs in three far-out flavours and a variety of sizes – perfect for on-the-go travel and summer entertaining. HIPPEAS limited-edition Minions-themed snacks will be available nationwide at UK.HIPPEAS.com and select e-commerce channels as well as in-store at Tesco, Sainsbury’s, Waitrose, Whole Foods, Planet Organic, Booths, Ocado, Getir and Gorillas from May through August 2022.

“Minions are a global pop-culture phenomenon, and we could not be more thrilled to collaborate with Illumination on this limited-edition release of our HIPPEAS Chickpea Puffs,” says Paul Nardone, HIPPEAS CEO. “The combination of these two iconic and colourful brands – HIPPEAS, known for its bright yellow bag, and Minions, the beloved mischievous yellow scene-stealers – feels so joyful and fun. We can’t wait to share these snacks with consumers of all ages this summer.”

HIPPEAS Chickpea Puffs have an average of 1.3 grams of fibre, 3.5  grams  of plant-protein and only 90 kcals per 22g serving. HIPPEAS Chickpea Puffs are also totally vegan, gluten-free, palm-oil free as well as free from MSG.

Flavour offerings include Take it Cheesy, Salt & Vinegar Vibes and Sweet and Smokin’. The Minions-themed pack sizes include a 78g bag and multipacks containing five 15g packs. For more information, visit UK.HIPPEAS.com.

Forever 21 x Barbie launches in-store, online and in the metaverse

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On the heels of launching a new brand campaign entitled ‘Forever LA’, leading fashion retailer Forever 21 has announced its latest collaboration with Barbie.

The new limited-edition collection includes a range of on-trend vintage-style apparel items, swim, sleepwear, beauty and accessories as well as home décor, inspired by the Barbie DreamHouse. The collection will be simultaneously available in-store, online, and in the Forever 21 Shop City experience on Roblox.

Forever 21’s experience for Roblox was created in partnership with the Virtual Brand Group (VBG), a web3 fashion designer, game developer and retailer that creates immersive metaverse experiences for global brands’ web3 businesses, and which was recently awarded “Best Digital Product” by Licensing International. The metaverse collection was created by VBG’s global multicultural design team working across five countries.

The Forever 21 x Barbie collection meticulously replicates its real-life inspiration and campaign using Roblox’s latest Layered Clothing technology powering hyper-realistic 3D clothing that fits any avatar body type. The designs feature real-world fabrics and details like intricate stitching on the collection’s Malibu Denim Jacket, embossed art, beadwork, and textured fabrics on jumpsuits, dresses, hoodies, iconic t-shirts, trucker hats, and jelly bags. Fans globally can now follow the “#TwinWithYourAvatar” trend.

“Barbie, a SoCal native, plays in the same inclusive, empowering and fashionable space that our customers love, appreciate and have come to expect from our business,” says Winnie Park, CEO at Forever 21. “We are thrilled to offer shoppers unexpected line extensions that include Barbie in-store and online and virtual fashions in the metaverse. This was the perfect collection to launch first, under our Forever LA umbrella.”

Another in-store and online first for the fashion retailer, Forever 21 will be offering the Barbie Fashionistas, the most diverse doll line on the market, which celebrates an inclusive view of beauty and fashion, representing a range of body types, skin tones, eye colours and unique physical traits.

Available at all Forever 21 locations, the Barbie Summer 2022 Collection celebrates inclusive fashion with sizes ranging from XS up to 3XL and offers an additional assortment for kids. Prices range from $6.99 – to $54.99, and pieces will be available for a limited time only at Forever 21 stores, on the Forever 21 App, and online on www.forever21.com. The new inclusive fashions can also be acquired in the Roblox Avatar Shop and worn by any avatars on the platform.

 

Classic mystery game CLUE sneaks into Hidden Hotel: Miami Master

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Leading free-to-play game publisher Tilting Point has joined forces with Hasbro and WhaleApp, a specialist in story-driven games, to bring some of the classic characters of the mystery board game CLUE to Hidden Hotel: Miami Mystery, during a special month-long event. Hidden Hotel: Miami Mystery is one of the top mobile hidden objects games in the world and is available on the Apple App Store and Google Play Store.

Starting today and continuing until July 7, some of the most famous CLUE characters will be checking in to the world of Hidden Hotel: Miami Mystery. Miss Scarlett and Colonel Mustard will join characters in the many mini-events and mysterious detective stories, including mysteries with different endings depending on the player’s choices. Miss Peacock and Professor Plum will offer players daily tasks with very special rewards. Players will be able to test their skills of observation like a real detective while solving challenging puzzles, including a special CLUE event with 20 levels to investigate.

