Winter 2011
LICENSINGBOOK THE
BUILDING BUSINESS THROUGH PARTNERSHIPS
Toy Fair 2011
Toy Fair Coverage •Beanstalk/NBA• MAGIC & Topsville, Inc.
DEPARTMENTS 6
Publisherʼs Point
10
Stat•Shot
54
Directory
8
News Hong Kong Licensing Show, Marilyn Monroe LLC, Target Heads to Canada
11
Hot Shots On the eve of Sesame Workshop’s Hasbro toy debut, a conversation with Maura Regan.
Winter 2011
46
This winter’s edition of the semiannual apparel extravaganza in Las Vegas has new features including a new skate-themed event.
VOLUME 28, NUMBER 1
FEATURES
12 Toy Fair 2011 It’s the most wonderful time of the year for licensed toys. Toy Fair rolls into the Javits Center in New York, and we have you covered from Aardman to Zinkia.
The Return of MAGIC
52
Of Counsel Attorney James Kipling continues his series on how to get property rights— without getting shafted.
44 Beanstalk Merges With Nancy Bailey & Assoc. What do you get when you combine an 80+ person, three-continent brand licensing agency with a “lean and mean” corporate licensing powerhouse based in Atlanta? That remains to be seen, but industry bigwigs Michael Stone and Nancy Bailey agree: It’s about time.
48 Topsville, Inc. Hits It Big By Making Itself Scarce Sometimes building your own brands helps you realize how you can help better pitch your licensed goods.
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Winter 2011
Licensingbook.com Check out the newest from Chorion’s pre-school brand, the Octonauts, on our blog at licensingbook.com... and much, much more. You can also browse complete back issues of the magazine, send us tips, and visit our sister websites at toybook.com, thetoyinsider.com and thebigtoybook.com. Be sure to also follow us on Twitter @licensingbook.
P UBLISHER’S P OINT
LICENSINGBOOK
®
THE
www.licensingbook.com
Toy Fair Time In our office we can feel the excitement of Toy Fair before it even begins. We’ve been previewing toys, building our issues of The Toy Book and The Licensing Book for Toy Fair, checking out the trends and what’s new, and even in this snow-covered city, it’s impossible for us not to be full of optimism when we get to be part of all of the innovation and fun that defines both of these industries. It’s no surprise that movie licensed toys will be the big hits this year. For all those Pirates fans, the fourth installation in Disney’s Pirates of the Caribbean series, On Stranger Tides, will hit theatres this May. Look for cool collectible figures from Jakks Pacific that reveal inner secrets with the help of an LED light. Green Lantern will wow kids beginning in June and they can look for products like the Quickshot Game from Pressman. Sakar has introduced a new walkie talkie line in the shape of Thor’s powerful hammer so he can save mankind (while chatting with friends). From Techno Source to Gund, and, of course, Mattel, Disney’s Cars 2 will dominate kids rooms this year. Are you a Smurfs fan? Prepare to laugh your way out of the theatre in August and directly to the toy store for the Mega Bloks Smurf Carnival. Speaking of classics, Captain America: The First Avenger will be in theaters in July and kids can have their own signature shield from Hasbro. Kids are
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in for lots of 3-D fun with Smurfs and Transformers. Hasbro has created a Transformers role play mask with built in 3D glasses so kids can be Optimus Prime or Bumblebee while seeing Transformers: Dark of the Moon or any other 3-D movie. What’s the “wow” for 2011? Apps! Can you say Angry Birds? From apps to products, this is only the beginning. Don’t forget about properties like Tetris: from a video game to an app, and finally, to hard products. There is more to come in this emerging category, so go play on your phone! Your business continues to grow because of the creativity, the technology, and the inspiration that this industry offers. Our business continues to grow as we share your successes with the industry, create camaraderie and partnerships, show retailers how to successfully merchandise these brands and help the industry recognize key brands and trends as they appear. As you read this issue of The Licensing Book, you will see great kid products that are built on the foundation of great brands. Also enjoy the new look that Bryan and his team have created. Remember also that our digital issue has video embedded in the ads for you to check out. If you missed an issue, either digital or print, just let us know. And remember that you can always go online to www.licensingbook.com to see all archived issues and our newsletter.
ADVENTURE PUBLISHING GROUP INC.® VOL. 28, NO. 1 WIINTER 2011 PRESIDENT/CO-PUBLISHER LAURIE SCHACHT laurieschacht@aol.com
CO-PUBLISHER JONATHAN SAMET jsamet@adventurepub.com
EDITOR IN CHIEF BRYAN JOINER bjoiner@licensingbook.com
ASSOCIATE EDITOR MACKENZIE ALLISON mallison@licensingbook.com
CONTRIBUTING EDITORS JACKIE BREYER ELIZABETH REID PRODUCTION DIRECTOR ANTHONY K. GUARDIOLA aguardiola@adventurepub.com
PRODUCTION ASSISTANT YASMIN JOHNSON yjohnson@adventurepub.com
CONTROLLER/OFFICE MANAGER ROBERT FORDE rforde@adventurepub.com
ADVENTURE PUBLISHING GROUP, INC.® 286 FIFTH AVE., 3RD FLOOR NEW YORK, NY 10001 TELEPHONE: (212) 575-4510 FAX: (212) 575-4521
Licensing News HONG KONG
Ninth Hong Kong International Licensing Show Draws Record-Breaking Crowd UNITED KINGDOM
BBC Worldwide Inks Lonely Planet Deal
The ninth edition of the Hong Kong International Licensing Show, held January 1012 at the Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre, recorded its largest participation on record with more than 500 properties from 16 countries and regions spanning several categories. More than 15,300 visitors from 106 countries and regions visited the show and there were several first-time participants. Winners of the Premier Asian Licensing Awards were announced and conferences and workshops were also held during the show. Speakers included Elie Dekel, president of Saban Brands; Jordan Sollitto, executive vice president of International Licensing of Warner Bros. Consumer Products; and Yizan He, managing director of LMCA Asia.
CANADA
BBC Worldwide has signed footwear, apparel, and accessories brand developer Established Brands to create the first-ever range of Lonely Planet-branded luggage, travel accessories, and apparel. The deal marks the first time that the travel brand has launched a major global licensing program that extends the brand across a variety of platforms. It is expected that the full range of products will be available in 2012 onwards, starting with the UK, the U.S., and Australian markets. Lonely Planet also produces content and new products to support wireless providers. Its iPhone app has been downloaded more than seven million times.
Target Heads to Canada in a Big Way Retailing giant Target has finally found its way into Canada, with an agreement to take over the leases of up to 220 Zellers stores. The deal, between Target and the Hudson Bay Co., was completed in early January and weighed in at $1.825 billion Canadian dollars. Target plans to convert 100 to 150 of the stores to its own brand by 2013. The stores will be Target’s first outside the United States. The retailer has 240 days from the date of the sale to decide which locations it would like to occupy. Target plans to eventually expand to more than 200 Canadian locations, says Chairman and CEO Gregg Steinhafel.
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Winter 2011
UNITED STATES
Halo Enrolls with University of Oxford Stone America Licensing has announced a multi-year licensing agreement between world luxury furniture manufacturer, Halo and the University of Oxford. Halo will launch a first collection inspired by the University of Oxford’s 600-year-old imagery and archives in September. The range will include home furniture, accessories, rugs and sporting goods. Chris Evans, managing director of Oxford Limited, says, “We are thrilled to have Halo on board to create a distinctive lifestyle collection that brings Oxford into the home arena, showcasing the University’s prestige and heritage.”
UNITED STATES
ITALY
Authentic Brands and NECA Acquire Marilyn Monroe, LLC Authentic Brands Group, LLC (ABG), an intellectual property corporation, in conjunction with NECA, a global media and entertainment company, announced the acquisition of the intellectual property of Marilyn Monroe, LLC. "Marilyn Monroe is recognized around the world as the embodiment of beauty and glamour. Quite simply, her name and her image have timeless appeal. We feel fortunate to be responsible for the future,” says ABG Chairman and Chief Executive Officer Jamie Salter. ABG holds TapouT, TapouT MPS, TapouT Pro, TapouT Vintage, Silver Star Casting Company, Iron Star, Hitman Fight Gear and Sinister brands. ABG manages the merchandise licensing programs for the Bob Marley family of brands.
Giochi Preziosi Brings Pocoyo Toys to Italy Zinkia and master toy licensee Bandai have appointed Giochi Preziosi as master toy distributor for Pocoyo in Italy. A range of Pocoyo-branded products is due to be released in Italy by Giochi Preziosi this spring, including traditional and feature plush, figurines, vehicles, and activity toys. “If figures are similar to the success we’ve enjoyed in Spain, we could be selling more than 2.5 million toys in Italy and achieving strong commercial growth,” says Fernando de Miguel, managing director and CEO of Zinkia.
