As the Fuggler brand continues to build momentum, the agents appointed across the globe will support the franchise’s expansion into new categories. 

Libertas Brands, which has all rights exclusively to the Fuggler brand from Spin Master, has appointed agent representation across the globe to assist in building the Fuggler franchise around the world and deliver new and exciting products to fans everywhere across multiple merchandising categories.

Retail Monster is the exclusive agent for North America; Haven Global is the exclusive agent for Australia & New Zealand; Creative Minds is the exclusive master agent for Japan; FIR Ventures is the exclusive master agent for Greater China, Hong Kong, Macao & Taiwan and Wildbrain-CPLG is the exclusive master agent for all other markets across the globe. Libertas Brands will continue to represent the brand across the UK & Ireland

“We are delighted to have appointed world-class agents across the globe as we head into Licensing Expo 2024, at a point where the Fuggler  brand is building significant momentum, with sell-out sales on our core plush business and new content launching weekly across all social platforms,” said Mark Kingston, CEO & co-founder, Libertas Brands.

“We are excited to work with Libertas Brands and the Fuggler Brand,” commented Michael Connolly, CEO of Retail Monster. “As Mark and team strategically build on the success of the toy range, introduce original shortform content and engage fans in new and innovative ways, we’re looking forward to supporting the franchise’s expansion into new categories. “

Maarten Weck, EVP Global Partnerships & Licensing, WildBrain, said: “Fuggler is a hugely unique brand with significant opportunities for creative and ‘out-of-the-box’ consumer products extensions. We’re excited to partner with Libertas Brands to help ‘unleash the mayhem’ around the world.”

“We are delighted to be a part of Fuggler brand licensing,” added Ikuko Kogiso, president, Creative Minds LLC. “Toy sales have been amazing in Japan and we look forward to building Fuggler into a unique brand.”

Mark Tse, VP Licensing FIR Ventures, commented: “Fuggler is well loved by our team and by consumers. The brand is serving beyond toys collectors; we have witnessed strong growth in multi levels of customer base. Our team is ready to take Fuggler to new heights with more categories and expansions to engage with our fans.”

To get in touch with Libertas Brands, contact Mark Kingston on 07795 061923 or mark@libertasbrands.com.

Potential licensees are invited to visit the Beyblade Booth at Licensing Expo to preview the latest Beyblade X toys and the new animated series.

ADK Emotions and T-Licensing will showcase the highly-anticipated new Beyblade X series at Licensing Expo this week. After a successful premiere in Asian territories in 2023, Beyblade X will launch globally this year, featuring new animation and a new line of toys for fans to enjoy during the brand’s 25th Anniversary.

Potential licensees are invited to visit the Beyblade Booth at Licensing Expo – Booth #U245 – to discover the world of Beyblade, preview the newest Beyblade X toys from Hasbro and watch sneak peeks of the new animated series.

“Bey-fans around the world are anxiously anticipating the global launch of the Beyblade X toys this summer,” said a representative from ADK Emotions NY. “It’s the ideal timing for licensing partners to reach multiple generations of Bladers and deliver the gear and merchandise that fans are asking for.”

This June,  the next generation of Beyblade toys offers Tops identical in weight, feel, and performance across Hasbro and Tomy lines, along with additional Hasbro Tops that meet the same high standard. The new line features the Beyblade X Xtreme Battle Set, billed as the perfect starter set, packed with the Xtreme Beystadium arena, two right-spinning Tops and two launchers with ripcords.

Fans can also take Beyblade skills to the next level and compete in digital battles by scanning a code on the Tops to battle with other Bladers worldwide in the new Beyblade X app, launching on June 1st.

Also launching this summer, the Beyblade X series will introduce compelling new characters in the latest iteration of the world-class animation the brand first pioneered over two decades ago.

You can view the trailer here.

In select global locations, fans can join tournaments with the best Bladers and win exclusive prizes. Fans can find tournament updates and details on Beyblade’s official social media platforms.  Following the successful launch of Beyblade Park on Roblox last year, with more than four million visits worldwide, the land will undergo a major renewal, simultaneous to the global launch of the metaverse world.