The classic mystery board game, CLUE (known as CLUEDO internationally), from Hasbro, has entertained generations of people for over 70 years with multiple adaptations across film, TV, books, escape rooms, musicals and more.

“CLUE is one of the most iconic games in the world and just what the players of Hidden Hotel: Miami Mystery are looking for,” says Samir Agili, CO-CEO and president of Tilting Point. “It’s fantastic that we could connect this great IP and game for a truly memorable month-long activation.”

In Hidden Hotel: Miami Mystery, players are challenged to test their seek-and-find skills while uncovering secrets, solving puzzles and renovating a mysterious old hotel. The game unfolds like a classic detective story, with the player at the heart of every mystery, gameplay and storyline.

Players can use their detective skills with the characters from CLUE in Hidden Hotel: Miami Mystery beginning today. Hidden Hotel: Miami Mystery is free to download on the Apple App Store and Google Play Store.

Hello Kitty goes on a global adventure

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Hello Kitty: Super Style, an original 3D animated children’s programme based on Sanrio’s iconic Hello Kitty franchise, has secured its first pre-sales following a raft of deals secured by the producers Watch Next, Monello and Maga Animation Studio, and distributor Kids First.

The 52 x 11-minute 3D animated show is commissioned and co-developed with Amazon Kids+. It has been picked up by Canal+ and M6 in France in an agreement signed by Monello and Watch Next, while Maga Animation Studio has secured a deal with RAI in Italy. Kids First has signed pre-sale deals for the show with Tiny Pop in the UK, Discovery Kids for Latin America, RTS for Switzerland and Hop for Israel.

Hello Kitty: Super Style is produced by Paris-based production companies Watch Next, Monello (Banijay Group) with Monza and Italy-based Maga Animation Studio, and distributed worldwide by Kids First, with Japanese distributor ABC Frontier, Inc. in charge of Asian territories.

In this cheerful, action-packed new series – currently in production and set to launch in late 2022 – Hello Kitty stars as the friendliest face in the tight-knit community of Cherry Town, where she will stop at nothing to help friends in need. In each episode, Hello Kitty uses the power of her magical bow to activate an amazing transformation, changing her outfit to be a brave explorer, a top-notch chef, a sensational pop star and more to help her pals overcome setbacks.

“Hello Kitty is a world famous brand loved by kids and their parents across generations,” says Audrey Brugère, Head of kids and foreign series at CANAL+. “Watch Next Media and Monello Productions have successfully respected the DNA of this pop culture icon while creating modern, creative and fun new graphics and stories. We are very excited to be part of this ambitious show!”

 

The Flava People debut two new Guinness-flavoured sauces

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The Flava People have teamed up with Diageo once again to launch a new range of Guinness sauces – Guinness Smoky Tomato Ketchup and Smoky BBQ Sauce, both available at Tesco stores now. The partnership was brokered by Diageo’s global brand licensing agency, Beanstalk.

Dubbed ‘the beer of taste’ and loved by chefs across the world, Guinness adds a recognisable malty, smoky flavour to everyday cupboard essentials.

Part of a wider partnership with Diageo, the ‘Guinness Kitchen’ portfolio is aimed at targeting foodies and beer lovers. The range targets consumers who enjoy experimenting with home cooking but rely on easy-to-use base ingredients and ready-made add-ons to create intense, delicious meals.

Olivia Parkes, Brand Manager for ‘Guinness Kitchen’ at The Flava People, says: “Guinness is a beer with a unique standing in the world of food and has long been associated with hearty home cooking and delicious flavour. The new sauces are designed to expand shoppers’ relationship with Guinness and food beyond that of the traditional – providing more premium, flavoursome alternatives to household cupboard staples, perfect as we enter the summer BBQ months.

“We’re now building the range with products suited to entry level through to accomplished cook, meaning we can capture consumers and introduce them to the concept of Guinness with food through the comfort food they traditionally associate with the brand, like pies and gravy, before transitioning them to more experimental formats and cooking with the Guinness flavour as an ingredient.”

Guinness Smoky BBQ sauce and Guinness Smoky Tomato Ketchup are a twist on Britain’s much loved classic table sauces. Packed full of flavour, they promise to add a little oomph to the well-loved burger and bacon butty. The two condiments are available at over 300 Tesco stores and are an addition to the Guinness food range that includes six other existing products.