Countdown to Hong Kong International Licensing Show

The HKTDC Hong Kong International Licensing Show & Asian Licensing Conference 2024 will take place at the end of April, created to boost licensing partnerships.

Hong Kong

The HKTDC Hong Kong International Licensing Show (HKILS), set to take place from 27th to 29th April, has firmly established itself as a leading platform within Asia’s thriving licensing industry. It offers unparalleled opportunities for licensors and brands to forge new business alliances. Furthermore, HKILS will be held concurrently with the HKTDC Gifts & Premium Fair, presenting an excellent opportunity to explore prospects in lifestyle licensing. To ensure unmatched access to industry players from around the world, HKILS will offer vast business matching opportunities.

A diverse array of international intellectual properties from various sectors, including art licensing, character licensing, corporate licensing, lifestyle licensing and sports licensing, will participate in the event, showcasing more than 500 brands and properties. Prominent names such as Doraemon, Spy x Family Tokidoki and University of Cambridge will be featured, among many others. In addition, there will be more than 70 home-grown Hong Kong brands, including newcomers like Plastic Thing and Dustykid, exhibitors from DLAB as well as local designers.

Running parallel to the HKILS is the Asian Licensing Conference (ALC), a key event for industry players seeking to capitalise on emerging trends and opportunities. This three-day conference brings together top-notch global licensing industry players, sharing the latest market intelligence, trends and opportunities within the global licensing industry. The conference will cover a wide range of topics, including legal issues surrounding Generative AI and the innovative channels introduced by new technologies in beauty licensing. Additionally, sustainability and the emergence of new intellectual properties will be prominently discussed.

Those interested in attending still have time to register for free admission through this link: https://bit.ly/3UPl0g4.

For more details on the event, visit: https://hktdc.com/hklicensingshow/en

The Harlem Globetrotters signs with IMG

The Harlem Globetrotters has joined forces with IMG to expand its range of consumer products in preparation for the centennial celebration in 2026.

The world-famous Harlem Globetrotters has signed with licensing giant IMG to further develop the brand in anticipation of its 100th-anniversary milestone in 2026.

Recognised by the United Nations in 1951 as ambassadors of extraordinary goodwill, the Harlem Globetrotters has been spreading goodwill throughout its legendary 98-year history. Today, the organisation tours the world playing over 200 games domestically throughout North America and over 150 games internationally throughout continents including Asia, the Americas, Europe, Australia and much more.

Under the new agreement, IMG will draw inspiration from the legendary team’s history and iconic brand identity to develop a wide range of products and experiences from toys, collectibles and memorabilia, to publishing and video games. Equally, IMG will be seeking an official outfitter and footwear partner to carry the Harlem Globetrotters into the next century.

Bruno Maglione, president of IMG’s licensing business said: “I can’t count the number of firsts that have marked the history of the Harlem Globetrotters, not least the dazzling style of play which anticipated by many years the dynamism we see from the best players in the modern NBA. We will be looking both forward and back as we celebrate the story of this legendary franchise with products and brand partners.”

Keith Dawkins, president of Harlem Globetrotters & Herschend Entertainment Studios commented: “The Harlem Globetrotters have continued to lead and redefine global basketball culture. With their athleticism, exceptional skills, unique brand of humour and ability to connect with cultures around the globe, the team has inspired millions and ushered in an irreplicable brand of sports entertainment that’s beloved by all. As we approach our 100-year anniversary in 2026, our partnership with IMG will be instrumental in deepening our connection with fans, new and old, around the world.”

Paw Prints Publishing signs Fraggle Rock deal

The Fraggle Rock: Back to the Rock licensed book programme will launch simultaneously with season two of the series, which is set to premiere exclusively on AppleTV+ this month. 

Paw Prints Publishing, the children’s publishing imprint of Baker & Taylor, will begin publishing books based on the Jim Henson Company’s beloved Emmy-Winning series Fraggle Rock: Back to the Rock this spring. The publishing programme launch will be timed with the release of the series’ second season, premiering 29th March exclusively on AppleTV+.

A reboot of the 1983 Fraggle Rock by Jim Henson, Fraggle Rock: Back to the Rock features music, comedy and iconic puppets from the world-famous Jim Henson’s Creature Shop.

Paw Prints Publishing brings original content to market for young readers aged 3-8 with the mission of sharing stories that will inspire and enlighten children.

