UK and US licensing partners line up to celebrate 40 years of Danger Mouse

Boat Rocker Studios is celebrating the 40th anniversary of its classic and iconic animated series, Danger Mouse with a full roster of licensing partners spanning the UK and US markets, while crossing both the generations and categories through gifting, apparel, collectables, and more.

Tapping into the adult, nostalgia market, as well as the children’s space, licensing partners have been lined up from both sides of the Atlantic with a licensing programme reflective of the cross-generational appeal of the Danger Mouse IP as it celebrates its 40th anniversary milestone this year.

Kate Schlomann, EVP brand management and content marketing, Boat Rocker Studios, said: “Danger Mouse is the world’s greatest secret agent and one of TV’s most iconic animations, packed with action, comedy and drama. The show has achieved incredible global success in both its original incarnation and its thrilling reboot.

“We are delighted to be celebrating its 40th anniversary with an epic range of products which really capture the style and wit of the show.”

Leading the charge in the toy aisle, Funko has signed a worldwide deal to produce a new range of Danger Mouse Classic collectables, including its trademark Pop! stylised vinyl figures and its Vinyl SODA figures of the heroes and villains from the series, including a limited edition Evil Danger Mouse.

Meanwhile, Smiffys will continue to offer its dress-up costumes for both adults and kids. In addition, adult t-shirts will continue to be produced by Trademark Products Limited and further celebratory products will be available later in the year across a wide range of categories, including annuals, novelty, cards and gifting, children’s nightwear and babywear and pet apparel and accessories.

This will all be joined by a new range of adult and children’s Danger Mouse apparel and drinkware, including t-shirts, sweats, hoodies, face wear, socks, and underwear from Bioworld, alongside adult joggers, slippers, bags, and headwear.

Truffle Shuffle, home of cool t-shirts, retro gifts and more, will also be launching a new range of T-shirts and clothing, knitwear, pyjamas, tote bags, mugs, art prints, metal signs, lunchboxes, enamel pins and door mats launching from June 2021 exclusively on TruffleShuffle.com.

The River Group, the UK’s leading independent content innovation agency, will be producing an 84-page Danger Mouse Anniversary Bookazine to launch in October 2021, while Blu Goblin has signed on for a limited-edition anniversary figurine set with proceeds going towards Kids Out Charity.

Over in the US, Redbubble, the leading print-on-demand online marketplace, will be adding Danger Mouse to its extensive range of apparel, accessories and home items.

The Danger Mouse YouTube channel is joining in on the celebrations by showcasing 40 original classic episodes. Fans will have the opportunity to relive some of their hero’s most death-defying and thrilling missions from September 2021.

Both the classic and the new series are widely available to watch on multiple platforms worldwide, including Netflix which holds the global rights for the new Danger Mouse series and also offers the classic seasons.

Originally produced by Cosgrove Hall Films for Thames Television, Danger Mouse ran on ITV from 1981 to 1992 and returned to TV screens with a high-octane 21st-century makeover on CBBC in September 2015.

The rebooted Danger Mouse has proved to be a global hit with 99 new episodes to date over three series.

Classic greetings brand Holly Hobbie secures Truffle Shuffle deal through Bulldog Licensing

Truffle Shuffle has been confirmed as the latest retail partner for the vintage Holly Hobbie brand and a recently launched collection that spans limited edition t-shirts, mugs, and tote bags all based on the classic greetings card characters of the 1960s.

Illustrated by the artist of the same name, the Holly Hobbie property was originaly introduced in 1967 when the American author sold artwork of the rag dress-wearing little girl to American Greetings. The distinctive characters become popular and the first licensed product came to market in 1975, in the form of rag dolls from Knickerbocker Toys.

The property quickly moved in crafts, apparel, lifestyle, publishing, stationery, dinnerware, home goods and more. As a brand, Holly Hobbie has since generated over $1bn in retail sales.

Bulldog Licensing is now managing the rights for the brand in the UK and Eire and is building a programme around the classic artwork targeting adults, as well as a live-action, music-driven children’s programme, based on the hugely popular new show on CBBC soon to be in production on its third season. 

As well as adding Holly Hobbie to its roster, Truffle Shuffle has also renewed its deal for another of Cloudco Entertainment’s generation-spanning brands, the Care Bears.

Rob Corney, MD, Bulldog Licensing, said: “We’re thrilled to have Truffle Shuffle on board for Holly Hobbie as we build a licensing programme for this much-loved brand. They have already done a fabulous job with the Care Bears collection, and we are delighted with the new lines for Holly Hobbie. The brand has beautiful artwork, an instantly recognisable design, and huge vintage appeal for today’s audience.”