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Character World to continue sustainability drive in 2022 and beyond

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Leading manufacturer and distributor of licensed home textiles and accessories Character World has reaffirmed its commitment to sustainability in 2022 and beyond. 

For the past two years the company has been working on and delivering against its sustainability plans, looking at all aspects from product to packaging, shipping to consumer care.

Adam Howarth, Character World’s Supply Chain Director, says: “We believe that a good night’s sleep doesn’t have to cost the earth. Sustainability is not just something that we have approached from a single angle or for a single range, we are looking at it across the whole business… We know that this is an ongoing project and a journey that will continue to develop and evolve in collaboration with our partners.”

Some key changes that Character World has made start with the products themselves. The company now uses only responsibly sourced BCI cotton, plus it is offering retailers the option of recycled polyester for their polyester and polycotton bedding products.

Character World’s latest development, Coverless Carefree Bedding, uses recycled plastic bottles for the filling, helping to reduce plastic waste and the subsequent amount of plastic in our oceans.

The company has also collaborated with Lego and JYSK for sustainable packaging options. The packaging for the Lego City bedding was developed using recycled card, is fully recyclable and contains no single-use plastic.

Mark Champkins, Learning Lead, LEL Sustainability Transformation at Lego, says: “Character World has been proactive in supporting us to work toward our aim that by 2025 all LEGO packaging will be made from renewable or recycled materials and will be easy for consumers to recycle, to avoid it ending up in landfill. We look forward to continue working with Character World towards our 2025 goal.”

In addition, Character World is committed to driving post-consumer purchase developments via its partnership with WRAP, who make it easy for customers to easily find their local recycling banks.

The company is also proud to be a member of Products of Change and one of the sponsors of the Sustainability in Licensing Conference, and is working within the licensing community to drive sustainable change by championing ideas and best practices across the industry.

“Character World is committed to helping make the world better for future generations, and we look forward to working in partnership with suppliers, licensors, retailers and consumers on the journey,” concludes Adam Howarth.

 

 

ZAG appoints Carlotta Caracciolo as Consumer Products VP for MEA

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Animation studio ZAG has appointed former MGA Entertainment and Warner Bros executive Carlotta Caracciolo as its first VP, Middle East and Africa, to oversee the company’s consumer products strategy in the region.  The appointment was announced today by Julian Zag, SVP Global Operations and Head of Consumer Products, to whom Caracciolo reports.

In her new role at ZAG, Caracciolo, who will be based in Dubai, will focus on building a consumer products programme for the Middle East and Africa for properties in the ZAG Heroez portfolio, with an initial focus on Miraculous – Tales of Ladybug and Cat Noir and the company’s newest series, Ghostforce.

Miraculous has broad reach across the Middle East, with the series available on Disney Channel and MBC, whose MBC3 channel for kids is the most popular and biggest in the region. Combined, Miraculous reaches kids in Arabic across Algeria, Bahrain, Chad, Cyprus, Djibouti, Egypt, Iran, Iraq, Jordan, Kuwait, Lebanon, Libya, Mauritania, Morocco, Oman, West Bank and Gaza, Qatar, Saudi, Arabia, Somalia, Sudan, Syria, Tunisia, United Aran Emirates and Yemen. In Turkey, the series is available on Disney Channel. South and Sub-Saharan Africa is covered by Disney; with MBC reaching Northern Africa.

“The Middle East and Africa have become a top priority for ZAG, and the Disney/MBC combination is a perfect duo for us to reach children and families across the region,” says Julian Zag. “Miraculous is garnering strong ratings, particularly in Saudi Arabia, where the series ranked in the number-one slot on MBC following its launch in 2018, and has remained among the top programmes ever since. Carlotta will lead our market expansion in the region and drive the development of licensing partners for our portfolio of brands.”

Caracciolo served for the past three years as Head of Sales and Licensing, Middle East and Africa, at MGA Entertainment, where she was instrumental in launching the licensing and toy programme for L.O.L. Surprise! across the region. Prior, she was a Category Manager at the licensing agency Shooting Stars, where she managed and developed the softlines accounts for clients including Warner Bros and NBC Universal for the GCC region, following her earlier role with Warner Bros as a category manager based in Italy. She started her entertainment career with Warner Bros in Italy in 2011 as marketing and retail assistant.

Caracciolo says: “I am thrilled to have the opportunity to work with ZAG, and I look forward to growing the licensing and toy footprint in MEA Region, bringing new and exciting collaborations  across multiple categories for consumers to experience the brand.”

Masha and the Bear ranked as top in-demand preschool show

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Animaccord’s hit animation Masha and the Bear has reached new heights over the past 12 months, most notably reaching 100 billion views on YouTube.

