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Licensing International appoints Steve Manners as Head of Marketing

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Licensing International has announced the appointment of Steve Manners as Head of Marketing. Based in the UK, Manners will oversee global marketing efforts for Licensing International, the leading trade organisation for the global licensing industry.

Manners brings extensive industry experience to his new role, having held senior management positions at leading companies including 20th Century Fox, Universal and Beanstalk. Most recently, Manners worked with WildBrain CPLG, where he spent more than ten years as VP Business Development, overseeing strategy development, marketing and client services.

“I am thrilled to be working with Licensing International at a time when the industry is going through significant change due to the challenges of Covid,” Manners says. “Together with [Licensing International President] Maura Regan and the team, we’ll be looking at ways to further support LI members and add even greater value whilst continuing to elevate the industry across the broader business community.”

“We are at a pivotal time within the licensing industry, and Steve brings both new perspective and deep understanding of the industry to our organisation,” says Maura Regan. “Having worked with Steve for years in his previous roles, I am thrilled he’s joined our team, and confident he will help us better serve Licensing International members worldwide.”

For more information and updates from Licensing International, visit LicensingInternational.org.

 

Acamar Films appoints EMEA Licensing Director and Head of Agent Management

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Following the continued European success and expansion of International Emmy Award-winning pre-school series Bing, Acamar Films has promoted Laura Clarke to Licensing Director, EMEA and Luca Bonecchi to Head of Agent Management.

Reporting to Executive Director of Sales, Natalie Harvey, Laura will oversee the overall EMEA licensing strategy in conjunction with managing Acamar Films’ agents in Northern Europe, and will continue to manage and lead the European toy distributors under Golden Bear’s master toy agreement.

Laura joined Acamar Films in 2016 from Mattel, where she was Group Director for EMEA. Since then, Laura has taken Bing from strength to strength in EMEA with her wealth of experience working across all categories in the preschool sector.

Luca joined Acamar Films last year from Entertainment One where he worked as VP Licensing EMEA on major preschool properties including Peppa Pig and PJ Masks. Luca will continue to support and report to Laura, and with his new role will be responsible for the management of existing agents in Southern Europe and new agents outside of the US, in line with Acamar Films’ market expansion.

Natalie Harvey says: “Laura Clarke embodies all the values of Acamar Films in everything she does and with Bing‘s growing international footprint, it is essential we remain focused on servicing the needs of each of our markets and their respective audiences. We are thrilled she has the brilliant support of Luca Bonecchi, who we are very lucky to have as part of our team and who has in a short time has contributed greatly to the ongoing success of Bing in EMEA.”

Call of Duty collectibles incoming from Koyo and Activision

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Games and pop culture merchandise specialist Koyo and video game publisher Activision have partnered to launch officially licensed Call of Duty: Vanguard and Call of Duty: Warzone collectibles.

The new and upcoming products build on Koyo’s existing games offering, which encompasses a range of collectibles based on popular characters and iconic items from some of the world’s biggest game developers and publishers.

Koyo’s latest range for fans of Call of Duty: Vanguard and Call of Duty: Warzone includes logo pin badges, logo keyrings, bar blade bottle openers, patch sets, DIY pin badge sets and Tomogunchi pin badge sets.

More items in Koyo’s Call of Duty collectibles range will be revealed in the coming months.

The Call of Duty: Vanguard collectibles will be available for fans to buy direct from www.thekoyostore.com or through retail stores globally from 22 January 2022, with Call of Duty: Warzone collectibles following in February.

“We’re so excited to be working with Activision to create some truly unique Call of Duty collectibles,” says Koyo COO Helen Garlick. “Our aim is always to deliver what our fan communities want, and Call of Duty has been on many wish lists for a long time, including ours! We’re sure Vanguard and Warzone players everywhere will love these items – and we have more planned for the coming months.”

 

Novel Entertainment partners with P2 Games for Horrid Henry’s Krazy Karts

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Novel Entertainment has partnered with P2 Games to develop and launch a new racing game for its internationally renowned Horrid Henry brand.

Targeting kids aged 6+ and families, ‘Horrid Henry’s Krazy Karts’ will initially be available exclusively from the Nintendo eShop on Nintendo Switch worldwide from Friday 21 January.

Based on Novel Entertainment’s hit TV series Horrid Henry, the all-new game will give players the chance to race as Horrid Henry or go head-to-head with him as Rude Ralph, Moody Margaret, Perfect Peter, Brainy Brian or Singing Soraya, gaining cups and upgrades to become the ultimate ‘Horrid Hero.’

