Tag Archives: news

“Radically inclusive” fashion brand T.W.I.N. marks White Cane Safety Day with release of new Braille T-shirt collection

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To mark White Cane Safety Day (15 October), which celebrates the achievements of blind and visually impaired people, fashion company T.W.I.N. today launched its new Braille collection.

The range consists of three colourways of the 02 Braille Layered T-Shirt ($65), imprinted with T.W.I.N.’s logo in Braille. Made of sustainable deadstock fabric, the T-shirts come in a genderless design to suit everyone.

An estimated 253 million people are visually impaired worldwide and as a whole, disabled people represent one in four shoppers. A portion of the proceeds of sales of T.W.I.N.’s T –shirts will be donated directly to VISIONS, an NYC-based non-profit that provides services for the blind and visually impaired community.

To further promote and bring awareness to issues faced by the blind and visually impaired community, T.W.I.N. has teamed up with blind award-winning creator and NYC-based musical artist Lachi, who stars in the collection’s campaign. Lachi is an award-winning recording artist, producer and disability activist.

Founded by Isabella and Alicia Serrani, T.W.I.N. (That’s What I Need) is a twin-owned, Toronto-born, New York-based company “focused on making good products, honestly”. The Braille campaign is part of T.W.I.N.’s mission to promote radical inclusivity across the spectrum of race, gender, and ability both in representation, and their creative process.

 

Redbox enters into multiyear distribution deal with Lionsgate

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Global content leader Lionsgate and Redbox, a leading entertainment company, today announced a multiyear distribution deal under which Lionsgate will handle distribution of Redbox Entertainment titles across home entertainment windows in addition to subscription video on demand (SVOD) licensing for select titles under the Redbox Entertainment brand.

Leveraging nearly 20 years of movie performance data, Redbox Entertainment is well positioned to identify titles and talent that will resonate with consumers.  Recently released Redbox Entertainment films include Capone (Tom Hardy), Shadow in the Cloud (Chloë Grace Moretz and Nick Robinson) and SAS: Red Notice (Sam Heughan and Ruby Rose). Redbox Entertainment expects to release 36 original movies annually including upcoming releases The Last Son (Colson Baker [aka musician Machine Gun Kelly] and Heather Graham), Bandit (Josh Duhamel and Mel Gibson) and Muti (Morgan Freeman and Cole Hauser). Redbox Entertainment titles are available across all major entertainment retailers ensuring these films are enjoyed by the broadest audience possible.

“Redbox has a large slate of films coming in 2022 and beyond, and we’re excited to work with Lionsgate to identify those that are a great fit for their distribution model,” says Galen Smith, CEO of Redbox. “Ron Schwartz and his team have been terrific partners over the years, and we are excited to extend our relationship to tap into their world class distribution prowess to create value for both companies.”

The two companies are also partnering on an agreement to license films and television series from Lionsgate’s 17,000-title library to Redbox‘s fast-growing ad-supported video on demand (AVOD) and Free Ad Supported Television (FAST) services. Redbox has aggressively scaled its AVOD streaming service to include thousands of popular films and television series in the past year while also growing to more than 100 FAST Channels available on its streaming app, with plans to add more in the coming months.

“Lionsgate’s longstanding partnership with Redbox has created significant value for both our companies,” says Ron Schwartz, Lionsgate President of Worldwide Distribution, Motion Picture Group. “That collaboration has evolved into a multifaceted distribution relationship across home entertainment, SVOD and AVOD platforms that allows us to continue to diversify our content offering to our consumers.”

Sakar International and SEGA of America mark Sonic’s 30th anniversary with new line of wheeled goods

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Sakar International and SEGA of America have today announced a partnership to expand Sakar’s line of licensed wheeled goods and accessories with Sonic the Hedgehog, as part of the iconic video game character’s 30th anniversary.

This autumn, Sonic fans can speed into action and adventure with hoverboards, scooters (manual and electric), four-wheel ride-ons and skateboards (manual and electric) all inspired by the beloved hedgehog. Additionally, Sonic-themed helmets and other protective gear will be available for purchase.

“Sakar International is looking forward to helping SEGA celebrate Sonic’s 30th anniversary with products that allow young fans to be active and expand their imaginations,” says Ralph Sasson, COO at Sakar. “Sonic is one of the most iconic gaming franchises and we’re excited to bring these products to an entirely new generation of fans.”

To further celebrate Sonic’s landmark anniversary, Sakar will create a variety of Sonic-inspired video game accessories and youth electronics including speakers, headsets, keyboards, mouse pads, charging stations, gaming furniture, walkie talkies, box kits, telescopes, binoculars, role-play electronic kits, wearable VR goggles, alarm clock radios, microphones and karaoke machines, among other consumer goods.

