Sesame Street partners with HYPE. for new kids’ and adult’s fashion collection

Sesame Workshop has teamed with the fashion brand HYPE to launch a new Sesame Street collection for both kids and adults, spanning hoodies, joggers, t-shirts, backpacks, face coverings and more.

The new range is scheduled to land this month and is the result of a deal secured by Sesame Workshop’s European licensing agency, Bulldog Licensing. The collection will comprise of 55 pieces.

Boasting a matured 90’s inspired approach, the unisex adult collection features a developed tartan all-over and sleeve blocking print. With a super-soft-touch Sherpa fabric, the pullover and jogger tracksuit sets feature embroidered characters in bright pops of colour, finished with the new signature justhype logo.

HYPE.’s signature camo print is entwined with Sesame Street’s Elmo and Oscar the Grouch on the kidswear loungewear sets. Featuring on-trend embossed panelling, embroidery and piping detail, the children’s collection has a backpack to match each look.

The HYPE. x Sesame Street reusable bottles are ideal whether for pick-me-up hot chocolates or cool drinks, as the bottle will keep beverages at the perfect temperature for longer.

Vicky Hill, licensing director, Bulldog Licensing, said: “The HYPE. collection embodies the fun and vibrant energy of Sesame Street and its characters and will be the perfect addition to the wardrobes of fans young and old.”

The collection launches at www.justhype.com and selected retailers worldwide.

Sesame Street lands new homewares partner in Texco as demand for retro continues

Sesame Workshop’s evergreen and ever popular pre-school IP, Sesame Street is stepping into the homewares and bedding market with the launch of a new range of duvet sets, curtains, bean bags, towels and more courtesy of Texco.

The new line-up, which will also include cushions and fleece blankets, will feature beloved characters from the show like Elmo, Big Bird, and Cookie Monster. The deal was secured by the European licensing agency, Bulldog Licensing, which represents Sesame Street across the UK and Eire.

The move arrives in the midst of what Bulldog Licensing’s MD, Rob Corney has billed as a ‘huge demand for retro brands among consumers and consequently retail’ at the moment.

“During times of uncertainty, families naturally gravitate towards the tried and true characters who can bring comfort and joy,” he said. “Sesame Street has always been a multi-generational favourite. With Sesame Street’s brand values and brilliant production quality, we look forward to seeing the new range from Texco which will hit the market next year.”

Sesame Street programming airs on leading commercial preschool broadcaster Tiny Pop. Cookie Monster’s Foodie Truck launched in 2018, and the channel has since complemented the show with Elmo’s World, which debuted in January 2020, before Cookie’s Crumby Pictures and Super Grover 2.0 joined the portfolio this autumn.

Sesame Workshop, WWF and LEGO take home major wins in Kidscreen Awards 2021

LEGO Duplo, WWF-UK and Sesame Workshop have been named among the winners at this year’s Kidscreen Awards, a high profile awards ceremony that celebrates the best in children’s television and digital media.

Hosted by actor and comedian, Emma Hunter, this year’s awards took place virtually as the global kids entertainment community gathered to highlight and applaud the best that the business has to offer. Winners were determined by two panels of esteemed industry judges who selected winners across more than 50 categories.

Among the winners at this year’s awards were Sesame Workshop who took home the award for Best Live Action Series, Best One-Off, Special or TV Movie, Best in Class, and Best Web/App Series – Branded. Other winners included the likes of BBC Studios’ Bluey, LEGO Duplo, and WWF-UK who partnered with Kids Industries to develop its Amazing Planet app.

The winners of the Kidscreen Awards 2021 are:

PROGRAMMING—PRESCHOOL CATEGORY

Best New Series
Madagascar: A Little Wild 
DreamWorks Animation

Best Animated Series
Bluey
Ludo Studio, BBC Studios, ABC Australia, Screen Queensland, Screen Australia

Best Live-Action Series
Sesame Street (season 50)
Sesame Workshop, HBO

Best Mixed-Media Series
Stories with Sound Effects
Lapost Estudios, Señal Colombia

Best One-Off, Special or TV Movie
Sesame Street’s 50th Anniversary Celebration
Sesame Workshop, HBO

