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Tassa Pagata/Taxe Perçue/TORINO CMP ROMOLI/Economy/N - Issue n. 11 Year 2016

LICENSING | BRANDING | MEDIA&DIGITAL | PUBLISHING TRADE MAGAZINE

#4 | 2016 WHAT’S NEW FOR THE NEXT SEASON

KIDS ENTERTAINMENT TRENDS

BRAND LICENSING EUROPE

Editorial

Dear reader, Welcome to the industry’s new exciting season. We have dedicated the beginning of the magazine to the main news for the upcoming year. The general themes for this edition are the return of the classics and the creation of solid lasting franchises, which are relying upon the world of cinema and television to capture the loyalty of targets. The digital world has found a central role in the market, both as a source and means of creation of new franchises. In this edition, there are case histories and analyses regarding the relationship between publishing and the digital world, in respect of the children’s target.

Brands Media is partnering with Cartoon Forum once more, selecting animated series’ with the highest licensing and cross-media potential, especially for it’s readers. Considering that all of the projects

mentioned are either newly presented or in the phases of development, we strongly suggest that you keep your eye on them! For the Forum event, BM has also organized a contingent of licensing professionals, who have entered into the world of European cartoon animation for the very first time. The first to have had this privilege were Maria Giovanna Gurrieri (CPLG), Simona Abriani (DeAgostini), Giorgia Leogrande and Alessandro Gozzo (Ferrero).

Brands Media has much more to look forward to, and continues with news that shall be awaiting you at the events where they are media partner: At Brand Licensing Europe, booth n. F110, and at MipcomJr and Mipcom, where BM has organised a workshop entitled “Licensing Hits, From Brands to TV Series”.

As always, Happy reading!

IMPORTANT NOTICE: The hard copy of the Licensing Made In magazine shall be posted to your office only by subscription. It is super easy to subscribe and you will be able to learn more at the end of this copy!

The digital version and the distribution at fairs will remain free.

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LICENSING | BRANDING | MEDIA&DIGITAL | PUBLISHING TRADE MAGAZINE

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Tassa Pagata/Taxe Perçue/TORINO CMP ROMOLI/Economy/N - Issue n. 11 Year 2016

SPECIAL THANKS TO Kay Bird, Daniela Di Maio, Simona Abriani, Kidz Global, Doxa

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KIDS ENTERTAINMENT TRENDS

BRAND LICENSING EUROPE

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Issue n. 11/2016 registered at ROC number 25906

Contents

8

COVER STORY Rainbow

12

THE INTERVIEW Spin Master

17

NEWS Atlantyca

20

NEWS Mondo TV

22

NEWS Gruppo Alcuni

26

NEWS Turner

28

NEWS Planeta

29

NEWS Maurizio Distefano

48

TRENDS & RESEARCH Children & TV

30

NEWS Discovery

50

TRENDS & RESEARCH Kids publishing

32

NEWS Momodesign

52

DIGITAL TRENDS Digital and Licensing

34

NEWS Corriere della Sera

56

ANALYSIS The Nordic Market

36

BACK TO SCHOOL Not Just School

58

SUPPLIERS & LICENSEES Sbabam

40

ENTERTAINMENT What’s next in Animation

60

SUPPLIERS & LICENSEES Sodico

44

ENTERTAINMENT MipcomJr and Mipcom Preview

62

FOCUS ON Brand Licensing Europe

47

ENTERTAINMENT France: TeamTO

69

TRENDS & RESEARCH Kidz Global

Cover story

Rainbow THE CONTENT FACTORY Born in 1995 by the intuition of Iginio Staffi, Rainbow is one of the main animation studios on an international scale, with over 900 employees and an important network of collaborators. From television production to licensing and theme parks, a company that knows just how to offer new content and innovative ideas each year.

BARING IN MIND THE LAST YEAR OF WORK, WHAT ARE THE GOALS THAT HAVE BEEN REACHED? 2016 has been a fundamental year for us, because it has seen the launches of three new shows for Rainbow: Regal Academy, the animated comedy for an audience of 5-8 year olds, on Rai Yoyo; Maggie and Bianca Fashion Friends, the first live action show ever to be produced by Rainbow, on air with Rai Gulp since 29th August; not to mention World of Winx, that represents an original series of Winx Club on Netflix across the world.

REGARDING THE TWO LATEST PROPERTIES THAT HAVE BEEN LAUNCHED, WHAT ARE THE E X P E C TAT I O N S A N D T H E AG R E E ME N TS T HAT HAVE ALREADY BEEN DEVELOPED? Fo r R e g a l A c a d e m y and Maggie and Bianca Fashion Friends, we a l re a d y h ave many broadcas ting a greements with the main tv stations and ondemand video platforms across the world, other th an i m p or tan t E u ro pe an Master Toy License agreements, such as Giochi Preziosi for Regal Academy and Simba for Maggie and Bianca Fashion Friends, other than editorial partners, such as Mondadori and Fabbri, amongst others. Moreover, we are signing with many other licensees in the other merch andising categories, such as apparel, fashion accessories and back to school.

CRISTIANA BUZZELLI

With headquarters in Loreto (Ancona), the Rainbow group verifies companies across Italy and abroad, whil e in Loreto itself, verified Tridimentional company can be found, publishing house not to mention Witty Toys, that follows the international distribution of the Winx branded toys. Rainbow CGI, which deals with film production, special effects and 3D animation, along with Rainbow entertainment, which produces fiction and live action and last but not least the Rainbowland company, shareholder for a large part of the Rainbow Magicland themepark, are all found in Rome. On the overseas side, Rainbow Internazionale is the Asian part of the group, with its headquarters in Hong Kong. The newborn Rainbow Academy deals with ad hoc training courses in the field of cinematographic animation. Last of all, Rainbow acquired the Canadian company Bardel last year to further enforce their overseas presence.

LMI talked about the development of content and licensing of Rainbow with Cristiana Buzzelli, Senior Vice President Licensing and Acquisitions.

MAGGIE & BIANCA IS THE FIRST LIVE ACTION BY RAINBOW. A NEW

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Cover story REGAL ACADEMY, THE NEW ANIMATED SERIES BASED ON MAGIC AND ADVENTURE

The new animated series by Rainbow holds 26 episodes of 24 minutes each (the second series in already in production). For this new production, at least 24 fairy tales have been reinterpreted.

An interesting piece of data to highlight the level of detail and attention paid can be found in the 247 pairs of shoes that have been drawn for the young protagonist Rose, who is Cinderella’s granddaughter. Moreover, Rainbow has produced 12 new ad hoc songs for the tv series.

CONCEPT. Regal Academy is an animated series of ironic and fun tones, which is inspired by the most loved fairy tales of all time. Regal Academy in characterized by strong characters and an extremely captivating storyline that revisits the classic fairy tales, focusing on the adventures of Rose, a normal teenager who has two passions above everything: fairy tales and shoes.

Rose is a new student at Regal Academy, the school that was founded by great heroes from the fairy tales that, now in their old age, have decided to reunite to create the academy in order to pass their stories to future generations. It is here that Rose discovers that she is the granddaughter of Cinderella, the Director of Regal Academy, as she enters into a world of wonder, magic, princesses and dragons. Together with her new friends and classmates, Rose experiences incredible adventures to defend the Fairytale World from the last generation of villains, who were sent to the World and stripped of their magic by their grandparents, who once upon a time were heroes of the fairy tales. Now the villains want to return to unite with the baddies that already live in the Fairytale World, attempting to pass through the Magic Portal, which is guarded by dragons (there are at least 35 dragons drawn for the series).

EXPERIENCE ALSO IN TERMS OF LICENSING FOR YOU. WHAT IS THE PLAN FOR DEVELOPMENT THAT YOU ARE FOLLOWING? Also for Maggie and Bianca Fashion Friends, the Master Toy agreement has its own fundamental high ground. Nevertheless, in this case the focus is on different categories instead of the classic doll, such as musical toys, arts and crafts and role-play. The books take on a key role, seen as this is the age target that involves the so called “independent reader”, just as with the fashion accessory and stationery world.

Categories that have already been covered in Italy with partnership leaders in their market sectors.

WINX IS A SOLID EVERGREEN. WHAT IS THE ACTUAL TARGET AND ARE THERE ANY NEW IDEAS THAT WE CAN LOOK FORWARD TO IN THE NEAR FUTURE? The near future is… already amongst us! Or rather, we are about to launch a new original series, World of Winx, that is going on air with Rai, in Italy, while in the rest of the world is exclusive to Netflix, and this is a new narrative experiment for us that sees our little heroines as protagonists of a mystery/spy style story, which is a real winner! We will be going ahead also with the classic series. The 8th season of Winx Club is already in production with many new things to look forward to.

PRODUCTION. The tv series is realized entirely in CGI, with a rich set of incredible settings. More than 1000 preparatory sketches were created to define 420 angles of backgrounds and the 515 characters. To this, the work and preparation needed for the features th at make each character was indeed rich. The attention to detail and care taken is visible in every single aspect of the series.

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Cover story MAGGIE & BIANCA FASHION FRIENDS: ROCK YOUR WORLD WITH MUSIC AND FASHION

The first live action series for Rainbow, created

by Iginio Straffi and co-produced with Rai Fiction.

Its music is more central than ever also for this new production, with 11 original songs played by the protagonists in many a video clip. Some numbers that make up this new production: 3131 frames, 546 scenes, 624 minutes to put together, 90 days of filming, more than 100 outfits for the two protagonists alone, Maggie and Bianca, and 293 hairstyles created.

OCTOBER IS ALWAYS A MOMENT FOR MAKING ANNOUNCEMENTS ABOUT THE NEXT SEASON WITH BLE AND MIPCOM. ON WHAT WILL YOU BE FOCUSING ON FOR THESE TWO EVENTS? In London and in Cannes we will be aiming to consolidate the number of global partners in the plans for television distribution and licensing of the new series’, Regal Academy and Maggie & Bianca Fashion Friends.

Moreover, we will arrive at Mipcom with unreleased projects that are linked to the new animated series’, that are confidential for now but are promising great potential.

CONCEPT. Maggie, an American girl, wins a scholarship for the Milan Fashion Academy, one of the most prestigious international fashion schools. For Maggie, this is a dream: her greatest aspiration is to become a famous stylist. Bianca is the daughter of a great Italian businessman who is very active in the fashion world. Having to take over the family business, her destiny is already written: she must attend the fashion school and set her passion for music aside.

The two girls meet each other at the Fashion Academy in Milan, but their meeting is quite a conflict of interests. This ensures the girls have many a disagreement but they also get to know each other very well and they form a band, which gives them an outlet for their personalities through their musical talents.

There are other ch aracters accompanying Maggie and Bianca in their daily lives, both in the academy and in the band: Quinn, the aspiring photographer; Jacques, the descendant of an important tycoon of the fashion world; Yuki, a funny and absent-minded aspiring stylist; Eduard, the most handsome but with only one active brain cell; Nausica, the problematic one who wants to stand out in every situation who will later cause infinite problems for Maggie and Bianca.

All of the characters have the passions for fashion and music in common, and this is how their friendship is born along with competitions, love, dreams and disappointments.

RAINBOW, CONTENT FACTORY. HOW TO YOU GENERALLY MANAGE THE INTEGRATED DEVELOPMENT OF YOUR IP’S IN THE COMPANY? The various departments work in close contact with each other, from the very first phase of creative research they aim to keep the licensing potentialities in mind for each new series, without compromising the narrative value of great appeal: if a story involves the audience, they automatically become fond of identifying themselves in the characters. This way, also the merchandising program will stay one step ahead.

OTHER THAN ITALY, WHICH OTHER TERRITORIES ARE IMPORTANT FOR YOU? Rainbow is a global content factory. At present, the main countries of action are definitely France, Russia and Turkey, but also Eastern Europe in general, Brazil and Asia.

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Cover story WINX MAGAZINE CELEBRATES ITS 150TH ISSUE

Th i s S e p te m b er h a s b e e n an intense month for Winx, n o t o n l y th a n k s to th e presence of the BtS line by Giochi Preziosi together with writing accessories proposed by Mitama and kits for the desk by Ravensburger. It has been important, above a ll for the anniversary of the official magazine of the most famous fairies in the world. For the back to school season, Winx Magazine celebrated its 150 th issue in newsstands and this was set to be a special edition in which the story of the Winx fairies is retold. In this magazine, young readers have received a 3D Bloom figurine and a hot air balloon playset of the Winx Magic Travel collection, dedicated to the travels of the fairies to the magic worlds, available in newsstands in September.

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The interview

Spin Master BETWEEN INNOVATION AND CHANGE From content to purchase and business development. Strategies and news of one of the world’s main toy companies, creator of global successes such as Bakugan, Little Charmers and Paw Patrol. LMI met with Dino Canuti, General Manager and Edgardo Di Meo, Marketing Manager of Spin Master Italia.

DINO CANUTI

The ma jor company guidelines are: to lead global children’s entertainment company with significant scale and reach; to have a diversified portfolio of innovative toys, games, products, brands and entertainment properties; to have a global R&D network, with leading capabilities in advanced technologies and robotics. Moreover Spin Master has a proven and growing global entertainment property pipeline and a globally collaborative business model which is the basis of the company’s successful performance.

Spin Master holds three assets in particular: content, purchase and core business. Over the course of this three piece dialogue, we aimed to identify the characteristics of each, showing how this company has always bet on innovation, change and vanguard.

EDGARDO DI MEO

ENTERTAINMENT & CONTENT The position of Spin Master on a global scale and in Italy.

DC. Spin Master is amongst the top 5 toy companies in the world. Amongst the countries with a direct affiliate, after North America, Italy is one of the countries where the company has the best results. Our country in general is very indicative of innovative products and, due to the type of consumer, the Italian market is that which is closest to North America.

EDM. One of the most popular products in Italy is Atmosphere, four years on the shelves and was amongst the top three in its category for the first three years. Paw Patrol is also of enormous success. Spin Master has a wide range of toys and doesn’t have one particular type of toy. It is rare that a producer manages to vary their type of product from high technology to traditional toys but it is truly one of the things Spin Master is known for.

12

The interview

Links between tv series’ and toys, starting from the recent success of Paw Patrol.

the packaging, not to mention the reorganisation of the business. While in France the sales of Meccano have never been interrupted, in Italy it had a course of alternation. It is a product that takes on a target from 6 years of age right through to adult. It is one of the few brands in which both the appeal for little ones and the element of positive childhood memory of parents can be counted upon. Few trademarks have this recognisability and few know that Meccano was one of the first toys to ever be created that is still available today, and has been for more than one hundred years.

When brands that are this historical and have an identity that is this strong, changing it is risky.

Spin Master was very good at innovating it while maintaining the DNA of the product and brand.