The game features 40 challenging levels set across four themed locations: Gross World, Ashton Town, Ashton Primary and the Park. During the races, players control their racing karts to swoop over jumps and dodge obstacles, farts, goo and slime. Fans are also able to customise their kart in the ‘Wacky Workshop’ for extra advantage and win perfect power-up tokens.
‘Horrid Henry’s Krazy Karts’ will be available to play in single and multiplayer modes as well as offering both a Tournament and Race Mode option. The game also features a level design editor, giving users the chance to create and share their own horridly tricky challenges.

Lucinda Whiteley, Co-Founder and Creative Director at Novel Entertainment, says: “There continues to be a high expectation from Horrid Henry’s extensive international fan base for engaging ways to experience the brand across a multitude of formats and platforms. As such, it’s fantastic to once again team up with P2 Games and bring fans a new action-packed racing game, which incorporates all the Horrid Henry elements they know and love.”

Gerry Whiteside, Co-Director at P2, added: “We’re absolutely delighted to be working with Novel Entertainment once again to introduce the hugely successful Horrid Henrybrand to Nintendo Switch. This is the first game that P2, in collaboration with Mobile Pie, has developed for this device and we believe there’s a huge gap in the market for high quality kids gaming content.”

Kartoon Channel! makes senior hire for newly announced KC! Kidaverse

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Genius Brands International has announced the appointment of Todd Steinman to the Kartoon Channel! Executive Team as Chief Revenue and Marketing Officer of the Company’s recently announced Kartoon Channel! Kidaverse.

Growth-marketing expert Steinman most recently served as Vice President in the Direct to Consumer and International division at The Walt Disney Company, which included Disney+ during its launch. He helped create solutions to leverage the Walt Disney Company’s  portfolio of linear and digital brands, including DISNEY, HULU, ESPN, ABC, FREEFORM, FX, and Nat Geo, while setting strategy for ad sales and revenue teams.

Prior to his role at The Walt Disney Company, Steinman co-founded the digital media agency M80, and then led the NBC Universal media team for WPP after they acquired M80. He negotiated multi-million-dollar annual media deals with Google/YouTube, Amazon, Hulu, Disney, Twitter, Snapchat, Spotify, and others, while managing an annual budget north of $1billion.

Steinman will report to Jon Ollwerther, President of Kartoon Channel! and KC! Kidaverse, who stated: “Todd has a history of driving growth for the most important names in entertainment. With the announcement of the KC! Kidaverse, and the acquisition of Ameba TV, Kartoon Channel! has reached a new inflection point, and I could not be more thrilled to welcome an executive of Todd’s calibre to help take our business to the next level.”

“There is an electric excitement about the Kartoon Channel! and KC! Kidaverse in the kids and family market,” said Steinman, “It’s a breakthrough concept, and I’m looking forward to bringing all my expertise to help drive it forward.”

Brand and Lifestyle Licensing Awards 2022 adds new Sustainability category

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The Brand & Lifestyle Licensing Awards 2022 has introduced a new category – The Sustainability Brand Licensed Range award – into the awards’ line-up.

The new accolade will recognise and reward the sustainable credentials of a brand licensed product or range. Entries can be for a single product or range, of any type. It can involve collaborations, but a brand licence (non-entertainment) has to be part of this.

The product or range must have been on sale or visible in the UK between 1 January 2021 to 31 December 2021, though it can have had a presence elsewhere in the world, too. Products/ranges can be entered into this award as well as into another category.

Like the other B&LLAs 2022 categories, entry for The Sustainability Brand Licensed Range is completely free of charge. You can enter by clicking on this link.

The deadline for entries and nominations into all categories is Tuesday 8 March.

“Sustainability and success are becoming almost interchangeable for business and something that all brands will have to embrace in the future,” says Helena Mansell-Stopher, founder and CEO of Products of Change, which is sponsoring the award. “That’s why we are extremely pleased to be partnering with The B&LLAs team to showcase the progress and innovations of the brand and licensing industry within the space of sustainability, and inspire others to take that first step.”

The Brand & Lifestyle Licensing Awards 2022 will take place on Wednesday 27 April at a lavish afternoon event at the Hilton Park Lane, London.

For ticket and table information for The B&LLAs awards event, please click here.

 

Moose Toys partners with Silvergate Media for new Octonauts toy line

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Moose Toys has partnered with Silvergate Media, the producers of Octonauts, on a new line of toys launching August 2022.

