Tag Archives: WildBrain CPLG

WildBrain CPLG appoints Jasen Wright to lead North American expansion in newly created role

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WildBrain CPLG is growing its operations in North America with the appointment of the experienced licensing executive, Jasen Wright to the newly created position of vice president, North America. In this role, Wright will be responsible for driving WildBrain CPLG’s efforts in the region and expanding its portfolio of entertainment and lifestyle brands.

Wright will be based in New York and will report into WildBrain CPLG’s EVP and managing director, Maarten Weck.

The position will see Wright focus much attention on the ambitious plans for WildBrain’s proprietary brands this year and beyond, including Strawberry Shortcake, Caillou, Teletubbies, and Chip & Potato. He will also lead the local growth of WildBrain CPLG’s wider portfolio of entertainment brands and expand existing relationships with partners, including Square Enix and its arcade gaming IP, Space Invaders.

As well as this, Wright will also drive WildBrain CPLG’s lifestyle portfolio in North America by forging new partnerships and building on existing represented brands, such as Absolut, Malibu, and Harvard and Yale universities. Alyssa Gourlay, based in California, will report into Wright and will continue developing new local opportunities as WildBrain CPLG’s director of business development.

Maarten Weck, EVP and managing director at WildBrain CPLG, said: “As we continue extending our global reach and ensuring we have a robust presence in all corners of the world, the appointment of Jasen adds significant firepower to our global operations.

“We have big plans for the North American market and with Jasen’s remarkable track record in building top-class consumer products programs, we know he’s the ideal candidate to fuel the growth and success of both WildBrain’s brands and our wider portfolio across the region.”

Jasen Wright added: “WildBrain CPLG has an outstanding reputation for developing robust global licensing programs with best-in-class partners across its impressive and varied line-up of brands. I’m looking forward to working closely with Maarten, Alyssa and the wider team as we accelerate WildBrain CPLG’s capabilities and open up further opportunities for both new and existing partners worldwide.”

Jasen Wright has developed consumer product and licensing programmes for major brands across food and beverage, home improvement, automotive, art, sports, lifestyle and entertainment. Most recently Jasen was vice president of licensing and brand management at Beanstalk, and led the global brand licensing business for Diageo’s spirit brands.

While at Beanstalk, he also developed and executed the strategy for extending Stanley Black & Decker, U.S. Army, Ford Motor Company, Harley-Davidson, The Andy Warhol Foundation and Airheads into various categories including home, hardware, home improvement, auto accessories, toys, food and beverage and confectionary.

Prior to returning to Beanstalk in 2017, Jasen worked at vice president of licensing at Bravado/Universal Music Group, Authentic Brands Group and Warner Music Group. Working across music and sports to launch such brands as Paddington Bear, Rolling Stones, Prince, Wiz Khalifa, Grateful Dead and Tretorn, extending those personalities and properties while building their demand as lifestyle brands.

ViacomCBS lands slate of CEE partners for PAW Patrol, SpongeBob, Shimmer & Shine and more

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WildBrain CPLG has secured a wave of new and extended FMCG partnerships in Central and Eastern Europe across ViacomCBS’ portfolio of popular animated brands including PAW Patrol, SpongeBob SquarePants, Blaze and the Monster Machines, Shimmer & Shine and Bubble Guppies.

The pan-regional deals brokered by the WildBrain CPLG CEE team include those with Foodcare for a range of PAW Patrol instant porridge, hot cereals, and instant cocoa, an oral care range from GSK, and an extended offering of fruit and vegetable juices and pouches from Hortus to include Jurajska Junior PAW Patrol water.

In addition, long-term licensee Dairy4Fun continues to significantly grow the business across Europe with its range of children’s desserts and snacks featuring PAW Patrol, SpongeBob SquarePants and Blaze and the Monster Machines.

In Poland, WildBrain CPLG has secured a deal with the market’s largest ice cream manufacturer, Koral, for a range featuring PAW Patrol and SpongeBob SquarePants. The partnership marks Koral’s first licensed offering and the range’s recent launch was supported by an extensive outdoor marketing campaign, including branded trucks. Alongside this, a new deal with Cerbona in Hungary saw a range of breakfast cereals featuring SpongeBob SquarePants recently launched at local retailers Auchan, Spar, Tesco HU and CBA.