Meccano was born of the idea of repetition in construction with the maximum technology that was available at that particular time, which proved to be the ship rather than the crane. Today it reproduces using the maximum technology of our times with up-to-date materials. We brought Spin Master’s innovation to Meccano by introducing robotics. This allows children to experience the engineering of creating the Meccano product while learning about programming at the same time. The real bet was singling out the real identity traits of Meccano and bringing these to the present day. The multinational risk is always that of denaturalising that which already exists to push it to meet the logic of a large company. Spin Master managed to maintain the original nature of Meccano while also doing a grand job on a local scale, seen as each country lived the toy in a different way.

EDM. With Paw Patrol the goal was to produce a tv series at the same time as toys creating a perfect integration between the two because we know that children want to experience and engage with their favorite shows in multiple formats.

Once upon a time a master toy was bought and then it became a tv series or many companies in the sector created audiovisual products or marketing content by way of promoting the toy itself. When it launched Bakugan, Spin Master was the first toy company to create a mountain out of a property making it a franchise and a tv series from the word go.

DC. Spin Master has always made bold attempts to be first in line. Spin Master has always retained its entrepreneurial spirit.

How does the creative side come about?

EDM. There isn’t one particular ch annel. It can come from inside or out, for example in the case of Bakugan, which was proposed by an inventor. Spin Master saw its potential, and enhanced the product design that was then transformed into a televised coproduction. With the studios, which are singled out for tv production, a different relationship is established time after time depending on the type of contract we hold. With every license, we look at what we can bring to a toy and a property based on what we do best and what we know kids love.

PURCHASE Let’s talk about the acquisition of Meccano

Then Editrice Giochi came about. What was this all Italian acquisition dictated by?

DC. With Meccano a beautiful job was done.

Meccano was purchased in 2013 and the product was completely remastered over the space of 18 months, the branding, the production processes,

DC. This was born of Spin Master’s will to apply ourselves in the acquisitions process and, compared to the Italian office, to be part of group activity in order to give a certain contribution to complex

13

The interview

There is no recipe for how to make a toy a brand.

Toys are art and not a recipe. There are many elements and not all are predictable. Magic happens when a child meets a product

EDM. We’re dealing with an acquisition made for Italy. A Canadian company that invests in Italian companies and with an all Italian penetration. This is a good message for the industry to note. For us, as an Italian office, this opens up many new opportunities and we can draw from endless content.

strategic development. The board games market, with a few global titles as exceptions, has a strong local connotation. Therefore in each country there is one or more companies in this sector and Published Games was a great opportunity to build a portfolio of well known brands in Italy, not to mention this being an extraordinary opportunity for business development. It seemed to be the perfect occasion to construct a stable business.

The ‘licensing in’ aspect of the company was maintained outside of its local DNA and towards the product development that boasts a strong autonomy to Spin Master Italy, when compared to the board game that is managed by the company on a global scale. Therefore, other than the licenses, there is a certain support for classic trademarks. One of many is RisiKo!, a foreseeable potential for development in terms of brand extension.

CORE BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT What is your strategy regarding core business?

Spin Master is currentl y constructing its own brands to create continuity on the market. Part of the strategy, it is covered by the same acquisitions.

Spin Master is also working on the development of its own products to ensure that they are lasting. For example, last year we launched Kinetic Sand, the only toy that is made out of real sand and it went very well therefore the goal of making this a brand of its own standing in a shelf category with a constant presence. We also have a radio-technological area of remote controlled toys such as Air Hogs, that was the first of Spin Master’s brands, launched with a single product in 1998. We are working to make Air Hogs a notable remote controlled toy brand in Italy.

Then we have the whole technological side with Zoomer, which are robotic animals, where the concept of supported technology of a toy to give a unique ludic experience has been developed.

What marks the step from this, the core business, to the toy that becomes a franchise with all that goes along with it, starting with the licensing development?

DC. Spin Master is organised per Global Business Units and each one follows different categories. Then there

14

The interview

is Spin Master Entertainment. The process can come from them working with GBU as a reference point to create a toy that is well adapted to the line of products, or it can be the same GBU that proposes the development of content from a single product. This is where Spin Master Entertainment comes into play as they evaluate the case and its possible development.

This process was not made in a single way. There is a continuous exchange of information between each of the divisions.

which aims to build relationships with companies that deal with licensing and content.

Spin Master is always very careful with trademarks just like the quality of their products. Spin Master ensure that each of their products are always high quality.

How weighty is the digital side of your products today?

DC. In April 2016 we announced the acquisition of two companies, which develop preschool apps worldwide. We are talking about Toca Boca and Sago Mini. The first creates apps for children while the second is the toddler division and the two companies are linked.

Also in this case they keep their own personal identities. It is a strategic acquisition to allow them to work together with our creations. Digital means are very important for the company.

Where did the choice of a European Licensing Director come from?

DC. Spin Master aimed at international business development after recognizing an opportunity to grow the business outside of North America. The growth is linked to the expansion of the company in Europe,

The evolution of a child and a consumer is something that nobody can ignore.

Continuing to change over the years is necessary and Spin Master isn’t afraid of change 15

The interview

THE STRATEGIC DIRECTION OF SPIN MASTER We can base it on four main pillars: 1. INNOVATE ACROSS THE PORTFOLIO OF BRANDS AND BUSINESS SEGMENTS

E D M . Eve n b e fore th i s acquisition, promotional a p p s were c re a te d to support the brand, i n te g ra te d wi th g a m e s , creating a link between the digital and physical world.

• Leverage competitive strengths to build a robust pipeline in all business segments • Continue to invest in advanced technology and entertainment licenses • Expand capability and product offering in toys-to-life mobile gaming

DC. That said, every time a new technological idea comes to life, it overrides the previous one, because it will always have better experience. In the world of children and content, on the other hand, it is ok when any technological instrument allows the user to live an experience at another level as this creates a ulterior side of the game, but it will never take over the traditional idea.

The same idea is so for books.

The tactil e experience is fundamental for a child.

2. DEVELOP EVERGREEN GLOBAL ENTERTAINMENT PROPERTIES • Capitalize on success of current entertainment properties • Develop 1 to 2 new shows per year • Strategically re-launch properties to capitalize on value of owned content library

3. INCREASE SALES IN INTERNATIONAL DEVELOPED AND EMERGING MARKETS • Optimize international distribution network • Strategically tailor product offering to local international markets • Increase proportion of sales outside of North America

4. LEVERAGE GLOBAL PLATFORM THROUGH STRATEGIC ACQUISITIONS • Strong balance sheet with financial flexibility • Fragmented industry with opportunities for consolidation

16

News

Atlantyca WHAT’S NEW FOR THE NEXT SEASON What will Atlantyca be based upon next year? What are the the company’s synergies between L&M and Live Show looking like? We asked our questions to Marco Piccinini, Licensing Manager and to Rachele Geraci, Stage Rights Sales and Development Manager for Atlantyca.

MA R CO P I CC I NI NI I NT E RVI E W The launch of tv series’ B a t P a t and G ero n i m o Stilton are upon us. Tell us about promotion and what you are expecting.

The last quarter of 2016 is of extreme significance for Atlantyca. In this trimester we are looking at these two Atlantyca produced shows taking MARCO PICCININI off together with various partners, including Rai Fiction, which will be the main broadcaster in Italy.

While BatPat is a Creepy Comedy, full of rhythm and humour, aimed at children between the ages of 4 and 8, the new episodes of Geronimo Stilton, aimed at 6-9 year olds, are a mixture between fun and adventure. The two previous series’ took the character to new heights: over 75% of spontaneous recognizability from children of an elementary school age, with a high level of enjoyment shown.

For Atlantyca, the 2016 BTS continues to speak to boys and girls alike in the elementary stages, and we are widening our horizons to the pre-school age group. Moreover, we intend to consolidate the Geronimo Stilton property by opening up to new categories.

There will be new styles available. What values are to be added for licensees?

The two graphic themes of the new style guides are Vehicles and Space. They gravitate around the Metamouse, the super powerful and transformable vehicle that is used

by Geronimo Stilton exclusively in the TV series.

Vehicles and Space are interesting themes for children in general, which are easily morphed into style guides that amplify the available instruments of our partners.

Moreover, we have completely renewed the packaging of Geronimo Stilton Animation.

Bat Pat has a traditional style guide that runs along side a spin-off. The traditional version is composed of character

17

art, logos, patterns and much more. The spin-off style guide is dedicated exclusively to dressing up Bat Pat. All of this is proof of how Atlantyca has invested in design during 2016, in order to offer more and more top our partners.

What will you be aiming at for the upcoming events, Mipcom and Brand Licensing Europe?

First of all to consolidate the Licensing of Geronimo Stilton and launch Bat Pat. We are also closing the negotiations for the H2o Franchise: six TV seasons already on air and two unedited, which are arriving shortly.

News

What is the synergy between the various Atlantyca animations looking like?

Atlantyca’s strength is in the capacity to allow various divisions to work in resonance. The partnerships that have been born from the licensing sector fly into the universe that is Atlantyca from all directions, giving them all the possibility to avail the many retail opportunities that have already taken off in the publishing sector, for example, entering in synchronisity with the partners of other divisions.

The results that have been obtained over these first months are without a doubt positive: we have continued to work with our numerous live events; we have created and amplified educative laboratories with Geronimo Stilton; new live shows and theatrical musicals are in debut; an important collaboration with a fun park has been launched, Cinecittà World in Rome, where Geronimo Stilton’s house has been recreated and is visitable every day along with the permanent exhibition “Geronimo Stilton - a multitopical exhibit”, with over 60 boards of original drawings from the books and and the animated series, and there is also a corner of the park’s gift shop, which is dedicated to Geronimo.

The relationship between Geronimo Stilton and sport is continuing. Many sporting collaborations are happening, from the Lucca Marathon - that we have been participating in for many years - to the Artistic Skating Championship and the National Karate Tournament.

RACHELE GERACI INTERVIEW Goals and results born from the Live division The new Atlantyca Live division was founded to manage and a m pl i f y th e a l re a d y p o s i t i v e business of Live S h ows and L i ve Events, and to develop new productions th at are linked to the RACHELE GERACI entertainment world and the properties of the company, which include theatrical plays and live productions for shopping malls, institutions, communities and other locations that are dedicated to children and their families, of course not forgetting fun parks.

How is the synergy with the other divisions of the company going?

Obviously we are in sync with the licensing division regarding merchandising and collaborating with already licensed partners. Moreover, working with content and storytelling, there is a continuous collaboration and exchange with our publishing division.

The Live Show development of Geronimo in America We have inaugurated the division with the debut of Geronimo Stilton in American theatres. The first show was produced by the Oregon Children’s Theatre of Portland: Geronimo Stilton Mouse in

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News

What can we say about Casa Geronimo?

The home/studio of Geronimo Stilton has been in existence for years but the experience with Cinecittà has definitely made it accessible to a much wider audience and this has ensured us even more of the character’s potential.

An accurate reproduction of the home has been created in Cinecittà, starting from the images in the book, made for children to be able to recognize it instantly: the walls are painted in the sharp yellow that characterizes the environment and are inspired by the journalist mouse’s home in Topazia, the desk is complete with his typewriter, received by his grandfather, Nonno Torquato, a comfy sofa to read, maps of Topazia and of Mouse Island are hung on the walls together with important awards won during Geronimo’s career and a grand bookshelf.

The experience is immersive and emotional in the environment of the writer, making a visit to the house and meeting Geronimo Stilton himself an unforgettable moment, and this is exactly what we want for our little readers.

We have decided, therefore, to make a certain characterizable element of Geronimo Stilton, an exportable and repeatable concept that can be transformed in our many properties.

Space, a new script that is an adapted version of one of the titles from the Funny Stories series.

The production has obtained important results in terms of sales, but above all it represents Geronimo Stilton’s opening into American theatres. The success of the Portland Theatre gave way to the show being bought by another famous theatre in Florida, the Orlando Repertory Theatre, that is set to debut January 2017.

Any upcoming news?

There are lots of new things to be offered in Italy: The grand return of the Italian Musical by Mas Geronimo Stil ton nel Regno dell a Fantasia that will begin again in Milan on 12th November at the Manzoni Theatre. A Fantasy Tour, made up of festivities that will hit various Italian cities in time for an important anniversary, the publication of the Decimo Viaggio nel Regno della Fantasia (the Tenth Journey to the Kingdom of Fantasy). Moreover, a new laboratory on Dinosaurs at Milan’s Teatro Caboto, and also sporting sponsors, festivals and much more. Regarding overseas, other then the USA, a new Theatrical Musical is set to debut in Barcelona, Spain in December of this year. The concept is also the Kingdom of Fantasy but this time the plot is based on the book, The Grand Return to the Kingdom of Fantasy, a special edition that proved to be a great success, not only in Italy, but also in many other European countries. The show uses innovative projection technology that ensures the show’s audience will “enter” into the Kingdom of Fantasy themselves. A production by Focus and Grup62, already the producers of the first musical, under the direction of Lluis Danés with music

by Xavi Lloses and sceneography by Enric Llort.

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News

Mondo TV TOP PROPERTIES AT BRAND LICENSING EUROPE Mondo TV is attending BLE focusing on three main appealing series of huge success which are already getting positive feedback from domestic and international market. All of them boast of important contents and are supported by an integrated plan and a 360° strategy which includes TV, licensing and marketing program.

YooHoo & Friends 3D is the brand new series based on the YooHoo & Friends line of plush toys made by Aurora World who has sold more than 80 million pieces since its worldwide launch in 2007 boasting of an extraordinary awareness. Among the most important brand best practices 2 McDonald’s Happy Meal Promotions featured in Pan Europe in 2013 e 2015 supported by a massive advertising TV campaign and including 40 European countries.

“Save the endangered animal friends and treasure our world!” This is the ultimate mission and sensitization

message of the series which aims to educate to respect for the environment and its inhabitants and at the meantime entertaining the audience with comedy and humor coming from its storytelling. YooHoo is the main protagonist and he lives in Yootopia. Along with his friends Pammee, Roodee, Chewoo e Lemmee, YooHoo will meet new endangered animal species in each episode and confront some sort of problem by nature. One of the main assets of the brand is its collectability indeed, as more than 70 characters appear in the series. Many key European broadcasters have already confirmed their interest in this series and some agreements are set to be finalized during Mipcom. The first episodes will reach screens in spring 2017.

Mondo TV and Aurora World have already placed the consumer product strategy starting with the launch of the new plush line based on the new look of the 3D series. Some key product licenses are nearly finalized in the master toy, publishing, collectibles, food and personal care categories. Plush, of course, remains directly managed by Aurora.