Potential licensees can learn more about the latest announcements here and by following @officialbeyblade on Instagram, @beyblade_official on TikTok, @x_beyblade on X and viewing the brand’s official YouTube Channels.

The Beyblade Booth at Licensing Expo can be found at #U245.

The expansion of the Magic Light Licensing team reflects increased activity across licensed consumer products, brand partnerships and live experiences.

Aidan Taylor-Gooby

Multi BAFTA-winning and Oscar-nominated production company Magic Light Pictures, home to beloved brands including The Gruffalo and Pip and Posy, has announced a series of promotions and new hires for its Licensing department. The expansion of the Licensing team reflects the company’s surging commercial activity across licensed consumer products, brand partnerships and live experiences globally and will maximise opportunities for further growth.

Aidan Taylor-Gooby has been promoted to Licensing director from head of Licensing – a role he took on in 2022. Among his many achievements in this time is delivering the launch of the Pip and Posy licensing programme with Bandai’s plush and figurines now at retail, alongside nine other licencees. Aidan, who joined Magic Light in July 2017, has also been expanding The Gruffalo and Friends licensing activity in the UK and internationally, including launching new apparel ranges with Jojo Maman Bébé and ASDA as well as a major hand soap partnership with Carex.

Bridie Gibbs has been promoted to senior Product Development manager, leading creative development for all licensing activity in the UK across Gruffalo and Friends and Pip and Posy. Bridie has been with Magic Light for six years and is supported by Hannah McKevitt, Product Development executive, who joined a couple of years ago, and Ella Richardson, Product Development assistant, a new recruit last autumn who is a UAL Future 50 Founder.

Jade Ferguson joined Magic Light just over a year ago as UK Licensing manager and has grown the role from a focus on soft-lines to covering all categories in the UK, particularly with gift and toy licensees.  She is now supported by Magic Light’s newest team member, Dylan Tuley, who joined this spring as Licensing assistant and whose previous experience includes a stint at the Tate group.

Martin Pope and Michael Rose, joint managing directors at Magic Light, said: “Aidan has done a brilliant job growing our licensing business and leading the department, and his well-deserved promotion reflects this success. Bridie and Jade also bring huge expertise to their respective areas, combining creative understanding with entrepreneurial zeal, and they’ll be ably supported by Hannah and our newer team members, Ella and Dylan.”

The limited edition collection from Dolly Noire will include a Mewtwo beach towel, Charizard swim shorts, Lugia shorts and Gastly gilet for the spring/summer season.

The Pokémon Company International has announced the launch of a third capsule collection from Italian urbanwear brand Dolly Noire, available online and in Dolly Noire’s stores from April 9th. The collection will be heavily promoted in May with window displays, high-visibility in-store Pokémon branding and a special in-store event at Dolly Noire’s flagship store.

In this next chapter of the dynamic partnership, the limited edition capsule collection will focus on essentials for the spring/summer season. The stylish, Pokémon-adorned products include a Mewtwo beach towel, Charizard swim shorts, Lugia shorts and Gastly zipped gilet and snapback cap — all ideal for holiday or simply looking cool in everyday life.

The latest drop brings iconic Johto region Pokémon — Espeon, Umbreon and Celebi — as well as fan favourites Gengar, Snorlax and Mewtwo to Pokémon Center in the UK, US and Canada starting April 10th.

This third collection follows the massive success of the two previous collaborations, which were a huge hit in stores and online for Dolly Noire and proved very successful on the Pokémon Center website. The first Pokémon × Dolly Noire collection, which was inspired by the three first partner Pokémon from the Kanto region, was recognised as a successful partnership with a nomination for Best Fashion Project at the Bologna Licensing Awards.

“We are thrilled to team up again with Dolly Noire following our previous two fabulous collections, which have proved so popular with fans,” said Mathieu Galante, Licensing director (EMEA) at The Pokémon Company International. “Once more, our collaboration will celebrate the Pokémon adventure in a uniquely creative way to produce another wonderfully stylish and special range.”

