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HBO Max picks up US rights to pre-school adventure Love Monster

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HBO Max has picked up the US rights to the new pre-school adventure Love Monster, from Boat Rocker Studios’, a division of global media company Boat Rocker Media.

A hit since it premiered on CBeebies in the UK in late January, the animated series is based on the award-winning preschool books of the same name by Rachel Bright.

Love Monster follows the exploits of one-of-a-kind, huggable hero Love Monster as he navigates the challenges involved in being a bit funny looking in a world of cute fluffy things. Every day provides Love Monster the opportunity to embark on all kinds of big adventures with his friends in Fluffytown, where, together, they learn all kinds of little life lessons.

Full of heart and helping preschoolers understand and manage different emotions, Love Monster showcases the importance of kindness, empathy, connection and instinct.

In addition to HBO Max, multiple other international broadcast partners have come on board since launch, including ABC Australia, CBC Canada, RTE Ireland, YLE Finland, TVNZ New Zealand, MBC Middle East, Canal Panda Spain and Viu TV Hong Kong.

Love Monster is a ground-breaking collaboration between BBC Children’s In-House Productions, Boat Rocker Studios, and Chinese entertainment company, UYoung.  Boat Rocker Studios is managing the global content distribution and consumer products program for the franchise.

Emoji Company partners with Vistaprint to launch new face masks range and support businesses in the US and Canada

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The Emoji Company has partnered with Vistaprint to produce a new line of face masks featuring some of the most recognisable Emoji brand icons. Ten per cent of the total sales made by the masks will be donated to help empower small businesses across the US and Canada.

To date, Vistaprint has raised more than $5million in cash and in-kind product donations to support small businesses through its mask sales.

Available in the United States and Canada, the Emoji collection features a variety of designs including some of the most popular Emoji brand icons giving consumers plenty of options to choose from.

“We are excited to be launching this playful collection of masks in collaboration with Emoji- The Iconic Brand that will bring some light and fun to people’s everyday attire,” said Vistaprint’s North America market director, Erin Shea.

“We use digital icons every day to express ourselves on social media, in text conversations, and emails. Self-expression is important and we believe that a mask should not limit a person’s ability to express themselves. Our mask design partnership with the emoji® brand is one way we’re helping people do just that.”

Vistaprint’s RFS masks have a three-dimensional chin structure, a bendable nose bridge, and adjustable straps to give your reusable face mask the perfect fit all day long. Designed with wearability in mind, the masks are available in a wide range of colors and prints for both adults and children. Sold separately in packs of ten, filters can be inserted into the RFS masks. Each filter can be used for up to 12 hours.

“With face masks such an important part of daily life, we welcomed the opportunity to partner with Vistaprint for high quality face masks that empower consumers of all ages to express themselves in unique and fun ways,” said Marco Hüsges, CEO and founder, the emoji company.

JAKKS Pacific extends its global toy partnership with Nintendo for more Super Mario lines

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JAKKS Pacific has extended its global toy partnership with Nintendo of America in a deal that will see the toy maker continue to design, manufacture, market, and sell various Nintendo and Super Mario branded toys worldwide.

Over the course of the last year alone, JAKKS has launched a vast portfolio of Super Mario products to a global audience, and has most recently found success with its Super Mario It’s-A Me Mario! and the Boo Mansion play-set. Both performed well with physical and online retailers.

In addition to a raft of new 2.5-inch figures and play-sets coming in spring 2021, JAKKS will launch a broad line of new plush, varying scales of character-based figures, vehicles, and more.

“We are excited to continue our partnership with Nintendo which started in 2013 and has allowed us to ship tens of millions of figures to fans of the games worldwide,” said Craig Drobis, senior vice president of marketing at JAKKS Pacific, Inc.

“We have enjoyed celebrating 35 years of Super Mario this year alongside Nintendo. JAKKS will continue to bring to life these iconic characters in a wide variety of new and unique ways for both kids and fans alike.”

JAKKS Pacific is headquartered in Santa Monica, California and manages a broad portfolio of licensed and owned I.P. brands and products. These product lines include best sellers such as Super Mario action figures, multi-packs, diorama sets, plush, RC Racers, windup toys and play-sets.

