Tag Archives: pre-school

Panini to launch Kid-E-Cats stickers and trading cards across the UK and Europe

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The popular pre-school animated series, Kid-E-Cats is making its way to the collectables space thanks to a new pan-European partnership between the brand’s owner CTC Media and the stickers and trading cards specialist, Panini.

The partnership, facilitated by APC Kids, will cover the UK and Ireland, Benelux, Italy, Spain, Portugal, France, the Nordics, Greece, CEE, and Turkey. Across each of the territories, Panini will produce stickers, trading cards, and photocard collectables for the series.

Additionally, in Germany, Spain, and Italy, Panini will create sticker books and magazines, as well as publish a series of children’s books across Spain and Germany.

Lionel Marty, managing director of APC Kids, said: “We are delighted to welcome Panini on board for Kid-E-Cats and are confident in the expertise they will bring to the partnership as we strengthen and support our merchandise offering for the series as it continues to grow in popularity worldwide.”

Lluís Torrent Suñé, managing director of Panini Espana, added: “We have a long history of creating engaging content for kids all over the world and with harnessing the synergies that exist with APC Kids and CTC Media, we are excited to bring the Kid-E-Cats Collectible products to the marketplace.

“We feel privileged to be selected to work on such a cute and funny television series and look forward to working alongside APC Kids to create a complete program of Publishing products in selected countries such as Spain.”

Kid-E-Cats follows the adventures of three kittens, Cookie, Pudding, and Candy, who are always ready to jump into action with enthusiasm and energy. Their imaginations make them capable of some absurd problem-solving suggestions, while through life’s lessons they learn to look before they leap.

A third season is now ready to broadcast, while series one and two are currently available on Nick Jr internationally in over 170 territories following a partnership between APC Kids and Nickelodeon International that was signed in 2017. A further ten special episodes will be broadcast soon.

Ksenia Gordienko, director of animation, CТС media, said: “We have a very successful partnership with Panini in Russia on our Kid-E-Cats brand and we truly hope that this success will be scaled in other European territories. Growing the brand across Europe together with such respected partner like Panini is a great pleasure and honour for us.”

Jazwares teams with Gaumont to launch toy line based on musical pre-school series Do, Re & Mi

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Jazwares has been named toy partner for the Amazon Studios and Gaumont animated pre-school series, Do, Re & Mi, a musical adventure series that follows three birds, featuring the vocal talents of Kristen Bell and Jackie Tohn.

The firm will develop a range of toys, each featuring the show’s cast of characters, and themed around Do, Re & Mi’s key pillars of friendship, fun, and adventure, as well as the power of the music. The toy line will hit retail in conjunction with the launch of the series in 2021.

Plush toys, musical instruments, figures, and play-sets aimed at the pre-school market will all feature in the range, all of which will aim to channel the personalities of the show’s three main characters, including the inventive brain of Do the owl, the busy and energetic personality of Re the hummingbird, and the outgoing demeanor of Mi the blue jay.

“Do, Re & Mi is sure to enthrall little ones and it’s the kind of high quality, enriching content that lends itself well to pre-school toys,” said Laura Zebersky, chief commercial officer at Jazwares.

“We are looking forward to working with Gaumont and Amazon Studios on developing the line so that it captures the magic of this highly anticipated animated series.”

Nicolas Atlan, president of Gaumont US, added: “We’re excited to work with Jazwares to further expand the musical world of Do, Re & Mi.

“It’s thrilling to see how Amazon Studios has approached Do, Re & Mi, elevating it beyond our expectations. We look forward to offering parents and children the ability to discover and appreciate the power of music, in a fun and meaningful way through the engaging storytelling of the series and beyond the screen by making their own music through play with the exciting toy line Jazwares will bring to the market.”

Do, Re & Mi is a production of Amazon Studios and Gaumont for Amazon Prime Video and Amazon Kids+. The series is executive produced by Bell and Tohn, along with Michael Scharf and Ivan Askwith.

Sutikki brings in The Point. 1888, Kids Industries, and Rock Hill Media for global expansion plans

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The children’s entertainment company, Sutikki, has lined up new partnerships with the family market marketing agency Kids Industries, the brand licensing agency The Point. 1888, and the media strategists Rock Hill Media Ventures. The trio will work with Sutikki, the home of Moon & Me, to develop global brand strategies for international growth.