New collaborations will deliver vibrant designs for clothing in the pop culture fashion space, and Saturday AM is seeking further consumer products licensing partners.

Saturday AM has announced strategic collaborations with industry partners C-Life and Bioworld. These licensing partnerships will enhance the company’s extensive apparel line and pave the way for an expanded range of lifestyle products.

Saturday AM is a distinctive entertainment brand featuring a catalogue of popular, exclusive and diverse manga comics from print and digital platforms. Created by independent artists worldwide, the team is committed to providing a comprehensive community for fresh and inclusive storytelling.

Currently shipping to retailers such as Hot Topic, Box Lunch, Spencer’s, Amazon and more, these collaborations promise to deliver vibrant global designs for clothing, further elevating Saturday AM’s presence in the continuously expanding world of pop culture fashion with artists from Nigeria, Senegal, France and Denmark, as well as the United States.

Atsuko, a hub for anime and pop culture enthusiasts, has also partnered with Saturday AM to create a unique collection of apparel that captures the essence of manga dynamic content. Already available on the eCommerce site, this collaboration introduces an array of stylish and exclusive merchandise, allowing fans to wear their passion and express their connection to Saturday AM’s diverse manga characters and stories.

Saturday AM has also deepened its presence on Amazon, making its unique apparel accessible to a broader audience. With its popular manga graphic novels, Apple Black and Clock Striker, the brand hopes to further capitalize on Amazon’s global reach and cater to fans worldwide, ensuring they can quickly discover and acquire the latest additions to the platform’s fashion offerings.

Since its inception ten years ago, Saturday AM has sought to be a leader in the emerging space of manga-influenced artists and culture that has occurred in the decades since Japanese anime has become more readily available. As the biggest brand in this space, Saturday AM champions normalizing diversity in these geek spaces with fantastic artists, original heroes and culturally rich stories.

The FanGirl team actively seeks partners for Saturday AM in all categories including housewares, toys/puzzles, collectibles, apparel and more, with meetings be set for Licensing Expo in May.

For licensing inquiries, please contact: info@fglicensing.com.

The collection is available now in selected Tesco stores, thanks to a partnership between Thomas & Friends and National Autistic Society.

Mattel has announced the renewal of the National Autistic Society partnership for a second year to develop a range of clothing using the Thomas & Friends brand. An autism friendly collection will be available exclusively at F&F Clothing in selected Tesco stores until 29th April, including during World Autism Acceptance Week 2nd – 8th April 2024.

Some autistic people are highly sensitive to the feel and colour of certain materials, to the extent that some clothing is unpleasant or even painful to wear. Research has shown that the biggest considerations in choosing clothing for autistic children are pull on clothing, easy dressing, no back neck woven labels, no buttons and Velcro fastenings.

F&F have designed the collection with all these features in mind, with soft fabric, loose-fitting t-shirts, jumpers and tracksuits, all designed for ease of dressing and suitable for autistic children aged 1 -6 years.

F&F Clothing will donate 5% of the full retail price of this product to the National Autistic Society, to help the charity to continue its vital work providing information and advice and campaigning for a society that works for autistic people.

Peter Watt, Director of national programmes at the National Autistic Society, said: “We are delighted to be partnering with Thomas & Friends and Tesco F&F to create such an important range of clothing for autistic children. Parents and autistic young people often tell us how sensory sensitivities can mean that autistic children struggle with certain clothes. Finding the right clothing can make shopping difficult, time consuming and stressful. So, it’s really great to have the chance to develop this autism friendly collection.”

Mattel introduced Bruno, the first autistic character in the Thomas & Friends: All Engines Go series and franchise, in 2022, voiced by nine-year-old actor Elliott Garcia, who is himself autistic.

