PMI’s new Fuggler line will bring fans an array of brand-new products including collectible figures, keychains, interactive collectible toys and more.

PMI Kids World has signed an exclusive worldwide licensing agreement with Fuggler. The funny-ugly monsters that have become a huge hit with their playful antics and quirky looks are now coming to shelves in a completely new way this winter.

With over 8m units sold worldwide to date and Fuggler plush recently selling out across 3,000 Walmart US stores, Fuggler is ready to take the collectible category by storm. The team from PMI has created a range of products that captures the quirky nature of the Fuggler brand, including capturing realistic human-like teeth and integrating the signature Butt-on hole to drive collectability, rarity and fuel the collectors’ secondary trading market.

The new line from PMI will give Fuggler fans a whole new way to interact with the mischievous monsters, including unique collectible figures, keychains, stampers, pencil toppers, advent calendars and interactive toys.

“Fugglers are impossible not to love, and recent sell-out success in retailers around the world, including Walmart, Kmart and Tesco, is a testament to that,” said Omer Dekel, CEO of PMI Kids World. “We’re thrilled to be partnering with the hugely talented team at Libertas Brands on building out the Fuggiverse.”

“PMI is known for its expertise in introducing innovative and accessible collectibles and toy products to consumers on a global scale, and its passion for quality, innovation and pricing is second to none,” said Mark Kingston, CEO & co-founder of Libertas Brands. “We’re excited to be partnering with the team and getting Fugglers in all shapes and forms into consumer hands.”

PMI is set to unleash Fugglers hot off the tails of its recent successful launches in the licence-to-collectible pipeline, including Stumble Guys and Pudgy Penguins, which sold out on Amazon within 24 hours.

For more information on PMI Kids’ World, visit the website here.

Licensing Expo has announced the opening keynote presentation under the event theme ‘Brands at Play’.

Taking place 21st-23rd May at the Mandalay Bay Convention Center in Las Vegas, NV, Licensing Expo brings together thousands of leading retailers, manufacturers and marketers to connect, identify future trends and secure consumer product deals with the world’s most influential brands.

Roughly 48% of the global population consider themselves either casual or active gamers. With mobile gaming capturing more players than ever before, the video game segment is building a community of billions and gaming is expected to be the next major category for consumer products growth. This opening keynote panel, Video Games: Driving Billions to Play, explores the ‘why’ behind gaming’s massive growth in popularity, what gamers look for in a brand and how the next franchise model will lead with video games, either from brand-new IP or the revival of heritage titles.
Panelists include Nick McWhorter, director of Global Licensing, CD Projekt Red; Doug Rosen, senior vice president, Games and Emerging Media, Paramount; Maya Rogers, CEO, Tetris and Ivo Gerscovich, chief Business and Brand officer, Sega of America; moderated by License Global’s Ben Roberts, Content director.

“Licensing Expo is where we plant the seeds for how we creatively approach emerging trends we see across the market. These phenomenal global leaders in gaming IP are at the forefront of tomorrow’s leading brand extensions, tapping into what resonates best with their communities,” said Anna Clarke, senior vice president of the Global Licensing Group, which produces Licensing Expo. “Especially as this year we focus on all iterations of Brands at Play, we are setting the stage by shining the light on gaming as the category of the future. Digitisation impacts brand engagement and is a critical area to provide education and ideas into how we can expand.”

As the gaming segment connects a community of billions globally, video games are quickly becoming the next major category for licensing growth. Licensing International reported 9.8% of the $340.8b global sales revenue of licensed merchandise and services in 2022 came from video games, software and apps.

More than 300 exhibiting companies, including Paramount, The Lego Group, Warner Bros., Nintendo, Riot Games, The Walt Disney Company, Netflix, Sega, Mattel, Crunchyroll, Minecraft, NASCAR and many more will be at Licensing Expo.

To learn more about Licensing Expo and register to attend, visit www.licensingexpo.com.

Celebrities gathered with their kids for a special family screening event of the supersized Bluey episode The Sign at Odeon Luxe Leicester Square, London.

 JB Gill

The event was held to celebrate the global premiere of the special extended Bluey episode, The Sign, which landed on Sunday, 14th April on Disney+, Disney Channel and Disney Junior across the world, and on ABC (Australian Broadcasting Corporation) in Australia.

