Tag Archives: news

MARKET introduces Guns N’ Roses x Smiley collaboration

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LA-based brand MARKET has announced the release of a unisex capsule collection in collaboration with Guns N’ Roses, The Smiley Company and Bravado. 
As a Los Angeles-based brand, MARKET seized the opportunity to honour Guns N’ Roses nearly 40 years after the band had its debut performance at the storied Troubadour in Los Angeles.
In order to properly pay homage to the heritage of Guns N’ Roses, the MARKET team sourced vintage denim from the 1980s and 1990s for the hero pieces of the collection. The team upcycled denim jeans and jackets of the time with new custom patches and airbrushed-style graphics, referencing the bad boy aesthetic that defines Guns N’ Roses and their music.
In addition to the vintage denim pieces, the collection features five apparel styles and a trucker hat, which draw inspiration from the iconic ‘Appetite for Destruction’ album cover and the electricity that Guns N’ Roses brought to rock ’n’ roll.
“The way in which Guns N’ Roses relentlessly stood for freedom of expression and creativity – at all costs – has always been an inspiration to me and to people around the world,” says creative director and founder of MARKET, Mike Cherman.
“The no-holds-barred attitude of Guns N’ Roses resonates with our approach to collaborations and design, so we were extremely excited to have the opportunity to fuse the rebellious energy of Guns N’ Roses with the irreverent and wacky world of MARKET and the irresistible spirit of our longtime partner SMILEY.”
This limited-edition collection will be available worldwide through MARKET’s website, ranging in price from $45 – $200 USD, in sizing XS-XXL.

New Hot Wheels Munchy Play plate set to take mealtimes up a gear

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Munchy Play is today launching the Hot Wheels Car Plate – the first of its kind to feature a built-in racetrack.

Kids can race their cars around the signature orange Hot Wheels track, dodging obstacles along the way, before taking a pit stop to ‘refuel’. The plate features a 4cm track around its perimeter, which fits all Hot Wheels diecast cars.

Available exclusively in the UK and Ireland, the tableware starts from £15.99 and is available at munchyplay.com, Amazon, and a number of outlets.

Sophia Procter, founder and CEO of Munchy Play, says: “We are thrilled to launch our exciting new Car Plate with Hot Wheels in the driving seat! Designed to bring fun to mealtimes, it’s also a real sanity-saver for parents too. Following the success of our Thomas & Friends train plate collection, it was a natural choice to partner with Mattel again. I know children will love this design as much as we do.”

Munchy Play has received several industry awards for its innovative track plates and was recently named London Start-up Business of the Year by the Federation of Small Business.

Jon Spalding, Mattel Head of UK Consumer Products, says: “Hot Wheels is all about igniting the challenger spirit, and this fun Car Plate certainly promises to rev-up dinner time by tapping into children’s universal love of Hot Wheels and imaginative car play. We are excited to collaborate with Munchy Play again and extend our partnership on this innovative product.”

Suitable from 6+ months, Munchy Play tableware is easy to clean, stack and store. The high sides made it easier for little ones scoop up food, while the sturdy non-slip base helps prevents accidents. Made in Britain using polypropylene, the plates are free of BPA, PVC, and melamine. With zero-single-use plastic, both plate and packaging can be recycled.

For more information, visit munchyplay.com and hotwheels.com.

 

New Hot Wheels Munchy Play plate set to take mealtimes up a gear

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Munchy Play is today launching the Hot Wheels Car Plate – the first of its kind to feature a built-in racetrack.

Kids can race their cars around the signature orange Hot Wheels track, dodging obstacles along the way, before taking a pit stop to ‘refuel’. The plate features a 4cm track around its perimeter, which fits all Hot Wheels diecast cars.

Available exclusively in the UK and Ireland, the tableware starts from £15.99 and is available at munchyplay.com, Amazon, and a number of outlets.

Sophia Procter, founder and CEO of Munchy Play, says: “We are thrilled to launch our exciting new Car Plate with Hot Wheels in the driving seat! Designed to bring fun to mealtimes, it’s also a real sanity-saver for parents too. Following the success of our Thomas & Friends train plate collection, it was a natural choice to partner with Mattel again. I know children will love this design as much as we do.”

