Tag Archives: news

Rainbow Designs unveils innovative new pre-school toy line for The Adventures of Paddington

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Rainbow Designs has lifted the lid on its new range of pre-school toys based on the new The Adventures of Paddington TV series. The innovative toy range has been developed by Phat Mojo and distributed in the UK by Rainbow Designs.

The new collection has been designed to engage a new generation of fans who are discovering Paddington for the first time through the new TV series.

Arriving this October, the highly-anticipated Adventures of Paddington preschool toy range will feature a soft and cuddly Deluxe Paddington Plush, standing at 33cm tall and wearing his famous red hat and duffle coat with real toggles, that can be removed for extra play value. The range will also feature fun and collectable 22cm soft toys of Paddington wearing his famous coat and hat and Paddington in his pyjamas, as well as Paddington figurines with movable arms, in outfits from the series and a super fun Double Decker Play Bus Set.

The successful The Adventures of Paddington television series is already proving a success with pre-schoolers, scooping Nick Jr’s number 1 show in the afternoon at launch and is still the number three show overall on the channel with 1.6 million viewers from March to June.

From October the popular series will also be aired on the free to view, Milkshake channel.

Zara Grindrod, sales director at Rainbow Designs, said: “Paddington is a wholesome, kind, adventurous and fun-loving character and his endearing adventures that he embarks on each episode very much appeals to that three to six age range.

“The new Adventures of Paddington toy range is all about inspiring preschoolers, igniting their imagination and encouraging learning through play by re-enacting Paddington’s adventures as well as creating their own escapades with Paddington.”

Rachel Clarke, SVP UK, licensing and retail at The Copyrights Group, added: “Paddington TV is a great new adventure for the Paddington brand and we are delighted Rainbow are bringing in the fabulous toy range from Phat Mojo to the UK market. We are excited to see this range launch along with the other innovative Adventures of Paddington ranges and categories launching from our partners.”

 

Marshmello makes Mellodees pre-school YouTube series debut as Lil Mello

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One month on from its initial launch to the pre-school stage, Mellodees – a new kids’ YouTube channel featuring weekly videos and upbeat music produced by Marshmello and Moe Shalizi – has offered audiences a special guest appearance from the global DJ superstar Marshmello himself.

The episode, titled Wheels on the Bus, sees Dee receive a surprise visit from Marshmello in miniature form as Lil Mello, who makes his first appearance in the series, driving the bus and seated on a phone book.

Mellodees’ music videos have surpassed three million views on YouTube. The channel includes a fresh remix of classic nursery rhymes including ABC’s Song, Rock-A-Bye Baby, Itsy Bitsy Spider, and Twinkle Twinkle, as well as compilations.  With Dee’s imagination, he and his friends go on adventures providing families with music, special dance moves and more.

By Following the Beets, kids can easily read and sing along with the lyrics.

Additionally, Dee and Mellodees will be featured in the first-ever iHeartMedia Saturday Morning Dance Party, a family-friendly music event for children and parents across the US. Families can tune in to the two-week dance series to enjoy songs, new videos and Dee’s signature dance moves, taking place on Saturday, August 22 and August 29, with streaming available on iHeartRadio’s Facebook Page.

Mellodees promises to deliver relevant messages and energetic music for the preschool set and their millennial parents to enjoy. New music and videos release each week on the Mellodees YouTube Channel as well as all streaming platforms.

Swizzels’ Love Hearts, Drumstick and Refreshers move into the biscuit aisle with Infinity Brands

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The UK food gifting supplier, Infinity Brands, has partnered with Swizzels to produce a range of biscuits inspired by the confectionery brand’s range of iconic treats, including Love Hearts, Drumstick, and Refreshers. The range is due to launch later this year.

Swizzels is the largest independent British owned manufacturer of sugar confectionery in the UK and is still run by members of the families who founded the business back in 1928. Among the well-known products made by the outfit are the likes of Squashies, Rainbow Drops, Double Lollies and Fruity Pops.

