Total Licensing Winter 24 by Total Licensing

Winter 2024

Regular Features Comment........................................................................ 8 Global news.................................................................. 10 Products of Change.................................................... 51 The Gary Pope Column............................................ 78 Legally Speaking........................................................... 92 What’s On.................................................................... 94

North America Popeye at 95!............................................................... 58 Canada Profile: Spinmaster................................................. 72 Profile: Nelvana............................................................ 73 Kidscreen Summit Preview............................................ 82

Europe

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Squishmallows A Global Phenomenon....................................... 26 Interview with Kennedy Publishing......................... 28 Hello Kitty: Timeless Icon.......................................... 30 The World of Diramix............................................... 31 Building the Tara Duncan program.......................... 34 When the Numbers add up!.................................... 38 Spotlight on Magic Light Pictures............................ 42 Nordics Licensing NLC................................................................................. 44 Astrid Lindgren............................................................. 45 Rights & Brands.......................................................... 46 Bångeri........................................................................... 47 Pokemon in 2024........................................................ 56 Crumble & Core Expansion..................................... 60

Spotlight on the German Licensing Market.......... 61 Studio 100.................................................................... 61 Lizenzwerft................................................................... 62 V.I.P Entertainment..................................................... 62 Amscan Europe........................................................... 63 Warner Bros Discovery.............................................. 64 Bavaria Media............................................................. 65 WDR Mediacorp......................................................... 65 Brandmate.................................................................... 66 Hasbro........................................................................... 66 Nostalgic-Art................................................................. 67 IMG................................................................................. 68 The Brand Residence................................................. 68 Toon2Tango.................................................................. 69 Edel Kids....................................................................... 70 Paul Gunther GmbH.................................................. 71 Licensing Ticket to Ride............................................. 80 Toy Fairs 2024 - London and Nuremberg............. 84 Shining the Spotlight on Licensees.......................... 90

Asia and Middle East Anniversary Year for Beyblade................................. 36 The Legal Landscape in the Middle East................ 74 Blippi in Riyadh............................................................ 76

Global Care Bears spreading Love and Empathy.............. 32 The Metaverse, Brands and Gaming....................... 40 Sustainability - Doing the Right Thing..................... 49 The LBE Juggernaut continues................................. 54 Movie Blockbusters are Back................................... 88

Co-Publisher Francesca Ash francesca@totallicensing.com

Co-Publisher Jerry Wooldridge jerry@totallicensing.com

Editorial Director Rebecca Ash Ffrench becky@totallicensing.com

Office Manager Helen Bowerman helen@totallicensing.com

Japan Agent Roger Berman, ZenWorks rmb@zenworks.jp

With thanks to those who contributed to this issue TOTAL LICENSING LTD 4 Wadhurst Business Park Faircrouch Lane, Wadhurst, East Sussex TN5 6PT UK Tel: +44 (0) 1892 782220 Fax: +44 (0) 1892 782226 www.totallicensing.com helen@totallicensing.com

It feels like half of the movies scheduled to be in theaters in 2024 are reboots or prequels. And you’d think this would be really unpopular to the general masses but it doesn’t seem like Hollywood will stop anytime soon considering most of these types of movies do well at the box office. Is the success of these movies the reason we’re getting less inspired films in the theaters these days? Many say that they want to see new stories, not the same old movie just redone. However, many ‘original’ creators are getting budgets and a greater exposure on streaming services worldwide. Unlike the past where many of these films would be buried for good, a fair number of them are getting a platform nowadays. 2024 looks to be a record year for the seemingly endless number of Hollywood sequels, reboots and remakes coming out. By the end of the year, Hollywood will have released dozens of movies in one of these categories. These kinds of movies, while not very original, are thought to be safe bet cash cows for Hollywood studios. But, they are also lamented by Hollywood’s insiders who prophesize that these big budget movies will implode the industry once a majority of them start fail. With movie theatres being flooded with sequels, reboots and remakes, it seems that the US movie industry is either heading towards disruption or implosion. Hollywood’s déjà vu problem illustrates how many other industries and organizations struggle to resist the temptation of overexploiting successful but fleeting opportunities while underexploring and not coming up with new ideas and concepts. Interestingly, in studying the US automotive industry in the 1970s, W.J. Abernathy of Harvard noticed that US automakers were stuck in exploitation of the existing and were ignoring innovation. He argued that the US automobile industry’s preference for incremental development was partially responsible for its decline.

Printed in England. All illustrations are reproduced by permission of their owners. No part of this magazine may be copied or quoted without permission from the Publishers first. Total Licensing Ltd does not warrant or assume any legal liability for the accuracy or legality of contents, images or advertisements submitted to the magazine. Opinions of the contributing writers are their own and do not reflect the opinion of Total Licensing Ltd.

Movies such as Star Wars 8, Transformers: The Last Knight,The Avengers: Age of Ultron,Top Gun Maverick etc – can be considered examples of films that are based on an exploitation strategy. These are films that have established market bases and story lines.Therefore, production firms prosper by doing incremental development of

story lines and characters in order to bring new films to the market. The numbers behind pure exploitation films are significant and go a long way to explain Hollywood’s love of sequels. For example, Iron Man 3 grossed $1.2 billion, Star Wars 7 grossed $2 billion and the Avengers grossed $1.4 billion. To date, 41 of the 50 highest grossing movies of all time is either a sequel, reboot or remake. Of the films that have grossed over $1 billion, three quarters of them are sequels, remakes or reboots. Just look at some that have eclipsed the billion dollar mark: Beauty and the Beast (remake) Fast and Furious 8, Guardians of the Galaxy 2, Pirates of the Caribbean (5), Transformers (5), Despicable Me 3, and Star Wars 8. Top Gun: Maverick grossed $1.493 billion and Avatar: The Way of Water grossed $1.58 billion. Is it little wonder that the studios persist in extending the life of their franchises?. Of course, from a merchandising point of view, the issue becomes a little more difficult. While some multi-movie franchises have done extraordinarily well in terms of merchandise – Star Wars, Minions, Toy Story and the likes, it is difficult to continue to refresh films with new product lines for the third or fourth sequel. Many cite this as part of the reason for the rise of the streaming services and their success. Netflix, Hulu, Amazon, Disney+ etc all create new material. Some work and some do not. However, Netflix alone has nearly 250 million subscribers and 83% of US households have at least one streaming service, significantly up from around 50% in 2015. The result, of course, is the rise of streamingbased brands such as Cocomelon and without doubt, we will see more of these moving forwards. So, whilst Hollywood concentrates on sequels, they should perhaps remember what happened to the US automobile industry. As Roger von Oech said, “It’s easy to come up with new ideas; the hard part is letting go of what worked for you two years ago but will soon be out of date.” n Francesca Ash Co-Publisher

Jerry Wooldridge Co-Publisher

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FRED & GRAZZA’S GREATEST HITS AND MISSES! Fred & Grazza’s Greatest Hits & Misses! Live show at 10:30 am, Friday 2nd February 2024, at the Promenade Playhouse, 10931 West Pico Blvd, Santa Monica, Los Angeles, USA. Fred & Grazza’s Greatest Hits & Misses! is a 60 minute performance featuring Fred Gaffney, Australia’s legendary Licensing Agent and Grahame Grassby, the former Head of ABC International Licensing, recounting a collection of funny and surprising stories that happened along their way selling two of Australia’s most loved children’s properties, Bananas in Pyjamas and The Wiggles. For information contact: grahamegrassby@gmail.com

BRAND-WARD SIGNS MOLANG Millimages, one of the oldest independent animation studios and IP develop-

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ers in Europe, is pleased to announce the appointment of bRAND-WARD as licensing agent for their flagship property Molang in the UK and Republic of Ireland. Based in the UK, bRAND-WARD is a Kids IP Consultancy and Licensing Agency that has worked on a broad range of global properties such as SpongeBob Square Pants, Dora the Explorer and Power Rangers, to name a few. Founder Jean-Philippe Randisi will be joined by licensing sales consultants Maggy Harris (BSL) and Kirsty Guthrie (KJG Ltd) to support the development of Molang in the British Isles. Molang, aka The Ambassador of Kindness, is an international TV, social media, licensing, and merchandising phenomena. The brand has had huge exposure and engagement worldwide with 712 million views on YouTube Kids and 18m on the adult YouTube channel. In 2023 alone, Molang gained 821K Tik Tok subscribers and 335K on

Instagram. As it has evolved into a pop culture icon, Molang’s versatility has been drawing large Gen-Z and millennial audiences on YouTube and social media platforms with its parodies and its good-humoured take on modern life. bRAND-WARD’s licensing efforts in the UK will focus on products, services, and retail destinations relevant to this target group and the brand’s DNA. Alexandra Algard-Mikanowski, Licensing and Merchandising Director at Millimages, said: “With the endless appetite of Western consumers for cute-looking designed cultural icons and the critical need for empathy and kindness, the time is right for Molang to reach out to its fans in the UK and provide a bit of relief and community spirit. bRAND WARD really understands Molang’s fundamental purpose of spreading kindness and will be an excellent advocate for the brand in this important market.”

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NEW AGENCY FROM DAVID BORN Licensing agent Born Licensing has announced the launch of a new business called Born to License. The firm, best known for delivering incremental revenue to the licensing industry through deals in the licensed advertising category, has made the announcement as part of its 10-year anniversary celebrations.

Born to License will focus on expanding the company’s services beyond the advertising category. The new area will see companies with an ambition to enter the licensing space hire Born to License to manage the licensing process from start to finish on their behalf. David Born, Founder and CEO of Born Licensing, comments, “Over the last decade our profile has grown significantly and as a result we are contacted regularly by companies all over the world that need our help with licensing. We’ve turned hundreds of companies away because they didn’t meet our criteria. With Born to License’s flexible business model, we’ll no longer have to leave these businesses to navigate the licensing world on their own.” The firm’s services will include providing guidance around the most suitable licenses for their client’s products, pitching for licenses and negotiating licensing deals, managing the approvals process and being responsible for all other aspects of the licensing process. Amber Cheung, Senior Licensing Executive of Born Licensing, commented, “We have become experts at managing licensed programs for advertising

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agencies and brands that have little licensing experience, no relationships in the licensing industry and insufficient resources to do it themselves. We’ve taken that experience and built a business that will allow us to provide the best service to any company that needs support in the licensing space.” The launch of Born to License is expected to make the licensing process easier for both Licensors and Licensees, as their service will absorb most of the challenges that arise from a company entering the licensing space with limited experience and resources. David Born, Founder and CEO of Born Licensing, explained, “I started my licensing career working with a lot of FMCG companies that were new to licensing, and I developed a strong passion for helping ensure that their entry into the licensing space was a successful one. I’ve always considered myself a champion of how powerful licensing can be for those that are yet to experience it, and Born to License will allow me to build on that.” Born to License has already signed a number of client’s onto its platform, with the first product due to launch shortly. Since launching in 2014, Born Licensing has been responsible for some of the most well-known advertising campaigns which have licensed characters and IP including ASDA’s 2022 Christmas campaign with Buddy the Elf, Direct Line’s ‘We’re On It’ campaigns with RoboCop, Bumblebee, Donatello, Optimus Prime and Marvel’s King Valkyrie and Moneysupermarket’s campaign’s with Action Man and Skeletor and He-Man dancing to Dirty Dancing. The licensing industry has recognized Born Licensing, who is a three-time winner and seven-time nominee in the Best Licensed Promotion category at the Licensing International Excellence Awards. Born Licensing will, of course, continue to be laser-focused on delivering lucrative licensed advertising deals to the industry and has a number of major campaigns scheduled to launch in 2024.

ROBOCAR POLI IN BRAZIL Tesaki Licensing has announced its recent appointment as the exclusive agent for the Brazilian market for the widely acclaimed children’s animated series, Robocar POLI, a South Korean property from Roi Visual. Robocar POLI has captivated children and families worldwide through the adventures of a group of vehicles that transform into robots to assist friends in dangerous or challenging situations. Over the years, this series has won hearts with its engaging narrative that highlights collaboration, courage, and the importance of helping others. The Robocar POLI series has achieved significant milestones on the international stage. Aired in multiple countries and translated into various languages, it has charmed children across the globe. Through its positive stories and uplifting values, Robocar POLI has been praised by parents, educators, and critics alike. Robocar POLI is not limited to just the TV screen. With a robust multi platform presence, the series is accessible on television channels, streaming services, and digital media. In Brazil, it is now available on Globoplay, Netflix, and YouTube. This ensures that the exciting adventures and positive messages of the series reach a broad and diverse audience.

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MARADONA LICENSED IN INDIA

RAVENSBURGER

Dream Theatre, one of India’s premier brand management and licensing representation company, has secured the rights for the Maradona Consumer Products programme from Podium Icons, a division of Podium Brands Group in the UK. Podium Icons has exclusively acquired the master licensor rights from Sattvica SA, the Argentine company which owns the Maradona, name, image and likeness rights, and has a range of as-

Ravensburger has announced 2024 plans for its Villainous franchise. Ravensburger will move to a new format for all Villainous expandalone games in 2024, now featuring two characters at a more affordable price point. The company will add new expandalone games in the Disney Villainous and Star Wars Villainous lines, which will both be available later this year. “The Villainous community is full of passionate, friendly fans, who’ve used our games to introduce friends to the board gaming hobby for years, and we take that responsibility very seriously,” said Lysa Penrose, Head of New Games Marketing at Ravensburger. Disney Villainous: Sugar and Spite, featuring King Candy from Disney’s Wreck-It Ralph and Shere Khan from Disney’s The Jungle Book, will be the franchise’s newest expandalone when it debuts in June. Ravensburger will travel deeper into the Star Wars galaxy with a new expandalone in summer. More details on the game, including featured characters, will be revealed ahead of the game’s launch later this year. In addition to the new expandalones, Ravensburger will also offer an option for new players with Disney Villainous: Introduction to Evil. First released in 2023 as a limited Disney100 offering, the game will be available in the UK and Ireland from August. Introduction to Evil has been refreshed with video resources and streamlined gameplay. It includes a refreshed box and reintroduces some of the franchise’s first Disney Villains – Maleficent, Captain Hook, Ursula, and Prince John. The changes incorporate fan feedback, and the Ravensburger team’s learning developing the game for over five years.

sets and IP with which to be the sole authorised representative of the Maradona IP and to develop the Diego Maradona brand. Podium Icons has placed the rights for bringing brand Maradona to India and South Asia with Dream Theatre. Dream Theatre will drive the program in India and has started working with some of the leading names in apparel, footwear, luggage, gifts and novelty, memorabilia to create a comprehen-

sive licensing programme. Regarded as the one of the greatest players in the history football, Maradona is one of the original superstars of the game. He rose from a modest background to become one of football’s greatest stars who never forgot his roots. On the field, he was an audacious and exceptionally talented player, known for his charismatic personality and determination. His performance in the FIFA World Cup 1986, which led Argentina to victory, made him a legend the world over, winning him legions of fans in India too, who continue to celebrate him and everything he stood for. Maradona is the joint holder of the FIFA Player of the century award along with the Brazilian great, Pele. In fact, Maradona led the internet poll with 53.6% compared to Pele’s 18.6%. “We are very excited to represent Maradona in India and South Asia. Maradona’s personality and impact on the game is timeless and as football gains ground in India, fans old and new will have a chance to celebrate the sheer genius of Maradona with authentic merchandise across categories,” said Jiggy George, CEO and Founder of Dream Theatre. Sanjay Wadhwani, CEO and Founder of Podium Brands, said, “Maradona was more than just the greatest footballer of all time, he transcended the sport and became an icon to millions. We are thrilled to be given the honour of building and leading Maradona Brand with the purpose of sharing his remarkable story and, in time, building a lasting legacy promoting social and charitable causes in his name.” Maradona merchandise will launch early 2024 and will be available across retail chains, stores and e-commerce platforms.

See Total Licensing at: London Toy Fair Kidscreen Nuremberg Toy Fair Brands & Retail UK 14 x

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EDEL KIDS CELEBRATES 25 YEARS Edel Kids the children’s home entertainment brand of the Edel Group, is delighted to announce a significant milestone: 25 years of successful presence in the children’s entertainment market. Over a quarter of a century the label has established itself as one of the most important brands of children’s repertoire in the audio and

DVD segments in Germany, Austria and Switzerland with continuously increasing sales figures by offering highquality kids’ products. “For 25 years Edel Kids has stood for high-quality children’s entertainment

that inspires young audiences with compelling audio and DVD products. This anniversary is a significant milestone that reflects our commitment and consistency in the children’s entertainment sector.” Andrea zum Felde, General Manager Edel Kids, who has been in charge since the label’s founding on January 1, 1999. As a forward-thinking label, Edel Kids transforms licensed themes like “Barbie”, “The Little Prince” and “Pettson and Findus” into long-term classics available in physical and digital formats. It actively engages in the production of animation series and movies, earning numerous gold and platinum awards. Established as marketing experts, Edel Kids collaborates in extensive crossmedia and industry-spanning partnerships with entities like Universal/ DreamWorks, Warner Bros., Mattel, Hasbro, 20th Century Fox, Super RTL, KiKA, ZDF and many others. Through its two in-house distribution channels, Edel Distribution and Kontor New Media, Edel Kids is able to reach end consumers quickly with a constant stream of various new properties.

The label consistently proves its knack for new and successful content, earning the eponymous “Der Goldene Spatz” award at the Children’s Media Festival 2022 for the episode “The Dead Magpie” from the third season of the Pettson and Findus tv-series, produced in collaboration with ZDF, which addressed the topic of death in a child-appropriate manner, as recognized by a children’s jury. Edel Kids has embraced the significant industry changes, especially regarding digitalization, as a positive challenge, necessitating continual new perspectives and creative approaches. The label sees this evolution as an opportunity and motivation to constantly innovate, as seen in initiatives like the Kekz Headphones. This mindset and its enduring success led Edel Kids to win the “Licensing International Germany Awards” twice - in the categories of “Licensee of the Year” (2019) and “Licensing Industry Award” (2023). Business partners like licensor Mattel have previously expressed appreciation for their longstanding collaboration with Edel Kids through the “Entertainment Licensee” award (2013).

MR BEAN IS BACK! Tiger Aspect Kids & Family (a Banijay Kids & Family company), recently announced that its hit comedy, Mr Bean: The Animated Series, has been commissioned for a fourth run, in partnership with Warner Bros. Discovery and ITVX, through deals agreed by Banijay Rights. Executive produced and voiced by Rowan Atkinson, season 4 will comprise 52 x 11’ episodes, bringing the total number of episodes across all series to 182 x 11-minutes. It will air on Cartoonito and HBO Max across EMEA, on Warner Bros. Discovery’s kids channels and streaming services across South East Asia and South Asia, and on ITVX Kids in the UK and Eire from 2025, which will be the 35th anniversary of the first live-action episode. Rowan Atkinson said: “I have always enjoyed this iteration of the Mr Bean character and the particular freedoms he has in animated form. We can take him into space or down a tin mine, without me personally having to suffer the consequences. The animation process creatively is always fascinating and I’m looking forward to getting stuck into the new series very much.” Tom Beattie, MD Tiger Aspect Kids & Family/Series Producer says: “It’s a real pleasure to have the opportunity to go back to such a special series. Mr Bean is an iconic comedy legend and it’s an honour to work with Rowan to

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create this physically funny series.” Cathy Payne, CEO Banijay Rights says: “One of the most loved characters in TV comedy history, Mr Bean’s amusing escapades are cherished by children and families across the world. We’re thrilled to continue our long-standing partnership with Warner Bros Discovery and ITV on this animated series which captures Bean’s world so brilliantly.” Mr Bean is a British icon, with the original live-action series first hitting screens in 1990. It has since been broadcast in 195 territories, with the series in continual distribution for over 30 years. Co-created by Rowan Atkinson and Richard Curtis, the eponymous hero was played by Rowan Atkinson, who now voices the globally successful animated series, which launched in 2002.

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AMUSE ANIMATION DISTRIBUTION Amuse Animation, a pioneering digitalfirst animation studio, has sold a slew of its animation series to TV Azteca and Guest Choice for Latin America, RTVC in the Canaries, and MBC for the Middle East and North Africa. The deals signal Amuse’s definitive move into distributing content starring the studio’s animated preschool heroes to mainstream broadcast channels. Top Mexican network TV Azteca acquired the rights for Mexico, Honduras and Guatemala to six of Amuses’ flagship shows, Shark Academy, Miliki Family, RoboFuse, AnimaCars, Increditales, and Plum the Super Witch. Totaling an impressive 540 episodes, the deal includes Free TV rights for all series and FVOD and AVOD rights for a selection of episodes. In the Dominican Republic, Guest Choice secured Pay TV rights for The Supers, Increditales, Miliki Family and Shark Academy, while MBC snapped up seasons 1 and 2 of The Supers, seasons 1 and 2 of RoboFuse, and sea-

sons 1 and 2 of AnimaCars for free TV in the Middle East and North Africa. And finally, the Canaries Public Service Broadcaster RTVC Free TV channel has acquired Increditales, Miliki Family and Shark Academy for their children’s slot. “We’re thrilled to be working with such strong broadcast partners in Latin America, Canaries, Middle East and North Africa,” commented Jiella Esmat, Chief Revenue Officer, Amuse Animation. “These partnerships represent an important step in our plans to scale off YouTube and create content that works for broadcast as well as

VOD platforms.” Amuse Animation creates preschool animated shows that inspire curiosity and promote kindness, compassion and empathy. In Increditales children’s favourite princesses, heroines, and fairy tale characters encounter relatable scenarios with hilarious twists. Shark Academy stories and songs star the Sharkies, a loveable group of friends who play, interact and learn with the help of their nursery school teacher. In AnimaCars join Jonny and the AnimaCars on their many rescue missions to restore the peace in Animatown!

WINSING UNVEIL LATEST TOY LINES Winsing unveiled a dedicated showroom, offering an intimate and immersive space to explore the original new toylines at the Regal Kowloon Hotel during the recent Hong Kong Toy Fair on Jan 8th-11th. Visitors to the showroom were treated to an exclusive preview of the highly anticipated toy collection regarding Winsing’s flagship IP Gogobus and GG Bond. From innovative designs to engaging play concepts, the showcase aimed to provide a sneak peek into the creativity and quality that define Winsing. Based on the space-themed seasons Gogobus Mars Trip S13-16, the main character school bus Gordon is fully upgraded into Mars form in a new transformative way: Transforming Mars Mecha’s series includes a primary vehicle and a Mars mecha which can be transformed and combined into a big-size robot. The face-changing Mars Mecha series can change the car into a robot, with face-changing features that can switch between dif-

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ferent expressions. Ultra Mars Robot is a highly posable robot with a considerable size that can combine five vehicles. In addition, another kids beloved IP, GG-Bond, has also launched a new Racing toy series Super Speed Racers and Popping Racers, which can transform into super speed mode when

pulled back. The exclusive showroom was designed to showcase the seamless fusion of creativity and play, providing a hands-on experience with the latest toys and merchandise self-developed by Winsing. Visitors enjoyed an interactive experience that brought the entertainment to life.

