Magic Light Pictures and Merlin Entertainments are bringing Zog to Warwick Castle

Magic Light Pictures has teamed up with Merlin Entertainments to bring a new 3D interactive Zog trail to Warwick Castle.

Due to launch at the historic venue this Easter, the trail brings to life the world of Zog the lovable dragon – first created by Julia Donaldson and Axel Scheffler – with a host of activities for kids that mirror Zog’s own lessons at dragon school.

From soaring over the top of the Castle mound without actually leaving the ground, to testing out the Roar-o-meter at Bear Tower and helping kids to capture a princess, children will collect a stamp at every task. A final challenge will see them join in with Sir Gadabout’s school for ambitious knights and will be followed with a meet-and-greet with Zog himself.

Based on the million-selling book by Julia Donaldson and Axel Scheffler, Zog premiered on BBC One on Christmas Day 2018. It follows the tale of a keen but accident-prone dragon who gets into all sorts of mischief while at Dragon School, and was the fourth-highest rated programme on the day, achieving 8.8m viewers (including repeat).

The sequel, Zog and the Flying Doctors, has recently been announced as the Christmas 2020 collaboration between Magic Light and BBC One.

Daryl Shute, brand director, Magic Light Pictures, said: “We are delighted to partner with Merlin Entertainment to bring Zog to their fantastic venue. Warwick Castle is the perfect setting for dragons, princesses and heroic deeds. Our close collaboration is creating a truly special experience for kids that allows them to step into the magical world of Zog and live the story for themselves.”

Liam Bartlett, operations director for Warwick Castle, added: “We’re thrilled that Zog is flying in to Warwick Castle – it’s going to be roar-some. The interactive trail is great for kids of all ages, and supports the key messaging from the storybook itself around tenacity, persistence and rising to the challenge.

“It’s a fantastic addition to the Warwick Castle experience and shows once again why we’re a leading attraction for families from across the UK and beyond.”

Entertainment One partners with VisitEngland for Peppa Pig promotional campaign

Entertainment One has secured a new partnership with the national tourism agency, VisitEngland, that will see Peppa Pig become part of a promotional campaign encouraging families to holiday in England.

Launching this week, the campaign drives visitors to a specially created Peppa Pig online hub on VisitEngland’s website. The microsite features 25 experiences for pre-schoolers and their families, all inspired by Peppa’s adventures in the show.

Young fans can view clips from the show by clicking on a Peppa Pig style map on the site. A children’s activity sheet and tick list will be available to download to inspire them to follow in Peppa’s footsteps as they take short breaks in England.

Working with Global, owners of Heart FM radio, VisitEngland is also promoting the campaign through a national radio competition voiced by Peppa Pig and her family. The campaign will be boosted from mid-February with paid for digital advertising.

“Peppa Pig celebrates the simple pleasures of family life and that theme is central to our campaign with VisitEngland. We’re absolutely delighted to be partnering with them on an initiative that will harness the brand’s popularity to boost tourism in England,” said Rebecca Harvey, eOne’s EVP of global marketing, family and brands.

“With a content pipeline of 381 episodes all focused on family life, there’s plenty of inspiration and we look forward to seeing families enjoying days at the beach, visiting castles, flying kites and, of course, jumping in muddy puddles just like Peppa and her family.”

Clare Mullin, director at VisitEngland, added: “We want to inspire young families to follow in the footsteps of their favourite character and go on fun filled year-round adventures across England.

“From getting outdoors to jumping in muddy puddles in thousand-year-old forests and camping under the stars at their first music festival; there are amazing family-friendly experiences right across the country. Capturing the imagination of Peppa Pig loving pre-school families can create long lasting memories that help boost regional tourism and build an emotional connection that will encourage them to explore their own backyard both now and in the future.”

The £650,000 campaign is expected to generate more than 225,000 additional overnight stays in England from families in 2020, adding a £16.5 million boost to the economy.

The family market represents around a third of the potential domestic tourism market in England. In 2018, British families took 15.3 million domestic breaks in England, spending £3.4 billion. VisitEngland is hoping that targeting the family segment can spread tourism’s economic benefits across more of the year, including off-peak periods.

 

 

Atari gets in on the hotel game with eight themed locations planned for the US

Atari is getting in on the hotel business as its owner Atari Interactive details its plans to develop eight Atari-themed hotels across the US.

The first site is expected to lay down its foundations in Phoenix, Arizona later this year, with a further seven planned for Las Vegas, Denver, Chicago, Austin, Seattle, San Francisco, and San Jose.