Amandeep Kochar, group president and CEO of Baker & Taylor, said: “Fraggle Rock: Back to the Rock is a perfect fit with Paw Prints’ mission to publish books that build empathy, empowerment and engagement anchored by social emotional pillars with diverse and authentic voices.”

Melissa Segal, head of global consumer products for The Jim Henson Company, commented: “Fraggle Rock: Back to the Rock is continuing a legacy of exciting and hilarious adventures, engaging characters and thoughtful messages about kindness and caring for each other and the planet we all share. Our fans of all ages will love seeing this magical world brought to life in this new incredible line of books from our partners at Paw Prints Publishing.”

Paw Prints will launch with two titles on 7th May, both authored by Courtney Carbone:

  • An 8 x 8 storybook entitled Gobo’s Adventure, based on the season one Back to the Rock pilot
  • Flight of the Flutterflies, a Level 2 Reader under the Paw Prints Readers imprint, based on the season one episode of the same name

In addition to these two launch titles, Paw Prints Publishing plans to continue expanding the Fraggle portfolio, with additional episodic levelled readers, novelty books and holiday-themed storybooks in 2026 and 2027.

Pip and Posy come to life at Bandai Namco Cross Store

A Pip and Posy pop-up event at the Bandai Namco Cross Store in Camden will allow families to meet and greet the beloved pre-school characters.

BandaiBandai Namco Amusement Europe and Magic Light Pictures have announced a Pip and Posy’s pop-up event at Bandai Namco Cross Store Camden in London, taking place from now until 14th April.

Pip and Posy, two best friends who love to play, create and have fun, are now present at the store in Camden, where fans can experience their charming world.

The special pop-up event and store allows young fans and parents to meet and greet Pip and Posy, and enjoy readings with a Milkshake! presenter, along with colouring and crafting. They can also shop from a range of products including plush toys, jigsaw puzzles, books, gifting items and fancy dress.

The Bandai Namco Amusement Europe team said: “We’re excited about Pip and Posy, the popular children’s picture books and TV series coming alive at our Bandai Namco Cross Store in Camden. With products and lots of activities at the pop-up event, there is lots to see, touch and experience.”

London’s Camden Bandai Namco Cross Store opened last year, followed by a Victoria Place brand store in November 2023. Further stores have now rolled out in Brighton, Ealing and Sheffield, and UK store expansion will continue into 2024, with plans for larger outlets, tours and other brand appearances reaching out to fans nationally.

Moonbug launches Blippi & Friends MENA channel

Moonbug is extending the reach of its popular pre-school entertainment shows by launching its second linear channel, Blippi & Friends, in the Middle East and North Africa regions.

Moonbug Entertainment has announced the launch of its second linear channel, Blippi & Friends, further expanding its reach of some of the most beloved kids’ entertainment shows. The new channel is distributed by Intigral on Jawwy TV and Stc TV across the MENA region.

Blippi & Friends, the first 24/7 linear channel named after Moonbug’s top-rated live-action pre-school brand, caters to children aged 4-8 years old and includes a daily segment targeted to younger pre-schoolers. The channel’s line-up features a variety of Blippi shows including Blippi Visits, Blippi Draws and the Blippi Game Show, alongside other favourites from franchises such as Meekah and the feature-length special Big Dino Adventure. The daily segment designed for pre-schoolers showcases popular shows such as CoComelon, Little Angel, Arpo and many more.

The new channel is designed to integrate seamlessly into the daily routine of family life, offering enriching, engaging and entertaining content throughout the day. Blippi will also share bespoke messages to promote positive behaviour such as physical activity, learning about new subjects, healthy eating and more.

“Following the successful launch of our Moonbug linear channel, which is now available in 83 countries across the globe, we are delighted to announce the launch of the brand new 24/7 Blippi & Friends channel in the Middle East and North Africa,” commented Nicolas Eglau, managing director EMEA, APAC & Global Distribution at Moonbug Entertainment.

“Designed to enrich families and their daily routines, this channel has been curated with the local market in mind, with Blippi not only sharing bespoke messages but celebrating regional holidays and moments too. The launch of this channel marks our next step in bringing great entertainment to children across the world.”

This collaboration aligns with Intigral’s strategic focus on delivering responsible entertainment and instilling foundational values to its youngest audiences. Intigral’s streaming platforms Jawwy TV and Stc TV, will be a secure entertainment and educational destination for pre-schoolers, offering educational adventures through Blippi & Friends to broaden children’s horizons and ignite their imagination.