Sonic the Hedgehog-themed wheeled goods and accessories will begin racing into Walmart and other retailers across the US this holiday season.

Headquartered in Edison, NJ, with additional offices in Canada, Latin America, Australia, Hong Kong and China, Sakar International is a leading provider of consumer electronics and accessories. The company licenses over 40 major entertainment and corporate brands and is the parent company to Vivitar, a full-spectrum consumer tech company specialising in the production of cameras, camcorders, mobile accessories, and health and wellness products.

 

The NSPCC partners with Imagine8 for Pantosaurus and Buddy merchandise

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Edutainment Licensing has announced that UK children’s charity the NSPCC has partnered with Imagine8 to create ranges of Pantosaurus and Buddy merchandise.

Based in Warrington, Imagine8 develops product ranges from concept to delivery for a one-stop-shop cross-category solution.

The ‘Back to School with Buddy’ range includes a selection of bags, water bottles and stationery featuring strong and bold graphics.

The NSPCC’s Buddy is a bright green speech bubble mascot used to communicate the NSPCC’s ‘Speak Out. Stay Safe’ (SOSS) campaign, which has so far reached 90 per cent of primary schools nationwide.

The age-appropriate SOSS assemblies and workshops are delivered to children aged 5 to 11 across the UK and Channel Islands to encourage them to speak out if something is worrying them.

The ‘Pantosaurus Summer’ range of accessories is perfect for taking to the swimming pool as well as the beach.

Pantosaurus helps children learn about the PANTS rules, which aims to help keep them safe. From P through to S, each letter of PANTS provides a simple but valuable rule: that their private parts are private, their body belongs to them, and that they should tell an adult they trust if they’re worried or upset.

Since the launch of PANTS, 1.5 million parents have already had one of these conversations with their children and the NSPCC hopes this amazing range of products will help many more parents and carers talk PANTS with their little ones.

Cyber Group Studios readies new ‘Precious Moments’ animated comedy series for preschoolers

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Cyber Group Studios, the international producer/distributor of animated series and creator of entertainment brands for children and families, is developing Precious Moments, an animated comedy and adventure series for children ages 4–6 based on the gift industry phenomenon of the same name.

The whimsical 52 x 11-min series is created by Scott and Julie Stewart (Kate & Mim-Mim). The development plan also includes four 30- to 60-minute holiday specials.

Precious Moments follows the adventures of 8-year-old Hope and her adorable pet hamster, Sammy, as they work together to help make the children of Heartspring’s precious moments come true. With an abundance of comedy and heart, thoughtful undertones of mindfulness and plenty of fun, action-packed moments, Precious Moments features diverse characters and strong messages of inclusiveness. The series underscores the Precious Moments brand’s core values of loving, caring, sharing and kindness via stories that emphasise sharing feelings, overcoming fears and anxieties, and more.

The Precious Moments brand, best known for its signature range of collectable porcelain figurines with distinctive teardrop-shaped eyes that help celebrate milestones and special occasions in people’s lives, has been a best-selling range of the gift business for over four decades.

“We are thrilled to be working with Cyber Group Studios and a team of thoughtful writers and artists to bring the Precious Moments brand to a new generation of children,” says Shehnaz Safiuddin, Vice President of Product and Marketing, Precious Moments, Inc. “Our updated art style and entertainment content are sure to captivate young audiences while fostering feelings of nostalgia among parents and grandparents.”

 

 

 

Art and design brand Snowtap to make licensing debut at BLE

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Set to appear for the first time at Brand Licensing Europe, Design studio Snowtap has partnered with licensing agent Kirsty Guthrie from KJG to create a range of consumer products based around its beautiful, playful designs.

Established in 2016 by two university friends, Snowtap is the design studio of graphic designer Susy Snow and illustrator Gracie Tapner. The pair met at the University of Westminster in 2011 while studying for degrees in Illustration and Visual Communication.

After graduating, the founders were both working in the industry, when a catch-up over coffee sparked the idea of setting up a studio together. Less than a month later, the pair had launched Snowtap and the initial two greeting card designs had been stocked in their hometown of Newmarket.

The company now boasts over 70 card designs. Featuring witty puns, the cards cover all occasions, with a range of instantly recognisable designs and illustrations created collaboratively using watercolour, line drawing and hand-drawn typography.

Snowtap is now working with Kirsty Guthrie from KJG to build a licensing portfolio around the brand and extend the illustrations to a range of products covering greetings, homewares, stationery, gifts and more.

Susy commented: “We’re really excited to be working alongside Kirsty and for our range of illustrations to have had such a positive reception already from industry leaders. Working as a duo, our designs have double the creative input, resulting in illustrations that are the best of both worlds. Add to this mix some new opportunities to expand our range and the result is a very exciting future for Snowtap with unlimited potential.”