Munchy Play has received several industry awards for its innovative track plates and was recently named London Start-up Business of the Year by the Federation of Small Business.

Jon Spalding, Mattel Head of UK Consumer Products, says: “Hot Wheels is all about igniting the challenger spirit, and this fun Car Plate certainly promises to rev-up dinner time by tapping into children’s universal love of Hot Wheels and imaginative car play. We are excited to collaborate with Munchy Play again and extend our partnership on this innovative product.”

Suitable from 6+ months, Munchy Play tableware is easy to clean, stack and store. The high sides made it easier for little ones scoop up food, while the sturdy non-slip base helps prevents accidents. Made in Britain using polypropylene, the plates are free of BPA, PVC, and melamine. With zero-single-use plastic, both plate and packaging can be recycled.

For more information, visit munchyplay.com and hotwheels.com.

 

Ulysses Press to publish cookbooks based on Asmodee board games CATAN and Ticket to Ride

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Asmodee Entertainment has announced a brand partnership with independent publisher Ulysses Press to create and release cookbooks based on the internationally popular and best selling board games CATAN and Ticket to Ride.

Scheduled for publication in spring and summer 2023 respectively, the hardcover cookbooks will each feature original recipes, full-colour photographs and striking layouts. Expanding on the worlds the gamers already know and love, the official CATAN and Ticket to Ride cookbooks will promise to take players on eating expeditions never before experienced.

Boasting a global fanbase, CATAN is available in 40+ languages and has sold more than 40 million units worldwide since it was first published in 1995. Distributed in 40 countries, Ticket to Ride is the world’s best-selling train game.

Ulysses Press Editorial Director Casie Vogel says: “We’re absolutely thrilled to be working with Asmodee Entertainment, CATAN, and Ticket to Ride. With our experience and track record of creating beautiful, pop culture-themed cookbooks, and the huge fandom behind these games (our staff included), we’re excited to create books that families and friends can enjoy all while bringing their favourite games to life through food.”

“This cooperation is something we wanted to do for a long time and I’m very excited that with the Ulysses team we found such a passionate partner,” says Asmodee Entertainment Licensing Manager Alexander Thieme. “Having seen the first ideas for the books I’m absolutely sure that fans of both gaming brands will love them. With tens of millions of active players in North America alone these books will find themselves in a great many kitchens and on a great many coffee tables before too long.”

The official CATAN cookbook (title and cover to be revealed) will be available for pre-order this autumn, and both books will be distributed by Simon & Schuster.

LEGO and Hasbro unite for first time for Transformers collab

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The LEGO Group and Hasbro have united for the first time to bring the iconic Transformers Autobot, Optimus Prime, to life in LEGO form – complete with alt mode.

The new LEGO Transformers Optimus Prime set is a tribute to the heroic Autobot leader with over 1,500 detailed LEGO pieces. Once assembled, the figure features 19 points of articulation that allow fans to convert from robot to truck alt mode and back again. This is one of the first times a LEGO set has been able to convert between two models, without the need to rebuild.

The new LEGO set will transport fans back to 1984 to when Transformers first exploded into popular culture with the original toy line and animated TV series. Modeled after the G1 Optimus Prime character, the new LEGO set includes remarkable attention to detail and features such as the ion blaster, Energon axe, an Energon Cube and the Autobot Matrix of Leadership which can be stored in the chest chamber.

“It has been an honour and a joy to work together with Hasbro to develop a LEGO version of Optimus Prime,” says Senior Designer at the LEGO Group, Joseph Patrick Kyde. “I am excited to see these two toy companies come together for the first time to celebrate the leader of the Autobots. Optimus Prime has become a pop culture symbol of courage, selflessness, and great leadership as well as an awesome toy that embodies the problem-solving and creativity skills that both companies value so much. It’s been a wonderful and challenging task to bring him to life using LEGO bricks, especially making sure that he can shift modes without disassembly and stay true to his signature look and style.”

