Tag Archives: The Cat In The Hat

WildBrain CPLG lands raft of UK partners for Dr Seuss’ The Cat in the Hat, How the Grinch Stole Christmas

Posted on by

Dr Seuss’ The Cat in the Hat, How the Grinch Stole Christmas, and Green Eggs and Ham will all be expanding their UK licensing presence in the coming weeks, thanks to a raft of new deals and consumer products programmes landing courtesy of the licensing agency, WildBrain CPLG.

Among the new signing, Brand Alliance will be delivering a range of apparel and accessories based on the How the Grinch Stole Christmas IP, where it will be joined by Solent Brands and its ‘bag for life’, H&A’s health and beauty items, and Fizz Creations’ gifting and kitchenware range.

Meanwhile, Beautiful Games will be developing stickers and decals for various Dr Seuss titles.

Further UK deals will see Brand International release How the Grinch Stole Christmas footwear and accessories, as well as nightwear for The Cat in the Hat and Green Eggs and Ham. Stor is creating a line of How the Grinch Stole Christmas kitchenware. The new ranges will roll out from Autumn/Winter 2021, with the How the Grinch Stole Christmas lines being available for the festive 2021 season.

John Taylor, VP northern Europe and managing director UK and France at WildBrain CPLG, said: “The iconic brands of the Dr. Seuss portfolio continue to celebrate enduring popularity among consumers, licensees and retailers alike. We’ve already established significant licensing partnerships for Dr. Seuss across Europe and these latest wave of deals will offer fans in the UK even more unique products across a compelling array of categories, such as health & beauty and kitchenware.”

Susan Brandt, president of Dr. Seuss Enterprises, L.P., said: “We’re very happy with our partners continued success in the UK, making the Grinch a best-selling character at retail each year. It’s also exciting to see new and existing partners expanding our product categories for Green Eggs and Ham and The Cat in the Hat, two properties that continue to make Dr. Seuss the number one licensed children’s book brand in the US.”

Dr Seuss catalogues and Clangers audio adventures are landing on the Tonies platform

Posted on by

Still fresh from its latest portfolio extension with Disney earlier this week, the children’s audio storytelling platform, Tonies, is continuing to roll out the classics, having welcomed the popular works of Dr Seuss as well as the British preschool sensation Clangers to its content library.

In a new partnership with Dr Seuss Enterprises, Tonies is introducing a series of five bundles showcasing the most beloved Seuss characters and stories, kicking off with The Cat in the Hat in early 2022. The deal arrives as Dr Seuss Enterprises details a new major focus on building more audio-first experiences for children.

In time for its 65th anniversary, The Cat in the Hat will be the first Dr Seuss Tonie to debut, and will feature original audio productions of some of the most iconic characters and stories, including The Cat in the Hat, The Cat in the Hat Comes Back, and There’s a Wocket in My Pocket.

Further titles will be unveiled in the coming months.

Susan Brandt, president of Dr. Seuss Enterprises, said: “Audio continues to be on the rise as parents look for new ways to entertain their kids beyond screen time, whether its audiobooks or podcasts, or something as innovative as tonies.

“The tonies team has created an experience that is verbal, tactile and inspirational for kids’ imaginations. As our team continues to bring our properties further into the world of audio, we see tonies as a cornerstone partnership.”

Christoph Frehsee, president of Tonies USA, added: “The Dr. Seuss library is filled with timeless and universally loved stories that appeal to imaginations of so many youngsters. Beginning with The Cat in the Hat, we are looking forward to bringing this whimsical world of characters to the Tonies universe in 2022 and beyond.”

But the new additions to the Tonies platform don’t end there. The system has also welcomed the popular preschool property, Clangers, to the portfolio. Narrated by Sir Michael Palin, the new Clangers Tonie figurine can be placed on top of the Toniebox to take listeners to the unique and imaginary world on the little blue planet, somewhere out in space.

Billed by the company as ‘a great introduction to the CBeebies TV show for little ones’, the new Tonie plays six adventures that take children on an exploration of the Clangers’ planet under the stars, where they will be joined by Small, Tiny, Mother, Major and Granny Clanger.

As well as encouraging independence, the stories told by the new Clangers Tonie will inspire conversations and the development of emotional bonds with parents.

Jeremy Banks, CEO of Coolabi Group, rights holders to the Clangers IP, said: “We are absolutely over the moon to be announcing this new partnership and the Clangers Tonie release. The partnership celebrates all the fantastic music and sounds that make Clangers so magical and unique.”