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THE TRAITORS GO ONLINE! Fans of psychological reality competition show The Traitors will be thrilled to learn there’s now a whole new way they can get involved with the new series. Off the back of the nail-biting third episode, the BBC is releasing a brand new online game to accompany

the smash-hit entertainment show – allowing Traitors obsessives the chance to compete with friends, family and the nation as a while to prove who is the ultimate Traitors fan. The new game was made available online after episode 3 airs on Friday 5th January. Ahead of each subsequent episode airing on BBC One and

iPlayer, players will be able to predict who they think will be the next person to be murdered by the Traitors, and who the Faithful will banish at the next Round Table. They’ll need to make their choices by the start of the next episode, and each correct guess will earn them points which will be added to their total over the course of the series. They can also earn points by predicting which contestants they think will make it through to the endgame, and by answering bonus questions along the course of the series. Players will see how their total ranks in the overall leader board, plus they’ll be able to form separate leagues with their friends – competing across the series to see who comes out on top after the final endgame. The better you understand the show and the characters in it – the better the bragging rights. The game was made available at bbc. co.uk/traitors on web, tablet and mobile devices from Friday 5th January. Jamie Dodds, digital commissioning executive, BBC Entertainment, says “This brand new game offers fans of The Traitors the chance to immerse themselves in the world of the show, and play along with all the betrayals, mind games, and manipulations of this epic new series. It’s a great way for people at home to see if they can think like a Traitor!” Pushpa Reddy, director of product management at the BBC, says: “We’ve built this game as a fun way to help people engage with one of our best loved and most exciting shows. This

is a game for The Traitors obsessives – using everything they know and understand about the show to inform their predictions to compete with their friends and family at this tense and nail-biting game and see who will emerge as the ultimate Traitors fan.” The Traitors continued on BBC One and BBC iPlayer on Wednesday 10th January. The Traitors online game is licensed to the BBC by The Traitors rights holder All3Media International. The online game joins an impressive slate of licensing deals secured by All3Media International over the last year. These include Rubies Masquerade’s official cloaks, Penguin Random House’s Interactive Game Book, an apparel deal with BioWorld, as well as newly launched products available on The Traitors online store via Event Merchandising including hat, beanie, tote bag and water bottle. Additionally, All3Media International has secured board and card game deals across various European territories with partners Goliath, Egmont, Ginger Fox and Identity Games and has announced a partnership with The Everywhere Group, to launch an immersive experience. Created in the Netherlands by IDTV, an All3Media company, The Traitors format was further developed with the RTL Creative Unit and originally produced by IDTV for RTL4. Since its launch in the Netherlands on RTL 4 in 2021, the format has proved its international appeal with over 25 adaptations and numerous returning seasons.

FIRST EVER TOILETRY LINE FOR JOJO MAMAN BEBE Jojo Maman Bebe has launched their first ever toiletry line with a collection of bath time favourites designed for babies, children and families. The new range is made under license for Jojo Maman Bebe by Elsam International Ltd. The vegan, cruelty-free and mildly scented range includes bath fizzers, bubble baths, moisturisers and hair and body washes. The gentle and soft bath time products are exclusively sold online and at selected Tesco stores around the UK.

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TETRIS APPOINTS IMG FOR US, EMEA AND CANADA As the Tetris® brand gears up for its 40th anniversary this year, The Tetris Company has appointed IMG as its merchandise licensing representative in the US, Canada and EMEA, including key territories such as the UK, France, Germany, Middle East, North Africa and India. The agreement expands on

IMG and The Tetris Company’s existing licensing partnership in Asia and Brazil.

The new multi-year partnership will see IMG develop a wide range of licensed products across key categories, including toys, games and collectibles, apparel and accessories, home and décor, food and beverages, sporting goods and outdoor gear, beauty and personal care, pet toys and accessories, travel, stationery and consumer electronic accessories. Often touted as one of the greatestever video game franchises, Tetris is one of the most influential and recognisable brands in the world, played and loved by hundreds of millions of fans worldwide. As The Tetris Company’s merchandise licensing representative in Asia since 2018, IMG has grown the brand’s lifestyle portfolio through notable collaborations with global brands including FILA and Uniqlo. “With IMG’s track record as one of the world’s top licensing agencies, we’re excited to expand our partnership with them in the US, Canada and EMEA. This year is the Tetris brand’s 40th anniversary so we can’t wait to see what opportunities the team at IMG will secure for us,” said Maya Rogers, CEO of Tetris.

Louie Sandoval, Associate Vice President of Licensing at IMG, said, “Almost every person who has ever owned an electronic device has played Tetris. Engaging and evergreen gameplay, eyecatching visuals and strong nostalgic cues have made Tetris a global cultural icon. We are excited to help grow this brand in new directions through a diverse consumer offering that caters to all generations.” IMG’s Tetris representatives were present at CES 2024 in Las Vegas. The Tetris brand is one of the leading and most distinctive video game brands and franchises in the world. Celebrating its 40th Anniversary in 2024, the brand continues to be loved globally by people of all ages and all cultures. Billions of Tetris games are played online every year, and over 520 million units have been sold worldwide. The Tetris brand’s global licensee network includes major video game publishers, including Nintendo and Sega, as well as many partners in electronics, toys and games, apparel, accessories, entertainment and more.

SECOND SERIES FOR JADE ARMOR TeamTO, a leading creator of innovative kids entertainment, has partnered once again with leading kids platforms France Télévisions (France) and SUPER RTL (Germany) for a second series of its martial arts action-comedy series Jade Armor (26 x 22’). APC Kids, part of leading co-production and distribution group APC Studios, will continue to distribute both seasons internationally, while a new all- Jade Armor channel will launch on YouTube. Jade Armor Season 1 (26 x 22) has been acquired by Cartoon Network (EMEA); France Télévisions (France); Super RTL (Germany); ABC (Australia), SRC (Canada); Téléquébec (Canada); WildBrain (Canada); RTBF (Belgium); and DR (Denmark). Aimed at 6–10-year-olds Jade Armor now comprises

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52 22-minute episodes. The legendary Jade Armor is a mythical superhero, and now it is Lan Jun’s turn to be Jade Armor. Even she can’t quite believe her destiny is to be this epic hero! With the help of her friends, Theo and Alisha and the mystical Beasticons that accompany the Armor, Lan Jun is thrust into a series of action-packed adventures. Every day, she must contend with both an evil array of super villains and the very real trials of teenage life. Jade Armor’s talented all-female creative team is led by multiaward-winning executive producer Corinne Kouper, supported by showrunner and co-creator, Chloé Miller; head writer, MJ Offen; French story editor, Ghyslaine Pujol, and co-developer, Mary Bredin. Based on a concept by M Pongo Kuo, Jade Armor is entirely produced in TeamTO’s state of the art animation studios in France.

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PARAMOUNT AND OLYMPIA LE TAN COLLABORATION Luxury fashion brand Olympia Le-Tan® and Paramount Pictures have collaborated to create a featuring two exclusive bags inspired by the iconic film Mean Girls, two bags paying homage to the cult classic Clueless, and a stylish piece capturing the essence of Saturday Night Fever. The Olympia Le-Tan x Paramount collection not only celebrates the cultural impact of Mean Girls and Clueless, but also taps into the revival of ‘90s fashion trends, bringing back the era’s unique style with a contemporary twist. Meanwhile, the Saturday Night Feverclutch is a testament to the enduring influence of ‘70s pop culture on fashion and design. The Mean Girls bags showcase the sassy and bold spirit of the Plastics, incorporating iconic quotes from the film. Meanwhile, the Clueless bags exude the fashionable charm of Cher Horowitz and her Beverly Hills entourage, featuring patterns and details reminiscent of the film›s iconic fashion moments. The Saturday Night Fever bag pays homage to the disco era, offering a touch of glamor and nostalgia for fans of the classic film. In an intriguing twist, this collection aligns seamlessly with the highly anticipated release of the new Mean Girls film in January 2024.

MASTERCHEF JUNIOR AND KIDSTIR Endemol Shine North America, producers of hit culinary competition series Masterchef Junior and Kidstir, a top-of-the-line cooking subscription box for kids, have teamed up to bring Masterchef Junior to the kitchen with the firstever curated subscription box based on the series. The monthly box, now available at gives kids the opportunity to cook like a winning junior chef. It includes insider tips, easy-to-follow instructions and onair recipes delivered to your door. The deal was led by Chris Lucero, Executive Director, Partnerships, Endemol Shine North America. Masterchef Junior season 9 premieres Monday, March 4 (8:00-9:00 PM ET/PT) on FOX and available the next day on Hulu. Masterchef is the world’s most successful cookery television format (Guinness World Records) and last year, K7 crowned it the Spin-Off Superstar, with its eighth spin-off, MasterChef: Dessert Masters, launching in Australia in 2023. Now commissioned across 70 markets, the life-changing show has broadcast more than 10,000 episodes to-date and in 2021 aired its milestone 500th season globally since its reboot in 2005. Created by Franc Roddam and first launched in 1990, the show is a super brand known and enjoyed around the world.

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AUTHENTIC PARTNERS WITH BILLABONG Authentic Brands Group recently announced a partnership with Profile Ent. specialists in the Big & Tall and Plus Women’s apparel categories, for Billabong apparel. Through the agreement, Profile will take on manufacturing, wholesale and the distribution of Billabong Big & Tall mens as well as Plus women’s apparel across the U.S. and Canada. “We are very excited to kick off this partnership with Profile,” said David Brooks, EVP, Action & Outdoor Sports, Lifestyle, Authentic. “Profile is a leader in the Big & Tall and Plus apparel space and offers an unmatched expertise in both. Authentic’s proven track record of brand development together with Profile’s market expertise, prepares Billabong for success in this first time category for the brand.” With an impressive roster of notable brands and strong distribution, Profile is poised to bring Billabong’s Big & Tall and Plus categories to major and independent Big & Tall and Plus retailers across the U.S. and Canada, expanding Billabong’s reach to a broader audience. “We are proud to partner with Authentic to bring this active lifestyle brand to our robust distribution platform,” said Profie Ent. President, Frank Riech. “Billabong offers Profile the opportunity to extend our reach to an important demographic of underserved consumers.” The first Billabong Big & Tall and Plus collections will be available in Spring 2024 at major Big & Tall and Plus retailers as well as across various retailer e-commerce channels.

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Squishmallows: Becoming a Global Lifestyle Phenomenon

From plush powerhouse to a global lifestyle phenomenon, Squishmallows has ascended beyond the toy aisle into an industry-leading lifestyle franchise with a 360-degree licensing portfolio that allows fans to dive even deeper into the captivating world of Squishmallows. An impressive 70+ best-inclass global licensing partners have already joined the programme. Continuing to grow the Squishmallows licensing programme in Europe, Jazwares works with over 25+ local licensing partners across many exciting categories, including fashion apparel & accessories, health & beauty, stationery & gifting, calendars & greetings, and board & card games. The year saw huge success in high profile collaborations with McDonald’s and H&M. Squishmallows musicthemed Happy Meals launched across Continental Europe in summer followed by the UK launch of the Halloween and Autumn themed Happy meals. Fans of the brand went crazy across social media as consumers scrambled to find and collect all the styles in each squad.The first capsule collection with

H&M launched in December 2023. The 42-piece stylish range for kids and pre-teens, including hoodies, PJs and accessories, has had a fantastic response with selected lines in the 9-14 aged-up sizing selling out almost immediately. The range announcement was also H&M Kids’ most engaged social post of the year and January will see an additional collaboration with H&M Looptopia on Roblox, bringing fan favourite Squishmallows dressed in H&M fashions to Loop City.The brand also proudly partnered with Panini UK to launch a Squishmallows Sticker Collection, another stand out performer in the last year, selling out fast, with more exciting things to come together in 2024. Setting up for success in 2024 with a new International Consumer Products team. Nikki Gie has recently joined Jazwares from Hasbro, as Senior Director, Outbound Licensing and Consumer Products, bringing with her 11 years experience leading softlines and DTR’s across Europe. In December 2023 Olivia Wiggett also joined the expanding team as Category Manager alongside Harriet Smith who will be leading PD. Squishmallows will have even more new partners launching in 2024 with Poetic Gem developing plush slippers. Curious Universe expanding for art and crafts and Corsair for Health and Beauty. Finsbury will bring the brand to life in the food and gifting category developing celebration cakes, along with CRC for ice creams and snacks and Modern Gourmet for gifting. This exciting year will kick off with Q1 and the much anticipated launch of the collection with Puma for footwear and apparel. The brand is known for its ultra-soft feel and adorable designs, delighting fans of all ages with the Squishmallows’ unique and lovable personalities. Squishmallows ended 2023 as the topselling toy in the UK for a second year in a row as well as Circana’s Top Gaining Plush Property in Europe!

Now sold in over 55 countries, Squishmallows’ vast audience and multi-generational appeal have fuelled a milestone of 300+ million plush sold YTD. On social media, Squishmallows content has officially squished through the roof, generating over 13.7 billion impressions on TikTok and @squishmallows (and related hashtags) tagged in more than one million Instagram posts. Additionally, the Squishmallows social media channels have ballooned to more than 1.6m followers and over 123 global and local Facebook groups have been created by fans. In the metaverse, Squishmallows on Roblox continues to surprise and delight fans of all ages, ascending to the #1 toy game by concurrent players with a massive 16m registered unique users. 2024 will be a bumper year for Squishmallows at retail; Jazwares has exciting updates to the Squishmallows product and channel strategy, boosting the collectability and world expansion of the brand even further. Listening to the Squishmallows fans, who want to go on the hunt for more unique styles, Jazwares will offer a more extensive plush programme offering diversity across channels, powered by out-ofaisle activations across all major retailers and supported by a robust marketing campaign. Join Jazwares at London Toy Fair at Booth #N8 and at Nuremberg Toy Fair at Hall 4A C-22, D 21. n

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As Kennedy Publishing prepares to celebrate two decades of licensing in children’s magazines, Total Licensing spoke to Madison Halladay, Licensing Executive, about the company’s extraordinary growth and unique approach to publishing successful titles in the current market.

Kennedy Publishing: A Look at Licensing Can you give us some background to your licensed publishing? Kennedy Publishing was established in 2005, and in that same year, we partnered with Mattel to publish Angelina Ballerina, entering into the competitive world of brand licensing with a little mouse and big ideas. Over 200 issues of Angelina later, we now publish five magazines with Mattel, from the ever-inspiring icon, Barbie, to rescue hero, Fireman Sam. In 2024, we will continue our partnership with Mattel with a brand-new venture, getting into gear for an upcoming Hot Wheels magazine that will have fans racing to newsstands. This extended partnership is just one example of how Kennedy value relationships with leading licensors, and have built trust to deliver high-quality, entertaining and educational content. This year will see Kennedy Publishing merge with the award-winning Signature Publishing and their 10-title strong portfolio, cementing Kennedy’s position as the second-largest and fastest-growing children’s magazine publisher. Our licensed portfolio has expanded to 37 titles across the preschool, primary and pre-teen categories, including some of the biggest licenses of this generation. Have any particular editions/brands been successful? Why do you think this is? Beyond Barbie, our bestselling licensed title, we are the proud publishers of many popular long-standing brands – such as Sanrio’s Hello Kitty, and Silvergate’s Peter Rabbit and Octonauts – that continue to connect with fans and find new audiences. We believe what sets us apart from other children’s magazine publish-

ers is that, whilst we are always on the look-out for fresh content, we offer a home for evergreen favourites, ensuring their success in magazine format long-term. This is particularly impressive when the typical lifespan for licensed magazines has dramatically decreased in recent years, with many new launches not surviving their first two-year term. Kennedy buck this trend and help titles that would otherwise have closed to thrive under new editorial and design direction. Other successful titles in the portfolio represent trending, newer brands like Cocomelon, Baby Shark and Gabby’s Dollhouse, that have established themselves as front-runners in the preschool market. Additionally, in the preteen category, we have published Top of the Pops since January 2023, under license from BBC Studios, an exciting heritage brand that has evolved with its readers to deliver relevant popculture content. This range perfectly demonstrates how our titles cater to the interests of readers at every age. We believe that to succeed, a brand requires captivating characters, imaginative storytelling and, above all, an element of fun to help capture the excitement of being young. To every project, Kennedy brings a willingness to innovate and a firm grasp of what matters to readers. It is this care and attention to quality that brings an es-

timated half a million readers to our content each month. Do you have any new licensed publishing coming out in the next year or so? In spring, we will publish a Pip and Posy special, our first partnership with Magic Light Pictures. We are looking forward to bringing the playful, humorous nature of the brand to life.We will also publish the aforementioned Hot Wheels centric issues, at an exciting time for the brand, with the upcoming release of a new TV animation on Netflix and a live-action movie in the works. 2024 marks Barbie’s 65th anniversary, and we will publish a special bumper issue of the magazine in celebration, which is guaranteed to be a delight for fans. Overall, Kennedy Publishing continues to go from strength to strength, and we are eager to see our portfolio expand in 2024 and beyond. n

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Hello Kitty: The Timeless Icon Sanrio starts 2024 with Hello Kitty’s 50th anniversary epic celebrations in full swing!

After months of preparation, the anniversary officially kicked off in November 2023 and will continue for the whole year, which will be filled with ways to celebrate in both the digital and physical worlds and will be highlighted with many surprises along the way. Praising once again friendship and kindness and how these strongly impact our everyday lives, an exclusive program of collabs is being developed together with global PR campaigns as well events and experiences. Activations will take place around the world to celebrate Hello Kitty’s heritage, to connect fans with their beloved character and will involve different areas: from artist collabs to exhibitions and shopping experiences. For instance, Hello Kitty will be featured as “special partner” of “CUTE”, an exhibition taking place at Somerset House in London from January 2024. In addition, Hello Kitty will be the focus of other immersive experiences in Milan (Italy) and Cologne (Germany). Many other events are being planned globally. In the digital world, Sanrio has recently introduced new tools including an AR app, short animations on TikTok and monthly promotions in My Hello Kitty Cafe on Roblox, all supported by global influencer activations. Aiming to leverage its strong legacy

and the anniversary celebrations, Sanrio has been focusing on evolving into a 360°consumer approach, consolidating its presence into the entertainment industry with new content series and gaming releases as well as expanding some of its key categories, including toys. The biggest step into content creation is Sanrio’s newest tv series “Hello Kitty, Super Style!”, which is co-developed with Amazon Kids+. It is available on Viaplay for Scandinavia, Baltics, Poland and Benelux; Super RTL in Germany; CBC in Canada, Canal + in France, Canal Panda in Portugal, RAI YOYO in Italy,Tiny Pop in the UK, Discovery Kids for Latin America, RTS for Switzerland and Hop for Israel. New partners have been recently announced including WildBrain TV/ Télémagino for French-speaking Canada), RTVE/Clan for Spain, MBC for Pan Middle East and Youku for China. For them, the launch is expected in spring 2024. Since the launch, “Hello Kitty: Super Style!” has performed consistently well in every market, ranking in the top 5 pre-school shows on average. As anticipated, toys represent one of the key growth drivers for Sanrio. All the segments are already covered thanks to consolidated partnerships with local and international licensees and many new deals have been already secured thanks to the increased interested around the brand. The first important news is the partnership with LOL Surprise: to celebrate the 50th anniversary of Hello Kitty, LOL and Sanrio have created the limited edition ‘LOL Surprise loves Hello Kitty’: two dolls with adorable Hello Kitty-themed fashions and accessories, all in a brand-new Hello Kitty shaped surprise ball. The plush toy segment is traditionally predominant in Hello Kitty’s mix of toy offering. Alongside Simba, Sanrio’s historic master toy the Spanish Play by Play, the French Cijep and the British Whitehouse Leisure with their amusement plushies, give complete market coverage. The collections include items cel-

ebrating the 50th anniversary, dedicated mainly to teenagers and adults, as well as plush toys dedicated to the Hello Kitty Super Style TV series, for the kids target. The product range is varied with a strong penetration in the main EMEA markets, gaining more and more shelf space. Among the others can be mentioned, puzzles with Ravensburger, figurines and role plays with Simba, collectible toys with Sbabam, capsule toys with FIAM, gifts with Kids Licensing, 3D figurines with Toys Popmart and toy make up sets with Colorbaby. Added to these is an offer of products for outdoor activities from our historic partners such as Cogan with the fun kiddie rides, Mondo and John with balls and wheeled toys, Dinobikes and Denver with bicycles, Happy People and Flexmetal for inflatables and Claudio Reig with their Musical Toys. We cannot forget the Kidult phenomenon, which is gaining more and more market shares. The concept of kawaii, for example, closely linked to the Hello Kitty brand, takes more mature fans back to the years of childhood and adolescence, thanks to the pastel colors and soft shades. This phenomenon is found in many new lines that will also be appreciated by a teen and adult audience, among others, Teknofun for lamps and consumer electronics, Durabo and Joy Toy for home, accessories and gifting items and Paladone for gift and novelities. n

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Diramix is a company founded in 2013 with a focus on collectible products for Italian newsstands. Over the past 10 years, it has acquired a leading position in the newsstand market, producing highly successful products for Italian children such as The Epic Animals, Squishy La Pasta Magica, Dragon Ball Lamincard and, among others, Bing and Me Contro Te sticker albums. In the last four years, Diramix has also expanded globally thanks to Monster-

This approach enabled MonsterFlex to reach its 6th series, to which the spinoffs Dino, Aqua and Combat, as well as the Mini and Maxi versions were added. More recently, MonsterFlex has been joined by renown evergreen properties, such as DC Superheroes and Dragon Ball Super. Dragon Ball Super MonsterFlex were created under the supervision of Toei Animation and Shueishua, to bring the highest level of detail to the numer-

Flex, a line of stretchable characters now distributed in over 35 countries worldwide. The brand MonsterFlex was created with the intention of bringing children’s favourite monsters into every home, with a unique and eye-catching design at affordable prices. The character design takes place in-house, with the help of highly experienced illustrators and 3d designers. In addition to the focus on design, the tactile and playing needs of little ones were taken into account, with the aim of creating characters that are appealing to children’s imaginations and combining this aspect with the needs of manual play. In fact, MonsterFlex characters have the feature of being extendable and malleable to stimulate children’s imagination, encouraging them to create stories and fights, while playing either alone or with others.

ous fans of the series, who will find the main transformations of Goku and Vegeta and other iconic characters such as Future Trunks, Piccolo, Jiren and Golden Frieza in this line. The decision to acquire the Dragon Ball property is as a result of the continued interest from children in the characters and their stories, which are capable of

garnering acclaim from generation to generation. Indeed, 2024 will mark the 40th anniversary of Dragon Ball, a year packed with celebrations! Last but not least, 2023 marked the addition of Stumble Guys to Diramix’s portfolio. Alongside the card and sticker collections for the Italian market, 3D mini figures (3 different series of 26 models), and MonsterFlex stretchable characters were produced for their world debut in all markets. Stumble Guys is a successful multiplayer video game created in 2020 and available on several platforms. It is played online in rounds consisting of 32 players, who must compete by overcoming different obstacles to reach the finishing line. Before each game, players can choose their own stumbler to compete with. The variety of characters and settings, as well as the ability to escape the traps, make Stumble Guys an adrenaline-pumping and immersive game, offering multiple possibilities for development. Diramix’s challenge is to provide complete and cutting-edge product lines, meeting the demands of different consumer targets. Stay tuned for more upcoming news!n

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The Care Bears™

a timeless message of love and empathy Cloudco Entertainment, owner of the Care Bears™ brand, has overseen the continuing success of this much-loved property as it enters new markets and expands its international appeal. It’s been another strong year for Care Bears, in the UK and worldwide. As one of the world’s best-known and beloved family brands, its continuing relevance as the brand enters its fourth decade is a remarkable achievement for a brand initially designed for the greeting card market. This success is largely attributed to

the brand’s clear and relatable associations. Over the years, Care Bears has evolved in appearance and style, but the iconic rainbow colours, main characters, and distinctive belly badges, along with the brand’s uplifting message of love, caring, and friendship, continue to resonate worldwide. This has significantly bolstered the licensing efforts of Cloudco Entertainment, which features a diverse portfolio, including Care Bears, Madballs, and Holly Hobbie. The continuing appeal of Care bears can be seen in the global licensing and retail market, where it has enjoyed steady growth across various regions, with a strong demand for Care Bears products and collaborations. The brand’s popularity extends worldwide, with significant resonance in North America, where the Care Bears’ story began. It maintains a strong presence in the Asia-Pacific region and Latin America, further underscored by its prominent global retail partner, H&M. In Europe, Cloudco has established strong partnerships across multiple countries. Looking ahead, new partnerships in Central and Eastern Europe and the Middle East are expected to drive growth into 2024/2025. Cloudco is actively exploring opportunities to expand its presence in these markets along with Latin America and South Asia. All these regions hold tremendous potential for the Care Bears brand, and Cloudco is eager to bring the property and its message to new audiences. Indeed, it is already making waves. A recently

launched global partnership with Miniso, an innovative lifestyle and designled product retailer renowned for its high-quality household goods and cosmetics at affordable prices, has already generated a significant amount of buzz among consumers. Importantly, Care Bears is not exclusively for little ones. Cloudco has successfully connected fans of all ages, from toddlers and young children to adults who have cherished memories of Care Bears from their own childhood. The nostalgia factor is a significant one, drawing both long-time fans and newcomers alike, and fuelling a number of categories aimed at a broad age group, including fashion lines. Another positive development comes in the form of a highly supportive new owner for Cloudco. In 2023, Vancouver-based private equity firm IVEST Consumer Partners acquired Cloudco and its portfolio of kid’s properties, including the iconic Care Bears franchise. For Cloudco, the IVEST acquisition presents exciting opportunities, particularly for the Care Bears brand. It allows it to expand its reach into new markets, strengthen its presence in existing ones, and leverage IVEST’s expertise to further support the brand. Furthermore, the appeal of Care Bears extends beyond licensing to encompass promotions, retail events,

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and more. Imagine stepping into a vibrant Care Bears world at places like Hong Kong’s Langham Place shopping mall, where the magic of Care-a-Lot comes alive through interactive adventures. Cloudco has also collaborated with Baskin & Robbins in Korea for a themed cafe that has become Baskin & Robbins’ top-performing destination among 1,800 locations, resonating strongly with students and families alike. Enhancing fan experiences is a priority, as is the success of television specials, like Care Bears: Unlock the Magic on the UK’s TinyPop, which has been well received by viewers. Indeed, Care Bears transcends mere entertainment. The brand is synonymous with fostering positive behaviours that can have a meaningful impact on others. A prime illustration of this is “Share Your Care Day,” celebrated on 9 September. This special day inspires people to spread values like caring, sharing, love, friendship, acceptance, fun, happiness, compassion, and philanthropic generosity.

