UNO teams up with Nike and Giannis for a Wild Product Collection

Mattel is dropping the first-ever collaboration between UNO and Nike, featuring a product line developed in coordination with the 2019-20 Kia NBA Most Valuable Player and UNO fan, Giannis Antetokounmpo.

“I want every product to be genuine and authentic, and playing UNO with my brothers is a big part of our lives,” says Antetokounmpo. “The Nike team has done a great job bringing my ideas to life, and I think they’ve created something for every Nike, UNO and basketball fan in this collection.”

“Working with Nike and Giannis to design and curate this collection was truly an honour, and this collaboration shows how UNO can bring people together, including the Antetokounmpo family,” said Ray Adler, Global Head of Games, Mattel. “Partnering with this iconic brand and world-renowned athlete is the perfect celebration of UNO’s 50th anniversary.”

The collaboration features details that celebrate Giannis and his family’s love of UNO, incorporating the game’s iconic colors, design elements and a special 3-4 card design into the products, a footwear line, apparel capsule and branded UNO deck.

The footwear line features Nike’s signature Zoom Freak 3, Air Force 1 and Offline with UNO colorways and Giannis’s design. There will also be a Zoom Freak 3 Member-only black colorway with an UNO 50th anniversary logo on the tongue and wild cards across the toe, plus fun primary color hits to complete the UNO look.

The special-edition Nike apparel capsule includes a classic cotton t-shirt and hat with Giannis’s number displayed. The footwear line and apparel capsule will be sold on Nike.com in the coming months.

A Giannis-branded UNO deck will also debut, featuring a new rule where players can “force a turnover” to steal an extra discard. The deck will be sold on Mattel Creations and NTWRK starting November 11.

As a part of the collaboration, the UNO! mobile app will integrate the Giannis-branded UNO deck to use on iOS and Android devices. With the cards, players can use the “force a turnover” rule and decorate their profiles with themed rewards. The cards and other rewards will be available during the UNO x Giannis in-app event from November 1 through November 30.

Fans can visit @UNO, Nike and @MattelCreations and for more information.

Space Jam: A New Legacy unveils gigantic licensing plans and ‘largest Looney Tunes merch line-up in decades’

Hasbro, Mattel, and Upper Deck have joined am all-star line up of licensing partners for Warner Bros. upcoming theatrical release of Space Jam: A New Legacy, with plans for toys, collectables, and games to roll out all year long.

The global toy and entertainment companies join master toy partner Moose Toys who earlier this month released its full line up of toys, play-sets, plush, and figures based on the Space Jam title, a reboot of the hit 90s film this time starring LeBron James.

A full line-up of licensing partners around this year’s blockbuster film was unveiled late last week, spanning the toys, collectables, and games aisles, as well as fashion, food and drink, accessories, sporting goods, publishing, pet products and more. The licensing portfolio for this year’s release has taken on a global scale.

In the toy space, master toy partner Moose Toys us joined by Funko, who will be releasing its Space Jam: A New Legacy assortment including nine Pop! figures, five Pop! key chains, 12 Mystery minis and a Space Jam: A New Legacy Funkoverse board game.

Collectors will be able to get their hands on three exclusives – a ten-inch LeBron James Jumbo Pop! and flocked Tasmanian Devil, a LeBron James variant Funko Pop! available via Amazon, and a Porky Pig landing on Funko.com soon.

This year’s licensing line-up marks the largest Looney Tunes merchandise collection to be rolled out by Warner Bros Consumer Products ‘in decades.’ Further collaborations include partnerships with brands such as Nike, Vilebrequin, Spalding, the Cotton On Group, and LeBron James’ own athlete empowerment brand, Uninterrupted.

It all lands ahead of the film’s release on July 16th this year.

“The original ‘Space Jam’ was a cultural phenomenon when it debuted in 1996, so it’s no surprise that premier partners around the world are inspired by ‘Space Jam: A New Legacy’ and excited to bring a new collection to a new generation of fans,” said Robert Oberschelp, senior vice president of franchise management and marketing for Warner Bros. Consumer Products.

“We are excited to collaborate with such elite brands to deliver a robust lineup of merchandise that unites the singular style of LeBron James with the iconic fun of the Looney Tunes characters.”

Nike Inc. will release a “Space Jam: A New Legacy” collection globally featuring LeBron James and favorite Tune Squad characters including Bugs Bunny, Lola Bunny and the Goons, Vilebrequin will launch “Space Jam: A New Legacy” swimwear and leisurewear, while the Cotton On Group is releasing new products globally including men’s and children’s apparel, along with stationery, mugs and phone accessories.

And that’s just the tip of the iceberg for the licensing plans for this year.

The latest iteration of The Carousel @ Bloomingdale’s, the retailer’s rotating pop-up shop, will celebrate “Space Jam: A New Legacy” with a unique curation for the family, offering court-inspired fashion to playful outdoor entertaining finds to gifts that enhance the at-home streaming experience.

It will open next month at Bloomingdale’s 59th Street flagship in New York City, select stores nationwide and Bloomingdales.com.

 Space Jam in fashion

 Warner Bros Consumer Product’s “Space Jam: A New Legacy”-inspired fashion collections offer something for everyone with global collections from Nike Inc. and Vilebrequin; stylish plus-size apparel at Torrid; streetwear fashions from Tommy Hilfiger, Bait, Madhappy, Diamond Supply, and NTWRK x UNKNWN; and additional fashion forward lines from Members Only, Forever 21, MeUndies, PSD, Bleacher Report, Rue21 from Hybrid, and Freeze and Pac Sun from Bioworld in the mix.