After the international success of the first series, Sissi the Young Empress the second season is on the way with new 26 episodes. Authentic feelings, incredible adventures and new mysteries to be solved: these are still the main features in this fascinating story. Sissi is still a very strong and positive character, really loved by mothers and a leading heroine girls have come to love and identify with.

Sissi the Young Empress first season was released in Italy in Fall 2015 on Cartoonito and has achieved excellent sharing results. In fact the series rerun during 2016. The first episodes of the second season will be broadcast as a premiere in late 2016 with the official release scheduled for spring 2017. The series is also distributed to over 30 countries worldwide,

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News with a strong presence i n E u ro p e a n d t h e Far East. Licensing agreements to date cover the main product categories through prestigious partners on board.

Grandi Giochi, EMEA Master Toy licensee, has already produced and distributed more than 20 items dedicated to the toy line of Sissi which include Fashion Dolls, Make Up toys, Role Play and Feature Plush. The number of products for Christmas 2016 has been expanded with new products including the Toddler Doll whose launch will be supported by new advertising campaigns. Thanks to the valuable contents of the series, the brand appears on many and varied editorial products. Important collaborations can be already confirmed such as Mondadori Libri per Ragazzi and Edizioni Play Press. Il Sole di Carta, co-producer of the series, publishes the official magazine experiencing continuous significant sales.

Sissi publishing spreads also in France through the collaboration with Steinkis, which will publish colorful and fun storybooks. The licensing program boasts of new licensees coming up on board including carnival costumes and accessories made by Ciao, Easter eggs produced by Balocco, greeting cards with Loris of Florence, gift and gadgets made by Byblos, puzzles produced by Ravensburger Epiphany sock with Walcor, personal care products with Apple Beauty.

Sissi has also entered the digital world with the App Dress up your Sissi with which all little ladies can have fun dressing up the charming Empress with many outfits and accessories.

Heidi, Bienvenida a Casa is the promising coproduction result of a partnership between Mondo TV’s subsidiary, Mondo TV Iberoamerica, and Alianzas Producciones, based on an original idea by the legendary Argentinian writer and producer Marcela Citterio (author also of Yo Soy Franky, Patito Feo and Chica Vampiro). This new 60x45’ series reinterprets the worldwide well–known classic with a modern touch and it is featured with comedy and music. The charming and friendly girl who moves from her rural home to the unfamiliar and confusing environment of the big city has now a difference: Heidi’s dail y life, friendships and adventures take place in the modern world. There’s no direct reference to modern places or events, however, allowing the series to retain a timeless feel. Instead the show focuses on the characters, their unusual traits — such as their quirky outfits – Heidi’s eccentric hats or Clara’s colorful pyjamas. Alongside with the original protagonists, there will be as well as lovable, whacky new characters who invite us to share their thrilling and often crazy adventures. The series is currently in production and is being positioned as a flagship property with ma jor licensing opportunities for 2017.

Mondo TV Iberoamerica manages the licensing rights for the world with the exception of Argentina, Paraguay, Uruguay and Chile.

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The Alcuni Group AND THE NEW AGREEMENT WITH VIDEA FOR DEVELOPMENT WITHIN THE WORLD OF FEATURE FILMS Born by the intuition of Francesco and Sergio Manfio, Gruppo Alcuni is one of the main multimedia structures for infancy in Europe. The multicoloured world of the group consists of: a production studio for cartoon animation, a group that deals with producing television programmes, another that manages the theatrical production side of things, a family theme park, continuous editorial and musical activity and, more recently, App creation. Moreover, from 2016 the company has signed an important agreement with Videa relating to the development of projects in the film environment.

Your new animated film, Leonardo, is distributed by Videa in Italy, let’s hear about the collaboration.

Grant me a premise: distributing in the movie world - particularl y with an animated film such as Leonardo - is such a complex operation, and if the distribution isn’t handled properly, it risks the compromising of years of work and investment of millions of Euros.

FRANCESCO MANFIO

At the last Berlinale, just after having determined international distribution, curated by the French-American company, All Rights, we concentrated on the Italian cinematographic release and we immediately saw that Videa was the perfect partner for Leonardo and more!

Videa is a well organized company that pays due attention to promotion and have proved to be available with grand investment in the launching of the film. We decided, therefore, to work with them as we believe that Leonardo has the chance to be a great film and we are both convinced that it will be an important public success.

Videa also bought the Italian rights of distribution for Ballerina, an animated film produced by the French Gaumont, and we have decided to collaborate also with their film, dividing the tasks depending on our strengths: Videa will take care of all of the aspects that are linked to distribution in cinemas and Gruppo Alcuni is set to look after licensing, merchandising and publishing.

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BALLERINA

©2016 - MITICO – PCF BALLERINA LE FILM INC – GAUMONT – M6 FILMS

To find out more, LMI interviewed Francesco Manfio, founder and CEO of Gruppo Alcuni.

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upon a new brand by Gruppo Alcuni that is obtaining a great television success at the moment and has already been acquired by the most important channels on a global scale.

© Gruppo Alcuni

THE TV SERIES’ AND THE ARTICULATED WORLD OF THE GRUPPO ALCUNI Today, the animation series’ and feature films by Gruppo Alcuni are sold in over 130 countries across the world, including the USA, Canada, South America, Europe, India, China, The Middle East, Japan and Russia amongst others.

Amongst the most recent animation productions we can cite: The TV series’ PetPals (156x13’), Leonardo (52x13’), Eppur si muove (52x10’), Slash:// (26x20’), Mini PetPals (52 x 6’) and animated feature films as PetPals in Windland (2014), PetPals – The Code of Marco Polo (2010) e Leonardo (for release in November 2017).

There are more than 100 companies that have used the Gruppo Alcuni brand for their products by license, such as Mondadori, Nestlè, OVS, Pampers and Balocco.

LEONARDO

What future developments are in store for this partnership?

At this point we are working towards a relationship that is even more secure and therefore, after the 2017 releases of Ballerina and Leonardo, we have decided to continue to work using this pattern for 2018 as we propose two animated feature films, one produced in Italy and the other acquired on the international market.

The defining aspect will be of these films, and all of those, which we deal with in the future, as we take on the Italian distribution along with all of the rights that are associated with this. Allow me to explain that this hypothesis of the work involved represents something absolutely new: two Italian companies proposing a program of release to their existing partners, for extremely high quality cartoons, in a continuous fashion. Very few Americans have managed this.

Moreover, from the important collaboration with UNESCO, other projects have been born, such as Un Disegno Per La Pace (A Design For Peace) and H2Ooooh! (32x2’), for the protection of the global water resources. In collaboration with the United Nations, the UNESCO Venice Office and the Food and Agricultural Organization, Gruppo Alcuni has coproduced the Leonardo Expo series with RaiFiction, dedicated to the key themes from the last EXPO event in Milan.

Amongst the multiple projects that have been followed, Sergio and Franco Manfio are the creators of Ciak Junior, a format that was thought up in 1990 and exported in 28 countries, with over 500 films produced and involving thousands of students, who were each to write a story for a short film, in which

2018 anticipations?

It is a little too early, but I can tell you that we are working together on an animated feature film based

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News MINI PET PALS (52 X 6’) PRESCHOOL TARGET they could become the protagonists. It is a short step from theatre to multimedia projects, and the Group coordinates four theatrical companies that perform in the most important theatres and squares in Italy.

Moreover, other than the schedule of their own Teatro Sant’Anna in Treviso, the Alcuni look after the artistic direction of four theatres in Veneto. The activities of the group arrive on the territorial grounds also thanks to their Multimedia Theme Park (il Parco degli Alberi Parlanti), born in 2008 in Treviso. The park is the first interactive multimedia location for older children in Italy, that uses audiovisual communication. Thanks to the characters of the cartoon series’ produced by Gruppo Alcuni for Rai 2 and Rai YoYo, the Park offers the discovery and the opportunity to deepen ones knowledge of multiple themes that are linked to the media world, science and nature.

The series, directed by Sergio Manfio, is on air in Italy with Rai YoYo and deals with the theme of emotions and with every day discoveries that children come across, through the six main characters. The scene is set, therefore, and in just a few minutes the episodes tell the stories of the joy of playing together, moments of friendship, sadness for a seemingly forgotten birthday or a lost toy, jealousy, fear, envy, enthusiasm to share and selfishness that may be encountered not to mention everyday problems that the six characters come across.

VIDEA, ONE OF THE MOST IMPORTANT HOUSES OF INDEPENDENT ITALIAN CINEMATOGRAPHIC DISTRIBUTION VI DE A i s an i nde pe nde n t p ro d u c t i o n and cinematographic distribution company that was founded by Sandro Parenzo during the later stages of the 80’s, after having taken over the film establishments of Franco Cristaldi.

To date, the Videa Studios company has produced titles such as Red American (1991), Follow Your Heart (1996), Once we were strangers (1998), television programmes such as Bananas (1990), Towards 2000 (1999), Italian Sisters (2000), documentaries such as Oreste Pipolo - fotografo di matrimoni (wedding photographs) (1998), Pomodori - viaggio nell’identità italiana (Tomatoes - Journey through the Italian Identity) (1999) and the series Ferie (Holidays) (2001), the long series with Ricominciare (Start again) (2000-2001) and Sottocasa (2006).

Recentl y, the studios h ave accommodated

The Mini Pet Pals live out their adventures in a playground and every episode is concluded with a small lesson to learn. The protagonists are the same as in the lucky series, Pet Pals, but are much younger.

The relationships that develop between the Mini Pet Pals are those typical of children as they play together and find themselves facing harmless skirmishes as they resolve communication problems, to satisfy their curiosity with that, which surrounds them: everything that happens to them triggers their own particular emotions, amongst laughing and crying. The adult figure is covered by way of a wise tree, who intervenes at the beginning of each episode to introduce the theme of the episode and each time that the Mini Pet Pals need help the tree gives advice.

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News THE NEW FEATURE FILM

BY GRUPPO ALCUNI, LEONARDO

©2016 - MITICO – PCF BALLERINA LE FILM INC – GAUMONT – M6 FILMS

A 3D feature film, expected to hit Italian theatres in November 2017, with distribution by Videa.

Aimed at a family target, the film is based upon elements of adventure and comedy, with the protagonist, a young and yet to be recognized, Leonardo da Vinci. The film, recognized by the Ministry of Cultural Heritage and Activities and Tourism, is directed by Sergio Manfio (subject and set design by Francesco and Sergio Manfio) and is a co-production of Gruppo Alcuni and Warsaw Movie Home.

CONCEPT. Vinci’s life flows with ease. Leonardo is grappling his genius ideas, Lorenzo helps him and Gioconda observes him as he works.

Returning from a trip to the lake, where Leonardo has tried out his umpteenth invention, the friends get an unwelcome surprise: Giocanda’s house has mysteriously gone up in flames. The solution seems to be at hand with the arrival of a disturbing storyteller who speaks of hidden treasure. And so, the adventure begins as the characters hunt for the treasure, meeting Niccolò, a Polish boy who is fascinated by the stars, and they are helped also

by Agnese, a bright girl without a family.

Leonardo’s genius inventions, the collisions with the pirates, the dazzling intuitions of Gioconda, the exhilarating plans of Niccolò and Agnese follow them with a certain pressing rhythm and an ending to be discovered.

BALLERINA

© Gruppo Alcuni

productions of various programmes for all of the main television issuers in Italy (LA7, Mediaset, RAI, SKY), various tv dramas, amongst which, Restauratore 2 (2013), Benvenuti a tavola 1 e 2 (20122013) and theatrical productions such as Romeo and Juliet by Gigi Proietti (2013) and Jesus Christ Superstar by Massimo Romeo Piparo (2014).

VIDEA spa, that deals purely with distribution, has been present in cinemas for some years, offering about 10 new titles per year. The company’s attention is aimed mainly at European experimental film, but also focuses on mainstream projects aimed at a wider audience. Many films have already been distributed, from Memento in 2000 to the most recent The Butler (2014), The imitation game (2015), Suite francese (2015), Mr. Holm es LEONARDO (2015) and Macb eth (2016).

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News

Turner FROM CLASSICS TO NEWCOMERS Turner is launching the new season with important announcements of properties that are consolidated in the group and new releases. To find out more, LMI interviewed Ilaria Rossi, Director of Licensing for Turner.

Let’s begin with one of the most loved super heroes of recent times, Ben10.

What developments are h appening for the new series?

The new series is all set to be aired on the paid platform on 24 th October 2016, and then to be released on Boing for the back to school season of 2017 along with the toy release.

Regarding the research that has been done for ILARIA ROSSI Ben10, some important awareness relating to the core target has been found. A strategy has therefore been defined to consolidate the property and to ensure that it remains an evergreen classic, starting from paid tv and moving towards important work in 2017. The toy partner is Giochi Preziosi, with whom an important launch campaign has been organized. To follow, a roll-out with other products for the shelves will be ready for the 1st quarter of 2018.

The strongest characteristics have been confirmed for the new series of Ben10, that have always set the property apart from the rest, adding a pinch of fun. It is a solid brand, which is highly awaited by the licensing community and retailers alike as they maintain their positive memories of the series. An important snippet of data: retail is valued at 4.5 billion dollars on a global scale. Obviously the ambition is to confirm and overtake this number over time, covering the main categories.

From boys to girls: the Powerpuff Girls. What are the developments for this property?

There is great attention being paid to this property as it has already been seen at previous trade events. It is the franchise that we are aiming at for the female target. It’s strength is in girl power, capturing the attention of girls and mothers. Also in this case, we have conducted research regarding how to best reaffirm this property, with a high level of basic awareness, before the new launch takes place. These heroines are set apart from other proposals, because they are iconic and far away from the usual

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female stereotypes.

We are working on a diverse licensing strategy.

The global launch took place last spring with a high-end Moschino’s SS 2016 capsule collection by Jeremy Scott. To follow, the tv series is set to air on Boing in January 2017, with a preview around Christmas. As the high brand awarness, the consumer roll-out will be aligned to the programming on Boing and the focus categories will be: clothing for the girls, teenagers and young adults targets, the Master Toy by SpinMaster, snacks with Lolly, Dolly and Molly as protagonists by San Carlo, Back to School and Easter 2017 together with Preziosi Group, mobile phone covers by Cover Store. In the development of the licensing strategy we will maintain the two girl’s age group targets, children and girls.

Adventure Time is an already confirmed property in terms of licensing. What is coming up here?

A d v e n t u re T i m e h a s b e e n c o n f i r m e d as a growing phenomenon. 2017 will be characterized by the roll-out of new products, such as clothing by Original Marines, that will cover the boy and junior targets, and Easter

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and Food will be covered by Preziosi and San Carlo.

