Category Archives: Highlight

Toho International marks Godzilla’s 67th birthday with activities and new merch drops

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Toho International, Inc. is celebrating Godzilla Day this year with a host of activities and merchandise.

On November 3, the month-long celebrations kick off with screenings of 1954 Godzilla (a.k.a. Gojira) in 4K restoration. Exclusively screened at Alamo Drafthouse cinemas across the nation, including LA, NYC, San Francisco, the screenings of the film in 4K act as the film’s worldwide premiere. Alamo is also screening classic films Godzilla vs. Hedorah, Shin Godzilla, The Return of Godzilla and Godzilla vs. Biollanteduring Godzilla’s birth-month. More information is available on the website: drafthouse.com/los-angeles/movies/godzilla

Continuing the iconic monster’s 67th birthday celebrations are new products including Godzilla-themed coffee and hot sauces, apparel (including t-shirts, long sleeves and hoodies), hockey merch (jerseys, pucks and hats), toys, collectables and more.

Fans can also take part in gaming experiences in Fall Guys: Ultimate Knockout with two iconic costumes brought back in store – “Godzilla” plus “Godzilla 1995,” along with a limited time in-game event in Go Big! kicking off on 3 November.

 

tonies® collaborates with Steiff for new Soft Cuddly Friends Tonies

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Sponsored content

 

 

tonies® is excited to announce the arrival of the Soft Cuddly Friends Tonies, in collaboration with German plush toy brand Steiff. Combining the magical power of storytelling with the beautiful, soft plushes, the new Steiff collection is sure to surprise and delight little ones and introduce them to a love of stories.

 

Each of the three Soft Cuddly Friends Tonies contains six charming stories by Katrin Wiegand, adapted by Jayne Kirkham and told beautifully by Rob Rackstraw. Little listeners can join in on the Soft Cuddly Friends’ adventures, as they tell the story of Lisa’s toy shop and Lita Lamb (right), Hoppie Rabbit (above) and Jimmy Bear coming to life. The characters take a ride on the magical, mystical moonbeam slide to the Land of The Soft Cuddly Friends and their adventures begin.

As well as the beautiful Steiff Soft Cuddly Friends Tonies, tonies® is adding three exciting new characters to its incredible portfolio this November: Disney Princess Belle, nostalgic favourite Pippi Longstocking and Sesame Street’s Elmo.

Beauty and the Beast

Disney’s much-loved story Beauty and the Beast is brought to life on the Toniebox together with a collection of the film’s most popular songs little listeners will love to sing along to. Follow the adventures of spirited young village girl, Belle as she encounters the Beast, an unruly prince that’s fallen under the spell of a wicked enchantress. A love story with a twist, this magical tale as old as time is sure to capture young hearts.

Pippi Longstocking

Pippi Longstocking lives in a house with a horse, a monkey, a suitcase full of gold, and no grown-ups to tell her what to do. Gifted with superhuman strength, Pippi is a rebellious but sweet young girl full of crazy ideas. Mismatched stockings, red hair and freckles combined with a unique independent spirit and a taste for adventure, Pippi is a girl who lives by her own rules. A cultural icon and one of the most popular children’s characters of all time, Pippi’s extraordinary escapades have been entertaining young readers for 75 years, and are set to delight another generation on the Toniebox, narrated by television favourite Sandi Toksvig.

Elmo

Everybody loves Elmo! Elmo’s sunny disposition is completely infectious in this wonderful collection of songs, stories, and interactive sketches guaranteed to put a smile on your child’s face. Little listeners will love to sing along with Elmo’s renditions of popular nursery rhymes and children’s songs, including ‘Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Star, and ‘Head, Shoulders, Knees and Toes’.

The Toniebox comes to life when paired with our whimsical collection of Tonies: hand-painted characters with hours of stories to tell, worlds to explore, and songs to sing along with. Each collectible character magnetically attaches to the Toniebox, making it simple for little listeners to change stories whenever they want!