According to Parrot Analytics, in 2021 Masha and the Bear was the number-one preschool show worldwide, with 36 times more demand than the average show – putting it in the top 0.2% of all TV series across all platforms.

The series was again ranked as a top-five show among children (0-18) for 2020-2021, being more in-demand with global audiences than PAW Patrol (34.9 times) and Peppa Pig (34.1 times).

The cartoon has been 101 times more popular outside of its home market than the average show and had 32.9 times more longevity, meaning that Masha and the Bear is still very relevant in its genre after over a decade. For the US and UK markets, the show is in the top three per cent of all shows and TV series.

In addition to its success in the preschool market, Masha and the Bear also stacks up against recent global hits such as Squid Game, Marvel Studios’ Hawkeye and Amazon Prime’s Wheel of Time, being ranked as twice more in-demand.

Animaccord launches Masha and the Bear e-shop

Aardman and Wild in Art announce creative partnership

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Animation studio Aardman has entered into a creative partnership with Wild in Art that will produce public art trails featuring sculptures of well-loved characters Morph and Shaun the Sheep in towns and cities across Britain, from January 2022.

The characters will provide a 3D canvas, and creative inspiration, for a wealth of art and design from a carefully curated mix of well-known and emerging artists. The new trails will further Wild in Art’s mission to bring art out of the gallery and create shared experiences, whilst the learning programmes and activations develop the next generation of artists.

The first-ever sculpture trail to feature Morph launched on 29 January this year when ‘Morph’s Epic Art Adventure’ arrived in North Tyneside. This first event, hosted by North Tyneside Council, will see Morph of the North with twenty 1.8m-tall Morph sculptures decorated by commissioned artists from across the country with a wide range of themes, including floral, character designs and plays on the word ‘Morph’.

This is the second Wild in Art trail to take place in and around North Tyneside Town Centre, following the hugely successful delivery of The Snowman and The Snowdog in Winter 2020. The aim is to drive footfall into town centres, supporting the local economy, whilst also encouraging families to get outdoors and active, and nurture an interest in art and creativity in the community.

The opportunity to host a ‘Morph’s Epic Art Adventure’ trail is open to towns and cities across the UK. Shaun the Sheep will be the second collaboration as part of this new partnership, and news and opportunities for this concept will be announced soon.

Charlie Langhorne, Managing Director and Co-founder of Wild in Art said: “We are delighted to continue our partnership with Aardman and to bring these internationally renowned characters to art trails across the UK.

“Morph and Shaun the Sheep will bring colour and creativity to host locations. Each sculpture will be a conversation starter, with a different story to tell, allowing residents and visitors to explore their town or city from a different perspective. It’s a Covid-friendly way for people to socialise, support local artists and our charity partners/a local charity and enjoy some exercise in the fresh air.

“We’ve got some exciting plans in development and we look forward to revealing more host locations in the coming months.”

Rob Goodchild , Commercial Director at Aardman, added: “We are very happy to be working with the great team at Wild in Art to bring more art trails featuring our characters to the streets of the UK, including the inaugural Morph art trail – a character that’s encouraged creativity in generations of kids since the seventies. We look forward to finding fun and creative angles to connect our characters with each location and inspire people – young and old – to get creative.”

 

 

The Point.1888 appoints sub-agent Playology to expand programme for TV’s The Raccoons

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The Point.1888 has signed Playology International as a sub-agent for Canada to explore new and existing licensing opportunities and partnerships for The Raccoons.

Playology is charged with delivering a licensing programme that will capitalise on the recent resurgence that the TV series has seen, with fans eager for more access and products from the much-loved Canadian show.

This will support The Raccoons’ return to TV after the announcement that the series is being remastered prior to being released on DVD and Blu-Ray, as well as streaming services.

Created in 1985, the animated television series follows the day-to-day life of raccoons Bert, Melissa and Ralph, their friend Cedric Sneer the aardvark and his dad, Cyril Sneer, and their adventures in the Evergreen Forest. For two decades, it engaged the imaginations of families in 180 countries all over the world.

Olivia Wiggett, Associate Commercial Manager at The Point.1888, says: “Many of our team go way back with Playology’s co-founder Jacqueline Vong, and we’re thrilled to finally have the chance to work with her. Playology has a fantastic reputation, and its brand portfolio compliments The Raccoons perfectly. We are certain they will be an amazing partner for the brand in its home country, Canada.”

Jacqueline Vong, Co-founder of Playology, adds: “Growing up in Canada with The Raccoons as a staple on TV and having the opportunity to work on the brand now is a full-circle moment. We can’t wait to introduce The Raccoons to a new generation and their fans again!”