Pinky Laing, UK partnerships at Tonies, added: “Tonies is committed to helping children through the power and magic of storytelling. We are delighted to be working with Coolabi Group to release our new the Clangers audio Tonie for families.

“Telling the nostalgic, loveable and iconic tales of the pink, knitted creatures that live together on a little blue planet, we hope that the new Tonie will develop bonds amongst parents and their little ones.

“Fostering a love of narrative and adventure, the launch of our new Tonie continues our commitment to engage the next generation by introducing them to beloved classic stories, such as The Clangers.”

But hold on a minute. The thing about Tonie figurines is – they’re like buses. And indeed there is a whole trail of new releases for the month of August, including the new How to Train Your Dragon Tonie boasting 35 minutes of adventure with the young dragon trainer Hiccup and his loyal dragon Toothless, as well as Trolls, following the adventures of Poppy, Branch, and the residents of Troll Village, and Super Wings – a full 72 minutes of quests with Jett as the plane sets off to deliver packages to children around the world.

Random House Children’s Books to launch Dr Seuss Workbook series for US schoolchildren

Posted on by

Random House Children’s Books has partnered with Dr Seuss Enterprises to launch multi-subject Dr Seuss Workbooks across the US. The new format book series will be aimed at preschool kids through to third grade, encouraging readers to interact with their favourite characters while supporting learning goals.

The deal has been announced by Barbara Marcus, president and publisher, Random House Children’s Books, and Tom Russell, vice president and publisher, reference and workbooks. The first two editions – Preschool and Kindergarten – will be launched on September 7th this year. The remaining three will follow next March.

The launch of the books will also be supported by a video series hosted on Dr. Seuss Enterprises’ YouTube channel, featuring fun, original sing-alongs to help readers further engage with the characters and subject matter.

“In the last year, we have seen such increased demand for learning resources, and so we are particularly pleased to bring the Dr. Seuss Workbooks to market and offer fresh, engaging content to support young learners today,” said Russell. “These workbooks provide parents and educators an accessible blend of core academic concepts and such equally important topics as kindness, empathy, and self-esteem.”

The workbooks have been developed and written by education experts and based on curriculum standards, and readers at every grade level will be introduced to four subjects, each with their own dedicated Seuss character ambassador guiding the way: Reading and English Language Learning with the Cat from The Cat in the Hat, Maths with Thing One and Thing Two from The Cat in the Hat, Science with the Lorax from The Lorax, and Social and Emotional Learning with Horton from Horton Hears a Who!

Susan Brandt, president of Dr. Seuss Enterprises, said: “The imaginative works of Dr. Seuss have been an entry point to the world of reading and learning for several generations. For years Dr. Seuss books have delighted children while helping them learn to read and develop their cognitive skills.

“This new workbook program and its supporting video content are a natural progression that make it even easier for kids to learn, with fun exercises and engaging lessons that help them hone new skills.”

Sky Kids UK lands new seasons and educational games based on The Cat in the Hat Know a Lot About That

Posted on by

Portfolio Entertainment has secured a raft of new broadcast deals for Dr Seuss’ The Cat in the Hat Knows A Lot About That including one with Sky Kids in the UK for seasons two and three of the 2D animated series.

Sky Kids is also taking on four new educational games based on the popular series, called Build-ma-loo, Invention Engine, Camp Time, and Arcade Escape, while French speaking Canada will be treated to the series’ seasons one and two via Unis TV.

Portfolio has also inked deals for the one hour seasonal special, The Cat in the Hat Knows a lot about Christmas with KiKa in Germany and NRK in Norway.

“The enduring legacy of Dr. Seuss’ beloved character lives on as a new generation of kids around the world will be going on adventures with the Cat in the big striped hat and his friends,” said Donnie MacIntyre, VP of sales and business development at Portfolio Entertainment. “Portfolio’s catalogue of best-in-class children’s content continues to attract leading global kids broadcasters and we’re delighted that our partners will be bringing this classic series and holiday special to their audiences.”

Fuelled by curiosity and imagination, the Cat leads best friends Nick and Sally on extraordinary adventures into the natural world. With the help of Thing One and Thing Two and their whimsically versatile Thinga-ma-jigger they’ll go anywhere from the bottom of the ocean to the centre of a beehive. The Cat in the Hat ‘knows a lot’ but he doesn’t know everything, making him the perfect guide to learning and fun.

Inspired by the animated original series, The Cat In The Hat Knows A Lot About That Christmas! is a one-hour holiday movie, originally broadcast on PBS Kids, bringing our favourite characters together to discover the magic of Christmas.