“We’re thrilled to have this global network of industry visionaries as partners in Sutikki’s new phase of growth and innovation,” said Sutikki CEO, Hannah Mungo. “Each agency has experience in building, innovating and executing new tactics for brand connectivity and engagement.”

The UK-based Kids Industries will work alongside Sutikki to develop a global brand strategy for its IP. It will draw on its experience working with industry leading clients such as BBC Worldwide, ViacomCBS, Universal Studios, McDonald’s, and The Walt Disney Company.

Kids Industries recently executed campaigns for Marvel, Star Wars, SpongeBob SquarePants, PAW Patrol, and Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles.

“We’re the only full-service agency on the planet specialising in the family space, where we’ve been connecting human emotions with market intelligence to make brands stronger for over 20 years,” said Kids Industries co-founder and CEO, Gary Pope.

“We can’t wait to bring our expertise and insights to the table to facilitate brand strategies, which will be designed to ensure maximum exposure and a 360 approach to the brand build.”

Meanwhile, The Point.1888 will ‘provide insight and guidance on Sutikkis’s consumer products programme,’ utilising its experience working with major entertainment IPs such as The Gruffalo, Star Wars, LOL Surprise, Marvel, Clangers, Mr Men, Noddy, and Sesame Street.

The Point. 1888 currently manages CoComelon, Blippi, My Magic Pet Morphle, and Percy the Park Keeper.

“We’re excited to join Sutikki in this pivotal moment of transformation and provide insight and guidance on its consumer products programmes,” said Will Stewart, founder and managing director at The Point.1888. “Sutikki’s IP connects with children by capturing their attention and developing their imagination and it’s our job to turn that creativity into lucrative licensing opportunities. We’re really looking forward to partnering with Sutikki to ensure commercial success across the UK.”

Finally, Keith Dawkins of Rock Hill Media Ventures, the former Nickelodeon executive, has been appointed as a strategic consultant for the US market. He brings with him expertise in content strategy, distribution, and development within the kids’ space.

Rock Hill currently boasts strategic partnerships with the NBA Players Association, Oscar and Emmy Award-winning media company Believe Entertainment, and the LA-based content accelerator, Sameer Gardezi’s Break the Room.

“I am excited to have Rock Hill Media Ventures partner with Sutikki in expanding its global kids’ footprint,” said Dawkins. “I look forward to bringing my expertise in the kids’ market to best support in road mapping the US expansion for Sutikki.”

To follow the development of these partnerships visit www.sutikki.com.

Chuggington: Tales from the Rails lines up European broadcast partners including UK’s CBeebies

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Herschend Entertainment Studios’ new pre-school series Chuggington: Tales from the Rails, will make its debut across the UK, Ireland, France, Germany, and Poland via a raft of new broadcasting partners from early 2021.

The series has been picked up by CBeebies, RTE, TF1, Super RTL, and TVP ABC. The European broadcasters will begin airing the series from early next year, following the US launch on Disney Junior and DisneyNOW in June.

“Disney Junior US, CBeebies, RTÉ, TF1, SUPER RTL, and TVP ABC have each entertained children with the fun adventures of Chuggington from the very beginning,” said Natalie Setton, HES’ vice president commercial, content distribution, and licensing.

“The new episodes of Chuggington are as relevant to today’s preschoolers as ever before and we are thrilled to have our long-running broadcasters give the “gold-seal” of approval on our fresh content packed with new themes, humor, and stories, created for an all new audience.”

Chuggington: Tales from the Rails introduces an all-new audience to the three young trainee trains, Wilson, Koko, and Brewster as they ride the rails on new adventures of teamwork, friendship, and fun. The new series digs deep into unique locations and character personalities to explore the dynamic world of Chuggington that’s home to a diverse and playful community of trains known as Chuggers.

European broadcasters will also be supporting the countrywide premieres of Chuggington: Tales from the Rails with the launch of a series of animated/live-action hybrid shorts,Discover Chuggington: All Aboard, featuring real kids who are transported into the fictional 3D world and interact with the characters through activities, adventure, and music.