Blippi & Friends is now available in the following countries: Bahrain, Egypt, Iraq, Jordan, Kuwait, Morocco, Oman, Saudi Arabia, Tunisia and United Arab Emirates.

Loud Luxury confirmed for Licensing Expo Closing Night Party

Licensing Expo’s highly anticipated closing night party is one of a raft of planned events celebrating the Brands at Play theme.

Licensing Expo has unveiled the inaugural Licensing Expo Closing Night Party, which will feature a confirmed performance from Loud Luxury.

Loud Luxury, the Canadian-born Los Angeles-based music duo of Andrew Fedyk and Joe De Paceon, is known for several independent releases and remixes, including the smash hit ‘Body’. Since its release, the duo has released other hit singles such as Love No More and I’m Not Alright, collaborating with top artists from around the world and racking up over 400m streams.

Renowned for its upbeat house music, Loud Luxury sets the stage for the end of an epic Licensing Expo this year themed “Brands at Play”. Hypnotic dance energy will bring the week to a close at the contemporary Vegas Hakkasan Nightclub, concluding the Expo in style. VIP entry begins at 10:30pm on 23rd May, offering complimentary admission until 1am with proof of a show badge.

Licensing Expo continues to add more new events and editions in honour of the theme of play. Guests are welcome to participate in activities hosted throughout the event campus as they connect, meet, discover and deepen relationships.

“We are committed to bringing the amusement and interconnected experience of play to life within our reimagined campus throughout the week, as this will truly be an event to remember,” commented Anna Clarke, SVP Licensing, Informa Markets. “Loud Luxury embodies the energy as well as the calibre of talent and entertainment our events bring to entertain, excite and connect our industry together.”

Licensing Expo invests in the full floor-to-floor experience across the campus of the show creating touch points through after-hours events and continued connections, even after the show closes. Guests are encouraged to leverage the full range of opportunities available to network from before-start to after-finish and soak in all the magic of relationship building Licensing Expo offers.

An Opening Night Party will also take place on 21st May, at the Daylight Beach Club, with talent to be announced.

The Music and Entertainment categories are core to the $340.8b licensing market. Key agents including Epic Rights, TreImage LLC, Opry Entertainment Group, CAA, Bravado, A Ceremony of Roses, Sony Music Entertainment (SME) and more will represent well-known performers, artists and musicians on the show floor.

Licensing Expo 2024 welcomes over 200+ companies in the licensing and brand extension industry such as Netflix, Hasbro, Paramount, Mattel, Lego, Warner Bros. Discovery, The Walt Disney Company, Riot Games, Tetris and NBCUniversal.

For more information on the Official Closing Party at Licensing Expo please visit LicensingExpo.com.

Thomas & Friends Autistic friendly clothing launches at Tesco

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.

BBC Earth and Zynga announce new Words With Friends game

BBC Earth has partnered with video game developer Zynga for a new crossword puzzle-style game inspired by BBC’s Mammals series, set to arrive this spring.

BBC Earth and Zynga have announced a collaboration for an in-game integration inspired by stories in the new landmark series, Mammals, from BBC Studios’ Natural History Unit and Zynga’s interactive gaming franchise, Words With Friends.

Twenty years after Life of Mammals, the major new BBC series offers fascinating insights into creatures from the tiny Etruscan shrew to the giant blue whale. The Mammals series will reveal how their incredible adaptability, unrivalled intelligence and unique sociability have all contributed to their remarkable rise.

Words With Friends 2 is a free-to-play mobile app and online multiplayer word game, where players take turns building words in a crossword puzzle style. Words With Friends is easy to learn and can help strengthen vocabulary knowledge.

Words with Friends 2 will feature a Mammals Word of the Day Take Over in the UK on 27th March and 14th April.

This summer, with the expansion of the broadcast of Mammals in additional countries, players can look forward to more playful game integrations, emphasising the unique capability of animals adapting and thriving in their surroundings. The word game integrations will give players an inside look at the world of Mammals through custom in-game challenges and rewards.

Scott Alexander, Mammals series producer from BBC Studios Natural History Unit, said: “We are delighted to partner with Zynga on the Words With Friends game and bring our content to a new audience across the globe, while giving players the opportunity to interact with stories inspired by the series through game play in a fun and educational way.”

“We are very excited to celebrate the premiere of BBC Studios’ Mammals and to bring this iconic series to our Words With Friends community worldwide,” commented Yaron Leyvand, executive VP of Games at Zynga.

