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UFG and Paul Frank announce footwear licensing agreement

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Unlimited Footwear Group (UFG) has announced a new strategic licensing partnership with Paul Frank to design, produce, market and distribute Paul Frank-branded footwear in 50 countries, including the entire European Union, Eastern Europe, the United Kingdom, Switzerland and Scandinavia.

Paul Frank began in 1995 in a small Huntington Beach garage when Paul Frank himself began sewing custom wallets as gifts for his friends, featuring characters with names like Julius and Skurvy. These adorable characters rapidly became pop culture icons, known and loved worldwide by many generations.

The UFG footwear collections will embody Paul Frank’s youthful, fresh, fun and accessible approach with a spark of humour. The first Paul Frank footwear collection for men, women and kids is scheduled to launch in spring/summer 2023.

“UFG is excited to add yet another great brand to its licensing portfolio,” says Bart van Helvoirt, CEO Unlimited Footwear Group. “We look forward to working closely with the Paul Frank team on many fun footwear collections to come. The 30-plus years of experience in the footwear industry and international focus that UFG brings to the table make a perfect fit for the Paul Frank brand. We look forward to our contribution of further international growth and brand awareness of the Paul Frank brand ”

Michael Puglisi, Futurity Brands Licensing Manager, adds: “Futurity Brands and the Paul Frank team are equally excited to partner with UFG. As part of our rebuild and positioning strategy, it is important for us align with strong partners like UFG. We look forward to growing the category of footwear for the Paul Frank brand alongside the experienced UFG team.”

 The Heritage Footwear Company, part of Unlimited Footwear Group, will manage the footwear collections for Paul Frank. The Heritage Footwear Company plans to launch two collections a year at a mid-price level and will distribute through its international sales network of both multi-brand fashion and sports retail and through wholesale and various online platforms.

UFG’s dedicated Paul Frank team will operate from Utrecht, the Netherlands, through UFG’s The Heritage Footwear Company division.

 

MGM announces winners of the first annual MGM Consumer Products Leo Awards

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MGM has announced the winners of the first annual MGM Consumer Products Leo Awards. The Awards, introduced this year, honour MGM’s best-in-class licensees from around the world across a variety of categories released in the 2021 calendar year. The winners were announced during a special evening event hosted by MGM at the Mandalay Bay hotel in Las Vegas.

Robert Marick, Executive Vice President of Global Consumer Products and Experiences, says: “We’ve been privileged to have the opportunity to work with so many excellent licensees, retailers and licensing agents, and we wanted to celebrate these companies and their wonderful work. By establishing the MGM Consumer Products Leo Awards, we were able to not only honour our great licensees and agents, but also put the spotlight on their stellar creativity.”

Earlier this year, MGM Consumer Products agents, licensees and MGM Consumer Products staff were invited to submit nominations across a number of categories. The finalists were then voted on by the MGM Global Consumer Products & Experiences team. The 2022 category winners and nominees were:

Best Licensed Product – Digital Edition

Winner: Addams Family Mansion Mayhem Multi-Player Game (Outright Games Ltd.)

Other Nominees: The Rocky Tour Experience (House of Dalton); Rocky/Vikings/Pink Panther/RoboCop/Legally Blonde Mobile Device and Digital Watchface Themes (Butterfly-Effected GmbH)

Best Collaboration

Winner: Bathing Ape x Pink Panther Apparel & Accessories (Nowhere Company Ltd./BAPE/ Agent: IMG Japan)

Other Nominees: ELF SAK x Addams Family Apparel and Accessories (Nanjing Xinghu Group Co., Ltd./ Agent: IMG Shanghai); Diadora x Rocky Footwear (Foot Locker)

Best Marketing and Promotion Initiative

Winner: Pink Panther x CIMA Breast Cancer Awareness Apparel Collection for the Entire Family, licensed to Multi-Retailers, Licensees, Influencers and Charity Agent: Tycoon Enterprises)

Other Nominees: Moyo x Pink Panther Frozen Yogurt Promotion (Ubongo Sapi de C.V./ Agent: Tycoon Enterprises); Priscilla, Queen of the Desert Yes+ad campaign-Licensed Advertising Israel (Agent: Yes/Loud and Clear Ltd)