Casey Collins, Head of Licensed Consumer Products and Business Development at Hasbro, adds: “We’re excited to bring two of the world’s greatest play and entertainment companies together to celebrate this larger-than-life, iconic character – Optimus Prime. We know fans everywhere will be thrilled by this collaboration as it enables fans and families of all ages to create memories as they work together to build the LEGO Transformers Optimus Prime.”

Once complete building this 1,508-piece model, fans can admire their build with pride by adding the display plaque to pay tribute to the iconic Transformers character.

The LEGO Transformers Optimus Prime set will be available globally from LEGO.com/optimus and in LEGO stores from June 1 priced at £149.99 / 169,99 USD/EUR.

Silvergate Media teams up with Tencent Video in a new landmark partnership

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Silvergate Media is joining forces with Tencent Video to bring its new animated series The Creature Cases to China.

Silvergate will also partner with Tencent Video on a full consumer products roll-out in China from 2023, to be led by toys and publishing.

The Creature Cases is an action, comedy and detective series animated by TeamTo that follows the adventures of a unique detective duo who specialise in solving animal mysteries. The first series, launched on Netflix on 12 April 2022, is soon to be released on Tencent Video, which will significantly expand the broadcast reach to families across China.

“The Creature Cases storylines have a vibrant, universal appeal and we’re excited that this new partnership with Tencent Video will bring the show to viewers in China,” says Ron Allen, EVP Commercial. “Tencent Video shares our passion for bringing audiences innovative children’s content and we look forward to showcasing the series on China’s leading VOD platform and building a broad consumer products programme.”

Selina She, Director of Kids’ IP Development and Programming Centre at Tencent Video, says: “We are delighted to get our paws on The Creature Cases and thrilled to be partnering with Silvergate Media on this dynamic new series. We deduce that its exotic mix of real-life fascinating facts from the amazing animal kingdom along with side-splitting, super-sleuthing detective antics will have broad appeal in China. We are excited to be launching the series in the territory shortly, followed by the start of our consumer products programme which will be full of animal wonder!”

In The Creature Cases, Sam Snow and Kit Casey are the lead agents of CLADE: the Covert League of Animal Detective Experts, who solve animal mysteries by exploring the habitats and behaviours of fascinating, sometimes bizarre creatures. Armed with top-secret intel from their miniature contacts, the Mice Squad, these brilliant animal sleuths travel a world populated exclusively by animals, solving mind-boggling animal mysteries that mix real zoological facts with wild detective action.

 

Moose Toys to create more Magic at Licensing Expo

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Moose Toys has found ‘magic’ in the licensing of its popular brands, and it is poised to do so again with Magic Mixies Mixlings, a collectible line based on global sales phenom Magic Mixies Magic Cauldron, as well as The Legend of Akedo, an action-packed line of collectibles that represents the toymaker’s biggest boys’ brand launch to date.

WildBrain CPLG, licensing agency for the two brands, will be hosting the toymaker at its booth (#E154) during the Licensing Show in Las Vegas, May 24-26, 2022, for vendors interested in partnering with the brands. WildBrain CPLG represents Magic Mixies Mixlings in the U.S. and Canada from its dedicated North America office; the company has the global licensing rights for The Legend of Akedo.

“We are looking to WildBrain CPLG to work its magic with both of these brands to create imaginative, clever products that incorporate the inherent brand personalities of Magic Mixies Mixlings and The Legend of Akedo,” says Menal McGrath, vice president, global licensing, Moose Toys. “We’re thinking outside the ‘cauldron’ for ways to incorporate the surprise and delight of Magic Mixies. For The Legend of Akedo, with its impressive array of collectible action figures and action-packed content that brings them to life, licensed products are the logical next step and something fans of the brand will be looking for Moose to bring to the experience.”

Magic Mixies Mixlings, a mesmerising line of more than 40 collectible figures, each with their own interactive wand and magic feature, will be supported by original content on the Moose TubeSquad YouTube channel. The 11-minute Mixlings mini movie debuts on May 13; two teasers were previously released. Additional episodes can be expected in June and throughout summer.

