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Lisle Licensing lands slate of new partners for video gaming’s iconic Tetris brand

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Lisle Licensing has detailed a slate of new partners and product launches for the iconic puzzle game Tetris, as the nearly 40 year old brand continues to celebrate an expanding fan-base driven by global consumer success.

Kicking off the year like so many of us did, Tetris got straight into the fitness scene through an athleisure apparel collaboration with the tikiboo.co.uk. More recently, Trademark Productions has signed to develop an apparel daywear range that will land on shelves this autumn/winter.

In line with the brand’s bold colours, Trademark Products will focus on soft lines which appeal to the Tetris fanbase who want to embrace their support for the brand beyond traditional gameplay. Meanwhile, Fizz Creations will launch a Tetris AW 21 giftware range that will include a Tetris Tetrimino waffle maker that creates waffles in the game’s iconic shapes. 

In the gaming space, John Adams – a long-standing UK board game licensee of the Tetris brand – has renewed its agreement with the brand for a further three years.

Francesca Lisle, MD at Lisle Licensing, said: “As the video gaming industry continues to surge, and particularly retro gaming, so does the popularity of Tetris which will celebrate its 40th year in 2024. We are delighted to kick-off 2021 with two new licensees in categories which will further strengthen the brand’s position in the UK, as well as continue the Tetris partnership with John Adams.”

Zoe Ryan, marketing manager at Fizz Creations, added: “We’re all about fun and novelty at Fizz Creations, so are excited to partner with Tetris to launch the waffle maker – Tetrimino shaped waffles… what’s not to love?”

The Tetris brand is recognised as one of the leading and most distinctive video game brands and franchises in the world. Now after more than 35 years, the brand continues to be enjoyed by audiences of all ages and all cultures. Billions of Tetris games are played online every year, and over 500 million Tetris mobile games have been downloaded to date.

The Tetris brand’s global licensee network includes major video game publishers, including Nintendo and SEGA, as well as many partners in electronics, toys, apparel, lifestyle goods, entertainment and more. 

MeteoHeroes grows its international presence with RTVE broadcast deal

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MeteoHeroes, the environmentally-themed animated children’s series, is growing its global broadcasting presence, having landed a new slot with the Spanish broadcaster, RTVE.

Under its new partnership with Mondo TV Group, RTVE will air series one of the animated show, the only children’s series to be co-produced by Mondo and the Italian weather forecasting centre, Meteo Operations Italia. RTVE will air the series across a number of its markets, starting with previews in the spring.

The contract covers not only Spain, but also Latin America on Clan Internacional – an international coverage that will play an important role in supporting the licensing and merchandising programme that is currently underway in those areas.

The timing of the agreement will allow Mondo to repeat the successful consumer product strategy adopted in the Italian market in 2020. With Panini Spain already on board for a wide range of products – including sticker lines, sticker albums, magazines and flowpacks – Mondo TV will soon be expanding its licensing programme into many other categories.

A key partner in this expansion will be the toy distributor, which will be announced soon. The arrival of the first MeteoHeroes toys in the market is scheduled for autumn 2021. Play Around, the master toy licensee, has developed a toy line that includes 3D figures, role play items and a playset. The toy line will help kids to identify with the superhero stars in their fight against climate change and pollution.

The first series of MeteoHeroes has already been sold or confirmed into over 120 countries and was among the biggest hit shows on Cartoonito in Italy last autumn.

It is recognised as the only cartoon in the world dedicated entirely to climate and environmental issues. Each episode focuses on issues related to ecology and respect for nature through the adventures of six super-powered kids who can control weather phenomena. Working alongside scientists and meteorologists at their futuristic HQ based in Gran Sasso Mountain National Park in Italy, the MeteoHeroes are trained to control their powers and fulfil their mission: to save the Earth.

Matteo Corradi, CEO of Mondo TV, said: “In a very short time MeteoHeroes has established itself as one of the leading series in our portfolio; in fact a second series is already being planned.

“This agreement with RTVE, a major partner in Spanish-speaking markets worldwide, is a very important development, not only bringing the show to millions of potential viewers in a large number of new markets but also boosting the reach of the ongoing licensing and merchandising campaign.”

Mattel teams with game developer Milestone to launch Hot Wheels Unleashed across PlayStation, Xbox, Nintendo, and PC

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Mattel has partnered with the global racing game developer, Milestone, to launch Hot Wheels Unleashed, an arcade-style racing game scheduled to launch across PlayStation, Xbox, Nintendo Switch, and PC.