Best Retail Program

Winner: Killer Klowns Shorty Animatronic-A Collection (Spirit Halloween Stores)

Other Nominees: Diadora x Rocky Footwear (Foot Locker); Miss Sixty x Pink Panther DTR (Shanghai Jiangge Culture Comm. Co. Ltd./ Agent: IMG Shanghai)

Most Innovative Product

Winner: The Rocky Tour Experience (House of Dalton)

Other Nominees: Killer Klowns Vinyl Figures-Stylized (Funko); Pink Panther x CIMA Apparel Collection for the Entire Family.  Multi-Retailers, Licensees, Influencers, and Charity (Breast Cancer Awareness Campaign 2021/Agent: Tycoon Enterprises)

Best Licensed Product

Winner: Killer Klowns Vinyl Figure—Stylized (Funko)

Other Nominees: Pink Panther Toys & Collectibles (Beijing Pop Mart Cultural & Creative Co., Ltd./ Agent: IMG Shanghai); Robocop Build-up Model Series (De Agostini Collectibles / Agent: Rocket Licensing); Killer Klowns Apparel Tees (Goodie Two Sleeves, LLC); Pink Panther Pantera Rosa Pastry (Bimbo Donuts Iberia S.A.U./ Agent: WB CPLG Spain)

Agent of the Year

Winner: Tycoon Enterprises

Other Nominees: Wildbrain CPLG; IMG Licensing

Licensee of the Year

Winner: Killer Klowns Shorty Animatronic (Spirit Halloween Stores)

Other Nominees: Pink Panther Pantera Rosa Pantry (Bimbo Donuts Iberia S.A.U/ Agent: WB CPLG Spain); Zara x Pink Panther Apparel & Accessory Collection (Industria de Diseño Textil S.A. (Zara Brand)/ Agent: WB CPLG Spain); Multi-Properties Vinyl Figures-Stylized (Funko)

BlackMilk to release Avatar: The Last Airbender collection

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Fans of Avatar: The Last Airbender and The Legend of Korra will be able to showcase their love for the two hit animated series with BlackMilk Clothing’s latest collection.

BlackMilk Clothing is well known for its unique licensed collaborations, and is excited to work with Nickelodeon for the first time on bringing these beloved stories to life on a huge variety of styles, including dresses, leggings, overalls, jackets, accessories and unisex pieces.

Stand-out styles in the 43-piece collection include overalls featuring beloved sky bison Appa with a unique bison horn detail on the straps, plus glow-in-the-dark tees and uniquely shaped hoodies featuring each of the Avatar world’s elemental tribes. Alongside BlackMilk’s signature bold printed styles, the collection includes designer pieces made with specially created flocked, burned velvet and foil fabrics featuring element motifs – perfect for those who want a more subtle nod to the series.

Avatar x BlackMilk will be available for purchase at 7am (AEST) 31 May. The collection lookbook can now be viewed on the BlackMilk website.

 

Moonbug acquires One Animation, the studio behind Emmy-nominated Oddbods

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Moonbug Entertainment, a part of Candle Media, has announced the acquisition of One Animation, a Singapore-based media company and production studio. The company is best known for creating and producing the hugely popular, three-time Emmy nominated series Oddbods, an action-packed, non-dialogue animated show loved by children around the world.

Moonbug will look to expand Oddbods’ global distribution footprint and grow the brand into new formats, products and experiences.

“We continue on our strategy to find the best kids shows in the world and bring them into our portfolio,” says Renè Rechtman, Moonbug Entertainment co-founder and CEO. “One Animation’s creative storytelling and international appeal provide us with even stronger credentials as we continue on our journey to be the leading digital-first kids’ entertainment company in the world.”

“One Animation is a fantastic addition, not only for its successful franchises, but also for its capabilities and scale, and the opportunity to further enhance a dynamic Singapore-based hub for Moonbug as a rapidly growing family entertainment powerhouse,” Kevin Mayer and Tom Staggs, Co-Chairman and Co-CEO’s of Candle Media, said in a joint statement.

The acquisition of One Animation, the second acquisition Moonbug has made since becoming part of Candle Media, is the next step as Moonbug continues to expand globally as well as across Asia. Moonbug already has an established hub based in Singapore and is working with major partners across the region on both distribution, licensing and merchandising and live events.