The deal was brokered by Blonde Sheep Licensing and will see the biscuits sold in bold, Swizzels-themed food grade tins for strong shelf presence. The range will be sold across multiple retail channels including with garden centres, farm shops, delis, independents and online.

Darren Rickless, managing director at Infinity Brands, said: “We are delighted to have signed a licensing agreement with Swizzels, a company with such a strong heritage, great products and brand awareness. We have spent the last three or four months developing a range of biscuits to match the flavours of some of Swizzels most popular sweets including Refreshers and Squashies.

“Our Love Heart biscuits are round pure butter shortbread biscuits embossed with some of the most popular Love Heart slogans. The biscuits are to be produced in the UK and will initially be launched in fabulous keepsake tins. Other retail packaging will be introduced to the market in 2021.”

Natasha Dyson, managing director at Blonde Sheep Licensing, added: “The food category continues to perform very well for Swizzels, so biscuits are a natural progression. Darren has spent a long-time perfecting the taste and fizz sensation, so we know consumers won’t be disappointed.”

Blonde Sheep Licensing continues to explore other opportunities for Swizzels in categories including home, food and social greetings.

 

Funko feels the Covid-19 impact as net sales drop 49 per cent

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Store closures across the US and the rest of the world at the hands of the Covid-19 pandemic have ‘significantly impacted,’ second quarter results for the pop culture collectables specialist Funko. Net sales for the firm decreased 49 per cent to $98.1 million in its Q2 2020 earnings compared to the $191.2 million in the same period last year.

The year-over-year decline has been attributed primarily to impacts from Covid-19 during the quarter, including the prolonged closure of many of the company’s retail partners.

The second quarter of 2020 also saw the number of active properties total 644, decline of five per cent on Q1 2020 numbers, but an increase on the second quarter of 2019. Net sales in the US dropped 36 per cent to $77.9 million, while international net sales plunged 71 per cent to $20.2 million.

The European region was especially challenged in the quarter as Funko made the strategic decision to shift new products slated for the second quarter into the third quarter of 2020. Sales related to Loungefly branded products declined 25 per cent compared to the prior year despite many of its retailers being closed, reflecting resiliency in the Loungefly brand during the quarter.

Despite what makes for pretty grim reading, Funko is optimistic for the second half of the year, boasting what it calls its ‘most diverse product offering in the market,’ ready to land for the holiday season.

Brian Mariotti, Chief Executive Officer, said: “Although our second quarter results were significantly impacted by store closures in both the US and abroad, we were able to accelerate our connection and engagement with our fans through continued innovation and new product introductions as well as the expansion of our direct to consumer business. In Q2, we saw strong performance on our own e-commerce sites which delivered triple-digit sales growth.

“Looking at the second half of the year we are excited to have our most diverse product offering in the market come this holiday season. In the face of the highly dynamic environment, we are staying nimble and remain committed to our key growth strategies.”

Funko feels the Covid-19 impact as net sales drop 49 per cent

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Store closures across the US and the rest of the world at the hands of the Covid-19 pandemic have ‘significantly impacted,’ second quarter results for the pop culture collectables specialist Funko. Net sales for the firm decreased 49 per cent to $98.1 million in its Q2 2020 earnings compared to the $191.2 million in the same period last year.

The year-over-year decline has been attributed primarily to impacts from Covid-19 during the quarter, including the prolonged closure of many of the company’s retail partners.

The second quarter of 2020 also saw the number of active properties total 644, decline of five per cent on Q1 2020 numbers, but an increase on the second quarter of 2019. Net sales in the US dropped 36 per cent to $77.9 million, while international net sales plunged 71 per cent to $20.2 million.

The European region was especially challenged in the quarter as Funko made the strategic decision to shift new products slated for the second quarter into the third quarter of 2020. Sales related to Loungefly branded products declined 25 per cent compared to the prior year despite many of its retailers being closed, reflecting resiliency in the Loungefly brand during the quarter.