Working together, Moose and WildBrain CPLG will develop a range of products for Magic Mixies Mixlings that infuses innovation and real magic to continue the momentum and excitement of the Magic Mixies product, which was so successful it was the No. 1 item in Special Feature Plush in December and the Fall season and continued to be through March ’22 as per NPD. Mixies also was recognised as The Toy Foundation’s Creative Toy of the Year in 2021.

The Legend of Akedo, with its epic warrior figures, provides an expansive gallery of unique characters from which to draw ‘wild’ inspiration, including ninjas with swords, a teddy bear with a chainsaw and a big baby ruling with his gavel, as well as robots, gladiators, Vikings, dinosaurs and clowns. For both brands, the initial focus for the consumer products roll out will be on apparel, sleepwear, publishing, accessories and homeware categories.

“Moose Toys delivers incredibly imaginative toys, and we have the pleasure – and fun – to develop products that are complementary in style, form and function to the distinctive characteristics that make these two brands immensely popular,” says Jasen Wright, VP North America, WildBrain CPLG. “They are a wonderful collaborative partner, and we are delighted to work with them to deliver very special products for Magic Mixies Mixlings and The Legend of Akedo.”

Licensed merchandise for Magic Mixies Mixlings will weave in key spellbinding features of the brand that will bring magic to the clothes kids wear and the everyday accessories they use.

“While we still are in the development stage, I can say for Magic Mixies Mixlings there are plans for hidden reveals, secret compartments, colour change and many more magical touches,” says McGrath.

Since launching in autumn 2021, Magic Mixies has become a global sales phenomenon. In the U.S., Magic Mixies is the #2 brand in Total Plush YTD, as per NPD. The toy is continuing to grow in popularity with demand for Magic Mixies Magic Cauldron at retail staying high, and it has new-found celebrity on social media. The recently introduced line of Mixlings collectibles and a newly released content about the magical creatures coupled with several upcoming new product releases have the brand poised to catapult to even greater success.

WildBrain CPLG/Moose will be at Licensing Expo, Mandalay Bay Convention Center, Las Vegas, from 24-26 May 2022. 

ARTiSTORY signs multiple licensees to its Gathering of the Greats theme

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Art and cultural IP specialist ARTiSTORY has welcomed new licensees Jade City Food, Ruggable, and Fashion UK. The licensees have all chosen designs from ARTiSTORY’s Gathering of the Greats theme and will launch products later this year.

ARTiSTORY researches market trends to create modern and contemporary design assets that are inspired by original artworks and artefacts from its museum partners.  Its Gathering of the Greats theme takes inspiration from some of the greatest artists and eras of our time, from Chinese landscapes to impressionist paintings. These designs are licensed to consumer brands and retailers and assist them to introduce compelling products, engage shoppers via digital marketing and offer immersive shopping experiences.

The deals with Ruggable, the first patented machine-washable rug, and Jade City Foods, a gourmet food and beverage company, were brokered by the ARTiSTORY U.S. office.

Launching in summer 2022, and in partnership with the National Gallery, Ruggable will create unique, artist-themed collections including works by Van Gogh, Monet and Turner. The National Gallery X Ruggable collaboration sees these famous artworks reimagined into bespoke rugs for people’s living rooms.

Jade City Foods will launch a collection of hot sauces and coffees in summer 2022. In partnership with the Museum of Fine Arts, Boston, and the National Gallery, London, the products will all contain a variety of bespoke flavours and ingredients depending on the artwork that has been its inspiration.

“We are thrilled to be working with Ruggable and Jade City Foods, companies that mirror the ethos of the Museum of Fine Arts, Boston, and the National Gallery, London,” says Anna Stein, Country Manager and Business Development Director ARTiSTORY USA. “Watching historical artworks come to life is like sharing a piece of culture and history with the world. It’s not just about reinterpreting these masterpieces, it’s also about the story behind the design that now sits in your living room.”

Fashion UK will launch range of apparel in French retailer Kiabi in July 2022.  Brokered by ARTiSTORY LTD (EMEA) and inspired by the Gathering of the Greats theme, the range features iconic art from the National Gallery, London, and the Museum of Fine Arts, Boston.