Produced by Portfolio Entertainment and Collingwood O’Hare Productions, in association with Dr. Seuss Enterprises, Random House Children’s Entertainment, Treehouse, and PBS Kids, The Cat In The Hat Knows A Lot About That! is based on Random House’s best-selling Beginner Book collection, “The Cat in the Hat’s Learning Library.”

The award-winning series has been sold to broadcasters and digital platforms in over 170 markets worldwide.

Sky Kids UK lands new seasons and educational games based on The Cat in the Hat Know a Lot About That

Posted on by

Portfolio Entertainment has secured a raft of new broadcast deals for Dr Seuss’ The Cat in the Hat Knows A Lot About That including one with Sky Kids in the UK for seasons two and three of the 2D animated series.

Sky Kids is also taking on four new educational games based on the popular series, called Build-ma-loo, Invention Engine, Camp Time, and Arcade Escape, while French speaking Canada will be treated to the series’ seasons one and two via Unis TV.

Portfolio has also inked deals for the one hour seasonal special, The Cat in the Hat Knows a lot about Christmas with KiKa in Germany and NRK in Norway.

“The enduring legacy of Dr. Seuss’ beloved character lives on as a new generation of kids around the world will be going on adventures with the Cat in the big striped hat and his friends,” said Donnie MacIntyre, VP of sales and business development at Portfolio Entertainment. “Portfolio’s catalogue of best-in-class children’s content continues to attract leading global kids broadcasters and we’re delighted that our partners will be bringing this classic series and holiday special to their audiences.”

Fuelled by curiosity and imagination, the Cat leads best friends Nick and Sally on extraordinary adventures into the natural world. With the help of Thing One and Thing Two and their whimsically versatile Thinga-ma-jigger they’ll go anywhere from the bottom of the ocean to the centre of a beehive. The Cat in the Hat ‘knows a lot’ but he doesn’t know everything, making him the perfect guide to learning and fun.

Inspired by the animated original series, The Cat In The Hat Knows A Lot About That Christmas! is a one-hour holiday movie, originally broadcast on PBS Kids, bringing our favourite characters together to discover the magic of Christmas.

Produced by Portfolio Entertainment and Collingwood O’Hare Productions, in association with Dr. Seuss Enterprises, Random House Children’s Entertainment, Treehouse, and PBS Kids, The Cat In The Hat Knows A Lot About That! is based on Random House’s best-selling Beginner Book collection, “The Cat in the Hat’s Learning Library.”

The award-winning series has been sold to broadcasters and digital platforms in over 170 markets worldwide.

Dr Seuss walks into Irregular Choice partnership for The Cat in the Hat collection

Posted on by

The shoe and accessory brand, Irregular Choice has walked into a new partnership with Dr Seuss Enterprises to launch a new collaborative collection based on the iconic The Cat in the Hat.

Brokered by WildBrain CPLG, which represents Dr. Seuss Enterprises across EMEA, the deal will launch an adult collection that includes heeled shoes, boots, sneakers, bags and tights – all featuring the iconic Cat and Thing One and Thing Two from the famous picture book.

The collection is now available worldwide on the Irregular Choice website, and will also launch at Irregular Choice stores across the UK. To support the collaboration, Irregular Choice and Dr. Seuss are promoting the range on social media, with Irregular Choice also executing influencer outreach and installing branded window displays across its UK stores.

John Taylor, VP Northern Europe and managing director UK and France at WildBrain CPLG, said: “Irregular Choice is celebrated for creating unique, bold and eye-catching products that stand out from the crowd. As we continue to expand the merchandise offering for adults who’ve loved The Cat in the Hat since childhood, we knew Irregular Choice would be an ideal partner to capture the brand’s mischievous and energetic spirit, and we can’t wait to see fans enjoying the collection.”

Susan Brandt, president of Dr Seuss Enterprises, added: “Dr. Seuss books are not your typical books, and shoes from Irregular Choice are not your typical shoes. That’s why we believe this collaboration is so well paired and this expressive collection really speaks to the originality of both brands.”

Dan Sullivan, founder and designer at Irregular Choice, added: “Irregular Choice’s ethos is to ‘Recapture your freedom which eloped with your youth’, and better than anyone, Dr. Seuss epitomises that freedom of thought, and unstifled creativity.

“Not only amazingly inspirational, but words to live your life by. There are so many thought provoking quotes, stories and images, which when growing up drove my young mind, and I have tried to take them with me throughout my life. To have the chance to even slightly tap into that world of fun filled imagination, has been a dream fulfilled.”

Warner Animation expands feature film partnership with Dr Seuss to detail new projects

Posted on by

Some of the most iconic stories and characters of Dr Seuss’ popular books will be finding new life on the screen thanks to an extended partnership with Warner Animation Group, the animated film production arm of Warner Bros Pictures.