Licensing agents across the regions will be announced shortly, covering key category offerings and product mix, including publishing, secondary toys, puzzles and games, food and drink, sleepwear and apparel, and bedding.

The new toy line from Alpha Group, the franchise’s global master toy partner, is set to debut at retail in Autumn 2021.

Pre-school hit Sunny Bunnies celebrates UK retailer and broadcast commitment for 2021

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The popular pre-school IP Sunny Bunnies has secured further commitment to its feature plush range with major UK supermarket chains, department stores, and online retailers through 2021, including the likes of Argos, Tesco, Amazon, and other independent toy retailers.

The range, developed by the plush toy specialist, Posh Paws, launched only last year to a warm reception from retailers across the UK. Media IM Incorporated, the London content distribution company behind the pre-school series, is confident in the repeat success of the toy range for 2020 and 2021.

The commitment from the UK retail space follows news that Media IM has also signed three new UK broadcast deals for the hit series. Ketchup TV, the UK’s leading AVOD children’s channel has licensed seasons one and two for the UK and Eire, Channel 5’s Milkshake has secured a pre-sale agreement for season five, while Sky has signed for season three across its Sky Kids and Now TV channels, as well as the Sky Kids App.

Irina Nazarenko, co-founder of Media I.M. Incorporated, said: “Even in happier times, the UK kids’ market is one of the toughest in the world, which makes closing any UK deal cause for celebration.

“To have closed three broadcast deals and to have had our merchandise relationship renewed by two of the country’s leading retailers is a serious result. We’d love to take all the credit – but the real heroes are those unstoppable, irrepressible Bunnies…”

This latest round of UK sales follows on the heels of two landmark deals in late July, which launched Sunny Bunnies into several new Asian territories, as well as on to one of China’s biggest VOD platform.

A deal with Kidzone saw the first four seasons of Sunny Bunnies debut this summer on Pakistan’s leading children’s entertainment channel. The show is set to be extended to Kidzone’s pay-TV channels in Afghanistan, Bangladesh and Nepal.

In addition, Media I.M. Incorporated signed a non-exclusive two-year agreement with Chinese VOD giant Tencent for seasons one to three of Sunny Bunnies. The show is also on air on Youku, Mango TV and Huawei via a string of previous deals with major Chinese platforms.

Sunny Bunnies brand diversification also continues apace branching into gifs and stickers through giphy.com with 130 million views in one year with 20 million views in two days on the launch of the ‘bye!’ gif.

Produced by Digital Light Studio, the Sunny Bunnies are five beaming balls that can appear anywhere there is a source of light, from sunshine to moonlight.

In each episode, the cheeky creatures bring their fun and games to a different location – a circus, a sports stadium, a park – embarking on mischievous adventures and spreading laughter and happiness. And at the end of every episode, the fun continues with a collection of bloopers.

Moonbug’s Blippi lands UK kids’ magazine partnership with DJ Murphy through The Point. 1888

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Moonbug Entertainment’s popular pre-school brand, Blippi, a YouTube sensation turned children’s entertainment franchise, is coming to the UK’s children’s magazine space thanks to a new partnership with publishers DJ Murphy.

The deal was brokered by The Point. 1888 on behalf of Moonbug Entertainment, and looks to capitalise on the show’s popularity among children. With over 12 billion content views worldwide, the fun and goofy Blippi aims to educate and entertain the two to six year old market the world over.

Blippi aims to inspire and keep children busy with fun and educational activities. The Point.1888 signed a deal with DJ Murphy to take the show’s best elements and turn them into an interactive magazine.

 Issued monthly, the 36-page fun-zine is designed to surprise, challenge and delight fans with activities, games and puzzles while Blippi helps them to understand the world.

 This is not the first time that The Point.1888 and DJ Murphy have collaborated, having enjoyed a great working relationship for many years with client L.O.L.. Due to the publishing group’s rich history of working with YouTube brands including Shopkins and equestrian This Esme, as well as its strong retail relationships, The Point.1888 was keen to secure them as Blippi’s publishing partner from day one.