The brand is well-suited for charity partnerships, not least through Louis Kennedy, a group that helps leading brands, charities, and licensors achieve measurable funds, impact, and social good through dynamic strategies and imaginative partnerships. In 2024, the Care Bears brand is raising funds in the UK for Young Lives Vs. Cancer. This initiative involves the sale of pin badges and keyrings sold at One Stop and Wetherspoons, harnessing the brand’s influence to support meaningful causes and bring comfort to those in need.The UK is among the fastest-growing markets for Care Bears. Sales continue to be phenomenally strong across high street, grocery, and fast fashion.

Bulldog Licensing, which manages licensing for the Care Bears brand in the UK on behalf of Cloudco, can point to a thriving programme with more than 35 licensees. The programme has achieved huge retail traction across multiple categories, including apparel, accessories, homewares, stationery, gift, dress-up and toy. Bulldog Licensing has welcomed a wide range of partners, with launches including jigsaw puzzles from Gibsons Games, pin badges and embroidered badges from Pawprint Trading, and candles from Flamingo Candles. New partners will be announced throughout 2024. Retail sales have also been quite remarkable. There’s been an expansion in listings and product development for core toys by master toy partner, Basic Fun, and baby plush and toys from Sambro. Softlines continue to be strong for

all demographics, including baby, kids, and adult. This underscores that Care Bears is a must-have brand for children, but also for adults. This retail activity in the UK will continue to grow, with cross-category ranges planned for multiple retailers throughout 2024, building on an appeal to individuals of all ages. As Sophie Yates, Licensing Executive, Bulldog Licensing, says: “Care Bears is loved by all generations – from children, who watch the Care Bears: Unlock the Magic animated television series, to their parents and grandparents, who are able to relive the magic from their childhoods, and everyone in between.” For Cloudco Entertainment, the coming year promises to be a busy one, with growth being driven not only by its classic brands like Care Bears but also by the resurgence of Madballs and the timeless appeal of Holly Hobbie. Which brings us back to the continuing success of the Care Bears brand after over 40 years. As International Licensing Director at Cloudco Entertainment, Charlotte Payne, puts it: “The longevity and international appeal of Care Bears can be attributed to the brand’s timeless message of love, empathy, and caring for others. These values resonate with people of all backgrounds and cultures. Our ability to adapt to changing trends while staying true to our core message has helped us remain relevant and beloved around the world.” n

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Tara Duncan:

building a licensing business for a hit kids’ show The Tara Duncan animated show was launched not too long ago but it enjoyed success remarkably quickly, with multi-country sales and an excellent response throughout 2022 and 2023. In fact a second series is already on the way. But this hit 52 x 13’ adventure-comedy-fantasy, about an ordinary girl from Earth with extraordinary powers making friends and fighting evil on the magical planet OtherWorld, has a lot more in store for the coming year – in both broadcasting and licensing. Of course this isn’t a completely new property. Much of the groundwork for its success was laid well before the show reached millions of screens worldwide. Tara Duncan is already well-known as a publishing hit through a series of books by Sophie AudouinMamikonian that have sold tens of millions of copies since 2003. Sophie now manages Princess Sam Entertainment Group, which she formed to produce and distribute new series and international children’s licenses, starting with Tara Duncan. The animated series, total sales of which now have given it a presence in 80 countries, takes the published tale to another level, using state-of-the-art, 3D CGI motion capture technology and more than 170 artists recruited from the global feature film industry. The result is an extraordinary evocation of another world that is also an exciting, funny story full of engaging characters.

Following the growth of the past two years, 2024 will see continued expansion as Tara Duncan builds further on its broadcasting success. The core target audience of children aged 6-9 years old who have embraced this amazing show in dozens of countries will this year be joined by kids in many more territories thanks to the work of international distribution company Superights which represents worldwide rights distribution for the show. While this deal does not include China, expansion plans for this vast territory are also under way thanks to a partnership with Reesee Entertainment. So, to put it mildly, Tara Duncan enjoys reach and awareness. It also boasts memorable and distinctive characters, situations and themes that lend themselves well to licensed output. This area is being managed through the Princess Sam Consumer Products (PSCP) division, headed up by Laurent Taieb. And PSCP is already building a strong support network.Very importantly for potential licensing partners, agents have already been appointed by PSCP for such key territories as the UK, Spain and Portugal, Benelux, multiple territories across Latin America and the Caribbean, Italy and, most recently, Canada and Mexico. More agent appointments are imminent. As for categories being targeted, toys have, not surprisingly, played an im-

portant part in planning for the brand from an early stage. In fact with brand awareness growing, PSCP late last year launched its own range of Tara Duncan figurines, playsets and dolls at retail in France, thanks to its French distributor WTT. More territories are to follow soon. Within the toy category alone, the show’s incredible characters, costumes and sets certainly lend themselves to a wide range of possibilities, including fashion dolls and accessories, plush, action figures, mini-universes (such as characters’ homes), and roleplay. But licensing offers many more possibilities. Maurizio Distefano Licensing, which manages licensing in Italy for Tara Duncan in Italy, has announced that Edizioni Play Press will be developing a wide range of Tara Duncan products including colouring books, activity books and word and number puzzle books. Other categories being targeted by the growing network of agents include back to school, stationery, home textiles, apparel, fashion accessories, beauty & personal care, food & beverage, and gifts. Or as Laurent Taieb puts it: “We have a strong network of TV partners and trusted regional agents in place for Tara Duncan. Throughout 2024 and beyond we intend to license and develop products in a wide range of categories that build on the key strengths of the property.” n

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ADK Emotions NY and T-Licensing Inc. Unveil Exciting Developments for Hit Anime Franchise BEYBLADE in Anniversary Year

It’s been more than two decades since the first Beyblade toy was sold in July 1999 — and the popularity of the animé-infused universe has grown exponentially ever since. In 25 years, more than half a billion Beyblade toys have been sold worldwide. Through a series of creative and innovative partnerships, the IP has secured more than 400 different licensing and merchandizing deals, establishing Beyblade as a household name and evergreen brand. But Beyblade isn’t just a successful entertainment franchise - it stands as a testament to the animé genre’s global ascendency, currently valued at $30 billion worldwide and projected to potentially double over the next decade. Beyblade is a standalone global phenomenon that continues to evolve as it revolves 25 years in; spawning new narratives, improved gameplay, global tournaments, popular online hubs, and a powerful licensing and merchandise story that has brought together generations of fans. “It is a responsibility to shepherd Beyblade into the future,” says Shunichi Ogawa, ADK Emotions, a contents and rights management company that specializes in bringing Japanese animé to the global market. “There are many different paths that this IP can take, and it is our job to make sure that we do the best we can to serve Beyblade and its legion of global fans.” Brand New Animated Series Beyblade X to Launch in 2024

As Beyblade spins toward the quarter-century mark, ADK Emotions is partnering up with T-Licensing Inc., the IP licensing arm of TOMY Company, Ltd. who originated the Beyblade toy in Japan, to accelerate activities with a brand-new over-arching narrative in the form of the animated series, Beyblade X. The series will be bolstered with a slew of new consumer products that both leverage Beyblade ’s nostalgic appeal and, at the same time, offer a fresh perspective with innovation. “The content is crucial to the franchise’s success,” says Shunichi Ogawa, ADK Emotions. “Without the story and the characters, the gameplay would not come alive like it does.” With this in mind, the new Beyblade narrative will introduce original characters and storylines that are sure to entertain long-time fans and draw in fresh audiences. In the episodes, a team of Bladers come together as friends and battle their way up “The X,” a looming tower where each floor brings tougher competition than the last. To bring the story to life, producers have tapped into anime industry talents Hikaru Muno and Homura Kawamoto, the creators of the critically acclaimed Kakegurui series, and Posuka Demizu, the artist behind the international hit series The Promised Neverland. “It was important for us to leverage artists and writers well-known within the animé and manga industry,” says Shunichi Ogawa, ADK Emotions. “As we take Beyblade to new places, we

strive to tap into the show’s exceptional talent to captivate both broad audiences and classic animé fans.” Beyblade X premiered on October 6 on TV Tokyo in Japan and will be airing in the US, Europe, Latin America, and PAC in 2024. New 25th Anniversary Products Confirmed The long and fruitful relationship between Beyblade and master toy partner Hasbro, Inc. will also be integral to the property’s push into its second quarter-century. The new Beyblade X toy line will commemorate previous generations while introducing a new rail innovation, allowing the iconic tops to speed into high gear for explosive battles. The Beyblade X line features tops that are identical in weight, feel and performance across Hasbro and Takara Tomy offerings, along with additional Hasbro-unique tops that meet the same high standards. The new generation builds off Beyblade’s rich toy history, including the success of 1999’s Beyblade 2008’s Beyblade: Metal Fusion, and 2015’s Beyblade Burst, while maintaining the superior quality fans have come to know and love. The new toys launched in Japan in July and are also now available to fans in Hong Kong, Taiwan, Korea, Philippines, Malaysia, Singapore and Thailand. Product lines will launch in wider international markets in 2024. The initial response was nothing short of record-breaking, supported by digital and in-person promotions, such as the launch of Beyblade Park on Roblox and Beyblade Pop-ups held in Tokyo. Incredibly, more than 100,000 units were sold in Japan in the first two weeks of release and more than a half million units were snatched up by the end of the summer. Daizo Suzuki, T-Licensing Inc. says that there is much more to come over the next year from Beyblade as they mark this important anniversary. “The new animated series and toys from Hasbro are two foundational pieces of our ongoing celebration,” he says. “There are so many more exciting ways we are planning to celebrate this incredible occasion with our fans across the world.” n

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When the Numbers Add Up!

Blue Zoo’s Numberblocks, Alphablocks and Colourblocks are educating children, and the numbers of viewers, users and global audiences speak for themselves

The hot property for Blue Zoo Licensing in 2024 continues to be the global hit TV series and YouTube sensation, Numberblocks. Numberblocks is an integral part of the Blocks Universe, which includes Alphablocks, Numberblocks and Colourblocks. The show is a multi-award nominee and won a BAFTA for Children’s Preschool Animation in 2019. With 120 x 5 mins episodes (and more on the way) plus a number of specials and mash ups, Numberblocks has proved a global hit on CBeebies, Netflix, ABC and Noggin, to name but a few and has been translated into 6 languages (English, LATAM Spanish, German, Korean, Portugese, French) and counting! On YouTube, Numberblocks subscribers are at 10 million and growing rapidly, with lifetime views of over 7.5 billion! It has a social media reach of 11.2 million people and music streams have topped 12.5 million, with over 39 thousand monthly listeners. All three Blocks Brands boast subscribers totalling almost 13 million and daily views of 8.5 million and lifetime views of 8.9 billion. There are 387.6 million Gif and Sticker views and an amazing 491% growth in engagement in the past year. The videos on Tik Tok have gained over 2.9

million video views in the past year. All the Blocks shows, created by Joe Elliot with multi-award-winning animation studio Blue Zoo and commissioned by the BBC, create transformational learning experiences for young children through TV shows, interactive, print and hands-on play and engage millions of children worldwide in the joy of reading, maths, colour and creativity. Numberblocks helps children to see how numbers really work − and master a new key maths skill with every adventure. It’s a story of friends who can always count on each other − but, most of all, Numberblocks is about having fun with numbers. Blue Zoo has worked hand in hand with NCETM (National Centre for Excellence in the Teaching of Mathematics) to make sure Numberblocks delivers the essential numeracy skills that build good number sense and a solid foundation for a lifetime of maths success. Loved by children, parents and teachers alike, Numberblocks has a number of licensed deals in the UK and a master toy deal with Learning Resources and sister company Hand2Mind. Following the runaway success of their bestselling Mathlink Cubes, product including Stampoline sets, Clings and Plush as well as curriculum-based classroom sets soon followed and the range has won an amazing 45 awards to date! This year the Rainbow Counting Bus, Blockzee Balance Activity Set, Mathlink Cubes Express Train are just a few of the products that will join the offering and this innovative range will continue to amaze and delight children as they learn through play. Other licensees - including Immediate Media, Sweet Cherry Publishing, Trends, Fashion UK, Rubies, Texco, Aykroyd and Sons, TDP and costume characters from Rainbow Productions - ensure a solid base from which to expand the consumer product offering, both in the UK and internationally.

Blue Zoo has a few new exciting products that will be announced shortly and are working on filling any remaining gaps in its product ranges, including partyware, live events, food and beverage and a multi-territory promotion. Blue Zoo continues to work on direct-to-consumer deals as well as experiential events for fans. Interest internationally continues to grow, with agents recently signed in

China, South Korea, Japan and the Middle East with further deals to be announced in other territories in the next few months. A recently announced five-year content deal with the BBC ensuring new content across all the Blocks Brands it promises to be an exciting year ahead as the Blocks Universe continues to go from strength to strength. With new seasons in development across all Blocks Shows, a strong digital presence with new content across our channels each week, as well as free and premium apps (which consistently feature in the top 10 paid and free app charts) and a dedicated social media offering across all platforms, the brand continues to grow and delight fans globally. The future looks bright for the Blocks. Blue Zoo are actively looking for new agents and licensees. n

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Gamefam, a leading metaverse game developer, recently unveiled its first-ever State of Brands in Metaverse Gaming report, including results from its most successful year to date.

The Metaverse arrived in 2023 The metaverse was solidified as the preferred platform of choice for Gen Z and Alpha, with users spending 43% more time per day on average on Roblox and Fortnite than YouTube and TikTok combined. 2023 continued to see an increase in daily active users (20% year-over-year) on Roblox, and a massive expansion in the number of brand activations happening on the platform to 120 total, a 50% increase from 80 brand activations in 2022. In fact, compared to 2019, the number of branded experiences on Roblox has increased by a whopping 2,300%. On Roblox alone, 2023 generated more than 1.8 billion visits to branded games, demonstrating significant attention gathering opportunities for brands that can authentically build immersive and engaging experiences for

On Roblox alone, 2023 included 1.8 billion visits to branded games, demonstrating significant interest from users. The 10 most visited branded experiences launched in 2023 were: 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8. 9. 10.

Sonic Speed Simulator My Hello Kitty Cafe Miraculous Lady Bug Warrior Cats Twice Square Ben 10 Super Hero Barbie Dream House Tycoon Alo Sanctuary Vans World TMNT Battle Tycoon

current and new fans. Ricardo Briceno, Chief Business Officer at Gamefam, said: “In 2023, we partnered with leading brands to develop strategies to succeed in the metaverse, informing brand leaders about why every brand needs a metaverse strategy. Now, heading into 2024, brands understand the value of the metaverse and are all in. Building on the success model we created, 2024 will be the year brands don’t just show up but begin to scale their activations, exponentially growing their ROI and impact.” The Metaverse Will Be a Disruptive Force in 2024 While 2023 saw exponential growth across the metaverse, expectations remain even higher for the year ahead. As the industry moves beyond the proving out phase and brands understand the potential of marketing in the metaverse, Gamefam expects to see greater investment from major brand names and projects that new metaverse gaming platforms will begin to gain momentum. Once seen as under the radar, metaverse gaming is set to become one of the top revenue segments in the media business over the next few years. “The time for metaverse marketing is here and now, and in 2024, competition among brands on Roblox and Fortnite will be greater than ever,” said Joe Ferencz, CEO & Founder at Gamefam. “With Roblox and Fortnite making significant investments in their developer tools and advertiser offerings, we expect 2024 will provide an opportunity

for brands to roll out never-beforeseen activations to stand out among the pack and deliver results that drive their brands forward. With the best strategy, development and publishing staff and systems in the industry, we’re confident Gamefam is in a position to take branded experiences to the next level in 2024 yet again bringing joy to metaverse gaming communities.” With top-performing titles and activations on Roblox and Fortnite, the company announced FY2023 as its most successful year yet, achieving more than 35% year-over-year revenue growth, scaling to more than 200 employees, and reaching 16 consecutive quarters of revenue growth. With over 30 games in its owned and operated network, Gamefam cemented itself as the metaverse’s top developer in 2023, with over 7.5 billion gameplay sessions across its portfolio this year – surpassing 29 billion gameplay sessions to date. “As 2023 comes to a close, we can look back at another year where our work has transcended gaming and we’ve rewritten the playbook on what’s possible in virtual worlds,” said Joe Ferencz, CEO & Founder at Gamefam. “Our team, the heart and soul of Gamefam, continues to delight players and partners time and time again. We’re not just navigating a fast-evolving industry; we’re shaping it… from scratch. With Roblox and Fortnite continuing to be the primary entertainment and digital culture platforms for Gen Z and Alpha, our mission for 2024 is clear: create amazing experiences for amazing communities.” n

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Pip and Posy Continue to Delight Magic Light Pictures’ preschool animation Pip and Posy continues to thrive, with 2024 set to be another exciting year for the show Magic Light Pictures’ preschool animation Pip and Posy continues to thrive, with 2024 set to be another exciting year for the show.The first-ever series from the BAFTA-winning and Oscarnominated production company, Pip and Posy proved a big hit with its young audience from debut on Channel 5’s Milkshake! and Sky Kids in 2021 and is now becoming equally popular with licensees, with its licensing programme growing rapidly. Adapted from the books by awardwinning illustrator Axel Scheffler – who, with Julia Donaldson, created the picture books which inspired so many of Magic Light’s beloved, globally popular half-hour family specials – Pip and Posy is one of Milkshake!’s top-rated shows, attracting more than 4 million viewers since launch. A hugely successful second series launched in early

2023, with Nick Junior and Sky Kids (linear) added to its UK broadcasters, and an exciting educational spin-off series – Pip and Posy Let’s Learn – launched on Sky Kids last autumn. Packed with warmth and humour, the series follows the playful adventures of best friends Pip and Posy, whose lives revolve around a wonderful world of play. A joyful celebration of their great friendship, its laughter and games, its highs and lows, the show also helps young viewers to forge lasting friendships of their own as they see how Pip and Posy work through the ups and downs of their relationship through their creative play. It is also hugely popular on its growing social media platforms, Pip and Posy is winning friends worldwide too. Over 32 international broadcasters and streamers are on board covering over

100 countries worldwide, and it has been translated into 29 local language versions. With a strong and diverse list of licensees already secured, Magic Light Pictures’ in-house licensing team is now looking to expand the brand into other categories including soft lines, home textiles, accessories, footwear, greetings cards and role play. Leading toy manufacturer Bandai was recently announced as master toy partner for the UK and Eire.Their first toy range launches for the half-term break in February with heavyweight marketing and PR support, including a cinema campaign across four chains; an influencer campaign; on-air support with Milkshake! with characters in the studio; and an on-air competition. Additionally, a standalone Pip and Posy magazine launches in February. Other leading licensees include Amscan (dress up/party), Aykroyds TDP (nightwear, essentials), Bandai Namco (amusement toy/plush), Blues Group, (apparel), Brand Alliance (apparel), Kennedy Publishing (magazines), Rainbow Productions (costume character), Ravensburger (puzzles/games), Star Editions (online gifts) and Tonies (audio). Nosy Crow is the publisher of both the classic and TV tie-in Pip and Posy formats. Nightwear launched with ASDA last Christmas and further apparel ranges are in development for World Book Day in March at ASDA and Sainsbury’s. Pip and Posy have been meeting friends at Whipsnade Zoo’s Easter wildlife trails, the Bristol Harbour Festival and Hinckley’s Snapdragon Festival. They also headlined Parkdean Resorts’ Milkshake! morning and appeared live on stage in the spectacular Milkshake! Live theatre tour. With more exciting plans in the pipeline, Pip and Posy’s success looks set to play out further across 2024. n

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The Nordics, comprising five distinct territories – Sweden, Norway, Denmark, Finland and Iceland have a combined population of around 28 million and, according to the Licensing International Global Market Study generate over $4.5 billion a year in licensed retail sales. Of course this past year has seen some changes – none more so than the demise of Plus Licens, the longest running licensing agency in the region which declared bankruptcy back in June 23. Interestingly, with such a relatively small population, the territory has been responsible for brands that have become successful worldwide – such as LEGO, the Moomins and, of course, Angry Birds from Finland and Pippi Longstocking from Sweden. On the following pages, we take a look at a few of the companies and brands within the Nordic region.