Despite what makes for pretty grim reading, Funko is optimistic for the second half of the year, boasting what it calls its ‘most diverse product offering in the market,’ ready to land for the holiday season.

Brian Mariotti, Chief Executive Officer, said: “Although our second quarter results were significantly impacted by store closures in both the US and abroad, we were able to accelerate our connection and engagement with our fans through continued innovation and new product introductions as well as the expansion of our direct to consumer business. In Q2, we saw strong performance on our own e-commerce sites which delivered triple-digit sales growth.

“Looking at the second half of the year we are excited to have our most diverse product offering in the market come this holiday season. In the face of the highly dynamic environment, we are staying nimble and remain committed to our key growth strategies.”

Disney celebrates 25 years of Disney Pixar’s Toy Story with virtual Pixar Fest launch

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Disney has launched a new virtual family festival celebrating the 25th anniversary of Disney and Pixar’s Toy Story, and its 20 years of support of the charity, MediCinema.

Called Pixar Fest, the event will premiere on Sunday, August 9th with a collection of Pixar movies on Disney+, weekly watchalongs, animator masterclasses, quizzes, arts and crafts for kids, and new product releases.

Tasia Filippatos, SVP Disney EMEA, said: “Pixar revolutionised the art of animation 25 years ago with the release of Toy Story and since then has brought us some of the most iconic and unique moments in filmmaking history. Pixar Fest will give fans of all ages the chance to celebrate their favourites through a host of activities and even cast their vote in ‘The Golden Lamp Awards’. We hope the line-up brings some summer holiday fun and movie magic to homes across the UK.”

As part of its ongoing worldwide commitment to provide comfort and inspiration through movie moments and help reduce isolation for seriously ill children in hospitals, Disney has also pledged £750,000 to MediCinema to help reach more children by developing and building additional state of the art hospital cinemas in UK and Italy.

Visits to these cinemas help improve wellbeing, and combat isolation and the anxiety of spending time on the wards.

Kat Mason, chief executive of MediCinema, added: “In our 20th anniversary year and 20 years of working with Disney, we are incredibly happy to be the recipient of this donation that will help ensure our cinema services can impact so many more children and their families.

“In addition, all money raised from the prize draws will help to make sure we can keep our current services running, which is more important now than ever for children and their families facing time spent in hospital.”

Disney has marked the launch of Pixar Fest with the release of never-seen-before Toy Story artwork, which showcases the early designs and evolution of Buzz Lightyear. It features early character sketches including a variety of different faces, suit colours and wing designs, before he was transformed into the Buzz we know today.

Pixar historian, Christine Freeman, said: “Buzz is one of our most popular characters, and it’s fascinating to see the different ways that Pixar’s artists imagined him during the evolution of his design. Even his name changed over time – from Tempus of Morph to Lunar Larry, to Buzz Lightyear. You can see the LL belt buckle (for Lunar Larry) in a few of these early designs.”

Ever since Woody and Buzz landed at movie theatres in 1995 in the first fully computer-animated feature film, Pixar movies have become favourites of fans across the globe.

To date, there have been 23 full-length Pixar films and 21 shorts, collecting 37 Academy Awards with Disney Store’s top-selling Pixar merchandise of all time including its Buzz Lightyear talking action figure.

The line up of virtual activity taking place throughout Pixar Fest, includes Sunday watchalongs on Disney’s social channels with streamed movies on Disney+ such as Toy Story, Cars, Inside Out, and The Incredibles, as well as Pixar quizzes hosted by Edith Bowman.

Patients in MediCinema hospitals will be able to watch along on bedside screens at the same time.

On top of this, talent including Tony Hale, animators and celebrities including Katie Piper, Danny Jones, Myleene Klass and Aston Merrygold will be unveiling their favourite Pixar moments over the last 25 years as part of ‘The Golden Lamp Awards’- with MediCinema nurses and volunteers shortlisting a special Moments that Matter category for fans to vote for their top Pixar moment.