 

 

The Point.1888 appoints sub-agent Playology to expand programme for TV’s The Raccoons

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The Point.1888 has signed Playology International as a sub-agent for Canada to explore new and existing licensing opportunities and partnerships for The Raccoons.

Playology is charged with delivering a licensing programme that will capitalise on the recent resurgence that the TV series has seen, with fans eager for more access and products from the much-loved Canadian show.

This will support The Raccoons’ return to TV after the announcement that the series is being remastered prior to being released on DVD and Blu-Ray, as well as streaming services.

Created in 1985, the animated television series follows the day-to-day life of raccoons Bert, Melissa and Ralph, their friend Cedric Sneer the aardvark and his dad, Cyril Sneer, and their adventures in the Evergreen Forest. For two decades, it engaged the imaginations of families in 180 countries all over the world.

Olivia Wiggett, Associate Commercial Manager at The Point.1888, says: “Many of our team go way back with Playology’s co-founder Jacqueline Vong, and we’re thrilled to finally have the chance to work with her. Playology has a fantastic reputation, and its brand portfolio compliments The Raccoons perfectly. We are certain they will be an amazing partner for the brand in its home country, Canada.”

Jacqueline Vong, Co-founder of Playology, adds: “Growing up in Canada with The Raccoons as a staple on TV and having the opportunity to work on the brand now is a full-circle moment. We can’t wait to introduce The Raccoons to a new generation and their fans again!”

 

 

Flair and Aardman sculpt new deal for Plasticine

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Flair GP and Aardman have signed a two-year deal to introduce new licensed lines to Flair’s Plasticine collection. The partnership will introduce two of Aardman’s much-loved animated characters to Flair’s popular heritage collection: Shaun the Sheep and Morph.

Available from July 2022, these licensed sets aim to offer children hours of creative play, allowing them to recreate their favourite on-screen characters.

The first addition to the range will be the Plasticine Shaun the Sheep Farmyard Fun set, which lets kids create their own Shaun the Sheep characters from Plasticine, complete with the illusion of a woolly texture. Once modelled, the characters can be displayed in the fun 3D farmyard scene.

The second line is the Plasticine Morph Animation Maker, which will allow children to create their own Morph – the iconic clay character who made his TV debut on the children’s BBC art show Take Hart in the 1970s and is back in a new Sky Kids series: The Epic Adventures of Morph. Kids can use the props and accessories to create Morph and then place him on the famous desktop scene to bring to life their favourite stop-motion sketches from the hit TV show.

Speaking of the collaboration, Iulia Toader, Marketing Manager, Flair GP, says: “We are so excited to announce this incredible partnership with Aardman. Aardman traditionally use modelling clay for their animations, and the most famous modelling material on the market is Plasticine – so there couldn’t be a better synergy between the brands. We know these lines are going to be a real hit with children and their families.

“The lines will launch during the summer holidays, and with it will come a marketing drive to raise further awareness among children and their parents, to ensure their success at retail.”

Adam Vincent-Garland, Business Development Manager at Aardman, adds: “We’re delighted to be working with Flair GP on these new Plasticine lines. Modelling is integral to the history of Aardman and our best-loved animations, so it really is a fitting partnership – and one that we hope will inspire the next generation of 3D modellers and animators.”

 

Genius Brands promotes Kerry Phelan to Chief Brand Officer

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Genius Brands has announced the promotion of Kerry Phelan to the newly created position of Chief Brand Officer.  This follows the company’s recent acquisitions of Canada’s WOW! Unlimited Media and Ameba TV, major investment in Germany’s Your Family Entertainment (YFE) to build a global footprint, as well as the worldwide rollout of Kartoon Channel!/Kartoon Channel! Kidaverse.  

Phelan joined Genius Brands in July 2021 as Executive Vice President & General Manager of Global Franchise Management after serving for 30 years in consumer products and retail executive roles at numerous studios, including  Lucasfilm, Dreamworks Animation and Pixar, where she built global campaigns for multi-billion dollar brands such as the Star Wars and Cars franchises, as well as Shrek, Kung Fu Panda and Madagascar, among many others.

As Genius Brands has expanded significantly over the past year with multiple acquisitions, Phelan’s role is expanding to include global brand building across all Genius Brands’ businesses. As Chief Brand Officer, Phelan is charged with building out a 360° ecosystem with multiple consumer touchpoints while driving significant incremental revenue for the company. She will be responsible for overall global brand strategy, consumer products, brand partnerships and collaborations, brand experiences, retail development and more, for Genius Brands’ roster of kids’ properties, including Stan Lee’s Superhero Kindergarten, Shaq’s Garage, Stan Lee Universe, Rainbow Rangers, among others in development.