Winter 2011
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Stat•Shot Dollar Sales in Billions, U.S. Toy Industry Supercategories Categories
Annual 2008
Annual 2009
Change
Annual 2010
Change
Action Figures/Acc/Roleplay
$1.55
$1.62
4%
$1.37
-15%
Arts & Crafts
$2.60
$2.79
7%
$2.78
0%
Building Sets
$0.88
$1.08
23%
$1.22
13%
Dolls
$2.67
$2.63
-2%
$2.77
6%
Games/Puzzles
$2.35
$2.37
1%
$2.17
-9%
Infant/Preschool
$3.03
$2.97
-2%
$3.20
6%
Outdoor & Sports Toys
$2.74
$2.60
-5%
$2.83
9%
Plush
$1.68
$1.46
-13%
$1.73
18%
Vehicles
$1.91
$1.80
-6%
$1.75
-4%
Youth Electronics
$0.92
$0.77
-17%
$0.56
-22%
All Other Toys
$1.32
$1.39
5%
$1.49
8%
Total Toy Industry
$21.65
$21.47
-1%
$21.87
2%
Source: The NPD Group /Consumer Tracking Service
T OP L ICENSES
TOP-SELLING FAMILY ENTERTAINMENT TITLES R ANKED
RANK
BY
T OTAL U.S. U NITS , D ECEMBER 2010
TITLE
PLATFORM
PUBLISHER
1
TOY STORY
1
JUST DANCE 2
WII
UBISOFT
2
STAR WARS
2
MICHAEL JACKSON: THE EXPERIENCE* WII
UBISOFT
3
DISNEY PRINCESS
3
DANCE CENTRAL
360
MICROSOFT
4
SUPER SCRIBBLENAUTS
NDS
4
CARS
WARNER BROS. INTERACTIVE
5
JUST DANCE
WII
UBISOFT
5
THOMAS AND FRIENDS
6
WII PARTY
WII
NINTENDO
6
DORA THE EXPLORER
7
WHEEL OF FORTUNE
WII
THQ
7
SESAME STREET
8
JUST DANCE KIDS
WII
UBISOFT
8
WWE
9
WIPEOUT: THE GAME
WII
ACTIVISION/BLIZZARD
9
IRON MAN
10
DISNEY FAIRIES
*Includes Collector’s, Limited, Legendary, Bundles (Guitars) Editions
Source: The NPD Group/Retail Tracking Service
10
B Y D O L L A R S A LES , 2010
Winter 2011
Source: The NPD Group/Consumer Tracking Service
Hot Shots/An Interview With... Maura Regan, senior vice president and general manager of Consumer Products, Sesame Workshop Out with the old, in with the new. Hasbro toys are here. Although we still don’t know how to get to Sesame Street, The Licensing Book does know that 2011 marks a big year for Sesame Workshop. The company’s exclusive deal with toy maker Mattel came to an end in 2010, and competitor Hasbro snagged a 10-year agreement to manufacture and market a wide range of toys based on Sesame Street characters, set to hit the market this year. Sesame Workshop Senior Vice President and General Manager of Global Consumer Products Maura Regan was tightlipped about the new line, but she expressed enthusiasm about the brand and the staying power of the 30-plus-year-old characters.
TLB: How much can you elaborate on new products at this point? Regan: We are very excited about what we will be announcing at Toy Fair, and we feel really honored to work with Hasbro. We had a terrific relationship with Fisher-Price and we are really pleased with our new relationship with Hasbro. We are coming off of a great year in terms of ratings with our television show. We really believe that Sesame is poised particularly well given all considerations of where the economy stands, where our brand stands, and as a beloved brand for three—going on four—generations of consumers. TLB: Can you tell me more about the products you are working on with furniture company Delta Children’s Products? Regan: Strategically, what we are looking to do across all of our prod-
uct categories is expand the offering in terms of all the different characters that we have. We have wonderful Elmo products and will continue to have wonderful Elmo products, but taking our cue from what’s happening on air with the program, we are really developing our storylines using all of our other characters as well. So what you will start seeing at retail, in all product categories, is a greater breadth of characters from the Sesame family. Our whole advertising campaign is “More of What You Love,” and you will start to see that even more in products.
TLB: Abby Cadabby is the newest character to the long-standing lineup. What has consumer response been to products that feature her? Regan: We have had a very good response at the retail level. We have a number of theme parks and she has been part of the shows, as well as our live show. With children interacting with her up close and personal, the response has been terrific and that has translated into sales at retail, in both the toy aisle and apparel aisle. TLB: Are there any particular characters you are incredibly excited about and that you think will exceed any retail numbers thus far? Regan: Well, I can’t play favorites like that—but I think they are all truly wonderful. Honestly, I think that we have a robust offering across characters and we are particularly excited about what we have coming out this year. We have something for everyone. —Mackenzie Allison
Winter 2011
11
TOY FAIR 2011 Take A Look...
Clockwise from the Commonwealth Toyʼs Angry Birds plush at upper left (hurtling toward the pig near the center): Warner Bros. Green Lantern plush, Power Rangers Megazord by Bandai, Tron 1 Man Light Jet by Spin Master, limited edition Uglydoll watch, Sesame Street furniture by Delta Childrenʼs Products, Strawberry Shortcake play set by Hasbro, Hensonʼs Dinosaur Train, Timmy Time plush from Jakks Pacific, Noddy from Planeta Junior Italia, Miss Piggy doll by Tonner Doll
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Zinkia Entertainment Zinkia Entertainment is expanding its Pocoyo brand with a new toy line from master toy partner Bandai America. The line features Pocoyo SwiggleTraks, which is a flexible track system with multiple configurations. Pocoyo SwiggleTraks components play music and laughter as Pocoyo goes through tunnels and bridges in his racecar. SwiggleWheels is a motorized vehicle, which propels itself within a circular track. The Push-Along Vehicle can be used as a standalone vehicle or with the entire SwiggleTraks system. Vehicle assortment includes Pocoyo, Elly, and Pato. Pocoyo is also offering Bath Fun Traceables. NCircle Entertainment will release several Pocoyo DVDs this year, including Here’s the Party, a Halloween special Boo!, Dance Pocoyo, and Positively Pocoyo.
Saban Brands The Power Rangers brand recently returned to its original developer, Haim Saban and Saban Brands, and Nickelodeon debuted the new series, Power Rangers: Samurai, on February 7. The Power Rangers: Samurai toy line includes figures, vehicles, role play items, and the iconic Deluxe Megazord. The Megazord consists of five smaller zords (ApeZord, TurtleZord, LionZord, BearZord, DragonZord) that combine into the Megazord. The new Megazord is part of the ZordBuilder Collection and can combine with other items across the line to form the ultimate Megazord.
Spin Master Based on Fox’s game show of the same name, Spin Master’s Million Dollar Money Drop also tests players’ pop-culture knowledge, as if they were on the show. Only seven questions stand between a player and $1,000,000. With four answers to choose from— and only one minute to choose—players must pick which drop, or drops, to place their money on.
Winter 2011
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Briarpatch
Delta Childrenʼs Products
Delta Children’s Products has signed a licensing deal with Sesame Workshop for licensed Sesame Street products for kids. The line will include 18 SKUs, including three new products that are brand new to Delta. Products will hit stores this summer, and will include toddler beds, memo boards, metal table and chair sets, and plastic toy boxes. The metal table and chair sets will also be sold individually, so parents can mix and match characters, since each chair is a different character. The plastic toy boxes are a new design with unique features, including character cut-outs. Delta will also introduce a computer desk for kids in a variety of licensed characters, including those from Disney•Pixar’s Cars. The company is also entering a new category as it unveils upholstered chairs featuring licensed characters. And, while Delta has always had a hand in helping moms keep their kids’ rooms organized, the company is taking that a step further with its new SOS (Storage. Organize. Style.) and Eco Collections. These new collections were designed by a mom for moms to better organize children’s closets. The SOS collection has 18-20 active SKUs. The sets include space-saving hangers, dividers, hanging organizers, and storage bins. The infant collection started with four core nursery colors—Beige, Barely Pink, Baby Blue, and Hush Green. Delta is also debuting its Kids collection next month, which includes Pop Diva Pink, Pop Orange, Pop Turq, and Pop Lime. The Eco-Collection is crafted of 100 percent recycled cardboard and non-toxic inks and adhesives, making it the perfect green alternative. The Eco-Collection has three active SKUs: blue, pink, and green.
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In recognition of the 20th anniversary of I Spy, Briarpatch introduces I Spy Spectacular, a game with a three-tiered spinner that will send players over the edge looking for picture matches. There are riddles that become a creative activity at the end of every round. There are several ways to play for younger and adult players, ages 5 and up. I Spy Ready to Read, for ages 4 and up, asks kids to read the riddle on the game board, find the objects, and punch them out. When players are done, play it in reverse. There are four games to play. I Spy Wonder Tubes is a collectible game for ages 5 and up. Among the glitter and the sand swirl there are lots of items to find in order to solve the different riddles included with each Wonder Tube. The Fancy Nancy Fabulous Fashionista Game is for ages 5 and up. Pair the ensembles like a fashion maven to win this game, which is all about collecting the perfect dress in your armoire and just the right shoes from your shoe caddy. Collect three outfits to win. With the Goodnight Moon My World ABC Game, for ages 3 and up, go beyond the “great green room” into My World, the companion book to the original Goodnight Moon. Bunny’s world blossoms in this new preschool game, designed to help familiarize children with the alphabet and sight words. There are five games to play. The Madeline at the White House Game, for ages 4 and up, has players running from one landmark square to another. Tic Tac Turn, for ages 8 and up, has a 3-D game platform. Make a move on a choice of four levels, or give a level a turn. Briarpatch also offers new Mini Games. These small games are easy to carry and clip onto backpacks, belt loops, and bags.