UK video game retailer GAME launches limited edition fragrances Eau De Plumber and FPS

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The UK’s largest high street retailer of video games, GAME, has moved in on the fragrances market with the special launch of a limited edition line of luxury perfume: Eau De Plumber and FPS (First Person Scent).

The two unisex fragrances will be available exclusively at GAME.co.uk in time for Christmas and are tipped by the retailer to become collector’s items in the near future. Both fragrances have been expertly curated by some of the UK’s leading perfumers.

The first fragrance, Eau De Plumber has been painstakingly blended with deep, toadstooly undertones, with high tones of peach and daisy, while FPS, the grenade-shaped scent can be described as ‘best appreciated from thirty feet away’ and ‘slightly gunpowdery’ and is a celebration of the nation’s love of popular first person shooter games.

Both scents are extremely limited and priced at £19.99 for a 200ml bottle.

Nick Arran, head of commercial at GAME, said: “Everyone loves to receive perfume at this time of year so we wanted to capture the essence of gaming and Christmas all in one bottle – two presents in one if you like. We would urge people to buy soon though as these are very limited and will soon become collector’s items.”

Moonbug Entertainment taps Wow! Stuff for new CoComelon pre-school toy range

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The British toy innovation company, Wow! Stuff is continuing its move into the pre-school category having signed a multi-territory licensing agreement with Moonbug Entertainment for its popular 3D animated series, CoComelon.

Launching in 2021, Wow! Stuff will unveil a new range of products based on the kids’ show, with prices ranging from £9.99 to £79.99. It will include a CoComelon activity table, puzzle blocks, night lights, and more.

Richard North, Wow! Stuff CEO, said: “Our mission is ‘to partner with tier one licensed brands and work until our brains hurt to deliver innovation that is on brand and in universe.’

“This new agreement with Moonbug allows us to expand the playful world of CoComelon with new experiences that kids and families will absolutely love.”

Head of product development and licensing, Kenny McAndrew, added: “We have been working with CoComelon for some time and have seen how the brand has captured families around the globe with its educational and engaging content. Now that it’s a Moonbug brand, we’re delighted for what’s to come from our relationship and the new ways in which we encourage play.”

Simon Philips, senior in-house advisor at Moonbug Entertainment, said: “As we look to bring new ways for fans to engage with their favourite characters, we need partners who can create toys and products that truly bring them to life.

“Wow! Stuff’s reputation in developing innovative toys is unparalleled and we look forward to bringing them kids worldwide.”

CoComelon is the world’s most-viewed YouTube channel with over 3.5 billion average monthly views and over 100 million subscribers. The show centers around the everyday experiences of Baby JJ and his siblings and helps preschoolers learn letters, numbers, animal sounds, colors and more.

Its upbeat videos impart positive, prosocial life lessons that provide parents with an opportunity to teach and play with their children as they watch together.

For national and international sales enquiries please contact dawn.lavalette@wowstuff.com

Louis Kennedy supports FareShare this festive season with Christmas ecard send out

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With Christmas 2020 rapidly approaching, sending a greeting to colleagues and friends feels even more essential than ever before. Louis Kennedy wanted to mark this festive season by do something extra special which would have the widest possible impact; on recipients, the communities we live in and the planet. 

Which is why, this week, inboxes across the country will receive a very special delivery via DontSendMeACard.com with a heartfelt message from Louis Kennedy. Instead of sending a paper card and a box of chocolates, Louis Kennedy has made a donation to FareShare, the charity distributing food that would otherwise go to waste, and sent Christmas ecards, which contributes to reducing its carbon emissions.

Grant Morgan, CEO said: “We are delighted with this excellent alternative to traditional greetings and from initial feedback it seems our business partners appreciate our decision too.”

Helena Mansell-Stopher, CEO Products of Change, commented: “It was a lovely surprise to receive an ecard from the Louis Kennedy team for Christmas this year, 2020 more than any other year has really highlighted the need to review the amount we buy, receiving the digital card was a nice reminder that though we like to send physical cards, there are different ways to spread Christmas cheer and give to charity at the same time.”