It is a cult franchise with, not only a core target of 6-12 year olds, but also young adults. It is very social, with a high number of App downloads and over 21 million fans on Facebook. In terms of programming, the new episodes are going ahead, whilst from a promotional point of view, we will cover events such as Lucca Comics, considered the most important Italian Comics exhibition, first in Europe and second in the world. Other news about Adventure Time will be announced later this year.

How is your relationship with Retail?

Retail is one of our strategy points that is on hold, at the moment. We are constantly working towards implementing retail support to our licensees, also from a promotional point of view. Amongst these are the next grand opening of the biggest indoor park in the world, in Dubai, where a space dedicated to Turner and our franchises has been organized, including four outlets. Turner gives concrete support to 2017 product launches and those, which come after, not to mention working side by side with licensees from the word go, as they present their lines to retail.

Retail and licensees have trust in Turner, as they have provided exact data regarding the target and audience of programming for both paid and free tv.

An example of these synergies?

To confirm the position of Turner, that manages both broadcasting and consumer products while knowing the target, there is the development of a new project that has been created with a licensee, who has entrusted us with the tv production and the licensing development. This is extraordinary news for us. I speak of Happos Family, the first ‘Boomerang Original’ production that has been developed by Turner EMEA in partnership with Ferrero. Aimed at a 4-7 year old target. The 20 episodes of 2 minutes each of THE HAPPOS FAMILY are on air as exclusive First Tv programming on Boomerang, every morning starting from 26 th September at 7.00am, in the stunt MATTINA DA URLO (morning to scream), a slot dedicated to the most funny and energetic tv shows of the channel. This is a property for which we have great expectations given its solid base.

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Planeta Junior THE RICH 2016/2017 SEASON WITH PLANETA JUNIOR Releases of top films and appealing television series’. Planeta presents a rich portfolio of properties for the new season. We have selected the top three.

MIRACULOUS

TROLLS The Trolls movie is set for release on 27th October in Italy.

There is a strong campaign by Fox Theatrical to look forward to, backing up the film’s programming, which will distribute the movie in over 500 theatres. The film’s primary target is girls between the ages of 4 and 12, but this is extendable to teens and boys of a preschool age.The voice talent comes from Justin Timberlake and Anna Kendrick.

On the licensing side of the pond, we can’t forget the grand success that has already been announced: Hasbro and their licensee, Toy Master, while Giochi Preziosi follows the complementary part of Toys. More still to note are RCS Libri, Motta (for Panettone cakes and Easter eggs), Dulcop, Mondo, Coriex, Sabor, Admiranda, Worldcart, Pon Pon with many more on the way.

Hasbro and Giochi Preziosi are set to launch a strong media support campaign, along with a strong promotional deal with McDonald’s for Happy Meals, that will have it’s own ad campaign.

There will also be a strong impact on the retail world as activity goes ahead with Auch an, Carrefour, To ys Center, Mondadori, Original Marines, Prenatal, Blukids and others.

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The series by French producers, ZAG, is aimed at a target of girls between the ages of 5 and 10, and is composed of a series of 3 series’ of 26 episodes each. On air in 79 countries, the cartoon is top in its time slot in the USA, not to mention in France and Spain.

In Italy it has been set up as a paid show on Disney Channel and in March is set to be on air with Super!.

Much interest in the world of licensing: already 500 products have been developed on an international scale and all of the main categories have been covered. The Toy Master licensee is Bandai as Giochi Preziosi is set to be the Toy distributor in Italy.

SUPER WINGS The CJ produced series is aimed at children of a preschool age and is composed of 2 seasons of 52 episodes at present. The show is set to air in 32 countries at present.

In Italy, it was shown on Cartoonito, shooting to the top end of the ch annel’s ratings, with audience numbers well above average. The licensing development is strong here, also. The To y distributor is, again, Giochi Preziosi, who have the whole line of toys, food and footwear. The clothing licensee is Suncity and they have already lined up other licensees such as Coriex, Bontempi, Salani, Pon Pon, Lisciani, Dulcop and Playpress.

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Maurizio Distefano THE EVOLUTION OF LICENSING: the selection of the coolest properties continues for the Italian market Maurizio Distefano continues the launch of new properties onto the Italian market and he sees consolidation in those that are already launched.

Masha and the Bear is currently on air with Rai YoYo with its 52 episodes in the first two series’, the 26 episodes of Masha Tales and 13 new spin-off episodes entitled Masha Spooky Tales are to be looked forward to. The persisting success of this property and the continuous launch of new episodes foresee a grand consolidation for Masha and the Bear as a Classic Property, destined to last through the years.

Just as Maurizio Distefano tells us: “I am proud of the great results that have come forth with Masha and the Bear during the last year and on the solid basis that Animaccord is currently standing, 2017 is sure to also be a memorable year. Rai Yo-Yo gives maximum reporting coverage to the property. This media support is creating a great demand for product on part of the Italian consumer, raising the bar for sales through licensees, which are already planned for the Christmas 2016 season”.

The business of the Angry Birds products has set off: more than 300 licensees on board across the world, 30 of which are in Italy alone, with particular attention paid to products of high quality and long term partnerships.

Feeding the success of the licensing program for Angry Birds products even more is the homonym film, which has registered 3.6 million $ in Italy alone through the Box Office and over $350 on a global scale. This noted, there is a vast range of constant development in licenses, which involve leader companies in various categories. Rovio continues its program with a headstrong determination, launching new video games with the characters from the film, not to mention the first spin-off with the animated television series based of the cute little Hatchlings.

TIP THE MOUSE is the protagonist of peak times on Rai YoYo, on air every day at 5.20 pm. The series is composed of 52 episodes, 26 episodes that are still in the phases of production and will be ready for the end of 2017. The licensing program is already looking at a DVD for Christmas 2016 and surprise eggs for Easter 2017.

ALVINNN!!! and the Chipmunks is confirmed as one of the most loved television series’ for children between the ages of 4 and 8, with its 88 episodes transmitted on NickJr and K2. In constant development is a vast range

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of licenses that involve leader companies in the sector not to mention in different merchandise categories such as Back to School, Personal Care, Publishing, Toys, Clothing and Food, while numerous agreements are in the final phases and will be announced soon.

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Discovery THE UPCOMING SEASON FOR DISCOVERY MEDIA Discovery Media’s Italian portfolio, with the Consumer Products division as part of it, counts both brands that are linked to the group’s own channels - Discovery, Discovery Kids, Discovery Adventures, Animal Planet, Real Time, Dmax - and more successful television content, such as Top Chef, Bake Off, Little Charmers, Oggy and the Cockroaches, Pokémon, and The Daltons.

NEWS FOR THE UPCOMING SEASON On the kids side, Discovery are about to announce two important things for the 3-7 year olds target, for which they are already in agreement with toy producers.

Also, the Discovery Kids brand will be a big focus via their main channel, the Discovery Channel, through which a large portion of viewing is during “shared family” time.

For this reason, and above all for the solid credibility of the brand, Discovery can develop interesting offers for small children by differentiating between the trade and the consumer.

Passing over to the adult target: the most interesting news on the cards are the two cooking shows that are offered

by Discovery Italia.

TOP CHEF, already successful on an international level with over 50 seasons in 21 countries, and the new program th at is offered by the NOVE channel on air since 14 th September.

For the first time in Italy, 15 professional chefs are c h a l l e n g e d b e f o re t h e s ta r te l ev i s i o n j u d g e s , Mauro Colagreco, who has 2 Michelin Stars, Moreno Cedroni (2*), Giuliano Baldessarri (1*) and Annie Féolde (3*). Cooking a cce ss or i e s , k n i ve s and food are just a few of the categories that have been developed in the countries where the show is already on air.

BAKE OFF ITALIA, the pillar of Real Time, is on air with its 4th season (1 million and 345.000 viewers for the first episode on 2nd September) and is one

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of the more consolidated brands, which enjoys a very strong appeal, being well known by viewers and consumers a like. A franchise t h a t i s a d a p te d t o a n a r t i c ul a te d development, and not only within the key categories that are linked to cooking.

The new edition of the k i d s ver s i o n , J un i or Bake Off Italia, is out at Christmas with 8 new episodes showing the little bakers as they are challenged to achieve their dreams, guided as always by two expert judges, Ernst Knam and Clelia d’Onofrio, under the aegis of the big boss, Benedetta Parodi.

THE MAIN SIGNED AGREEMENTS For BAKE OFF, in concordance with the new series, the TreP accessories have been launched to prepare the specialties that are being shown on the show,

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while the recipes are a part of the Centauria book that comes out at the same time. This can be found in the main Mondadori stores, backed by a strong ad campaign. Bake of, however, is not only cooking.

Clementoni have developed a fun board game that is set to hit shelves in October.

When it comes to the kids target, the focus is on LITTLE CHARMERS, on air with Frisbee with the new season out in the middle of September.

After the optimum performance of the toy line by Spinmaster and books by Giunti, the roll-out of the products is proceeding with the new school line and the Accademia stationary, sticker albums and magazines by Panini, activity books by Pon Pon Edizioni to hit newsstands, puzzles launched by Ravensburger and the tasty cake in a tin by Balocco.

Others have been finalized, such as: Easter eggs, party goods, dress-up and bubbles.

Animal Planet is a global brand for the whole family, full of charming and spectacular content that puts the human/animal connection on air in all its glory.

A brand that is able to create a unique emotional connection and inspire products that are adapted to all ages. In Italy the following have been released: Edicart books, Kinder Ferrero eggs, activity books

by Edizioni Play Press and Mans, emerging ecofriendly product company, are commencing with the stationary production. The product has another plus side: the grcode, which enables the exclusive download of Discovery content. Games by Dal Negro are also in the phases of creation.

brand stores of the group. Discovery and Shark Week are two of the spotlight brands for 2017, for the creation of international projects in the leisure and home categories, adding important companies to the mix to remain in line with the DNA of the two brands.

THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN MANAGEMENT OF LICENSES WITH QUALITY AGENTS AND LICENSORS As an agency, on air properties are managed on the kids channels of the group, K2 and Frisbee. The properties that have been selected, not being in competition with each other, have a high licensing potential and are able to cover the whole kids target range.

As a licensor, brands by the channel are being managed and successful content for the non kids targets. The direct management style allows velocity, flexibility and the potential to develop original and creative projects that will make a difference for the consumer.

All of the brands and properties in the portfolio benefit from the synergy that is developed by being both television editor and licensing player.

THE LIFESTYLE DEVELOPMENT Two main points to address, here. With Real Time Selection projects are being developed with Real Time endorsements as a credible female target brand has been confirmed for the channel, with the aim of recommending ways to get the best out of life to the tv audience on a daily basis. Amongst the most successful case history, Zucchi/Bassetti, with whom shops have been developed in single

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Momodesign THE NEW AUTUMNWINTER COLLECTION 2016-2017 MOMODESIGN was born in 1981 on the wake of MOMO’s international success. The global leader in luxury motorvehicle accessories is style central, specializing in research and development of design. Since its first years, MOMODESIGN has been alternating research activity within the automobile sector and the development of ideas and projects in the lifestyle accessories category, giving life to a line of products that all individually contributed to creating the brand image.

At the end of the 90’s, Marco Cattaneo, Managing Director of the company, decided to separate himself from the group in order to create the MOMODESIGN brand, taking on a brand new challenge: to transform MOMODESIGN into an international brand with it’s own strong identity and philosophy. Research, innovation and creativity are the stronghold of MOMODESIGN’S philosophy. Style is an additional quality that is part of each of the brand’s creations, which allows the fabrication of products that arouse emotions, unique objects that are the mirror image of each consumer’s individual personality.

Over the years, the brand had evolved while maintaining its central style- the creative hinge, so to speak- working also for third parties. MOMODESIGN has been allowed to truly understand and anticipate market trends, thanks to their creativity and eclecticism, aiming at quality and innovation, meeting their own ambitious goal: to spread Italian design across the world.

MOMODESIGN h as launched their autumn/winter 2016-2017 range, from helmets to clothing, not to mention footwear.

HELMETS. URBAN AND SPORTY, HUNTING DOWN STYLE The MOMODESIGN helmet is a product that is distributed globally by Logico Design S.r.l. and which covers various areas, from those that are made for travel

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and city life to those, which are more sporty for skiing. Starting with the latter, the attributes of the new ski line are dynamic, made for performance and style. Created to celebrate the attitude that the brand has of sport, MOMODESIGN has raised the bar to a brand new challenge: researching technical solutions, materials and aesthetics that are functional in the world of winter sports. New concepts are developed for snow with a new high level collection, to offer comfort and maximum protection.

With MINIMOMO by MOMODESIGN, more glamor trends are followed as the helmets are made especially for an urban setting. Helmets of linear and simple design are made to optimize functionality, lightness and practicality for use in the city environment: the fascination of being on two wheels is combined with trending fashion. Symbol of distinction, the Momodesign helmet collection, other than being safe and functional, gives a certain style that makes it stand out. The helmets have become real collectors items, a product that is always of high quality and optimum design th at evolves with style.

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Also for the city, MOMODESIGN has created the Fluo line, to meet the style needs of the younger generations, reinterpreting the classic helmet under the FGTR brand.

presented by MOMODESIGN for the Autumn/Winter 2 01 6 - 2 01 7 s e a s o n is essential and of contemporary design. In perfect urban style, created for the man who chooses style, quality and research in his everyday items, where the line between free time and work life wears thinner and thinner and where the world of sportswear occupies a large space in style and a tt i t u de. 1 5 m o de l s a re taking form, which all express the essence of technology and innovation thanks to the materials, technical nylon and leather, from the functional characteristics of ripstop and water-repellent. The Autumn/Winter 2016-2017 collection by MOMODESIGN does not overshadow the world on two wheels, however, as it is always the base DNA of the brand, with hightop footwear options that cover the ankles to protect and give comfort.

A well rounded collection that is inspired by the male lifestyle, which proposes traditional colors such as black, blue, dark gray and brown, with invention of logos in the form of rubber injection and color contrast inserts.

URBAN TECHNOLOGY STYLE A new lifestyl e concept th at is expressed with a collection of outerwear, dedicated to urban technology th at h as been thought up, designed and distributed for the first time at the Milan headquarters, where the contamination between style and technology have become more and more tailor-made.

Leisure and sport influences are amalgamated with elements that come from the two wheel world. MOMODESIGN has studied the structure and performance of the collection, which was then concentrated into 12 pieces of multifunctional clothing and 2 motorbike helmets, created for men who have the urban attitude with both the need for practicality and style. The innovative characteristics are technical performance and contemporary design.

THE MOMODESIGN SNEAKER: WHEN STYLE MEETS DESIGN AND TECHNOLOGY The new sneaker collection that is being

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News

Corriere della Sera ENTERS INTO THE WORLD OF LICENSING The most sold and read classic daily newspaper in Italy is opening up to the world of licensing and becoming a brand. Romana Caldarelli’s C.L.A. (Caldarelli Licensing Agency) has been entrusted with the management of the project.