Kirsty Guthrie added: “Snowtap’s designs are absolutely gorgeous, and their clever, funny puns make the artwork ideal for creating a wide range of lifestyle products. Susy and Gracie are incredibly talented and can create illustrations for any purpose and I’m really looking forward to discussing this brand with potential licensees at BLE and building a consumer product portfolio. Our initial conversations have already resulted in a few deals – more to be revealed shortly – and the brand is being incredibly well received over all manner of product categories. I’m looking forward to seeing what the future holds for Snowtap.”

 

 

 

WildBrain CPLG turns up the volume with MTV x Eastpak collaboration

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Leading entertainment, sport and brand licensing agency WildBrain CPLG has secured a global deal with Eastpak for a collection inspired by ViacomCBS Consumer Products’ iconic pop culture and entertainment brand MTV. The range launched earlier this month and during MTV’s 40th anniversary year, and spans backpacks, a duffel bag and bum bag, all featuring bold hand-drawn elements and bright 1980s-inspired graphics. The deal was brokered by WildBrain CPLG’s Benelux team.

The MTV x Eastpak range is now available at Eastpak’s stores and website globally and is being supported by an extensive marketing and social media campaign.

Peter Evers, Commercial Director Benelux at WildBrain CPLG, says: “There continues to be significant demand from consumers for merchandise that evokes a feeling of nostalgia and transports them back to a moment in time. Through this loud and bold collection, we’ve brought together two decade-defining brands from the 1980s to create a line that celebrates not only the importance of both MTV and Eastpak during that era, but also their continuing appeal with young adults today.”

Maxime Morel, Senior Merchandiser Special Projects at VF International – owner of the Eastpak brand – added: “Our new collaboration with MTV reimagines our classic designs in the style of the world’s most iconic entertainment brand. We translated the nostalgic MTV graphics into a capsule collection that features three vibrant prints, and each design stands out with co-branded MTV and Eastpak logos. The boombox-inspired MTV Duffle bag is exclusive to this collection, paying homage to the 1980s era.”

WildBrain CPLG represents additional pop culture and retro ViacomCBS Consumer Products brands in multiple territories, including MTV, Star Trek, Twin Peaks and 90210. This MTV x Eastpak collaboration builds upon WildBrain CPLG’s recent deal for ViacomCBS Consumer Products with Tommy Hilfiger, which saw the successful launch of ‘A Blast From The Past’ capsule fashion collection this summer. The Hilfiger range features iconic characters and logos from Nickelodeon and MTV across a range of T-shirts, sweats, and hoodies.

Nelvana and Juniper Creates launch ‘Max & Ruby’ throwback merch line for Millennial and Gen Z fans

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Nelvana, international producer, distributor and licensor of children’s animated and live-action content, and direct-to-consumer merchandise manufacturer Juniper Creates  have partnered to deliver childhood nostalgia with a new Max & Ruby clothing line targeted at Millennials and Gen Zs who grew up with the series.

The Max & Ruby Remix Collection is an homage to the show and its dedicated fan-base, and portrays the beloved brother and sister bunny duo in a creative and colourful way. The line is available to shop now on www.maxandrubyremix.com.

“Millennials and Gen Zs all over the world have fond memories of watching Max & Ruby as preschoolers,” says Mellany Masterson, Head of Nelvana Enterprises. “Tapping into the power of nostalgia and drawing insights from the viral success we’ve had on TikTok, this new collection captures the playfulness and fun of Max & Ruby.”

Over the past 18 months, Max & Ruby enthusiasts on TikTok have generated over 127 million uses of the hashtag #maxandruby. The three different trends that went viral include a remix dance, classic cake remakes and theme song origins. By exploring styles that appeal to this Max & Ruby audience, the Max & Ruby Remix Collection line was created to capture the essence of the brand but still be easily integrated into day-to-day wear. Pieces from the line include tops, overalls, oversized fashion earrings, and a Max & Ruby version of the trendy blanket sweater.

“We’re delighted to continue our partnership with Nelvana, this time with the Max & Ruby franchise as it nears its 20th broadcast anniversary in May 2022,” says Shawn Curtis, Director of Partnerships at Juniper Creates. “The team is developing exclusive and limited-edition merchandise that ties into the nostalgia of the IP appealing to broad audiences that grew up watching this brother and sister bunny duo. We’ll bring the Max & Ruby Remix Collection to market, leveraging our full supply-chain and technology platform, manufacturing and fulfilling orders globally via a dedicated Direct to Consumer storefront, maxandrubyremix.com”.

Fans can still watch all their favourite episodes of Max & Ruby on Treehouse and live and on demand with STACKTV, available through Amazon Prime Video Channels.