The new title will see players drift, boost, jump, and crash on Hot Wheels’ recognisable orange tracks in various single player game modes. Gamers can also challenge friends in multiplayer races, both online and offline.

“We continue to focus on engaging consumers with our brands through gaming platforms,” said Andrew Chan, head of digital gaming, Mattel. “Hot Wheels is all about encouraging the challenger spirit and Hot Wheels Unleashed brings that mission to life for gamers of all ages.

“Milestone’s expertise in racing game development has enabled us to transform the Hot Wheels brand into a compelling console and PC gaming experience for both current Hot Wheels fans and gamers who may be rediscovering the iconic brand.”

Michele Caletti, executive producer at Milestone, added: “Like many other team members who worked on the game, I’ve been playing with Hot Wheels since I was a child, and today I’m still a hungry Hot Wheels fan and collector.

“This is the reason why we’re all so committed in delivering the purest and most authentic Hot Wheels gameplay experience ever in a videogame. We owe it to the Hot Wheels community and to our inner children.”

Hot Wheels Unleashed offers players the opportunity to drive the cars as if they were playing with the die-cast toys. The gameplay includes adrenaline-filled races, an extended choice of Hot Wheels vehicles with different attributes and rarity levels that players can customize with different skins.

Tracks in the game are also set within everyday life locations, with special track pieces and interactive items. The game also features a Track Editor, enabling players to customize tracks in any game environment and share them with the game’s community.

Hot Wheels Singles assortment was recently recognized as the 2020 Global Top-Selling Toy of the Year, according to the NPD Group. Fans can experience the brand, which originally debuted in 1968, through toys, consumer products, content, and both virtual and live events.

Mattel and Milestone are introducing a variety of different versions of Hot Wheels Unleashed globally.

Factory celebrates 50th anniversary of Mr Benn with raft of new licensing partnerships

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Mr Benn is celebrating its 50th anniversary not only this year, but this very day, with a raft of new deals and licensing partnerships secured by the Altrincham-based animation studio, Factory.

Among the swathe of new licensees for the property now marking its half a century is the leading distributor of collectable coins and stamps, The Westminster Collection, while Coach House Partners Ltd has got the Mr Benn DVD gift set covered. Tartan Squirrel will launch a selection of Mr Benn pins, badges, and keyrings.

Other licensing partnerships include Signature Entertainment for the original Mr Benn television series, which is now available to stream now on Amazon Prime Video in the UK, Ireland and is available to download on digital platforms including iTunes, Google and Xbox. The programme is also available to download in Australia, New Zealand, US and Canada on digital platforms.

Renowned publishers Andersen Press will be releasing four new Mr Benn books including ‘Red Knight’ and ‘Big Game’ in March 2021, and ‘Big Top’ and ‘123456789’ in July 2021. Plus a renewed deal has also been signed with The Insurance Emporium for the fifth year in a row, which will showcase the brand across its website, social, events and advertising.

Originally created by award-winning writer and illustrator David McKee, Mr Benn began life as a children’s picture book in 1967 which followed an ordinary man who had extraordinary adventures when he visited a magical costume shop.

The book went on to be transformed into an animated television series transmitted by the BBC in 1971. The TV series became incredibly popular and was repeated regularly on the BBC for almost 30 years until Nickelodeon UK aired the series for a further nine years until 2010.

On the 50th anniversary of Mr Benn, creator and illustrator, David McKee, said: “Mr Benn endures, I think, because people like the idea of being able to escape to another life, and at their heart they’re old fashioned stories which last – the elements that make up the films, the voice, the music, the story, all simple elements that endure – good old fashioned stories, with a good rhythm.

“I’m really pleased that the books are coming back in print, I’ve always liked the mix of colour and black and white in them, and I made them long enough ago now to be as if someone else did them – so it feels like a new book to me.

“I often say your characters are like your children, you potty train them and look after them and point them in a good direction, but they go off do things you don’t expect – Mr Benn is living his own life and I’m excited to see what people make of the new products that are coming – and hope a new generation of children enjoy them as much as me.”

One of the most exciting deals for Mr Benn is with the leading distributors of collectable coins and stamps, The Westminster Collection, who will be creating a range of Mr Benn 50p coins issued by Guernsey.

Launching in April, the 50p coins will be available as a variety of bespoke Mr Benn Coin Collections. Starting with a single Mr Benn Anniversary logo designed 50p, up to a collection of 5 Silver coins with stunning colour print, in a presentation case.