Hasbro Debuts Sesame Toys Through a license with Sesame Workshop, the iconic Sesame Street characters will be featured on several toys from Hasbro, including the Play-Doh Cookie Monster’s Letter Lunch Play Set. With this play set, kids can help Cookie Monster make a PlayDoh alphabet soup, complete with pretend noodles, veggies, and letters; then they can “feed” him a spoonful and press down his mouth to see him gobble it all up. Hasbro expands its Strawberry Shortcake offerings with new dolls and play sets. Throughout 2011, girls can follow Strawberry Shortcake and her friends on their adventures in Berry Bitty City in Strawberry Shortcake's Berry Bitty Adventures , a new animated series on the Hub Network. To create this season’s “berry” best styles, girls place Strawberry Shortcake onto the Strawberry Shortcake Twirling Flower Fashions rotating base. With the pull of a lever, the doll will spin. Girls then squeeze the plastic rose on the base and a light sprinkle of water sprays onto her chic skirt, revealing different patterns. Once the dress dries the patterns disappear, allowing girls to create new fashions over and over again. Strawberry Shortcake Twirling Flower Fashions comes with one scented five-inch doll and two color-change skirts. Each doll in the Strawberry Shortcake Deluxe Doll assortment is decked out for a night out on the town in Berry Bitty
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City. Girls can play stylist and use the ice wand to change the color of the doll’s hair streak to another hue and add fruitshaped barrettes. Each doll comes with two dresses, a pair of shoes, and plenty of accessories. Girls can act out exciting adventures with the Strawberry Shortcake Mini Play Set assortment. The Best Friends Clubhouse is a sweet spot where Strawberry Shortcake and her gal pals can meet to spend an afternoon just hanging out. In the fall, Strawberry Shortcake and friends can visit the Fresh ’n Fruity Smoothie Station, the perfect spot to pick up a berry refreshing snack. Each set comes with a three-inch scented doll and themed accessories. When introduced in 2009, Clue: Harry Potter Edition was a big hit among fans of the magical tale of wizardry. In 2011, Clue: Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Edition presents players ages 9 and up with another mystery to be solved and secrets to be revealed. This time, a student has vanished somewhere inside Harry Potter’s wizarding world and players must decipher clues in order to uncover the secrets and solve the mystery. Hasbro will also debut several new products spanning multiple categories. Other new games include Ratuki, Cuponk: Le Flash Royale Edition, and Ji Ga Zo. There will also be new products for Alphie Databots, Chuck & Friends, Weebles, and My Little Pony.
Neat-Oh! International Kids can keep their room neat with the Lego Star Wars ZipBin Storage Case, from Neat-Oh!. When unzipped, it becomes a Star Wars-themed playmat, and when play is done, kids can capture all the bricks inside. The Lego Star Wars ZipBin Battle Bridge Storage Case can be used as a storage bin for clone troopers, Sith Lords, and Jedi Knights. The Lego Star Wars ZipBin TIE Fighter is also part of the Star Wars-themed collection. Lego bricks are not included with any of these ZipBins. Neat-Oh also offers an array of Barbie-themed ZipBins. The Barbie ZipBin Beach Bag is a flashy carry case that has vibrant summer colors on the outside and a paradise beach inside. The elegantly decorated two-story Barbie ZipBin Dream House is fit for a girls’ night or romantic dinner. The Barbie ZipBin Clutch is a perfect finishing touch for any outfit. Take a step into prehistoric times with the large Dino-Land Museum Collection Playmat. See what life with the dinosaurs was like from volcanoes to tar pits to plant life everywhere. Graze with the other dinos or chase after prey with the fierce Tyrannosaurus Rex. Museum Collection Dino-Land includes four museum-quality animals and a large, wipe-clean, two-sided playmat. The large Safari-Land Museum Collection Playmat features wild animal artwork. It comes with four museum-quality animals and a large wipe-clean, two-sided playmat. Unzip the graphic, bold, patch-adorned exterior of the Hot Wheels Patch Racer ZipBin Backpack and it becomes a two-lane drag strip with a winding cityscape in the background. The car’s body is perfectly integrated into the shape of the backpack with a sewn-on Hot Wheels patch on the hood.
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Chorion Chorion heads to Toy Fair with key properties from its portfolio of classic literary and entertainment brands. From The World of Eric Carle, The Very Hungry Caterpillar Early Learning System will debut this fall. Also new to retail this year for The World of Eric Carle is the Kohl’s Cares for Kids plush and book program that will run through April. Following a fall 2010 launch, Spin Master will continue to refresh the Olivia toy line this spring with a jewelry-making set, new plush designs, accessories, and playsets. New toys, apparel, accessories, and books themed Olivia—Princess for a Day, based on the new 22-minute special, will debut in the fall. Other new product introductions for 2011 include sporting goods, Halloween costumes, sounds books, and audio books. The brand Mr. Men and Little Miss celebrates its 40th anniversary this year. There will be new introductions in apparel and accessories, and Chorion is seeking a novelty plush partner in the U.S. In 2011, Chorion will introduce two new preschool-animated properties, Octonauts and Gaspard and Lisa, in the US. Licensees onboard for Octonauts include global master toy licensee FisherPrice and publishers Simon & Schuster for the UK, and Hachette Jeunesse for France. Gaspard and Lisa is based on the books written and illustrated by Anne Gutman and George Hallensleben, and published by Hachette Jeunesse.
Disney Brings Magic to Toy Fair Powerful storytelling and memorable characters from beloved entertainment franchises are the hallmarks of the 2011 toy line from Disney Consumer Products (DCP). Sparking imagination, these toys capture the magic of playtime with evergreen play patterns that kids will come back to again and again. Here is a look at the big news from Disney Consumer Products from Toy Fair 2011. As the theatrical release of Disney·Pixar’s Cars 2 hits theaters this summer, the Cars franchise continues to expand product offerings. A robust new line of more than 300 toys showcases the new stories and characters in the film. A new collection of die-cast cars, play sets and a few surprises from Mattel anchor the Cars 2 toy line. With system and Duplo sets from a new line of construction play sets from Lego, Cars fans can build out their favorite characters and scenes from both films. Gund will also feature Cars 2 plush. A new collection from Spin Master showcases leading R/C and Air Hogs technology. Ridemakerz will introduce a system of customized Cars vehicles, allowing kids and collectors alike to put their personal touch on their favorite characters. Additionally, for the first time, a new Wood Collection will take kids back to classic play. For the Pirates of the Caribbean franchise, new toys include figures and playsets with a special reveal from Jakks Pacific. Just in time for Halloween, CDI and Disguise will introduce a robust new line of role play to inspire pirates of all ages to explore, discover, and hunt for hidden treasure. New construction sets and character mini figures from LEGO will bring both new and classic characters and scenes to life. Fans will have to snap up all the sets to complete their collection of fa-
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vorite characters in LEGO form. Mattel will offer true-to-film dolls. In the fall, the Disney Princess brand will include the Rapunzel light-up doll and small tower play set, inspired by the Disney film Tangled. The Disney Princess characters will expand to include role play from CDI and transforming fashion dolls and a Disney Princess castle play set from Mattel. Girls can also experience new characters and accessories from the popular baby and toddler doll line from Tollytots and Princess & Me friend doll collection from Jakks Pacific. This year, Mickey Mouse will keep on dancing as the holiday hit Dance Star Mickey continues to delight the preschool set. In the fall, Rock Star Mickey from Fisher Price hits the stage with fresh music and new moves. Minnie Mouse will also make her mark with a new line of dolls, role play, and dress up inspired by “Minnie’s Bowtique,” a special Mickey Mouse Clubhouse episode on the Disney Channel programming block. In anticipation of the summer theatrical release of Winnie the Pooh, a new line of classic and interactive plush, figures, and play sets from Fisher-Price will launch. The Toy Story line-up continues in 2011 with a new assortment of figures and play sets from Mattel. Disney has also announced continuing short-form content featuring Woody, Buzz, and the rest of the gang. In the games category, this fall fans of all ages can test their Disney IQ with the new Trivial Pursuit: Disney For All Edition from Hasbro. The game features a colorful game board with Disney characters and new question styles.
Maisto With Maisto’s Marvel Super Hero Squad-licensed vehicles, each Marvel character has its own custom-designed vehicle or plane. The eight 1:64-scale vehicles and six aircraft are designed for younger kids. The Nick Fury Flatbed Hauler includes one 1:64scale Marvel car. Other products include the Fire House Play Set and the Flight Deck Play Set. The two-level 1/43-scale Ferrari Race & Play Auto Service Centre features working details. Accessories include technician figures, a simulated jack, and more. It comes with one 1/43-scale Ferrari die-cast. Maisto caricature-styled die-casts put a friendly face on famous cars with Ferrari Kids. Play set accessories are also available.
Carte Blanche Carte Blanche has appointed Ravensburger as a licensee for jigsaw puzzles. Puzzles launching in June include Children's 4 in a box puzzles, a heart-shaped puzzleball, and 1000-piece Tatty Teddy Bath Time Scene. Other puzzles from the Ravensburger partnership include 1000-piece Teddy in the Garden, 1000-piece Tatty Teddy Cottage Scene, 500-piece Me to You Heart puzzle, 200-piece Tatty Teddy at the Beach, and 240-piece puzzleball. Carte Blanche has also partnered with Worlds Apart for a series of nightlights.