 

 

Nelvana and Juniper Creates launch ‘Max & Ruby’ throwback merch line for Millennial and Gen Z fans

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Nelvana, international producer, distributor and licensor of children’s animated and live-action content, and direct-to-consumer merchandise manufacturer Juniper Creates  have partnered to deliver childhood nostalgia with a new Max & Ruby clothing line targeted at Millennials and Gen Zs who grew up with the series.

The Max & Ruby Remix Collection is an homage to the show and its dedicated fan-base, and portrays the beloved brother and sister bunny duo in a creative and colourful way. The line is available to shop now on www.maxandrubyremix.com.

“Millennials and Gen Zs all over the world have fond memories of watching Max & Ruby as preschoolers,” says Mellany Masterson, Head of Nelvana Enterprises. “Tapping into the power of nostalgia and drawing insights from the viral success we’ve had on TikTok, this new collection captures the playfulness and fun of Max & Ruby.”

Over the past 18 months, Max & Ruby enthusiasts on TikTok have generated over 127 million uses of the hashtag #maxandruby. The three different trends that went viral include a remix dance, classic cake remakes and theme song origins. By exploring styles that appeal to this Max & Ruby audience, the Max & Ruby Remix Collection line was created to capture the essence of the brand but still be easily integrated into day-to-day wear. Pieces from the line include tops, overalls, oversized fashion earrings, and a Max & Ruby version of the trendy blanket sweater.

“We’re delighted to continue our partnership with Nelvana, this time with the Max & Ruby franchise as it nears its 20th broadcast anniversary in May 2022,” says Shawn Curtis, Director of Partnerships at Juniper Creates. “The team is developing exclusive and limited-edition merchandise that ties into the nostalgia of the IP appealing to broad audiences that grew up watching this brother and sister bunny duo. We’ll bring the Max & Ruby Remix Collection to market, leveraging our full supply-chain and technology platform, manufacturing and fulfilling orders globally via a dedicated Direct to Consumer storefront, maxandrubyremix.com”.

Fans can still watch all their favourite episodes of Max & Ruby on Treehouse and live and on demand with STACKTV, available through Amazon Prime Video Channels.

 

 

ZAG promotes Lisa K Foster to SVP, Licensing, North America

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As award-winning global independent animation studio ZAG continues to build a robust consumer products programme for flagship brand Miraculous: Tales of Ladybug & Cat Noir, the company is elevating North American Licensing VP Lisa K Foster to the role of Senior Vice President, Licensing, to manage the company’s portfolio of brands under the ZAG Heroez label – an umbrella brand franchise that brings together the superheroes from ZAG’s animated properties.

ZAG has also appointed former Disney Consumer Products and MGA Entertainment alum Monique Daggett as Licensing Manager, and Freddie Ordonez as Licensing Attorney. The announcements were made by Julian Zag, EVP, Global Operations and Head of Global Consumer Products.

“Lisa is passionate about the Miraculous brand and how fans of all ages want to engage with the stories and characters that we continue to create,” commented Julian. “She’s done a phenomenal job identifying and securing best-in-class partners in the US who will start rolling out products this fall and spring 2022. We’re delighted that Lisa will lead our US licensing and merchandising strategies for Miraculous and our newest series, Ghostforce, by working directly with the global team and me.”

Since joining the company in September 2020, Foster has contributed to over 60 new licensing partners for the North America market for Miraculous. In her elevated role, reporting directly to Julian Zag, Foster will continue to develop the licensing strategy for North America for the Miraculous brand, which includes the TV series currently spanning four seasons, with season five in production; the upcoming US$100M+ animated feature film and as yet unannounced spin-off series; and the company’s newest property to launch, Ghostforce, an original gender-neutral series for kids 6–10 years old that debuted on Disney XD on October 4. A toy line for Ghostforce is in the works from ZAG Lab and Playmates.

Retail expansion for Miraculous – lead by Sarah Boyer, Vice President of North America Retail­ – is underway across North America, with the toy line from ZAG Lab and Playmates hitting brick and mortar stores this autumn following the successful Spring 2021 rollout on e-commerce platforms including Walmart, Target and Kohls.

Other products hitting retail shelves in the US and Canada starting this year include books from Little, Brown Books for Young Readers; costumes and accessories from InSpirit Designs; oral care from Church & Dwight Co; bedding and bath from Jay Franco; underwear from Handcraft Manufacturing; swimwear, sportswear, tees and sleepwear from Bentex Apparel Group, Komar and BioWorld; novelty sunglasses from Sunstaches; confections from Galerie; fruit snacks from Ferrara, stationery from Inkology; beauty from Centric Beauty; craft & activity from Horizon, posters and stickers from Trends International; colour and activity from Bendon; and novelty toys from What Kids Want, Inc.