Zoe Cannon, managing director at DJ Murphy, said: “From the moment we saw how engaged Blippi’s fans are with his shows, we wanted to work with the brand. His passion and excitement for discovery and curiosity is contagious and we desperately wanted to make a magazine that would be as immersive, educational and fun.

“Working with our existing contacts at The Point.1888 and with new licencing partner Moonbug, has been great. Moonbug’s creative team are so excited and passionate about the brand that it’s really contagious. There is such a wealth of assets for Blippi that literally anything is possible in the magazine.”

Bethan Garton, commercial director at The Point.1888, said: “Alongside the monthly magazines for 2021, there is so much more in the pipeline for this brand with partners secured across apparel, bedding, toy, arts and crafts and more. We’re thrilled to be working with the industry’s best people to make it all happen.”

 The magazine is now in stores and available to buy in Tesco, Sainsbury’s, Morrisons, WH Smith, Asda, Waitrose, Co-op and all good newsagents, or online from ponymag.com/shop.

PAW Patrol: The Movie lands raft of 21 UK licensing partners ahead of film’s August 2021 release

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ViacomCBS Consumer Products has secured a raft of 21 UK partners for the popular pre-school brand, PAW Patrol ahead of the slated launch of PAW Patrol: The Movie in August next year. The licensing programme will kick into action from July 2021 and will include new toy lines, apparel, accessories, consumer packaged goods, home, publishing, and home entertainment.

The series producer and master toy partner, Spin Master, will lead the charge with the launch of a specially developed toy line comprising figures, plush, role-play, vehicles, and play-sets, as well as a range of True Metal vehicles.

The roll out will be followed by ranges from the likes of Crayola, VTech, Play by Play, RMS International, Sambro, and Kiddieland, all of which will create toys and games inspired by the new PAW Patrol movie look and feel.

On the home and apparel front, ViacomCBS Consumer Products has partnered with Blues and Fashion UK for daywear, Aykroyd TDP for nightwear and Amscan for costumes. Bedding and textiles will be created by Character World.

ViacomCBS Consumer Products will also continue its partnership with Worlds Apart, Kinnerton, Seabrook, Yoplait and Beiersdorf, as well as joining forces with new partners.

In the publishing space, Signature Gifts will release personalized books, and Egmont is set to release a PAW Patrol magazine special and movie tie-in books. Other partnerships include Danilo for social expressions and DNC and Sambro for back-to-school accessories.

PAW Patrol: The Movie is a Spin Master Entertainment production in association with Nickelodeon Movies and will be distributed by Paramount Pictures.

Venetia Davie, VP of ViacomCBS consumer products for the UK and Ireland, said: “PAW Patrol continues to shine in the pre-school space, dominating across traditional TV, streaming services, digital and retail, with next year’s movie set to be a summer cinema hit.

“We’re excited to be collaborating with such strong partners including Paramount Pictures and Spin Master, ensuring that the magic of the big-screen is translated into products which children up and down country will continue to love long after they have seen the movie.”

Warner Bros. Animation begins production on Batman pre-school series Batwheels

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Warner Bros. Animation is vaulting into the pre-school sector as production begins on a new Batman series called Batwheels, featuring scaled down versions of the caped crusader’s Batmobile and the Batgirl Cycle as they fight crime alongside Batman, Robin, Batgirl, and other DC Universe characters.

The new animated pre-school series is slated to stream on HBO Max and air on Cartoon Network and its global platforms, as it follows the Batwheels – a group of super-powered crime-fighting vehicles that defend Gotham City from villains alongside their super hero counterparts.

“Having just been created by the Batcomputer, our heroes are essentially kids with little to no life experience. Led by Bam (The Batmobile), the Batwheels – Bibi (The Batgirl Cycle), Red (The Redbird), Jett (The Batwing) and Buff (The Bat Truck) – must navigate the growing pains of being a newly formed super team as well as the growing pains that come with just being a kid,” read the description from Warner Bros. Animation.

“Batwheels is the perfect show to headline our new foray into pre-school,” said Tom Ascheim, president of Warner Bros. Global Kids, Young Adults and Classics. “I can’t wait for all the aspiring superheroes out there to meet this whole new batch of crime-fighters.”