Sandstorm Productions Sandstorm Productions LLC has the rights to produce new games for Marvel Entertainment classic characters and movies; The Jim Henson Company properties The Dark Crystal, Labyrinth, Fraggle Rock and Wilson & Ditch; and the Natural History Museum. Sandstorm also has the rights for Sanrio’s Hello Kitty and the World of Eric Carle. Three of Sandstorm’s creative game studios—Giant Tree House, Closet Nerd, and Glowfly Games—are developing games for these intellectual properties.
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Winter 2011
Life-Like Products The Classic ’57s set, from Life-Like Racing, is retro racing at its finest. Taking on this 15.5 feet of track are two classic ’57 Chevy Nomads. These two cars must race through twists and turns to see who completes their laps first in this bi-level configuration. A lap counter ensures a fair race. A Fast Trackers tune-up kit is included. Max-Traxx technology offers maximum traction, handling, and speed. Cars feature traction magnets for cornering speed, micro-balanced axles for a smooth ride, and center magnets for all-over control.
Sakar Inspired by Marvel Studios’ upcoming Captain America: The First Avenger, Sakar releases the Captain America CB Radio/Walkie Talkie Set. Other branded gear will join the set. Inspired by Marvel Studio’s Thor, the company launches the Thor Walkie Talkies, shaped like the superhero’s hammer, Mjolnir. The line will include other adventure/spy gear as well. The Gummy Bear Digital Camera has the same translucent appearance as the gel candies and includes photo-editing software. Based on Mattel’s new franchise, Sakar introduces Monster High Earbuds as part of a broad new line of “monster chic” gadgets. Other high-tech products will also join the line.
Tree House Kids, Inc. Tree House Kids, Inc.’s Imagination Adventure Series R/C line will now include officially licensed radio-controlled trucks. The RAM 3500 Laramine SLT features opening doors, tailgates, tow winches, and trailer hitches. Kids can haul a bass fishing boat by using the detachable trailer on the company’s new RC Ford F-350 Remote Control. Other sets will also include a fully articulated action figure and accessories. The series is inspired by hunting, fishing, camping, and riding the dunes.
Winter 2011
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Spin Master New for spring is the Tron 1 Man Light Jet. The package includes one light-up jet, one action figure, one user instruction guide, and two button cell batteries. The Tron Light Cycle includes one lightup vehicle, one user instruction guide, and three button cell batteries.
Cardinal Cardinal’s Disney games and puzzles include Princess Foil Puzzles in a shaped tin, the Princess Friends Forever game, and the new Cars 2 Tire Tub packed with games. Each item in the Squinkies line includes Squinkies moving pieces. There will also be puzzles and two games. The Hello Kitty line includes heart-shaped tins with card games, dominoes, and checkers. There is also a line of puzzles. Games and puzzles based on Marvel characters include the Spider-Man Skyscraper Game. Those based on Thor and Captain America will release with the movies this spring. Foil puzzles in shaped tins will also be available. Also new are games based on The Million Dollar Money Drop and Family Guy. The SpongeBob line is expanding.
Discovery/ Scientific Explorer Based on the Discovery Channel show MythBusters, Scientific Explorer is releasing Mythbusters Crashes & Collisions Science Exploration Kit. Kids can test the myths Jamie and Adam included in the kit, which try to prove crazy stores that the guys have heard about crashes and collisions. Can wind stop a car crash from happening? Can hidden energy move a car? Kids test these mysteries and more.
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Animal Planet
Warner Bros.
Several licensees have signed on for products that represent the Animal Planet brand. At Toy Fair, Bendon will show Animal Planet color & activity books and Cahootie’s Animal Planet Fortune Teller Game lets kids learn fun facts about their favorite animals and discover species they never knew existed. Animal Planet craft and activity kits from Horizon feature 21 assorted SKUs, ranging from color-a-kite and paint-by-number, to 3D velvet kits. The line also features fashion art kits, including design-yourown T-shirt, as well as make-your-own kits for birdhouses and bug catching. Puzzle enthusiasts can take advantage of the Animal Planet puzzles from Ravensburger and those who enjoy a little more high-tech fun can opt for the Animal Planet DVD Game, DVDiscoveries! Baby Animal Edition, by Screenlife, where kids can learn about baby animals and their habitats with the assistance of onscreen activities, video clips, and wooden puzzle blocks. Jay at Play will be displaying nine new 2011 Animal Planet items at the show, including Tickle Touch Monkeys, Pick Me Up Cuties, 18-inch Wagging Puppy Tails, 9-inch Wagging Puppy Tails, 18-inch Standing 4–legged Wild Cats, 14-inch Wild Eye Endangered Puppets, 4-inch Wild Eye Dinosaur Puppet, and 9inch Wild Eye 4-legged Standing Animation.
Warner Bros. Consumer Products (WBCP) is teaming up with several global licensees at Toy Fair in support of Warner Bros.’ June release, Green Lantern. Key licensees include Rubie’s, with a line of Green Lantern costumes and costume accessories; the Noble Collection, offering high-end ring and lantern prop replicas; and NECA, with a Green Lantern Projection Ring and other accessories. Licensees also supporting Green Lantern include: Pressman Toys, Hewlett-Packard, Funko, Horizon Group USA, Hy-Ko Products, Kidz Toyz, LPG International, Mezco Toyz, SRM Entertainment, Toy Factory, Trend Setters Ltd, Formation Marketing Canada Ltd., and University Games. The toy line from Mattel will include Green Lantern Ring Blast Jet Figure & Vehicle, the Green Lantern Battle Shifters Figures, and the Green Lantern Movie Masters Figures, as well as the role-play item Green Lantern Colossal Cannon Blaster. A rich and comprehensive line of products based on the film for both kids and adult fans alike, Mattel’s multi-category toy line includes basic and deluxe action figures, figure/vehicles and role play, along with playsets, games, puzzles and vehicles. Additionally, each basic action figure comes complete with a Green Lantern ring in order for kids to feel as if they, too, have been “chosen” to be a Green Lantern.
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Jakks Pacific Revs Up for 2011 The Tollytots division of Jakks Pacific is expanding My First Disney Princess Toddler dolls with the introduction of Mulan and Snow White this spring. Each 15-inch Toddler doll is dressed in her signature ball gown and features rooted hair, poseable legs, and a tiara. Currently, the lineup features Cinderella, Ariel, Belle, Aurora, and Tiana. Little girls can also choose from products in the Disney Fairies collection. Disney Fairies 4.5-inch Flit & Flutter fairies feature shimmery wings that flutter with the touch of a button. Disney Fairies 4.5-inch Fairy and Pet combines the most popular fairies with pets from Pixie Hollow. Fairies in the Disney Fairies 4.5inch Rainbow Fairies Collection come wearing easy-to-dress vinyl fashions and rainbow glitter wings. With Disney Fairies 4.5-inch Fairy Play Environment, each environment is created specially for the Fairy, and comes with magical surprises. In Tink’s Pixie Kitchen, a cute cricket pops out from a cupboard and a cake appears when her oven door opens. In Silvemist’s Pixie Bath, water comes out from the spout and fish swim around in the bowl when you press the faucet. Disney Fairies 9-inch Deluxe Fairy Fashion Doll comes with stylish accessories to add more fashion and hair play to the line. From UFC, UFC Deluxe Figures Wave 6 feature popular stars of the Ultimate Fighting Championship including Clay Guida, Frank Mir, and GSP to MMA’s Thiago Alves, Tito Ortiz, Jens Pulver, and Bas Rutten. Each figure features Ultra-Flex articulated technology with 29 unique points. The UFC Basic Octagon with Six-Inch Figure lets wrestling fans create their own unique fights in this hinged-doors ring. The UFC Championship
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Belt comes with a 3.75-inch articulated figure. The TNA DLX Impact, Series #3, is the latest series of TNA DLX Impact figures and feature Velvet Sky, Jay Lethal, Shark Boy, Matt Morgan, Kevin Nash, and Sting. These seven-inch TNA Deluxe Impact Figures boasts Real Scan Technology sculpts along with authentic outfits and accessories. The Micro Impact 3 Pack are small—but significant—wrestlers that feature six points of articulation. TNA Championship Belt is also new for 2011. Jakks will also launch licensed games based on Phineas & Ferb, Pokémon, and Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides. Spring titles include Phineas & Ferb 104 Days of Summer Board Game, an interactive board game featuring activities for each day of the week. With Phineas & Ferb Funniest Card Game Ever (Standard Edition) players trade and “steal” character figures from each other in order to build “scenes” that score points. There is also a deluxe edition of the game that has four collectible figures. For Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides, titles include Bones Dice Game, Pirates 5 in 1 Captain’s, and Pirates Master of the Seas. The launch of the 5th generation Pokémon Black and Pokémon White will debut this year. New products from Jakks Pacific include Pokémon Battle Poppers, as well as Battle and Attack Figures, plush, and play sets. Jakks is introducing plush and novelty items based on Timmy Time, which airs on Playhouse Disney. Timmy Time small plush feature all key characters from the show.