Meanwhile, shopDisney’s Pixar Fest Party At Home packs, which include everything fans need to host their own Pixar party will also be up for grabs via weekly competitions, while an online masterclass with a Pixar animator, hosted by film aficionado Mark Kermode, to teach fans how to draw Pixar characters and learn some of the secrets behind the animations, hosted on Disney’s social channels on 12th August.

BAFTA Kids will put on a virtual animation masterclass on 15th August where children submitted their questions to discover everything that they need to know about how to become a top animator.

Fans can also help to raise funds for MediCinema through Pixar Fest’s Charity Tuesdays to win money-can’t-buy Pixar prizes, including a drawing lesson with a Pixar artist and an exclusive piece of Pixar artwork through prize draws run by MediCinema.

Fans around the globe will be able to celebrate their favourite Pixar characters with new products from Mattel and Funko. Also launching is a new range of merchandise honouring the heritage of Pixar at shopDisney, including a new line of Aliens products that feature the Toy Story favourites as different characters from Pixar movies, including WALL•E and Up’s Russell.  Other “Pixar Alien Remix” toys will see Toy Story’s Aliens dressed as other Pixar characters including Carl from Up, Dot from A Bug’s Life, Dory from Finding Nemo, Edna from The Incredibles, Sulley from Monsters, Inc. and Princess Merida from Brave.

Pixar Fest will run from August 9th to September 6th this year.

Disney celebrates 25 years of Disney Pixar’s Toy Story with virtual Pixar Fest launch

Posted on by

Disney has launched a new virtual family festival celebrating the 25th anniversary of Disney and Pixar’s Toy Story, and its 20 years of support of the charity, MediCinema.

Called Pixar Fest, the event will premiere on Sunday, August 9th with a collection of Pixar movies on Disney+, weekly watchalongs, animator masterclasses, quizzes, arts and crafts for kids, and new product releases.

Tasia Filippatos, SVP Disney EMEA, said: “Pixar revolutionised the art of animation 25 years ago with the release of Toy Story and since then has brought us some of the most iconic and unique moments in filmmaking history. Pixar Fest will give fans of all ages the chance to celebrate their favourites through a host of activities and even cast their vote in ‘The Golden Lamp Awards’. We hope the line-up brings some summer holiday fun and movie magic to homes across the UK.”

As part of its ongoing worldwide commitment to provide comfort and inspiration through movie moments and help reduce isolation for seriously ill children in hospitals, Disney has also pledged £750,000 to MediCinema to help reach more children by developing and building additional state of the art hospital cinemas in UK and Italy.

Visits to these cinemas help improve wellbeing, and combat isolation and the anxiety of spending time on the wards.

Kat Mason, chief executive of MediCinema, added: “In our 20th anniversary year and 20 years of working with Disney, we are incredibly happy to be the recipient of this donation that will help ensure our cinema services can impact so many more children and their families.

“In addition, all money raised from the prize draws will help to make sure we can keep our current services running, which is more important now than ever for children and their families facing time spent in hospital.”

Disney has marked the launch of Pixar Fest with the release of never-seen-before Toy Story artwork, which showcases the early designs and evolution of Buzz Lightyear. It features early character sketches including a variety of different faces, suit colours and wing designs, before he was transformed into the Buzz we know today.

Pixar historian, Christine Freeman, said: “Buzz is one of our most popular characters, and it’s fascinating to see the different ways that Pixar’s artists imagined him during the evolution of his design. Even his name changed over time – from Tempus of Morph to Lunar Larry, to Buzz Lightyear. You can see the LL belt buckle (for Lunar Larry) in a few of these early designs.”

Ever since Woody and Buzz landed at movie theatres in 1995 in the first fully computer-animated feature film, Pixar movies have become favourites of fans across the globe.

To date, there have been 23 full-length Pixar films and 21 shorts, collecting 37 Academy Awards with Disney Store’s top-selling Pixar merchandise of all time including its Buzz Lightyear talking action figure.