Under the new partnership, Bad Robot Productions has been tapped to adapt Oh, The Places You’ll Go for the big screen, marking the award-winning production company’s first foray into feature animation. The feature will see J.J Abrams serve as producer, alongside Bad Robot’s head of motion pictures, Hanna Minghella.

On top of this, Thing One and Thing Two – the popular characters from The Cat in The Hat – will have their own shot at the silver screen with an original feature length animated adventure under the working title Thing One and Thing Two. The film is currently scheduled for 2026, while Oh, The Places You’ll Go is set for 2027.

These two new films mark the latest additions to the growing slate of animated projects that Warner Animation Group and Dr. Seuss Enterprises are developing together that builds out an extensive Dr. Seuss animated universe. The collaboration merges the worlds of Dr. Seuss with some of the most creative and visionary Hollywood storytellers and artists.

Other current projects in development include the The Cat in the Hat feature film that will kick off the new Dr. Seuss movie slate in 2024, with Erica Rivinoja (South Park, Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs 2) and Art Hernandez (Planes, Planes: Fire and Rescue) on board as directors. 

Additionally, Warner Bros. Animation’s hit Netflix series Green Eggs and Ham, another joint project, was renewed for a second season.

Susan Brandt, president of Dr. Seuss Enterprises, said: “Warner Animation Group truly understands the timelessness of Dr. Seuss, the incredible impact of the characters and stories, and how to translate the magical appeal to truly come to life on screen. With the amazing talent they are bringing to these projects, we are looking forward to bringing Oh, The Places You’ll Go! and Thing One and Thing Two to fans in a way that will delight them, capture their imaginations, and inspire them to read and re-read the stories.

“We are also looking forward to collaborating with the incredibly talented Erica Rivinoja and Art Hernandez who we know will make magic with Cat in the Hat.”

Allison Abbate, EVP, Warner Animation Group, added: “We are so thrilled to expand our creative partnership with Dr. Seuss Enterprises and are even more excited about the expansion of this slate of films.

“Our The Cat in the Hat is off to a terrific start with the incredible Erica Rivinoja and Art Hernandez at the helm. Oh, The Places You’ll Go! is one of Seuss’ most enduring masterpieces and its profound and poignant message resonates with fans of all ages.

“We are thrilled to be working with Hannah and J.J. at Bad Robot to bring this cultural touchstone to life on the big screen.  And what could be more fun than to create an original story for Thing One and Thing Two? These two delightfully enigmatic characters will help us explore the magical world that Ted Geisel created with “The Cat in the Hat” and we can’t wait to jump in.

“This partnership with Susan Brandt and DSE is a perfect fit for WAG and our ongoing vision to produce iconic animated features based on beloved IP.”

Dr Seuss Enterprises builds Latinx programme with Exim and Pinta

Posted on by

Dr. Seuss Enterprises has entered into an alliance with licensing agent Exim and marketing firm Pinta to expand its licensing portfolio and increase brand awareness into the Latinx market.

Under the new partnerships, Exim will represent Dr Seuss across Mexico, Chile, and Peru by focusing on the company’s apparel, toys and gifts, and novelties categories, while Pinta will support the firm within the Latinx market in the US, with a robust programme spanning advertising, digital, infleuncer, and PR.

Exim, one of the largest licensing agencies in Latin America, will be responsible for leading new deals for products tied to Halloween, Christmas, and the upcoming 2021 seasons, such as Kings’ Day, San Valentin, Children’s Day, and the summer season.

Miami-based multicultural marketing firm Pinta will work directly with Dr. Seuss Enterprises to amplify its Latinx marketing efforts in the United States, taking the lead on the strategic planning of tentpole campaigns including the support of the 2020 holiday season, Hats Off to Reading – A Dr. Seuss Birthday Celebration  2021 campaign, as well as informing larger brand marketing efforts.

Dr. Seuss Enterprises recently broadened its licensing portfolio in Australia for some of their most popular properties including The Cat in the Hat, Green Eggs and Ham, How the Grinch Stole Christmas!, Oh, The Places You’ll Go!, Horton Hears a Who!, Fox in Socks and more. Additionally, new and renewed deals were announced in Europe, spanning multiple categories such as book publishing, kitchenware, and gift items.

Susan Brandt, president of Dr. Seuss Enterprises, said: “We have seen our Spanish-language publishing and content do well in the Latinx market, and we are looking to grow our presence even further through a variety of programs. Guided by the expertise from both Exim and Pinta, we are sure that we will be able to achieve this goal.”