NKOK Making Waves
Ceaco
NKOK has both feet in the licensing game and has recently partnered with several companies for a new line of licensed R/C vehicles. With Sony Computer Entertainment America, NKOK will introduce radio-controlled, battery-operated toys featuring Sony’s video game characters Ratchet and Clank. Based on the PlayStation-exclusive franchise, NKOK will also preview R/C collectibles featuring the vehicles and characters from Sony Computer Entertainment America’s demolition derby video game, Twisted Metal. R/C Axel and Sweet Tooth’s Ice Cream Truck are also new to NKOK. In a deal with Sony Pictures, NKOK will be unveiling a new line of R/C racing vehicles based on the summer release of The Smurfs movie. Key characters will race in R/C taxis, wooden go-karts, skateboards, and ATVs. Sonic Free Riders will be collaborating with the Xbox gaming system Kinect. NKOK plans to expand the line of SEGA All-Stars and Sonic the Hedgehog R/C vehicles and slot-car racing sets. The company will also introduce a new line of flying R/C toys called Air Banditz, expand its Stunt TwisterZ line—formerly FlipOver Racers—with dirt buggy designs and a new collection of mini stunt R/C vehicles, and introduce a new Chuck E Cheese arcade-style game, Whack a Munch. NKOK’s line of HALO R/C vehicles will be expanded this year to include a new Reach Ghost R/C vehicle with Elite Minor positionable action figure and an infrared-controlled flying Falcon, as well as Offroad Reach “Rocket” Warthog with Noble 6 & Emile. NKOK’s My First Vehicles Line will be adding an R/C Train and Ice Cream Truck for the younger crowd
Ceaco, a jigsaw puzzle and game manufacturer, will unveil its latest puzzles at Toy Fair. Along with new images from Thomas Kinkade and Jane Wooster Scott, Ceaco will introduce 37 new puzzle series. The Baffler, by artist Chris Yates, is the newest novelty puzzle in Ceaco’s line. Joining The Baffler for new novelty offerings is Puzzle STIX, a double-sided wooden puzzle that includes a wood frame for display. Artwork for Puzzle STIX is by Sharie Hatchett-Bohlman, Colin Thompson, and Kevin Whitlark. From CeacoKIDS, The Fuzzy Puzzle is made out of felt with a rubber back. Bart Wolf is the artist for the series. CeacoKIDS will also continue its Pinkalicious license with Silverlicious puzzles in a 24- and 60piece series. There are four new series in the 1000-piece category, including Food Landscapes by UK artist/photographer Carl Warner, which features images he creates of edible landscapes, and the Hidden Expedition series, which is licensed from Big Fish Games.
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Lego
Mattel
Lego Duplo bricks help toddlers and preschoolers learn and play in many different ways. Duplo bricks contribute to every stage of learning, from identifying colors and shapes to figuring out how things work to developing role-play and storytelling skills. Open-ended sets encourage free-form building and Duplo bricks are compatible with classic Lego bricks—making them a perfect investment in a child’s building career. New products feature the characters from Cars 2 and Winniethe-Pooh, including Winnie’s Picnic and Winnie’s House. Lego has a collection of build-and-play scenes inspired by the first three Pirates of the Caribbean films, as well as the upcoming film, Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides. The line will include collectible mini figures, and the poster and trading cards in each box unlock online content. The new collection in the Lego Star Wars line is inspired by the entire Star Wars film saga, plus models from the animated television series Star Wars: The Clone Wars. New additions to the Star Wars line include the Clone Trooper Battle Pack, Imperial V-wing Starfighter, and The Endor Battle Pack. Available in August, The SpongeBob SquarePants line will include two iconic underwater scenes, Heroic Heroes of the Deep and Glove World. The Harry Potter line of products is also expanding.
Mattel’s Disney Princess collection has several new products for 2011, including Disney Princess Ariel Fountain & Bubble Boat, and Disney Ariel & Sisters. Inspired by the movies Tangled, Disney’s Tangled Rapunzel’s Magical Tower Playset is also new. Kids can also recreate the Green Lantern universe in four-inch scale with Green Lantern Deluxe Battle Shifters Figures, featuring Green Lantern characters Hal Jordan, Sinestro, Tomar-Re, and Kilowog. When enemies attack, Battle Shifters figures are ready to fight back with the included fold-up Power Slinger accessory. With a light touch, the Power Slinger instantly pops out, revealing a malleable weapon or creature “construct” to fight foes just like Green Lantern does in the movie. Power Slingers can be folded up again and again for unlimited play. Also for boys, opening a whole new world of play for World Wrestling Entertainment fans are the Rumblers line of figures, accessories, and playsets that allow kids to create their own action-packed storylines and favorite matches, limited only by their imagination. This all-new line of figures, measures anywhere from two to four inches tall and includes such Superstar favorites as John Cena, Rey Mysterio, and Sheamus. Kids will have a blast collecting this entire line of figures featuring exaggerated Superstar styling, iconic poses and a unique grip to hold accessories. Available in two-packs for head-to-head action.
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Aurora Boys can embrace Mexican wrestling with Lucha Libre! Extremo!, which marks Aurora’s first series of exclusive soft figurines based on Luche Libre. Kids can choose from The Eagle and more. A comic book “hangtag” is attached to each toy. In a licensing deal with Wolverine World Wide, Inc., Aurora will launch and distribute worldwide the Hush Puppies plush animal line featuring small, medium, and large (18-inch) Hush Puppies basset hound and the portable “clip-ons,” for fun on the go. Aurora is also producing plush characters based on National Wildlife Federation’s (NWF) new animated television series, Wild Animal Baby Explorers. Plush will include Sammy the Skunk, Miss Sally the Salamander, Benita the Beaver, Skip the Rabbit, and Izzy the Owl.
Fisher-Price There are several new products for Fisher-Price Friends. FisherPrice and Disney have teamed for Rock Star Mickey. Mickey sings three full songs, holds a guitar and features a “How to Be a Rock Star” mode. Let’s Play Teacher Dora features two modes of play: teacher and student and comes with a school desk, more than 40 learning cards, and a storage case for the cards. From Thomas and Friends, Thomas and Friends TrackMaster Cranky and Flynn Save the Day takes inspiration from the DVD Day of the Diesels and features a two-foot-tall, talking Cranky the Crane and the fire engine, Flynn.
UCC Distributing In January, Tomy launched the Gacha Box category in the U.S. Gacha Balls current licenses include Nintendo, featuring Mario Kart Pullbacks, Mario Galaxy Buildable Figures, and Mario DS Pens, as well as Zelda items. The Sega license includes Sonic the Hedgehog Pullbacks, as well as detailed Sonic Buildable Figures. The Disney product line includes Toy Story, Cars, Cars 2, and Disney Princesses. UCC Distributing Inc. is the exclusive distributor for Gacha Boxes in the U.S.
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The Bridge Direct The Bridge is expanding its line of Justin Bieber products this year, including the new Justin Bieber Rockin’ Tour Bus and Concert Stage. Justin’s signature soft “swoosh” hairstyle is featured on the JB Signature Hairstyle Doll. Each Hairstyle Doll comes with several accessories such as a skateboard, backpack, or sunglasses. The next collection of Justin Bieber Performance Collection Singing Dolls feature fashions inspired by the pop star’s worldwide concert tour and new songs. The Bridge is also introducing new ZhuZhu Pets products based on the brand by Cepia. New products include the ZhuZhu Pets Take Along Hamster Hangout playset and ZhuZhu Pets 3-inch Micro Plush, which will debut this year in new bright colors. Also, micro-plush Puppies and Babies will be joining the line. The Bridge Direct, Inc.’s Busytown Deluxe Town Hall Play Set is in the middle of the action of the Busytown Play System.
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C3 Entertainment Several new licensed Three Stooges toys and games will be introduced this year, including Monopoly and Yahtzee from USAopoly; a Mr. Potato Head set with Larry, Moe, & Curly and a Curly Boxing Puppet (to debut in summer) from PPW Toys, and a reissue of the Three Stooges Model Kits from Round 2, LLC. Additionally, JAT Creative Products went to market this past fall with a new deck of Three Stooges Playing Cards. Running Press has a license with C3 Entertainment for the hardcover The Three Stooges Career Guide Book plus both a Golf Mega Kit and Trade Size Kit, also golf themed.
Bachmann Trains Bachmann Trains is adding to its Thomas and Friends product line this spring with Large Scale James the Red Engine. The HO scale Lighthouse with Blinking Light is currently available.
Scholastic Media Scholastic Media has made several deals in anticipation for the 50th anniversary of Clifford the Big Red Dog in 2012. VM Global manufacturing will create a collection of Clifford preschool scooters, wagons, tricycles, and bicycles. Other licensees include Russ Berrie for Clifford plush and plushplus products, picture frames, key chains, nightlights, and mugs; Zoobies for Clifford-branded plush that converts into pillows, blankets, and sleeping bags; The Canadian Group is producing board games, jigsaw puzzles, and magnetic play sets; Twisterz Toys is producing the educational toy Clifford Category Matcher; and Ranir will develop a line of Clifford toothbrushes for kids.
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Young Scientists Club The Young Scientists Club is debuting new science kits for spring. As part of the Magic School Bus series from The Young Scientists Club, new products include The Magic School Bus Chemistry Lab, The Magic School Bus Microscope Lab, The Magic School Bus Jumping Into Electricity, and The Magic School Bus Blasting Off With Erupting Volcanoes. The company is also introducing a new deluxe Magic School Bus lab series for young scientists. The Young Scientist Club will also introduce a new kit in its nature series, Science on a Fossil Dig.
