The Jim Henson Company has appointed Rockpool Licensing as its agency of record for the UK, where the company will handle all of Henson’s licensing and merchandising activities in the region.
The agency will manage Henson brands like Splash and Bubbles, Dot., Hulu original Doozers and classic properties like Fraggle Rock and fantasy film Labyrinth.
Rockpool was launched in 2014 by Vickie O’Malley, the former MD of CPLG UK.
Melbourne-based Moose Toys has picked up master toy distribution rights of Golden Bear’s Bush Baby World brand in the US and Canada.
With more than one million units selling in the UK, Bush Baby World interactive plush toy has been enjoying success since its launch this summer.
Starting this spring, Moose will release identical products under the name of Fur Babies World in North America.
The line will feature small plush animals that sport plastic faces and patented technology that makes their eyes and ears move when a child rubs them.
Brands with Influence’s 10 x two-minute Bush Baby World YouTube series (which has more than a million views to date) will also be re-purposed for the North American market by Moose Toys, whose Shopkins line led significant sales in both the US and the UK last year.
Rainbow, the content company has acquired a majority holding in the Iven S.p.A. group. Rainbow is renowned throughout the world for its animated and multimedia productions.
Iven was founded in 1986 by the show business agent and producer Maurizio Totti, the Oscar-winning director Gabriele Salvatores, the actor Diego Abatantuono and the actor Paolo Rossi.
A wide-ranging group, Iven includes film and television production company Colorado Film, artistic management and talent management company Moviement and recording company San Isidro Edizioni Musicali. It also has a stake in production and distribution company Gavila srl.
The combination of these two centres of Italian excellence creates a major entertainment hub whose aim will be to consolidate and build on the two companies’ combined achievements in Italy and to increase expansion abroad.
In particular, after the success of the live action teen series Maggie & Bianca Fashion Friends, Rainbow plans further investment in the live action sector and to broaden its target audience to include young adults.
Just as the 2015 acquisition of animation studio Bardel Entertainment Inc enriched Rainbow’s animation production capability, this latest agreement gives Rainbow strength and expertise in the live action market.
Rainbow’s landmarks to date include worldwide hits Winx Club, World of Winx, Maggie & Bianca Fashion Friends, Regal Academy and many others.
Family entertainment specialist Rainbow has collaborated with Santoro.
Rainbow, ranked at #11 in the list of global licensors will add to its impressive brand portfolio by acting as licensing representative for Santoro’s renowned Gorjuss collection across Italy, France and Turkey.
Rainbow will capitalise on the impressive growth of Gorjuss. In France and Italy, there is already a strong BTS presence as well as longstanding success in DTR and apparel.
Talks are also underway across various other categories, including toy, food and household goods.
Rainbow Group’s SVP, Licensing and Acquisitions Cristiana Buzzelli shares her enthusiasm for the partnership by saying, “We are so excited to represent a great lifestyle brand like Gorjuss, which so perfectly fits our portfolio and DNA as a company. We are ready to bring Gorjuss into Italy, France and Turkey and work with the best licensing partners in our territories.”
Agreeing with her, Santoro’s Co-founder and Creative Director Meera Santoro said, “Likewise we are thrilled to be working with a company that has such strong synergies with our own. Working with this dynamic enterprise, we cannot wait to see how Gorjuss continues to blossom in the global market.”
This major licensing collaboration will be launching officially at BLE 17 where the stands of both the companies will stand face to face.
French award-winning animation studio Xilam has recently announced a licensing deal that covers more than 230 episodes of children’s content to Italian TV network De Agostini Editore.
The deal will give De Agostini Editore exclusive pay TV rights to several of Xilam’s highly popular animated content.
The most notable of the content included in the deal would have to be the exciting animated comedy series Oggy & the Cockroaches that focuses on the slapstick exploits of a cat and three cockroaches that serve as friends and enemies in equal measures.
Also included in the deal is Zig & Sharko which focuses on a hyena who wants to eat a mermaid but is constantly foiled by her shark bodyguard, the kid’s show based on Arthud de Pins’designs – A Kind of Magic and other Xilam exclusives such as the Mr. Magoo reboot and the dino show Moka.
Marc du Pontavice, Founder and President of Xilam Animation, stated, “De Agostini is a key player in Italy and we are thrilled to be expanding our presence in this major territory with this volume content deal. We are excited to take our shows to a new audience in Italy.”