Anya Hollis, head of brand licensing at Factory, said: “We’re really looking forward to a year long celebration for Mr Benn’s 50th Anniversary, with a wide and diverse range of products and collaborations. Mr Benn is an all time favourite for so many people and we are delighted to be launching some new and exciting  products which will, as if by magic, bring a smile to everyone’s faces.”

As well as Mr Benn, Factory Rights manages the rights to a number of other properties and art created by David McKee including King Rollo, Victor & Maria, and Watt The Devil; also Towser and Dr Xargle with Tony Ross and the particularly strong Rupert Fawcett cartoons, including Off The Leash, On The Prowl, Fred and Daddy.

Factory acquired the long-established Rollo Rights catalogue in a move that further underpins its ambition to develop a rights ownership arm that supports its studio production business and with an experienced Factory Rights team is managing and building this new division.

Mad Beauty extends Warner Bros. partnership to welcome Looney Tunes to the portfolio

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Mad Beauty is welcoming classic cartoon characters Bugs Bunny, Tweety, Sylvester, and Taz to its growing portfolio of licensed beauty products with the launch of its official Looney Tunes collection.

Developed in partnership with Warner Bros. Consumer Products, the new collection is an extension of the collaboration that saw the pair launch the Friends inspired line-up last year.

The Looney Tunes inspired collection is a new range spanning sheet face masks, hand cleansers, scrunchies and more, all timed with the with highly anticipated upcoming release of Space Jam: A New Legacy. The initial collection consists of 11 pieces of beauty, bath and body treats.

Trevor Cash, owner of Mad Beauty, said: “I absolutely loved Looney Tunes as a child so to be involved in bringing product to market with these characters now is a real treat. Our creative team has done an amazing job. These products tie in to our ‘Never Too Old for’ range perfectly, and we think our customers will love them too.”

The Mad Beauty x Looney Tunes Collection includes a Sheet Face Mask Collection, Clip & Clean Hand Cleansers, Scrunchies, a Beauty Blender, a Bugs Bunny Head Band, and Individual Sheet Masks.

Mad Beauty has previously reported huge growth in the last 18 months through international expansion. The company expects continued growth through 2021 as it plans to launch a number of collections this spring and beyond. This focused strategy confirms Mad Beauty’s confidence in their new collections and the beauty gifting industry overall. 

Nickelodeon launches Avatar Studios to for new Avatar: The Last Airbender and The Legend of Korra content

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Nickelodeon has detailed the launch of Avatar Studios, a newly formed division designed to create new animated series and movies based on the Avatar: The Last Airbender and The Legend of Korra.

New, original content will bow on platforms including Paramount+, ViacomCBS’s own subscription video-on-demand service, as well as on Nickelodeon’s own linear and digital platforms, and third party platforms and theatres.

The first project from Avatar Studios is slated as an animated theatrical film which is set to being production this year. The new studio will be lead by the original creators and executive producers Michael DiMartino and Bryan Konietzko, taking up the roles of co-chief creative officers.

The pair will report into Ramsey Naito, president, Nickelodeon Animation.

“Avatar: The Last Airbender and Korra have grown at least ten-fold in popularity since their original hit runs on Nickelodeon, and Ramsey Naito and I are incredibly excited to have Mike and Bryan’s genius talent on board to helm a studio devoted to expanding their characters and world into new content and formats for fans everywhere,” said Brian Robbins, president, ViacomCBS Kids & Family.

“Creator-driven stories and characters have long been the hallmarks of Nickelodeon, and Avatar Studios is a way to give Mike and Bryan the resources and runway to open up their imaginations even more and dive deeper into the action and mythology of Avatar as we simultaneously expand upon that world and the world of content available on Paramount+ and Nickelodeon.”

Koniettzko and DiMartino, added: “It’s hard to believe it’s been 19 years since we created Avatar: The Last Airbender. But even after all that time, there are still many stories and time periods in Aang’s world that we are eager to bring to life. We are fortunate to have an ever-growing community of passionate fans that enjoys exploring the Avatarverse as much as we do. And with this new Avatar Studios venture we have an unparalleled opportunity to develop our franchise and its storytelling on a vast scale, in myriad exciting ways and mediums.

“We are exceedingly grateful to Brian Robbins and Ramsey Naito for their enthusiasm and respect for the Avatar property and us as its stewards. From the start, they’ve supported our ambitious plans and created a positive, proactive environment for us.

“We’re excited to be back at Nickelodeon where Avatar began, doing what we do best in the biggest way possible. We can’t wait to build the great teams and productions to make all of this fantasy a reality.”

