Tag Archives: news

DC FanDome exclusives and new ‘The Batman’ merch available now

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Hot on the heels of a record-breaking DC FanDome, DC and Warner Bros Consumer Products have revealed more products inspired by DC Super Heroes.

Multiple retailers including the DC Shop and Walmart have unveiled toys, collectables and apparel, with the DC Shop offering more than 60 exclusive DC FanDome 2021 graphics with the potential for fans to choose from more than 270 different products.

Fans are getting a first look at the new The Batman merchandise. LEGO’s The Batman collection is available for presale exclusively at Walmart.com and features three new building sets. Meanwhile, manufacturer McFarlane Toys Collectibles has debuted a lineup of collectables related to The Batmanmovie. The Batman, The Riddler and Catwoman are all available to pre-order for $19.99.

The Batman Batmobile by Hot Wheels (pictured) is a collectible replica of Batman’s newest vehicle from the highly anticipated film. This 1:10 scale Ultimate edition features movie-accurate graphics, LED lights, smoke and flame FX from both the hood and the rear, detailed exterior and interior, a Batcave-inspired plinth, and a posable Batman figure behind the wheel. It boasts high-tech features such as light and sound effects and working suspension, as well as a diorama plinth.

Puma and Warner Bros Consumer Products have dropped five PUMA Suedes, each tied to a specific DC character, designed by award winning comic artist Jen Bartel. She took her inspiration from The Suicide Squad to create sneakers for King Shark, Harley Quinn, Peacemaker, Polka-Dot Man, and Bloodsport.

Tango Hotel is releasing a limited-edition clothing collection featuring key artwork from Batman: The World, DC’s new 184-page hardcover anthology book. Apparel collections from Extra Butter and Meshika Hats have also dropped.

DC FanDome shattered last year’s viewership with 66 million views worldwide to date from the streaming event on October 16. The virtual event drew fans from around the world to immerse themselves in the DC Multiverse with exclusive first-looks and behind-the-scenes previews from highly anticipated feature films, live-action and animated television series, games, comics, home entertainment releases and more.

 

 

One Animation adds new fan experiences and product ranges for Oddbods

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Singapore-based creation, distribution and licensing studio One Animation is finding new ways to bring hit CG-animated property Oddbods to fans, securing new seasonal activations and consumer products partnerships in Europe and Asia.

In the Netherlands, One Animation has inked a deal with Just In Between Pictures for an Oddbods Halloween-themed 55-minute theatrical experience, consisting of two existing extended 22-minute length specials – ‘Party Monsters’ and ‘Oddbeard’s Curse’ – and seven-minute ‘Halloween Heroes’ episode. The experience is currently available across 75 local cinemas.

In Malaysia, One Animation’s local consumer products agent ANIMONSTA Studios has secured a new publishing deal with Ladybug for a range spanning activity books and interactive products, which will launch in Q4 2021 across extensive local retail and distribution networks. A further deal has also been signed in the territory with Dr Mama for self-sanitising kids’ fabric face masks and additional personal care items, such as hand sanitisers, with the collection launch scheduled for Q1 2022.

Sashim Parmanand, CEO at One Animation, says: “A core part of our Oddbods strategy is ensuring we’re bringing the brand to life for fans all around the world through innovative, captivating, and accessible experiences – it’s important that the Oddbods gang plays a role in their lives beyond the screen. Both the new cinema activation and merchandise ranges give young fans and their families a variety of colourful and interactive ways to engage with the brand.”

Condé Nast opens second Vogue Café in China at Galeries Lafayette Shanghai

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Vogue Café Shanghai has opened its doors as Condé Nast’s second branded property venture in China. The Café opens at luxury shopping destination Galeries Lafayette Shanghai, and follows the success of the opening of Vogue Café Beijing which opened in November 2020. Both of the Vogue Cafés in China operate under license agreement with Beijing Sycamore Seed Advertising & Media Co Ltd.

“We are thrilled to expand our partnership with Beijing Sycamore Seed Advertising & Media Co Ltd and open our second café venture in China’s fashion capital, Shanghai,” says Markus Grindel, Managing Director, Global Brand Licensing, Condé Nast. “Our restaurant ventures are designed to offer consumers a unique luxury experience as a physical extension of our world-leading media brands. Galeries Lafayette is the perfect destination for the Vogue Café which transforms fashion, style and culture into a dining space.”