 

For more information
about tonies® visit tonies.com
or follow @tonies_uk

 

 

PUBG MOBILE announces Liverpool Football Club collaboration

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PUBG MOBILE has announced a collaboration with Liverpool Football Club, which will add branded outfits and items for players to unlock. This relationship is the first time PUBG MOBILE has collaborated directly with a football club. Players will have the opportunity to earn the free and exclusive in-game Liverpool FC gear through participating in and completing a series of classic mode games.

Drew Crisp, Senior Vice President, Digital, Liverpool FC, says: “In an increasingly digital world, we pride ourselves on being able to innovate and engage with our fans on the vast array of digital platforms they favour. With the realm of online gaming growing and evolving amongst our fans, PUBG MOBILE is the perfect platform to connect with them in a different but very relevant context – intertwining the world of online gaming and football through the power of games and play. This is a great opportunity for supporters to embrace their love of the club and interact with LFC on one of their favourite platforms, bringing together the physical interactive nature of football into the digital interactive world of gaming.”

“In PUBG MOBILE, teamwork is a core principle to those who seek to win,” says Vincent Wang, Head of PUBG MOBILE Publishing, Tencent Games. “In collaborating with Liverpool Football Club, a team renowned for their courageous camaraderie, we have found a perfect partner. As we continue to strengthen our current bonds and develop prominent partnerships with iconic industry leaders, we look forward to further integrating the world of football into PUBG MOBILE.”

Michael Rocha-Keys, CEO at EMW Global agency, which brokered the deal, adds: “PUBG MOBILE and Liverpool Football Club are two of the most exciting and successful brands in the world at present, and the innovative partnership they’ve formed together will be a landmark moment for the sports and mobile gaming industries.”

The collaboration between PUBG MOBILE and Liverpool FC is part of the new Version 1.6 update, bringing new content, game modes, and several exciting collaborations to the game.

PUBG MOBILE is available to download for free on the App Store and Google Play Store.

PUBG MOBILE is based on PUBG: BATTLEGROUNDS, the phenomenon that took the world of interactive entertainment by storm in 2017. Up to 100 players parachute onto a remote island to battle in a winner-takes-all showdown. Players must locate and scavenge their own weapons, vehicles, and supplies, and defeat every player in a visually and tactically rich battleground that forces players into a shrinking play zone.

 

Signature Publishing continues festive offering with two Elf on the Shelf special magazines 

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Following a successful year which saw the now annual issue of We Love the Elf on the Shelfmagazine shortlisted at the 2021 Licensing Awards, Signature Publishing is launching two new specials devoted to the much-loved festive icon.

Lumistella’s The Elf on the Shelf has become a global phenomenon with 14.5 million Santa’s Scout Elves adopted by families worldwide since 2005, and the brand – managed by Rocket Licensing – firmly establishing itself as a family tradition in the UK. With huge momentum behind the brand, and high demand for new and innovative products that capture the magic, Signature Publishing is publishing two official magazines for fans.

“We are absolutely delighted to continue our highly successful relationship with Rocket Licensing and The Lumistella Company, working together on The Elf on the Shelf,” says Signature’s Managing Director, Danny Morris. “Not just because of the impressive sales the magazines have, and will continue to generate, but also because we absolutely adore the brand and the added excitement it brings to so many children in the lead-up to Christmas. It’s so rewarding for everyone involved to be a part of this tradition, using the magazine to extend the brand for existing fans while marketing it to a whole new audience.”

Signature Publishing’s changing theme magazines WE LOVE and COLOUR IT! provide the ideal vehicles for publishing special issues of The Elf on The Shelf. In WE LOVE The Elf on the Shelf, readers can immerse themselves fully in the brand with puzzles, games, makes and competitions. The magazine also comes with a cracker with four surprise gifts inside, plus a snow globe set to decorate. Meanwhile, COLOUR IT! The Elf on the Shelf magazine provides a creative offering with 36 pages of colouring and craft. The magazine also comes with a colouring set, where readers can design and hang their own bauble.