Best Short Film
Love is Love
Hopster Studios, Picnic Animation Studio

Best Inclusivity
Bookmarks: Celebrating Black Voices
Netflix

Best in Class
Sesame Street (season 50)
Sesame Workshop, HBO

PROGRAMMING—KIDS CATEGORY

Best New Series
Tales of Arcadia: Wizards
DreamWorks Animation, Netflix

Best Animated Series
Forky Asks a Question
Pixar Animation Studios, Disney+

Best Live-Action Series
First Day 
Epic Films, Kojo Entertainment, ABC Australia, Screen Australia, South Australian Film Corporation, Australian Children’s Television Foundation

Best Mixed-Media Series
Backyard Beats
BGM Sphere, TVOKids

Best One-Off, Special or TV Movie
Here We Are: Notes for Living on Planet Earth
Apple, Studio AKA

Best Short Film
Lamp Life
Pixar Animation Studios, Disney+

Best Inclusivity
Molly of Denali 
WGBH, Atomic Cartoons, PBS KIDS

Best in Class
Lamp Life
Pixar Animation Studios, Disney+

PROGRAMMING—TWEENS/TEENS CATEGORY

Best New Series
Locke & Key
Netflix, Genre Arts, Hard A Productions, Circle of Confusion, IDW Entertainment

Best Animated Series
Central Park
Apple, 20th Century Fox Television

Best Live-Action Series
Locke & Key
Netflix, Genre Arts, Hard A Productions, Circle of Confusion, IDW Entertainment

Best Mixed-Media Series
About Sex
Echo Media, CBC Gem

Best One-Off, Special or TV Movie
Adventure Time: Distant Lands
HBO Max, Cartoon Network Studios

Best Inclusivity
The Unlisted 
Aquarius Films, ABC Australia

Best in Class
Central Park
Apple, 20th Century Fox Television

CREATIVE TALENT CATEGORY

Best Directing
Bluey
Ludo Studio, BBC Studios, ABC Australia, Screen Queensland, Screen Australia

Best Writing
Bluey
Ludo Studio, BBC Studios, ABC Australia, Screen Queensland, Screen Australia

 Best Music
Bluey
Ludo Studio, BBC Studios, ABC Australia, Screen Queensland, Screen Australia

Best Animation
Lamp Life
Pixar Animation Studios, Disney+

Best Voice Talent
Lamp Life
Pixar Animation Studios, Disney+

Best Acting
Locke & Key
Netflix, Genre Arts, Hard A Productions, Circle of Confusion, IDW Entertainment

Best Design
Adventure Time: Distant Lands
HBO Max, Cartoon Network Studios

There is also a set of Kidscreen Awards designed to spotlight the best efforts made by broadcasters to build stronger connections with kids and family audiences around the world. These winners were decided through online voting by Kidscreen readers in December. The winners are as follows:

BROADCASTING CATEGORY

Channel of the Year
PBS KIDS

Best Programming Block
CBC Kids Morning Block
CBC Kids

Best On-Air Host or Hosting Team
Kiruna Stamell—Play School
ABC Kids

Best Kids-Only Streaming Service
YouTube Kids

And rounding out the Kidscreen Awards program is a set of digital categories for preschool (zero to five) and kids (six and up). Here are the winners:

DIGITAL—PRESCHOOL CATEGORY

Best Learning App—Branded
LEGO DUPLO World
The LEGO Group, StoryToys, Touch Press

Best Learning App—Original
Duolingo ABC
Duolingo

Best Game App—Branded
PBS KIDS Games
PBS KIDS

Best Game App—Original
BookfulBringing Books to Life in Augmented Reality
Inception XR

Best Alternative Game
Scribbles and Ink
WGBH, Global Mechanic Media, PBS KIDS

Best YouTube Channel
PBS KIDS
PBS KIDS

Best Web/App Series—Branded
Sesame Street Monster Meditations with Headspace
Sesame Workshop

Best Web/App Series—Original
The Birthday Show
Hellosaurus

Best Website
PBS KIDS
PBS KIDS

DIGITAL—KIDS CATEGORY

Best Learning App—Branded
WWF Amazing Planet
WWF, Kids Industries

Best Learning App—Original
Square Panda
Square Panda

Best Game App—Branded
GoNoodle Games
GoNoodle

Best Game App—Original
Baba Yaga
Baobab Studios

Best Alternative Game
Baba Yaga
Baobab Studios

Best YouTube Channel
Dodo Kids
The Dodo, Group Nine Media

Best Web/App Series—Branded
Oddtube
Fred Rogers Productions, Sinking Ship Entertainment, PBS KIDS

Best Web/App Series—Original
My Stay-At-Home Diary
Lopii Productions, TVOKids, Shaw Rocket Fund, Canada Media Fund

Best Website
Odd Squad
Fred Rogers Productions, Sinking Ship Entertainment, PBS KIDS

Industry veteran Bill Burke joins Licensing International as SVP marketing strategy and comms

The global licensing veteran Bill Burke has joined Licensing International as SVP marketing strategy and communications.