Call The Midwife star Helen George, comic and Wonka actor Tom Davis and JLS star turned farmer, JB Gill, were among the star-studded attendees. They were joined by: actor Matt Di Angelo (Eastenders – BBC One); actress Nimah McGrady (Hope Street – BBC One); former Paralympian and TV broadcaster Ade Adepitan (Our Changing Planet – BBC One); reality TV star and model Bianca Gascoigne (Love Island – ITV2) and her mum Sheryl Gascoigne. Taking place on the same day as the Olivier Awards – for which Bluey’s Big Play was nominated for Best Family Show – the VIP screening event also welcomed: Imogen Thomas (Big Brother – Channel 4); comedian Jon Richardson;  Dr Chris van Tulleken (Operation Ouch! – CBBC); plus several more.

Guests were treated to a blue carpet reception followed by a double-bill cinema screening celebrating the latest two episodes of Bluey, Ghostbasket and The Sign.

The brand-new regular length Bluey episode Ghostbasket, debuted around the world on Sunday 7th April , and saw the return of the much loved Grannies, Janet and Rita, played by Bluey and Bingo, and left audiences on a cliffhanger as the Heeler family home was put up for sale.

Ghostbasket sets the stage for the hotly anticipated extended episode The Sign. The Sign is 28 minutes long – four times the length of a regular Bluey – and features ‘the wedding of the year’ which may not have completely gone to plan.

Chris Van Tulleken

Both Ghostbasket and The Sign are penned by Bluey creator and writer Joe Brumm, directed by Richard Jeffery, and produced by Ludo Studio. It stars Dave McCormack and Melanie Zanetti as the voices of Bandit and Chilli Heeler.

Since launching in Australia in 2018, Bluey has gained millions of fans around the world, widely lauded for its heartfelt and funny portrayal of family life and celebration of play. Celebrity fans include Eva Mendes, Natalie Portman and Lin-Manuel Miranda, who have all appeared in the show in cameo roles.

A global-ratings hit, Bluey was the most streamed children’s show last year in the US, doubling its viewing time from 2022 to 43.9b viewing minutes. The series has also enjoyed a plethora of critical success at home and abroad, winning a 2022 BAFTA Children & Young People Award in the International category, and recently picked up its fifth consecutive AACTA Best Children’s Programme award – in addition to an International Emmy and numerous craft and production awards around the world.

Jointly commissioned by ABC Children’s and BBC Studios Kids & Family, Bluey is produced by multi-Emmy award-winning Ludo Studio in association with Screen Queensland and Screen Australia.

The 7th edition of the Bologna Licensing Awards, which honoured 13 categories, is an integral part of the Bologna Licensing Trade Fair/Kids.

The 7th edition of the awards is an integral part of the 17th edition of the Bologna Licensing Trade Fair/Kids (8th-11th April), the only trade fair dedicated to brands for children, teenagers and young adults.

The ceremony of Bologna Licensing Awards, reserved for international licensors/agencies, licensees and retailers, took place earlier this week and was hosted by TV presenter Laura Carusino and organiser Cristina Angelucci. The 7th edition of the awards took place during the 17th edition of the Bologna Licensing Trade Fair/Kids.

The awards this year had 13 categories, including newly created Best Licensed Sustainable Project and Best New Licensing Stars 2023. The prestigious jurors Philippe Guinaudeau, Ian Hyder, Helena Mansell-Stopher, Cristiana Paesani and Astrid Specht chose the winners from almost 190 entries from all over the world, particularly from the European market.

Best Pre-School Licensing Project

Universal Products & Experiences in partnership with Spin Master for the Gabby’s Dollhouse project.

Best Kids Licensing Project

The Pokémon Company International for the Pokémon x Van Gogh Museum project with the Van Gogh Museum.

Best Teen Licensing Project

The Pokémon Company International with the project Clarks x Pokémon in synergy with Clarks.

Best Young Adult Project

Rai Com for the Mare Fuori (The Sea Beyond) licensing programme, in partnership with various partners.

Best Retail Project

Mattel Europe with the Barbie x Zara project in collaboration with Zara.

Best Fashion Project

The Pokémon Company International and Dolly Noire for the Dolly Noire x Pokémon project.