WE LOVE The Elf on the Shelf is on sale 4 November 2021 and COLOUR IT! The Elf on the Shelf on 17 November 2021. Both magazines are priced at £5.99 and are available to buy at all good supermarkets and newsagents.

Other magazines in Signature’s growing portfolio include; TRANSFORMERS and TRANSFORMERS RESCUE BOTS ACADEMY published under license from Hasbro. GO JETTERS published under license from BBC Studios. SPIRIT RIDING FREE and TROLLS under license from NBC Universal. SUPER WINGS, published under license from Alpha Group. POLLY POCKET, published under license from Mattel. Plus DINO FUN!, PETS2COLLECT, DINOSAUR ACTION!, FANTASTIC! FUNWORLD, SO MAGICAL! and ADVENTURES WITH. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Kidrobot unveils new Dunny series with the Met including Monet and Hokusai-inspired designs

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Kidrobot has unveiled the second series of Dunny Art Figures in the Kidrobot x The Met Collection.

The latest line of limited-edition 3-inch, 8-inch and 20-inch Dunny figures showcase pieces from Claude Monet, Katsushika Hokusai, Charles Demuth, and the worlds of Ancient Greek art and Ancient Egypt.

DUNNY is a collectable designer art toy created by Kidrobot and Tristan Eaton. Kidrobot has released collectable limited edition Dunny designer art toys and Dunny Series featuring designs from the world’s leading artists, graffiti artists, fashion designers, illustrators and iconic art legends.

The collection will be in stock online at Kidrobot.com, in The Met Store and select retailers late 2022. The designs are available now for pre-order on Kidrobot’s website: https://www.kidrobot.com/collections/kidrobot-the-met-dunny-collection

International Olympic Committee launches unified Olympic Shop

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The International Olympic Committee (IOC) has announced the launch of a unified online Olympic shop developed in collaboration with global merchandise leader Fanatics. The launch of the Olympic Shop comes as Paris 2024 marks its 1,000-day countdown to the opening of the next Olympic Summer Games.

Through the Olympic Shop, fans will be able to purchase official Olympic and Paralympic Games merchandise produced by licensees and suppliers appointed by the IOC and the Organising Committees of the upcoming Games editions, Paris 2024, Milano Cortina 2026 and LA28.

“This is an exciting launch for us, as fans from an increasing number of territories will be able to purchase official Olympic merchandising and connect with the magic of the Olympic Games ahead of each edition,” says Timo Lumme, IOC Television & Marketing Services Managing Director. “We are looking forward to collaborating on this new shop with the Organising Committees of Paris 2024, Milano Cortina 2026 and LA28 to engage with a broader fanbase and offer collectables and goods that convey the values of the Olympic Movement, in line with the IOC Global Licensing Strategy.”

The Olympic Shop will offer the largest assortment of Olympic-branded merchandise to date, distributed through Fanatics’ vertical, on-demand manufacturing model and globally connected supply chain, as part of three Olympic core licensing collections: The Olympic and Paralympic Games Collection; The Olympic Heritage Collection and the Olympic Collection, which targets a young and active audience through unique branded products exclusively available online and at The Olympic Museum Shop in Lausanne, Switzerland, such as toys and games, bags, stationary items and sports equipment.

The different collections are currently available in the United States, Mexico and Europe, including France, the United Kingdom and Switzerland, and will expand further by summer 2022, with exclusive product launches along the way. Visa, the Worldwide Olympic and Paralympic payment partner, is the official way to pay on the Olympic Shop.

The Olympic Shop complements the Olympic store on Tmall, developed in collaboration with Worldwide Olympic and Paralympic Partner Alibaba and which remains the official platform for Chinese fans to purchase official Olympic and Paralympic products.

Developer Tilting Point creates new cooking competition game based on Banijay’s hit show MasterChef

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Developer Tilting Point has created a new fast-paced cooking competition game based on Banijay’s hit show MasterChef.