Uncle Milton Uncle Milton has teamed with The Jim Henson Company for a line of education toys for Dinosaur Train. Products will include: Hatchers, realistic dinosaur eggs that “hatch;” Dino Poop, a hands-on way for kids to discover what dinosaurs ate and create their own fossils; and Train Station Scale, an interactive scale to compare weight of Dinosaur Train characters against other large items. Several new items will be added to the Star Wars Science line, including a Mini Lightsaber Dark Side Detector and an assortment of new Lightsaber Room Lights.
Moose Mountain Moose Mountain Toymakers is rolling out several licensed toys. The Spider-Sense Playland is an inflatable environment that includes 50 soft-flex balls and can be used indoors or outside. The SpongeBob Jellyfish Adventure, also an inflatable environment, includes 20 soft-flex balls. The new Cars Team Lightning McQueen is a play environment that features 20 soft flex balls, peek-through windows, and more. Chuck the Dump Truck—Friends for the Long Haul is a play tent with two tunnels that lead to a large interior play area. The ESPN Boxing Combination lets kids pound away at the heavy bag and work on hand-eye coordination with the speed bag. The Kawasaki Quad ATV Ride On has new camouflage graphics reflecting the Kawasaki KFX 700 styling and attitude.
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Charisma Brands Charisma Brands is launching an officially licensed collection of Girl Scouts-branded dolls. Under its Adora doll brand, Charisma will introduce a premium 18-inch play and display doll. The collection will feature five dolls in a range of ethnicities, each wearing a Girl Scout-branded casual outfit. The collection will also include replicas of Girl Scout Daisy, Brownie, and Junior uniforms, as well as casual fashion outfits. The Adora 18-inch Wizard of Oz Collection is officially licensed by Warner Bros. The collection includes Dorothy, Glinda the Good Witch, and the Wicked Witch.
Playmates Toys Playmates Toys is releasing two new Michael Jackson figures. The new Michael Jackson Collectible Figures, Moonwalk and Beat It, are 10-inch replicas of the King of Pop. They each feature 37 points of articulation that allow collectors to position Jackson in almost any signature dance pose. The collectibles are fashioned in the late pop star’s famous performance outfits and come with a figure stand with a MJ signature base. The company is working on a new toy line of Family Guy products that will be coming in the fall. The line will feature figures that interact with play sets and feature real character voices from the television show. The company will also bring the world of Luche Libra Mexican wrestling to life with several new products.
Pretty Ugly, LLC New additions to the assortment of Uglydoll plush include Basheeshee and Ugly Charlie. Both plush come in four sizes. The Ugly Pillow Assortment is also new for 2011, with a scheduled release in May. The company also debuted a limited-edition line of luxury watches in six different styles. Several new products will debut in the Ceramic Collection in February, including cookie jars, coffee mugs, cups, and coin banks. Action Figure Series 3 is scheduled for a spring release.
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Twentieth Century Fox Twentieth Century Fox Consumer Products heads into Toy Fair 2011 with an exciting range of products for Glee, Family Guy, and James Cameron’s Avatar, as well as its newest family film franchises, RIO and Diary of a Wimpy Kid. At the fair, visitors will get a first look at new Glee products, including Cranium from USAopoly, a Scene-It Edition from Screenlife, as well as a new Glee costume line from Rubie’s Costume Co. Family Guy will introduce its first series of collectible figures from Kidrobot. Headlining Fox’s theatrical properties will be the upcoming 3-D animated family comedy Rio, in theaters April 8. Fox Consumer Products has named Toys “R” Us the premiere retail destination for all things Rio and will carry the toy line from FCP’s global toy partner, ToyQuest. The toy line will include figurines, plush, and beanies. Other Rio products will include a video game from THQ, storybooks from HarperCollins, boys and girls apparel from JEM Sportswear and Awake Inc., and cards with sound from Hallmark. Fox Consumer Products will also introduce the first line of toys based on the Diary of a Wimpy Kid franchise that will include plush and figures from Funko. Sideshow will add to its collectible line for James Cameron’s Avatar with new poses and characters for 2011.
Big Idea Entertainment Big Idea Entertainment is continuing to grow its licensing program for the VeggieTales brand. The company has recently inked deals with several new licensing partners, including shaped Mylar and latex balloons from CTI Industries, wooden puzzles and trains from the American Puzzle Company, plush pillow and blanket combinations from Zoobies, in addition to deals with Victory Designs for children’s guitars, Rivetz for athletic shoe charms, and Tabbies for index tabs, stickers, temporary tattoos, and wall clings.
Techno Source The new 20Q, the electronic, handheld game of 20 questions, joins Techno Source at Toy Fair. Players think of any animal, vegetable, mineral, or other object, and 20Q deduces the answer in 20 questions or fewer. Electronic games based on Disney•Pixar’s summer release Cars 2 will include Cars 2 Lightning McQueen’s Pit Crew Panic and Cars 2 Hide ‘n Spy Mater. Each game features character catchphrases and more. The assortment will also include Cars 2 Racing Wheel and Cars 2 Race of Champions. Techno Source and Blue Planet Software, Inc. will launch the tabletop game Tetris Link. Players battle to score the most points by linking colored Tetriminos into an upright game tower while attempting to block competitors from linking their game pieces.
USAopoly Under license from Hasbro, USAopoly creates collectible versions of Scrabble, Monopoly, Memory, and Cranium games. New 2011 twists include Scrabble: Cooking Edition, which lets players earn extra points for cooking-related words; as well as five new Memory games, including themes of National Parks, Las Vegas, New York City, Civil War, and Super Mario. Monopoly: Muhammad Ali Collector’s Edition, Monopoly: Three Stooges Collector’s Edition, and Monopoly: AC/DC Collector’s Edition are also new. Gleeks can test their knowledge with Cranium: Glee Edition. In the game, Gleeks can draw, act, hum, and sculpt all things Glee.
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Nelvana Enterprises Nelvana Enterprises is featuring three properties at Toy Fair: Beyblade Metal Fusion, Bakugan Mechtanium Surge, and Babar and the Adventures of Badou. Licensees onboard for Beyblade include Vivendi for home entertainment, Basic Fun for novelty key chains, Hybrid for T-shirts, Accessory Innovations for bags and accessories, and MZB for clocks and watches. Internationally, licensees have signed up in Europe including Belltex for bed linen, Panini for magazines, and Van Der Erve for apparel. Opportunities still exist in apparel, footwear, stationery, bedding and room dĂŠcor, melamine and consumer packaged goods, and HBA worldwide excluding Asia, Italy, and Greece. Recent licensing deals for Bakugan in Canada include Paris Geneve for apparel, sleepwear, and packaged underwear; Calego for bags; Black & White for footwear; Hallmark for party goods; Colgate for manual- and battery-powered toothbrushes and branded toothpaste. Opportunities in Canada include consumer packaged goods promotions. For Babar, Nelvana is seeking master toy and publishing partners for all territories except France, where Lansay is the master toy partner and Hachette is the publishing partner. There are also opportunities for licensees worldwide in apparel and accessories, home furnishings, and stationery.
Pressman Toy
Learning Curve Brands Learning Curve Brands’ new line-up includes the launch of Chuggington Interactive and Wooden Train Sets. Chuggington Interactive Railway features SmartTalk technology, allowing the engines to recognize and interact with one another. Key items include the All Around Chuggington Set and Bridge & Tunnel Starter Set. Exclusively for specialty toy stores, the Chuggington Wooden Railway will debut in the spring. Key sets will include the Over & Under Starter Set and the Double-Decker Roundhouse. The Dinosaur Train product line, based on The Jim Henson Company’s animated series on PBS Kids, will expand with new additions to the InterAction Figure line, including Don Pteranodon and Hank Ankylosaurus. More than 30 new Dinosaur Train collectible figures will be introduced early this year. A new collector poster will be included in each collectible figure package. The Thomas & Friends Wooden Railway will also see new additions including the all-new Day of the Diesels product line. The line will feature thematic sets and destinations from the CGanimated movie to be released on DVD in September. Key additions to the Thomas Wooden Railway line include Percy at the Diesel Works and Farmhouse Rescue Set. Ertl’s John Deere will debut a new range of products, spanning everything from educational preschool products to radiocontrolled vehicles and die-cast farm and construction replicas. New products will also be introduced for the Johnny Lightning brand.
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Pressman Toy and Warner Bros. Consumer Products, on behalf of DC Entertainment, have teamed for a line of games based on the upcoming film Green Lantern. The games will be available at retailers nationwide in May. Pressman’s Green Lantern lineup includes Green Lantern Power of the Ring, where players must go around the game board collecting constructs that will help them get to the Green Lantern. In Green Lantern Guess Where They Are, players must ask questions to figure out the order in which their opponent has stacked their tiles in the game tower. Other games include Green Lantern Make a Match, Green Lantern Quickshot Game, Green Lantern Pop ‘N Race, Green Lantern Dominoes, and Green Lantern War. The Smurfs is set to hit theaters August 3, and Pressman Toy will release games and puzzles based on the movie this July. Games will include Smurfs Whirl and Twirl Clumsy Game and Race to Smurfs Village, a board game where players choose their favorite Smurfs character and try to be the first to get to their village. Other Smurfs games include Don’t Drop Clumsy Board Game, Hold On Clumsy, Smurfs Follow Your Nose Dominoes, Smurfs Pop ‘N Race, Smurfs Make a Match, Smurfs Big Roll Bingo, and Smurfs Old Maid, plus a variety of puzzles that feature real movie scenes. A follow-up to the 2006 Academy Award-winning film Happy Feet, Happy Feet 2 will premiere in theaters November 18. Products from Pressman, in stores this fall. include Happy Feet 2 Freezing Frenzy; Happy Feet 2 Hold On Erik!, a game of skill featuring Erik balancing atop of blocks of ice that must be carefully pushed out one by one; and Happy Feet 2 Thin Ice. Happy Feet 2 Fishin’ Game, Happy Feet 2 Guess Where They Are, Happy Feet 2 Make A Match, Happy Feet 2 Pop ‘N Race, and Happy Feet 2 Go Fish, plus assorted Happy Feet 2 puzzles will also be released.
