Tag Archives: Rovio

New Angry Birds consumer products programme to accompany Netflix series

Posted on by

Ahead of the global debut of Angry Birds: Summer Madness on Netflix on 28 January 2022, Rovio Entertainment is working with IMG to build a consumer products programme for fans of the popular franchise.

The 32 x 11-minute and 4 x 22-minute special episodes is the latest collaboration in a long-term partnership between Rovio and independent entertainment company CAKE, which includes international distribution rights to Rovio’s expanding library of non-dialogue shorts.

Angry Birds: Summer Madness will see sparks and feathers fly when a teenage Red, Chuck, Bomb and Stella spend a wild summer together with other Angry Birds at Camp Splinterwood. Explosive antics, improbable pranks and crazy summertime adventures will see the birds pushing boundaries and breaking all the rules while fending off the brash, obnoxious Pigs on the other side of the lake.

IMG has signed deals across core categories including apparel, QSR, confectionery and promotions in location-based experiences in the US and Europe and is now targeting other licensees in key categories including F&B, promotions, apparel, plush, hardlines and more.

Sam Barker, Senior Licensing Director at IMG, says: “Following the global success of the movies, Angry Birds: Summer Madness marks an exciting new step in Rovio’s evolution of this iconic franchise and is a fantastic opportunity for brands and licensees to become part of it. The new series promises to deliver a fresh perspective on these globally loved characters, and even more fun for fans, with the same humour of the movie franchise.”

 

Rovio and Billebeino team up for limited-edition Angry Birds capsule collection

Posted on by

There’s a new bird in town! Two Finnish companies – Rovio Entertainment and lifestyle brand Billebeino – have collaborated on a new limited-edition Angry Birds capsule collection, in a deal brokered by IMG. The line features Rovio’s iconic Angry Birds characters and a new exclusive character, Bille Bird, based on Billebeino founder and former NHL player Ville Leino. The limited-edition garments land in select retailers and in the Billebeino online store today.

The collection will include unisex casual wear and accessories for adults and children. The garments feature designs that combine the iconic Angry Birds characters with the minimalist and instantly recognisable logo and typeface styles that Billebeino has come to be known for. Bille Bird will appear in graphical placements that play on the fun and destructive nature of the Angry Birds, with kids’ designs incorporating the destructible materials that appear in every Angry Birds game.

Billebeino was founded in 2014 by former NHL player, Ville Leino, whose passion for sports and expression through art came together to inspire the brand. Today, Billebeino specialises in casual wear, all featuring Ville Leino’s designs.

“With Billebeino, we’ve found a partner that’s just as adventurous and fun as Angry Birds,” says Katri Chacona, Director of Licensing at Rovio. “Each brand brings its own unique design approach and offbeat sense of humour into the mix, resulting in a stylish new line that truly stands out from the rest.”

Commenting on the inspiration for the capsule collection, Billebeino founder Ville Leino says: “We wanted this collection to be playful and fun. We used a lot of colours and art on designs so we could get the whole family excited about the collection. It was very inspirational working with an international Finnish company. The most unique thing was designing our own character in the style of the legendary Angry Birds games. For an extra touch, we created a limited-edition Bille Bird plushie and choreographed a Bille Bird dance in cooperation with local dance school, DCA. We hope this collaboration inspires people to move, dance and enjoy life.”

To view the collection, click here.

Angry Birds flocks to game-based learning platform Kahoot! to raise environmental awareness

Posted on by

Angry Birds is flocking to the game-based learning platform Kahoot! to launch a series of unique quizzes each aimed at encouraging children and their environmental awareness education. The move is the latest from Rovio to continue its fight for better understanding around climate change and environmental science.

Currently in its pilot test phase, the quizzes will see Red and friends challenge Kahoot! users on subjects like deforestation, biodiversity and carbon footprint, as well as their effects on the earth’s ecosystems.