CORRIERE DELLA SERA is now available for development of licensing projects with C.L.A., the Caldarelli Licensing Agency.

Combining simple and clear style, efficient yet moderate tone of voice, not to mention clean and captivating graphics, the newspaper keeps up with modern trends as it remains accessible and pleasant to read, without forfeiting reliability and objectivity. A century and a half of history and authoritativeness with the great names in Italian journalism and culture: from Montanelli to Biagi, from Pirandello to Montale, from Moravia to Pasolini.

The available graphics are many: from the first classic pages to more captivating textures and indicative headlines, not to mention coloring pages and overlays that follow the current trends. There are many graphical facets within the new collections, in various categories of product, which maintain a researched and tasteful lifestyle image: from clothing to design, from stationery to accessories, from textiles and leather goods, to food and beverage.

Š Rovio Animation Ltd. All rights reserved

MILANO LICENSING DAY 2016 - 8 SETTEMBRE Maurizio Distefano the evolution of Licensing www.mdistefanolicensing.com

info@mdistefanolicensing.com

COME AND MEET YOUR FAVOURITE CHARACTERS

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Back to school

Back to school NOT JUST SCHOOL What is on the cards for children’s autumn/ winter 2016-2017 fashion? We take a look at some trends that are already on the market.

ARTIGLI GIRLS

ARTIGLI GIRL: CAUGHT BETWEEN A MODERN AND TRADITIONAL STYLE Artigli Girl combines tradition and modernism, past and future. Strong and edgy, sweet and romantic, the Artigli Girl strengthens her style.

The newborn line is composed of 5 themes: I Love Teddy Bear, Morning in Love, Little Party, I Love Cats and Flower Power.

For infants, the moods of the collection can be distinguished by tonality and color. Grey, black and yellow, already a must have combo in the newborn line, are amplified by the scuba products for infants with a glam and modern textile that brings out the various prints.

The elegant trilogy of white, red and blue, is soft and warm with the arrival of wool and classic tweed. A vintage touch and retro edge make the ash azure denim range unmistakabl y flawless.

The entire Girl line is a mixture of color and print. Super fast 50’s style taxi’s, whizzing past sweatshirts and t-shirts, which are coloured fuchsia and black, sweetened by the addition of rhinestones and pearls. Lover of fashion, sure of herself, with the unique objective of unmistakable glamorous style, the Artigli Girl wears printed tee’s of vertiginous heels and ARTIGLI GIRLS chooses a yellow-come-petrol green.

While the pink and black echo romanticism with peonies in bloom, the bordeaux makes the outfits strong , thanks to the use of studs, script and mylar inserts.

GAS JUNIOR. STREET FASHION SYMBOL FOR CHILDREN The new Gas Junior collection looks inwards at their well known brand identity, strengthening and concentrating the look on the world of street fashion. The boy line is composed of four themes, that range from vintage in the city to a more seasonal theme, playing with textiles, colors, inserts and combo’s. The girl range, on the other hand, is avantguarde without losing the comfort aspect, sweetening the street tones that set the brand apart from the rest.

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GAS JUNIOR

The children’s Gas range is modelled on the bright sporting spirit, that is contrasted with bordeaux and grey tones. The F/W sees the return of the comfortable and trendy pinafore, enriched with a contemporary edge using technical material and reindeer leather.

A typically Mediterranean accent comes to life with ethnic prints that enrich skirts and dresses; while the timeless black & white backgrounds make the range elegant as ever in shape and cut, the modern aspect can be found in the innovative use of textiles.

PAOLO PECORA MILANO: BIKER MOOD The present kid’s collection by Paolo Pecora Milano displays a truly original line, inspired by the men’s range, a perfect mix&match between elegance and the biker world. The latter is a world that fascinates children from a very young age: freedom, fun, the possibility to discover new places, drive their interest. Bosses of the anglosaxon allure that bring together tailored clothing and a biker’s need for practicality and style.

The whole collection plays with chromatic colour combinations, each one takes part in a theme, such as: carbon black, melange grey and chalk in knitwear, vaiella shirts, chino’s in openweave velvet and dyed microprint sweatshirts; graphite, brown and camel, revitalized by touches of red in the detail and lining. The range is mixed up by reinterpreting a chromatic

Back to school

PAOLO PECORA

GAS JUNIOR

BYBLOS. COLOUR AND RETURN TO THE 80’S The collection is characterized by a constant connection of colour and form, strong tones and energetic graphics for a bright and smiley winter.

The girls that wear the Byblos boys&girls range dream of being princesses, romantic and feminine, to become modern day heroines and to dance through the city’s streets. For the newborn collection, the first chromatic theme is made up of blue ribbons on macro flowers, which flood the black & white dresses, shorts, pleated skirts, leggings and trousers with fantasy. Colour is protagonist in the baby collection, expressing itself with great potential.

Stripes give off a sophisticated tone to the skirts, mini-dresses and trousers, made innovative by the combination with deep berry macro pois that dramatize the look. The macro prints of the t-shirts make an impact as they give character to the look.

It’s the come back, remade and ultra modern, for the Scottish tartan in shades of pink on shorts and mini-dresses. Amongst the protagonist colours is a quartz panther pink, this 2016.

From voluptuous fur coats in yellow, to leather jackets that set alight culotte pants. Geometric and hypnotic designs in black and lemon yellow with small tones of harmonizing grey for this clothing line of skirts and trousers.

The girl’s collection tells the tale of a little girl who abandons the norm of the baby world, moving towards the teen world with delicacy. Brilliant eyecatching items of clothing with bows, lace and

clothing line in a modern fashion with a retro edge; indigo blue, melange grey and blue make the line fashionable.

Icons of the new collection for autumn/winter are the aviator jackets, motorbike trousers with topstitching on the knees and the motorbike jacket in ecoleather for the vintage effect.

PAOLO PECORA

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Back to school

BYBLOS

contrasting belts. In this evergreen black and white striped theme, new volumes of shape are brought to life.

Quartz rose is set side by side with black in chessboard style on light-yet-voluptuous clothing with a side of street style.

Gold returns with a satin edge, discrete and of fresh luminosity together, as an unusual combination, with earthy sahara and brown colours.

Check and micro geometric fantasy in navy blue sets apart skirts, culotte pants and classic ž length trousers and dresses of new design.

The palette of greens is explored in all of its tones between apple green and deep forest green.

Warm colours such as sahara and quartz pink, mixed with lurex gold tones, create micro motifs on trousers and trapeze dresses.

The Scottish tartan in its classic composition of chromatic red, beige and black comes to life in an oblique fashion, creating optical illusions in movement.

Cloudless skies, on the other hand, have inspired the azure and off white theme that, with their delicate nuance, seem to caress knitwear, mini-dresses and skirts of fantasy design.

For boys, a classic theme with a new style, made up of sh apes and contemporary volumes, tweed, melange effects, micro fantasy with a play on opposites. The palette of colour ranges between black and white to anthracite grey, made contemporary by their brilliant red contrasts.

The prints are geometric, and designs are almost web like with the logo remaining central.

Blue becomes a passport to bluette and navy, and the alternating balance between textiles such as montgomery wool that is unstructured and unlined as the wool and jersey become coupled with reversible jackets, making the line scrappy.

For the baby, the city lifestyle is the spirit that drives the first theme, as it personalizes the theme for the winter season in a soft manner. Cool scenes, grey tones from antracite to melange, broken up by deep scrappy red, chilled and original.

BYBLOS

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LIVE THE DREAM! WITH AN AMAZING BUSINESS OPPORTUNITY

©2016 - MITICO – PCF BALLERINA LE FILM INC – GAUMONT – M6 FILMS

Felicie, an 11-year-old orphan girl, wants to become a dancer and will do everything possible to achieve her dream.

Theatrical release: February 2017 ITALIAN DISTRIBUTION BY: info@videaspa.it

FOR LICENSING OPPORTUNITIES IN ITALY, PLEASE CONTACT: licensing@alcuni.it +39 0422 301060

Entertainment

Animation WHAT’S NEXT IN ANIMATION

ALICE & LEWIS

As every year, Licensing Made In is the licensing media partner of Cartoon Forum, the only European co-production Forum which groups almost 1000 producers, broadcasters and investors. A unique opportunity to discover the latest animation trends and what may be the next kids IP. For the first time ever, Brands Media has also organized a delegation of licensing professionals who attended the event for the first time ever, bridging the gap between licensing and animation.

Following a selection of the potential IPs launched at the Forum, which may developed into tv animated series in the next couple of years and with high licensing potentialities.

ALICE & LEWIS TV Format: 52 x 11’ Target: Pre-school 4-5 Synopsis: A new and free adaptation of the Lewis Carroll’s most famous romance, “Alice in the Wonderland”.

Every night when she falls asleep, Alice is welcomed in Wonderland by her friend Lewis, a rabbit. Alice discovers all the unexpected and funny ways of this country ruled by a whimsical Queen. The two friends resolve small and big problems in this anything-but-ordinary world, to everyone’s delight.

Licensing Potentialities: Based on one of the most famous kids fairy tales, the stories of each episode are positive and enhance the friendship values.

Producer: Blue Spirit Productions (France) ALVA & THE TROLLS

ALVA & THE TROLLS

TV Format: 52 x 11’ Target: Pre-school 4-5 Synopsis: Once upon a time there was a little girl called Alva Doon who found a magical trollbead bracelet at the bottom of a well. Each of the seven pretty beads was an actual petrified troll, each with the single goal of causing Alva strife. But Alva must skill up to defend herself against the seven duplicitous dunderheads while teaching them a thing or two about nice behaviour at the same time.

Licensing Potentialities: Alva and the Trolls aims to be a kids show that links preschool social and emotional development with transferable media literacy skills though a classical fairy tale format. High collectible potentialities of the protagonists, strong story, highly colorful and a

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cross-media development on the way.

Producer: Kavaleer Productions (Ireland) BADABOO TV Format: 52 x 7’ Target: Pre-school 2-3 Synopsis: BaDaBoo is a pre-school show about the power of creativity and the fun of thinking outside the box. Baba, Dada and Boo are three colorful and adorable friends who pack an impressive dose of creative superpowers. By shaping and coloring the world, they perpetually re-invent their own universe and experience the

Entertainment

BADABOO

CAIMAN

most fantastic adventures.

Licensing Potentialities: Very simpl e and cl ear el ements which characterize the series and a good mix of basic shapes and colors, very suitable for the youngest audience. Finally, the aim is to develop a cross-media project.

Producer: Creative Conspiracy (Belgium)

nice.

Licensing Potentialities: It’s based on the homonym book by Halle Standford and Elise Allen, illustrated

by Paige Pooler and published in UK by Jim Henson Company. The add values of the series are: comedy, adventure, magic, a boys and girls target, collectible elements thanks to the many creatures present in the series and the amulets of the young protagonists.

Producers: Cyber Group Studios (France), The Jim Henson Company(UK)

CAIMAN LOOPY FRUIT

TV Format: 35 x 11’ Target: Pre-school 4-5 Synopsis: A preschool series where the protagonist is a young Caiman, an inquisitive 5-year-old crocodile.

Caiman lives with his family in Trickle End, where there is also its school and friends.

Licensing Potentialities: A good style and colorful characters and background. The protagonists are positive and safe. It’s already on a development stage the publishing and a dedicated app.

Producer: Illuminated Films (United Kingdom)

TV Format: 52 x 11’ Target: Children 9-11 Synopsis: Each episode features sketches, songs, stories and silliness as the Loopy Fruit get each other into trouble, laugh at each other, dress up in costumes, take petty revenge and sabotage each other’s attempts to perform their show.

Licensing Potentialities: An anarchic, slapstick, character based sketch show in the tradition of the Minions and the Muppets. Built on strong characters,

ENCHANTED SISTERS TV format: 52 x 11’ Target: Children 6-8 Synopsis: it is a show about friendship. Spring, Summer, Autumn and Winter couldn’t possibly be more different, but they love each other, and they’d do anything to make one another happy. At the same time, they can also make each other crazy.

The Sparkles have magical powers and they are constantly going on adventures and missions. Yet they also wrestle with real-life issues like jealousy, anger, self-doubt and how to handle kids who aren’t

LOOPY FRUITS

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Entertainment

SNOOZEVILLE

SNOOZEVILLE TV format: 52 x 11’ Target: Children 6-8 Synopsis: This comedic, nonsensical series follows three best friends. Kip is a goofy, carefree 10-year-old kid who with his buddies, Pillow and Tick, just wants to... live the dream. Pillow is a laid back memory foam pillow, who always provides laughter. Tick, on the other hand, is an easily wound up alarm clock, who is a stickler for time and gets frustrated by the ever changing rules of the world. These likely bedfellows chase the dream of one day climbing the social ladder in the surreal world of Snoozeville.

Licensing Potentialities: An original idea based on child’s dreams and how they can be lived. A surreal series rich of colorful and peaceful monsters. Suitable for boys and girls.

Producer: JAM Media (Ireland)

LOOPY FRUIT

and featuring European performers voicing fruit from around the world Loopy Fruit will appeal to a wide international audience.

Producer: Framestore (United Kingdom) MILLIE & LOU Tv Format: 52 x 11’ Target: Pre-school 4-5 Synopsis: Deep in the forest lives Millie, a friendly, fearless, young witch and her best friend Lou; a clever, cautious, little cat. Millie and Lou share the forest with exciting creatures, the “Forest Folk” all based on mythical folklore. Together these “Best Friends Forever” are on a magical mission to meet every single one.

Millie can’t wait to befriend them, whilst Lou is more interested in studying them and ticking them off in his “Big Book of Friendly Forest Folk”.

Licensing Potentialities: A warm and charming preschool comedy with diversity and friendship at its heart, produced by one of the leading UK production studios. The characters of the Forest Folk have high collectible potentiality. A style and design well defined which enhance the commercial development of the series through licensing and a cross media platform.

Producer: Blue Zoo Productions (United Kingdom)

THE THREE LITTLE SUPER PIGS TV Format: 52 x 11’ Target: Children 6-8 Synopsis: The series is a very modern twist to the classic fairy-tale, as three, crime-fighting superhero

MILLY & LOU

THE THREE LITTLE SUPER PIGS

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Entertainment BEYOND LICENSING FLEA UNEASHED

FLEA UNEASHED

pigs battle to outwit their nemesis – The Big Bad Wolf and his henchmen, in their daily fight to clean up the expanding metropolis of Fairyland. After defeating The Big Bad Wolf, The Three Little Pigs are awarded “Superhero, Superpig status” by the grateful citizens of the city. The Superpigs set up the FBI (The Fairyland Bureau of Investigation) and use their vast armoury of hi-tech gadgets, vehicles and gizmos to fight Fairyland’s troublemakers and criminal underworld.