Best Licensed Publishing Project

Andersen Press with the illustrated book Goodnight Elmer.

Best Licensed Toy Project

Universal Products & Experiences in partnership with Spin Master for the playset Gabby’s Dollhouse.

Best Promotion/Loyalty Campaign

Studio 100 Media with the Vegesaurs x Lidl campaign, in collaboration with Lidl.

Promotion: Best Licensed Kiosk Product

Mondadori Media with the Peanuts 3D collection, together with CPLG WildBrain and Peanuts Worldwide.

Best Licensed Sustainable Project

Studio 100 Media for the project Maya – License Factory in Natural Dye, in partnership with License Factory.

Best New Licensing Stars 2023

Nerd Agency (Film.UA Group) for Mavka. The Forest song.

Best Property of the Year

Mattel with Barbie.

The products of all the winning projects have been on display throughout the fair at the BLTF/K Awards showcase located in the BLTF/K zone of the Bologna Children’s Book Fair, Hall 29 – Mall 2.

Zuru’s Mini Brands MasterChef hits the UK this month and is the first licensed partnership within the company’s new Create mini collectibles.

Following a deal with media and entertainment powerhouse Banijay, the new line comprises real miniature MasterChef creations including food items and accessories allowing collectors to create mini versions inspired by the TV show’s much-loved dishes. The range includes 11 iconic MasterChef-inspired mini dishes such as Japanese Ramen, Cherry Chocolate Cake, or the rare, scented Apple Pie to help drive the excitement of collecting. Each Mini Brands MasterChef capsule includes intricately detailed accessories such as a UV LED Chef Hat, serving tongs and serving ware, plus a recipe for the real dish to recreate in full size, further enhancing the licensed collaboration and enriching the consumer experience.

In the wake of the global success of its Mini Brands launch five years ago, and creating what the company has coined ‘Mini Mania’, Zuru continues to enjoy success in the miniature collectibles space with mini versions of some of the world’s most iconic brands. With plans for further ranges to be unveiled during the Q2 and Q3 periods, the company’s Mini Books and Mini Sneakers lines have been a sell-out since launching earlier this year.  As the No. 1 most-liked collectible brand on TikTok, the Mini Brands channel has almost 46m likes, and its latest Mini lines tap into the platform’s trending #Sneakerstok and #BookTok – now soon to be followed by #FoodTok.

The new Mini Brands MasterChef range has been designed to reflect the cooking challenges witnessed throughout the show and will appeal to collectors across all demographics and interests, including older children, kidults, foodies and fans of TV memorabilia.

“When the business launched Mini Brands back in 2019, we knew we were on to a hit and it has always been our long-term strategy to drive and support the collectibles category while creating a miniature collectibles sub-category as part of the journey,” said Aneisha Vieira, global brand director. “Mini Mania is real, and we have an incredible fan base of ‘Miniacs’ with a desire to see everything made mini.

“Our licensing team has aligned to make every category mini and continues to leverage the company’s equity by partnering with some of the world’s biggest brands. MasterChef is one of the most globally-recognised and popular shows and the Mini Brands pairing offers a replica creative experience as uncovered by the real-life food talents.”

Immediate Media Co, a leading UK children’s publisher, has announced a multi-territory licensing agreement for Bluey Magazine.

The agreement, with Blue Ocean, will see Bluey Magazine launch as a bi-monthly offering in Germany, Spain, Portugal and Poland, strengthening Immediate’s extensive children’s portfolio to include 12 territories in the coming year.

This builds on existing agreements in Australia, New Zealand, Sweden, Denmark, Italy, Greece and France, building on the popularity of the Bluey TV show and the widespread distribution of its ancillary toy line in each respective market.

With 12 licence agreements in place, Bluey Magazine is now Immediate’s second most successful international licensed brand, after Top Gear Magazine. Immediate launched the UK edition of Bluey in August 2021 and now with its 26th issue it has a circulation of 37,000, growing its market share from 2.8% to 4.4%. It’s the only title in the top 20 pre-school market to grow both volume and revenue year-on-year.

Bluey Magazine is packed with different ways for young readers to explore activities independently, such as drawing, colouring, imagining and creating. In every territory, each magazine includes a sticker sheet and collectible covermount gifts.