Burke moves over to the premier trade association for the global brand licensing industry having previously held the position of senior vice president marketing for CBS Consumer Products, a role in which he led global marketing, international licensing, and licensing operations for brands like Star Trek.

Before that, he held senior positions with such companies as HIT Entertainment and Sesame Workshop.

“We are excited to have Bill join the team,” said Maura Regan, president of Licensing International. “Bill’s deep industry relationships coupled with his acute marketing savvy will be a huge boost to Licensing International’s mission to advance the business of our members and elevate our industry to the broader business community.”

Licensing International’s mission is to foster the growth and expansion of licensing around the world, raise the level of professionalism for licensing practitioners, and create greater awareness of the benefits of licensing to the business community at large.

Founded in 1985, Licensing International members in over 40 countries enjoy access to an array of benefits including extensive educational programming and worldwide networking events.

US: Sesame Workshop builds global toy portfolio with MasterPieces Sesame Street partnership

The iconic pre-school property, Sesame Street is continuing to grow its international portfolio of toy partners, having signed a new partnership with the US games, puzzles, toys, and crafts specialist, MasterPieces.

The new MasterPieces Sesame Street products will begin to appear on shelves across the US this summer with a raft of launches designed to engage children in original craft activities, memory games, and classic card games designed to entertain and educate young minds.

MasterPieces is a staple of the US toy industry, having successfully delivered puzzles, toys, games, and more to the market for 25 years. It’s partnership with Sesame Workshop will see licensed product featuring a cast of popular Sesame Street characters, including Elmo, Oscar the Grouch, Cookie Monster, Big Bird, and more.

David Rolls, president of MasterPieces, said: “We are thrilled to be working with Sesame Workshop. Together, we’ve been able to create some of our most captivating and fun, educational products that all feature many of the tremendously popular characters, including Elmo, Oscar the Grouch, Cookie Monster, Big Bird, and more.

For over 50 years, Sesame Street, produced by the nonprofit organization Sesame Workshop, has delivered not only school-readiness lessons promoting literacy and numeracy, but also age-appropriate guidance on healthy habits, self-expression and self-regulation, empathy, friendship, and much more.

“Sesame Workshop’s mission is to help kids grow smarter, stronger, and kinder, and that means nourishing the mind and body,” said Gabriela Arenas, vice president of licensing, North America, Sesame Workshop. “We’re pleased to be working with MasterPieces to bring fun and engaging activities to children and families.”

The new Sesame Street products include craft kits such as the Sesame Street Garbage Truck ( a DIY wood paint kit featuring Oscar the Grouch), the Sesame Street Best Friends Character Bank, and the Sesame Street School Bus. In games, MasterPieces will launch the Grouchy Old Oscar card game, Elmo & Friends Matching Game, and Sesame Street 3-in-1 Educational Card Games.

Sesame Workshop teams with SKOOG to launch Sesame Street immersive play platform

SKOOG, a new media tech company on a mission to offer children new creative and immersive play, has secured a global partnership with Sesame Workshop to launch an interactive platform that merges tactile technology with a content library featuring the popular Sesame Street characters.

SKOOG aims to combine multi-sensory play with interactive content and meaningful learning experiences.

The platform was originally launched with the focus on helping children with disabilities express their creativity through music, but has expanded into a suite of hands-on technology devices that children of all abilities can engage with.

SKOOG’s platform includes a parent-controlled app with unique cube-like hardware that lets kids play and create without relying solely on a smartphone screen.

Sesame Street marks SKOOG’s first children’s brand colaboration with a new platform that combines SKOOG technology with Sesame Workshop’s early childhood expertise and educational content to create a new hands-on – and screen independent – way to play.

By pressing soft, squeezable, interchangeable RFID buttons on their SKOOG Cube, kids will be able to enjoy interactive songs, games, and stories featurng the voices of Sesame Street characters.

“Children’s interactive play has never been as important as it is right now. In today’s complex digital world, we set out on a mission to help motivate and inspire children, leading the shift from passive consumption to active engagement – while enabling children of all abilities to play, engage, an consume safe and smart content independently,” said Gregg Stein, SKOOG Inc CEO.