The 300-square metre space features two dining rooms and a cocktail bar. It offers an all-day dining menu of modern Mediterranean cuisine with some Asian influences, as well as Vogue Afternoon tea and a takeaway menu. In addition to featuring iconic imagery from editions of Vogue around the world, the walls will display exclusive video content, shot by Vogue China’s new Editor in Chief Margaret Zhang.

Vogue Café Shanghai joins Condé Nast’s portfolio of branded property under its global licensing division. Other Condé Nast restaurants around the world include Vogue Cafés in Bangkok, Beijing, Moscow, Porto and Riyadh, Vogue Lounge Kuala Lumpur, Vogue Restaurant Istanbul and GQ Bar Bodrum.

The Wand Company partners with The Pokémon Company for new Poké Ball Replica Series

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The Wand Company has partnered with The Pokémon Company International to showcase the Poké Ball Replica Series. The new range will debut at MCM London Comic Con, from Friday 22 October through Sunday 24 October at ExCel London.

The Wand Company will be introducing the entire 2021 range at the event, launching the newest addition to the series, the Dusk Ball Replica, and revealing a sneak preview of the holiday season Premier Ball Replica, as well as the first replica of 2022, the Heal Ball Replica. Select Poké Ball Replicas will be available for sale at the event.

The Dusk Ball Replica will be available for pre-order at MCM London Comic Con and online via participating retailers around the world.

Established in 2009, The Wand Company is renowned for making functional prop replicas combining traditional design with high-tech wizardry. Their first product, the Kymera Magic Wand, has sold over 250,000 units. Since then, The Wand Company has developed and launched display-grade prop replicas from the television series Doctor Who and Star Trek, as well as the video game series ‘Fallout’.

 

Coolabi Group plans to “spook kids silly” this Halloween with comedy brand Scream Street

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International rights owner Coolabi Group and its “spooktacular” stop-motion animation Scream Street are celebrating the launch of Series 2 on CBBC and BBC iPlayer, with a hybrid campaign of fun brand activations, promotional partnerships and brand extensions for the popular comedy this autumn.

Following a preview of the first five episodes in Halloween 2020, all 26 x 11’ episodes of Scream Street Series 2 will launch on BBC iPlayer from 23 October, with 10 brand-new episodes playing out across Halloween week on CBBC from 25 October, bringing the total number of episodes created to 78.

After successfully launching ‘Escape Scream Street’ on Roblox last year, a new Roblox experience called ‘Scream Street Playground’ will launch on the platform on 22 October. The game will allow players to visit various locations in the town with friends starting with Resus Negative’s house. At launch players can play two different themed games – ‘Candy Smash’ and ‘Masks’ – with more mini games added over time as the town is expanded.

A promotional partnership with family restaurant Frankie & Benny’s has also been announced. The initiative, which launched earlier this month, will see Scream Street activity sheets distributed to families in all their restaurants in the UK. It features a competition prize for a free family theme-park visit, with prizes of Scream Street books for runners-up. The partnership will also form part of Frankie & Benny’s Halloween meal with Deliveroo, a Scream Street-themed food offering for the Halloween school holidays that will run until 16 November.

Coolabi Group, Comedy Club 4 Kids and MEGA Magazine have also co-produced a video series about stand-up comedy for kids on MEGA’s official YouTube channel. The four part series, called ‘Screaming with Laughter’, launched this week and features a crash course on how kids can kick-start their comedy careers.

Coolabi and Comedy Club 4 Kids will bring their partnership to life with an in-person family series launch and kids stand-up comedy event that will take place at Everyman Kings Cross on Saturday 23 October for media, influencers and families. The event also marks the release of the Scream Street’s brand new Spooktacular Joke Book, from Walker Books, which came out earlier this month.

Continuing a successful partnership with Girl Talk, established in 2020, Coolabi Group has teamed up with the media title once again to co-produce content for the magazine’s YouTube channel, Girl Talk World. This Halloween, talented 13-year-old chef Sienna Cecco, a specialist in Italian cuisine, will create a Scream Street themed cook-a-long dish.

“We are completely delighted to be launching the much-anticipated new series of Scream Street on CBBC and iPlayer this Halloween,” says Michael Dee, Director of Content for Coolabi Group. “It’s a fun and engaging brand, which is evidenced in the range of partnerships and promotions we have delivered to amplify the launch and bring Halloween fun to families across the UK.”