Additionally, Cerbona is gearing up to roll out the range into new territories, including Czech Republic and Romania from this summer.

Meanwhile, in Serbia, WildBrain CPLG has signed beverage market leader KNJAZ MILOS (part of the Pepsi Group) for a flavoured water featuring Blaze and the Monster Machines, and Shimmer & Shine, with PAW Patrol joining the offering from August 2021. Also in Serbia, Plazma is celebrating ongoing success with its range of PAW Patrol snacks and cereal.

Slawomir Ekiert, managing director CEE and Nordics at WildBrain CPLG, said: “We’re seeing significant growth within the FMCG category across Central and Eastern Europe, which is largely being driven by beloved kids’ entertainment properties.

“ViacomCBS’s engaging slate of animated IP is ideally placed to captialise on the vast business potential FMCG partnerships offer, as demonstrated by this robust line-up of new and expanded deals. For 2021 and beyond, we’ll be focused on further boosting our footprint within the FMCG space and setting the standard for licensed products across our portfolio of entertainment and lifestyle properties, in both the CEE region and wider European market.”

Tommy Hilfiger goes ’90s and ’00s retro in ViacomCBS partnership

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The Tommy Hilfiger brand has partnered with ViacomCBS Consumer Products to launch a new capsule collection under the banner A Blast from the Past, tapping into Tommy Jeans’ long history of pop culture collaborations featuring characters and logos from Nickelodeon and MTV.

In a deal brokered by WildBrain CPLG, the partnership will witness the launch of a range of t-shirts, sweats, and hoodies all in a unisex style. The collection will be available across Tommy Hilfiger retail locations, on tommy.com, and through wholesale partners globally.

A Blast from the Past will feature a range of micro-capsules that bring a playful streetwear vibe to the classic oversized and bold colourways that Tommy Jeans fans recognise of the brand, fused with pop culture icons from the late ’90s and early ’00s.

Beavis and Butthead, Garfield, MTV, Ren & Stimpy, and SpongeBob SquarePants will all play starring roles in the collection.

Each micro-capsule remixes the heritage Tommy Jeans flag in unique and surprising ways, such as weaving Beavis and Butt-Head within its red and white blocks or using it as a pattern to fill the MTV logo, adding a fresh twist on timeless favorites.

The deal was brokered by WildBrain CPLG, one of the world’s leading entertainment, sport, and brand licensing agencies.

“There continues to be significant consumer demand, particularly among young adults, for high-end fashion collaborations that utilize retro brands and bring with them a sense of fun and nostalgia,” said Matt Tobia, senior sales manager at WildBrain CPLG.

“This partnership between Tommy Jeans and ViacomCBS Consumer Products is perfectly positioned to meet this demand, as it combines ViacomCBS’s impressive portfolio of iconic TV brands with Tommy Jeans relaxed ’90s aesthetic. We also couldn’t think of a better pairing for our first time teaming up with Tommy Jeans.”

WildBrain CPLG secures a raft of European deals for the hit video game brand Tetris

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WildBrain CPLG has signed a raft of new European deals spanning apparel, back to school accessories, fast moving consumer goods, and homewares, for the world famous video game brand, Tetris.

The newest slate of deals kicks off with the fashion retailer, Zara, who has introduced a collection of ment’s t-shirts featuring vibrant designs inspired by the Tetris brand. The range is now available worldwide across its online retail platform and physical stores.

In Greece, Diakakis Imports SA is on board for a back-to-school range launching this autumn/winter 2021, spanning bags, pencil cases and stationery. Across Central and Eastern Europe, leading Polish distributor of textile products, Carbotex, has been signed for a Tetris-themed home textiles collection, which will see bedding, towels and pillows launch from this October, followed by an apparel range in 2022.

Displate will launch a unique range of hand-crafted metal posters featuring iconic Tetris gameplay images later this year.