Claudia Caron, Thomas & Friends UK Marketing manager added: “Thomas & Friends is an inclusive brand that invites all of our fans to celebrate friendship and teamwork. But, we are especially proud to be supporting our Thomas & Friends community of autistic fans and continuing a great partnership with the National Autistic Society and Tesco F&F to offer more choices and accessible clothing.”

India Hyatt Mailes, Brands and Licensing at F&F Clothing, said: “We have worked hard with Mattel and the National Autistic Society to bring to life a range of sensory friendly clothing encompassing all the much-loved Thomas & Friends characters. We have recognised the importance of ensuring all sensory elements have been considered for the range including no back neck labels, the removal of drawcords and super soft fabrics and prints.”

The collection is available in local Tesco Extra stores until 29th April 2024.

Paramount Global is reportedly planning to reduce its workforce by around 3% globally, and informed staff on Tuesday of the job cuts.

Paramount plans to lay off 800 employees, as announced by
Bob Bakish, the company’s chief executive. According to The Guardian, an internal memo to staff reads: “To those with whom we are parting ways, we are incredibly grateful for your hard work and dedication. Your talents have helped us advance our mission of unleashing the power of content around the world. We are a better company because of you.

“While I realize these changes are in no way easy … I am confident this is the right decision for our future. These adjustments will help enable us to build on our momentum and execute our strategic vision for the year ahead – and I firmly believe we have much to be excited about.”

Paramount Global is the owner of Paramount Pictures, TV networks including Comedy Central, MTV, Nickelodeon and Channel 5 and the Paramount+ and Pluto streaming platforms.

Paramount Global employs about 24,500 full-time and part-time employees across 37 countries. It also had around 5,800 project-based staff on its payroll at the end of 2022, according to a regulatory filing.

The cuts are believed to be due to a fall in cable and satellite TV subscribers to streaming services like Paramount+. Attendance at cinemas has also failed to return to prepandemic levels, putting pressure on the company’s film studio division

Bob Bakish has been restructuring the company, and Paramount has also been selling assets such as its Simon & Schuster book publishing arm to reduce debt.

At Kew Gardens, an interactive activity trail will be inspired by the hit TV show, meanwhile Comic Relief will partner with Bluey once again for Red Nose Day.

Credit: Ines Stuart-Davidson

The popular animated television series Bluey is coming to Kew Gardens and Wakehurst this Easter. Inspired by the onscreen adventures of Bluey and her family which have captured the hearts and imaginations of children and adults alike across the globe, Bluey at Kew and Wakehurst is expected to become a must-do for families during the school holidays.

Located within the unique setting of Kew’s 320-acre UNESCO World Heritage Site landscape, families are invited to take in the sights and aromas of the spring blossom, then visit the Bluey play zone to interact with 3D installations and family-friendly activities inspired by fan-favourite episodes of the show as seen on Disney+ and CBeebies. Educational panels will inform visitors about the rich variety of plants and wildlife native to Australia, as well as some of the rarities and oddities in Kew’s collections. The event also includes appearances of a Bluey costume character over the two-week run.

Paul Denton, head of Visitor Programmes and Exhibitions at the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew, commented: “Bluey at Kew is a highlight of this year’s springtime family offer and we’re delighted to bring the hit sensation to life. Visitors can look forward to a unique experience set within the spring blossom and some of the most picturesque parts of the Gardens. Bluey promises to be an exciting adventure that will leave families with cherished memories for a very long time.”

Katie Hibbs, senior Marketing Manager at BBC Studios Kids & Family (UK & EMEA), added: “We are absolutely thrilled to see Bluey at Kew Gardens and Wakehurst this year. Combining nature, fun and play with some of the most memorable moments from Bluey’s adventures on the show, Bluey at Kew is guaranteed to be the perfect day out over the Easter period.”

Bluey is also coming to Wakehurst, in West Sussex from 27th March to 14th April, with fun-packed activity zones spread across the landscape.

For more information or to purchase tickets, click here.