Commonwealth Toy Based on the Angry Birds app from Rovio Mobile that has been a worldwide success, Commonwealth Toy and Novelty Co. Inc. will produce a full line of products based on the characters. There will be an assortment of of plush, including five birds and four pigs, as well as balls, figurines, banners, keychains, magnets, and room décor.
Screenlife, LLC Glee fans can “Gleek out” with Screenlife’s latest game, Scene It? Glee. The DVD game captures the music, excitement, and laughs of McKinley High, live and “on-stage” in players’ living rooms. The game features on-screen puzzles, Glee-inspired music trivia, activities, and more. Also to be launched is Scene It? Harry Potter The Complete Cinematic Journey, which follows Harry’s journey from his first days at Hogwarts to his ultimate battle with Lord Voldemort. The DVD allows Potter fans to relive all eight films in one game.
Hidden City Entertainment Spring Carnival celebrates the return of spring. The festival draws revelers from far away to watch the vibrant street performers including people, horses, and a variety of magical friends. Townsfolk dress in their most colorful and elaborate costumes to welcome the season of new life. Children get a thrill as they ride the magical carousel. The horses of Herd Pantheon dress up for the parade as well. After purchasing Hidden City’s Spring Carnival Card Pack, kids can enter their secret codes at BellaSara.com to play with new horses online. The more secret codes they enter, the more horses, adventures, and horseshoes they will earn. With every activation they get to play fun games, make new horse friends, decorate their world, and more.
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The Voice Reaching Both Trade and Consumers
CONTACT: JONATHAN SAMET ADVENTURE PUBLISHING GROUP 286 5TH AVENUE, 3RD FLOOR NEW YORK, NY 10001 TEL: 212-575-4510 FAX: 212-575-4521 WWW.ADVENTUREPUB.COM
The Dealmakers How The Beanstalk Group and Nancy Bailey & Associates finally came together. By Bryan Joiner
The partnership didn’t happen overnight, or even over a series of several nights. It had been discussed for years—or, more to the point, Michael Stone, president and CEO of The Beanstalk Group, had played the role of the kids in the backseat on the family trip, asking Nancy Bailey, chairman of Nancy Bailey & Associates (NBA), “Are we there yet?” (though with considerably more professionalism and tact, one assumes.) The “there” in “Are we there yet?” was the moment that two of the nation’s oldest corporate brand licensing agencies, The Beanstalk Group and NBA, would join forces. The answer, from Bailey, was always
“no.” Until last month, when it wasn’t anymore, and Omnicom, Beanstalk’s parent company, acquired NBA to become a division of Beanstalk. Among the many synergies the deal brings to the industry is the consolidation of many brands associated with Procter and Gamble’s domestic licensing business, which were handled by NBA, with its international business, which were handled by Beanstalk. The ability for the “lean and mean” Atlanta-based NBA to expand further internationally was a major selling point to the deal, according to Nancy Bailey. “This isn’t a case of one plus one equals
“I CAN’T TELL YOU HOW GREAT IT IS JUST TO BE ABLE TO PICK UP THE PHONE AND CALL NANCY AND TALK ABOUT THE INDUSTRY” — MICHAEL STONE, PRESIDENT AND CEO OF THE BEANSTALK GROUP AT LEFT, AT&T PHONE BY VTECH
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“THIS ISN’T A CASE OF ONE PLUS ONE EQUALS TWO. IT’S MORE LIKE ONE PLUS ONE EQUALS THREE OR FOUR.” — NANCY BAILEY, CHAIRMAN OF NBA AT RIGHT, MR. CLEAN ENDCAP WITH PRODUCTS BY BUTLER HOME PRODUCTS
two,” she said. “It’s more like one plus one equals three or four.” Bailey and Stone said they saw opportunity for growth in the celebrity, food, and home licensing categories. They said home licensing was a target area due to the effects of the recession, which has the effect of “cocooning” consumers and their dollars indoors. Other major clients for Beanstalk include The Ford Motor Company, Jack Daniel’s, Jaguar, and AT&T, while NBA’s client list includes Energizer, Travelocity, Mr. Clean, and Nesquik. Tom Harrison, CEO of DAS, praised the deal. “Nancy Bailey & Associates and Beanstalk are without question the two preeminent brand licensing agencies in the world. Together, they form the biggest, most experienced, successful, and innovative licensing agency in the world,” he says.
The timing of the deal didn’t materialize out of nowhere. As the licensing landscape has changed over the past three years, so have strategies for getting products to market. The “new normal” is here, and adjusting takes cooperation. “I can’t tell you how great it is to just be able to pick up the phone and call Nancy and talk about the industry,” Stone says. “In the past, we couldn’t tell each other everything, but now we can.” Some of these conversations turn to the wistful, and Stone’s desire for a flux capacitor-enabled DeLorean—à la Back to the Future. When asked about the company’s goals for 2011 and 2012, he said, “My goal for 2011 is for it to be 2007 again.” There is no going backward, of course. The new normal is here, and Beanstalk and Nancy Bailey are there to face it together.
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Show Coverage/MAGIC
Once again, it’s MAGIC February 14-16, Las Vegas, NV MAGIC comes to the desert twice a year. This winter’s edition has features including a new skate event, RIDE Untld., for all things skate-related; the expansion of FN PLATFORM, a showcase of more than 1,250 footwear-related brands for men, women, and children; the Teen Vogue Blogger lounge, featuring 30 emerging celebrity and fashion bloggers providing real-time updates from the show floor; and the continued presence of Sourcing at MAGIC, which has grown 35 percent since last February. This year’s keynote panel discussion will cover the topic “Making Money in a Brave New World,” and will feature executives from Li & Fung’s USA Global Brands Group, Leun Thai, and The Jones Group. The show will take place at the Las Vegas and Mandalay Bay Convention Centers.
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Show Coverage/MAGIC (Continued) Several other industry-related topics will take center stage at MAGIC, which examine economic concerns, legislation, and social media as they relate to fashion. Led by Peter McGrath, president, McGrath International, and Senior VP of Cotton Inc.’s Global Supply Chain Mark Messura, a discussion will take place concerning the U.S. cotton supply shortage and volatile pricing. Other critical issues that will be tackled include design piracy and counterfeiting and their collective impacts on fashion. Industry leaders will discuss the U.S. Senate’s consideration of the bill and the pros and cons of the bill affecting fashion designs and protection regarding apparel and ornamentation. Another keynote seminar features Kevin Ryan, CEO of North American-based designer online fashion site Gilt Groupe, who will discuss the transformation of fashion retailing credited to the growing power of e-commerce retail and the growth of social media.
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Topsville, Inc. Hits It Big By Making Itself Scarce Sometimes licensing can help you build your own brand— and vice versa. By Br yan Joiner For the in-house apparel brand Scarce, Topsville, Inc. President Mark Nitzberg and his company went all out. After creating private-label brands for retailers including Walmart, Target, and Kmart, and selling licensed product onto the same shelves, the company decided to try something new after 35 years: it wanted to build its own brands. The first one Nitzberg & Co. developed was Scarce, an edgy line for young boys who had outgrown some of their favorite characters a little faster than anticipated. “The Scarce line offers a fresh alternative to the young boys’ marketplace, with designs inspired from music and incorporating a hint of extreme sports and technology,” states Topsville’s founder and president, Mark Nitzberg. When pitching a new brand, you can try ad nauseum to convince retailers that the brand will sell, but unless you can back it up with figures and marketing materials, you’re fighting a difficult battle. That’s where serendipity comes in for Topsville: in the form of a popular rock band composed entirely of 10 year olds called Haunted by Heroes. The band appears in Scarce’s promotional materials and band members wear the clothes when they perform, be it at L.A.’s famous Whisky a Go Go or on a national television appearance. Haunted by Heroes— which Topsville got involved with through a serendipitous personal connection—allowed the company to approach retailers with promises of in-store signage and personal appearances, and the deals got signed just as the product line got an upgrade. “These kids are our focus group,” Nitzberg says. Scarce and Miniville, Topsville’s other new in-house brand, represent a business evolution that wouldn’t—and perhaps couldn’t—have happened without licensing. Not only that, the company has changed the way it will approach pitching licensed products in the future, relying not just on marketing support from the licensor, but on presentations like the ones they created to promote Scarce, says Kara Kenney, a consultant for Topsville.
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Haunted by Heroes They’re 10 years old, they’re rockers, and they’re spokespeople for Topsville, Inc.’s, inhouse fashion brand, Scarce.