Additionally, WildBrain CPLG’s Germany, Austria and Switzerland (GAS) team has inked deals with Natür Food Ventures GmbH that will see a range of Tetris-themed fruit gummies launch under Natür Food’s Powerbeärs brand this month; and with Spreadshirt for an upcoming print-on-demand t-shirt range.

Finally, Tendam is on board for a line of t-shirts and pyjamas, which will be available in multiple territories across Europe, Latin America, Asia and the Middle East starting in July.

Pau Pascual, VP Southern Europe and MD Iberia and MENA at WildBrain CPLG, said: “We continue to see significant licensing opportunities for gaming properties particularly with brands, such as Tetris, that bring a strong sense of nostalgia and resonate favourably with consumers.

“As we accelerate the Tetris brand’s consumer products footprint in key markets, it’s fantastic to welcome these new partners who have successfully utilised the brand’s iconic gameplay and imagery to develop fun, unique and creative product ranges.”

Maya Rogers, president and CEO of Tetris, said: “Never before has the Tetris brand offered such an amazing range of fun, modern lifestyle products for consumers across Europe and the Middle East.

“We are continuously impressed with WildBrain CPLG’s ongoing effort to grow the brand’s presence in these markets with unique merchandise collaborations that truly speak to the varied interests of fans. We look forward to seeing fan reaction as each product line hits stores.”

WildBrain CPLG represents the Tetris brand across Benelux; the Nordics; Central and Eastern Europe; Iberia; Turkey; Middle East and North Africa; Russia; and Germany, Austria and Switzerland.

WildBrain CPLG secures a raft of European deals for the hit video game brand Tetris

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WildBrain CPLG has signed a raft of new European deals spanning apparel, back to school accessories, fast moving consumer goods, and homewares, for the world famous video game brand, Tetris.

The newest slate of deals kicks off with the fashion retailer, Zara, who has introduced a collection of ment’s t-shirts featuring vibrant designs inspired by the Tetris brand. The range is now available worldwide across its online retail platform and physical stores.

In Greece, Diakakis Imports SA is on board for a back-to-school range launching this autumn/winter 2021, spanning bags, pencil cases and stationery. Across Central and Eastern Europe, leading Polish distributor of textile products, Carbotex, has been signed for a Tetris-themed home textiles collection, which will see bedding, towels and pillows launch from this October, followed by an apparel range in 2022.

Displate will launch a unique range of hand-crafted metal posters featuring iconic Tetris gameplay images later this year.

Additionally, WildBrain CPLG’s Germany, Austria and Switzerland (GAS) team has inked deals with Natür Food Ventures GmbH that will see a range of Tetris-themed fruit gummies launch under Natür Food’s Powerbeärs brand this month; and with Spreadshirt for an upcoming print-on-demand t-shirt range.

Finally, Tendam is on board for a line of t-shirts and pyjamas, which will be available in multiple territories across Europe, Latin America, Asia and the Middle East starting in July.

Pau Pascual, VP Southern Europe and MD Iberia and MENA at WildBrain CPLG, said: “We continue to see significant licensing opportunities for gaming properties particularly with brands, such as Tetris, that bring a strong sense of nostalgia and resonate favourably with consumers.

“As we accelerate the Tetris brand’s consumer products footprint in key markets, it’s fantastic to welcome these new partners who have successfully utilised the brand’s iconic gameplay and imagery to develop fun, unique and creative product ranges.”

Maya Rogers, president and CEO of Tetris, said: “Never before has the Tetris brand offered such an amazing range of fun, modern lifestyle products for consumers across Europe and the Middle East.

“We are continuously impressed with WildBrain CPLG’s ongoing effort to grow the brand’s presence in these markets with unique merchandise collaborations that truly speak to the varied interests of fans. We look forward to seeing fan reaction as each product line hits stores.”

WildBrain CPLG represents the Tetris brand across Benelux; the Nordics; Central and Eastern Europe; Iberia; Turkey; Middle East and North Africa; Russia; and Germany, Austria and Switzerland.

The Emoji Company and WildBrain launch new 2D series Emojitown in major brand extension

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The Emoji Company and WildBrain have forged a far-reaching content and licensing partnership to launch Emojitown, a new, digital first, animated series based on the emoji brand, as well as a new consumer product extension programme around it.