As per box-office records, Jurassic World is the fourth highest grossing film in cinema history having sourced over $1.6 billion at the global box office. Hence, it’s no surprise that the licensees are roaring and ready to go for the launch of the sequel next summer.
The UK licensing programme for Jurassic World: Fallen Kingdom now boasts of 27 licensees across a number of categories.
Hannah Mungo, country director UK & Ireland consumer products at NBC Universal Brand Development, said: “This will be a focused UK campaign with opportunities to maximise the popularity of the franchise throughout 2018, starting with a focus on the classic movie and moving into activity for the release of Jurassic World: Fallen Kingdom, followed by back to school and subsequently the DVD release.
“Early commitment from such strong licensing partners as these indicates the confidence we all have in this much loved entertainment brand.”
UK partners include Aykroyds, TDP Textiles, Fabric Flavours, White Optics, Roy Lowe & Sons, Trademark Products, Fashion UK and Smith & Brooks for apparel and accessories; Character World, Corsair and DNC for homewares; Danilo for cards; Mondo SPA, Skyrocket Toys and Cartamundi for toys and games; Whitehouse Leisure for arcade plush and games; Finsbury Food Group and Bon Bon Buddies for cakes and confectionery; Procos for party supplies; Carlton Publishing and RMS and IG Design Group for activity products; Sambro for novelty; Kid Design for audio electronics and Pyramid for social stationary and posters.
UBD is aiming to sign licensees of categories such as outdoor and wheeled toys, consumables, accessories, gifting, room solutions, puzzles and games at Brand Licensing Europe this week.
Global, master global toy partner Mattel and LEGO Systems will lead the retail roll out with toys across a variety of play patterns.
Media I.M. Incorporated has appointed TF1 Licenses to represent the licensing, merchandising and promotion of its hit pre-school series Sunny Bunnies in France and French-speaking Europe.
The deal includes TF1 Licenses which is part of the French broadcast group’s commercial operations and one of the leading consumer-product agents in its territory.
TF1 Licenses will manage the key merchandising and licensing categories for Sunny Bunnies produced by Belarus-based Digital Light Studio.
TF1 has also acquired the AVOD and SVOD rights enabling it to cross-promote the animated comedy on TF1’s leading children’s catch-up service MY TF1 as well as on the SVOD platform TFOUMAX.
Daphné de Beauffort, Head of Kids Content Acquisition said, ‘We are proud to announce our collaboration with Media IM Incorporated for Sunny Bunnies. We really like these funny and catchy characters, and their shiny and happy environment. The series meets TfOU’s values which are to provide fun and craziness for kids!
We are providing unique digital visibility forthe series through our strong free digital platform MYTF1, where kids can discover or find episodes or their favorite heroes under the TFOU section, and continue the experience through our SVOD platform TFOUMAX.’
The agreement with TFI Licenses follows on the heels of the first licensing deal struck earlier this year with US partner Evolution, which is representing Sunny Bunnies in North America, Australia and New Zealand. Evolution is managing a range of Sunny Bunnies brand extensions into children’s apparel, accessories, publishing, toys and food. Media IM’s strategy is to establish a network of L&M agents covering specific territories and/or regions.
The Sunny Bunnies are five beaming balls that can appear anywhere there is a source of light, from sunshine to moonlight. In each episode, the cheeky creatures bring their fun and games to a different location — a circus, a sports stadium, a park — embarking on mischievous adventures and spreading laughter and happiness. And at the end of every episode, the fun continues with a collection of bloopers.
Launched in April 2014, Media I.M. Incorporated by former Viacom International Media Networks executives Maria Ufland and Irina Nazarenko, is an international content distribution company specialising in the sale of premium family entertainment and animation to both linear and non-linear platforms.
Brand extension and strategy agency Licensing Link that manages the licensing programme in the UK and Ireland for the Molang brand on behalf of worldwide licensor Millimages, has welcomed a further four licensees for the cuddly, funny, kind-hearted rabbit whose animated series is a massive online and TV hit.
Firstly, Click Distribution has signed for fashion jewellery and accessories; DJ Murphy is on board for multi-character magazines; Poetic Brands has confirmed for adult daywear and Smith & Brooks will create children’s daywear.
The four new partners join the fast growing Molang licensing programme which also includes TOMY Europe (master toy), Blueprint Collections, Roy Lowe & Sons and Aykroyds and TDP Licensing.
Molang and his best friend Piu Piu first came to the world’s attention on the personal blog of Korean illustrator Hye-Ji Yoon, quickly becoming popular through instant messaging apps.