Nickelodeon’s Avatar: The Last Airbender aired for three seasons originally on Nickelodeon, where it began in February 2005 and concluded in July 2008. The series has received the Peabody Award, a Primetime Emmy, Annie Awards and Genesis Awards. The series follows the adventures of the main protagonist Aang and his friends, who must save the world by defeating Fire Lord Ozai and ending the destructive war with the Fire Nation.

Avatar: The Last Airbender emerged from its initial three seasons (61 episodes) as one of the most beloved animated properties in history. In addition to the series’ success, the property also has been translated into a successful comic book and graphic novel series, which continue to roll out new original stories.

The “Avatar: The Last Airbender” graphic novel spent 70 cumulative weeks on the New York Times Graphic Novel Bestseller list, hitting number one. The DVD and Blu-rays are also incredibly successful, with the “Avatar: The Last Airbender: The Complete Series” generating nearly $5MM in retail sales since its 2018 release.

Meanwhile, The Legend of Korra launched in April 2012 on Nickelodeon and ran for four seasons (52 episodes). Its first season premiered as basic cable’s number one kid’s show and drew 3.8 million viewers per episode, the highest for an animated series that year. Created and executive produced by DiMartino and Konietzko, the series is translated in more than 25 languages for Nickelodeon branded channels internationally.

The property has translated into a successful ongoing graphic novel series written by TV series co-creator DiMartino. The first graphic novel storyline, Legend of Korra: Turf Wars, has captured various Top 10 sales spots across children’s fiction, YA science fiction, and graphic novel categories since its debut in 2017.

The story of The Legend of Korra, set in the world of Avatar: The Last Airbender 70 years later, follows the journey of Avatar Korra, a 17-year-old girl striving to live up to the legacy of her predecessor Avatar Aang, while using her mastery of all four elements to confront political and spiritual unrest in a modernizing world.

ALIEN, Disney Gargoyles and Taco Bell lead Ravensburger’s latest gaming portfolio

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ALIEN, Disney Gargoyles, and a fully-licensed Taco Bell party game are among a line-up of new launches to be hitting the scene courtesy of Ravensburger for 2021, following what the US outfit of the global enterprise has billed as an ‘incredible last year.’

With a games division that continues to grow its breadth of titles and licensed partnerships, Ravensburger is continuing to explore new terrains in board gaming through impactful and engaging IP licensed titles.

Florian Baldenhofer, executive vice president, Ravensburger North America, told ToyNews: “Ravensburger had an incredible year last year. We’re so proud of our team; our games division continues to grow and find IPs that we can creatively translate to board games.

“We’re excited about the games in our 2021 lineup, which includes a number of fan-favorite IPs like Gargoyles and ALIEN, along with pop culture icons like Taco Bell and Pusheen. Our customers look to Ravensburger for immersive games and our team excels at finding the right balance between capturing and creating engaging gameplay.”

Leading the pack of a planned release of more than 275 products this year from Ravensburger, BRIO, Wonder Forge and ThinkFun is the officially licensed ALIEN: Fate of Nostromo, a board game adaptation of the cult classic sci-fi franchise.

With executive officer Kane dead, and the Alien stalking the halls of the Nostromo, players must work together in a cooperative strategy game to craft items, fulfill objectives, and compete one of five final missions, all while moving to avoid the ever-present Alien.

The title is swiftly followed by Disney Gargoyles: Awakening, based on the ‘90s Disney cartoon and another co-op game in which players take on the role of one of the heroes of the show to defeat Xanatos or Demona in one of four scenarios. Battle is done on a 3D cityscape board showing Manhattan as it was depicted in the cartoon.

Meanwhile, Taco Bell Party Pack Card Game sees players gather menu items to feed and satisfy their Crew’s specific cravings, while Marvel Eye Found It! Card Game is the latest in the Eye Found It series that has now sold over three million copies worldwide.

Ravensburger’s initial 2021 gaming line-up is completed by Mickey and Friends Magical Treats in which players help the gang sort out their lunch by matching colours, food, characters, or the number of stars on each card.

Elsewhere, Brio will also witness new lines enter the market with the BRIO Battery-Operated Steaming Train, the BRIO Mickey Mouse Deluxe Set, and the BRIO SMart Tech Sound Deluxe Set.

Ravensburger’s initial product roll-out for the year is completed with the GraviTrax PROP, a new line extension to the popular GraviTrax series.