“We are delighted to be part of the Moonbug family, which we see as the natural next step in growing our brands into global franchises,” says Sashim Parmanand, One Animation CEO. “Moonbug’s commitment to Singapore as its Asia hub will further bolster the industry and we look forward to collaborating with Moonbug on growth across the region.”

Founded in Singapore in 2008, One Animation is an award-winning 3D animation studio and IP owner. One Animation’s biggest hit, Oddbods, is a hilarious comedy show featuring the adventures of seven very individual and quirky friends as they survive the perils of everyday life, where ordinary situations spiral into extraordinary events.

Oddbods is a three-time Emmy nominated global phenomenon broadcast in over 180 countries around the globe. Oddbods YouTube channels have amassed a staggering 24B total views, 32M subscribers and have on average 350m monthly views. The show is also broadcast on major networks around the world including Disney, Cartoon Network, Nickelodeon, Netflix and Amazon. In 2018, Oddbods received its second Emmy nomination in a row, the first ever property to do so in its category.

Post-acquisition, One Animation’s team will join Moonbug, but they will remain in Singapore and continue developing and producing the shows they are currently working on.

For more information on Moonbug, visit www.moonbug.com.

Licensing International unveils Excellence Awards winners

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The winners of the 2022 Licensing International Excellence Awards have been unveiled in a ceremony that brought together industry executives from around the world to celebrate the best of the global licensing industry.

The 25 award winners were selected from 165 finalists from around the world. More than 800 entries were received, narrowed down by an expert global judging panel and voted on by members of the licensing industry at large.

This year’s Excellence Awards were hosted by Cakewalk Entertainment founder and CEO George Leon. The awards were presented by Alifish, InSpirit Designs, Jazwares, and participants in Licensing International’s Accelerator Program, including Bedrock Collectibles, Holy Joe, LIBREX, Park Star Media, and Somos Arte.

The awards honour innovation and creativity in the way brands use licensing to further their goals, how licensees develop and bring those products to market, and how retailers creatively spotlight licenses on their shelves. This year’s ceremony saw the return of the Best Location-Based Entertainment award, recognising innovation across location-based brand extensions following significant lockdowns. Gamepath Entertainment took home the LBE trophy for the Monopoly Lifesized immersive experience in London.

“It’s inspiring to see the quality of work produced by the licensing industry and it was incredible to be able to celebrate those successes together in person,” says Maura Regan, President of Licensing International. “The Licensing International Excellence Awards are a testament to the power of brands and to the power of licensing to launch products and programmes with lasting appeal.”

The 2022 Licensing International Excellence Awards winners are:

BEST LICENSED PRODUCTS

Apparel or Accessory for a Corporate Brand – BMW M Motorsport line by Puma

Apparel or Accessory for an Entertainment Property – The Legend of Zelda line by BlackMilk

Appliances, Housewares, Electronics for a Corporate Brand – Xbox fridge by Ukonic

Appliances, Housewares, Electronics for an Entertainment Property – Sesame Street collaboration by Tonies

Digital: Apps, Software, Video Games, NFTs – Forever 21 Shop City experience by Virtual Brand Group

Food or Beverage for a Corporate Brand – Louvre ice cream by Häagen-Dazs

Food or Beverage for an Entertainment Property – Harry Potter mooncakes by Awfully Chocolate

Health and Beauty Aids – Friends bath & beauty line by Mad Beauty

Home Décor – LEGO wooden home décor by Room Copenhagen

Publishing, Social Expression – The Beatles advent calendar by Eaglemoss

Toys, Games, Novelties (ages 0-8) – Batman Batcave playset by Spin Master

Toys, Games, Novelties (ages 8+) – adidas Originals Superstar model by LEGO

BEST LICENSED BRANDS

Corporate Brand – BMW by BMW Group

Entertainment, Character, Toy Brand (Animated) – CoComelon by Moonbug Entertainment

Food, Beverage, Restaurant – Coca-Cola, Hi-C & Sprite by The Coca-Cola Company

Lifestyle: Art, Design, Celebrity, Fashion – Amy Winehouse by MDR Brand Management

Live Action Entertainment – Ghostbusters by Sony Pictures
Museum, Art, Design – V&A by The Victoria and Albert Museum

Sports, Collegiate – Formula 1 by CAA Global

OTHER AWARDS

Best Licensing Agency – Beanstalk

Best Licensed Collaboration – The Simpsons x Balenciaga

Best Licensed Promotion – Rovio & Born Licensing for GEICO’s “Angry Bird Problem?”