MasterChef: Let’s Cook! is available exclusively on Apple Arcade, Apple’s game subscription service that offers access to a growing collection of over 200 games, featuring new releases, award winners, and favourites from the App Store, all without ads or in-app purchases.

Players of MasterChef: Let’s Cook! must choose ingredients, slice, prepare, plate and serve delicious dishes, competing against other players from around the globe. The MasterChef jury evaluates dishes based on the player’s performance and speed. There are opportunities to complete and unlock new recipes, challenges, and mini-games along the cooking journey.

MasterChef is the world’s most successful cookery television format (Guinness World Records), with 64 local versions to-date. Recently hitting a milestone 500 seasons aired globally, MasterChef consistently attracts huge audiences internationally. With more than 90 licensees around the world, the MasterChefbrand also extends into a range of successful commercial activities, with millions of consumer products sold, an extensive publishing range, and live experiences from restaurants to cruises and tours.

MasterChef brand is controlled by Banijay Brands, part of Banijay. The company’s other global brands include Peaky Blinders, Survivor, Temptation Island, Deal or No Deal, Big Brother and Mr Bean.

Kinder Joy and Funko Europe forge long-term partnership

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As of now, consumers in many European markets will find their Kinder Joy snacks come with iconic Funko collectables.

The two brands have worked to create a collection specifically designed for kids aged 8 to 12, with 24 Funko music-themed surprises: 8 figurines and 16 music gadgets to collect.

The playing experience is extended in the digital playground of Applaydu & Friends, a new free app specially designed for tweens to meet their needs to be creative, play and connect with their friends. The app is 100% kid-safe, friendly and secure, and was developed in partnership with mobile gaming experts Gameloft.

On Applaydu & Friends, tweens can embody their Funko toys, create their own customisable avatars, make fun videos, challenge their friends in obstacle races and ultimately connect to each other through real-time leaderboards in a safe play environment.

The collaboration marks the start of the Kinder Joy x Funko Europe partnership, with  more new ranges coming soon.

WildBrain CPLG to develop licensing programme across Nordic territories for Little Grey Fergie

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Farmyard Stories, the owner of Little Grey Fergie, and bRAND-WARD Services, the international kids IP consultancy, have appointed WildBrain CPLG to develop a licensing program across Norway, Sweden, Denmark and Finland for Little Grey Fergie, the property created by Morten Myklebust and produced by Anne Thovsen.

Created in Norway, Little Grey Fergie is a live-action series for preschoolers telling the story of a Ferguson TE20 tractor who is not only alive, but also secretly set on helping on the farm where he lives. It has been a domestic success since its first airing on leading local broadcaster NRK in 1998, which was followed by the production of a TV series, movies, books, toys, merchandise, stage shows and a theme park. Little Grey Fergie has since then expanded its audience internationally with a popular YouTube channel engaging fans around the world.

The brand will celebrate its 25th anniversary in 2023 and the new licensing program will be a big step towards familiarising kids beyond Norway with Fergie and its values: honesty, frugality, kindness and playfulness.

Anne Thovsen, CEO and Producer at Farmyard Stories, says: “With a strong platform for Little Grey Fergie on YouTube, families around the world want to know more about our tractor and its friends. It is therefore with great enthusiasm and joy that we enter this collaboration with WildBrain CPLG which will help us extend fans’ experience of the brand”.

“Our expertise in bringing character brands to life through consumer products programmes makes Little Grey Fergie an exciting addition to our preschool entertainment portfolio,” says Jenny Strehle Ilic, Commercial Director Nordics, WildBrain CPLG. “We see great potential and are looking forward to growing his happy presence amongst kids and families in the Nordics.”

Brand Licensing Europe announces 2021 Kelvyn Gardner License This! shortlist

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Brand Licensing Europe has unveiled the nine finalists who will battle it out to win one of three Kelvyn Gardner License This! awards. BLE takes place in person from 17-19 November at ExCeL London followed by an online event running from 30 November to 1 December. It’s free to register at www.brandlicensing.eu.