The new hotels will be video game themed and will feature ‘fully immersive’ virtual reality and augmented reality experiences, as well as venues at select locations designed to accommodate esports events.

The project will employ the combined efforts of Atari Interactive, the GSD Group, the Phoenix-based real estate developer True North Studio, and Apple co-founder Steve Wozniak’s Innovation Foundation.

“When creating this brand-new hotel concept, we knew that Atari would be the perfect way to give guests the nostalgic and retro meets modern look and feel we were going for,” said Napoleon Smith III of GSD Group.

“Let’s face it, how cool will it be to stay inside an Atari?”

Atari CEO, Fred Chesnais, said: “We are thrilled to partner with GSD Group and True North Studio to build the first-ever Atari branded hotels across the United States. Together we’ll build a space that will be much more than just a place to stay.

“Atari is an iconic global brand that resonates with people of all ages, countries, cultures and ethnic backgrounds and we cannot wait for our fans and their families to enjoy this new hotel concept.”

Walt Disney Studios to launch global immersive experiences with Secret Cinema

Walt Disney Studios has signed an exclusive agreement with the popular thematic experience, Secret Cinema, to bring to life some of the company’s most iconic films.

The immersive cinema specialists will work alongside Walt Disney Studios’ StudioLAB to create live shows across the globe. The partnership will kick off in the UK and US.

The first show will premiere in London this year. This will be followed by events in Los Angeles and New York.

Matt Duel, head of business partnerships at StudioLAB, said: “We are excited to bring his innovative and immersive new cinema-going format to the Walt Disney Studios family, and to be a part of introducing it to new audiences in the US.

“Working with Secret Cinema, we’re able to create a whole new way for fans to engage with some of our most loved films.”

It hasn’t yet been revealed what films from the Disney portfolio are to be adapted for the experience, however, past Secret Cinema experiences have included a 2015 production of Star Wars: The Empire Strikes Back.

 

The deal was brokered by Secret Cinema’s chief executive Max Alexander and director of slate, Kate Davidson.

New format, features and 1,000s of brands await at Bologna Licensing Trade Fair 2020

A new format, new features, and some close to 1,000 brands await visitors to Italy and Southern Europe’s premiere licensing show this year, as the countdown to Bologna Licensing Trade Fair begins.

Now reformatted as a two-day show to offer a more focused event for professionals and optimise the attendance of exhibitors and visitors, the Bologna Licensing Trade Fair (BLTF) will run from March 30 to 31st this year, with the Bologna Licensing Awards on the afternoon of March 30.

With 4,500 visitors, 900 brands and 60 retail companies taking part in 2019, and similar numbers expected in 2020, BLTF is gearing up to ‘consolidate its position in the regional licensing market.’

Major exhibitors already signed up for this year’s show include Hasbro, Planeta Junior, WildBrain CPLG, The Pokémon Company, Mondo TV Consumer Products, Maurizio Distefano Advisors, Atlantyca Entertainment, Mattel, Viacom Nickelodeon Consumer Products, Bic Licensing, Premium Licensing, RaiCom, Mondadori, ForFun Media, Sbabam, Pea&Promoplast, Gruppo Alcuni, Starbright and De Agostini, with many others to be announced soon.

As well as the exhibition, the show will offer a number of networking and partnering resources that include access to pre-registered visitors’ lists, comprehensive press office and networking support, press tours for exhibitors with the main media partners and of course opportunities across global children’s publishing, entertainment, digital and media offered by the Bologna Children’s Book Fair, taking place side-by-side with BLTF.

This year the popular Licensing Retail Lounge, a consolidated networking retail area, is joined by the Licensing Fashion Zone, which will bring together brands, apparel and accessories in one place to reflect the increasingly central role of fashion for the licensing industry.

There will also be a dedicated matchmaking service bringing retailers and fashion industry players together with exhibitors.

Now in its 13th year, the Bologna Licensing Trade Fair remains an essential meeting place for licensing industry professionals targeting the key markets of Italy and Southern Europe.

Marco Momoli, culture business unit director, said: “The continuing importance of the Bologna Licensing Trade Fair in the framework of the world-leading Bologna Children’s Book Fair makes these two days among the most important on the regional licensing calendar.

“As licensing adapts to an ever-more more fluid and changing retail environment, this show is, more than ever, one of the year’s must-attend events.”

ITV Studios secures raft of US and Canadian partners for Schitt’s Creek

ITV Studios has detailed a raft of new US and Canadian licensing deals for Schitt’s Creek, as the hit comedy series readies for the launch of its sixth and final season this month.