DontSendMeACard.com is a unique alternative to traditional greetings cards. Over 1,000 charities across a broad range of causes and of every size have joined the site. Individuals, companies and organisations can choose which charity to support when sending an ecard for any occasion and the donation made in lieu of a traditional card, goes straight to the charity, with no fees at all.

Charities have enthusiastically designed and uploaded a fabulous variety of cards, including in partnership with licensed characters and official photography, to reflect the cause they champion.

Alex Furness, creator of DontSendMeACard, concluded: “We’re seeing an incredible increase in usage of our system for 2020. When reputable companies like Louis Kennedy get behind the idea like this and give a very generous amount to FareShare, it makes it all possible.”

Green Board Games enters the Wizarding World with BrainBox Harry Potter launch

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The popular educational games series, BrainBox is expanding its licensing activity into the Wizarding World with the release of its upcoming BrainBox Harry Potter in May next year. It marks a major development for the Green Board Games team, who has earmarked 2021 as a ‘huge year for the brand.’

Green Board Games was acquired by the Asmodee Group in 2019. The BrainBox games will form a key part of Asmodee’s newly launching Brain Games collection for creative and enquiring minds in 2021

The BrainBox series is a popular range of addictive memory challenges in which players have ten seconds to study a card before answering questions on what they saw. The series has previously covered topics across maths and English, to dinosaurs and football.

The family-friendly gaming brand now invites players to test their knowledge and relive the beloved Harry Potter film series.

Cards will be packed with fun facts about the franchise as well as stills from all of the Harry Potter films, offering youngsters the chance to prove that they’ve got what it takes to be top of the class at Hogwarts.

It’s part of a series of plans for the coming year from Green Board Games.

“2021 is going to be a huge year for BrainBox,” says James Wallis, studio manager at Green Board Games.

“BrainBox Harry Potter is a fantastic way to relaunch the line, followed by a fresh new look for the whole range – including a completely revamped BrainBox Board Game – and the new line of mini-BrainBoxes, in a pocket- and pocket-money-friendly format. We couldn’t be more excited.”

The BrainBox games series has sold over eight million copies worldwide, in 65 countries and 30 different languages.

The Harry Potter edition, as well as others in the series, will be previewed at AsmoFair, the third edition of Asmodee’s pioneering virtual trade show, from 17-23 January.

Now including a 360-degree virtual tour of a fully built show stand, the event is an opportunity for retailers to get a closer look at must-have products for the year ahead from Asmodee’s vast range of games and collectibles.

Weekend and evening meetings are also available – buyers can head to asmofair.co.uk to book a slot.

Master Moley ‘will drive a major licensing roll-out’ but timing for the property will be key

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The new British-made children’s property, Master Moley – that witnessed a successful premiere on WarnerMedia’s Boomerang channel just last month – has been the focus of ‘several proactive approaches from publishing and toy partners’, as the creative team behind it promises to be meticulous in its licensing strategy.

Master Moley made its debut in November as a TV special on the Boomerang channel that launched to more than 100 territories across EMEA. Following a ‘phenomenal start’, the show’s creator James Reatchlous is among the team now in production on a full Master Moley animated series.

The Misadventures of Master Moley will comprise 52 episodes and will continue the adventure of Master Moley and his friends. In addition to this, a feature-length film is also in development.

“Master Moley has got off to a phenomenal start,” Reatchlous tells Licensing.biz. “We’ve already received proactive approaches from both publishing and toy partners. We are in a good position and making sure each step that we take is exactly the right one for this unique property.

“All of the elements are there for a full, cross-category merchandise programme and as soon as the time is right, we’ll be in discussions with the key partners straight way.”

Master Moley follows the adventures of the titular hero, a mole residing under the foundations of Windsor Castle, who finds himself on far-flung escapades as children and audiences travel with him, exploring the world and different cultures.

Here, Licensing.biz catches up with Master Moley creator, James Reatchlous to learn more about the plans for the British-made children’s property, the perks of launching an IP through Roblox, and why timing will be key to the success of the IP’s comprehensive licensing programme.