Natasha Dyson, co-founder and licensing director of ARTiSTORY, says: “The Gathering of the Greats theme has been our most popular theme to date. It’s fantastic to see the innovative way licensees are interpreting our designs and the art of our museum partners.”

For more information contact natasha@artistorybrands.net

Fred Rogers Productions names Scholastic master publishing partner for Alma’s Way

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Fred Rogers Productions, the award-winning children’s educational media organisation behind multiple Emmy-winning PBS KIDS series, has tapped Scholastic as worldwide master publishing partner for Alma’s Way, the critically-acclaimed animated PBS KIDS series created by Sonia Manzano (Sesame Street).

The multi-year agreement includes a range of readers and activity books in both English and Spanish, which will begin publishing in spring 2023.

“We are delighted to partner with Scholastic, the world’s largest publisher and distributor of children’s books, and welcome them to the Alma’s Way family,” says Matt Shiels, VP of Business and Legal Affairs, Fred Rogers Productions. “The upcoming Alma’s Way titles will provide engaging stories and creative activities that will allow children to fully immerse themselves in Alma’s world.”

“We can’t wait to bring the wonderful role model, Alma, to young readers everywhere with Fred Rogers Productions and the inspirational Sonia Manzano,” says Debra Dorfman, VP and Publisher, Scholastic Global Licensing, Brands & Media. “In every story, children will relate to the everyday issues Alma faces and learn from her thoughtful reasoning as she thinks her way through life’s ups and downs.”

Through the new partnership, Scholastic will have exclusive rights to multiple formats, including: 8x8s; leveled readers; board books; jacketed hardcover picture books; novelty, activity, and sticker books; phonics and bind-ups/box sets; e-books; and audiobooks. In addition, Scholastic holds non-exclusive rights to sticker and activity books outside the U.S.

Aimed at viewers ages 4-6, Alma’s Way follows 6-year-old Alma Rivera, a proud, confident Puerto Rican girl, who lives in the Bronx with her parents, Abuelo, and younger brother, Junior, as well as a diverse group of close-knit and loving friends, family and community members. Each episode models self-awareness, responsible decision-making, and empathy, while encouraging kids to generate and value their own ideas and questions. The series’ 40 half-hour episodes showcase different aspects of Latino culture through music, food, language, and more.

Alma’s Way is created by, Sonia Manzano, best known to generations of kids and families as “Maria” on Sesame Street, and produced by Fred Rogers Productions.

PMI Partners with Skydance Animation for “Spellbound” toy, plush and stationery line

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PMI Ltd has announced it has signed a global toy, plush and stationery licensing agreement with Skydance Animation for Spellbound, Apple Original Films and Skydance Animation’s upcoming animated feature film, in a deal brokered by IMG.

Directed by Vicky Jenson (Shrek) and written by Lauren Hynek & Elizabeth Martin (Mulan) and Linda Woolverton (The Lion King, Beauty and the Beast), Spellbound follows a young girl who sets out to break the spell that has divided her kingdom in two. The original score for the film hails from Academy Award-winning composer Alan Menken (The Little Mermaid, Beauty and the Beast, Aladdin, Pochontas), with lyrics by Glenn Slater (Tangled). Chris Montan serves as executive music producer.

PMI’s Spellbound line will feature craft, activity and play sets, 2D and 3D plush, talking plush, plush backpacks, capsule toys, stationery such as stampers, pencil cases, toppers and erasers, keychains, figural torches with light-up functions, and a branded matchify card game.

Luis Fernández, Head of Consumer Products, Skydance, says: “We’re excited to partner with PMI to expand the enchanting world ofSpellbound beyond the screen and look forward to delivering engaging experiences for the consumer with these products.”

Omer Dekel, VP International Sales, PMI Ltd, adds: “We are so excited to be teaming up with Skydance Animation and can’t wait to roll out the fabulous Spellbound line we are designing. It’s going to be an amazing ride for all of us! This partnership is another major achievement for PMI and a huge addition to our broad range of popular branded stationary, collectibles, toys and school supplies.”