In addition, the Scream Street costume characters will be appearing at Alton Towers from now until 12 November for daily in-park meet and greets and an interactive dance challenge experience, where visitors can learn the moves to the Scream Street theme tune.

The celebrations continue with the return of the free downloadable ‘Scream Street Halloween at Home’ party pack, which launched last year. The newly updated pack will be available to download on the Scream Street and CBBC website and is filled with activities to get the party started, from Scream Street character masks and puzzles, to cupcake toppers, decorative tent cards and monster making crafts.

Scream Street returns to CBBC on 25 October with all episodes available to stream on BBC iPlayer from 23 October. 

Nelvana secures distribution of The Hardy Boys on Disney+ internationally

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Corus Entertainment’s Nelvana, international producer, distributor and licensor of children’s animated and live-action content, has secured international distribution for The Hardy Boys on Disney+ outside of the US and Canada. Season 1 (13 x 60min) and Season 2 (10 x 60min) of the Daytime-Emmy nominated live-action mystery series, developed and produced in Canada by Nelvana and Lambur Productions in association with Corus Entertainment, will launch in select international markets in 2022.

The inaugural season of The Hardy Boys locked in the #1 programme spot last spring on Corus’ YTV network in Canada, as well as garnering industry recognition with multiple award nominations, including a Daytime Emmy Award nomination for Outstanding Young Adult Series, two DGC Award nominations for Outstanding Directorial Achievement and Best Picture Editing, and a CSC Award nomination for Best Cinematography in TV Drama.

“We are so excited for audiences around the world to experience The Hardy Boys series, whether it’s their first introduction to the franchise or they’re fans of the original books,” says Mellany Masterson, Head of Nelvana Enterprises. “Disney+ is the perfect platform to connect families and teens internationally with the high-stakes adventure, compelling storylines and endearing characters that resonate so well with audiences.”

The Hardy Boys is based on the popular books by Franklin W Dixon and features the principal characters in their teen years.

Nelvana and Lambur Productions recently wrapped production of Season 2 in Toronto and Southern Ontario. The second season picks up six months after the events of Season 1. Season 2 is set to premiere on Hulu in the US, YTV and STACKTV in Canada, and Disney+ internationally in 2022.

 

 

Pitch Smarter Brands & Retail Conference 22: new event to launch in January next year

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Ryan Beaird, Pitch Smarter Brands & Retail Conference Event Director (and former Licensing International UK Marketing Manager) has announced a new screening event for the UK licensing industry launching in January next year.

The Pitch Smarter Conference 22 will take place at the British Library on 20 January, from 9am till 6pm, and is free for licensees and retail buyers to attend. Registration is set to open soon at www.brandsretail.uk

“In the seven-plus years in the licensing industry I always felt, as did others in the business, the need for a screening day for the UK licensing industry,” says Ryan Beaird. “Feedback from the industry was positive so I felt that, given my years of event experience, the time was right to launch a new event in the calendar. Also, cementing it in the diary as the ‘first’ event in 2022, and before the toy show season started, just made sense. It also fits nicely into the retail calendar by being held in January.

“Our new Pitch Smarter Conference will get everyone in one place, together, on both sides of the licensing industry, making life easier for retail buyers and licensees to see what 20 character and entertainment brands have planned for their existing IPs – but more importantly, the opportunity to see new content and what IP owners and agents have planned for 2022 and going forward. If a brand taking part wants the audience to sign NDAs we can organise this, giving them piece of mind in showing under-wraps content as well.”

Brand owners and licensing agents can book slots of 15 minutes (30 minutes back-to-back slots are available) to screen and showcase their properties on stage in the 250-seat capacity British Library theatre, which has a giant front projection screen. There are only 20 slots available on the day.

There will also be a VIP party after the event for attendees. Details will be announced soon in the licensing press.

Anyone interested in booking a screening slot can email Ryan directly at ryan.beaird@brandsretail.uk

BANDAI NAMCO Europe announces new licensing partnerships

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BANDAI NAMCO Europe has signed new licensing deals in EMEA for the global hit fighting-game series TEKKEN.

The new deals cover apparel (Difuzed, Fashion UK, EMP), partworks (Planeto de Agostini), figurines (Pure Arts, First4figures, Numskull) and vinyl records (Laced Records).