James Reatchlous with his two daughters, for who he created Master Moley

Hi James, and first up – congratulations on the strong positive reception to Master Moley. That must be very encouraging as you start to look at wider licensing plans for the IP. What do you think Master Moley brings to audiences and to the licensing space?

Master Moley has got off to a phenomenal start. We are really thrilled with the reaction the TV Special has received following its premiere on Boomerang in November. Viewers in over 110 countries across EMEA met Master Moley, and I couldn’t be more delighted.  The feedback and response has been incredible, it’s a really strong start for us.  I’m confident that this is just the starting point as we build our audience ahead of the launch of our commercial plans.  

 I truly believe that Master Moley is just what we all need right now – bright colour, optimism, kindness and adventure. At its core it is a fun and wholesome entertainment show that appeals to the whole family, and crucially it really sparks the imagination of young viewers. The underground world of MoleTown is a rich creative canvas that enables our characters to have adventures all around the globe – something we’ll see a lot more of in the series.  

Moley is such a charismatic character, but he also has lots of friends in the TV Special and upcoming series, so there really is something for everyone. A wide variety of characters, gadgets, and locations will feature in the series  and we’re supporting the growth of the audience through high profile digital led initiatives right from the outset.    

The partnership with Roblox looks brilliant. Why does this mark an important step in building out a licensing programme for Master Moley? How does this deal help you tap into the core audience for the property?

We couldn’t be happier with the Roblox computer game, it’s great fun and a fantastic way for children to find and engage with new content safely. We wanted to start building the brand outside of the TV space, and so we worked with specialist agency Dubit to develop the Roblox game. This was a strategic move to go to where the children already were, to raise the brand recognition.  

We launched the game just before the special aired on Boomerang to capitalise on the audiences who tuned in, and vice versa, for those who found the content via Roblox, it encouraged them to go and watch the animation on Boomerang. It was a great success with over 60,000 plays in the first week. We have followed the launch with some great videos by Roblox influencers who have capitalised on the excellent start that we’ve made and grown our player base even further.

Roblox serves an incredibly important role for us – not only does the platform enable us to introduce Master Moley to their incredible user base, it will also continue to build the Master Moley fanbase in between the premiere of the 30-minute special on Boomerang and the series launching in 2021. Roblox provides both a bridge between the special and the series, where children can discover and engage with MoleTown and the universe of Master Moley, and visibility when he’s ‘off’ our TV screens, driving enthusiasm for the series during this time.  

You’ve mentioned to us before that you have extensive licensing plans for Master Moley. Could you talk us through these? Where would you like to take Master Moley?

There’s a rich universe in Moletown which brings in elements of upcycling alongside exciting locations and innovative vehicles… the lives of the characters in the show and the items with which they interact, really provide a great opportunity for similar lines of product in the real world.

We are very well aware that the commercial world revolves around the ability of a brand to reach its audience. Whilst we believe we have a brand with huge potential and there is tangible excitement among our commercial partners, the licensing roll out will be slow and phased and we will only begin pitching to partners in earnest once we know the audience reach is there to enable our licensees to be successful on shelf. Watch this space as the audience is set to grow quickly.

What sort of partnerships do you think will be the integral to the licensing success of Master Moley? Are you looking for toy partners for the property, and if so, what do you think Master Moley can bring to the toy space?

We’ve already received proactive approaches from both publishing and toy partners. We are in a good position and making sure each step that we take is exactly the right one for this unique property. We already have a movie special and a 52-episode TV series, not to mention a feature film in the works, all of which will support the growth of the brand creatively.

We are completely focused on delivering the audience. All of the elements are there for a full, cross-category merchandise programme and as soon as the time is right, we’ll be in discussions with the key partners straight away.

Ultimately, Master Moley is a brand which will be able to drive products from major toy lines to publishing, soft lines and home… but timing is key and we have brought in a team of the industry’s leading professionals to ensure we get this right… your readers will no doubt be hearing from them.

What do you think is key to Master Moley’s success on the international scene? As Master Moley continues to grow in the international markets, how will you maintain the core values of what makes it unique?

Master Moley is truly international. He might currently reside under Windsor Castle in England but his adventures take him all over the globe, which will appeal to audiences worldwide. Children can travel with him exploring the world and different cultures.  And there are plans to have episodes take place in different countries, to widen that appeal.  