Best Location-Based Entertainment – Monopoly Lifesized by Gamepath Entertainment

Best Retailer (Corporate, Lifestyle, Fashion, Sports Initiative) – BoxLunch for McDonald’s

Best Retailer (Entertainment, Character Brand) – Bloomingdale’s for Space Jam: A New Legacy   

Boat Rocker’s ‘Dino Ranch’ roars onto the live stage

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Independent integrated global entertainment company Boat Rocker has signed deals with leading live entertainment producers Fierylight and Terrapin Station Entertainment to bring a stage version of its top-rated preschool show Dino Ranch to theatres across North America and the UK and Eire. 

A unique mix of two favourite preschool passions – dinosaurs and ranchers – Dino Ranch has been a monster hit since launching in January 2021 on Disney Junior, Disney Now and subsequently on Disney+ in the U.S. and the UK. The show also hit the screen on Tiny Pop last month and now fans can expect to experience the thrilling adventures of ranch life on-stage in a fast-paced, exciting live show. 

Expected to launch in 2023, Fierylight and Terrapin Station Entertainment – a division of Sony Music Entertainment – are combining forces to produce the show for the U.S. and Canadian markets followed by the UK and Eire.  The companies each have vast experience producing and directing top rated family-centric events and are at the forefront of helping to bring live experiences back to the world.  The script is being written by acclaimed writers Richard and Matt Lewis and the tour will be booked in North America by Mario Tirado at CAA. 

Kate Schlomann, EVP Brand Management & Content Marketing, Boat Rocker, says: “We are delighted to partner up with Fierylight and Terrapin Station, two market leaders in producing exciting and engaging live family shows. We are working closely with them to create a thrilling experience that reflects the values of Dino Ranch – a strong family bond, teamwork, diversity, friendship and of course exciting Dino-driven adventures in the great outdoors – and will allow fans to engage even more closely with their favourite show.”

Richard Lewis, Fierylight CEO, says: “We absolutely love Dino Ranch’s unique and imaginative mix of dinosaurs and ranchers and can’t wait to get to work with Boat Rocker to recreate its free-range, roping ’n’ riding, dinosaur-driven fun on stage. It’s going to make for a really fresh and exciting show, with lots of audience participation that will ensure it’s unlike anything else out there.”

Jonathan Shank, Terrapin Station Entertainment CEO and tour producer, adds: “Dino Ranch has all the elements to be as huge a hit on stage as it is on screen – a great cast, with the wonderful characters in the Cassidy family and of course their amazing Dino buddies; a fabulous ranch setting; fast-paced, fun adventure stories to thrill its young audience and, most importantly, a connection with the audience. We look forward to producing an epic interactive experience for the whole family to enjoy.”

Dino Ranch premiered in January on CBC and CBC Gem (Canada) and on Disney Junior and DisneyNOW in the U.S., launching as the #1 U.S. cable series among Kids 2-5, and has continued to be a ratings smash hit since launch. The series debuted in the UK and Australia on Disney+ in April 2021 and has rolled out internationally in other territories across the year. A second series is currently in production and Dino Ranch is due to ride back onto Disney channels in the US and LatAm in 2022 and internationally in 2023.

Dino Ranch is produced by Boat Rocker Studios and Industrial Brothers and created by Creative Director and Co-Founder of Industrial Brothers, Matthew Fernandes. Boat Rocker manages the global content distribution and consumer products programme for the franchise. 

Audi partners with Beanstalk to drive into new categories

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Audi, the German automotive manufacturer of premium vehicles, has appointed global brand licensing extension agency Beanstalk to extend the Audi brand into new lifestyle, technology and mobility products.

Audi is a leader in the premium automotive industry. Through its precision-engineered vehicles, high build quality and progressive design, all guided by technology, “Vorsprung durch Technik”, the brand has developed a global base of passionate customers.