Sam Register, president of Warner Bros. Animation and Cartoon Network Studios, added: “From Batman: The Animated Series to Teen Titans Go!, superhero storytelling has definitely been one of our superpowers here at Warner Bros. Animation.

“We are so excited to bring that expertise over to the preschool space and take something that all kids love, cool vehicles, and give it a turbo boost with Batman.”

Batwheels is produced by Warner Bros. Animation, with Sam Register (“Looney Tunes Cartoons”) serving as executive producer. Michael G. Stern (“Doc McStuffins”) is co-executive producer, while Simon J. Smith (“Baymax Dreams”) is supervising producer and Steven Fink of Bang Zoom Ltd. serves as producer.

Aardman teams with Yeo Valley Organic to bring Timmy Time to the Little Yeos kids’ range

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The multi award-winning independent animation studio, Aardman, has teamed up with the British organic brand, Yeo Valley Organic to bring its recently re-launched pre-school favourite, Timmy Time to the company’s kids’ range Little Yeos.

The partnership marks the fourth time that Aardman has teamed with the Little Yeos brand. The new promotion will feature Timmy – the smallest lamb in the Shaun the Sheep flock and the star of his own spin off series, Timmy Time, which returned to CBeebies in the UK last year.

The partnership on Little Yeos Fruity Favourites four-pack will support children’s education in learning more about the environment, healthy lifestyle and taking care of the planet supporting Yeo Valley Organic’s latest campaign to encourage its consumers to Put Nature First.

The campaign, which is set to run for two-years, will allow Yeo Valley to feature Timmy Time on its channels sharing content about the environment and healthy lifestyles.

Tor Crockatt, Little Yeos brand manager, said: “We’re thrilled to be working with Aardman again and continuing our partnership on the Little Yeos range. Little Yeos is perfect for pre-school children and just like Timmy, our core consumers are also heading off to nursery school.

“Timmy’s cozy little Nursery in an old farm building nestled in the rolling hills, is like the real Yeo Valley family dairy farm in Somerset. As organic dairy farmers we’re keen to help show children the importance of the environment and ways they can help to Put Nature First.

“Just as Timmy and his animal friends learn together, we’ll be bringing a little bit of that to our Little Yeos consumers too.”

Laura Burr, senior brand manager from Aardman, added: “We are so pleased to be partnering with Yeo Valley Organic again. Timmy loves learning about the world and we are delighted that this collaboration goes beyond a straightforward on-pack promotion, providing Timmy and his friends with a platform to help Yeo Valley Organic inspire young children to Put Nature First.”

Little Yeos Fruity Favourites are billed as 100 per cent organic, made with real fruit purees and no artificial flavours and available in most supermarkets. The Timmy Time partnership is now appearing on packs in store.

Coolabi’s Clangers eyes new global ventures with Jetpack Distribution worldwide deal

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The independent kids and family content distributor, Jetpack Distribution, has acquired the worldwide rights to Coolabi Group’s popular pre-school stop motion animated show, Clangers in a deal that includes three seasons of the BAFTA-winning show that currently airs on CBeebies in the UK.

The new partnership covers all audio-visual rights for territories worldwide, excluding the UK, Australia and China and arrives as part of Coolabi’s ongoing mission to extend the pre-school brand across the international scene.

The Clangers are a family of lovable, pink, mouse-like creatures who live out in space on their Little Blue Planet. The planet’s surface is peppered with holes topped with metal dustbin lids, which flip open with a ‘Clang!’ to reveal steps down to their home beneath the surface of the planet which contains a series of interconnecting tunnels and caves.

Co-produced by CBeebies, Coolabi Group and Smallfilms, the all new episodes have been animated by Factory (Scream Street, Newzoids)  in the UK.

Jetpack CEO, Dominic Gardiner, said: “Clangers has a timeless magic. It’s truly delightful for young children and their parents. As well as being highly entertaining and making them laugh, it’s helping children appreciate important developmental aspects such as team work.

“Quality content for children is imperative right now. As parents and professionals, we hugely value shows made with heart and soul which nourish young viewers.”

Allison Watkins, director of licensing and TV distribution at Coolabi, commented: “Dominic and his amazing team at Jetpack are recognised as being one of the best children’s content distributors in the world and we are delighted to have the Clangers join their family.”