The beauty of animation of course is that you can translate it into different languages. We have a stellar British cast for the English-speaking territories, including Gemma Arterton, Warwick Davis and Julie Walters, but we can cast amazing international actors for different languages and territories. It opens up enormous possibilities for Master Moley to become a truly global powerhouse. 

At the heart of Master Moley are charismatic characters, whose values are shared around the globe – kindness, enthusiasm, friendship, adventurousness, love… all with a desire to learn, meet new people and find a positive way out of slightly sticky situations. That is a key thread throughout each episode.  

What’s the next step for you?

We are currently in production on the Master Moley series, The Misadventures of Master Moley, which will comprise of 52 x 11-minute episodes and continue the adventures of Master Moley and his friends – including lots of new friends and places to explore. In addition to the series, we are developing a feature-length film adventure for Moley.

The world is Master Moley’s oyster! 

Finsbury Food Group extends its partnership with Thorntons, and we can all be happy about that

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Finsbury Food Group has detailed a three-year extension to its long-term partnership with the chocolatier Thorntons, a collaboration that has driven the celebration cake market for the past 20 years.

Finsbury has developed a range of premium products through a licensing arrangement with the Thorntons business. Thorntons full cake range with Finsbury includes celebration cakes, including classic flavours such as sticky toffee and triple layer chocolate, cupcake platters, FTG Bars and the much-loved Bites, designed to make bitesize moments special, with flavours ranging from chocolate fudge brownie to caramel shortcake made with Thorntons’ traditional recipe toffee sauce.

The businesses will continue to work together until 2023, with future developments including the launch of treat bars, and further updates to the bites ranges, including seasonal, and cupcake platters.

 Jack Cook-Broussine, brand manager at Finsbury Food Group, said: “Our relationship with Thorntons is one of the longest in the industry, a true testament to the partnership we have built and the team’s ability to monitor changing consumer trends and develop products that capture the imagination of the consumer.

“We have seen huge success throughout the years of working together, particularly with our scrumptious bites products which are perfect for making bitesize moments special.

“With 20 successful years under our belt, it’s brilliant to be able to extend our partnership by another three years, particularly after what has been a challenging year for the cake industry overall. We are looking forward to seeing what 2021 brings for the brand.”

Fiona Morgan, head of Foodservice Ferrero UK & Ireland, at Ferrero UK Ltd, added: “It is through our strong partnership with Finsbury that we continue to drive the celebration cake market. There’s no denying it has been a challenging year for all, but we hope to bring some joy to consumers with our cakes this Christmas. Thorntons is also a strong player in the cake bites market, and we are excited to refresh our delicious bites ranges in the near future.”

Moonpig partners with KFC to launch limited edition Christmas cards and merchandise

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Moonpig has reignited a partnership with KFC to launch a limited edition range of Christmas cards in its move to ‘spread chicken and cheer’ for the holiday season. The series of six Christmas cards come complete with festive designs while a portion of sales will go to Comic Relief through the KFC Foundation.

Featuring carol Zingers singing, sleigh bells winging and Colonel Sanders slipping a hot wing under the tree, the launch has been manipulated to ‘sprinkle some much needed joy to this year’s festive season. ‘

“So, why not send a lenticular card with a gravy optical illusion to your gravy lovin’ gran, or a personalised ‘Fillet Navidad’ card to your KFC obsessed mate?” says Moonpig via a press release.

The KFC x Moonpig Christmas card range is available online exclusively at Moonpig. Ten per cent of net sales will go directly to KFC Foundation’s charity partner, Comic Relief and its work to support young people across the UK to fulfil their potential.

“But it’s not just cards we’ve launched this Christmas…” added the company. “We recently announced the launch of our first ever line of merch ahead of the festive season, with a clucking good range of streetwear and Christmas jumpers.”

The new range can be viewed here.

“So, whether it’s a Christmas eve filled with a Family Feast or watching Mother Hen take a snooze after one too many egg-nogs on Boxing Day, KFC & Christmas will always have one thing in common, they’re meant for sharing,” Moonpig concluded.