BANDAI NAMCO Europe serves as the Headquarters of BANDAI NAMCO Holdings Inc. for mainland Europe and ANZ, which is known for creating and publishing many of the toy and entertainment industries’ top franchises, including PAC-MAN, TAMAGOTCHI, GUNDAM, TEKKEN and DARK SOULS.

Mikkeller and Warner Bros Consumer Products launch three new Game of Thrones-inspired beers

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On the occasion of Game of Thrones’ 10-year anniversary this spring, Danish brewery Mikkeller and Warner Bros Consumer Products (WBCP) came together to launch the exclusive ‘Iron Anniversary IPA’. Now the brewery and WBCP are ready with a series of three new beers that pay homage to the characters and the long winters in the series’ icy north.

Night King Double IPA, Ghost Visions Lager and Castle Black Stout celebrate and pay tribute to the snow-capped North, from the world-famous HBO series Game of Thrones. The beers are based on the common theme ‘Winter is Here’ and are based on central places and characters from the series’ universe.

“As the beers are launched right up to winter, and winter plays a significant role in Game of Thrones, it made sense to find inspiration for the beers in Westeros’s frozen, dark world,” says Mikkel Bjergsø, founder and creative director of Mikkeller.

Based on the winter theme, Mikkeller’s team developed beer styles that support the series’ imaginative stories: Night King (8% vol), inspired by the fearsome army commander of the White Walkers, is a fruity New England double IPA; Ghost Visions (4.5% vol), an homage to Jon Snow’s faithful direwolf, is a clean, light and fresh lager, while Castle Black is a bourbon barrel aged imperial oatmeal stout (11.3% vol) that celebrates the bastion of The Night’s Watch, the army protects the Seven Kingdoms from all threats from the cold North.

The three new Game of Thrones inspired beers are out now in major markets including Sweden, the UK, US, France, Italy, Germany, Ireland and South Korea, and through Mikkeller’s webshop: https://shop.mikkeller.dk

Exclusive merchandise and gift sets will be available in Mikkeller’s webshop and exclusive limited gift packs can be purchased in selected retail stores in Denmark, the US and UK.

Mikkeller was founded by a beer-loving Danish math- and physics teacher, who started experimenting with hops, malt and yeast in his small kitchen in Copenhagen; today he exports his craft beer to 50 countries. A key element of Mikkeller’s brand is collaboration. Previous partnerships include David Lynch, B&O, The Danish Refugee Council, Rick Astley, Scandinavian Airlines, Noma, El Cellar de can Roca, Weingut Meierer, Burger King and more.

Bazooka Candy Brands extends licensing relationship with LMA to include Ring Pop brand

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Lisa Marks Associates, Inc. (LMA) has been appointed as licensing agency to represent the iconic Ring Pop brand. LMA will be developing the licensing program across all product categories, including frozen novelties, powdered and ready-to-drink beverages, personal care, toys and games, apparel and accessories, gifts, novelties and collectables, stationery and party goods, pet products, home décor, digital games and more. The programme will focus on North America with planned new partnership launches beginning Q4 2021.

Launched in 1977, Ring Pop features an iconic gem-shaped hard candy on a wearable ring. Today Ring Pop enjoys nearly universal (98%) awareness and is a consistent top 20 performer in all-outlet non-chocolate candy sales. The innovative oversized gem candy comes in a variety of colourful fruit flavours.

LMA was selected as the licensing agency for sister-brand Bazooka in 2020 and has been building a robust programme including product collections within apparel and accessories, toys and collectables, sporting goods, precious metals, home décor, sports nutrition and more.

“We love working with the talented Bazooka Candy Brands team and are excited to partner with them and bring to life the many creative facets of the storied Ring Pop brand,” says LMA President Lisa Marks. “Ring Pop is a pop-culture icon enjoyed by all – the uniquely fun and playful aspects of this brand lend itself to endless creative licensing opportunities that brand fans will love.”

“Having worked with LMA over the past year to develop and launch the exciting Bazooka licensing programme, we are thrilled to extend the relationship to now include Ring Pop,” says Becky Silberfarb, Senior Director of Marketing for Bazooka Candy Brands. “We know there are a great amount of licensing opportunities across categories for Ring Pop to inspire more fun and memorable ways for fans to connect with our brand.”

Bazooka Candy Brands, a division of The Topps Company, manufactures and markets the popular lollipop brands Ring Pop, Push Pop, Baby Bottle Pop and other candy and gum products, including the iconic Bazooka Bubble Gum.