NLC For 20 years, NLC has been an expert in connecting brands! Leveraging strong local as well as global network, NLC advises clients proactively to secure a perfect match between brand and product. Always with the aim to generate unique results that create value for all partners involved. With headquarters in Copenhagen and an office in Amsterdam, NLC is a licensing agent with strong presence in both Nordic and Benelux markets. The agency provides expert knowledge in these two small, fragmented markets, and at the same time secures and builds strong collaborations with major global companies. Despite economic challenges, the licensing market in the Nordics remains resilient. Consumers seek comfort and familiarity in classic, well-established brands during challenging times as we have experienced the last couple of years. NLC Nordic Director IdaHelene Brønner says, that in particular, Sweden and Denmark are experiencing licensing opportunities, fuelled by a growing demand for nostalgic 80s and 90s brands. Generation Z is yearning for simpler times while simultaneously modernizing old trends. This trend of extended childhood and kidultism opens up fresh business opportunities, which the NLC portfolio is perfectly suited to tap into. The second half of 2023 marked a

period of significant growth for NLC across the Nordics, with the launch of several new consumer products launches. In celebration of Warner Bros. 100th anniversary licensees such as H&M, Name It, Hummel, Funko and many more launched WB100 collections. Hummel kids launched their second Harry Potter collection in September after a very successful first launch in 2022. Also in September, Danish fashion accessory giant Pandora partnered to launch a stunning collection of Game of Thrones jewellery, bringing the iconic fantasy series to life in a whole new way. The collection, which launched globally, features a range of charms, bracelets, rings, and necklaces

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inspired by the characters, houses, and symbols of Westeros. Swedish lifestyle fashion brand Dedicated tapped into some 80s nostalgia with a capsule collection of Gremlins menswear and last not to forget, H&M’s vibrant pink collection, launched in conjunction with the highly anticipated Barbie movie. The collection resonated with girls and young adults across the Nordics, capturing the essence of the iconic brand’s timeless style. NLC continued their strong partnerships with Nordic retailers throughout 2023, resulting in impactful in-store activations, digital campaigns, and an unwavering commitment to supporting licensees in the Nordic region. And NLC actively engaged in multiple cross-division activations across the Nordic region, bringing together WBD divisions to create immersive experiences for fans. In November, WBD brought its theatrical stand to Comic Con in Stockholm, where fans had the opportunity to meet-and-greet with Bugs Bunny himself, and experience consumer product from several licensees. As the year 2024 begins, NLC can anticipate a wealth of occasions to honour their beloved superhero, Batman, as The Caped Crusader is poised to mark his 85th anniversary. Batman encompasses a broad spectrum of audiences and fans. From the youngest preschoolers captivated by the popular animated series Batwheels, set to launch its second season later this year, to mature movie enthusiasts eagerly awaiting the long-awaited sequel Joker: Folie à Deux, premiering in

theatres in October. To mark Batman’s 85th anniversary, NLC will secure a year-long strong presence of Batman licensed goods and retail activations across the Nordic markets. Batwheels products will launch in 2024, including Fisher-Price toys for preschoolers and a cool range of product from fashion retailer Name It. Airtox, a Copenhagen-based Safety shoe company, is launching a unique Batman shoe for professional usage, marking a new chapter in this category. Wizarding World continues to engage fans across the Nordics, with a constant stream of new innovative products from LEGO, Spin Master, Schleich, H&M and other partners. While we await news on the upcoming television series, the focus on annual franchise tentpoles like Back to Hogwarts becomes increasingly important. In the second half of the year, several content highlights await, including the much-anticipated sequel to the classic 1988 film Beetlejuice, set to premiere on September 6th. This movie offers exciting licensing opportunities and the interest keeps growing. NLC is working full steam ahead to ensure a strong representation across the Nordic and Benelux region, and many new collaborations to be announced soon. n The Astrid Lindgren Company The Astrid Lindgren Company represents the works of Astrid Lindgren,

one of the world’s best-selling and prolific authors. Considered a national treasure with presence in nearly every household in Sweden including on the country’s 20 crown banknote, her most wellknown character Pippi Longstocking also enjoys around 90% awareness across all Scandinavian countries as well as additional European countries such Germany and Italy (Netigate study 2019). Pippi is also well loved in Asia, in particular China where the book is the third bestselling foreign children’s books of all time. Due to the staggering 34 chapter books, 41 picture books, 49 feature films and 22 TV productions, the company has been busy managing a dozen different licensing programmes of Astrid Lindgren’s works – and in 2024 an additional programme will be added with a new book release of Lotta on Troublemaker Street featuring new, beautiful illustrations by acclaimed Cecilia Heikkilä. While the launch of a new program is a highlight, there is also a strong focus on celebrating the anniversaries of the long-cherished heritage brands. 2023 was the celebration of 60 years of Emil in Lönneberga, the mischievous little boy with a pure heart. A multitude of new products were launched during the year across a number of new and existing licensees, ending the year with the largest producer of ice cream in Sweden, SIA Glass’ Emil in Lönneberga blueberry ice cream cones, and Norwegian based game developer Ravn Studios release of Emil in Lönneberga the mobile game. In addition, a brand-new Emil in Lönneberga animated short film, made by Qvisten Animation, premiered as part of an hour long ‘’Christmas with Astrid Lindgren,’ aired on Christmas Eve across Sweden on public television broadcaster, SVT. The ‘’Christmas with Astrid Lindgren’’ special also included

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new animations of Nils-Karlsson Pyssling and Kajsa Kavat, along with classic Christmas-themed clips of Pippi and other stories. SVT plans to continue airing the well-received Christmas special in coming years, and with distribution rights we hope that many more will have the opportunity to enjoy this hour of Christmas-spirit in the near future. The next featured anniversary will be the 80th of Pippi Longstocking in 2025, where through product launches and communications the world will be encouraged to be more like Pippi by channelling her values of strength, bravery and kindness in order to brighten the world. The Astrid Lindgren Company is currently welcoming new licensees and partners to get in touch if they would like to support the campaign. An international Pippi Longstocking live action movie produced by acclaimed producer David Heyman (Harry Potter, Paddington) and Studio Canal is also in development, with an expected premiere some time after the anniversary year. Pippi and Emil aren’t the only characters with exciting new film & TV plans. A highly anticipated Ronja, the Robber’s Daughter fantasy-filled live action series will be premiering on Netflix this year across a number of markets. Despite the fact that it holds a portfolio of 40-75+ year old heritage brands, the Astrid Lindgren Company has been hard at work innovating creative ways to bring the stories and characters of Astrid Lindgren to new generations. Along with the aforementioned film productions and endless theatre per-

formances globally, there have been new book releases that have topped the book bestseller lists this past Christmas season in Sweden. These included an Astrid Lindgren Christmas cookbook with luscious recipes, illustrations, and photos - and a Pippi Christmas children’s book which includes, for the first-time, brand-new illustrations made by Qvisten Animation in the style of the long-deceased Ingrid Vang Nyman who illustrated the original Pippi Longstocking books. This innovation within illustration opens the door to possibilities of new versions of Astrid Lindgren’s works whilst still maintaining the original visual style. n Rights & Brands Rights & Brands represent iconic Scandinavian brands, artists, and authors. R&B is the worldwide master agent on behalf of Moomin Characters and represents the likes of Stig Lindberg, the Carl & Karin Larsson Estate, Astrid Lindgren & Ilon Wikland, Maxi & Helium, The Beatles, The Smurfs, Tove Jansson, Alfie Atkins and many more. In November, luxury shirt brand Eton launched a collection with The Beatles. The Beatles x Eton is a limited-edition shirt collection by Eton that pays homage to The Beatles’ expansive discography. Eton describes this new collaboration as “a shirt collection for Beatlemaniacs, by Beatlemaniacs”. The collection serves as an ode to The Beatles’ expansive discography and draws profound inspiration from their vast musical repertoire with each piece showcasing unique artistic reinterpretations of the iconic elements from the band’s history. In addition, the legendary sportswear brand adidas just launched a second collection with Moomin. The new adidas Originals winter collection is inspired by the Moomin’s love for winter sports. For this collection, adidas has introduced a special woven golden medal badge that embellishes womenswear and accessories. Mattel has also just launched the super-popular family card game UNO with beloved Moomin characters. The

aim of the game is to get rid of the cards first by matching numbers and colours, with the added twist of a surprise Moominous rule. Having had a hugely successful Moomin product line since 2021, Skultuna launched a new brand collaboration: The Smurfs. Skultuna was founded in the year 1607 by King Charles IX of Sweden. Today, Skultuna is one of the oldest companies in the world and it is still a purveyor to the Royal Court of Sweden. For over 400 years Skultuna has produced objects of the highest quality for both everyday use and for special occasions. This new collection cel-

TOTAL LICENSING ebrates the Smurfs’ 65th anniversary and features four of the most beloved Smurfs as gold-plated figurines: Papa Smurf, Smurfette, Vanity Smurf and Chef Smurf. The first batch of figurines was sold out in one day. Retailer Polarn O. Pyret, PO.P, launched a collection with iconic prints and illustrations by designer Stig Lindberg. This new limited collection by Polarn O. Pyret uses the iconic print Berså from 1961 and illustrations from the classic children’s book Daniel Doppsko (“Daniel Dipshoe”) by Lennart Hellsing, originally published in 1959. The collection includes everyday wear and nighttime wear for babies, children, and adults and a durable shell jacket for children. In 2023 Rights & Brands became the master agent for Maxi & Helium, the fastest-growing children’s book series ever in the Nordic with over 3,5 million books sold since 2018. In 2024, several licensees will launch Maxi & Helium products, including the toy company Micki. YouTube Sensation Arnie Alligator, with over 240 million streams on YouTube, will make its premiere on the big screen as the first Arnie Alligator animated film premieres in February. Other upcoming launches are the Moomin Puzzle and Design game from Rovio Entertainment and Snufkin: Melody of Moominvalley, a new game from the Norweigan studio Hyper Games that is coming to PC, Nintendo Switch, Android and iOS. n

Bängeri Ltd Helsinki-based Bängeri Ltd., a leading Nordic consultancy specializing in the Gen Z demographic, has recently announced the appointment of Hanna Valkeapää-Nokkala as its new Chief Executive Officer. Previously serving as Senior Director at Rovio Entertainment, Valkeapää-Nokkala will play a pivotal role in bolstering Bängeri’s expert consulting growth and accelerating the company’s international endeavors. With a rich history at Rovio, Hanna

product and service offerings as well as optimizing marketing communication, leveraging co-creation methodologies in the consultation process. Eija Gerlander, Bängeri Oy’s former CEO and Founder, will continue to contribute her vast expertise to the company as a leading specialist and shareholder. “We are excited about the dynamism Hanna brings to the team, and we’re confident in her ability to lead Bängeri to new horizons. We have been developing our co-creational model for

oversaw the Angry Birds Brand Licensing business globally and was responsible for the company’s content business targeting families and young audiences. Her experience aligns perfectly with Bängeri’s mission: to assist businesses in reinforcing their competitiveness in relation to the new generation of consumers, ensuring the sustainability of their operations well into the future. Generation Z, comprising nearly 2.5 billion individuals worldwide, has emerged as a powerful consumer demographic. Recognizing the significance and distinctiveness of this group is paramount for businesses aiming to remain relevant and thrive in today’s ever-evolving marketplace. Bängeri engages Gen Z advisors to collaborate in enhancing brand strategies,

a few years now, working with both large Nordic and global consumer brands. The results have been excellent, which provides evidence that now is the right time to start scaling our business. I look forward to supporting her and our clients in my new role as CSO,” commented Gerlander. “Gen Z is in the phase of life where brand relationships and fandom begin to take shape. Creating or establishing a brand for the Gen Z audience presents a formidable challenge, one that even larger corporations grapple with,” says Valkeapää-Nokkala. She continues, “Comprehensive understanding of this demographic remains elusive even within the global market. Bängeri connects Gen Z and companies, ensuring Gen Z voices are heard in the co-creation process”. Bängeri Ltd’s esteemed clientele includes names like Cloetta,Warner Music, Mondelez Paulig, Rovio, Marimekko, Samsung and numerous startups and scale-ups. n

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Making money from doing the right thing:

by Emilia Orviss, Play Champion at the Good Play Guide and FUNdamentally Children

Sustainability Sustainability is a hot topic, and rightly so - we only have one planet and need to look after it. Here at the Good Play Guide, we want to support those companies who are taking their responsibility to the planet seriously and adapting their manufacturing practices to be more sustainable. We also now have an ‘Eco Credentials’ category for our toy accreditations to help consumers make informed decisions regarding sustainability when choosing toys. When it comes to sustainability in the toy industry, a few key areas need attention to create a positive impact on the environment and on your bottom line… Sourcing materials responsibly is the first step towards creating sustainable toys.While organic cotton might seem like a green choice, if it’s shipped halfway around the world, its eco-friendliness dwindles. Local sourcing can significantly reduce the carbon footprint

associated with materials. Greenwashing is a term that’s gaining attention, and for all the right reasons. Companies must ensure their manu-

facturing processes are genuinely eco-friendly and not a facade for the sake of optics. For instance, bamboo is often lauded as a sustainable mate-

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“In the ever-evolving landscape of the toy industry, embracing sustainability is not just a responsible choice; it’s also a strategic one.”

“Greenwashing is a term that’s gaining attention, and for all the right reasons...”

rial due to its fast growth, but sometimes it requires coatings to meet toy safety requirements. These coatings can render it non-recyclable and less compostable. To avoid misleading consumers, it’s crucial to be transparent about the entire production process. When evaluating the eco-friendliness of a toy, consider its play value. A costper-play calculation is a valuable tool.A toy made of plastic, for example, may seem less environmentally friendly, but if it can be washed, reused, and enjoyed by multiple children for generations, its overall environmental impact is considerably lower compared to single-use products, regardless of their materials. A sustainable approach also involves considering the entire lifecycle of a product. To extend a product’s life and prevent it from ending up in a landfill, toy companies can implement returns and spare parts policies. Successful ‘take-back’ schemes have been gaining traction recently. Whether these schemes lead to recycling or redistribution, the result is a reduction in the demand for raw materials.

Providing additional play or learning activities that extend the life of your toys is a win-win strategy. Not only will this keep your toys in use (word of mouth remains the best advertisement), but you’ll also win over parents

who are always on the lookout for activities that support their children’s learning through play. By making your toys versatile and multifunctional, you increase their value and reduce the need for additional purchases. To build trust in your brand and emphasise your eco-credentials, look for recognised certifications or accreditations related to sustainability. These endorsements provide assurance to consumers that your products meet specific environmental standards, offering an extra layer of credibility to your efforts. Transparency is a cornerstone of sustainability. Publish your sustainability policy on your website, giving consumers insight into what you’re currently doing and your future improvement goals. No one expects perfection, but you’ll gain credit for being honest about your journey towards sustainability. In the ever-evolving landscape of the toy industry, embracing sustainability is not just a responsible choice; it’s also a strategic one. As consumer awareness of environmental issues continues to grow, companies that prioritise sustainability are better positioned for success. So let’s collectively take these steps to create a more sustainable and profitable toy industry for the benefit of all. n

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Products of Change Off the back of another triumphant event, the Sustainability in Licensing Conference 2023 Survey has uncovered some interesting truths about industry preparedness. In their regular column for Total Licensing, Products of Change explain more...

Sustainability Legislation: Ready or not, here it comes… With a ‘tsunami of legislation’ destined to change the operational landscape for all businesses now only months from coming into force, around half the global brand licensing industry believes it is still missing a ‘top-down strategy’ for sustainable development within their business. This is according to the results of a new Sustainability in Licensing Conference survey issued in recent weeks off the back of what has been billed a triumphant event by many and hailed by attendees as “the most inspiring and engaging industry event ever” by others. “Topped last year!” Yes, the Sustainability in Licensing Conference (SiLC) “topped even last year” according to attendees who either made their way to the Royal Geographical Society in London on Wednesday, 8 November or tuned in online to watch events unfold via a live-stream platform, thanks to a jampacked agenda filled with informative and inspiring discussions. Among those discussions was a panel dedicated to highlighting the barrage of legislation with which businesses will be hit in the coming year or so.

New regulations around Corporate Sustainability Reporting will be landing in the business sector in 2024 leading “None of the questions we are being faced with right now have easy answers. But does that mean we shouldn’t answer them?” a swathe of legislative changes that includes Extended Producer Responsibility taxes – tipped to take over from the current Plastic Packaging Tax – by the end of next year and into 2025. The slate of legislative demands will shape how businesses engage with their supply chains and collect data across all areas of the business in alignment with the UK’s wider net zero strategy. And yes, apparently there is one. Despite the rapidity with which these changes are heading towards UK businesses, a significant portion (46%) of respondents to the Sustainability in Licensing Conference survey believe they lack those ‘top-down’ sustainability strategies to deal with them. Strategic operations The good news is though, a majority

of those respondents (82.61%) do feel their business has the senior management buy-in to start building those strategies into operations. Highlighted among some of the issues currently being faced, however, a ‘lack of ownership to drive progress’, alongside the lack of resource and headcount stand very clear. But nevertheless, those changes are still coming. During the panel session he chaired at the Sustainability in Licensing Conference in November 2023, James George, Products of Change’s Ambassador for the Circular Economy, said: “None of the questions The slate of legislative demands will shape how businesses engage with their supply chains and collect data we are being faced with right now have easy answers. But does that mean we shouldn’t answer them? “In fact, the feeling of difficulty on this topic should be encouraging, it means you’re getting closer to the real issues,” he continued. “This is the point we need to lean in, not step back. A

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Products of Change

complex problem requires a complex answer. So, embrace the difficulty. It’s going to get much more difficult before it gets easier. “Another question is, how do you navigate the red tape and the new regulation to make sure you don’t fear the stick, but instead get all the carrots?” Managing your input Reflective of just where the industry sits with the topic of incoming legislation, a majority of 83.33% of respondents to the Sustainability in Licensing Conference survey found the session Mapping Your Impact: The Sustainability Framework Maturity Index “53.85% of businesses now have a dedicated sustainability team.” the most useful for industry, followed closely by the session titled Legislation Nation: How European Law-Making is

Changing Business Around Us to be the most informative on the day. It goes some distance to highlight where the largest gaps in industry knowledge current lay. Meanwhile, 53.85% of businesses now have a team dedicated to sustainability, leaving just under half those respondents currently lacking the internal resources. Which is where Products of Change can help. How to deliver targeted results? David Boyne, md of Bravado, the music merchandise and licensing division of Universal Music Group said it himself when he told SiLC attendees of the behind the scenes work the team had been carrying out with the Products of Change Advisors business to not only plot out some bold, sciencebased climate ambitions but to start work on the roadmap of how to deliver on those targets by a proposed deadline.

Turning ambitions into action The matter is, while many organisations or brands do have a strategy or team in place to oversee wider company efforts, what’s missing is a dedicated focus on the consumer products business – an area of many company’s emissions that falls under scope 3 with an entire ecology of stakeholders along an entirely differThe message to brand owners is clear: employees have already bought into sustainability, but more must be done to turn the industry ambitions into action

ent value chain. In this industry alone, 56% of respondents feel not enough work is being undertaken within their business to drive sustainable practices, while a resounding 76% believe their business could be doing more to drive change – with calls for internal subject matter experts and people to help train clients and deliver engagement projects being among the loudest from the industry. The message to brand owners and company directors is clear: employees have already bought into the sustainability conversation, but more must be done to turn industry ambitions into industry action. Products of Change Which is what Products of Change is for. Whether it is through our Membership community to drive conversation that leads to action; through our Advisors business to help you devise and implement the strategies you need to reduce your environmental impact; or through our media and events like the Sustainability in Licensing Conference to showcase the latest developments in the journey of industry sustainability, we are here to provide the resources, education, and connectivity to make change happen. Contact the Products of Change team to learn more and start 2024 on the strongest footing possible to make the coming year count. n

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Endless Opportunities with LBE The global location-based entertainment market size is valued at over $5 billion, with this set for immense growth in the next ten years. This consumer-facing, interactive industry category has seen an explosion within the licensing industry, as more and more brands are turning to immersive experiences of all varieties. These include leisure, ‘retailtainment’, hospitality, dining, escape rooms and many other examples. In leisure alone, over the last few years we have seen branded hotels, cruise ships and restaurants, all offering an immersive consumer experience. Often driven by fandom, customers flock to these at-

The global locationbased entertainment market size is valued at over $5 billion, with this set for immense growth in the next ten years. tractions and experiences, keen to establish a physical connection with their favourite brands, characters and IP. With the expansion in technology, over the last few years, leading to VR and AR, innovative concepts are often key elements in the experiences. There are no limits, it seems, to the ‘variety’ of brand that can be adapted into an immersive experience. Universal Products and Experiences (UP&E) recently released details of an ambitious 365 licensing

strategy for its deep and dark portfolio of Horror properties. NBCUniversal’s theme park division – Universal Destinations & Experiences – has been thrilling fans for decades with its popular “Halloween Horror Nights” experience every autumn. Anchoring its commitment to horror, UP&E is bringing the experiential consumer fan event, BlumFest, to UK horror fans for the first time. The event first started as a US activation in 2020 and this autumn will mark the UK’s first ever all-day horror screening event when it launches in London. Blumfest will showcase the latest and greatest to horror fans, with special guest appearances, Q&A sessions, photo opps, interactive screenings and kiosks selling horror merchandise on offer to all attending. In an installation of a rather different nature, Curating Cambridge and ARTiSTORY will develop University of Cambridge LBEs for China and South East Asia. The first interactive exhibition will launch in China in Q3 2024 and explore the History of Science. Both the University Library and The Whipple Museum of History of Science will support the LBE with imagery and artefacts as well as their editorial expertise.Designed to captivate a broad audience, the LBE will be anchored by the University of Cambridge Museums and Botanic Gardens (UCM) brand. It will offer an immersive storytelling journey, featuring interactive exhibits, high quality reprints, and bespoke fix-

tures that deliver a distinctive visitor experience. Falcon’s Beyond Global, Inc. recently partnered with The Hershey Company to conceive and develop Hershey-branded LBE experiences featuring the confectionary and snack company’s IP, such as Hershey’s, Reese’s, Jolly Rancher, and Twizzlers, in both the United States and international markets. Falcon’s will work with Hershey to bring their company’s beloved snacks and moments of goodness to life

through “retailtainment” destinations that offer families and snack enthusiasts new immersive ways to experience their favorite tasty brands. Each destination will be highlighted by a Hershey-inspired attraction, a food and beverage experience where visitors will savor delicious bites based on the brand, and a retail offering to shop for one-of-a-kind branded products. Additional details about the Hersheybranded experiences and the debut location will be announced at a later date.

Follow @totallicensing on social media platforms for up-to-date news and licensing happenings!

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Pokémon Speeds into 2024! Pokémon has hit the ground running in 2024 as it gears up for another spectacular year. The world’s largest single property has devised another vibrant programme of activity to keep this iconic brand at the forefront of popular culture, delight its huge global following and attract ever more fans across its myriad pillars. Recent successful activations included a continuation of Pokémon’s thriving partnership with Tesco, running a month-long cross-category pallet with the Trading Card Game from the end of October in 482 stores. The promotion included top toys for A/W such as 8-inch and 12-inch plush, Battle Feature Figures, Clip N Go Poké balls and the Surprise Attack game. And Pokémon also partnered with GAME on

a pop-up shop in Cardiff mall, which consisted of TCG, toys and apparel from partners including Jazwares, Ravensburger, Mattel, Difuzed and Abysse. Pokémon’s latest hit fashion collaborations include A.P.C. and Clarks. Following an award-winning kids’ collection, Clarks and Pokémon joined forces again to reimagine the signature adults’ Torhill Hi profile. Launched on 8th December, this archive-inspired silhouette crafted from premium suede is big on bold vintage aesthetics. Four iconic Pokémon – Bulbasaur, Charmander, Squirtle and Pikachu – each has a dedicated shoe style, and is brought to life by pixelated stitched graphics on the tongue. Meanwhile the same four inimitable Pokémon featured in the first-ever collaboration with leading French fashion company A.P.C. Bringing a playful touch to the minimalist simplicity of A.P.C. the colourful 90s-inspired collection has a timeless yet contemporary feel and includes A.P.C.’s cult raw denim jacket, merino sweater and striped jersey among the adult apparel, with accessories and a kids’ range also available. Encouraging families to share the joy of Pokémon, a free one-day pop-up experience celebrating the spirit of connectivity toured select cities in the UK, France and Germany for six weeks from 18 November. ‘Pokémon Poké Post’ offered visitors the chance to collect a Pokémon Trading Card Game gift to post to someone special and then receive their very own gift pack to take home and keep! The second Pokémon Primary Schools Cup kicked off this autumn as the brand’s partnership with the English Schools’ Football Association continues to flourish, giving opportunities to over 5,000 primary school football teams and over 50,000 players across

England. The most recent video game release sees the return of Detective Pikachu in a mystery solving experience for Nintendo Switch which features new and exciting ways to investigate headscratching cases involving a cast of intriguing characters. Pokémon animation continues to offer enticing new content. The brand-new adventure of the iconic Pokémon original animated series, Pokémon Horizons, introducing new lead characters Liko and Roy launched exclusively on BBC iPlayer on 1st December ahead of the roll out across other European territories in 2024. And launching at the end of January is a new special expansion for the bestselling TCG, Scarlet & Violet – Paldean Fates, which marks the return of Shiny Pokémon to the TCG and kicks off what promises to be another stellar year for the brand. n

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A Year of Milestone Celebrations for King Features King Features Syndicate has announced exciting plans to celebrate both the 90th anniversary of Flash Gordon and the 95th anniversary of Popeye in 2024

Events, new partnerships, costumes, publishing, fashion, sponsorships, LBE, and live-action movies are in the works!