French animation and production studio Millimages then gave Molang his own TV show which is strongly based on visual humour (Molang and his friends speak a language entirely of their own).
To date, 156 three-and-a-half-minute episodes have been made.
TV exposure extends to more than 200 countries worldwide with high ratings in a number of countries – most notably France, the US and the UK while Molang is also enjoying enormous success on YouTube and apps, as well as a massive social media presence.
“We are very excited to have these partners joining the Molang licensing programme,” said director of Licensing Link, Ian Wickham. “Both Molang and the TV show are ramping up across Europe with the addition of Boomerang added to Cartoonito as platforms here in the UK and TF1, the biggest free to air broadcaster across Europe, just starting its commitment to all 156 episodes in France,” he added.
IMG has announced the formation of a new holding company named Endeavor which will take on the full portfolio of owned and operated brands formerly under the WME | IMG banner.
“WME | IMG represented a pivotal moment in our company’s history but it does not accurately reflect the extent of our diversity or indicate where we’re headed,” remarked Ariel Emanuel, CEO, Endeavor. “In creating Endeavor, we now have a holding company that represents the very definition of the word itself, constantly striving to push boundaries on behalf of our clients and owned properties,”he added.
Echoed Patrick Whitesell, Executive Chairman, Endeavor, “Our business at its core remains rooted in access, service and creativity. The one substantial difference is that unlike 20 years ago, we’re now sitting at the center of an incredible global network. We have the relationships and the platforms to help our clients and partners extend their reach and bring their creative initiatives to life.”
The new entity will be led by Ariel Emanuel as CEO and Patrick Whitesell as Executive Chairman, both of whom will continue to sit on the company’s board.
Beginning with Silver Lake’s initial investment in WME in 2012, Endeavor has attracted strategic partners including CPPIB, Fidelity, Focus Media, FountainVest, GIC, Mubadala, Sequoia Capital, SoftBank and Tencent, gaining recognition as one of Fortune’s 25 Most Important Private Companies.
The Endeavor family includes WME, a leading global entertainment agency representing a powerful client roster across motion picture, television, sports, music, books, digital and theater; IMG, a global leader in sports, events, media and fashion; UFC®, the world’s premier professional mixed martial arts (MMA) organization; Droga5, Cannes Lions Independent Agency of the Year; Professional Bull Riders; The Miss Universe Organization; and Frieze, a leading arts and media company. Endeavor also encompasses a range of premium properties and agencies, including comedic management house Dixon Talent and artist management and consulting agency The Wall Group. Additionally, the Endeavor family includes a number of strategic joint ventures, among them Euroleague Basketball and ELEAGUE, an eSports league created in conjunction with Turner, as well as a subsidiary in China focused on advancing the company’s growth in the country.
Penguin Ventures, part of Penguin Random House, has been appointed lead global agent of Elmer by Andersen Press.
Penguin Ventures will be working closely with Andersen Press to develop a global strategy for the brand with a particular focus on the 30th Anniversary of Elmer in 2019 which will present opportunities for commemorative consumer products as well as new partnerships and live experiences.
Until now, an existing consumer products programme for Elmer has been managed by Andersen Press with Metrostar representing bedding and apparel categories in the UK.
Metrostar will continue to manage bedding and apparel in the UK market while Penguin Ventures will oversee all other categories in the UK as well as being appointed as head agent managing and working along with Andersen’s network of sub-agents across all categories globally.
Commented Mark Hendle, MD of Andersen Press, “This year has seen incredible growth for us across different markets for Elmer, plus our biggest ever Elmer Day celebrations. With Penguin Ventures now working with us to increase our global licensing we’re looking forward to seeing where else Elmer can go as he heads into his 30th Anniversary year in 2019.”
Susan Bolsover, Licensing and Consumer Products Director, for Penguin Ventures observed, “We’re thrilled to welcome Elmer into the Penguin Ventures family of classic characters. Elmer’s message of difference and diversity really resonates with parents and children alike and his bold and colourful pallet makes him incredibly appealing visually. We’re really excited to be working alongside the team at Andersen Press to build Elmer further here in the UK, but also internationally through new consumer products, live events and retail partnerships.”
Elmer the Patchwork Elephant currently has a strong presence at retail. The first apparel ranges for Elmer were launched into Tu at Sainsbury’s this year as well as M&Co and JoJo Maman Bebe in 2017 by Metrostar with licensees Paul Dennicci, Casa Chicos and Cooneen.
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