“If it’s a no-brainer, like the property of skewing new brand, Miniville, and its partner Thomas the Tank Engine, retailers are already brand, M.V. going to be looking for that property. If it’s a Miniville is contemporary clothing that’s relatively new licensed brand, like Angelina witty, comes in bright colors, and at a “sensiBallerina, retailers are just becoming aware of ble” price point, says Nitzberg, and M.V. is its the brand, so we actually helped design mar- slightly older-skewing equivalent. Designs inketing strategies to support it,” she says. clude, as a representative example, a T-shirt This actually happened. On the Angelina featuring a Tyrannosaurus Rex playing guitar. Ballerina website, users Miniville and M.V. are also will be able to dress the about cause marketing character in different outmore than the brand-buildfits to create a personalized ing of Scarce; Topsville and “dance diva.” Topsville Kmart are looking for parthad the idea to allow girls ners for an activation-reto use its clothing lines lated promotion for the when personalizing the line. characters, meaning girls So yes, there are new are assembling real-life things in the future for a outfits on the web. When company that’s suddenly they’re finished, an email grown into whole new is sent to the parent ways of doing business, (whose email is required at and doing them well. At signup) to let them know Licensing Show in June, that their child’s outfit isn’t Kenney says, they hope Angelina Ballerina product from Topsville, Inc. just completed, it is availtheir innovation, flexibilable at Kmart and other ity, and excellence will be participating retailers—and not only that, a their selling points. promotional coupon is attached for the parTopsville recently gained a retail partner, ent to redeem in the store. HIT was excited Peebles, because of the Scarce brand and about the idea, and Topsville has now cre- the associated promotions around it, and ated a new business strategy it wouldn’t have hopes to continue growing relationships otherwise had, all thanks to licensing. The ini- through their latest practices. “We’re a little engine that could—not that tiative will begin this summer. Topsville has worked with HIT (for Thomas we’re that little—but we certainly have the inand Angelina), Disney, Wishes and Kisses, and novative designs and styles to execute anyMessages from the Heart, but its big push this thing you want us to come up with,” says market season will be Scarce, its younger- Nitzberg.
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Of Counsel/With James Kipling Getting the Rights Without Getting Shafted, Part III Licensing 101, Part 59
Recap
the right to take action against the third-party infringers of the li-
In Part 56, we saw that the licensee who receives a draft agreement
censed property. There are other such issues that can give the licen-
from the licensor must always ask three questions:
sor serious concerns, so they generally try to avoid using the word.
• “Am I getting the rights that I need?”
If this is truly the cause for the licensor’s refusal to expressly grant
• “Will the rights cost what I expect?”
exclusive rights and the licensor is sincere about not granting over-
• “How else might I be taken advantage of?”
lapping rights, then you may be able to achieve a measure of protec-
In Parts 57 and 58, we began an analysis of the first question, and
tion even though the rights granted to you are characterized as
continue that analysis with this article.
“non-exclusive.” To accomplish this you might ask the licensor to add a sentence to the “grant clause” like the fol-
“We Never Grant Exclusivity”
lowing:
Many times a request for exclusive rights will
“Notwithstanding the foregoing, Licensor
receive the above response. In the next breath,
shall not license or otherwise authorize any
the licensor may express the following: “. . . ,
third party to exploit the Licensed Property in
but we never double-license.” This apparent
connection with products within the defined
contradiction might mean that the licensor sim-
categories of Licensed Articles during the
ply wants to keep its options open in case the
Term.”
property that is subject to this agreement takes off and your competi-
This addition adds a level of protection without the peripheral im-
tors want to get in on the action. If you have been in this business (or,
plications of the word “exclusivity.” If the licensor refuses such an un-
really, in any business) for any length of time, you already know that
complicated confirmation of its expression of good intentions, then
you can’t rely on expressions of good intentions. Only the written word
you can expect the shaft if the opportunity should arise.
in your agreement should give you comfort. If the licensor is sincere about not “double-licensing,” their aver-
Defining the “Licensed Property”
sion to using the word “exclusivity” might be based on certain legal
Assuming that the licensor is willing to grant exclusive rights, or at
technicalities that the word carries with it. One example is that a grant
least to incorporate the concept of the sentence quoted above, the li-
of “exclusive rights” can be interpreted as also granting the licensee
censee’s next concern should be the manner in which the “Licensed
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Winter 2011
Property” is defined. If the property is defined as the 2007 motion pic-
for the same licensed property for its own competing products. This
ture, Spider-Man III, the licensee should ask whether any of the ear-
would not violate the “exclusive license” to Hasbro because the com-
lier motion pictures in the series, or any other expression of the
peting manufacturer would not be marketing “Play-Doh modeling com-
Spider-Man character group, will be available to your competitors con-
pound and accessories.” A more appropriate definition of the licensed
currently with your license. Your licensor may respond that you will
articles in the Hasbro agreement would be simply “modeling com-
have to pay substantially more in order to acquire the rights for the
pounds and accessories,” with no reference to branding.
earlier motion pictures, the comic books, TV series and other SpiderMan properties for use in your Licensed Articles.
A similar problem would occur if a property were granted exclusivity for “11-inch fashion dolls and accessories.” In the toy industry,
An appropriate response to this would be that you are not seeking
this phrase articulates a well-recognized category of products, but a
to expand your rights to use other Spider-Man embodiments; rather
literal interpretation of this definition could enable a licensor to grant
you are only seeking confirmation that
rights for fashion dolls shorter or taller
your Spider-Man III rights will not be
than 11 inches. One approach the li-
diluted by concurrent licenses for
censee might take would be to negoti-
those other properties within your
ate for a range of sizes of dolls in order
product categories. Based on the li-
to deter competitive grants that could
censor’s expressions of good inten-
cannibalize its sales. Such a range
tions, there ought not to be reluctance
might be “6 inches through 16 inches,”
to include a sentence in your agreement to this effect:
or even better, “fashion dolls of all sizes.”
“During the Term, Licensor shall not license or otherwise authorize any third party to exploit the character “Spider-Man” or any trademark
Conclusion
that includes the name “Spider-Man” in connection with products
Not surprisingly, disputes between licensors and licensees concerning
within the defined categories of licensed articles.”
such matters usually occur only when it matters most—after a property has become successful. As pointed out many times in this series,
Defining the “Licensed Articles”
the proverb “An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure” must
Assuming that the concerns of the preceding paragraphs are addressed
be kept in mind throughout any negotiation. It is particularly apropos
appropriately, scrutiny must also be given to the precise manner in
in defining the scope of whatever exclusivity might be granted to a li-
which the licensed articles are defined. One common mistake is to de-
censee. It may seem unlikely that a reputable licensor would engage
fine the products granted in terms of the licensee’s trademarked prod-
in such questionable activities as described above, but it certainly
uct line. For example, since Hasbro owns the Play-Doh brand for
would not be unprecedented.
modeling compounds, an exclusive grant of rights to Hasbro for “PlayDoh modeling compound and accessories” is not an exclusive grant at all. Since Hasbro owns the trademark, by definition no one else can market products under the Play-Doh brand. If Hasbro were to accept a grant in such terms, another manufacturer of modeling compounds competitive with Play-Doh branded products could be granted rights
James Kipling is a veteran of more than 20 years representing licensors and licensees in negotiating entertainment, sports, artwork, brand, invention, and technology agreements. He is Of Counsel with Wood, Herron & Evans LLP in Cincinnati, Ohio, and can be reached at (513) 241-2324, jkipling@whepatent.com. Copyright: ©2011 James M. Kipling All rights reserved. Images courtesy sxc.hu users “creationc” and “ba1969.”
Winter 2011
53
Directory of Properties, Products and Services
THE LICENSING BOOK, Winter 2011 “THE LICENSING BOOK” (ISSN-0741-0107) is published bi-monthly, except for the June issue, by Adventure Publishing Group, Inc.®, 286 Fifth Ave., 3rd Floor, New York, New York, 10001. Periodicals postage paid at New York, NY 10001 and additional mailing offices. © 2011 Adventure Publishing Group, Inc ®. All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced or transmitted in any form, or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording any information storage and retrieval system, without permission in writing from the publisher. Printed in U.S.A. Subscription rates: $48 per year. THE LICENSING BOOK, THE LICENSING BOOK INTERNATIONAL, WORLDWIDE LICENSING and the “WLE” design, are trademarks and service marks of Adventure Publishing Group, Inc.® registered in the United States Patent & Trademark Office Postmaster: Send address changes to THE LICENSING BOOK, c/o Adventure Publishing Group, 286 Fifth Avenue, 3rd Floor, New York, New York, 10001.
2nd Shift ..............................................................54 Adventure Publishing Group..................................43 Aero Trading, Inc ......................................37, 39, 41 Atlantyca Entertainment ........................................27 CBS .......................................................................5 Fremantle Media Licensing Worldwide...................29 Konami Digital Entertainment, Inc ..........................19 Gateway Licensing ...............................................54 Penguin Putnam ....................................................33 Rubies Costume Company.....................................55
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Winter 2011
Saban Brands.....................................................1, 2 Sakar International ...............................................21 Sesame Workshop................................................56 Skechers.........................................................15, 17 Sony Pictures Consumer Products.............................7 Topsville, Inc. .......................................................47 Trau & Loevner .....................................................54 YOE Sudios ..........................................................51 Zinkia Entertainment .............................................25