Flash Gordon King Features Syndicate is joined by partners around the world in celebrating the 90th anniversary of the iconic Flash Gordon throughout 2024. Debuted January 7, 1934, the American comic strip, created and originally drawn by Alex Raymond, introduced Flash Gordon as comic’s first-ever intergalactic hero and has since become a timeless symbol of thrilling space adventures and heroic exploits. Fans looking for fresh Flash Gordon content need look no further than the new comic strip, written and drawn by Eisner and Ringo Award-nominated cartoonist, Dan Schkade. Launched in October 2023, the daily comic is available on ComicsKingdom.com and in newspapers nationwide, bringing readers new Flash Gordon adventures every day for the first time in two decades. Announced in the summer, King Features has also brought on Mad Cave Studios as Flash Gordon’s master publishing partner. “As the first intergalactic hero, Flash Gordon’s comic adventures heavily influenced the modern genre of sciencefiction from movies to television to consumer products and more,” said King Features VP/GM, Global Head of Licensing Carla Silva. “It’s our goal to continue meeting fans’ demands for quality Flash Gordon content and product so they can keep celebrating their love for the savior of the universe another 90 years!” The heroic earthling has been celebrated for nine decades by loyal fans who have explored the stars with comics’ most famous intergalactic adventurer, fellow space explorer and ally, Dale Arden, and scientist Dr. Hans Zarkov as they fight to free the universe from the tyranny of Ming the Merciless. Flash Gordon has set the standard for science fiction adventure. Then, in 1980, the brand established another cultural milestone with release of the cult classic theatrical film, Flash Gordon, produced by Dino De Laurentiis and starring Sam Jones. The

film combined elements of science fiction and fantasy, with a soundtrack by Queen and groundbreaking costume design. The film attracted a wide fan base and further solidified Flash Gordon’s legacy in pop culture. Fans around the world can join in on Flash Gordon’s anniversary celebration with a wide array of new and returning merchandising partnerships. In North America, Flash Gordon’s pervasive legacy continues to breathe new life into pop culture and consumer products with several exciting new deals and renewals. American Classics, Inc. renewed their latest apparel agreement for Flash Gordon t-shirts and onesies to be sold in the U.S and Canada. Brisco Apparel Company, Inc. is adding the classic character to its current deal for a variety of t-shirts, hoodies, and activewear. Lucas Museum of Narrative Art inked a new deal to utilize Flash Gordon strips in educational presentations worldwide. Internationally, Flash Gordon is experiencing rapid growth across publishing, entertainment, toys, apparel, and more. Atlantis Toy and Hobby is creating Flash Gordon-themed model kits for fans across Japan and the United Kingdom. Through deals brokered by Bulldog Licensing, King Features’ licensing agent in the UK, Brand Alliance Limited is set to launch Flash Gordonthemed apparel including beanies, caps, knitwear, loungewear, nightwear, socks, sweatshirts, tote bags, and t-shirts for UK fans, while Rubie’s will continue to release Flash Gordon costumes and costume accessories in Benelux, Russia, South Africa, and the UK. R&B Licensing AB brokered a partnership with Hybris Production AB for Flash Gordon apparel including assorted caps, sweatshirts, mugs, t-shirts, and more, available in Sweden. For collectors, Vertical Licensing negotiated a partnership with Ibiza Collectibles to create Flash Gordon statues, sold in the Middle East, Africa, the Caribbean, and Eastern Europe. King Features’ longtime partner National Entertainment Collectibles As-

sociation, Inc. (NECA) has extended its partnership to continue releasing Flash Gordon action figures based on the 1980 film worldwide. King Features’ licensing agent in Spain and Portugal, Caravanserai Partners SL, brokered deals with Plan B Publicaciones, S.L. and Editorial Salvat to bring

Flash Gordon comics and graphic novels to Spain, and with Hachette Fascicoli for reprints in Belgium, France, and French-speaking provinces in Canada. RCS Mediagroup, S.p.A and R & B Company - Zauberstern Records recently released Flash Gordon comic albums in Italy and Austria, Germany, and Switzerland, respectively. Brokered by Copyrights Asia, Takeshobo Co., Ltd. is releasing Flash Gordon books in Japan. Bulldog Licensing represented Titan Books in a deal that would publish Flash Gordon coffee table books worldwide. Looking ahead to Flash Gordon’s next space adventure, a live-action feature film is currently in development at Disney, with filmmaker and actor, Taika Waititi, attached to write and direct the project. Popeye the Sailor Man Popeye the Sailor Man, one of the most iconic characters in American history, is celebrating his 95th anniversary in 2024 with a full year of events, partnerships, and promotions. King Features Syndicate kicking off the landmark year with the inaugural National Popeye the Sailor Man Day on January 17th and the receipt of Good Housekeeping’s Nutritionist Approved

TOTAL LICENSING Emblem, especially notable in that he is the first “person” to ever receive this recognition. Popeye the Sailor Man has won the hearts of fans for decades and his values of loyalty, strength, resilience, and confidence have earned him a spot as a mainstay in American culture. On January 17th, fans of the nautical hero are invited to take part in the inaugural National Popeye the Sailor Man Day. Officially declared by the official National Day Calendar committee, National Popeye the Sailor Man Day is one of fewer than 20 new holidays that have been added to the 2024 calendar out of over 20,000 proposed additions. This year, in honor of his lifelong commitment to nutritious eating and his focus on fitness, Good Housekeeping magazine has awarded Popeye the “Good Housekeeping Nutritionist Approved Emblem” in their January 2024 issue. The award celebrates Popeye’s milestone anniversary and recognizes his decades-long commitment to healthy eating, fitness as well as his efforts in ocean conservation. Popeye is the first “person” to receive this honor. The ocean has always served as Popeye’s home, and his passion for ocean conservation remains strong through key partnerships. In 2020, Popeye the Sailor Man joined forces with nonprofit The SeaCleaners to help fight against plastic pollution. King Features and Popeye have leveraged numerous partnerships to support his ongoing relationship with The SeaCleaners including an in-game integration with

Angry Birds Friends, which launched a week-long Popeye-themed tournament in support of The SeaCleaners. World of Warships launched a limited run of Popeye themed in-game content to benefit the marine conservation and veteran’s charity organization, FORCE BLUE. The beloved character is known not only for his love of the ocean but for his iconic style. Popeye has taken the fashion world by storm over the years, being featured in collections with some of the world’s biggest fashion brands. Longtime Popeye partner, luxury brand ICEBERG, released a full Popeye-themed men’s ready-to-wear collection inspired by the sailor’s optimism and self-confidence, worldwide, supported by Fashion Week advertising in cities like New York and Milan. With later releases in collaboration with ICEBERG x TRAPSTAR. Brazilian skateboarding brand, HIGH Company, executed an entire store takeover tied to the drop of their contemporary streetwear collection. High end watches continue to be popular for the brand with fresh collections from Reservoir, Franck Muller x Bamford, Undone and Vario most recently. Additional high-fashion and streetwear partnerships have included, Moschino, Jean Paul Gaultier, Joyrich, Intimissimi Uomo, Castelbajac, Moncler, Supreme, Wrogn, Lefties, HUF, Starter, A Bathing Ape, Reason, ZARA, and more. Popeye continues to grow internationally. Just a few key deals in recent months include two from Brazil, where Popeye has released a stylish bedding collection with Artex followed by the national debut of Popeye Progressive Lager from Bodebrown brewery. This release marks the first time in history that the renown sailor man has entered the world of craft beer and includes a hint of spinach. In Chile, Hush Puppies released a limited-edition line of Popeye & Friends inspired footwear and socks starring Popeye and his friends. In promotions, China leads the way! L’Oreal enlisted Popeye for a promotional line of men’s grooming products in celebration of the Qixi Festival, Popeye and his

friends have also been in spotlight helping to celebrate the birthday of one of the largest, local malls through a fun and interactive installation paired with promotions. In Brazil, QSR Mania de Churrasco! Painted the façade of its Sao Paulo storefront with an iconic image of the burger-loving, Wimpy. Packaging, menus, displays and more through the restaurant are also branded with Popeye and his friends. And in the U.S., ToYou Snacks, has made Popeye the ambassador for its healthy snack bars. In the U.S., Boss Fight Studios and YouTooz dropped new collectible figures, while Jade City Foods released lines of Popeye hot sauces and coffees. And out of China, two new building block sets starring the salty sailor were released by Guangdong Pinqi and Linkgo Toys Industrial Co. A new manga style comic book series titled “Eye Lie Popeye” is currently in development, having debuted its first issue last year online, and Clover Press hosted a Kickstarter campaign to support creation of a new Popeye art book. Finally, fans will be happy to know that the rumors are true… there is a new Popeye movie in development…and it’s going to be live action! Popeye made his first public appearance on the comics pages on January 17th, 1929, in Elzie Segar’s then 10-year-old comic strip, Thimble Theatre. Since then, Popeye’s iconic imagery and resilient spirit have influenced the worlds of nutrition, fitness, ocean conservation, sustainability, fashion, and pop culture globally. Over the decades Popeye has influenced every category of merchandise and entertainment. Other iconic moments include turning the Empire State Building in New York City green in celebration of his love for spinach in 2004, and a legacy Popeye magazine in Japan, which has grown to include four separate titles honoring Popeye, Brutus and Olive Oyl. Additional partnerships and collaborations for Popeye’s 95th anniversary will be announced throughout the year, offering fans around the world many ways to celebrate the iconic Sailor Man. n

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Crumble & Core Expand Licensing Ambitions Moving into the Northern European Market UK independent greeting card company, Crumble & Core, are extending their licensing ambitions into northern Europe with the appointment of German-based licensing agency Active Merchandising. Since 2022 the familyrun Sussex based business has focused on a growth strategy that has not only embraced licensing but also included embarking on a new design direction to support the growth of their core product ranges, as well as launching a bespoke artwork service to offer

visitor attractions a point of difference for their customers. “We have had some previous success in the German market and recently extended our partnership with The Art Group, Netherlands to produce and distribute our designs in the Benelux market, so it made sense for us to look at how we could

bring licensing into the mix and also broaden our core business through a licensed greeting card partnership,” commented Louise Pike, Founder and Co-Owner of Crumble & Core. “We wanted to work with a boutique agency who could help us develop our licensing ambitions in these markets so partnering with Active Merchandising made a lot of sense to us.” Active Merchandising owner and founder, Anita van Esch commented “We are delighted to be working with Louise, Jilly and Lucy on this lovely art and design brand. Our focus will be stationary, home furnishings and gifting where we have already developed some nice product ideas which have been well received by the potential partners with whom we have been in discussions.” With a network of licensee and retail-

er contacts across Northern Europe, Active Merchandising will be focusing their efforts on securing partners across a wide range of categories for Germany, Austria, Switzerland, Belgium, Netherlands, and Luxembourg utilising Crumble & Core’s array of both nostalgic watercolour artwork as well their bolder surface pattern designs. Crumble & Core recently signed a deal to become an official supplier of greeting cards and boxed sterling silver earring cards to the Scottish FA in a range of specially commissioned designs bringing their bespoke artwork service into the sporting arena. Crumble & Core works with consultant and agent, Susan Bolsover, founder of Lightbulb Licensing, to diversify and grow the brand and take it into new product areas. n

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Spotlight on

GERMANY Studio 100 Studio 100 report that their Mia and Me program continues to grow. The brand has been in the international market for over ten years but it particularly popular in Germany. To date there are four seasons comprising 104 episodes. Up to one million viewers watch Mia and Me which airs on ZDF and KiKA. Season 4 comprising 26 new episodes launched last May. To date the series has been sold in ove 170 countries and is a YouTube phenomenon with over 1.9 billion views and more than 3.2 YT subscribers. For over 3 years, Mia and Me has been advocating on social media channels with 700,000 monthly impressions, empowering girls to live equally, independently, and confidently. The Girl Power message is further amplified through an influencer campaign annually on the United Nations‘ International Day of the Girl Child, celebrated on October 11. This benefits the numerous Mia and me licensing partners, all of whom have extensive plans for the brand in their product planning for 2024 and continue to invest in the success of this robust girls‘ license. Partners include Simba Dickie Group, Ravensburger, Lively Story, Blue Ocean, Edel Kids, United Labels, Tex Ass, Herding, and Licensing Factory, among others. At the end of January, Vic the Viking, one of Studio 100 Media’s most iconic brands, celebrates its 50 year broad-

cast anniversary in Germany. The 2Danimated classic series debuted on January 31, 1974. ZDF, ZDFneo and KiKA are celebrating this anniversary on January 28, 2024 with a special programming including the feature film “Vic the Viking – The Magic Sword,” supported by a PR and promotional campaign. Studio 100 are also actively licensing Bluey, the a global hit series from the BBC, with rapidly growing fanbases in many countries, including Germany, where it is available on Disney Channel und Disney+, supported by an official German YouTube Channel. This channel has been the fastest growing Bluey YT Channel worldwide within only 2 weeks after its launch. Licensees in Germany include HTI Toys (role plays, suitcases, outdoor toys), OTL (headphones and walkie

talkies), Stor (lunch boxes, bottles and tableware), Ravensburger (puzzles), Amscan (costumes), Hasbro (games and Play-Doh), and Tomy (tommies bathing toys). Moose Toys will continue to push Bluey until Spring 2024 and beyond, via a cooperation with the family influencer “Kids.Doc” – who is organizing a stage show in 4 cities and Moose Toys joins as exclusive toy partner and sponsor. Logan Stone, Marketing Director, UK and Europe at Moose Toys said, “Bluey is a shining star in the Moose Toys portfolio, and we are thrilled at the success we are seeing with our toy range across Europe. Bluey has managed to deliver the perfect recipe of being loved as much by parents as it is by children. The warmth, humour, wholesomeness, and relatability are what make it such a special property and I believe we’ve really captured those qualities in our toy range. With a range of figures, playsets, vehicles and plush, fans of the show are able to recreate their favourite episodes at home and really live and breathe the essence of Bluey, which is all about finding joy and encouraging the value of play. It is wonderful to see families embrace Bluey like they have, and the proof is in the strong sales we are seeing across so many markets in EMEA. From top toys in UK and Spain, to huge growth in France and a phenomenal launch this season in Germany, the future is looking bright for Bluey.” n

With a population of over 84 million people, according to the most recent Licensing International Global Licensing Study, Germany is the fourth largest market in terms of licensing with retail licensing revenues in 2022 over a little over $13 billion, representing a 5.1 percent increase over the previous year. On the following pages, we put the spotlight on some of the very varied licensing activity in Germany from entertainment and films to brands, art and more.

TOTAL LICENSING Lizenzwerft GmbH Hamburg based licensing agency Lizenzwerft GmbH is a proven expert with more than 30 years of experience in the licensing business. The core business of the team of 11 around the highly experienced managing directors and owners Peter Bichler and Christopher Conzen is the development of individual brands within the entertainment, liefestyle, sports and corporate sector. In 2023, the Lizenzwerft team added some new brands to its already strong porfolio, which has been led by the highly successful LOOKS by Wolfgang

Joop brand since 2020. “LOOKS by Wolfgang Joop currently has 26 licensees. With a rough ﬁgure of 15.000.000 sold items since its start in 2020 the brand has shown a high competence in many areas”, says Jan Peters, brand director for LOOKS by Wolfgang Joop. “The family of licensees is extremely inspiring and creative,” he concludes. Lizenzwerft’s most widely recognized brand is undoubtedly the lifestyle brand emoji. According to Peter Bichler, “It’s rare to ﬁnd a brand that resonates universally across all genders, age groups, and, most importantly, on every continent. The emoji brand serves as a global language facilitating multinational communication. The profoundly emotive emoji brand icons and designs enhance products across numerous categories. We take great pride in welcoming the emoji brand on board from January 2024 and are thrilled to be recognized as one of the European license agencies for this incredibly dynamic, emotional,

and versatile brand,” Bichler further expresses. Developing at high speed are definitely Rock Your Curves and RYC – two brands presented and hosted by Germany’s leading model – Angelina Kirsch. At the end of November her first hair care products by GLYNT entered the market and - boosted by Angelina’s social media support - were immediately out of stock. In parallel to the activities at QVC, Angelina’s own online shop will be launched, through which all her products can of course be purchased. “Shoes are also in the pipeline”, says Stürken. “The shoe collections currently being designed by our licensee Isa Traesko will also be absolutely stunning. This consistently demonstrates Angelina’s sense of style and the heart of the brand.” HiFly, the legendary surf brand born in 1978, is another big thing for the Lizenzwerft team. “We reinvented the brand in 2022 at the Windsurf World Cup in Sylt. Hinrich and I are both windsurfers and we grew up with this iconic brand. So when we had the chance to grab it for us I didn’t hesitate. The feedback we are getting is great! It’s so important to have stories to tell about a brand and with HiFly the stories come flying – as there are so many people out there who had some of the best years of their lives with this brand. And they are incredibly loyal! This year HiFly again had the chance to be the fashion partner of the PWA Windsurf World Cup on Sylt and the response was very positive – people came back telling us how much they loved the products they had bought the year before and made sure to get the cool items of this year’s collection.” The latest new kid at Lizenzwerft is the well-known brand GIN TONIC. “Seems we have a thing going with 1978, as this is also the year in which this absolutely stunning brand was founded”, says Christopher Conzen, managing director and co- owner of Lizenzwerft. “Back then GIN TONIC was the first German brand presenting the new casual look showing that you don’t need to dress up for a special occasions but that it was easy to be

perfectly dressed for every occasion. This casualness, easiness and its comfy style make GIN TONIC a wonderful brand for hometex, apparel, accessories, eyewear etc.” With the brand World’s Origins x Wolfgang Joop Lizenzwerft presents a brand with a strong story and a highly recognized partner being the most famous German fashion designer alive. In addition the brand’s subline “A treasure called tradition” evokes all kinds of strong stories. “Be it coffee, spices, chocolate or fabrics for apparel or hometex – there are many categories for World’s Origins x Wolfgang. “We are building up the network of licensees, having a very strong partner for hometex who already got great deals for World’s Origins x Wolfgang Joop,” said Hinrich Stürken The world of food is there to be explored by World’s Origins “World’s Origins offers a unique story for unique products – and above it all there is Wolfgang Joop as the brand’s strong partner. It is an absolute pleasure working with a brand that can kick off with such a strong story,” added Christopher Conzen. n V.I.P. Entertainment & Merchandising AG V.I.P. Entertainment & Merchandising AG is a leading independent licensing agent with a 35+ years track record and has represented in the past brands like IBM, Pepsi Cola, Pierre Cardin and Fabergé, Entertainment properties like Star Wars, James Bond 007 and Pippi

TOTAL LICENSING Longstocking, Legends like H. Bogart, Elvis Presley and Marilyn Monroe, the NFL and the Davis Cup as well as various charities. V.I.P. has recently been appointed licensing agent for the US-fashion brand Members Only that became extremely popular with its widely distributed Iconic Racer jacket. From leading lights like Mariah Carey, Robert De Niro, Zac Efron, Will Ferrel, Michael Jackson, Eddy Murphy, Rihanna, Frank Sinatra, Will Smith etc. to the working-class hero, fans of Members Only come from all walks of life. While the brand has focused to date on the Americas it is now expanding overseas, mainly through licensing, but also by granting import/distribution licenses, including for the products. The appointment came shortly after V.I.P secured the licensing rights for Pinkfong, a leader in kid’s songs and stories and the Paris fashion house Christian Lacroix and its CXL brand. Pinkfong comes from The Pinkfong Company, the creators of Baby Shark, the most viewed YouTube video of all times and already accounts on its English speaking channel for over 42 billion views and 71+ million subscriptions. The German YT channels report 332.000 subscriptions and 133+ million views. In fact, if you consider that 426+ million views of the English YT channel come from the German speaking markets, it adds easily to well over 500 millions from the region. Indeed, the social media scene has not only changed significantly the entertainment scene but also countless other industries. For instance, without its Members the Members Only brand would simply not be what it is today. Brand advocacy is the greatest opportunity in social media. If content is inspiring enough, a brand advocate will create custom content that favourably features a brand, whether through a curated photo, video, or tweet. The importance of substantial presence in social media that also generate traffic and sales for the brands online shops becomes even more evident in the German speaking markets, if you have followed the most recent news on the Austrian Sigma group. A conglomerate of about 1,000 com-

AMSCAN EUROPE AT NUREMBERG Over 300 square metres, Amscan Europe will be presenting its new products at the Nuremberg Toy Fair 2024, including many licensed products - from party decorations to balloons to costumes. Amscan Europe is proud to expand its license portfolio in the coming year. A charming new addition to the dress up portfolio is My Little Pony: Cute dresses with shimmering appliqués and accessories such as wings and headbands will enchant little fans of the franchise. Other dress up additions include Winx, Diary of a

Wimpy Kid, and eight new styles for popular characters from the Pokémon universe, allowing little fans to slip into the roles of Evee, Snorlax, Charmander and more. To celebrate Peppa Pig’s 20th birthday next year, Amscan will present a new dress style as well as a completely refreshed party range with a cheerful birthday design. The popular tableware and party decorations for Pokémon and Miraculous will also shine in a new look, and Monster

High is a brand new addition to the licensed portfolio. For every party range, Amscan offers the matching foil balloons to complete the decorations. And an exciting selection of foil ballons are now also available as a handy set: A large bouquet with heliumfilled balloons is an eye-catcher that puts a smile on people’s faces! That’s why the new sets, for example for PAW Patrol and Barbie, contain foil balloons in various sizes and colourful designs, as well as a helium canister for filling, to decorate any party in no time at all. Further highlights are the new balloons from Premioloon, which are available with messages in 28

panies belonging to Rene Benko´s group are in serious financial trouble. Many large retailers may not survive (like the Karstadt-Galeria dept store chain, the 37 Sport-Scheck stores and others) and at the time of this article nobody can forecast how far this crises will evolve.

languages! The first licensed designs include beautiful motifs from PAW Patrol and popular Disney classics. Amscan Europe is part of the Wonder Group, one of the world‘s leading designers, manufacturers and distributors of party goods in the B2B sector. Their product portfolio reaches from foil to latex balloons to party decorations to costumes and make-up. The tremendous variety of products, paired with an attractive offering of licenses for kids and adults, makes them a one-stop-party shop that provides the perfect goods for every occasion. From their headquarters in Kirchheim/Teck (Germany), we work together with customers and partners Europe, the Middle East and Africa. Amscan Europe can be found at the Nuremberg Toy Fair, Hall 9, A55,C-58 n

Moreover the recent High Court decision caused a deficit of some 60 billion Euros in Germany´s 370+ B household budget and that the government was unable to still decide on the 2024 budget. Industry, trade and even consumers are pretty worried because at this time

TOTAL LICENSING it is uncertain who may be affected. Nevertheless, V.I.P.´s CEO Michael A. Lou, an optimist by nature, projects ample licensing opportunities for his new brands. Christian Lacroix is one of France´s most famous Haute Couture designers, whose unique, exuberant, colourful and baroque style is unmistakable. From their inception his creations have been coveted and embraced by many international stars such as Beyonce, Cate Blanchette, Cindy Crawford, Lady Gaga, Jennifer Lopez, Madonna and many others. CXL embraces the legacy and spirit of its prestigious heritage in Christian Lacroix, following trends with its own unique vision of it. CXL translates the brands core values to target a broader audience with a diversified category offering. CXL by Christian Lacroix offers products designed for day to day consumption in the singular sector of luxury French contemporary; serving all areas of the market. As CXL has already successfully organised consumer loyalty deals and licensed promotional items in some countries, V.I.P. will also look for such opportunities in its territory. Even interior decoration deals for real estate projects, yachts etc. are on V.I.P.’s agenda. n Warner Bros. Discovery Warner Bros. Discovery looks back at a year full of anniversaries and records. In 2023, the company celebrated its 100th birthday with numerous events and activities around the world. The 100th anniversary was not the only reason to celebrate: Superman and Harry Potter, two extraordinarily successful licensed trademarks from Warner Bros. Discovery, also celebrated anniversaries: Superman its 100th birthday and Harry Potter its 25th birthday in Germany. “Barbie” broke one record after another in the cinema and with “Aquaman and the lost Kingdom” Warner Bros. Discovery celebrated the end of a great cinema and license year. It has been a quarter of a century since the famous Harry Potter thrilled the world of readers young and old with

his adventures. Every book and movie since then has broken new records. An anniversary celebration in Hamburg in August 20232 proved just how special the appeal of the Harry Potter phenomenon still is. Over 10,000 visitors flocked to the Rathausmarkt to watch a stage program all about Harry Potter. A world record was also broken on this occasion: More than 4,500 dressed-up fans came together, easily breaking the world record set in Australia in 1997 with 996 dressed-up fans. Harry Potter is one of Warner Bros. Discovery’s top licenses. License sales increased by more than 30 percent in the first half of 2023 alone, according to a study by the GfK Entertainment Merchandise Panel. Several companies launched new products featuring Harry Potter, including various Lego products such as a new advent calendar and a range of playsets specifically tailored to fans of the various houses of Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. In September 2023, the world famous and long-established company Schleich launched a completely new “Wizarding World” product line. This is the first time the company has entered the magical world of Harry Potter. The fans’ favorite characters conquer the children’s rooms together with their magical animals. The collection includes for example Harry with his owl Hedwig, Hagrid with Fang and Albus Dumbledore with Fawkes, his special phoenix. The collection also includes Dobby the house-elf, who is particularly popular with many fans. Other new Harry Potter licensing products come from the German company Undercover, with lovingly

designed satchels, pencil cases and accessories, or from companies such as Spin Master with the Magical Minis and Funko. Only a short time after the big Harry Potter event in Hamburg, numerous Batman fans in Berlin celebrated Batman Day 2023 with an exclusive event at Berlin’s Zoo Palast. In addition to a movie marathon, there was also an exhibition with the original Batpod and original props from the films to admire. Batman Day was accompanied by an exclusive event in the famous Berlin department store KaDeWe. In a large Batcave pop-up square, fans were able to explore the Dark Knight’s lair and purchase Batman merchandise from Spin Master, among other products. Another DC Superhero is the star of an exciting underwear collection: Together with Warner Bros. Discovery launched Snocks the Aquaman Boxer shorts and Retro Socks Collection, for the theatrical release of Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom. The collection provides the iconic DC Superhero‘s style to everydays wardrobe. Snocks has been a trailblazer in crafting high-quality, comfortable, and stylish underwear and socks. With this exclusive Aquaman Collection, Snocks is pushing the boundaries of Superhero fashion, combining Aquaman’s aquatic aesthetics with comfort and functionality. Pandora launched an exclusive Game of Thrones jewelry collection in 2023, which is particularly interesting for female fans of the series. Six special pieces of jewelry from the Game of Thrones x Pandora collection imaginatively present the dragon story at the heart of the series. On a different note, the Looney Tunes