Under the partnership, WildBrain’s AVOD network and digital studio, WildBrain Spark, has teamed with the Emoji Company to co-develop and co-produce Emojitown, a new 2D series targeting teens and young adults.

WildBrain Spark, which holds exclusive global distribution rights to the new series, will premiere Emojitown on YouTube with a dedicated channel launching at the end of May, when viewers will be able to enjoy the first four episodes of the fast-paced, language-agnostic show, followed by additional episodes rolling out weekly.

Meanwhile, WildBrain’s global licensing agency, WildBrain CPLG, will handle worldwide licensing and merchandising rights for Emojitown, building on the agency’s extensive and already successful program for the Emoji brand across the UK, Europe, the Middle East, and other territories. WildBrain CPLG will work with Emoji Company and licensees to develop Emojitown products across key categories for teens and young adults.

Marco Huesges, founder and CEO of Emoji Company, said: “This is a significant development for the Emoji brand, bringing our globally recognizable icons into the digital-content space. With their preeminent reputation on digital platforms, including YouTube, and their deep understanding of licensing and brand amplification, WildBrain Spark and WildBrain CPLG are the ideal collaborators for our push into new content creation and consumer products for the teen and young-adult audience. Together we will take this hugely exciting step in the evolution of Emoji.”

Maarten Weck, EVP and MD of WildBrain CPLG, added: “Building on our strong relationship with the emoji company, this expanded partnership combines the strengths of the much-loved emoji brand with our creative and collaborative capabilities across consumer products licensing, digital-content production, and AVOD management.”

Rachel Taylor, commercial director of WildBrain Spark, said: “With its universal appeal, the Emoji brand is ideal for the creation of an animated digital-first content offering, and our creative team has produced a funny, wry and edgy series, underpinned by bespoke data and insights drawn from our premium YouTube network.

“We’re delighted that the emoji company saw us as the right partner to co-develop and launch this extension of its brand for today’s digital-savvy audience of modern teens.”

The Emoji Company and WildBrain launch new 2D series Emojitown in major brand extension

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The Emoji Company and WildBrain have forged a new, far-reaching content and licensing partnership to launch Emojitown, a new digital first series and consumer products extension of Emoji.

Under the partnership, WildBrain’s AVOD network and digital studio, WildBrain Spark has teamed up with Emoji to develop and co-produce Emojitown, a new 2D series targeting teens and young adults.

WildBrain Spark holds exclusive global distribution rights to the new series and will premiere Emojitown on YouTube with a dedicated channel launching at the end of May, when viewers will be able to enjoy the first four episodes of the fast-paced, language-agnostic show, followed by additional episodes rolling out weekly.

Tapping into its expertise in brand management on YouTube, WildBrain Spark and the Emoji Company have created the series for AVOD audiences and is supporting the launch with extensive digital-marketing, paid-media campaigns and dedicated social-media strategies.

WildBrain Spark will also exclusively handle branded content opportunities and advertising sales for Emojitown on YouTube.

Meanwhile, WildBrain CPLG will handle the worldwide licensing and merchandising rights for Emojitown, building on the agency’s successful programme for the Emoji brand across the UK, Europe, the Middle East and other territories.

Marco Huesges, founder and CEO of emoji company, said: “This is a significant development for the Emoji brand, bringing our globally recognizable icons into the digital-content space. With their preeminent reputation on digital platforms, including YouTube, and their deep understanding of licensing and brand amplification, WildBrain Spark and WildBrain CPLG are the ideal collaborators for our push into new content creation and consumer products for the teen and young-adult audience. Together we will take this hugely exciting step in the evolution of Emoji.”

Maarten Weck, EVP and MD of WildBrain CPLG, said: “Building on our strong relationship with the emoji company, this expanded partnership combines the strengths of the much-loved emoji brand with our creative and collaborative capabilities across consumer products licensing, digital-content production, and AVOD management.”

Rachel Taylor, commercial director of WildBrain Spark, added: “With its universal appeal, the Emoji brand is ideal for the creation of an animated digital-first content offering, and our creative team has produced a funny, wry and edgy series, underpinned by bespoke data and insights drawn from our premium YouTube network.