Comic Relief will be teaming up with Bluey once again to bring children and families stacks of Bluey themed fundraising ideas, resources and learning goodies for Red Nose Day. Among the suggestions this year, children might have a themed party and dress up as grannies or queens – just like Bluey and Bingo. Teachers or parents might put on an episode of Bluey and prepare for dance mode with the help of the Heeler family.

Inspiration for teachers, including ideas of how to party with Bluey, recipe ideas and learning resources to help children understand why they are raising money, can be found at www.comicrelief.com/schools-24.

Claire Marmion, Schools Fundraising manager at Comic Relief, said: “We hugely value all the time and energy that teachers pour into making Red Nose Day as fun and memorable as possible for their pupils. It’s their passion and hard work that makes Red Nose Day a nationwide moment for pupils to unite and come together to make a difference.”

Lionsgate has acquired eOne from Hasbro for $375m, although Hasbro will retail the IP rights to its top toy-related properties under the deal.

Lionsgate has now completed its $375m acquisition of studio Entertainment One (eOne) from Hasbro. The deal will add 6,500 film and television titles to Lionsgate’s existing library.

In August, Lionsgate struck a deal to purchase eOne‘s TV and film operations from Hasbro for $500m, almost four years to the date when Hasbro first announced its intent to acquire eOne in a $3.8b deal in August 2019. The $500m transaction is made up of $375m in cash and is subject to additional purchase price adjustments, and the assumption of production financing loans for eOne projects.

Lionsgate has laready laid off 10% of eOne’s workforce in preparation for the merger. This follows Hasbro reducing the studio’s staff by 20% in June last year, as it prepared to sell the asset.

Popular IP excluded from the sale includes Peppa Pig, Transformers, Dungeons & Dragons, Magic: The Gathering, My Little Pony, Power Rangers, Play-Doh and Clue. The merger does include film development rights for Monopoly.

“The eOne acquisition concludes a busy year in which we continued to execute our strategy of strengthening our studio business as we prepare for the separation of Lionsgate and Starz into pure play standalone companies,” commented Lionsgate CEO Jon Feltheimer. “As we’ve conducted our integration planning, our analysis has reaffirmed our conviction that eOne will be a valuable and highly accretive addition to our business. We are pleased to welcome eOne’s talented group of employees to our Lionsgate family.”

The eOne acquisition will allow Lionsgate to continue to scale its operations in the UK and Canada, where it has recently launched production partnerships with BBC Studios (Ghosts), Channel Four (Motherland), the CBC (Son of A Critch), Rogers’ CityTV (Wong & Winchester) and Bell Media.

Asmodee Entertainment says the Ticket to Ride brand seamlessly transitions across categories, offering something for everyone.

Ticket to Ride is a board game most readers will have played or seen on store shelves over the past 20 years. With more than 15m 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 biggest names in the tabletop gaming scene. As Asmodee Entertainment enters the game’s 20th anniversary year, this enduring popularity, along with its global fanbase, makes Ticket to Ride a primary focus of the company’s licensing initiative.

Published by Days of Wonder, part of the global Asmodee Group, Ticket to Ride has remained a best seller for the last two decades. Winner of the prestigious Spiel des Jahres (game of the year), Ticket to Ride plays an integral role in helping Asmodee Entertainment realise its 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 new ways to engage with this beloved brand.

“When we set out to create our licensing programme in 2020, we knew we were building up to the anniversary in 2024,” said Ness Jack, Licensing manager. “Creating a comprehensive range of products that allows fans to enjoy their favourite game both on and off the tabletop was a clear focus: we knew we had to start straight away with the planning to ensure we could do justice to the brand.”

Kicking off the release of licensed products is a range of limited-edition metal collectibles from Fanattik, including the Ticket to Ride North American Open Tour Ticket and Collectible Train Coin. “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.”

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.

Heading into 2024, fans can show off their love of the game with apparel from Difuzed. The first collection of Ticket to Ride apparel is due to be available in January 2024.

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 this April. “The way Ulysses explores recipes across North American cuisine really keeps with the spirit of travelling cross-country,” added Ness. “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.”