Licensing Potentialities: Link to a classic fairy tale and based on the homonym books of Claire Evans. The show taps into the current and hugely popular superhero genre in a fast-paced, entertaining and comedic way.

Producer: Fourth Wall Creative (UK) ZOMBABIES TV Format: 26 x 12’ Target: Children 6-8 Synopsis: A series about a family of ZOMBIES and life, or ‘death’, is made very difficult for them as they try to fit in with their new living neighbours. But with the zombie kids’ (‘Zombabies’) intervention they always manage to muddle through.

Licensing Potentialities: Zombies is an evergreen theme. Original idea development with nice logo and music. A good way to combine scary, comedic and daily life elements together to amuse children.

Producer: Keg Kartoonz (Ireland)

TV Format: 52 x 11’ Target: 6-11 year olds Flea Uneashed is based on an original idea by Peter Hannan, Michelle and Robert Lamoreaux; adaptation by Michelle & Robert Lamoreaux and David Michel; designs created by Nicolas Moschini and Mathieu Vavril. Designs and the creative direction led by Oscar-nominated French director Samuel Tourneux.

Synopsis: While innocently digging a hole in the ground to bury a hambone, Flea, a fun-loving and clumsy stray dog, uncovers a mysterious portal and tumbles through it. Soon after, he arrives in a tranquil, otherworldly pet paradise called Petopia where he’s immediately welcomed by an eclectic group of pets who accept him into their delightfully dysfunctional family. But paradise is soon turned upside down when Flea accidentally breaks the Glorious Levitating Orb Beaming Eternal Relaxation and Tranquility – the source of Petopia’s peacefulness – spiraling the world into a place of chaotic unpredictability! While paradise will never be the same, it sure will be a whooole lot more interesting.

HAPPY GO HOPSCOTCH TV Format: 52 x 7’ Target: Preschool 4-5 years old Sinossi: Happy Go Hopscotch is a fun animated tv series that introduces the smallest children to the Science of Happiness, through the daily life of the animals who live in a vibrant and cosmopolitan city.

Hopscotch is 8 years old and is a very happy horse. He lives in a mews in the heart of a big city, surrounded by animal friends and neighbors. In every episode, one of the animals faces a happiness crisis. That’s where Hopscotch comes in. Hopscotch’s mission in life is spreading joy and laughter wherever she goes.

Whenever she senses a happiness crisis, she quickly invents a fun or surprising adventure, ropes in all the neighbors, and helps to solve the problem. There are ups and downs along the way, but they always get there in the end.

Neatly woven into the storylines will be a mini curriculum in the “science of happiness”, touching on simple themes such as friendship, kindness and gratitude, amongst others. As the characters learn how to change their moods, so will the children watching.

The series aims to promote positive mental health in little ones through their earliest TV viewing.

P ro d u c er : K i n o m i n d Films (Lithuania), Keg K a r t o o n z ( I re l a n d ) , Nick Dorra Productions (Finland) HAPPYGO HOPSCOTCH

ZOMBABIES

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Entertainment

Kid’s entertainment MIPCOM JR AND MIPCOM PREVIEW As every year, the global kids entertainment industry meets in Cannes at Mipcom Junior and Mipcom for a week packed of previews, business meetings and sales. Below some news announced at the eve of the event.

OLLY & MOON

of international channels, including France Television (France) and NBC Sprout (US).

Designed to show kids the world in a funny and engaging way, The Ollie & Moon Show is edutainment at its very best. Using a unique mix of animation (cats) and live action (backgrounds) The Ollie & Moon Show is based on the best-selling book series created by author, illustrator and Emmy Award-winning artist Diane Kredensor. The delivery of the series is planned for 2017.

COTTONWOOD MEDIA’S THE OLLIE & MOON SHOW SOLD ACROSS AMERICA Premium kids content producer and distributor Federation Kids & Family and sister production company Cottonwood Media announced two new pre-sales of their animated preschool series The Ollie & Moon Show (52 x 11) to Discovery Kids Latin America and TVO Canada.

The new agreements will position The Ollie & Moon Show in a further 25 countries, including all the Americas and most English speaking markets. Other pre-sales of the highly original show include an A-list

THE MOJICONS GET GOING ACROSS GREECE INK GLOBAL has announced that new animation series The Mojicons is set to screen across Greece on Nickelodeon.

The show is the work of renowned Russian creators Alexander Romanetz and Viacheslav Marchenko, and Nickelodeon Greece is broadcasting the entire first series. The Nickelodeon deal comes hot on the heels of a broadcasting agreement with Space Toon, which will see The Mojicons beamed across MENA. PREMIUM DAILY TEEN DRAMA LOVE, DIVINA LAUNCHES AT MIPCOM JUNIOR Televisa, Pol-ka Producciones and Federation Kids & Family have started production on LOVE, DIVINA (60 x 45 min), a music-infused daily teen drama starring TV and pop star Laura Esquivel (PATITO FEO). The maverick creative team combines its record-breaking successes and expertise across television, licensing and music, with the huge popularity and talent of Esquivel, to bring a new generation of premium teen drama to the international stage.

All three co-production partners bring a singular level of tween and teen drama expertise to LOVE, DIVINA. Launching at MIPCOM Jr. with a first episode, LOVE, DIVINA tells the story of a kind and conscientious teenager who grew up without a family. With a

MOJICONS

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many licenses for personal and oral care

ITALY

www.sodico.it

Entertainment

LOVE, DIVINA

TOBOT

deep understanding of life on the streets, Divina takes a group of homeless kids under her wing. The mysterious Irene, who turns out to be her long lost grandmother eager to be close to Divina and atone for past mistakes, takes them all under her Mansion’s roof, saving them from social services. Divina, who secretly dreams of becoming a pop star, lives with her friends, side by side with Irene’s privileged family - including Felipe, the love of Divina’s life - forging fast new friendships alongside bitter new rivalries...

LOVE, DIVINA will debut on eltrece (Argentina) in January 2017 and Televisa’s digital platform BLIM in the first quarter of 2017, followed by broadcast on all Televisa’s other Free and Pay TV platforms. European rights are managed by Federation and Televisa, and ROW by Televisa.

other various original toys based on animations by the company include Biklonz and Secret Jouju, amongst others.

BRANDS & RIGHTS 360 GROWS YOUNG TOYS KOREA’S TOBOT IN EUROPE Brands & Rights 360 has recently come to terms with Carousel and Ani Russia which will air (seasons one and two) in 4Q16 of Young Toys Korean’s Tobot (28+30 episodes x 30’). The boys 4-7 years old action adventure Korean animation already airs on Gulli France where the toys are being distributed by Silverlit France and B&R360 is about to confirm the first roast of L&M licensees attached to the brand.

In addition to Gulli France and Carousel and Ani Russia, K2 Italy, Minika Turkey, SIC Portugal and Talit Israel will also premiere the series, backed by its toys within the next six months.

B&R360 handles for Young Toys all rights for the series (Television, HV/VOD, L&M, Internet and Publishing) in France, Italy, Portugal, Russia, Turkey and Israel and is currently developing a tailor-made strategic L&M plan to follow up the premiere in the above mentioned territories. Young Toys is one of the leading toy and animation companies in Korea founded in 1980 and

BRANDS MEDIA PARTNER OF MIPCOM JUNIOR’S PROGRAMME Brands Media has organized a workshop in the frame of Mipcom Junior about licensing and tv series. The event’s title is Licensing Hits, from Brands to Tv Series and takes place on Saturday 15 October at 11.30 am at the MipJunior Lab. The main topics are the tools to transform an iconic brand into a successful show or unlock the licensing potential of an existing TV hit.

Speakers are: Philippe Soutter, President, PGS Entertainment, Boris Hertzog, CEO/Managing Director, Technicolor and Anna Hewitt, Licensing Manager, Spin Master.

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Entertainment

Animation Case History FRANCE: TEAMTO Founded in 2005 by Guillaume Hellouin, Corinne Kouper and Caroline Souris, TeamTO is one of the top CGI studios in the industry today, renowned for its outstanding quality and award-winning series. With offices in LA and Beijing, and state of the art studios in Paris and in Bourg-Lès-Valence, TeamTO has a team of over 360 people with an output of 300 animated half hours to date. company Sparx. Six series of Rolie Polie Olie produced with Nelvana went on to receive six Emmy nominations and two Emmy Awards. An auspicious start! At TeamTO they pioneered an effective way of using a film pipeline on TV shows resulting in the cinematic quality of their series. Crucially, their entire pipeline is in France allowing them to closely oversee quality standards at every stage. And a massive investment in software R&D, studio facilities and recruiting top talent all contribute to an exceptionally high standard of output.

TeamTO’s series are aired across the globe, on premium kids channels such as Cartoon Network, Nickelodeon, Disney Channel, Netflix, TF1, and SUPER RTL. These include their own original IP’s: Emmy® - nominated Angelo Rules with four seasons and two apps to its credit; Oscar’s Oasis, dialogue free comedy shorts sold to Netflix, Canal +, et al; and internationally distributed feature film Yellowbird, with top Hollywood talent. TeamTO have also produced some of TV’s most successful and ambitious series: Activision Blizzard’s Skylanders Academy; eOne’s PJ Masks; Disney’s Sofia the First and Elena of Avalor; and Ubisoft’s Rabbids Invasion, to name a few.

TeamTO’s studios are currently also focusing on their own co-productions and highly original IPs: My Knight and Me is an hilarious, action-packed medieval comedy that makes light of the Dark Ages; Take it Easy Mike is a genius slapstick animated version of lol pet videos (with CGI so realistic the animals get mistaken for live action!); and Jade Armor, starring a new kind of girl superhero, a normal teen who gains epic powers with an ancient suit of her family’s jade armour.

How TeamTO achieves its high standards of quality TeamTO’s standards are set and executed by founders Hellouin and Kouper, two multi award winning creative executives. Genuine mavericks in CGI, they headed the first studio to produce a preschool series in CGI at previous

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What next?

In addition to producing some of the most sophisticated CGI in the industry and becoming a powerhouse for their OWN IPs, TeamTO have branched out into interesting areas: a Beijing office for Chinese co-pros; digital Apps (their first Angelo Rules app garnered 2.5 million downloads); and an eye on licensing with shows such as Jade Armor (52 x 11’). This new animated series is an action-comedy about an unlikely teenage girl with an even unlikelier set of powers - and one awesome high-tech Jade Armor suit that can be a bit unpredictable! With its super hero girl star and collectible Beasticons buddies, Jade Armor fills a much-needed space in the supergirl market, and is primed to open exciting new licensing opportunities.

Trends & Research

Children & TV THE ITALIAN TELEVISION SYSTEM AND THE FRAGMENTATION OF CHILDREN’S PROGRAMMES ON OFFER. Consequences and instruments for the affirmation and fame of television IP’s.

Contribution by Daniela Di Maio, Children’s TV and Branding Expert

Children’s tv in Italy is amongst the busiest in the world: between digital terrestrial and paid, there are about 20 channels to date. To this, children’s content is added via the other platforms: websites, apps and various on demand video services that are always offering more as they advertise their offers for youngsters, having a certain intuition when it DANIELA DI MAIO comes to importance that is used to keep families faithful, seen as once a parent is subscribed to the kids offer, it is highly unlikely that they will cancel it due to convenience and family peace.

It is also not easy for an IP to emerge inside of an offer that is so rich and fragmented. The challenge is not only that of knowing how to single out the content that functions better on tv, on smartphones or on tablets, but

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above all to manage to amplify the value with the objective of winning over and engaging the new generations of children and, ultimately, to monetize.

The starting point to construct a strategy are, in actual fact, them - the digital natives: children that are used to using mobile technology from the youngest ages and who often have learned to surf before speaking their first word.

For them, there is no limitation of the use of media and they can not distinguish between one device and another: they expect to find their own content on any device and to control the commands by themselves not to mention the way in which they enjoy it and decide what to do with it. Their abilities are in sync between multitasking and multi-platform.

Traditional TV, nevertheless, is without a doubt their preferred platform: this is where they watch series’ and where they learn new episodes, afterall. The stronger and more involving the storylines and characters are, the easier it is for children to desire a deeper knowledge through games and activities on other platforms, giving the child the opportunity to prolong the experience of the IP in a way other than watching on television.

This said, with ever increasing available content that is easy for them to access through various platforms, childrens’ attention is difficult to capture. For this reason, it is crucial to manage and plan the IP’s cycle of exhibition, working in convergent synchronicity with all partners that are involved in order to emerge and reach the widest audience possible while amplifying brand awareness and guaranteeing the IP a long circle of life.

This is made up of, on the one h and, the

Trends & Research construction of a long term plan of the IP’s shop window management on various platforms (paid, free, non linear, etc.) to guarantee its success over time and, on the other hand, the choice of trusted media partners for programming.

The sharing of goals between partners is fundamental.

There would be no value, after all, if the chosen broadcaster placed the IP on air at marginal times or if, on the contrary, it was over exposed at all peak times, ending it far too quickly. There is also limited awareness and capacity to construct engagement if the empathic potential of social networks are not taken advantage of, or if in fact there were to be no fun or entertaining factors in which children sould interact and connect with the world of their characters through digital or territorial means.

Even the planning of programmation between the various platforms has to reflect the goals of gaining the highest audience possible and to be tightly woven with the plans of consumer products.

And it is, without a doubt, quite challenging to manage to construct and consolidate the success of any given IP and maintain it over time. The fragmentation of the offer, the new platforms and changes of a child’s user habits all mean that the strategies of programming and communication inside of any give IP must change along side trends.

Moreover, the correct combination of on screen experience, within territory and on the shelves amplifies the appeal and the relevance to the Pagina pubblicitaria licensing xstampa.pdf 1 18/08/16 16:49 target.

Trends & Research

Kids publishing THE POTENTIAL FOR THE DEVELOPMENT OF PRODUCTS BASED ON ANIMATED SERIES’ IN THE WORLD OF PUBLISHING Contribution by Simona Abriani, Expert in Kids Publishing and DeAgostini Libri SpA Consultant THE BIRTH OF LICENSED PUBLISHING IN ITALY The world of publishing h a s h a d a s tr o n g relationship with the world of animated cartoon since the middle of the 70’s, when the first animated series’ such as Ufo Robot (1975) were born and, with the coming of the commercial tel evision, the development began.

During the course of the 1980’s, many tv SIMONA ABRIANI p h e n o m e n o n s we re witnessed thanks to RAI’s only competitor at that time, Fininvest, who offered their little audience an ample alternative for the first time, that was shown on air with Italia1 and showed numerous series’ such as Lady Oscar (1982), The World of David the Gnome (1986) and Ninja Turtles (1988), which were then starting to develop into published material. And so it went on in the form of a new publishing thread, which saw the birth of extraordinary successes not to mention those of extremely long life.