“We’re thrilled to join forces with Kahoot! to bring an Angry Birds flair to their educational games,” said Stephen Porter, brand director at Rovio Entertainment. “Environmental education and climate change awareness are extremely important and pressing topics for Rovio, and Kahoot!’s massive audience gives us a fantastic opportunity to contribute in these areas.”

Craig Narveson, director of strategic partnerships at Kahoot, added: “We at Kahoot! are passionate about making the world a better place by bringing learning to life with fun and play, so joining forces with Angry Birds to make learning about climate change more engaging is an awesome fit.

“Climate change can be an overwhelming subject, especially for young learners. We’re excited to be working together with Angry Birds to introduce climate science in a fresh and interactive way, which learners of all ages can enjoy whether they’re in the classroom or at home.”

The Kahoot! partnership reinforces Rovio’s support for global education, building on a previous alliance with UNICEF Finland to support UNICEF’s global education work. Rovio was the first partner in the Staff for UNICEF program, an impactful donation model which raises money towards UNICEF’s education program across the world, and also supported adolescent women through UNICEF’s Salmaïtou Senegal Project.

The campaign is also the next step in Rovio’s commitment to green initiatives, which ranges from raising awareness for environmental issues with in-game events to offsetting the impact of players’ devices.

Rovio taps IMG as worldwide licensing agent for Angry Birds

Posted on by

Rovio Entertainment has tapped IMG as its worldwide consumer products licensing agent for the popular Angry Birds franchise. The new deal will give Rovio a ‘one-stop shop’ global partner to develop a consumer products programme that spans all of the Angry Birds’ franchise’s content and platforms.

The first Angry Birds game launched on mobile devices back in 2009, when it rocketed to viral status and spawned a brand that today continues to draw millions of active users to its games and animated content.

Over the last decade, the Angry Birds characters have been developed into a multi-platform entertainment franchise with two blockbuster movie releases, animated series, location-based entertainment and consumer products. Angry Birds mobile games have been downloaded over 4.5 billion times.

Rovio Entertainment Corp. CEO Kati Levoranta commented: “Over the years Rovio has worked with a number of agents around the world, supporting us greatly in making Angry Birds available to fans everywhere in various physical forms.

“While we continue to focus on developing and publishing memorable gaming experiences and content, in IMG we have found a partner with whom we aim to deliver a more strategic and globally consistent licensing programme that’s aligned with our core business. We’re excited to begin this new chapter of the Angry Birds brand together with IMG.”

Bruno Maglione, president of licensing, IMG added: “The evolution of Angry Birds from mobile game to worldwide global pop culture fixture is perhaps one of the most impressive achievements in recent times in new original animated character creation. Working closely with Rovio, we are enthusiastic about the potential to take this franchise to new levels of success as it embarks on its next decade.”

Angry Birds lands on Netflix with new animated series scheduled for 2021

Posted on by

Rovio Entertainment has struck a new partnership with Netflix and CAKE that will see a new animated series Angry Birds: Summer Madness land on the streaming platform next year.

Based on the world of Angry Birds, the run of 40 new 11 minute episodes will debut in 2021 and take its cue from the humour and tone of The Angry Birds Movie franchise. It will however, fly onto screens with a ‘fresh new look.’

The new deal marks the latest collaboration in a long-term partnership between CAKE and Rovio, which includes the international distribution rights to Rovio’s library of non-dialogue short form animation.

Ed Galton, CCO and managing director at CAKE, said: “Angry Birds are about to smash the small screen and we are thrilled to be making the journey with Netflix as our global partner.”

Ville Heijari, CMO at Rovio, added: “Angry Birds animated content plays a key role in our long-term franchise strategy. After more than a decade in hit games, blockbuster movies and licensed products, this is the Angry Birds’ first foray into a long-form series.

“We’re delighted to continue our partnership with CAKE and can’t wait to unveil the world of Angry Birds: Summer Madness to viewers on Netflix.”

Curtis Lelash, director of Original Animated Series Netflix, concluded: “Angry Birds has been a true phenomenon for kids around the world and we’re excited to bring them home to thee nest at Netflix where they will be angrier and bird-ier than ever.”