Launched in 2009, Words With Friends has grown from a popular mobile game to a global pop culture sensation. The franchise has expanded to new platforms such as Facebook Messenger, launched a hit sequel with Words With Friends 2 and brought innovative new ways for people around the world to play.

Mammals is a 6 x 60’ series made by BBC Studios Natural History Unit. It will air on BBC One and iPlayer this spring.

Word of the Day Take Over with Mammals will be available on the Words With Friends free to play mobile app on 27th March.

DreamWorks and Nutriburst partner on Trolls kids’ vitamins

Inspired by Trolls characters Poppy, Branch and Tiny Diamond, the new Nutriburst Kids’ Trolls Vitamins range is available in three vibrant gummy options.

Nutriburst has introduced its latest range, Nutriburst Kids’ Trolls Vitamins, based upon the beloved DreamWorks Animation franchise.

This vibrant range of kids vitamin gummies has been tailored to nurture the health, growth and overall development of children, redefining the way kids consume essential nutrients while also combining health and fun via a collaboration with Trolls, following DreamWorks Animation’s release of Trolls Band Together.

Specially designed for children aged four and above, Nutriburst Kids’ Vitamins are vegan, Halal- and Kosher-permitted, sugar-free and crafted to an easy-to-chew formula. Adults with a sweet tooth are also more than welcome to enjoy the gummies.

There are three Trolls gummies to choose from:

  • Kids’ Vitamin D3 & Calcium
  • Kids’ Immunity, with D3, C and black elderberry extract
  • Kids’ Multivitamin, with 13 essential nutrients including C, D, iron and iodine.

Out now, Trolls Band Together sees Poppy (Anna Kendrick) and Branch (Justin Timberlake) return for an all-new chapter. With the now-couple growing closer, Poppy discovers Branch was once a member of BroZone, her favourite boyband, along with his four brothers: Floyd (Golden Globe nominee Troye Sivan), John Dory (Eric Andre), Spruce (Grammy winner Daveed Diggs) and Clay (Grammy winner Kid Cudi). The band broke up when Branch was young, and the brothers haven’t seen each other since.

When Floyd is kidnapped by a pair of nefarious pop-star villains – Velvet (Amy Schumer) and Veneer (Grammy winner and Tony nominee Andrew Rannells) – Branch and Poppy must embark on an emotional journey to reunite the brothers and save Floyd from a fate worse than pop-culture obscurity.

Filled with new and classic pop hits, a dazzling cast of musical superstars and comedic powerhouses, and a host of new characters, Trolls Band Together is a feast for the musical senses.

A dog’s dinner? Home Chef partners with Bluey

From today, families will be able to order a variety of Bluey-themed Home Chef recipes kids will love, such as Bandit and Chilli’s Chicken Soup, packaged inside interactive boxes.

Home Chef has announced a four-week partnership with BBC Studios for the Emmy Award-winning animated series Bluey, starting today. The collaboration brings the magic of Bluey to Home Chef’s one-of-a-kind Family Menu, which makes mealtime more convenient, approachable and enjoyable for families with kids.

“Partnering with Bluey is a celebration of the happiness and quality time that defines both Bluey and Home Chef,” says Raquel Brown, brand director at Home Chef. “Through this partnership, we aim to turn every meal into a moment of shared delight and make family mealtime truly special.”

Starting today, customers can place their orders for the Bluey-themed recipes that will change weekly throughout the month. To enhance the experience, customers who choose a Bluey inspired meal will find a surprise Bluey toy inside their box – with a different collectible toy every week that fans everywhere are sure to love.* In addition, all Family Menu meals will arrive in a special interactive box all month long.

Menu offerings include:

  • Turkey and Bean Chilli by Chilli with cheese and tortilla strips
  • Bandit and Chilli’s Chicken Soup with carrots and potatoes
  • Bingo’s ‘Not Too Spicy’ Takeaway Salmon with orange glaze, sesame green beans, and rice
  • The Pizza Girls’ Garlic Parmesan Sausage Pizza with mozzarella and mushrooms
  • Bandit’s Takeaway Pork Egg Roll in a Bowl with rice, red peppers, and green onions

Available on Disney+, Disney Junior, and Disney Channel, Bluey was the No. 2 most-streamed programme across all audiences in the US in 2023, according to Nielsen. New episodes will premiere in April, including a special extended episode, The Sign, on 14th April. If ordered by 29th March, meals will arrive just in time for families to make before watching the extra-long episode of the global hit TV show.

For more information on the Home Chef and Bluey partnership, please visit homechef.com/bluey or follow Home Chef on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.