Another factor that contributed to the phenomenon was the release of a fundamental channel of distribution for publishing, GDO (the large-scale distribution).

Many editors decided to dedicate much of their offered product, therefore, to television, such as AMZ, who during those particular years, became leader in the market with editorial lines of the Smurfs, The World of David the Gnome, published later and for many years by DeAgostini with increasingly important sales results.

AMZ’s first live action series based illustrated book, Love Me Licia (1986) was based on the television series of the same name. We also remember all of the great successes of the 90’s such as Mila and Shiro (1990), Power Rangers (1993), Lupin III (1994), Sailor Moon (1995) and many others that have enjoyed a long life. De Agostini, on the other hand, developed in the early 2000s the licensed collectibles of Dragon Ball, which were an extraordinary success of sales.

This association between publishing and animated cartoon is not only maintained over the years but has also overcome

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economic crisis’, epochal transformations such as the arrival of the Internet and the digital world, that modified the entire lifestyles of consumers, and yet it has developed even further.

WHAT POTENTIAL IS THERE TO LOOK FORWARD TO IN THE FUTURE? Some significant data has come of the latest survey, Doxa Kids 2015 Junior 5-13 age group, that analyzed consumption, habits and trends of children between the ages of 5 and 13 years.

Watching the television is still the main afternoon activity (70% of children between 5 and 13 years), a percentage that has been decreasing at a slow rate with the increase of age (65% 12-13 year olds).

The television is an instrument that is considered indispensable for over 50% of children up to 9 years of age, and these numbers decrease in the age groups 10-11 and 12-13 years due to the use of tablets and smartphones, indispensable for 35% of children between the ages of 10 and 11 years and for 70% in the 12-13 years age group.

On average, 50% of children have read at least one book that was not on the school curriculum in the last year, while the age group of most activity is 10-11 years (65%). Moreover, each of the children received a book as a gift. The choice of book is an interesting one: in 50% of cases it is the character that sparks the chosen book, both for parents and children alike.

A quarter of children that were interviewed read an animated cartoon based book at some point during the last year and 50% up to 10-11 years of age look for fun and pleasure in a book.

Up until about ten years ago, the process of knowledge and notability of an animated series was faster for the less ample supply because the only opportunity to get to know it was through television. With the arrival of satellite and digital tv, the offer has been using a wide range of sources, for this reason the time for affirmation and recognition of any given property is dilated.

It is therefore indispensable to use all channels

Trends & Research CHART 1

CHART 2

in order to integrate the pieces to form the grand idea in order to gain success. Today this seems possible, keeping note of some data (Doxa Kids 2015 Junior 5-13 years): 80% of families possess a smartphone, while 76% have a pc, 13% a tablet and have unlimited Internet connection. 46% of children use a cellphone and 32% have their own. 25% have a smartphone. The main activity for which they are used is playing games (43%) followed by watching videos and animated cartoons (22%). The use of a pc is declining in all of the age groups due to the use of tablets and more than 30% are in the age groups 10-11 and 1213 years. Almost 20% of children between the ages of 5 and 9 years use a tablet and more than 30% for the 10-11 and 12-13 groups. The main activity (62%) is still playing games followed by watching videos and animated cartoons (30%). The world wide web is becoming less unknown, 66% of children use it and the percent grows and grows with age (80% 10-11 and 12-13 year olds).

40% of children use YouTube daily: 18% to watch animated cartoons with 39% being in the 8-9 age group. Animated cartoons are the genre that is most watched on tv (about 70% of children up to 11 years of age) and 30% of families have a digital platform (Sky or Mediaset Premium) and 80% have a children’s package.

CHART 3

From this data it seems that the relationship between publishing and animated cartoon can consolidate itself in continuation and the opportunities for development are not lacking as long as there is a strong planning process and integration between the digital world, television, Internet, social media and apps, meaning all of the main new channels of entertainment and information along with printed pages, in order to optimize promotion of editorial products, to gain knowledge, behavior and habits of consumers not to mention make use of the new instruments of marketing, communication and promotion.

Doxa Junior 5-13 – 2015 edition - customers: DeAgostini, Walt Disney, F.I.L.A., Panini, LEGO, Mattel, Franco Cosimo Panini, GUT Edizioni, Mondadori, Feltrinelli, Edicart, Grani & Partners, Vodafone, Milan, Juventus

CHART 4

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Digital trends

Digital trends DIGITAL AND LICENSING Digital h as more and more to do with licensing as licensors have to figure out all potential transmedia developments of their own IPs to capture the attention of the target. Below some best practices on how licensing and digital can match together.

KOKONUZZ MEDIA GROUP Kokonuzz Media Group is a young trans-media company based in Hong Kong. It is both developer and licensor, building consistently global brands through trans-media content aimed from babies to teens.

The approach mixes together creativity, technology and marketing, having as a target the transmedia generation, which look for immersive engagement and synergic interaction with the content and the brand.

Among their own IPs, there is Kokonuzz, which aims at a tweens and teens target. For this series the company has produced the animated content (both online and tv), e-comic strips and illustrations, strickers and anicons, mobile and app games. By now digital stickers got over 200,000 downloads as the media group has developed

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ENABLING GENIUS LAUNCHES PHONICS SCHOOL IN CHINA London based edutainment specialist Enabling Genius has entered an agreement with digital publishing partner Wisdom Edition AS for PHONICS SCHOOL (16x5) in mainland China. The deal will see new interactive digital books based on the original preschool literacy series created for Wisdom’s reading platform Pickatale and distributed directly to 20,000 schools.

Under the terms of the agreement, Wisdom Edition AS will develop 16 original digital books based on the PHONICS SCHOOL animated series. A variety of interactive touch-feature and integrated video from the series itself will be specifically designed to encourage discovery and learning.

The Chinese e-learning industry is one of the fastest growing in China, with specific emphasis on video and mobile learning, and is the largest Digital English Language Learning country in the world. The market is expected to surpass USD 1 billion by 2020, in part due to Chinese parents’ ambition to see their children speak English to a very high standard.

Digital trends BOLOGNA DIGITAL MEDIA Connect. Buy. Sell. Create Bologna, 3 – 5 April 2017 Bologna Digital Media (BDM) is the new hall in the frame of the Bologna Children’s Book Fair, the global l eading children’s publishing event, onl y for trade. BDM is a vibrant h u b w h ere p u b l i s h er s , developers, TV and cinema producers, animation studios, artists and authors take part in an event and exhibition service that mixes start-ups with established brands and take advantage of opportunities offered by the everexpanding digital and print worlds.

over 80 animations for the homonym you tube channel.

Also the property for baby and toddlers Luke & Mary has a trans-media basis, through the contemporary development of animated content (both online and TV), Nursery Rhymes for the Youtube channel and Mobile Apps & Games.

The licensing approach of Kokonuzz is product centric, with sh ared risk and following fl exibl e guidelines and process.

AMERICAN GREETINGS. THE NEW DIGITAL FRONT To learn more about the digital strategy of American Greetings, LMI interviewed with Megan Buettner, Head of Creative & Digital, American Greetings.

Which has been the development of AGE brands into digital in the latest period?

Care Bears is currently developing an app with Ink & Salt which aims to teach American Sign Language to children. To our knowledge, Care Bears will be the first character brand to be utilized in teaching ASL in this way. For Madballs, we’ve just kicked off a strategy game with We Are Machine for release in Q1 2017.

platforms. For example, Care Bears and Cousins (our successful Original Netflix Series) and the new look of Madballs are now present in Miniclip’s hit app Agar.io and Care Bears has been integrated into subscription-based storybook telling with FarFaria.

Which is the main goal in developing digital contents and apps?

Our goal is to develop new experiences in the digital space outside of the core pattern of gameplay to offer something new in the marketplace.

How much the apps developed by now have increased the awareness of AGE brands to your target?

Care Bears has nearly 100% brand awareness and a beloved brand history, so the apps further enforce a longstanding love of these huggable, lovable characters that kids love and moms trust. As we bring back Madballs, partnerships like Agar.io and new developments help to expose a new generation to a brand new look and feel of the brand.

How much Digital contents are strategic and integrated with the main AGE brands contents?

Interestingly, we have worked with best in class partners to integrate our brands into their successful

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Analysis

New Market Areas THE NORDIC MARKET More and more Nordic brands, from Finland, Sweden, Norwa y, Denmark and Iceland, are becoming international hits. Some of the most popular are Angry Birds and Moomin.

KATI UUSI-RAUVA

LMI interviewed with Kati Uusi-Rauva, Director of AGMA, the association of agents and managers in Finnish creative industries. AGMA represents different branches of creative scene and supports the industry networking. The association is also the organizer of the first Nordic Brand Licensing Market taking place next November in Helsinki.

Do you have any data about the dimension of the licensing business in the Nordic Countries?

There is no data available. We have remarkable companies which do licensing actually. Licensing is not a big business still in Finland. It’s an additional business. It is not still totally understood the main importance of licensing.

Which is the relationship among the North territories?

For the first time evere we are organizing a Nordic Licensing event, with the purpose to network and promote these territories. In the event we will talk about the Nordic Countries, which are Denmark, Norway, Iceland, Sweden and Finland and we would love to include the Baltic countries as well, which are Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania. Historically these countries are linked to the western territories such as Sweden and Germany and their historical basis is similar.

Finland got independent only 99 years ago and it has always followed Sweden in terms of politics and social development. It has a very stable democracy and society.

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In terms of licensing this has created a market area. Consumers in the Nordic markets are very aware of their mutual origins.

Moreover, Nordic Area is a very demanding and lucrative market at the same time, in particular about kids products. There is a big focus in terms of quality, ethic and production issues.

Which are the main Finnish brands?

In terms of licensing, of course Rovio Entertainment with Angry Birds is quite important. It is a school example on how a brand has grown from digital platform.

Other remarkable brand are the Moomin.

They are the oldest entertainment brand in the Scandinavian countries, published in the ‘30s. As Angry Birds is global, Moomin are well known in Europe and they are extremely popular in Japan even for an adult audience.

Among other bands, we can quote Finlayson, which is a textile fabric founded 200 years ago by a Scottish guy. It is a texture company with 50,000 patterns patterns in their archive and quite many of them licensed.

They are bringing a licensing strategy at an international scale and developing cobranding activities.

Analysis

THE NORDIC BRAND LICENSING MARKET 28 – 29 November 2016, Helsinki, Finland The Nordic Brand Licensing Market is an exclusive new licensing market for creative Nordic brands coming from Finland, Sweden, Norway, Denmark and Iceland, where all international licensing professionals and agents are warmly welcome.

Over the two-days market, the participants will experience creative brands from following areas: Animation, film and TV, Music, Games, Design, lifestyle, fashion, Publishing, Experiences and adventure.

MAIN SPONSORS OF THE EVENT ARE: ROVIO ENTERTAINMENT. Rovio Entertainment is a global entertainment media company.

Headquartered in Finland with studios across the world, Rovio is the creator of Angry Birds™, the mobile game that became an international phenomenon. Today Angry Birds is not only the most downloaded game of all time, it is a renowned entertainment brand that has branched out into animation, books, merchandise and more. The first Angry Birds Movie was released in May 2016.

W h a t a b ou t th e eve n t you a re or g an i z i n g .

Which are the goal and the expectations about the attendees?

Our ambition is to create a licensing platform in the Nordic countries, that is a network environment to know better one each other and develop business.

The plan is to organize every year this event in a different city of the Nordic countries. In this way, the licensee who will come to learn about Nordic brands will know also about the territory and the local culture. It will be a window about Nordic brands and Nordic creativity. In fact, we will involve licensing, audiovisual, digital, music, games companies and institutions, only about Nordic brands and we will invite international licensees to learn more about all this.

I think there is a high potential international development for Finnish and Nordic brands, as for example in the gaming. Games producers in Finland are aware about international market. Moreover we have special talent in design brands.

MOOMIN CHARACTERS LTD. Moomin Characters Oy Ltd is the official body responsible for Moomin copyright supervision. All of the Moomin valley ch aracters created by artist Tove J ansson are globall y registered trademarks. Moomin Characters Ltd was founded by Tove and his brother Lars in the 1950’s. The hometown of the company is Helsinki, Finland.

FINLAYSON. Finlayson Oy is a Finnish textile manufacturer. The company was founded in 1820 when James Finlayson, a Scottish engineer, established a cotton mill in Tampere. The company manufactures various interior textiles and sleep products under the brand names Finlayson and Familon. One of the most famous new Finlayson designs is the Tom of Finland product line. The company has stores and retailers in Finland, Russia, and the Baltic countries, as well as an online store.

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Suppliers & Licensees

Sbabam NEW GAMES TO ENTERTAIN KIDS Sbabam is a Promotional Gift themed brand, a company that has been specializing in promotion for the last twenty years. A streamlined company that has supplied many leading companies over the years, both on a national and global scale. in Italy, Spain, Germany and France, generating more than 5 million euro of revenue annually.

Sbabam is a brand, which nourishes itself by way of research into innovative stimuli, partners and collaborations, even in the world of licensing, to attempt to offer the best in both innovation and content to little readers. There are, therefore, partnerships that have already been defined with important editors, broadcaster, producers or licensors on a global scale.

THE MISSION The Sbabam brand was created in 2014 to allow children new ways to have fun and play. The brand’s main missions are: To Astonish: Sbabam is always trying to invent new toys, positioning themselves as one of the most innovative brands in the field of toys linked with the publishing world.

To Have Fun: Thanks to the company’s experience that was matured in the field of the creation and import of toys, Sbabam allows children to have fun and for parents to rest assured that children are in the best hands.

To Thrill: Not only does Sbabam produce toys, rather they produce entire worlds for little customers to immerse themselves into, in order for them to have fun with their imaginations.

From the company’s birth to the present day, in only two years Sbabam has been undergoing constant growth, resulting in the wide variety of products that they carry today. Each year sees new products that are distributed

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CURRENT POSITION The main goal of the young Sbabam, is that of stabilizing itself within Italy and Europe, not only in newsstands but also in all of the main distribution channels such as GDO, bookstores and toystores. The growth that has taken place over the past few years only marks the first leg of the long race ahead.

Starting in September 2016, Sbabam distributed many new products to newsstands, such as brand new editions of Softy Friends (already over 350,000 pieces sold of the first two editions) and also Super Sabbia (over 1 million pieces sold in previous seasons), which is set to come out, accompanied by a promising tv campaign, also in Spain.