The line up of virtual activity taking place throughout Pixar Fest, includes Sunday watchalongs on Disney’s social channels with streamed movies on Disney+ such as Toy Story, Cars, Inside Out, and The Incredibles, as well as Pixar quizzes hosted by Edith Bowman.

Patients in MediCinema hospitals will be able to watch along on bedside screens at the same time.

On top of this, talent including Tony Hale, animators and celebrities including Katie Piper, Danny Jones, Myleene Klass and Aston Merrygold will be unveiling their favourite Pixar moments over the last 25 years as part of ‘The Golden Lamp Awards’- with MediCinema nurses and volunteers shortlisting a special Moments that Matter category for fans to vote for their top Pixar moment.

Meanwhile, shopDisney’s Pixar Fest Party At Home packs, which include everything fans need to host their own Pixar party will also be up for grabs via weekly competitions, while an online masterclass with a Pixar animator, hosted by film aficionado Mark Kermode, to teach fans how to draw Pixar characters and learn some of the secrets behind the animations, hosted on Disney’s social channels on 12th August.

BAFTA Kids will put on a virtual animation masterclass on 15th August where children submitted their questions to discover everything that they need to know about how to become a top animator.

Fans can also help to raise funds for MediCinema through Pixar Fest’s Charity Tuesdays to win money-can’t-buy Pixar prizes, including a drawing lesson with a Pixar artist and an exclusive piece of Pixar artwork through prize draws run by MediCinema.

Fans around the globe will be able to celebrate their favourite Pixar characters with new products from Mattel and Funko. Also launching is a new range of merchandise honouring the heritage of Pixar at shopDisney, including a new line of Aliens products that feature the Toy Story favourites as different characters from Pixar movies, including WALL•E and Up’s Russell.  Other “Pixar Alien Remix” toys will see Toy Story’s Aliens dressed as other Pixar characters including Carl from Up, Dot from A Bug’s Life, Dory from Finding Nemo, Edna from The Incredibles, Sulley from Monsters, Inc. and Princess Merida from Brave.

Pixar Fest will run from August 9th to September 6th this year.

Panini embarks on new licensing programme in Brazil with Vertical Licensing

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The global stickers and trading cards company, Panini has made its latest move to strengthen its presence in Brazil with the appointment of Vertical Licensing. The new agreement will allow Vertical Licensing to license out the Panini assets across the region as it looks for new business opportunities.

Panini has become synonymous with collectables, stickers, and trading cards and has carried a reputation in the field across generations and into the digital age. The heritage and nostalgia of the brand has lent itself to collaborations with the likes of Adidas, Puma, 55DL and Mattel.

Meanwhile, Vertical Licensing is a Brazilian licensing agency based in São Paulo. It currently works with clients such as PlayStation, IMPS, Mercis, Rainbow, Epic Rights and King Features.

Brazil represents one of Panini’s key territories internationally, where the brand is hugely popular and scores a widespread awareness, which the company is now willing to extend into a strategized consumer products program.

“It is an exciting brand extension challenge. We are extremely proud to have been appointed to represent Panini, a highly recognized and respected brand that connects with two of the greatest passions of Brazilians: football and stickers,” said Alexandre Volpi, CEO of Vertical Licensing.

“Our kick-off will be in the second half of this year to start building a program that should hit the shelves in 2021, when Panini will celebrate its 60th anniversary.”

José Martins, president and CEO at Panini Brazil Ltd. commented: “Panini has been active in Brazil since 1990 offering a wide range of products in the collectible and publishing segments targeted to kids and teens. We are looking forward to working closely with Vertical Licensing team to ensure Panini Brand will enjoy the same success it has had in Europe and other parts of the World.”

Tony Verdini, senior manager, business development and partnerships at Panini, added: “We are pleased to team up with Vertical Licensing in Brazil, where Panini’s awareness is enormous and has been growing bigger and bigger over the years.