Richard Bentley, head of Syndication & Youth and Children’s Licensing, said: “We’re delighted to bring Bluey Magazine to new audiences in Germany, Spain, Portugal and Poland – this expansion is a testament to our strong licensing agreements and our dedication to building successful, enduring brands that resonate with families worldwide. Through it all, we’re dedicated to keeping the true essence of the Bluey brand intact.”

The Bluey television series, produced by Ludo Studio and jointly commissioned by BBC Studios and ABC Children’s, has won the hearts of kids and parents around the world since it first launched in Australia in 2018. The show is broadcast in more than 60 countries, including the US, UK and China and the audience demand for Bluey is 26.8 times the demand of the average TV series in the United Kingdom, according to Parrot Analytics.

Mattel has announced that the fan-favourite animated series Barbie: A Touch of Magic is returning for a second season.

Premiering 18th April on Netflix in the US, the 13 new episodes will follow Barbie “Brooklyn” Roberts and Barbie “Malibu” Roberts as they take on a new adventure. The series will premiere later in the year for the UK.

When a magical crystal gem goes missing, Barbie and Barbie are on the case. Balancing their teenage lives in Malibu and their trips to the magical realm of Mesmer, they encounter new fantastical friends throughout, with themes of family, friendship and fantasy.

“We’re thrilled to bring back Barbie: A Touch of Magic for a second season with a new, adventure-filled story,” said Michelle Mendelovitz, global head of Mattel Television Studios. “The series is meant to instill wonder, confidence and exploration in our young viewers as it empowers them through Barbie’s message that they can be anything.”

The latest installment of Barbie: A Touch of Magic follows the success of other Barbie series and specials such as Barbie and Stacie to the Rescue, Barbie: It Takes Two, Barbie: Epic Road Trip, Barbie: Mermaid Power, Barbie DreamHouse Adventures, and more. Season one of A Touch of Magic climbed to the Top 10 TV Shows on Netflix in six countries. A Touch of Magic content is complemented by Mattel’s wide offering of dolls, playsets and accessories.

Christopher Keenan and Frederic Soulie serve as executive producers, with Scott Pleydell-Pearce serving as series director. Season two of Barbie: A Touch of Magic will consist of 13 x 22-minute episodes and will be available on Netflix in the US as well as APAC (excluding China), Spain, South Africa, Nordics and Benelux. Later this year, Netflix will roll out the new season in other regions including Portugal, the UK, the Middle East, Turkey, Greece, Latin America, Poland, Central & Eastern Europe, France, Italy and Germany. Beyond Netflix, other global distribution partners for A Touch of Magic’s second season are POP (UK), Super RTL (Germany), Gulli (France), Cartoonito (Italy), Canal Panda (Portugal), Cartoon Network (MENA), Zoom (Israel), Minimax (Eastern Europe), MiniMini (Poland), Ejunior (UAE) and Discovery Kids (Latin America).

Barbie: A Touch of Magic’s release will be accompanied by a full music EP, including the singles Got the Magic Touch and Center Stage, which are slated to debut 5th and 12th April, respectively.

The season two trailer can be viewed below:

The new Lego sets have been created to celebrate the release of  Illumination’s Despicable Me 4, which arrives in cinemas in July.

The Lego Group, Illumination and Universal Products & Experiences are celebrating the 3rd July release of Illumination’s Despicable Me 4, the newest chapter in the biggest global animated franchise in history, by launching new Lego Despicable Me 4 sets.

The new range comprises four sets, the first two of which have been made public. The Lego Despicable Me 4 Minions and Gru’s Family Mansion features the building’s iconic architecture and beloved features, such as the red couch, fireplace and rocket-style bedroom, as well as a brightly coloured tree house. The second set, Brick-Built Gru with dancing Minions, comes complete with a ukulele-playing Mel and Kevin, the latter of whom is armed with his fart gun. Fans will need to wait a bit longer for the unveiling of the entire line-up and its hidden easter eggs.

The Lego Despicable Me 4 products will be available from 1st May 2024, via Lego stores, lego.com and from select leading retailers around the world.

Both brands hope the DM4 sets will spark imagination and create unforgettable creative experiences for fans around the world with the well-known Despicable Me characters.