“As huge Sesame Street fans, we’re thrilled to be collaborating with Sesame Workshop, a community of creators, educators, and unforgettable characters built on diversity, equity, and inclusion. Together, we have created a best-in-class physical and digital creative sandbox that will empower millions of children to experience the joy of infinitely expandable personal play patterns, enabled by stories and audio books, branching adventures, games, musical instruments, songs, and so much more.”

Scott Chambers, Sesame Workshop’s senior vice president and general manager, North America media and licensing, added: “We hope that our unique combination of SKOOG technology and Sesame Workshop’s powerful content will inspire kids and families to get creative together – with a little help from the Sesame Street Muppets.”

SKOOG is launching at CES Digital 2021.

Sesame Street tucks into the breakfast market with its own cereal launch

Sesame Workshop is tucking into the breakfast market with the launch of the first Sesame Street Cereal, a new range developed in partnership with cereal specialist, General Mills. The range will appear on shelves across the US from January 2021.

The cereal has been developed to support growing bodies with essential nutrients, while also engaging young minds with activities and stories. The cereal will arrive in two varieties: berry flavour with number-shaped pieces, and cinnamon flavour with letter-shaped pieces.

The back of each box will open like a book and will feature dual language (English and Spanish) short stories with the Sesame Street favourite, Elmo.

“We are thrilled to team up with Sesame Street, to launch cereals with key nutrients, delicious flavors, and playful learning opportunities to make breakfast that much more meaningful for parents and kids alike,” said Hillary Balma, senior brand manager, General Mills. “We know that breakfast can be challenging for parents who are struggling to find foods that offer both the nutrition and the fun flavors kids want.”

To create meaningful playful learning opportunities at breakfast, Sesame Street Cereal boxes offer games and six dual-language stories with everyone’s favorite 3½ -year-old monster, Elmo. Story themes include Elmo Visits the Farm, Elmo’s Day at School, On the Go with Elmo, and others. Each story follows Elmo and his friends as they play and learn on Sesame Street and prompts questions to help kids stretch their imaginations, engage in counting, recognize shapes and letters, and more.

“Sesame Workshop’s mission is to help kids grow smarter, stronger, and kinder, and that means nourishing the mind and body,” said Gabriela Arenas, vice president of licensing, North America, Sesame Workshop. “Breakfast gives kids the boost they need to grow, play, and learn each day. We’re pleased to team up with General Mills to give families a nutritious meal choice and an opportunity to start the morning with their favorite Sesame Street friends.”

Sesame Street tucks into the breakfast market with its own cereal launch

Sesame Workshop is tucking into the breakfast market with the launch of the first Sesame Street Cereal, a new range developed in partnership with cereal specialist, General Mills. The range will appear on shelves across the US from January 2021.

The cereal has been developed to support growing bodies with essential nutrients, while also engaging young minds with activities and stories. The cereal will arrive in two varieties: berry flavour with number-shaped pieces, and cinnamon flavour with letter-shaped pieces.

The back of each box will open like a book and will feature dual language (English and Spanish) short stories with the Sesame Street favourite, Elmo.

“We are thrilled to team up with Sesame Street, to launch cereals with key nutrients, delicious flavors, and playful learning opportunities to make breakfast that much more meaningful for parents and kids alike,” said Hillary Balma, senior brand manager, General Mills. “We know that breakfast can be challenging for parents who are struggling to find foods that offer both the nutrition and the fun flavors kids want.”

To create meaningful playful learning opportunities at breakfast, Sesame Street Cereal boxes offer games and six dual-language stories with everyone’s favorite 3½ -year-old monster, Elmo. Story themes include Elmo Visits the Farm, Elmo’s Day at School, On the Go with Elmo, and others. Each story follows Elmo and his friends as they play and learn on Sesame Street and prompts questions to help kids stretch their imaginations, engage in counting, recognize shapes and letters, and more.

“Sesame Workshop’s mission is to help kids grow smarter, stronger, and kinder, and that means nourishing the mind and body,” said Gabriela Arenas, vice president of licensing, North America, Sesame Workshop. “Breakfast gives kids the boost they need to grow, play, and learn each day. We’re pleased to team up with General Mills to give families a nutritious meal choice and an opportunity to start the morning with their favorite Sesame Street friends.”