“We have appointed Vertical to grow brand extension opportunities in the territory as we do believe they are the ideal partner to achieve this goal through a sustainable business plan. We look forward to this cooperation and a wide and deep range of cool licensed products.”

 

Panini embarks on new licensing programme in Brazil with Vertical Licensing

Posted on by

The global stickers and trading cards company, Panini has made its latest move to strengthen its presence in Brazil with the appointment of Vertical Licensing. The new agreement will allow Vertical Licensing to license out the Panini assets across the region as it looks for new business opportunities.

Panini has become synonymous with collectables, stickers, and trading cards and has carried a reputation in the field across generations and into the digital age. The heritage and nostalgia of the brand has lent itself to collaborations with the likes of Adidas, Puma, 55DL and Mattel.

Meanwhile, Vertical Licensing is a Brazilian licensing agency based in São Paulo. It currently works with clients such as PlayStation, IMPS, Mercis, Rainbow, Epic Rights and King Features.

Brazil represents one of Panini’s key territories internationally, where the brand is hugely popular and scores a widespread awareness, which the company is now willing to extend into a strategized consumer products program.

“It is an exciting brand extension challenge. We are extremely proud to have been appointed to represent Panini, a highly recognized and respected brand that connects with two of the greatest passions of Brazilians: football and stickers,” said Alexandre Volpi, CEO of Vertical Licensing.

“Our kick-off will be in the second half of this year to start building a program that should hit the shelves in 2021, when Panini will celebrate its 60th anniversary.”

José Martins, president and CEO at Panini Brazil Ltd. commented: “Panini has been active in Brazil since 1990 offering a wide range of products in the collectible and publishing segments targeted to kids and teens. We are looking forward to working closely with Vertical Licensing team to ensure Panini Brand will enjoy the same success it has had in Europe and other parts of the World.”

Tony Verdini, senior manager, business development and partnerships at Panini, added: “We are pleased to team up with Vertical Licensing in Brazil, where Panini’s awareness is enormous and has been growing bigger and bigger over the years.

“We have appointed Vertical to grow brand extension opportunities in the territory as we do believe they are the ideal partner to achieve this goal through a sustainable business plan. We look forward to this cooperation and a wide and deep range of cool licensed products.”

 

MGA Entertainment named worldwide licensing agent for Moonbug’s Little Baby Bum

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Moonbug has appointed MGA Entertainment its worldwide licensing agent for the global pre-school sensation, Little Baby Bum. Under the new partnership, MGAE will develop a consumer products programme for the brand to accelerate its availability and accessibility across the globe.

The move follows on from the success of the Little Tikes Little Baby Bum toy line released last autumn.

“Little Baby Bum’s engaging and playful nursery rhymes have resonated with millions of kids around the world, and we’re excited to bring fans new ways to deepen their connection both online and offline,” said Simon Philips, Moonbug. “It is a favourite for parents, too. During these difficult times where educational content has been in high demand from parents, Little Baby Bum has seen a huge uptick in views as parents have chosen it to entertain their kids.”

As a part of this agreement, MGAE will manage new licensees and work with both physical and digital retailers to ensure that Little Baby Bum fans of all ages can bring home a piece of their favourite characters – from apparel to bedding to fast-moving consumer goods to digital and traditional publishing.

“Little Baby Bum is a worldwide favorite among kids as we’ve seen with the initial launch of our Little Tikes Little Baby Bum toys that launched last fall,” said Isaac Larian, CEO and founder of MGAE. “Our worldwide licensing team has generated much success for the L.O.L Surprise! brand and this is an exciting time to bring the Little Baby Bum digital IP into the real world for its millions of fans.”

Little Baby Bum has captivated audiences with its playful nursery rhyme storylines that help kids learn and grow through song. It has expanded exponentially both offline and online in the last year and can be found on over 40 platforms globally including Netflix, Hulu and Amazon Prime Video. On YouTube alone, it garners over 1.5 billion views per month and has surpassed 80 million subscribers.