“Using the Lego brand’s creativity and endless possibilities, this partnership between Illumination, Universal Products & Experiences and the Lego Group celebrates fun storytelling,” says Solvita Akmene, designer at the Lego Group. “Fans told us they were really missing Lego Minions and we are happy to bring this world of mischievous fun back to them, through exciting new play experiences. We hope the new sets will delight any fan.”

“Illumination’s Despicable Me franchise is beloved by fans across the globe, and our partnership with the Lego Group brings together two iconic brands,” says Rafael Macias, executive vice president & global commercial officer, Universal Products & Experiences. “The Lego Despicable Me 4 sets offer new storytelling opportunities and provide imaginative ways to bring to life the joy, action and sweet-but-subversive humour of this record-setting franchise. We’re as excited as the fans for Despicable Me 4 and can’t wait for their reaction to the new film-inspired Lego sets.”

PMI will be introducing a new line of Minecraft themed collectibles, stationery, plush and impulse lines this summer.

PMI Kids’ World, renowned for its popular gaming and licensed collectibles, has signed a worldwide licensing agreement with the iconic gaming phenomenon, Minecraft. This strategic partnership aims to bring a new dimension to the collectibles industry, offering fans an immersive experience through a range of Minecraft themed impulse, plush, collectibles and stationery products launching this summer.

Minecraft, crafted by the talented team at Mojang Studios, began its journey as a video game, quickly evolving into a cultural sensation. This immersive sandbox experience transcended its gaming roots to become a timeless media franchise, giving rise to a myriad of books, merchandise, events and even an eagerly anticipated film. Captivating a diverse and enthusiastic fan base, the Minecraft community has cultivated a fervour that extends beyond the digital realm, turning a pixelated adventure into a multi-dimensional phenomenon.

In the past year, PMI Kids’ World has emerged as one of the world’s leaders in the gaming space and licensed collectibles, consistently delivering must-have items from major IPs. Notable successes include turning Sonic Prime fans into collectors, and bringing the popular multiplayer online games Stumble Guys and Among Us beyond the screen, two viral games with over 160m monthly players collectively.

PMI’s achievements also extend to the company’s launch of the Web3-born brand Pudgy Penguins, an instant Amazon hotlist topper, which sold over half a million units within days at the Pudgy Penguins storefront.

“Minecraft has evolved into an unparalleled evergreen media franchise, and we are excited to see the boundless possibilities this partnership holds,” said Omer Dekel, COO of PMI Kids’ World. “Our track record of providing communities with fresh and inventive ways to engage with their fandoms aligns seamlessly with Minecraft’s imaginative play options.”

This summer, fans can immerse themselves in the enchanting world of Minecraft with PMI’s latest collection of premium stationery and irresistible collectibles. Designed to captivate fans across the globe, this innovative line invites enthusiasts to elevate their collections and proudly display their fandom in a new way.

Disguise has announced an agreement with Sony Pictures Consumer Products to produce costumes based on the recently released Ghostbusters: Frozen Empire.

Disguise will design, market, manufacture and distribute costumes, costume accessories and inflatables for the movie, which has been released in cinemas. The costumes will be available this year.

Disguise has developed a full range of Ghostbusters: Frozen Empire style ghostbusting jumpsuits for infants, children and adults, offering a diverse selection across various price points, including both classic and deluxe styles. Additionally, Disguise will introduce the Ghostbusters Engineering jumpsuit, along with signature red parkas. Slimer, the infamous beloved character, will be available in toddler, child and adult sizes, with an inflatable version for children along with an amazing costume for this movie’s villain, Garraka, for adults.

“Following the successful launch of Ghostbusters classic films and Ghostbusters: Afterlife into our product range in 2021, we are ecstatic to extend our collaboration to include Ghostbusters: Frozen Empire,” said Tara Cortner, president and GM of Disguise. “The franchise’s resonance, particularly during Halloween, has been remarkable, drawing in both seasoned enthusiasts of the classic films and new fans spawned by the recent releases. Sales have certainly reflected that, and we are honoured to continue our collaboration with Sony Pictures Consumer Products.”

Disguise is a world leader in design and development of inventive and cutting edge costumes and accessories with distribution across the world. Disguise’s Halloween costumes and accessories for Ghostbusters: Frozen Empire will be available this autumn.