Beanstalk will work with Audi to extend the brand across a range of lifestyle, technology and mobility categories globally, incorporating the brand’s technical and design excellence, and supporting Audi’s sustainability goals. Audi brand extensions will inspire both new and existing customers to deepen their brand love for the iconic car brand through the creation of meaningful and sophisticated products.

Allison Ames, President and CEO of Beanstalk, says: “We are truly honoured to be partnering with Audi. It is a progressive and premium brand with an iconic portfolio of trademarks that are recognised around the world. Audi’s reputation for technical excellence and carefully conceived human-centric design makes it an ideal brand to create innovative and inspiring new brand extensions. The global Beanstalk team is excited to work alongside Audi to provide inventive products that are unmistakably Audi.”

“We are really looking forward to welcoming Beanstalk as our new licensing agency for Audi,” says Marcus Hinderer, Director Audi Collection and Licensing. “Together with Beanstalk we will extend the Audi licensing programme based on our unique Audi brand values. Our aim is to transfer the Audi brand identity into sophisticated licensed products and to offer Audi customers and fans an exceptional brand experience beyond our cars.”

Histrionic Productions to take Peter Rabbit immersive experience on the road

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Continuing the 120th birthday celebrations for Beatrix Potter’s beloved Peter Rabbit, Histrionic Productions has partnered with The World of Peter Rabbit – developed under licence from Penguin Ventures on behalf of Frederick Warne & Co. (brand owners and part of Penguin Random House UK) – for at least two years of live immersive experiences across the UK.

Histrionic Productions, the company behind last year’s acclaimed pilot event ‘Autumn Treasure Hunt with Percy The Park Keeper’ at Chiswick House & Gardens and the upcoming ‘Paddington Marmalade Messiness’ in Dalkeith Country Park, opened bookings for its ‘Peter Rabbit Garden Adventure – a live immersive experience’ on 19 May, and will open to guests from 6 July–3 September 2022 at Blenheim Palace in Oxfordshire.

Families attending the event are encouraged to help rescue Peter Rabbit from ending up in Mr McGregor’s rabbit pie. This is the first time Peter Rabbit has appeared live in a walled garden in this way, and also marks a first for World Heritage Site Blenheim Palace, which has allowed unprecedented access to areas of the estate.

The multi-year deal allows Histrionic Productions to tour The Peter Rabbit Garden Adventure experience across the UK, bringing Peter Rabbit, Squirrel Nutkin, Mrs. Tiggy-Winkle and other beloved characters to various locations, providing innovative entertainment for adults and children alike.

Adam McKenzie Wylie, founder, Histrionic Productions, says: “We are honoured to be the first company to unveil the magic of Beatrix Potter, live in a beautiful walled garden setting, and Blenheim Palace provides the perfect backdrop to launch our new immersive experience in this special anniversary year. We expect families will be captivated by both the live performance and the beautiful set pieces as they literally hop into the pages of this classic family tale.”

 ​​Thomas Merrington, Creative Director Penguin Ventures, says: “We are so excited to be bringing The World of Peter Rabbit to life in an outdoor setting with Histrionic Productions during the 120th birthday year of Peter Rabbit. What better location to launch than the beautiful grounds of Blenheim Palace. Families will be able to engage with the characters in the natural world, as Beatrix herself would have first imagined them. This is a wonderful extension of our Grow With Peter Rabbit birthday campaign, which celebrates the importance of gardens and spending time in nature.”

For tickets, visit peterrabbitgardenadventure.com 

King Features builds momentum for Popeye and Olive Oyl with expansion into new territories

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King Features Syndicate, a unit of Hearst and home to some of the world’s most popular entertainment characters, today announced expansion into new territories, Benelux, India and the Middle East, for its iconic comic characters Popeye and Olive Oyl.

Building upon its existing global licensing programme, brand owner King Features has signed new agents to support growth in the territories, including J&M Brands (Benelux), WildBrain CPLG (Middle East), and Black White & Orange (India).

Affinity for Popeye and Olive Oyl continues to skyrocket across Europe, and now J&M Brands will continue to grow the beloved characters’ presence in Benelux, which is comprised of the Netherlands, Belgium, and Luxembourg. J&M Brands will focus on introducing new apparel, collabs, food, health and beauty, and sustainable partnerships that align with the brand and resonate with European audiences. This year, they will introduce two new eco-conscious Popeye partnerships. School of Life Projects (Netherlands) incorporates materials like wool, a renewable fibre source, into their collections to preserve traditional artisan crafts, and apparel brand, A-Dam (Netherlands), develops their garments using recycled and organic materials.