Exim CEO Jaime Hofman, added: “We are excited and proud to be part of Dr. Seuss Enterprises’ licensing and merchandising project to allow our Latin community to be in touch with its meaningful characters and brands. Dr. Seuss titles and characters have been very well accepted by the Latin markets. We have no doubt it will be an amazing licensing adventure.”

“The principles which permeate the Hispanic community are fundamentally shared values with the world of Dr. Seuss, including family, humor and a spirit of adventure,” said Mike Valdes-Fauli, president and CEO of Pinta. “We’re honored to work with this iconic brand, and help tell stories that will inspire a diverse generation of children.”

Sketchers steps into the world of Dr Seuss as new collection kicks off with the Cat in the Hat

Posted on by

Sketchers is stepping into the fantastical world of the author Dr Seuss with the launch of a new, fully licensed Sketchers x Dr Seuss collection. The new range captures the essence of Dr Seuss stories, kicking off with the world famous characters and designs from his classic series, The Cat in the Hat.

The new multi-year partnership has been launched globally, designed to bring the colourful world of Dr Seuss to life in wearable, designs for adults and children.

“Dr. Seuss is one of the world’s biggest cultural icons – read, shared and celebrated by millions since the 1950s. And now his legendary characters and vivid designs are here to walk the walk, in the spirit of his great talk,” said Michael Greenberg, president of Skechers.

“We’ve taken our most popular footwear styles and have infused them with Dr. Seuss’s one-of-a-kind designs, delivering the unique charm that only he can offer – even creating matching pairs that parents and their kids can wear together.”

Starting with the legendary The Cat in the Hat, the Sketchers x Dr Seuss collection will launch with popular styles from Sketchers Street, Bobs from Sketchers, and Sketchers Kids featuring the Cat in the Hat, Thing 1 and Thing 2, and the story’s vibrant colours and patterns.

Future collections are planned with characters and designs from many other classics, including Green Eggs and Ham, One Fish, Two Fish, Red Fish, Blue Fish, and Oh, the Places You’ll Go as well as How the Grinch Stole Christmas. The collection will launch in the US, Canada, and Europe this September before rolling out worldwide.

“Skechers is the ultimate family brand for every age – and their broad, dedicated fanbase is a perfect fit for the millions who love Dr. Seuss around the world,” said Susan Brandt, president of Dr. Seuss Enterprises.

“Their innovative spirit, vivid styling and comfortable footwear designs make stepping out in Dr. Seuss even more fun. We look forward to every chapter of this partnership, as Skechers unveils a new Dr. Seuss adventure with each new collection.”

Sketchers steps into the world of Dr Seuss as new collection kicks off with the Cat in the Hat

Posted on by

Sketchers is stepping into the fantastical world of the author Dr Seuss with the launch of a new, fully licensed Sketchers x Dr Seuss collection. The new range captures the essence of Dr Seuss stories, kicking off with the world famous characters and designs from his classic series, The Cat in the Hat.

The new multi-year partnership has been launched globally, designed to bring the colourful world of Dr Seuss to life in wearable, designs for adults and children.

“Dr. Seuss is one of the world’s biggest cultural icons – read, shared and celebrated by millions since the 1950s. And now his legendary characters and vivid designs are here to walk the walk, in the spirit of his great talk,” said Michael Greenberg, president of Skechers.

“We’ve taken our most popular footwear styles and have infused them with Dr. Seuss’s one-of-a-kind designs, delivering the unique charm that only he can offer – even creating matching pairs that parents and their kids can wear together.”

Starting with the legendary The Cat in the Hat, the Sketchers x Dr Seuss collection will launch with popular styles from Sketchers Street, Bobs from Sketchers, and Sketchers Kids featuring the Cat in the Hat, Thing 1 and Thing 2, and the story’s vibrant colours and patterns.

Future collections are planned with characters and designs from many other classics, including Green Eggs and Ham, One Fish, Two Fish, Red Fish, Blue Fish, and Oh, the Places You’ll Go as well as How the Grinch Stole Christmas. The collection will launch in the US, Canada, and Europe this September before rolling out worldwide.

“Skechers is the ultimate family brand for every age – and their broad, dedicated fanbase is a perfect fit for the millions who love Dr. Seuss around the world,” said Susan Brandt, president of Dr. Seuss Enterprises.

“Their innovative spirit, vivid styling and comfortable footwear designs make stepping out in Dr. Seuss even more fun. We look forward to every chapter of this partnership, as Skechers unveils a new Dr. Seuss adventure with each new collection.”