Sesame Street prepares to launch 51st season to HBO Max this week

Sesame Workshop is gearing up for the launch of Sesame Street’s 51st season this Thursday, November 12th on HBO Max, marking the first season of the popular pre-school series to debut on the streaming platform. A run of 35 episodes will be available on the platform, ahead of the season’s launch onto PBS Kids next autumn.

“We are proud to announce our newest episodes of Sesame Street, designed to entertain and educate kids as we help them build curiosity, creativity, and persistence – an especially crucial focus as families continue to face unprecedented challenges,” said Steve Youngwood, Sesame Workshop’s president of media and education and COO, who becomes the nonprofit’s CEO in January 2021.

“This season debut on HBO Max marks another key moment in our partnership with WarnerMedia. We are grateful to them and our longstanding partners at PBS for their continued support as we work together to help children grow smarter, stronger, and kinder.”

 Tom Ascheim, president, Warner Bros. Global Kids, Young Adults and Classics, added: “Sesame Street has a longstanding legacy of doing incredibly important things for children by shaping culture and sparking important conversations among all of us.

“For me personally, I’m thrilled to be reunited with all the exceptional people that make Sesame Workshop the force that it is.”

Sesame Street’s latest season marks the beginning of a two-year curriculum focused on playful problem-solving, designed to build critical thinking skills in young children and better equip them to handle challenges in school and beyond. As Sesame Street Muppets, human cast members, and guest stars alike face obstacles – while building a castle, staging a circus, fixing the inner workings of a grandfather clock, and more – they approach these problems with curiosity, creativity, and perseverance.

A new anthem – “I Wonder, What If, Let’s Try” – performed by celebrity guest Hailee Steinfeld, brings this curriculum to life and makes its season debut on Thursday, November 26. The anthem will appear in Sesame Street episodes through the year.

LEGO unveils 123 Sesame Street set through LEGO Ideas and Sesame Workshop partnership

The LEGO Group has lifted the lid and taken us all on a trip down Sesame Street, as it prepares to launch its LEGO Ideas 123 Sesame Street building set. Voted for by LEGO fans the world over, the set is the latest product from the LEGO Ideas collection.

Created with all the elements of 123 Sesame Street, the new set is packed with authentic details from the famous New York City neighbourhood. From Bert and Ernie’s apartment, to Big Bird’s nest, where the grown-ups finally met Mr. Snuffleupagus in person – builders can now live out some of Sesame Street’s most memorable moments.

LEGO Ideas 123 Sesame Street allows fans to pass by Hooper’s Store, Oscar the Grouch’s trash can, and plenty other quintessential Sesame Street locations. The set includes a cast of exclusive buildable minifigures that have been created specifically for the set, including Cookie Monster, Elmo, and Big Bird.

The new LEGO Ideas 123 Sesame Street set is part of the LEGO Ideas collection, which offers fans the opportunity to submit their own brick creations with the chance to have their concept brought to life with the help of LEGO master designers and a share of the profits.

123 Sesame Street is the result of the artistic efforts of LEGO enthusiast Ivan Guerrero, who said: “As a long-time fan of the LEGO Group and Sesame Street, it has been a dream come true to be able to merge my two passions into a memorable set for fellow builders to enjoy.

“LEGO bricks and Sesame Street shaped both my childhood and adult years, and the opportunity to work with the LEGO Ideas team to bring this quintessential New York street to life has been thrilling.”

Federico Begher, VP of global marketing at The LEGO Group, added: “We were instantly drawn to Ivan’s idea, as we had never created an official LEGO product with Sesame Street before. It was clear from the submission that Ivan is passionate about Sesame Street and he really brought it to life with the wide array of characters and bright, classic colours.

“For the first time in the history of LEGO Ideas, we also had the opportunity to create brand new minifigures for a set – bringing something new and exciting to our LEGO fans.

“Knowing the impact Sesame Street has had on the world for decades, sharing similar values with generations past and present, this felt like an exciting way to blend novelty with nostalgia, and pay homage to the truly iconic 123 Sesame Street through LEGO Ideas.”

Gabriela Arena, Sesame Workshop’s vice president of licensing, North America, added: “Your imagination and creativity can take you places—and with the help of LEGO Ideas, it’s now transporting fans to Sesame Street where you’re never too old for a playdate.”,

The new set weights in at 1,367 LEGO pieces, measuring 24 cm high, 35cm wide, and 21cm deep. LEGO® 123 Sesame Street will be available directly via LEGO.com and LEGO Stores from 1st November.