On the licensing side, the first important agreement was made with Turner, including flagship properties on kids channels which are guaranteed to excel. The preschool channel, Cartoonito, uses Sbabam’s soft toys as mascots, products are distributed, based upon said characters, in newsstands. Another important collaboration to mention is that of Sbabam and Mattel for Hot Wheels.

Last but not least, Sbabam are really quite present on a national scale, and are set to launch their initiative with the notable Italian theme park, Mirabilandia, in October 2016, where a Sbabam Day is set to be organized, including games and prizes for children and families, who take part.

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Suppliers & Licensees

Sodico THE SODICO GROUP CONFIRMS LEADERSHIP in Italy and Europe in personal care Sodico produces and distributes a vast range of products for health and beauty for hair and body, formulae that are a result of modern dermatological and trichologic research.

Co n s t i t u te d i n 1 9 92 a s a c o s m et i c s d i s tr i b u t i o n company, Sodico established itself as one of the main players in the sector, over the years, winning solid credibility. As a matter of fact, the group hit the national and international markets with their own brands: Vitalcare, Naturaverde and Dermasensitive+, and with a cata logue of over 500 references between hair care treatments, hair removal and skin care products, the group made themselves leader in the hair removal category.

Making the shopping experience trul y valuabl e, Sodico begun to make their products entirely “Made in Italy� (professional lines, basic aloe and natural extract lines). Immediately appreciated for the group’s originality in their proposals, the quality of the prime materials used, the vastness of the range, the elegance and fresh graphics on the packaging.

Thanks to the marketing policy, which is always ready to transpose the guidelines of the market, Sodico has a rich catalogue of references today, divided into brands that are now familiar to the consumer audience. Moreover, in just a few years, the group has become leader in personal care in Italy and Europe with the licensed products: licensors such as Disney, Dreamworks, WBCP, Rainbow, Sanrio, Viacom and many others saw a valid and qualified licensee in Sodico, both within Italy and globally speaking, for the development of their products.

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Today, having about 40 licenses, Sodico has developed products such as shampoo, shower gel, eau de toilette, oral care and tissues with a baby and kids target. The formulation is rigorousl y dermatological tested, they are parabens free and without SLES/SLS. Ensuring products of quality to the public means having laboratories for formulation and trustworthy suppliers at their disposal that demonstrate true profession.

To meet a wide range of the public, S o d i co h a s c h o s e n to dis tribute their lines using the GDO channel and to practice a respectful price p o l i c y to m e et th e needs of the consumer.

Today their products fill the shelves of the most important ch ains of s u p e r s t o re s and supermarkets. In the north, central and s ou th of I t a l y, S o d i c o p r o d u c t s have become a familiar presence on the shelves of the largest s u p er m a r ket s and the space that they take up becomes larger each da y th anks to the continuous launching of new successful lines.

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Focus on

BLE BRAND LICENSING EUROPE Now in its 18th year, Brand Licensing Europe is the definitive event for the European licensing industry. Below some of the news we will see at the show.

AMERICAN GREETINGS ENTERTAINMENT American Greetings Entertainment’s crown jewel franchise, Care BearsTM, celebrates their 35th anniversary in 2017, and are turning up the “aww” factor with nostalgic lifestyle products with top-tier partners.

Kooky-comeback kid Madballs™ is ready to gross-out a

new generation with more crack-up, wacky fun. American Greetings Entertainment and master toy partner Just Play are supporting the consumer products program with a coproduction of all-new Madballs animated shorts.

BEANSTALK 2016 has seen global brand extension agency Beanstalk work closely with clients to grow new product launches, as well as adding two further divisions to its host of expertise; Icon Representation and Studio B for creative services.

Earlier in the year, Beanstalk’s dedicated digital division, Tinderbox, was appointed by Rare as the global licensing agent for their highly anticipated new game “Sea of Thieves” and for iconic titles from the history of the gaming studio. Additionally, Tinderbox continues to pursue various licensing opportunities across a wide range of categories for the additional titles it represents within the Microsoft Studios Xbox portfolio.

New products have also been confirmed for Beanstalk client Diageo, a global leader in beverage alcohol. GUINNESS® has extended its relationship with Sean Loughnane’s, as well as signing the brand’s first Australian deal with apparel

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manufacturer Bravado, who’s products are due to launch imminently. Meanwhile BAILEYS® is set to launch a panettone with Melegatti for Christmas 2016 in select European markets.

SANTORO Another show for SANTORO to showcase their hero products from the plethora of brand new category launches across their ever growing portfolio - including, of course, their phenomenally popular Gorjuss brand.

Visitors to Brand Licensing will be treated to an exclusive peek of entirely new Gorjuss toy products, including games, collectable figurines, crafts, and sequin art sets as well as Gorjuss ‘Fofuchas’ - novelty craft foam characters that are popular in the Spanish market.

Also Kori Kumi portfolio is expanding into many new markets and product categories with new releases being unveiled. With launches in BTS, luggage, arts and crafts, fabrics, puzzles, and

Focus on

with two DTR agreements for apparel, there will be more to see of Kori Kumi in 2017.

BRANDGENUITY In 2015, Brandgenuity expanded operations by opening a London office to service clients on a global scale.

The NFL Players Association selected Brandgenuity as the exclusive licensing agent for all current NFL players in Europe. With three regular season games in London already sold out for 2016, the NFL continues

to grow its European fan base and Brandgenuity will develop apparel and hard lines that connect NFL fans to their favourite players.

Brandgenuity has extended the Gas Monkey Garage licensing program in Europe with three new licensees in apparel and accessories. In North America, the Gas Monkey Garage licensing program is on a strong growth tra jectory as the program boasts more than 20 licensees.

Viacom Music & Entertainment Group tapped Brandgenuity to develop UK programs for top

MIPCOM 2016: BOOTH P-1 N1 / P-1 M2 TV SALES: Maria Bonaria Fois mb.fois@mondotviberoamerica.com | +34 91 399 27 10 BLE 2016: BOOTH D70 LICENSING SALES: Valentina La Macchia valentina.lamacchia@mondotv.it | +39 02 49526694

Focus on properties including South Park, Broad City, Geordie Shore, and Ex on the Beach. South Park will celebrate its 20th anniversary this year with exclusive products and special collaborations.

AARDMAN ANIMATION During 2016 Aardman have been celebrating 40 years of creating loveable characters and enduring brands. Anticipation is building around ‘Early Man’ the latest stop frame feature film by BAFTA and Academy® Award winning director, Nick Park, with lead cast member Eddie Redmayne being revealed earlier this year along with a number of key territory release dates. Aardman is working closely with movie partner STUDIOCANAL on developing a strong licensing, publishing and promotional programme for the film which promises to be a ma jor global theatrical event for 2018.

This Autumn will also see the global roll out of Shaun the Sheep Series 5 on ma jor broadcasters in over 170 territories along with original and reissued content for VOD platforms.

Aardman’s classic clay h ero M or p h i s s et to return with a new series of short form episodes for Sky Kids before the end of the year and further promotional activity featuring established treasures Timmy

and Wallace & Gromit is planned for 2017.

4K MEDIA This year, the Yu-Gi-Oh! anime b ra n d c e l e b r a t e s i t s 1 5 t h anniversary of entertaining and engaging young audiences in the United States and globally outside of Asia. 2017 marks its next exciting theatrical release, Yu-Gi-Oh! THE DARK SIDE OF DIMENSIONS. Beyond Yu-Gi-Oh!, 4K Media is also actively expanding both its licensing and production slate to incorporate other brands including the recentl y announced representation of Rebecca Bonbon.

INK GROUP Masha and the Bear are broadcast in almost every country in the world. The newly released series 3 is adding to the show’s popularity, whist Masha is also a huge YouTube hit and a successful theatrical release in Italy is set to be replicated across key European markets.

Mojicons is the new show that delves inside the internet, to reveal the hidden world of the Mojicons. The show is produced by renowned Russian creators Alexander Romanetz and Viacheslav Marchenko.

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Focus on BRIO is one of the most recognisable toy brands in the world. Distinctive, well-designed toys have been part of childhood for generations, and the company now has a presence in over thirty countries. Brand awareness is particularly strong in the four Nordic markets, the UK, US, Germany and France.

LONELY DOG Acclaimed New Zealand artist Ivan Clarke will introduce his Lonely Dog character brand to the European licensing community at BLE. Exhibiting brilliant storytelling and a style that celebrates the nostalgia and vibe of the 50s, Lonely Dog is an artbased property that brings to life a vibrant fantasy world and its beloved central character. More than 200 works of art feature Lonely Dog and the whimsical world of Alveridge, a place that calls to mind glory days gone by.

NBCUNIVERSAL BRAND DEVELOPMENT At this year’s BLE, NBCUniversal Brand Development will showcase an expanding roster of properties from the company’s film and television creative partners including Universal Pictures, Illumination Entertainment, DreamWorks Animation, as well as NBCUniversal cable and television.

Premiering in the summer of 2017, Illumination Entertainment and Universal Pictures bring Despicable Me 3, the follow-up to global blockbusters, Despicabl e Me and Despicabl e Me 2, as well as

Minions. NBCUniversal is looking forward to creating unique programs with industry leaders for Universal Pictures and Illumination Entertainment’s, The Secret Life of Pets 2 – the sequel and next film in The Secret Life of Pets.

For upcoming live-action films, NBCUniversal will highlight Fast 8, the highl y anticipated eighth chapter in Universal Pictures’ global fan-favorite, Fast & Furious movie phenomenon, releasing in theaters April 2017. NBCUniversal will debut a new toy line with global master toy licensee, Mattel.

Looking ahead into 2018, the division is teaming-up with its new, global master toy licensee, Mattel, to roll out a wide variety of toys and consumer products inspired by Jurassic World 2 . M a tt e l wi l l design,

3-6 April 2017 54th edition Bologna The natural habitat Italy for children’s content

A N G O L L O A B GIT DIEDIA M

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3-5 201 April Bol 7 Italogna y

an event by

Design Chialab. Illustration Daniele Castellano

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7 reasons to join us in 2017

The Bologna Digital Media hall is the newest part of the Bologna Children’s Book Fair and a place where publishers, developers, producers, animation studios, artists and authors all take part in events that mix start-ups with established brands. A new venue where everyone can take advantage of the opportunities offered by the digital, print and media worlds. bcbfdigitalmedia@bolognafiere.it Tel. (+39) 051 282 242 - 282 361 www.bolognachildrensbookfair.com

1. Vibrant mix of new media companies, brands and licensing opportunities 2. Live demo stages and conference room for product launches and special events 3. Live mobile platform training conference room 4. 3 days of seminars, round tables and discussion on kid’s content 5. Rights, sales and licensing powerhouse from a truly global audience (98 countries) 6. Latest innovation in education, VR, AR for kids content/learning platforms 7. Large screen video display adverts: the chance to showcase a short advert of your service and new products for 2017

Focus on produce and bring to market a wide variety of toys and consumer products inspired by the film franchise.

Following the recent corporate acquisition o f D re a m Wo r k s Animation, NBC U n i ver s a l B rand D eve l o p m e n t i s now responsible for managing the DreamWorks A n i m a t i o n p or t fo l i o of properties for consumer and digital products globally.

Headlining the roster is Trolls, the upcoming feature film set to be DreamWorks Animation’s biggest and most expansive consumer products effort to date.

TWENTIETH CENTURY FOX CONSUMER PRODUCTS Twentieth Century Fox Consumer Products will highlight new upcoming TV and movie properties in addition to its vast archive of classic properties available for multi category licensing.

FCP’s new TV content includes the award-winning animated series Bob’s Burgers and the unique comedy Son of Zorn which mixes live action & animation plus new reboots from Prison Break and 24: Legacy. The enduringly popular Family Guy features highly on the bill alongside The Simpsons, a powerful franchise that continues to evolve.

FCP will showcase Ice Age, officially the biggest animated franchise globally as well as upcoming movies for 2017 including Ferdinand the new Blue Sky Studios animation, War for the Planet of the Apes and Alien: Covenant plus The Greatest Showman. New for 2018 comes the highly anticipated Alita: Battle Angel and the first of four AVATAR sequels is planned for release later in that year; Blue Sky’s new family animation Pigeon Impossible is scheduled for 2019.

CURTIS LICENSING As the licensing arm of the Saturday Evening Post magazine, Curtis Licensing is returning for a second year to BLE to showcase its impressive archive of over 6,000 images and introduce its new agents for Europe.

Following the first showing at BLE last year, there is a growing stable of licensees in EMEA, drawing from this rich archive of artwork to introduce new collections across fashion, accessories and homewares.

Curtis’s nostalgic images, stories, photographs and articles have been licensed to publishing companies, advertising agencies, film studios, etc. around the world, gracing thousands of products from apparel, to gifts and collectibles to home décor for over 30 years.

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Trends & Research

Kidz Global INTERVIEW WITH PHILIPPE GUINAUDEAU, CEO, Kidz Global Which is the main goal and profile of Kidz Global?

We are the leading global market research a gency specializing in kids, teens and families. We manage digital research and create online custom proprietary research panels & online communities.

Although we’re a young company, we h ave been PHILIPPE GUINAUDEAU working with the larges t companies in their areas: Entertainment, Toys, Video-Games, Food & Drinks.

One additional specificity of Kidz Global is to offer their clients a global coverage. Our syndicated services provide marketing information on over 40 territories, with similar reading of kids’ behaviors and attitudes.

How do your researches help licensing decision makers and manufacturers?

Many businesses rise and fall based on their ability to predict consumer behavior. Seeing a trend early and

adjusting operational and marketing strategies accordingl y ensures that the client stays on top of the game. Identifying these trends is our job.

We identify the most popular brands to kids, teens and young adults. And we identify what type of marketing actions our clients should take to get ahead of the game.

What about the digital trends among the kids’ consumers?

The speed with which kids access online or any new digital technologies is simply unprecedented. Our research demonstrates that 49% of kid’s free time is dedicated to digital activities, while only 14% of this time was directed to playing indoors – including playing with Video-Games –.

Which will be the next trends in the licensing?

The digital brands have massively gained awareness in the last 5 years. From their European or North American base they have conquered the whole world including Latin America and the Asia-Pacific area. Digital brands have now entered the top favorite brands in all the areas of the world. For instance, Minecraft has made significant in-roads into the top, being present in the top 5 favorites in many territories.

As the movie and the video games industries are getting closer, and as digital franchises are by nature potentially global (with few if any trade or broadcast barriers), we believe that digital franchises will soon be part of the top 3 favorite brands in the world.

And in the digital? Traditional media platforms are still important for kids?

The internet has had another effect on television, in that it now has to compete with web content. Many children are now far more loyal to YouTube content than they are to televisual entertainment. YouTube creators also tend to cater to smaller demographics (they don’t have to justify airtime), making their output even more tailored to kids and, often, even more unbearable to parents.

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