“It’s a tremendous privilege for us to have an executive of Kerry’s calibre, with her successful track record of launching some of the most successful brands in entertainment history… leading the charge as we continue to launch new IP into the market and roll out existing brands on a global scale,” says Genius Brands’ CEO Andy Heyward. “Genius Brands is experiencing its most significant growth to date with our slate of acquisitions further bolstering our content catalogue and giving us a greater worldwide footprint, and we are in a solid position to take our company to the next level and achieve our goals of delivering quality children’s franchise to the marketplace and revenue to our shareholders.”

“In less than a year of joining Genius Brands, I am excited to be a part of a company that is leading the charge in the kids’ space to deliver innovative, purpose-driven brands to the marketplace while building a global platform to reach kids anywhere, anytime with quality content,” adds Phelan. “It is truly amazing to be a part of the team at Genius Brands and to play a role in the growth of the company, and I look forward to the years ahead as we continue to build our brands and platform on a global scale.”

 

 

Genius Brands promotes Kerry Phelan to Chief Brand Officer

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Genius Brands has announced the promotion of Kerry Phelan to the newly created position of Chief Brand Officer.  This follows the company’s recent acquisitions of Canada’s WOW! Unlimited Media and Ameba TV, major investment in Germany’s Your Family Entertainment (YFE) to build a global footprint, as well as the worldwide rollout of Kartoon Channel!/Kartoon Channel! Kidaverse.  

Phelan joined Genius Brands in July 2021 as Executive Vice President & General Manager of Global Franchise Management after serving for 30 years in consumer products and retail executive roles at numerous studios, including  Lucasfilm, Dreamworks Animation and Pixar, where she built global campaigns for multi-billion dollar brands such as the Star Wars and Cars franchises, as well as Shrek, Kung Fu Panda and Madagascar, among many others.

As Genius Brands has expanded significantly over the past year with multiple acquisitions, Phelan’s role is expanding to include global brand building across all Genius Brands’ businesses. As Chief Brand Officer, Phelan is charged with building out a 360° ecosystem with multiple consumer touchpoints while driving significant incremental revenue for the company. She will be responsible for overall global brand strategy, consumer products, brand partnerships and collaborations, brand experiences, retail development and more, for Genius Brands’ roster of kids’ properties, including Stan Lee’s Superhero Kindergarten, Shaq’s Garage, Stan Lee Universe, Rainbow Rangers, among others in development.

“It’s a tremendous privilege for us to have an executive of Kerry’s calibre, with her successful track record of launching some of the most successful brands in entertainment history… leading the charge as we continue to launch new IP into the market and roll out existing brands on a global scale,” says Genius Brands’ CEO Andy Heyward. “Genius Brands is experiencing its most significant growth to date with our slate of acquisitions further bolstering our content catalogue and giving us a greater worldwide footprint, and we are in a solid position to take our company to the next level and achieve our goals of delivering quality children’s franchise to the marketplace and revenue to our shareholders.”

“In less than a year of joining Genius Brands, I am excited to be a part of a company that is leading the charge in the kids’ space to deliver innovative, purpose-driven brands to the marketplace while building a global platform to reach kids anywhere, anytime with quality content,” adds Phelan. “It is truly amazing to be a part of the team at Genius Brands and to play a role in the growth of the company, and I look forward to the years ahead as we continue to build our brands and platform on a global scale.”

 

 

Warners Bros Consumer Products and SKECHERS launch latest We Bare Bears collab

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SKECHERS and Warner Bros. Consumer Products have announced their latest collaboration featuring brothers Grizz, Panda, and Ice Bear from Cartoon Network’s popular series We Bare Bears, for Lunar New Year in Asia.

Following the successful debut collection last October, the latest Skechers X We Bare Bears collaboration expands with two new ranges – the Classic collection and the Spring Summer collection – which feature new sneaker colourways and an expanded apparel line for both adults and kids.

Vikram Sharma, Vice President of Consumer Products, Advertising & Partnerships, WarnerMedia India, Southeast Asia & Korea, says: “We had such a great reaction to last year’s rollout from both partners and fans. So for these new collections, not only has SKECHERS added to the range and included footwear, we have also created bespoke design that depict the bear trio in an adorable tiger costume in time for Lunar New Year.”

The new collection includes footwear and apparel which will only be available through select distribution partners and SKECHERS websites in Singapore, Malaysia, Thailand, Cambodia, Vietnam, Bangladesh, Brunei, Nepal and Sri Lanka.

The Skechers X We Bare Bears women’s collection is slated to launch in March.