TOTAL LICENSING is an animation classic and still a top seller in the industry. Especially Tweety is a real style icon in the fashion sector. The luxury fashion brand MCM, which stands for “Modern Creation München” dedicated a special fashion collection to the cheeky and smart bird in winter 2022/2023. Together with Warner Bros. Discovery, the company launched 30 original items: from Tweety bags to ready-to-wear clothing and colorful accessories. The Looney Tunes were also at the world-famous Oktoberfest in 2023: Trevco launched an Oktoberfest collection for Merch by Amazon, with casual hoodies, sweatshirts, T-shirts and tank tops in various colors. The outlook for 2024 promises to be great: The new year brings another anniversary: Batman celebrates his 85th birthday with numerous campaigns around the world. The Looney Tunes will be the star of a major licensing sports cooperation which will cause a sensation not only in Germany but worldwide. n Bavaria Media Licensing Bavaria Media Licensing report that since 1935, Schleich, one of Germany’s largest toy manufacturers, has been offering authentic and realistically detailed play figures as well as play sets

for children from the age of three. The famous figurines and sets are sold in more than 60 countries and now the brand as well as its franchises will be strategically expanded beyond classic play goods into other categories as well as internationally. The Schleich product range now spans many different worlds: In addition to the Farm World product line, which

focuses on animals and life on the farm, Wild Life tells of the wilder animal worlds in the jungle, forest, desert and even Antarctica. It continues with Dinosaurs, showcasing the full range of prehistoric giants. With Bayala, a fantasy journey takes consumers into a world full of magical creatures. Last but not least, Schleich delights horse fans with its Horse Club product line and young and old with mystical creatures from Elrador Creatures. Bavaria Media Licensing also report that, together with Infoscreen, Janosch supported the Nature Conservation Association’s Hedgehog & Mole Counting Day in September to record the numbers of the two animal species. As important and beneficial pest controllers, they ensure a healthy cycle in nature. However, it is presumed that their population is declining. This is why Tiger Duck and friends have been keen to protect hedgehogs and moles. The Trip to Panama: In Janosch’s bestknown children’s book, Tiger and Bear set off on a journey to Panama after discovering a sweet-smelling banana box. Based on the story, the approach to this new passion project has now been developed: together with the Hamburg-based cooperative The Generation Forest, Tiger and Bear are creating a new rainforest in Panama, the Tiger Duck Forest. On a different note, Bavaria Media Licensing’s Frida Kahlo program was nominated in two categories: “Corporate, Lifestyle, Celebrity Brand of the Year 2023” and with Thalia for “Promotion of the Year 2023” at the German Licensing Awards. New Playmobil audiobooks were launched in October: “The Secret of the Wolves” is set in the world of Novelmore in 2 parts. In episode 1, Prince Arwynn is involuntarily chosen for the knight competition and must

prove whether he can hold his own on the big tournament day. In autumn, licensed partner Spreadshirt launched an extensive and stylish Playmobil collection with the motto ‘Play it again’. The collection launch was accompanied by a casually cool Social Media campaign. And so to the Moomins who will celebrate a big anniversary year in 2025. The Moomin House stands as a symbol for the themes that will be celebrated around the anniversary and that are so important today: Inclusion, protection, comfort and safety as the basis for a happy life in freedom and full of adventure. There is a plethora of new products, events, marketing activations and an extra anniversary style guide to mark the 80th anniversary year. After their popular spring collection, the legendary sportswear brand adidas is now launching a very extensive collection with the Moomins.This new adidas Originals winter collection is inspired by the Moomin’s love for winter sports and is embellished with the charm of Moomintroll. n WDR mediagroup GmbH WDR mediagroup GmbH is the commercial subsidiary of Westdeutscher Rundfunk (WDR). It markets and realizes the commercial potential of WDR programs and of content of other partners, through all distribution channels. The group’s core business is the marketing of advertising time on the WDR radio stations 1LIVE and WDR 2 and of the TV sponsoring settings on ARD Channel 1. The business activities of the group further include programming distribution, licensing and merchandising, accessible media services, and comprehensive IT and broadcasting services. WDR mediagroup has now secured the marketing rights for “Wallace & Gromit” in the GSA region from rights hold-

TOTAL LICENSING er Aardman and licenses all product areas except computer games, apps, live events and theme parks. They are one of the most iconic duos in pop culture: Wallace and his faithful companion Gromit! The ambitious and naive inventor Wallace creates a contraption for every little problem. While his inventions don’t always work quite as he expected, his clever assistant Gromit always manages to sort everything out. At the end of every adventure, a good cup of tea and crackers with cheese are a must for the two of them! Wallace and Gromit have been captivated audiences for over 30 years: A Grand Day Out from 1989 marked the beginning of the duo‘s adventures.This was followed by three more short films and their first feature-length film, Wallace & Gromit: The Curse of the Were-Rabbit in 2005. All productions received an Oscar nomination and three times the prize went to Bristol studio. A new film is currently in the works, which will be broadcast exclusively on Netflix and BBC One. The lovingly crafted clay animation of Wallace & Gromit also laid the foundation for the unmistakable look of Aardman productions to this day. Shaun the Sheep, who made his first appearance in 1995 in the short film A Close Shave, has become an indelible part of the animation and brand world. Over 60 million views and 160,000 subscribers on YouTube, 100,000 Instagram followers, and more than one million Facebook fans on the British page impressively demonstrate the popularity of the cult brand Wallace & Gromit. Numerous licensees have also recognised this: More than 60 licence partners worldwide are already part of the Wallace & Gromit world. The detailed and lovingly drawn style guide provides creative support for the realisation of target group-specific licensed products as well as a wide range of ideas for appealing product and packaging design.The brand‘s core target group is children aged 8 and over as well as teenagers and adults. n Hasbro Following its 100th anniversary in 2023, Hasbro is continuing to build and crea-

BRANDMATE - 19-20 JUNE The B2B networking event for everything to do with partnerships, collaborations and licensing is going into its third round. On 19 and 20 June 2024 in Fredenhagen near Offenbach, BRANDmate will take place again. Two days packed full of networking in an expanded environment await the participants. Exhibiting companies will be coming from a range of fields such as entertainment, toys, food, publishing and fashion. What they have in common is an interest in brand collaboration and licensing deals. Successful combination of fair and festival The last edition of BRANDmate brought together over 300 companies and 750 individuals.The event focused on the gaming & e-sport, food & beverage, home & living and sports sectors – in addition to the familiar experiential worlds of entertainment, toys and stationery. Among the ex-

hibitors were not only German but also internationally renowned businesses such as Super RTL, Paramount, Mattel, Carlsen Verlag and Koziol. Eva Stemmer, Managing Director of BRANDmate GmbH, has high expectations for this creative concept: “At our networking event, there is something for all participants to experience, in the true sense of the word. We create a special atmosphere so that our guests start to think in fresh, te new innovations and experiences based on its world-class IP: 2024 marks the 20th anniversary of Peppa Pig, and there will be parties and new releases all year-long to celebrate. Families can join the adventures through the 6-week cinema event taking over major movie theaters and the opening of Peppa Pig Park in Günz-

forward-thinking ways about collaboration.” Innovative networking tool The declared aim of BRANDmate is to facilitate transparent and efficient networking. The matchmaking function on the event’s website will

therefore go live a good two weeks in advance. This gives guests plenty of time to arrange speed-dating appointments and generate new business opportunities. All contacts will be visible on the site so that everyone can write to anyone. “Where the event scores is in the ability to communicate on equal terms, which makes it a true creativity hotspot. For top decision-makers in the licensing sector, as well as for companies looking for businesses and partners in other industries, BRANDmate is an absolute must offering a lot of added value,” says Christian Ulrich, Managing Director of BRANDmate GmbH and Spokesperson of the Executive Board at Spielwarenmesse eG. The disused Fredenhagen steel plant once again becomes the backdrop for the event that includes speed-dating, brand showrooms, staged presentations bringing brands to life, speaker podiums and generous outdoor space. n Tickets for BRANDmate 2024 will be available from the beginning of March at www.brandmate.events. burg – the first stand-alone Peppa Pig theme park in Europe. The attraction will invite families to step into the world of Peppa with experiences designed specifically for her littlest fans. Families can also enjoy new product collaborations with Dr. Oetker Kitchenware, Deichmann Footwear, Roba Furniture, Wyncor’s Miraball and Sim-

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ba Feature Plush. Peppa will also participate in the Super RTL Toggo Tour. The iconic Autobots and Decepticons are having a big year, as Transformers celebrates its 40th anniversary! This year, the franchise is debuting its firstever fully CG-animated film, Transformers One, which comes to theaters in Germany this fall. Transformers: Earthspark, the original kids animated series, is also returning with a second season. Beyond entertainment, Transformers is delivering excitement for fans with premium products, such as state-ofthe-art robots from Robosen, MetalFigs from Jada Toys, gaming chairs and accessories from Pro Gamersware, a new PEZ dispenser from PEZ Candy and Wyncor’s Miraball™. With 40 years of magic and friendship in the books, My Little Pony is bringing a slew of magical licensed collaborations and stunning animated entertainment to Germany this year. Our new season of award-winning Tell Your Tale will launch in January with double the content of 2023. Fans can expect a Miraball Capsule Plush Collection from Wyncor, as well as a Flying Kite from artist Paul Günther and more. Monopoly reigns as the world’s favorite family board game with more than one billion players in 114 countries across the globe. With 300+ versions themed to travel and global pop culture brands, German fans can lookout for some brand-new local editions from Winning Moves International, along with pop-culture inspired versions from USAopoly and others. The innovative Wyncor is also delivering a

Monopoly Miraball Capsule Plush Collection. In its 55th year, Nerf is continuing to offer innovative and thrilling ways to get families up to play. This year, Carrera is launching the Nerf Blasting Car, an epic new toy that combines all the fun of Nerf with the hair-raising excitement of remote-controlled cars. The Nerf Blasting Car will be on display at Nuremberg Toy Fair and hits shelves this fall. In 2024, Dungeons & Dragons is celebrating 50 years by unveiling unexpected collaborations that expand the world’s greatest roleplaying game into a lifestyle brand. MDM Münzhandelsgesellschaft is launching a 50th Anniversary coin collection, while Burgschneider plans to expand its roleplaying costumes and accessories range with more beautifully crafted pieces. Additionally, Hasbro has big plans to grow its branded offerings for the iconic family brands, Play-Doh, Furby and Littlest Pet Shop. n

1995. The company is known for highquality metal signs “Made in Germany,” globally recognized brand licenses such as Vespa, Coca-Cola, MercedesBenz, Harley-Davidson, BMW, and Volkswagen, as well as a diverse gift item assortment in the popular retro style. Highlights include 3D-embossed metal signs in various sizes, practical metal boxes, unique mugs, trendy pill boxes, and much more. The unique collection stands out with globally renowned brands, a wide product selection, as well as creativity and design. In addition to the trade collection, designed by in-house designers and product developers, Nostalgic-Art also offers customized designs for industrial customers. Partnerships with major companies require the highest standards to authentically represent the brand image. Nostalgic-Art meets this challenge with enthusiasm. From Harley-Davidson to Coca-Cola, BMW, MercedesBenz, and Volkswagen, the NostalgicArt collection is unique thanks to the diversity of these renowned brands. The main goal is to present historical brands in a high-quality, authentic, and attractive manner to keep the history alive. The nostalgic designs from past years not only evoke memories but also reflect the lifestyle of different generations. Emotional and colorful designs on best-selling products have been a staple for successful retailers for years. The trade collection is popular among

Nostalgic-Art Charming retro motifs are the DNA of the German company NostalgicArt, which has been designing, producing, and distributing a successful collection of gift and decoration items since 1995 with great attention to detail and the highest quality standards. Based in Berlin, Nostalgic-Art now reaches over 50 countries worldwide with its products. Located in the historic “Kanonenhalle” in Berlin, Nostalgic-Art has successfully established itself in the market since

TOTAL LICENSING various retail chains, franchisees, and smaller retailers. With heart and mind, Nostalgic-Art combines the personal style of a family business with the professionalism of a modern company. This connection not only creates unique products but also an atmosphere of creativity and attention to detail reflected in every retro item. n IMG With an experienced German team and unparalleled expertise in the region, IMG represents leading brands, organisations and trademarks in the country including Haribo, Volkswagen,

Bugatti and Bundesliga. Additionally, the agency continues to help international brands engage with German audiences through unique and fitting collaborations. IMG also leverages the wider Endeavor network, including IMG’s sister agency WME, to implement strategic deals and partnerships. This year, the National Football League (NFL) returned to Germany with the first-ever NFL season games to be held in Frankfurt. As the league’s licensing representative, IMG facilitated a varied range of consumer products and experiences for NFL’s growing German fanbase. Sven Thierhoff, IMG’s Munich and Frankfurt-based VP of Licensing says, “NFL had a standout year in Germany thanks to the two Frankfurt Games that further propelled the league’s exposure and popularity. NFL’s commercial viability and the success

of its existing licensing programme is evident by its ‘Sports Brand of the Year’ win at Licensing International’s Germany Awards.” To celebrate the NFL’s first touchdown in Frankfurt, the league collaborated with football club, Eintracht Frankfurt and German fashion brand, Lobster & Lemonade to launch an exclusive apparel collection. The cobranded collection included t-shirts featuring distinct iconography that represents both the NFL and Frankfurt - capturing the city’s excitement and vibrancy. Lobster & Lemonade also launched a wider NFL-themed collection featuring socks, t-shirts, sweaters

and jackets for NFL fans interested in the intersection of culture, style and sport. “With NFL returning to Munich in 2024, along with the highly anticipated “road to the Super Bowl” this January, the NFL fever is here to stay,” says, Thierhoff. Meanwhile, Haribo continues to be a sought-after German-based IP on a global level. As Haribo’s global licensing representative, IMG is helping Haribo to capitalise on its hardearned affinity with collaborations that bring fans closer to the brand in exciting new ways while retaining an element of

nostalgia. Thierhoff believes that Haribo’s strength lies in delivering “childlike happiness to all consumers through colour and play.” Earlier in the year, Haribo collaborated with Vans for a first-of-its-kind footwear and apparel collection for all ages. Launched in celebration of the 100th anniversary of the iconic Goldbears, the collection included fan favourites such as the Old Skool V “Yellow Checkerboard” featuring gummy bear-shaped graphics on patent leather, and Sk8-Hi “Haribo Black” decorated with the Haribo tagline “Kids and grown-ups love it so, the happy world of Haribo” written in ten different languages. Other highlights include a collaboration with renowned German costume company Deiters for a range of Haribo-themed costumes and apparel collection called the “Karnival Kollektion”, a playful sock collection with well-loved German family business Falke brand, and a sleepwear collection for all ages with Tezenis. n The Brand Residence The movies “The School of Magical Animals” have captured the hearts of millions of cinema-goers and continue their success story with the upcoming third part.The production, directed by Kordes & Kordes, not only broke the records of the first part with over 2.8 million viewers, but also became the fastest German film to reach the one-million-viewer mark in 2022. This made it one of the three German box office millionaires and the most successful cinema release since the beginning of the 2020s. The recognition of the film’s outstanding performance is reflected in the

TOTAL LICENSING awards that “The School of Magical Animals” has received. The film has already received the German Film Award twice as the “Most Attended Film” and was also honoured with the Bavarian Film Award in the “Family Entertainment” category in 2023. The success of the movies extends far beyond German borders. The first film was sold in 23 countries and reached the top 10 of the cinema charts in 10 countries, including Austria, Denmark, Spain and Croatia. In the USA, the magical spectacle made it into the top 20. However, the driving force behind the franchise is not just its success on the big screen, but also the strategic planning of the licensing agency TBR The Brand Residence (TBR). Marlies Rasl, Managing Director of TBR, sees “The School of Magical Animals” as a longterm franchise with diverse elements such as cinema films, a planned animation TV series, casting shows and concerts. Together with Kordes & Kordes, Marlies Rasl’s team plans to present the brand continuously until 2028, keeping the target group of children aged 6 to 12 and fans of the book series in mind. The licensing programme is based on the characteristic look of the movies and the planned animation series. It includes high-quality products from various categories, with the 3D animated magical animals taking centre stage. These characters will be expanded with new, fascinating personalities with each film. The core themes of the franchise, including friendship and cohesion, offer a high level of identification for the target group by addressing real problems of schoolchildren in a fantastic world. A milestone for the future of the franchise was the first licensee meeting, which took place in November 2023. This served as a kick-off for the planned campaigns in 2024. The licence partners make a significant contribution to the success of the franchise. With Heunec, the manufacturer of the first plush toys, “The School of Magical Animals” has already provided an enthusiastic fan base with cuddly companions under the Christmas tree before Christmas.Textildruck Europe’s

online shop, which has been live since December 2023, also gave little fans a magical Christmas. Other well-known licensees, such as master toy partner Kosmos, Schleich, Winning Moves, Tex-ass, Schott Music and Warimex, have already developed impressive products that will be presented at various trade fairs (e. g. Spielwarenmesse Nürnberg and Ambiente Frankfurt) and platforms - to specialist retailers - in early 2024. The success story continues with the third part of the movies, which is scheduled for release on 3 October 2024. Special promotions are being developed by a partner agency to further increase fan anticipation. TBR is also planning numerous other activities together with its licence partners. The aim is to increase the presence of the magical animals in retail and ensure that fans can immerse themselves in the world of magical animals not only in the cinema but also in stores. “The School of Magical Animals” will therefore not only remain an extremely creative film project, but will also develop into a comprehensive and fascinating experience for children and fans worldwide, which will continue not only on the big screen, but also on the shelves and in the hearts of fans ... until at least 2028! n Toon2Tango The past year has been a momentous one for Toon2Tango – not just in the German market, where it has a strong presence, but beyond. Toon2Tango launched in 2019 as a boutique media company. It had an advantage when it came to building partnerships in the German market: co-founder Hans Ulrich (Ulli) Sto-

ef knows that market well. He was a founding shareholder of German m4e AG, which he sold to Studio 100 Media in 2018. A reputation for quality product, led to commissions from a number of companies, including Super RTL, for Toon2Tango co-productions. Two shows have already both been hits on Super RTL: Agent 203 and Monster Loving Maniacs. Not long ago the company announced that production had begun on an animated feature film called SANTA. COM for release in 2025. The 90-minute film is being prepared for Christmas 2025. Among its distributors is Germany’s Leonine Studios, which will bring the film to theatres in the GAS countries and which, in 2022, acquired a 25.1 percent share in Toon2Tango through Leonine Holding GmbH, Germany’s leading independent media company. In late 2023 came the move that Ulli Stoef called “a significant step forward for Toon2Tango and our partners, one that will have a huge impact on everything we will be doing over the coming years”. That was when Leonine Holding announced the founding of Leonine Animation Studios GmbH together with Toon2Tango’s Hans Ulrich Stoef and co-founder Jo Daris.. As Ulli Stoef explains,Toon2Tango was looking for a viable growth strategy – which became a reality after Leonine approached him and Jo Daris. Leonine was already very successful in the kids and family business in Germany, mainly within co-production for theatrical distribution, home entertainment and kids audio. Leonine was keen to make use of the deep knowledge of anima-

TOTAL LICENSING tion production, financing and 360-degree distribution in the field of animation on an international level that Toon2Tango could contribute. This led first to an investment and then to the launch of Leonine Animation Studios. As the leading German independent media production powerhouse, Leonine offers Toon2Tango many strategic options in order to extend its IPs and productions. “With such a strong player who has a very clear vision for growth we will be in a different financial position to aggressively follow our strategy,” says Ulli Stoef. Germany will play a strong part in that strategy, a strategy that is not just driving broadcasting success but, thanks to the strong performance of Toon2Tango shows is now focusing on licensing and merchandising. It’s not surprising. As Ulli Stoef points out, the German market remains one of the most attractive L&M areas, and, while there is a lot of competition in the pre-school space in particular, the success of Toon2Tango’s own shows indicates that its founders’ experience in funding, positioning and developing promising new properties has worked to its advantage in the German market. And Toon2Tango has no shortage of promising new properties on the way to accompany its established hits. The Wee Littles, Littlest Robot and Pocats are among a number of imminent or planned launches which, supported by the partnership with Leonine Studios, will further enhance Toon2Tango’s reputation – in both the German market and beyond. n Edel Kids Edel Kids, the Edel Group’s home entertainment brand for children’s entertainment, is pleased to announce a significant anniversary: 25 years of successful presence in the market for diverse children’s entertainment. For a quarter of a century, the label has established itself as one of the most important providers of children’s repertoire in the audio and DVD segment in Germany, Austria and Switzerland, with sales figures continuing to rise. As a label that moves with the times, Edel Kids transforms licensed themes such as Barbie, Miraculous and Pet-

ready won two Licensing International Germany Awards - in the categories “Licensee of the Year” (2019) and “Licensing Industry Award” (2023). Business partners such as licensor Mattel have also expressed their appreciation of the long-standing collaboration with Edel Kids in the past in the form of the “Entertainment Licensee” award (2013).

