Italian production company Studio Bozzetto signs UK based consultancy and agency Lightbulb to develop the licensing and CP programme for CBeebies’ The Game Catchers. 

Milan-based production company Studio Bozzetto, with the support of Italian licensing consultancy VLM Licensing & Consulting, has appointed UK licensing consultancy and agency Lightbulb Licensing to develop the consumer products programme for the upcoming CBeebies show The Game Catchers. The news follows recent confirmation of Zodiak Kids and Family Distribution having picked up TV sales rights worldwide.

The show, a Studio Bozzetto and Sphere Animation co-production, follows a team of five unique friends who come together on a series of interstellar adventures to explore fantastic planets, playing, learning, and collecting games along the way. Nina, Boxy, Pigi, Dino and Kate are led by a retired Game Catcher, Mr. Moustache, who operates The Game Machine on planet Flossy. The games are collected and turned into Game-Spheres to form a huge library of play.

“From the moment I saw The Game Catchers artwork I was hooked,” commented Lightbulb Licensing managing director and founder, Susan Bolsover. “The bold 2D animation and colourful characters felt fresh and fun and I loved the idea of helping younger viewers learn through recognisable games and play. Setting the series amongst a world of fantastical planets and creatures means there is always scope to explore with something fun to find on every adventure. The quirky nature of the characters and the planets really appealed to me and with 52 x 7.5-minute episodes due to launch on CBeebies this autumn and a second season in production, there is certainly a lot of great content for kids to enjoy.”

“We’re super excited about teaming up with Lightbulb Licensing,” added Pietro Pinetti, CEO of Studio Bozzetto and co-producer of The Game Catchers with Canada’s Sphere Animation. “Right now, things are buzzing with the upcoming autumn premiere on CBeebies, and our worldwide distribution plans are kicking into high gear. Meanwhile, our awesome creative team is hard at work designing the new season. We totally believe in The Game Catchers’ potential for Licensing & Merchandising – from its cool characters and awesome plot to its fantastic props, it’s got all the ingredients for success. We can’t wait to see the fantastic results.”

Lightbulb Licensing will focus on toys, apparel and publishing in the first instance, making full use of the comprehensive, colourful style guide that showcases the key characters, planets, and vehicles as well as a host of fun and quirky secondary characters that the heroes meet on their adventures.