Capsule collections will also launch from Junk Food Clothing, Pottery Barn Teen and Cakeworthy. Playing with style will be a slam dunk when wearing “Space Jam: A New Legacy” Gamer Jersey, hat, hoodie and t-shirt,all available on Uninterrupted.

There’s  something for every child from infant to tween with cool kids’ fashions from the Gap, Haus of JR, and Outerstuff.

In EMEA, fashion partners include H&M (Worldwide), Primark (US and Europe), Fanatics, Snipes (Europe), LPP (Europe, Middle East), with more to be announced.

In the Asia Pacific region, A Bathing Ape, Carnival, and Freak’s Store are just a few of the partners providing “Space Jam: A New Legacy”-inspired fashions and footwear, plus a limited edition footwear and hat collection are available only in Japan from Converse Japan.

In Australia and New Zealand, EB Games will offer adult tees, headwear, accessories and stationery – everything from drink bottles and backpacks to keychains and totes. Best & Less will welcome “Space Jam: A New Legacy” to Australia with a new range that includes sleepwear and outerwear for the whole family.

In Latin America, designs will launch from Cuidado con el Perro, Paris, Ruz, Centauro, Colecao and more. In Mexico, there will be Cuidado con el Perro t-shirts, Ruz plush and costumes, and novelty board games. In Chile, Colombia and Peru, Paris, Stilotex and Ripley will give fans access to incredible “Space Jam: A New Legacy” inspired products.

In Brazil, fashion and toys will be available from partners such as Grendene, BandUp!, Piticas, Renner, Marisa, Cartel 011, Acuo, Iron Studios, Riachuelo, Grow, and Jandaia, among others, and Rasip will offer new “Space Jam: A New Legacy”-inspired food. An exclusive “Space Jam: A New Legacy” fashion collection with designer Alexandre Herchcovitch under his brand ÁLG will be revealed soon.

On your feet

Come on and slam with Nike Inc.’s Space Jam collections. Fans can buy and wear the same basketball shoes “King James” wears in the film. With youth and adult styles featuring Wile. E. Coyote, Lola Bunny, Bugs Bunny and the rest of the squad, the whole family can “Jam” out and dress up in Nike’s Space Jam collection, which also includes jerseys, tanks, hoodies, jackets, socks and backpacks.

Converse will launch new graphic Looney Tunes sneakers in adult and youth sizes, featuring classic Looney Tunes designs and animation themes, while Crocs will unveil “Space Jam: A New Legacy” slide-ons.

In the accessories space, partners such as Sprayground, Danielle Nicole, Loungefly, Accessory Innovations and Fast Forwardwill capture the on-court action of favorite Tunes on backpacks, court bags and more.

Fossil will release its exclusive Space Jam by Fossil capsule collection, featuring collectible accessories and a limited-edition box set jam-packed with beloved Tune Squad characters on July 7. Starring characters such as Bugs and Lola, the collaboration includes three collections with limited-edition watches, backpacks, small leather goods and more.

Check out digital watch faces and bands Mobyfox, a limited edition collection of watches by Undone, and more styles for the entire squad from Accutime. Whimsical bracelets from Alex and Ani put the Tune Squad on your wrist.

Caps, beanies, and other headwear will arrive courtesy of Junk Brands, Love Your Melon, Mitchell & Ness and New Era, while socks and hosiery will launch courtesy of Stance, Hypnotic Hats, Highpoint, Berkshire, and Rock Em’ Socks.

Sporting the Goods

Spalding, the largest basketball equipment supplier in the world, will continue its legacy of playing an integral role in growing basketball and culture by releasing a new merchandise line inspired by the family film. Spalding will release exclusive hoops and balls and other limited-edition merchandise, hitting U.S. and international retailers, Spalding.com and the Spalding App this June.

Meanwhile, in Home Goods, Franco will introduce movie-themed bedding with blankets, throws, comforters and more, while Hallmark, GeekiTikis and more will bring the Looney Tunes Squad to the kitchen and beyond.

General Mills, Kraft Heinz, McDonald’s, Ferrara Candy Company and more premier food and beverage partners will also join the roster, while in per products, BarkBox will will provide themed chew toys and plush squeak toys for animals.

The licensing roster is complete with more than 20 published titles, spanning movie tie-ins, readers, books and activity books from Penguin Random House, as well as colouring and activity books from Bendon, and fun novelty book formats from Phidal.

Finally, DC Publishing will launch a graphic novel adaptation of the animated/live action movie, written by Ivan Cohen (The Batman and Scooby-Doo Mysteries) alongside an all-star line up of artists. On sale 6/29 for $12.99. Available at major book retailers and participating comic book stores. Also available on Apple books and Amazon.

Warner Bros. Consumer Products appoints Samantha Bushy as VP of North America and head of eCommerce

Warner Bros. Consumer Products has appointed the eCommerce veteran, Samantha Bushy to the role of vice president of North America and head of eCommerce.

The move comes as Pam Lifford, president of Warner Bros. Global Brands and Experiences details the company’s strategic vision of strengthening its direct to consumer and commerce abilities. Through the appointment of Bushy, the firm will “leverage her vast experience” and the insight, expertise, and leadership that she brings with her to the role.

Bushy will be responsible for the overall strategic direction, growth, and development, consumer and category strategy, and retail and licensee relationship management for WB’s Consumer Products unit in the US and Canada. In addition, she will be the lead executive on e-commerce initiatives globally.

Before joining Warner Bros. Bushy was head of eCommerce, global marketplaces with Apple Inc where she was responsible for driving eCommerce business strategy and establishing differentiated customer experience for its global marketplace business on Amazon.

Bushy has also worked in global business planning and strategy roles at Nike, Pacific Gas and Electric, as well as managed client services and corporate sponsorships for the New England Patriots.

Bushy’s appointment is effective immediately.