In the Middle East, WildBrain CPLG is expanding Popeye and Olive Oyl’s reach in new territories including Bahrain, Kuwait, Lebanon, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia and United Arab Emirates with fashion retailer Riva Fashion and product distributor Trucare FZC.

Continuing growth for the characters in India, Black White Orange Brands recently brokered a deal with Universal Sportsbiz Pvt. Ltd. for a successful Popeye collaboration with popular Indian youth fashion and apparel brand, WROGN. WROGN was co-created by Indian cricket star, Virat Kohli, who served as the face of the Popeye campaign. The Popeye x WROGN collection includes a range of 28 t-shirts featuring classic poses of the spinach-eating sailor paired with the graphic WROGN logo.

“We’re tremendously proud of the growth and success that the Popeye brand has experienced globally and look forward to the brand’s continued expansion with our newest international agents and partners. There’s something extraordinary about the iconic Popeye and his universe that truly transcends across all cultures,” says Carla Silva, VP/GM, global head of licensing, King Features.

King Features’ expansion into new territories comes on the heels of several successful Popeye initiatives, including apparel collections from ICEBERG, Moncler, Intimissimi Uomo and Mey, NFTs from UNDONE and MADWorld, along with sustainability-focused partnerships with the Popeye Sail Club powered Pick a Pier in partnership with Blue Flag, and an Angry Birds Friends x Popeye tournament in support of ocean clean-up organisation, The SeaCleaners.

TheSoul Publishing names Retail Monster as U.S. licensing agent for 5-Minute Crafts

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Award-winning global digital studio TheSoul Publishing has announced a partnership with brand extension specialist Retail Monster, to develop licensing and retail programmes around its flagship franchise, 5-Minute Crafts.

Known around the globe for its positive, fun and quirky crafts, 5-Minute Crafts is the world’s top DIY brand and the only channel to consistently rank among the top 10 on both YouTube and Facebook. Igniting a creative spark on a daily basis by offering viewers clever solutions to everyday problems, 5-Minute Crafts boasts an audience of 350M+ YouTube combined subscribers, 300M+ Facebook combined followers, 55M+ Instagram subscribers and 25M+ TikTok combined followers.

“As TheSoul Publishing premieres at Licensing Expo for the first time ever, we are incredibly excited to announce our collaboration with Retail Monster, a leader in the consumer product space. They continuously elevate brands with compelling retail and licensing opportunities, and we know they will bring an innovative and fun approach to our flagship brand, 5-Minute Crafts,” says Ines Pacheco, Director of Licensing at TheSoul Publishing. “With successful touch points to our audience already established through digital and streaming video, podcasting, music and more, licensing programmes will now further connect TheSoul to our fans and develop our suite of brands into household names.”

“We are thrilled to be working in partnership with TheSoul Publishing on their immensely popular brand 5-Minute Crafts,” says Michael Connolly, Founder of Retail Monster LLC. “There is an incredible opportunity to connect with U.S. consumers at retail by creating compelling and tangible products which replicate the fun DIY experience of this brand.”

Known as the “powerhouse of positivity”, TheSoul Publishing is diving into the merchandising world as it opens its doors to opportunity at the 2022 Las Vegas Licensing Expo. With over one billion followers and subscribers across social media, the digital studio will be exploring potential licensing partnerships around the studio’s brand portfolio including 5-Minute Crafts, 123 GO!, Baby Zoo, Avocado Couple, La La Life, Polar and more.

TheSoul Publishing has garnered numerous accolades including the ‘Digital Studio of the Year’ at the 2021 Digiday Video & TV Awards, a 2021 Drum Award win, a 2021 Webby Award nomination for 5-Minute Crafts, seven Shorty Award nominations, a pair of 2022 Digiday Video & TV Award nominations including ‘Best Use of YouTube’, and a 2022 Webby Honoree for ‘Best Overall Social Presence in Media/Entertainment’.

For further information about TheSoul Publishing visit the website.