There are three categories for 2021, including a brand-new Product Design award launched in partnership with Mojo Nation, where designers have been tasked to invent a desktop accessory inspired by Aardman’s Morph IP. The Character & Animation and Brand & Design categories are both aimed at unlicensed brands and properties and judges look for new creative concepts which have the potential to spread across multiple product categories.

Chair of the judging panel, Ian Downes, director Start Licensing, says: “The standard of entries this year for the Kelvyn Gardner License This! competition was very high. It was encouraging to see so many original ideas and concepts. The entrants put a lot of effort into the competition crafting some compelling entries and it was tough to draw up a shortlist. Based on the quality of entries it is clear that there is no shortage of creativity in and around licensing at the moment and the industry can be assured there is plenty of fresh thinking going on.”

The nine finalists are:

  1. Brand & Design Category:
  • Pencil & TIE® are the best of friends who live in Shibuya, Tokyo. Pencil, a graphic designer, is never seen without his pencil. Tie is his one-footed, cheeky friend (and a tie).
    Designer Mark creates onefold and witty stationery, which manifests itself in the (paper) product design and/or the illustration(s) used. With a lifelong passion for stationery, years of design experience for A-list brands and an attachment to Japanese culture, Pencil & TIE produces lovable and sustainable stationery products in its lab in the Netherlands.
  • Sophie Jonas-Hill and Tea for Tattoo, which brings together two great British passions – drinking tea and getting tattooed! Tea for tattoo is a series of hand-drawn motifs which bring together the colour palette and style of traditional blue and white ceramics, with the aesthetic and cheeky edge of old school tattoos. It’s distinctive because it carries Sophie’s unique hand drawn stamp, created by drawing separate parts of each image on tracing paper and then layering them together to create the look of glazed ceramic.
  • Aline Cervo – Aline Bea is a surface pattern designer, illustrator and digital nomad. Inspired by nature, simple things in life, and her own journey, she draws everything from flowers to buildings and abstract compositions. The stories embedded in her designs talk about bravery, courage, love and connection, about noticing the details, and abundance and presence. The beauty of being alive and enjoying every moment is what she expects to imprint on the world with her designs and products.
  1. Character & Animation Category:
  • Els Morris – Els Doodles: Rosie Roars’ is an illustrated little one’s story book. Rosie is three and her favourite animal is a lion, she even wants to be one when she grows up. Her family helps her to discover different animals and she decides that being a ‘buzzy, hopping, rainbow roaring me’ is the perfect person to be. This book teaches little ones that it’s good to celebrate who we are, while learning about others along the way.
  • Stacy Moore – Eat Dirt: Eat Dirt is a series of humorous stories and poems for children aged 2-5 years old, designed to inspire a love of veggies, gardening, and outdoor play, served up with a big dose of pure silliness. It is rich with bright colour and pint-sized humour to help foster creativity, inspire movement, encourage play and garden activity, and stimulate little brains for healthy growth. The lovable main characters include Grumpy Bean and his seven vegetable friends, plus the Green Thumb Chums and Toad.
  • Joel Mercer – SeedFolk. SeedFolk has been developed by the innovative creative team behind Seedlings Cards & Gifts; a lovable range of characters, who care for our native habitats and wildflower seeds. Joel says: “Unbeknownst to human eyes, there is a hidden world of little folk who guard and tend to our wildflowers and seeds. They are the SeedFolk, and this story follows adventures led by Yarrow, a courageous young wizard, and his dependable friend Buttercup, along with friends Mari and her little sister Gold, Clover and Bumble, the wise old Snowdrop, and the king’s daughter, Cornflower – as they set out to protect our native wildflowers.”
  1. Product Design Category
  • Jon Morse – Tomato Source
  • Chris de Junien – Imagine8
  • Wayne Lindsay – Imaginnovation

The three designers in this category will pitch their concepts to the judges during the live final on Friday 19 November.