Moose will release a range of vehicles, figures, plush and playsets based on the popular animated TV property and its latest series, Octonauts: Above & Beyond, to preschool toy aisles nationwide.

Moose will continue the Octo-fun with line expansions, including new characters, vehicles and more, in late 2022.

“Anticipation for the new line of Octonauts: Above & Beyond toys has been building since we announced our partnership,” says Belinda Gruebner, chief marketing officer, Moose Toys. “We simply could not contain our enthusiasm and desire to share this first look at the line any longer.

“Moose’s strength and expertise in the preschool aisle shines with these toys designed to capture the hearts and imaginations of young Octo-fans. Widely regarded as one of the top preschool properties, Octonauts is action packed, educational and anchored in learning through problem solving and teamwork, and our toy line continues this outside of the episodes.”

The first wave of the range includes:

Playsets

  • Octoray Transforming Headquarters Playset [pictured above]: The ultimate transforming playset that goes from flying Octoray transporter to Headquarters. The large-scale playset comes with Captain Barnacles, three cute creatures and a collectible mission card for kids to create and play their own adventures and rescue missions. SRP $69.99
  • Octopod Action Playset: The command centre of the Octonauts world that’s featured in every Octonauts episode. The Octopod Action Playset includes Captain Barnacles, three creatures and a collectible mission card. SRP $34.99

Vehicles and Figures

  • Octonauts Deluxe Vehicles: This lineup of vehicles includes new vehicles from the latest Octonauts: Above & Beyond series as well as must-have vehicles from the original hit Octonauts show. Each vehicle comes with an Octonauts crew member, creature, and a collectable mission card. SRP $16.99
    • Gup-A and Captain Barnacles: The most iconic Octonauts Gup, the Gup-A is a submarine that is perfect for all underwater missions and adventures.
    • Gup-B and Kwazii: This shark-inspired vehicle comes complete with a chomping jaw feature.
    • Terra-Gup 1 and Dashi: Based on the new Octonauts: Above & Beyond content, the Terra-Gup 1 and Dashi are ready for land adventures.

Figures

  • Adventure Packs: Collectible packs that include one figure, an environment, a creature and a mission card to take kids on their own Octonauts adventure.  The packs feature four of the most popular Octonauts and their companion creatures, including Panni and Reindeer, Barnacles and Puffin, Kwazii and Tiger and Peso and Salamander. SRP $8.99

Gup Racers

  • Gup Racer Assortment: The debut assortment includes six collectible favorite Octonauts characters and their vehicles. With an assortment of sea and land vehicles, each vehicle comes with rolling wheels and a fixed figure. SRP $4.99

Plush

  • Plush and Talking Plush: Super-soft and cuddly Octonauts plush featuring four of the series’ most popular characters, including a talking Captain Barnacles who delivers some of his signature phrases. SRP $9.99 (plush figures); $24.99 (Captain Barnacles talking plush)

The toys will be available nationwide wherever toys are sold beginning August 2022. The launch of the new Octonauts line will be supported by a 360-marketing campaign including national television, digital media buys, influencer partnerships and in-store point-of-sale features.

There are five seasons and a trio of Netflix Original movie-length specials currently available on Netflix. The series is a ratings hit with leading broadcasters worldwide including CCTV, BBC, ABC and Super RTL. The Octonauts official YouTube channels have delivered more than 2 billion lifetime views, with in the region of 2 million subscribers.

The property’s newest series Octonauts: Above & Beyond takes the much-loved crew of intrepid explorers beyond the sea and onto land with an exciting array of new locations, vehicles and storylines to enjoy.

 

 

ZAG signs global licensing deal with PMI for Miraculous – Tales of Ladybug and Cat Noir

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Animation studio ZAG has signed a global licensing agreement with Tel Aviv-based PMI for a line of collectibles, impulse, stationery and school supplies for the global hit series Miraculous – Tales of Ladybug and Cat Noir. 

The new merchandise is scheduled to hit shelves in summer 2022. The announcement was made today by Julian Zag, EVP, Global Operations and Head of Consumer Products, ZAG.

The multiple award-winning Miraculous has attracted a massive fan base across the  globe. Miraculous fandom spans more than 120 markets worldwide with four seasons of the series now on air that regularly attract number-one ratings (and a fifth in production), mobile games, the first branded game on the Roblox platform with over 300 million gameplays, a new console game in the works, and the upcoming US$100M+ animated feature.