Andrea Zum Felde, Edel Kids tersson and Findus into physically and digitally available long-term classics, is involved in the production of animated series and films and has won numerous gold and platinum awards. As experts in the field of marketing, Edel Kids is a partner of Universal/ DreamWorks, Warner Bros, Mattel, Hasbro, 20th Century Fox, Super RTL, KiKA and many others as part of major crossmedia and crossindustry cooperations. Thanks to its two inhouse distributors, Edel Distribution and Kontor New Media, Edel Kids can be in direct contact with customers with a constant stream of new and diverse topics and thus reach end consumers quickly. Time and again, the label proves its knack for new and successful content, winning the Goldener Spatz award of the same name at the Kinder Medien Festival 2022. The episode The Dead Magpie from the third season of Pettersson and Findus, produced in collaboration with ZDF, was awarded the prize by a children’s jury for its child-friendly approach to the topic of death. Edel Kids has also always perceived the enormous changes in the industry, especially regarding digitalization, as a positive challenge that constantly requires new ways of thinking and creative approaches. The label uses this development as an opportunity and motivation to constantly rethink, for example in new formats such as the Kekz headphones. Edel Kids has al-

Paul Gunther GmbH & Co KG Licensee Paul Günther, the founder of Paul Gunther GmbH & Co KG, was a passionate pilot - and he was a passionate tinkerer. Flying and the physics behind it fascinated him. He was interested with aerodynamics, wing geometry, propulsion technology, flight manoeuvres and a wide variety of flying machines. In 1950, he developed the first toy aeroplanes. In 1952, he founded the Günther toy factory. Afterwards everything went very fast. The company grew and developed into a worldwide specialist for everything that flies. The kites with eagle motifs, the foil-covered airplane wings and catapult gliders such as the Spatz are classics today and are not missing in any well-stocked toy store. In 1979, Paul Günther‘s daughter Sigrid Hoßfeld took over the management of the company. The current managing director Alfred Stefan has been with the company since 1999 and is now sole shareholder. A part of the Günther range is still produced in Germany.About 30 % come from the company‘s own production in Bavaria. The rest of the range is developed in Germany and produced abroad. Our planes, kites and boats are sold in specialized shops, in department stores, pharmacies and in online shops. The current percentage of export is about 35%. Licenses held include Maya the Bee, Peppe Pig, Fireman Sam, PJ Masks, My Little Pony, Frozen, Winnie the Pooh, Cars, Mickey Mouse, Princess and Minnie Mouse. n

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CANADA - SPIN MASTER Spin Master, recently announced new international content licensing deals for three of its animated properties. Spin Master Entertainment’s newest preschool series Vida the Vet, will expand to new platforms and broadcasters, introducing the ten-year-old animal doctor, Vida, and her adorable woodland creatures to preschoolers on France Televisions France 5 and streaming service Okoo in Q2 2024 as well as SVT (Sweden) in September 2024. Previously announced broadcasters of season one (52 x 11-minute episodes) include DR (Denmark), HOP! (Israel) and Corus Entertainment’s Treehouse and streaming platform STACKTV (Canada) in December 2023, BBC’s CBeebies, streaming platform BBC iPlayer (UK) in January 2024, Netflix (US, Germany, Austria and Switzerland) in March 2024 and YLE (Finland) in April 2024. Unicorn Academy, a magical fantasy adventure series, which recently debuted globally on Netflix, will also be available on CBC and CBC Gem (Canada) this winter and Super RTL (Germany, Austria, Switzerland) November 2024. The 72-minute movie and eight, 22- minute episodes kicked off the launch of a robust franchise plan which includes toys, a digital game and an expansive licensed consumer products program underway beginning in 2024. Featuring an all-new, revamped anime style, Bakugan’s fresh aesthetic, characters and storylines rolls onto Cartoon Network (Central Eastern Europe and Latin America), Pop (United Kingdon), Super RTL (Germany), RTVE Clan

(Spain) and 9Go! (Australia). The series originally premiered in September on Netflix (US, Canada, Australia, Nordics and Middle East) followed by Disney XD in the U.S. “We have a passion for telling stories that kids around the world can identify, connect and engage with,” said Jennifer Dodge, Spin Master Entertainment’s President. “From epic brawling adventures to caring for forest creatures to unlocking magical worlds, we’re thrilled to expand the reach of our entertainment properties. With the help of our international broadcast partners, we can inspire a new group of fans.” On a different note, Spin Master is launching a year-long global campaign themed “Mark Your Move” which will include innovative products launches, global activations, new licensed partnerships and the first official Rubik’s Digital Game. A symbol of problem solving, intelligence, perseverance and patience, Spin Master will acclaim the power and influence of the Rubik’s Cube with a campaign aimed to inspired and ignite generations of problem solvers. One in every seven people in the world have played with the iconic Rubik’s Cube, but 62% of people cut their journey short never solving it. The ‘Make Your Move’ campaign sets out to change that, focused on inspiring solvers.

“When I created the Rubik’s Cube 50 years ago, it was not with the intent for people to just find the solve, but to cultivate those who would be solvers,” said Professor Erno Rubik. “Both with the cube and in life we are faced with challenges, and progress thrives on the resolve to push through the countless complexities in pursuit of discovering one of many possible solutions.” New products include a Rubik’s Retro Cube, a Rubik’s Sensory Cube, Rubik’s Connected X and Rubik’s Cubers. Notable collaborations will also be unlocked throughout the course of the year with other iconic brands including a Wednesday Cube that pays homage to Wednesday Addams with a monochrome color scheme and THING display stand along with additional collaborations with Barbie, Hello Kitty, Levi’s, Mercedes Benz, Team GB and G Fuel to name a few. Later this year, Spin Master’s Digital Games creative centre will also debut a new mobile game called Rubik’s Match™. Leveraging the iconic Rubik’s Cube IP and bringing it into the casual gaming space, the game is developed by Nørdlight, Spin Master’s Stockholm based studio. Licensed products in Canada for 2024 beyond the Rubik’s Cubers and the collabs mentioned above include Heelys footwear, LIDS hats and apparel and Einstein Collaboration Cubes. n

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CANADA - NELVANA Creating brands and memories for over 50 years, Nelvana is a world-leading producer, distributor and licensor of children’s animated and live-action content. Nelvana’s library features well over 5,000 episodes of programming has received over 70 major international program awards including Emmys and Canadian Screen Awards and airs on Corus Entertainment’s kids channels in Canada and in over 180 countries around the world. In addition to producing a stable of award-winning, globally renowned brands that entertain kids around the world, Nelvana is a leading full-service licensing agency, managing global and local consumer products programs through strategic brand management, merchandise licensing, and consumer and retail marketing. Properties in the Nelvana stable which they license in Canada include Thomas and Friends, Barney, Care Bears, Bluey, Miraculous and Sesame St. Thomas and Friends has been licensed to apparel, sleepwear, footwear and home décor and Barney will be the subject of new products in 2024. For Care Bears, Nelvana has a wide range of adult and kids’ apparel, sleep-

wear, home décor, party goods, accessories, pet accessories, stationery, vcostumes, fashion collaborations and more. September 9 is Share Your Care Day and Nelvana ran an exclusive partnership with TRU Canada featuring a national crafting activity, social contest and mascot events at select locations. Bluey has been licensed to sleepwear, apparel, outerwear, home décor, infant accessories, sporting goods and

costumes. Nelvana also partners with retailers nationwide on Bluey in-store activity days featuring book features, make and take crafts and mascot appearances with partners including Indigo and TRU. Miraculous Lady Bug now has a number of Canadian licensees for apparel, accessories, home décor and costumes. On Sept 28th Nelvana partnered with toy licensee Playmates and Imports Dragon to celebrate Miraculous Day and host in-store events at 10 TRU stores across Canada. Fans were encouraged to come dressed as their favourite Miraculous characters and enjoy photo ops, giveaways and crafts to make and take home. Sesame Street is also popular in Canada with stationery, art and crafts, party goods, apparel, sleepwear, sporting goods and more. Partner Retrokid hosted their first in-person pop up shop featuring the brand new collection of Sesame Street apparel in August 2023. VIPs and fans alike came together in downtown Toronto on the waterfront to celebrate the new collection, meet the mascots, enjoy giveaways and music. On a worldwide basis, Nelvana licenses Max & Ruby and Bryan Baeumler. Max & Ruby has been licensed to plush, books, adult apparel and party goods whilst Bryan Baeumler has signed apparel and accessories to date. n

The Middle East, renowned for its rich cultural history and dynamic market evolution, is increasingly capturing the spotlight in international licensing agreements.This growing interest is being fueled by significant investments in the entertainment industry, especially sports, in high-profile deals involving Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, and Qatar, in particular. These nations have taken the lead in creating exciting new prospects for businesses looking to penetrate the burgeoning sector. However, the region’s legal framework, an amalgamation of distinct systems, is complex and presents unique challenges, especially in the critical areas of intellectual property (IP) and licensing agreements. In his latest article, Amer Bitar explores these legal nuances to help businesses arrive at a comprehensive understanding of the situations that they may encounter. Through a meticulous examination of IP and licensing laws, he clarifies the regional legal variation and suggest effective strategies for navigating Middle East law. An understanding of this labyrinth of rules and regulations can enable businesses to transform potential obstacles into strategic opportunities, thereby paving the way for successful expansion and growth in the region’s dynamic markets.

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NAVIGATING LEGAL LANDSCAPES: LICENSING CHALLENGES IN THE MIDDLE EAST Legal Diversity across Middle Eastern Countries The legal diversity across the region is pronounced and unavoidable. On the one hand, nations such as the United Arab Emirates and Saudi Arabia have established robust and well-structured IP laws complemented by effective enforcement mechanisms. Their proactive efforts to align their legal frameworks with international norms have resulted in a predictable and secure environment for licensing activities. Thus, the government of the UAE has demonstrated its commitment to IP rights protection through vigilant measures to combat counterfeit goods. The regular raids and awareness campaigns by the Dubai Department of Economic Development exemplify this commitment to safeguard the interests of brands, investors, and consumers. Similarly, the recent overhaul of Saudi Arabia’s IP laws as a part of its Vision 2030 initiative supports a strategic move to diversify its economy and attract foreign investment. On the other hand, some Middle Eastern countries, such as Egypt and Jor-

dan, are still in the process of developing and refining their IP frameworks. Their evolving legal environments and sometimes inconsistent enforcement practices form a mosaic of legal contexts, each with distinct challenges and risks. This diversity calls for a cautious and informed strategy when businesses operate across Middle Eastern jurisdictions. The wide variation in the stringency of the enforcement of IP rights obviously introduces uncertainty and risk. Lax enforcement can result in unauthorized use and infringement of licensed products and services, potentially devaluing IP assets and affecting revenue streams. Then again, rigid enforcement can slow business processes with excessive paperwork and inspections. Consequently, licensors and licensees must develop a deep and nuanced understanding of the legal system in each country. They need to be attentive not only to the letter of the law but also to its practical application, the efficiency of the judiciary, and the prevailing attitudes regarding IP rights. It

is also crucial for businesses to keep informed about ongoing legal changes, for any shift in IP legislation can have profound implications for existing and future licensing agreements. This comprehensive awareness and the development of a multi-dimensional strategy are prerequisites for thriving in the complex IP terrain of the Middle East. Tactics for Effective Licensing from a Legal Perspective Developing the appropriate awareness and strategy, then, starts with an understanding of the range of local legal regimes and forms the basis for effective brand introduction and robust risk mitigation. To ensure successful licensing operations in the Middle East, businesses should make a particular effort to develop the following resources and competencies. 1. In-depth legal research and local expertise. The cornerstone of effective licensing in the region is a deep understanding of each country’s legal environment. Therefore, connections with local legal experts and regulatory authorities are needed to interpret the nuances of local laws, remain in compliance with detailed ordinances, and resolve disputes. These insiders’ insights into the likelihood of enforcement and bureaucratic niceties can mean the difference between the success or failure of a venture when the licensing agreements are negotiated and drafted. 2. Cultural sensitivity in licensing agreements. In the Middle East especially, the formulation of effective licensing agreements by interna-

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tional firms depends on a thorough understanding of and respect for the region’s local customs, business etiquette, and rich cultural tapestry. The need for cultural sensitivity is particularly evident in the media and entertainment sectors, for the government regulations and censorship standards are stringent and deeply rooted in cultural values. Western-oriented content often requires careful localization to resonate with Middle Eastern audiences and comply with local norms, not merely translating it but adapting it to reflect local sensibilities, religious beliefs, and societal norms. The stakes are high: lapses in sensitivity can lead to both legal complications and reputational damage. Thus, businesses must diligently research and integrate cultural understanding into their strategies, not simply adhering to legal mandates but building brands that are culturally coherent and respectful, to foster trust and acceptance among local consumers. 3. Leveraging local partnerships. Alliances with local entities in the Middle East can be a pivotal factor in the success of a licensing venture. These partnerships go beyond mere collaborations and are instrumental in obtaining market insights, navigating the legal and bureaucratic landscapes, and appreciating cultural subtleties. They are particularly useful in jurisdictions that restrict direct foreign operations, in streamlining business operations, and in making sense of consumers’ behaviors and preferences.

Moreover, local partners are essential for establishing and elevating the retail presence of a brand. Through established relationships with retail leaders and knowledge of the market dynamics, they are able to secure prime shelf space and enhance the visibility of products.This kind of visibility is critical since retail space allocation and consumer reach are highly competitive across the region. Additionally, local partners contribute significantly to retail and brand due diligence, ensuring that brands both secure their rightful place in the market and achieve their full potential in terms of sales and consumer recognition. Leveraging local partnerships is a strategy for market entry and embedding a brand in the fabric of the local retail ecosystem with clear benefits in terms of enhancing acceptance, demonstrating relevance, and achieving success. 4. Strategic brand registration. A crucial step in international expansion is, of course, brand registration in the target country. Securing legal protection for a brand safeguard it from infringement and misuse, enhances market presence and credibility, and demonstrates a commitment to legal and professional standards. In other words, registration is essential for successful international market operations to establish brand legitimacy, participate in local business activities, and enforce rights against counterfeiters. 5. Risk mitigation and legal compliance. Successful businesses engage

in proactive risk management that extends beyond the prompt registration of trademarks and patents to include crafting precise licensing agreements and actively monitoring for IP infringement. Regular legal audits and reviews of developments in regional IP laws are essential for effective compliance and adaptation to changes in the laws as well as minimizing risks and fully leveraging the market opportunities available in the Middle East. Conclusions Success in the Middle Eastern licensing market requires a strategic understanding of and accommodation to the diverse legal and cultural landscape coupled with smart business practices. Accordingly, businesses benefit greatly from enlisting local legal expertise, keeping abreast of the evolving legal landscape, and demonstrating cultural sensitivity. Local partners enable international businesses to navigate the bureaucratic intricacies of individual governments and develop insights into various markets. Such alliances, along with strategic brand registration, provide a solid foundation for market entry and brand protection. Proactive risk management, which includes diligent IP oversight and legal compliance, is essential to mitigate the inevitable challenges. By employing the tactics that I have described here, businesses can harness the dynamic opportunities in the Middle East and transform these complex legal environments into arenas for growth and success. n

About the Author Amer Bitar is an international executive specializing in brand licensing, IP monetization, media, and sports entertainment. As the CEO of Markettcom, a boutique agency focused on brand licensing, he helps global brands expand their presence in the Middle East and North Africa. For information, contact: amer.bitar@markettcom.com

BLIPPI’S IMMERSIVE EXPERIENCE ARRIVES IN RIYADH The immersive experience runs for a year from October 2023 Blippi’s Immersive Experience is going to have a year-long presence in the MENA region, specifically in Saudi Arabia. The beloved children’s character, is taking the region by storm with a groundbreaking and immersive experience at the heart of Boulevard City in Riyadh. This one-of-a-kind experience, aptly named “Blippi at the Boulevard City,” is set to run for a year, offering a captivating blend of education and entertainment that will leave kids, parents and carers in awe.

Little ones can also collect dinosaur eggs, visit the volcano or learn about the planets, as well as play in the ball pit in Blippi’s HQ or visit the immersive media room. Parents are raving about the educational value of “Blippi at the Boulevard City.” Ahmad Jassem, a father of two, expressed his delight, saying, “ Blippi’s world is a dream come true for my little kids! It’s full of fun things to do and learn. My kids love being there. I’m truly happy that my kids had the opportunity to live this experience in Riyadh.” Yousra Al-Tamimi, a mother of three,

Three zones inspired by the show’s most popular themes: Dinosaurs, Under the Sea, and Space await eager young explorers aged between 3 and 10. Each zone is meticulously designed to transport visitors into Blippi’s imaginative universe, where learning comes alive through interactive experiences, engaging activities, and captivating storytelling. Fans will also be able to meet Blippi, TABBS and D.BO and even buy their own Blippi merchandise to take home. The character of Blippi is played by a trained performer specifically for the experience.

echoed similar sentiments, stating, “I have been to many countries and visited several theme parks around the world – I can tell that it’s a meticulous recreation of the show, a testament to the incredible talent behind this immersive experience.” The positive impact of “Blippi at the Boulevard City” is evident in the way it has captured the hearts and minds of young visitors. Al-Tamimi shared a heartwarming anecdote, saying, “ As we drove home, the echoes of Blippi’s songs filled our car. The joy on my children’s faces was a sight to behold, their eyes sparkling with the memories of their Blippi adventure. It was a

TOTAL LICENSING Blippi brand is on an unstoppable trajectory. We’ve identified many opportunities within the MENA market to further amplify Blippi’s reach, fulfilling the growing demand for engaging children’s entertainment. Our vision extends beyond mere amusement; we aspire to create new entertainment experiences for kids”. Susan Vargo, Head of Global Experiences at Moonbug Entertainment, said, “Blippi’s success in the MENA region is a testament to the brand’s ability to connect with children on a proday they would forever cherish, a day that had captured their imaginations and filled their hearts with wonder.” A Milestone for Blippi’s Expansion In the span of just two years, Blippi has captivated the MENA region with an impressive array of over 8 different events and experiences. From live musical shows to engaging themed popup activations, Blippi has transformed malls, regional festivals into hubs of imagination and wonder. However, “Blippi at the Boulevard City” marks a significant milestone for Blippi’s expansion in the MENA region. This groundbreaking experi-

ence comes as a result of the brand’s immense popularity in the region. Spacetoon, the driving force behind this immersive experience, states previously that “it is committed to creating global entertainment experiences in the MENA region” Speaking about the experience and Blippi’s continued growth in the region, Ahmed Weiss, the General Manager of Spacetoon Event said that: “We are immensely proud to create this experience. We envisioned a global phenomenon, a legacy that would inspire generations to come.” He further elaborated on Blippi’s expansion in the market, stating, “The

About Spacetoon Event: Spacetoon Event is a demonstration of the core values of the Group, which is to bring great joy to the Arabian audiences through the delivery of unforgettable experiences. Spacetoon Event has a dedicated team that works upon providing impeccable live entertainment experiences through a unique approach that focuses on the inclusion of engaging activities and updated technologies. Spacetoon Event is proud of its partnership with pioneering international brands, and is considered the leading and most trusted company in the Arab world that delivers branded and non-branded family and kids festivals. With an aim at expanding its business expenditures, Spacetoon Event, is working upon the formation of new strategic alliances and partnerships, paving the path to it being one of the leading companies in the ever-growing live entertainment industry in the MENA region. About Moonbug Entertainment: Moonbug Entertainment is an award-winning global entertainment company behind some of the most popular kids’ titles in the world. Moonbug’s lineup includes global sensations CoComelon, Blippi, Little Baby Bum, Little Angel, My

found level. With its focus on education, entertainment, and positive reinforcement, Blippi continues to set the standard for children’s programming, leaving an indelible mark on young minds across the globe.” n

Magic Pet Morphle, Supa Strikas, Go Buster, Playtime with Twinkle, Gecko’s Garage, ARPO and many more. Moonbug’s shows are on more than 100 platforms globally, including YouTube, Netflix, Amazon Prime Video, Sky, Super RTL, BBC iPlayer, HBO Max, Tencent, Youku and Roku. In May of 2020, Tubular Labs named Moonbug one of the leading digital kids’ entertainment companies in the world based on the total number of minutes watched worldwide. The company’s YouTube channels are viewed over 9 billion times on average every month globally and has more than 440m subscribers. Its portfolio currently stands at 29 IPs and 100+ brand partners and is available in 32 languages. Moonbug is part of Candle Media, an independent, creator-friendly home for cutting-edge, high-quality, categorydefining brands and franchises. By bringing together elite talent operating at the intersection of content, community, and commerce, it helps to position leading entertainment businesses for accelerated, sustainable growth in the current market and beyond. Candle is run by its Co-Chairmen and Co-CEOs, leading entertainment executives Kevin Mayer and Tom Staggs, and backed by investment capital from funds managed by Blackstone’s flagship private equity business.

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In the latest of his regular columns for Total Licensing, Gary Pope, CEO and Co-Founder of Kids Industries and Children’s Commissioner for Products of Change talks about trends we can look for in 2024.

LICENSING TRENDS 2024 There’s a thousand and one places you can find out what the next big thing is and besides, the chances are that if you’re reading this then you’re plugged into our world enough to know exactly what’s coming down the track in 2024. Yes, there will be (more) nostalgia, yes there will (must) be more sustainability. Yes, of course LBE will continue to rise and rise. And yes, AI will be defining many things in the months ahead. But you know all this. So maybe it’s worth thinking about things in a slightly wider context. I was listening to that song “Once in a Lifetime” by Talking Heads the other day. It’s 43 years old and it’s as relevant today as it was in 1981. We don’t change; it’s the things around us and the way we interact with them, that change. So, I thought I might start 29 years ago, when a bunch of things happened that have come to define our future.

1995 was a bit of a bumper year in our journey to digital dependency Amazon, eBay, AltaVista and Yahoo! all launched and they were viewed on Internet Explorer 1.0 that also arrived that very year. There was that Windows 95 thing too. ChatGPT told me all this, so it must be true. But it missed the 1995 innovation that was most relevant to the licensing world: Toy Story. A miraculous digital achievement that saw CGI blended with story more emotionally than it ever had been until that point. And of course that led to the uncontrollable consumer rush for Buzz Lightyear that followed. It was indeed a bumper year. It was also the year that Generation Z came into being. Whether we can truly, meaningfully differentiate a group of people by carving an arbitrary line in time is at the very least debatable but let’s go with it because, although they may not know it, those born between 1995 and 2010 might just be the most

important generation the planet’s ever had. OK, they didn’t save us from fascist tyranny but they are important, honest. You see, this is the first generation that has reached adulthood having been deeply engaged with the new digital reality from birth. This is the generation that aren’t just focused on themselves (unlike those pesky Millennials) and it has been argued that they might be the most pragmatic to date. Maybe. You can make your own mind up. What is undeniable though as we enter 2024, is that we are at a digital inflection point and Gen Z are all over it. AI is here and will change lots, but the world will keep turning and it’s likely that we won’t need to postpone the 40th anniversary celebrations of The Terminator franchise, because a realworld Skynet has actually annihilated humanity.

TOTAL LICENSING Insta and Snap are well into their petulant teenage years, whilst tween TikTok looks like it might behave better through puberty thanks to new and very welcome legislation.

hope might be useful for you… 1.

The metaverse has done a bit of a fart and now we understand its actual role in Actual Reality. All these things are here and they are miraculous, but they do not supersede us and the way we interact with each other. And Gen Z knows this very, very well. Having lived through the digital explosion, Gen Z parents are the ones that are now more digitally integrated than any before them. They implicitly understand the power, pitfalls and potential of the new world order. And this understanding is what we need to harness as we consider what it is that will make those meaningful connections with our brands. There’s many more conclusions to draw but here’s five I

Gen Z parents are actively choosing to co-view with their children. The rise and rise of Bluey is not just that it’s great for the kids, it’s great for the parents too. Brands that succeed on the world stage for the children of Gen Z will know Gen Z as well as they know Generation Alpha. Digital saturation was already driving families to brand experiences before COVID-19 came along. The accelerated demand has coincided with the maturation of Gen Z to ensure a line of business that is going to grow exponentially in the coming years. Then there’s the “A” word. Authenticity. Much spoken of and often contrived, but more in demand than ever. Telling the real story, and being open, honest

and candid, will always take you further with the next generation. 4.

There’s willingness to accept ever more imaginative stretches in brand collaborations - provided there’s a modicum of integrity - because in the minds of Gen Z, brands do not have impenetrable walls.

This may sound a little too obvious but it’s only going to matter more and more - the right value proposition. The pragmatism of Gen Z will increasingly demand it.