The show received four Emmy, five Critics’ Choice and two SAG nominations, and won multiple Canadian Screen Awards in 2019, picking up a growing audience of cult fans due to its own brand of quirky humour. 

The 14-episode sixth season will air on the same day and time across the US on Pop TV, and Canada on CBC, with syndication across the US to follow in Autumn 2020 along with Netflix in the US, UK, Eire, Australia, New Zealand, India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, Bhutan and Japan.

Created and produced by Daniel Levy and his father Eugene Levy, the series follows a wealthy family who lose their fortune and are forced to relocate to a rundown motel in the small town of Schitt’s Creek.

The cast includes Eugene Levy (American Pie), Catherine O’Hara (Home Alone, Beetlejuice), Daniel Levy, Annie Murphy, Chris Elliot (Everybody Loves Raymond, There’s Something About Mary), Emily Hampshire, Jennifer Robertson, Noah Reid, Dustin Milligan, Sarah Levy, and Karen Robinson.

Licensing partners include Rizzoli with 2020 and 2021 calendars, Beekman 1802 for a collection of  high end gift toiletries based on the in-world brand Rose Apothecary, Hi-Line whose official web store is now live and who support the ongoing live shows with tour merchandise, and Funko who will launch a range of Pop! Vinyl figures based on the main characters from March.

UGC and fan art designs are also available direct-to-consumer through Redbubble.

To celebrate the launch of the new season, Pop TV held exclusive pop up Visit Schitt’s Creek immersive experiences in New York City and Los Angeles this past November and December, with Hi-Line servicing the official merchandise.

The event offered free reservations, which were all claimed within minutes by thousands of fans who interacted with authentic set pieces and detailed recreations, allowing them to visit the world of Schitt’s Creek; coverage of Visit Schitt’s Creek has reached billions of impressions.

In addition, Beekman 1802 is planning a Rose Apothecary-branded takeover in their flagship New York store on January 7th to promote the new range and the return of the series.

Further deals currently in negotiation include Apparel, Publishing and other exciting merchandise tie-ins.

Silvergate and Merlin Entertainments bring world’s biggest Octonauts attraction to Shanghai

Silvergate Media has landed a major new creative partnership with Merlin Entertainments that will bring its hit pre-school property Octonauts to Chang Feng Ocean World in Shanghai, part of the Sea Life global aquarium chain.

Launching to the public in June 2020, the new attraction will be the biggest Octonauts attraction worldwide and will expand the universal appeal of the brand by offering a unique new underwater experience.

“Our partnership with Merlin Entertainments underlines our ongoing commitment to dive deeper into innovative and immersive events that bolster our brands,” said Ron Allen, EVP commercial, Silvergate Media.

“This new interactive adventure with Changfeng Ocean World  will give fans an unforgettable Octonauts experience that truly reflects the show’s core values of education, exploration and entertainment – it’s a perfect brand synergy. We look forward to sharing the attraction with fans in China this summer.”

The world-class visitor attraction operator Merlin is creating an authentically themed Octonauts experience that will give families the opportunity to play and explore in a fully submersed Octopod within Changfeng Ocean World’s huge new ‘Stingray Bay’ experience.

Visitors to the new attraction will join characters including Captain Barnacles, Kwazii, and Peso and embark on an exciting Octonauts mission, learning about the world’s oceans and the creatures that live within them. There will also be a dedicated gift shop on-site offering retail opportunities to the brand’s many licensing partners.

The attraction will be promoted with a heavyweight media campaign and a press launch is scheduled in January 2020 that will give media a first look at the new site prior to its official opening in the summer.

This latest deal further cements Silvergate’s existing relationship with Merlin, and builds upon the momentum of previous Sea Life partnerships in the UK, Europe, Australia and the US with additional new activations due to be announced in 2020.

Fun and discovery are at the core of what we do at Merlin and that is why Octonauts is an ideal fit for us. The new attraction will bring Octonauts to life in a way that has never been done before and we are very confident it will drive growth in visitor numbers when it launches at Changfeng Ocean World,” said Anthony Newman, Sea Life’s global brand marketing director, Merlin Entertainments.

Silvergate Media’s pre-school animated TV show, Octonauts, continues to appeal to audiences around the world with the show’s storytelling, educational narratives and compelling characters enabling it to cross cultural divides.

Currently, Silvergate is readying the launch of the fifth season of Octonauts which will bow this year.