“We’re delighted that the emoji company saw us as the right partner to co-develop and launch this extension of its brand for today’s digital-savvy audience of modern teens.”

In Emojitown we see daily struggles and nightmares ranging from the mundane to the absurd. The perils of dating apps, the instant regret of a DIY haircut, the cringe of a poolside bikini fail and more, are all played out in 2D-animated color. The story will focus on Jo, a girl in her late teens who, despite trying to “live her best life” with a cheery, optimistic outlook, simply cannot stop encountering the everyday “horrors” of modern life. Throughout it all, Jo is the relatable underdog, as she, along with her emojitown pals, navigate the pitfalls of life.

Joining Jo in Emojitown are Jaya, Jon, Jess, Jay, Julia and Joanie, plus the bizarre duo of Poophead and Unicorn Man. The cast has been develop to represent not just characters to sympathise with, but for viewers to actively see themselves or someone they know in. They have been developed to represent “real people” – the kind encountered every day, reflecting attitudes, style, ethnicity, gender, ability and sexuality as diverse and representative as real life.

Inspire Me! Home Decor lands long term partnership with MENA retailer Home Centre

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Inspire Me! Home Décor has secured a long-term deal with leading MENA home retailer Home Centre for an extensive line of home décor and home furnishings.

Me! Home Décor, the lifestyle brand founded by the designer, author, entrepreneur, Farah Merhi currently has over 6.2 million global followers, making it the most-followed home décor inspiration page on Instagram. The deal with Home Centre was brokered by Inspire Me! Home Décor’s sub-agent for the MENA region, WildBrain CPLG, in partnership with the brand’s global licensing agent, Thrive Brand Licensing.

Inspire Me! Home Décor’s new collection for Home Centre spans every room of the house and includes bedding, curtains, rugs, dinnerware, serveware, drinkware, decorative accessories, lighting, towels and bath accessories. This introductory collection is now available at Home Centre stores across the MENA region and online, and is part of the retailer’s ‘Ramadan is Better Together’ region-wide campaign, aimed at offering customers finely curated collections that invoke the spirit of celebration.

Farah Merhi said: “I’m very excited to launch my Inspire Me! Home Décor collection with Home Centre in the Middle East, and given my roots, this project is very close to my heart. We share the same vision, which is a gold standard of quality, reliability and honesty.

“Every piece in the collection is timeless, classic and intended to make a statement, whether on its own or styled with other items. I look forward to seeing how consumers and designers incorporate the range into their beautiful homes.”

Neesha Law, commercial director at WildBrain CPLG Middle East, added: “Inspire Me! Home Décor’s latest collection perfectly encapsulates Farah’s comfortable yet glamorous style, with its neutral colours, soft fabrics and exquisite design detail.

“Home Centre holds values that are perfectly aligned with Farah’s philosophy of bringing timeless designs to consumers at an affordable price point, so we knew they would make the ideal partner to bring this incredible range to the MENA market.”

Erin Dippold, president of Thrive Brand Licensing, concluded: “Inspire Me! Home Décor has been an astounding consumer products success in North America. As a Lebanese American, making her products available to the Middle Eastern region has been a priority to Farah since day one.

“Home Centre was the ideal partner for this collaboration given their position as a leading home retailer and their vision as to what Inspire Me! Home Décor for Home Centre could become. We’re thrilled to see that vision realised and look forward to working closely with the Home Centre team to expand the partnership for years to come.”

World Earth Day: Peanuts launches eco-sustainable apparel collection with Vayyu

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WildBrain CPLG has secured a new partnership between Peanuts Worldwide and the luxury eco-sustainable lifestyle brand, Vayyu to introduce the firm’s first licensed apparel collection, featuring the classic Peanuts characters.

The range has launched today (April 22) to mark World Earth Day, the wide-reaching celebration and commitment to environmental protection, with a line of sustainable apparel spanning t-shirts, jumpers, vests, and hats for both men and women. The range will be available at select retailers as well as vayyu.com.