PMI has mapped out a line of toy products befitting the Miraculous superheroes, including Ladybug and Cat Noir, who will be the main focus of PMI’s extensive line of stampers, toppers, coin purses, key chains, plush backpacks and pencil cases, as well as Matchify card games and other stationery and school supplies.

“We are delighted to finalise our agreement with PMI, a market leader with a unique distribution advantage, reaching multiple points of sale from newsstands and kiosks, to mass market retailers,” commented Julian Zag.

“With season four of the series now available across the globe, and our US$100M+ animated feature coming out this year,  they are the ideal partner to work together with ZAG to bring this extensive line of products to our fans across the globe who are clamoring for more ways to engage with the brand.”

ZAG Games signs deal for first official Miraculous Ladybug console game

 

 

Character World names new CEO

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James Walker has been appointed as Chief Executive Officer of Character World.

James combines 25 years’ experience in retail, licensing, brands and digital commerce and has held global senior management positions at Disney, Hasbro and McArthurGlen.

Danny and Mark Schweiger will continue in their roles as Joint Managing Directors and will work alongside James in delivering the Company’s business plan.

Danny and Mark in a joint statement said:

“Over the last 17 years many of the team have worked closely with James both at Disney and Hasbro. More recently, James has been working with Character World to develop a growth strategy with plans to take the company to new levels.

“We enter 2022 looking forward to unlocking this exciting new chapter of our business with our brand and retail partners with James’ experience and leadership.”

James said: “I am delighted to be joining Character World at such an exciting time for the business. Both the industry and sectors Character World work in are in a strong position and we see exciting growth opportunities across multiple areas.”

The company will be targeting growth in its core business as well as accelerating the evolution of e-commerce and digital, distribution opportunities and expanding its success in Health and Wellness.

Character World dreams big with £14.5m Secure Trust Bank finance deal

 

 

Spotify seals exclusive deal for CoComelon Storytime podcast

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Spotify has announced an exclusive multi-year agreement featuring some of the most beloved voices within the kids’ entertainment space. Through this initiative, Spotify will partner with CoComelon, the number-one kids channel on YouTube, for a new podcast, CoComelon Storytime.

The show will be followed by a mix of other original and exclusive ‘homegrown’ shows, including Gardenkeeper Gus, 100 Cinderellas, and Deep Blue Sea. The new content will be available to parents on the main Spotify app within the Family and Kids Hub, as well as on the Spotify Kids app, exclusive to Spotify Premium Family subscribers.

Produced by Moonbug Entertainment, CoComelon has an impressive reach and dedicated following, garnering over 4.2 billion views per month.

“We are so thrilled to be entering into this partnership with CoComelon to produce a series of original and exclusive content tailored to families,” says Max Cutler, Head of New Content Initiatives at Spotify. “This is a major win for us as we continue to expand the scope of our podcast ambitions and help to drive the exponential growth of the audio industry.

“Spotify is the only platform with the scale and infrastructure necessary to enable a partner like CoComelon to grow beyond their millions of highly loyal, passionate and engaged fans and transcend into podcasting. With their popularity and Spotify’s ability to distribute and amplify it in the audio space, the potential for the show’s reach is limitless.”

CoComelon Story Time, which is launching on January 24, includes beloved storybook classics with a CoComelon twist. The stories impart positive life lessons, providing families with playful and educational content that they can enjoy together. The new podcast series will be available globally in four languages including English (American and British vocabulary), Spanish, German and Brazilian Portuguese.

Gardenkeeper Gus, launching on January 31 and designed for families with younger children, is a quiet and contemplative preschool podcast that follows the adventures of 6-year-old Gus and his squirrel best friend Rel as they explore and understand the endless and larger-than-life garden behind his family home.

100 Cinderellas, launching on February 14 and designed for families with younger children, is an anthology series of Cinderella stories from around the world, suitable for bedtime.

Deep Blue Sea, launching on February 28, consists of episodes where listeners will visit an underwater oceanic laboratory, Sea Lab Alpha, with an impeccable view of sea life.

“We are excited to be partnering with Moonbug to bring one of their iconic brands, CoComelon, to our millions of listeners around the world,” says Verdell Walker, Head of Kids Audio Content at Spotify. “As one of today’s most popular family brands, CoComelon’s interactive storytelling is a perfect fit for audio. We’re thrilled that we can expand the world of CoComelon, with its dynamic characters that educate and entertain millions of families, into audio.”