The University of Cambridge appoints Plus Licens AB as European licensing agency

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The University of Cambridge has appointed Plus Licens AB as its new European licensing agent as part of the establishment’s plans to build its licensing programme outside of the UK.

Founded in 1209, the University of Cambridge is the fourth-oldest university in the world with alumni including 110 Nobel Prize Laureates, 47 Heads of State and 190 Olympic Medalists.

Rich in history, the University’s famous Colleges and University buildings attract visitors from all over the world, while its museums and collections hold treasures that offer an exciting insight into some of the scholarly activities, both past and present, of the University’s academics and students.

With alumni that include Newton, Keynes, Hawking and Darwin, Cambridge has always been and continues to be a place of where curious minds make great discoveries including gravity, DNA and evolution to name a few.

Len Dunne, CEO, Fitzwilliam Museum Enterprises, said: “FME Ltd manages both the University trademark programme and the commercial rights of the rich collections of its museums.

“In the UK, FME Ltd has retail, online (CuratingCambridge.com), wholesale and licensing divisions and, with the support of Plus Licens, it would like to give the opportunity to the rest of the European based licensees and consumers to enjoy a unique Cambridge experience. It is proud to be working with Plus Licens, its very first licensing agent for the territory.”

Eva Brännström, executive vice president, Plus Licens AB, added: “We are extremely proud and happy to have been appointed the pan-European agent by University of Cambridge. The University and the great museums represent everything that the world needs now more than ever: education, history, art and science.

“Plus Licens is committed to long term relationships and we now look forward to start a brand program based on the good values and fantastic art programs available from The University of Cambridge.”

BlackMilk Clothing celebrates 25 years of Pokémon with second wave clothing collection

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The clothing specialist, BlackMilk is celebrating the 25th anniversary of Pokémon this year with a second collection of clothing featuring some of the franchise’s best-loved characters.

The new range launches following the success of its first ‘hugely popular’ Pokémon collection, released back in June 2020, that went on to prompt a restocking of the entire collection due to customer demand. It was only inevitable that BlackMilk would be looking to emulate the success with a new selection in the brand’s anniversary year.

Pokémon fans will be able to shop from a range of nearly 50 pieces featuring BlackMilk’s signature bold prints as well as specially designed Pokémon-themed fabrics. As Pokémon celebrates its 25th anniversary this year, the new Pokémon collection from BlackMilk will feature the iconic Pikachu, the first partner Pokémon from the various regions in the Pokémon universe, and other fan favourites such as Eevee, Snorlax, Psyduck, and Jigglypuff. 

The collection will be available to shop online via BlackMilk Clothing’s website from 7am (AEST), March 2nd 2021.

Just this week, The Pokémon Company cited significant increases in sales of its Trading Card Game and Jazwares toy line over the course of 2020, driven by a surging popularity of the 25 year old entertainment franchise. Licensing partners of The Pokémon Company, including the likes of board gaming giant Asmodee, have earmarked the year ahead as the year for Pokémon, as the brand continues to roll out anniversary-focused products and partnerships.

LEGO details next Adidas collab drop in LEGO Dots and LEGO Ninjago apparel collection

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The LEGO Group has detailed the next drop in its continued collaborative project with Adidas; a new apparel collection featuring sleek colours and designs inspired by LEGO Dots and LEGO Ninjago.

The new collection will be available to Adidas Creative Club members from March 1st this year, with broad distribution following from March 4th.

The collaboration between the two brands is a multi-year partnership that aims to’ infuse more fun into the lives of kids and adults through playful products across apparel, hardware and bricks.’ It kicked off with the AZX800 sneaker in September 2020, and since then, fans have been able to celebrate their creativity and passion for the two brands in new ways.

Most recently the two launched a line-up of children’s clothes and shoes wrapped in the original four LEGO colours – red, yellow, blue, and green. Added to the assortment is the latest to take inspiration from LEGO Dots and LEGO Ninjago.

The adidas x LEGO DOTS collection focuses on the creative potential of children. The collection enables kids to express their personality, create their own style and show the world who they are, using colourful and fun patterns. The playful designs will spark imagination and convey a message to children that it’s their world and that they make the rules.

The Adidas X LEGO Ninjago collection includes pieces that celebrate the 10th anniversary of this LEGO play theme as well as the timeless world of classic NINJAGO. With this range, kids can leap into action and master their journey the ninja way. It features vibrant designs that represent the elemental NINJAGO powers, while enabling kids to express themselves and master ninja skills: being a good friend, confident, inclusive and true to oneself.