The Peanuts x Vayyu collection will feature garments designed by students from Nottingham Trent University in the UK, following a fashion design competition supported by Peanuts Worldwide and Vayyu. It saw final year students in NTU’s BA Fashion Design course challenged to develop a unisex collection called ‘Snoopy Just Got Green’ to embody Vayyu’s ethos of design responsibility and sustainability.

The students were tasked with bringing their ideas to life through the colours of nature and the characters of Snoopy and the much-loved Peanuts gang.

Over 50 students took part in the competition, and the designs were judged by the university’s lecturers as well as representatives from Peanuts Worldwide, Vayyu and WildBrain CPLG. Competition winner Alex Bolton, as well as runners up Tom Chin and Alice Doyle, will see a selection of their designs included as part of the new Vayyu x Peanuts collection, and stocked at a Vayyu pop-up shop in London his summer and also at NTU’s store.

The students also receive a set of the final collection garments featuring their respective designs, a percentage of the net profit from sales made of their designs and work experience with Vayyu.

The Peanuts x Vayyu collection and the NTU design challenge is part of Peanuts Worldwide’s “Take Care with Peanuts” initiative, a global multi-year enterprise encouraging everyone to take care of themselves, each other and the Earth. In honour of Earth Day, Peanuts Worldwide has also recently released its latest original short as part of the campaign titled “Take Care of the Earth: Choose to Reuse”.

Tara Botwick, senior director, territory management EMEA at Peanuts Worldwide, said: “With consumers looking to make more environmentally friendly choices, we knew that Vayyu’s commitment to creating ethical and sustainable products would make them an ideal partner to expand our premium apparel offering for Peanuts.

“What’s more, the Nottingham Trent University students have done a fantastic job at immersing themselves in the Peanuts archives and creating concepts that were focused on protecting the environment and natural world. The whole collection is timely, eye-catching and bold and we’re confident this is just the start on a successful long-term partnership with Vayyu.”

Chris Desai, founder and director at Vayyu, added: “With Peanuts being one of the world’s most iconic brands and Vayyu leading the way in sustainable luxury fashion, it’s hugely exciting to champion environmental conservation together. The remarkable ‘Take Care with Peanuts’ initiative shows how brands can lead the way in making this world a better place and as we continue driving sustainability in fashion, we’re proud to bring this new collection to market.”

As an organic sustainable brand launched in London four years ago, Vayyu was ranked the second most ethical company in the UK by the Good Shopping Guide 2018. The brand supports a number of global environmental conservation initiatives through its charity, the Vayyu Foundation.

With shared environmental values, Nottingham Trent University is one of the most sustainable universities in the world. It ranked third in the UK by the People and Planet University League, and fifth globally in the UI GreenMetric.

WildBrain CPLG signs popular mobile gaming IP Brawl Stars in latest Line Friends deal

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WildBrain CPLG has secured a multi-territory representation deal for the popular online mobile game, Brawl Stars, with the brand’s global rights holder, Line Friends. The deal marks an existing partnership between the two that covers the Line Friends characters brands, Brown & Friends and BT21.

WildBrain CPLG will now represent Brawl Stars across the UK, Ireland, France, Germany, Italy, Iberia, Benelux, Nordics, CEE, Greece, Turkey, Russia, Belarus, and Ukraine with a licensing programme aimed at fans of all ages. Key target categories will include apparel, accessories, toys, homewares, and stationery.

Brawl Stars is a multiplayer online battle-arena and hero-shooter game with multiple game modes. It was originally created and produced by the Finnish mobile game developer, Supercell, and provided the foundation for a global partnership with Line Friends to exploit all opportunities for the Brawl Stars IP. This includes licensing, content creation, and merchandise production.

The game first launched in 2018 and has since generated a significant user base in Europe with over 280M downloads.

Maarten Weck, executive vice president and managing director at WildBrain CPLG, said: “We’ve established a very successful partnership with Line Friends across their beloved character brands, so it’s fantastic to extend the relationship and welcome the hugely popular Brawl Stars to our portfolio.

“The game has an impressive footprint across Europe, which will provide a solid foundation as we assemble a compelling cross-category consumer products programme for fans and gamers. We already have a number of exciting deals in the pipeline, so watch this space.”