The new digital landscape and Gen Z’s relationship with it will provide the fault lines for much of what happens in the world of consumer behaviour beyond 2024. As ever, and this too is something that never changes, consumer centricity is, as that song from 1981 says: “Same as it ever was…same as it ever was…” n

1995 was a bumper year! 79

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LICENSING TICKET TO RIDE Ticket to Ride is a board game most of us have played or at least seen on store shelves over the past 20 years. With more than 15 million copies sold worldwide, including multiple expansions and the acclaimed new Ticket to Ride Legacy: Legends of the West, this iconic brand has become one of the big names across the tabletop gaming scene. As we enter the game’s 20th

anniversary year this enduring popularity, along with its global fanbase, makes Ticket to Ride a primary focus of Asmodee Entertainment’s licensing initiative. “When we set out to create our licensing program in 2020, we knew we were building towards the anniversary in 2024,” said Ness Jack, Licensing Manager at Asmodee Entertainment. “Creating a comprehensive range of products that allows fans to enjoy

their favourite game both on and off the table top was a clear focus, and we knew we had to start straight away to really plan and do justice to the brand.” Published by Days of Wonder, part of the global Asmodee Group, Ticket to Ride is a family game of competing to build railroads – with all the classic “I was going to do that!” and “One more game!” elements that kept it a best seller across the last two decades. Winner of the prestigious Spiel des Jahres (game of the year), it is an integral part of Asmodee Entertainment’s ambition of establishing a cross-category licensing programme. With new releases across publishing, interactive gaming, merchandise and apparel, 2024 will see this title expand beyond the realm of board games, giving retailers and consumers exciting new ways to engage with this beloved brand. In the interactive gaming space, Marmalade announced its Ticket to Ride game. Released on Steam in November 2023, with other platforms scheduled in early 2024, this digital edition promises to elevate the core gameplay with immersive graphics and high production values. Next stop on the list, Fanattik recently launched a range of limited-edition metal collectibles including the Ticket to Ride North American Open Tour Ticket and Collectible Train Coin. “As with all Fanattik’s products, these beautiful renditions of classic designs from the game make brilliant trophies or home decorations for fans of the game series,” said Alexander Thieme, Licensing Manager at Asmodee Entertainment. “The quality of these pieces is truly stunning. If you get a chance to see them at Spring Fair, I really recommend it!” Heading into 2024, fans can visibly show off their love of the game with apparel from Difuzed. “Our collaboration with Difuzed is really exciting,” commented Alexander. “Their creative approach combining the core elements of the brand with current

trends has resulted in some fantastic original pieces that we think fans will really engage with.” The first collection of Ticket to Ride apparel is due to be available in January 2024. April 2024 will see Ticket to Ride depart on a very different journey. Following the success of the CATAN® cookbook in 2023, Ulysses Press will take fans on a culinary journey with the official Ticket to Ride Cookbook. “Food and eating go hand in hand with gaming, and the way Ulysses explores recipes across North American cuisine really keeps with the spirit of travelling cross-country,” added Ness. Andrews McMeel Publishing is the newest licensee to hop onboard as a

partner for Asmodee Entertainment. The recently confirmed collaboration will see a range of middle-grade novels written by Adrienne Kress, author of the Bendy and the Ink Machine series, with the first book scheduled for release in January 2025. Ness commented, “what’s fantastic about a brand like Ticket to Ride is how it seamlessly transitions across categories. Whether you’re an existing fan, or just starting your Ticket to Ride journey, there really is something for everyone.” n

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San Diego Here We Come! Kidscreen summit heads to San Diego for the first time in 2024, after many years in Miami. In 2023, the first post-pandemic February event welcomed more than 1,800 attendees from 50-plus countries. Top executives attend Kidscreen Summit regularly to take advantage of the year’s best business networking and engage in critical dialogue on issues that affect the industry. The organisers

comment: “We are really excited to be hosting the 2024 Summit in San Diego for the first time, and we hope you’ll fall in love with the city like we have.” Top speakers confirmed for the summit come from far and wide, including companies such as Amazon Kids+, WildBrain, Warner Bros. Discovery, Ampere Analysis, Mediawan Kids & Family, Mattel, DeAPlaneta Entertainment, DreamWorks, Spin Master, Paramount, Tencent Technology, YouTube,

Crayola, Thunderbird Entertainment, BBC, GLAAD, and many, many more. A snapshot into the absolutely packed, informative agenda sees topics including Fundamental Industry Change and the Future of Kids Content, What About the Indies?, Another Way In: Roblox, Practical Magic: AI in application, Wellness Matters, 30 Minutes With…, Speed Pitching, Getting Into Podcasts and more. n www. summit.kidscreen.com

Total Licensing is a proud media partner of Kidscreen Summit, and you can pick up your copies of this magazine at the summit. Stayed tuned for all the news from San Diego! #Kidscreen24

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London

Nuremberg

23-25 January 2024

January 30 - February 3, 2024

The Toy Fair is the UK’s largest dedicated toy, game and

The toy fair in Nuremberg brings together international

hobby trade show taking place annually at the end of January at

decision-makers. Well-known brands, trendy start-ups, buyers for

Olympia London. The toy industry’s showcase welcomes more

major chains, independent retailers and large numbers of media

than 250 companies exhibiting thousands of products to visitors

representatives combine to make the Spielwarenmesse a unique

including retailers, buyers, media and the wider industry.

event for all players in the toys and games market.

With the Toy Season upon us, and the global industry gathering in both London and Nuremberg over the next few weeks, here’s a snapshot of some... Hot Toy News Mattel will head to Nuremberg with the strong belief that ‘play is for everyone – no-one is too old to play’, emphasising the Kidulting trend that we have seen around the globe. The adult fan base (also referred to as Kidults) is diverse, encompassing dedicated fans such as car enthusiasts, franchise lovers, and gamers, as well as everyday players who may be influenced by trends. Adult fans are not just hardcore collectors, they’re also casual fans who may just want to remember their childhood— whether that’s through Barbie homeware, a Polly Pocket version of the Friends’ locations, or Little People versions of other favorite TV characters such as Ted Lasso. The adult fan market is growing globally. This trend has experienced a rapid expansion in the US - Kidult toy sales increased by $3.9 billion in 2022 compared to 2020, with 80% of that growth taking place in 2021 and continuing to progress through 2022. Europe has also seen major growth of the trend, where toy sales for adult fans have increased by 1 Billion.

Mattel will present Hot Wheels Premium 1:43rdTM Assortment; Barbie Movie Skating Doll and Ken; Polly Pocket Friends Compact; Masters of the Universe Origins Action Figure Assortment; and Turtles of Grayskull, among many other launches. JAKKS Pacific will introduce, during Toy Fair season, three toys from Fred Rogers’ Productions’ Daniel Tiger’s Neighbourhood, including Trolley Seek and Find; Bungalow Sorter – a learning and development toy, developing dexterity and recognition; and Check-Up Time Daniel Cakeworthy and Hasbro announce the release of their classic Furby collection. This 13-piece fashion line includes an array of accessories dawning the hard-to-forget Furby face, as well as several clothing items including a sweater, t-shirt dress, and a sherpa jacket! Rubber Road’s gaming portfolio is expanding as the company secures a deal with Minecraft to design, manufacture and distribute some fantastic new and official merch that comes to life in 2024. Funko is releasing an all-new set of Digital Pop! Collectibles based on the international phenomenon, Squid Game. Fans have a limited-time opportu-

nity to purchase their crafty team of contestants, including The Front Man, Freddy Funko as The Front Man, and more! As the Tetris® brand gears up for its 40th anniversary this year, The Tetris Company has appointed IMG as its merchandise licensing representative in the US, Canada and EMEA, including

key territories such as the UK, France, Germany, Middle East, North Africa and India. The agreement expands on IMG and The Tetris Company’s existing licensing partnership in Asia and Brazil. The new multi-year partnership will see IMG develop a wide range of licensed products across key categories, including toys, games and collectibles. Snug as a Bug has new meaning for Douglas Company. The soft toy maker and lifestyle gift creator is introducing four new bug themed Sshlumpies and Playtivity Rattles for babies. Sshlumpies are a long-time favorite at Douglas. They are the 18” under-stuffed blanket-like plush characters with full plush heads. Each has a

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variety of textured fabrics and a sweet, embroidered signature on the front. Ravensburger is assembling heroines across popular Disney and Pixar stories to join forces and vanquish a sinister darkness threatening the world. Combining role-playing, storytelling, cooperation and the approachability of a board game format, Chronicles of Light: Darkness Falls (Disney

Edition) creates an immersive adventure game that allows players to experience Disney heroines in whole new ways while they work together to win. Happy Ink – the company behind the successful Hamsta World brand – has unveiled a new preschool property called ‘Cute Little Club’. Designed by Dutch creator Saskia Keiser, who is known for her minimalistic designs, the brand introduces 10 characters, each ’embracing their imperfections as a unique blessing’. The brand will take its first step into the market with a series of books. Fizz Creations announces the launch of its latest innovation – a brand new SLUSH PUPPiE Machine. This marks the first major redesign since 2017, showcasing a sleek, stylish blue finish with elegant curves. Built with new, advanced materials, this machine simplifies the process of making the beloved SLUSH PUPPiE. This will be showcased at Spielwarenmesse. Fanattik has renewed and grown its licensing partnership with Hasbro. Building on the initial three-year license which saw them supplying retailers throughout Europe and North America with collectible ranges featuring both Dungeons & Dragons and Magic The Gathering, this new multi-territory, multi-year renewal will also include Transformers which celebrates its 40th anniversary in 2024. Spin Master Corp. announces it has completed its previously announced acquisition of U.S.-based Melissa & Doug, a well-recognized and trusted brand in early childhood play, for $950 million. “This acquisition brings together two formidable leaders in the toy industry, both driven by a passion to create magical play experiences for children and inspire imaginations on a global scale,” said Max Rangel, Spin Master’s Global President and CEO. “By adding Melissa & Doug’s complementary product line to our existing toy portfolio we expand our capabilities in early childhood play and further bolster Spin Master’s leadership in the

children’s entertainment industry. Our combined expertise, and the addition of Melissa & Doug’s high-quality, openended, creative and developmental toys, positions both Spin Master and Melissa & Doug to unlock further growth across new and existing channels and in markets globally.”

2024 will be a bumper year for Squishmallows at retail; Jazwares has exciting updates to the Squishmallows product and channel strategy, boosting the collectability and world expansion of the brand even further. Listening to the Squishmallows fans, who want to go on The Hunt for more unique styles, Jazwares will offer a more extensive plush programme offering diversity across channels, powered by out-of-aisle activations across all major retailers and supported by a robust marketing campaign. n

Pick up your copies of Total Licensing at both Fairs, and follow @totallicensing

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Unveiling 2024 Movies from Pyramid

Exciting new releases and big anniversaries abound in 2024

As we stand at the beginning of a new year, 2024 promises to be an exciting time for the world of licensed merchandising, with a plethora of highly anticipated movies set to captivate audiences around the globe. In the dynamic realm of licensed products, Pyramid International is gearing up for an exhilarating year ahead, poised to showcase its expertise at prestigious events such as Ambiente, Frankfurt Toy Fair, and Spring Fair in next couple of months. Mordy Benaiah, the visionary Licensing Director at Pyramid International, reflects on the optimism surrounding 2024. “We are looking forward to the influx of great new movies that come with it,” he shares. “The quality and diverse nature of films on the horizon are truly remarkable, and we’re starting the year strong by engaging with industry peers and forging new connections, an aspect we value even more in the post-Covid era.” Celebrations are in order as 2024 unfolds, marked by significant anniversaries in the cinematic universe. From Mean Girls to Marvel, Batman to Frozen, licensors are preparing for fabulous celebrations that promise to reignite enthusiasm around beloved brands. The anticipation is palpable, with a lineup that spans across genres and generations.

One of the much-anticipated releases is the second part of the Netflix original Rebel Moon, an experience that Mordy Benaiah predicts will be every bit as enthralling as its predecessor, setting a precedent for future endeavours in the realm of streaming giants. For audiences young and young at heart, summer brings about the return of Gru and the Minions in Despicable Me 4. Additionally, Disney Pixar’s Inside Out offers a sequel in June, introducing a new ‘emotion’—Anxiety, voiced by the talented Maya Hawke

from Stranger Things. Mordy expresses personal excitement about Beetlejuice 2, citing the combination of the original cast, Tim Burton’s unmistakable magic touch, and the addition of the fabulous Jenny Ortega as factors that will make it a smash hit, particularly in the Halloween season. Ghostbusters Afterlife 2 is another highlight, uniting original cast members with new talent like Paul Rudd and Finn Wolfhard. As the year draws to a close, fans of The Lord of the Rings franchise can rejoice as Warner Bros presents The Lord of the Rings: The War of the Rohirrim in December. Set 183 years before the beloved trilogy, this fresh content is poised to captivate the fiercely loyal fanbase and garner new enthusiasts alike. In conclusion, 2024 promises to be a banner year for licensed merchandising, and Pyramid International stands at the forefront, ready to navigate the exciting landscape ahead. With a blend of experience, expertise, and a keen eye for emerging trends, Pyramid International continues to be a stalwart in the ever-evolving world of licensed products, ensuring that fans worldwide can immerse themselves in the magic of their favourite movies through a diverse array of merchandise. n

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Snapshot: Licensees

Rainbow Productions

The Carat Shop

After almost 8 years, Rainbow Productions welcomes a familiar face back to the team - Danny Smith returns as Senior Account Manager, catches up with the character & costume specialists Creative Marketing Manager, Georgina Huckle and reveals his plans for the future at Rainbow. (You can read the full interview at www.totallicensing.com.) Have you noticed many differences since returning to Rainbow? Whilst it’s great to see much has stayed the same in terms of personnel still with the business, it has been eye-opening to see how the business has grown and evolved in the last 8 years. Our production techniques have advanced, notably on our character heads, which has opened up new avenues to the business. Plus, some elements of the character production process that we previously used external partners for, such as dying & printing, have been brought to an in-house operation. There’s also been an obvious growth in our international client base, especially across Europe and The Middle East, where the volume of work now mirrors what we are doing within the UK. From our events side, there is without doubt still the love & excitement from children (and parents!) to meet their favourite licensed character, and there’s certainly an increased appetite from our clients for more enhanced and interactive appearances. Can you tell us more about Rainbow’s new Non-Character Activations? We have seen first-hand how brand awareness can be developed and built using live activations in malls and leisure settings. With our vast database of actors & artistes coupled with our existing relationships with venues through the 1200+ events we carry out each year, we are ideally placed to help brands fulfil this. Finally, remind us about your favourite project(s) from your previous time with Rainbow? Every project is truly memorable in some way! However, from an events perspective London 2012 stands out. It was a huge period for Rainbow as a business – and for me personally when I was road managing the official mascot Wenlock during the games’ Super Saturday! Being literally alongside Mo Farrah on the track after he crossed the finish line to take gold, was a ‘work’ experience I will never forget. From a manufacture point of view, the costumes for the Ice Age franchise was a project that I personally put a lot of time and effort into – initially for a residency at my then client Alton Towers. However, once that order was secured and importantly due to the incredible work done by our production team, Rainbow went on to become exclusive providers for the subsequent movie promotion and the order swiftly grew to all global markets, ultimately becoming one of the biggest orders in Rainbow’s history. n

The Carat Shop announces the expansion of their brand portfolio with the launch of Barbie, Pusheen, and Lord of the Rings jewellery and accessories for 2024. This exciting move marks a significant step forward for the company as it continues to diversify its offerings and cater to a wider range of customers. Barbie, the iconic fashion doll that has captivated generations of fans, will be brought to life in a collection of stylish and playful jewellery and accessories. The collection will capture the essence of Barbie’s fun and vibrant personality, offering a range of pieces that are perfect for everyday wear and special occasions. Available in both Silver Plated and Sterling Silver. Pusheen will also be joining The Carat Shop’s family of brands.The Pusheen collection will feature a variety of charming and whimsical jewellery and accessories that are sure to delight fans of all ages. Lord of the Rings will be honoured with a collection of intricate and detailed jewellery and accessories.The collection will capture the magic and wonder of Middle-earth, offering fans a way to show their love for the beloved series. In addition to its new brand launches, The Carat Shop is also excited to unveil a brand-new exhibition stand build and layout for 2024. The new stand will be showcasing the company’s extensive product range in a brand-new way. The stand will be first seen at the London Olympia Toy Fair, where The Carat Shop will be exhibiting its new brands and products. Alongside its new offerings, The Carat Shop will continue to showcase its best-selling Harry Potter jewellery and accessories. With its exciting plans for 2024, they look forward to welcoming new and existing customers to The London Olympia Toy Fair 2024 on stand UL160 for the second year running, as well as Spielwarenmesse 2024 in Hall 1, Stand F-05, to show what they have on offer for what is set to be another successful year. n

Legally Speaking

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Copyrights - A Powerful Tool for Protecting Merchandising Properties By: Gregory J. Battersby

While many property owners look to the trademark laws to protect their merchandising properties, they should also consider protection under the Copyright laws of their home country. Copyright protection covers any original works of authorship and typically includes the following: • Literary works; • Musical works, including any THE BUSINESS OF accompanying words; LICENSING • Dramatic works, including The Essential any accompanying music, pantoGuide for mimes and choreographic works; Intellectual • Pictorial, graphic, and sculpProperties tural works; • Motion pictures and other auLicensing has has diovisual works; and exploded into a • Sound recordings. $250+ billion While trademark rights extend worldwide industry for so long as the property at retail and generates more than $7 owner continues to use the billion in royalty income for those property trademark, copyright protecowners who are savvy enough to license their properties tion extends for a finite pefor a wide variety of consumer products. riod of time depending upon About 8 years ago, lawyer Gregory J Battersby and licensing the type of work, when it was veteran Danny Simon introduced the first Basics of Licenscreated and whether it was ing book. They published a revised version a couple of years published or not. In most inlater and followed it with a Licensee edition and then finally stances, the term is for the life an International edition. Recognizing that there was a deof the author plus 70 years. For gree of commonality between these editions, Battersby and works of corporate authorSimon concluded that it was time for the definitive work ship, the term is typically 95 on licensing, hence, The Business of Licensing which years from publication or 120 combines the best of all three prior editions and takes the years from creation, whichever subject to the next level. first occurs. Upon expiration This book takes the reader through the nuts and bolts of a copyright, the rights enter of how to conduct a licensing program and handle many the public domain and may be of the problems that it might face There is a substantial used by others. amount of reference material. They have included an exWhile that may sound like a panded history of merchandising, and an extensive colleclong time, the copyright terms tion of the forms that any licensing professional may need for some of the “classic” propwhich they intend to provide to purchasers with electronic erties are now expiring. The access to the forms via Dropbox. earliest version of Mickey The Complete Business of Licensing is available at a Mouse, a 1928 landmark anicost of $39.95 ($34.95 for LI members). https://www. mated short, Steamboat Willie, totallicensingworld.com/site/business_of_licensing will be entering the public domain when the film’s copyright expires. Legally, that means anyone could Gregory J. Battersby copy and reproduce the 1928 version of Battersby Law Group, LLC Mickey Mouse. 25 Poplar Plains Rd. Westport, CT 06880 The original story of Winnie the Pooh, (203) 454-9646 gjbattersby@gbiplaw.com written by A.A. Milne, entered the public www.gbiplaw.com domain last year and Peter Rabbit went

AVAILABLE!

into the public domain in 2014. In the next decade, early versions of such characters as Superman, Batman, Donald Duck, The Hobbit and James Bond will also enter the public domain. Fear not, property owners. Most owners of those character rights have turned to the trademark laws to protect their interests which will last for so long as they are used or licensed. Copyright rights arise upon the creation of the original work. It is no longer necessary to apply a copyright notice or even register it with the Copyright Office, although both are good practices as it gives notice to potential infringers and offers certain procedural and substantive advantages in litigation, including the ability to seek statutory damages and attorneys’ fees from an infringer. The three elements of the copyright notice are: • The © symbol or the word “Copyright,” or the abbreviation “Copr.”; • The year of first publication of the work; and • The name of the owner of the copyright (e.g., a complete copyright notice might be: © Kent Communications 2023. Registering a copyright with the U.S. Copyright Office is relatively simple and inexpensive. In the United States, the process requires only the submission of an application for copyright registration (obtainable at www.copyright. gov); deposit of the work for which copyright protection is claimed; and the payment of the statutory fee of $45 for the electronic filing for a single author or $65 for a standard application filed electronically. The filing fee for a paper application is $125. A copyright registration affords the property owner the exclusive right to: (1) reproduce the copyrighted work in copies or phonorecords; (2) prepare derivative works based on the copyrighted work; (3) distribute copies or phonorecords of the copyrighted work through sale or other transfer of ownership, or by rental, lease, or lending; (4) publicly perform or display the copyrighted work, including the individual images of a motion picture or other audiovisual work; and (5) publicly perform the copyrighted work by means of digital audio transmission sound recordings. Unlike trademarks or patents, under the Berne Convention and the International Copyright Conventions, a copyright in one country is typically honored in most other countries. In order to prove infringement, a copyright holder must establish ownership of a valid copyright and that the alleged infringer had actually copied the copyrighted work. Since proof of actual copying may be difficult, if not impossible, to prove, infringement can typically be demonstrated by showing that the infringer had “access” to the copyrighted work and that the two works are “substantially similar.” n

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British Toy & Hobby Fair Paperworld ISM Cologne Nuremberg Toy Fair Spring Fair Kidscreen Summit Brands & Retail Conference Australian Toy Fair Magic Las Vegas Magic New York Licensing World Russia Sports Licensing Summit London Book Fair Cobrandz MIP TV Licensing China Bologna Children’s Book Fair Brands & Lifestyle Licensing Awards Hong Kong International Licensing Show Toys Milano Licensing Expo Las Vegas Annecy Festival Licensing Expo China The Licensing Awards Milano Day of Licensing Brand Licensing Europe MIP Junior MIPCOM

Jan 23 - 25 Jan 26 - 30 Jan 38 - 30 Jan 30 Jan - Feb 3 Feb 4 - 7 Feb 4 - 7 Feb 7 Feb 11 - 14 Feb 13 - 15 Feb 20 - 22 Feb 27 - 29 March 6 March 12 - 14 April 4 - 5 April 8 - 10 April 8 - 10 April 8 - 11 April 25 April 27 - 29 May 12 - 13 May 21 - 23 June 9 - 15 July 17 - 19 Sept 10 Sept 12 Sept 24 - 26 Oct 19 - 20 Oct 21 - 24

ADK Emotions ...............................................................37 Amscan .............................................................................13 Australian Toy Hobby & Licensing Fair ......................87 Beano ................................................................................21 Blue Zoo ..........................................................................39 Brand & Lifestyle Licensing Awards ...........................57 Brand Licensing Europe ................................................47 China Licensing Expo ....................................................91 Cloudco Entertainment .............................................. 2, 3 DeAPlaneta.................................................................41, 55 Diramix .......................................................................... 4, 5 Howard Robinson .........................................................27 Jazwares ............................................................................. 7 Kennedy Publishing ........................................................29 Kidscreen .........................................................................81 King Features ..................................................................17 Konami .......................................................................23, 25

www.toyfair.co.uk www.paperworld.messefrankfurt.com www.ism-cologne.com www.spielwarenmesse.de/toys/trade-fair www.springfair.com www.summit.kidscreen.com/ www.brandsretail.uk www.toyfair.com.au www.magicfashionevents.com www.magicfashionevents.com www.licensingworld.ru www.licensinginternational.org www.londonbookfair.co.uk www.cobrandz.fr www.miptv.com www licensing-china.hk.messefrankfurt.com www.bolognachildrensbookfair.com www.brandlicensingawards.com www.hktdc.com/fair/hklicensingshow-en www.toysmilano.com www.licensingexpo.com www.annecy.org/home www.en.licensingexpochina.com www.thelicensingwards.co.uk www.mldentertainment.it www.brandlicensing.eu www.mipjunior.com www.mipcom.com

Licensing China ...............................................................93 Licensing Expo ................................................................53 London Toy Fair ..............................................................85 Mercis ...............................................................................43 MIP TV ..............................................................................89 Moonbug ..........................................................................96 New York Toy Fair...........................................................83 Paramount ......................................................................... 1 Pokemon ..........................................................................11 Princess Sam Consumer Products .............................35 Rainbow Productions ....................................................10 Rovio ................................................................................19 Sanrio ................................................................................15 SEGA Europe .................................................................... 9 Spacetoon ........................................................................95 List correct at time of going to press

Licensors • Licensees • Service Companies We are pleased to announce that Total Licensing are launching a new licensing directory later this year called the Total Licensing Directory. As part of our launch, we are re-building our database of licensors, licensees and service companiesfrom scratch. We are keen to see fresh and relevant entries in the directory to provide the most up to date contact details for those involved in licensing. This directory will be the essential tool for connecting the industry and an integral part of Total Licensing’s media offering. . Your listing, which of course is important, is only the first step – the new directory will also act as a connecting force across the global industry. This is a completely FREE listing for your company and will enable the right people to search for your business and contacts.

To Register a free listing in the Total Licensing Directory,simply click below:

https://directory.totallicensing.com/

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