The Bugg Report Magazine - Edition 14

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From the Editor Well here we are again at the Hong Kong International Licensing Show, ready to kick off a successful new year in licensing. Last year marked the first time Bugg Toys & Licensing had produced a designated magazine for the popular Hong Kong based licensing show, and the reaction to our first edition here last year was stellar! We pride ourselves on being your source for news on retail, toys and licensing, and this year we will continue to grow our presence locally, globally and online.

They say 12 months is a long time, however we are still seeing Turtles, Peppa Pig and Frozen leading the way from a local perspective in Australia. December was the month for brand presentations, and what we learned was all very exciting.

DreamWorks have a great portfolio for 2015, including the addition of DreamWorks Classics and it is safe to say that the ‘franchise’ approach to their brands looks fresh. The Turtles machine shows no signs of stopping and neither does Peppa Pig, both look strong for 2015. The other exciting standout is the relaunch of Thunderbirds, we were lucky enough to see an advanced screening of the first episode of the new series, and it really does look great.

From a movie perspective, the new Star Wars, Terminator, 007, Angry Birds and Peanuts films have been generating hype leading into their respective 2015 and 2016 release dates.

It is safe to say that Star Wars Episode VII: The Force Awakens has been long awaited and looks to continue the Star Wars legacy into the future. It is amazing to reflect that after just one week, the views for the new Star Wars: Episode VII trailer had crossed the 100 million mark! The new 007: Spectre movie announcement in December by Sam Mendes was also super impressive, taking place at Pinewood Studios and including the release of Bond’s new Aston Martin DB10. Another exciting development for the new film is former WWE wrestler and Guardians of the Galaxy star, David Bautista, to play Mr Hinx in the new Spectre film.

From a content point of view, the catch phrase of choice seems to be ‘365 day per year content company’. It seems fitting too, as there are so many new and exciting platforms becoming more and more popular. We could call this ‘new generation’ the ‘who’s who’ of content platforms! As always, we thank you for reading and if you enjoy what we do, or have any ideas for articles you would like covered, please send your email to editor@buggtoysandlicensing.com.

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For all relevant contacts please refer below: Media releases: media@buggtoysandlicensing.com Feedback/suggestions: editor@buggtoysandlicensing.com Advertising/bookings: bookings@buggtoysandlicensing.com Bugg Toys & Licensing is published by Bugg Marketing Solutions Managing Director – Tony Bugg – tony@buggsolutions.com.au Editor in Chief – Matthew Bugg – matt@buggsolutions.com.au Bugg Marketing Solutions Phone/fax: +61 3 9769 3963 Email: info@buggsolutions.com.au Address: Unit 5, 24-26 Woods Street, Beaconsfield VIC 3807 Postal: PO BOX 491, Berwick VIC 3806 Bugg Toys & Licensing has been compiled as a guide to Toys and Licensing.

The views and opinions provided are based upon the views and opinions of its writers. In no way is Bugg Toys & Licensing a factual guide to Toys and Licensing and does not take responsibility for how the information provided is used by its consumers.

Contents

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Hunter Products interview

Disney

Nickelodeon

Mr. Men & Little Miss

Hasbro

HONG KONG LICENSING SHOW

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Hunter Products interview Hunter Products have been part of the toy landscape in Australia for over 20 years. Traditionally, they have played the role of distribution partner for many high profile toy lines including Zhu Zhu Pets, Wow Wee, Moshi Monsters and Tonka, to name just a few.

Can you tell us how this project originated with DreamWorks?

Jeff: DreamWorks are in the throes of reorganising their marketing and licensing departments to create franchises with 365 day appeal to the consumer. Hunter Products had experienced the first of these, being Dragons where a blockbuster movie is followed by a DVD release and several seasons of TV interspersed with movie sequels. During this period, Hunter Products happened to be at the right place at the right time and signed a deal through 2018 to manufacture for several different properties.

What sort of involvement have you had with the project from a conceptual standpoint?

J: To me, the creation of the line came naturally, given my years in the toy business.

However, it is one thing to have an idea and another to have a daughter to carry out the painstaking detail required to finally have an approved product reach the shelves of the world’s toy stores.

As the industry continues to evolve, companies such as Hunter Products have challenged themselves to look outside of their country, where markets provide volume opportunities.

To this end, Hunter Products have teamed up with DreamWorks to manufacture a range of toys for their highly anticipated movie ‘Home’, which is due to premiere on the big screen in March of 2015.

This very different approach has meant a steep learning curve for the Hunter Products team. The development of a complete toy line from scratch has seen many long hours of planning and development.

Bugg Toys & Licensing recently had the opportunity to talk to both Jeff Hunter and Madeleine Hunter about their journey of developing the Hunter Products global toy line.

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This is a very different direction for a traditional toy distributor, how did you rationalise the aspect of becoming a manufacturer in this project?

J: Hunter Products is split in to three areas; • The toy distribution side of the business which we have been in for over 30 years, which is run by my son James.

• The Sporting goods side of the business in which we hold many licenses, including FILA, which is run by my son Luke.

• The latest edition of our own product development department, which is run

by Madeleine.

All three are quite separate, although all of us have input over dinner!

Australia has always been a very small market. Did the opportunity of selling to a global market play an important role in your decision to go down this path?

J: Absolutely. We believe a good toy in Australia is a good toy in most countries of the world, and we felt capable with our experience to be able to produce good toys and therefore be competitive with other toy companies around the world.

We understand that you have been given the task of managing the project from a development and selling aspect. What have you learned and who has provided you with the most valuable guidance along the way?

Madeleine: I would need 100 pages to list all the things I have learnt along the way! When I was first presented with the opportunity to develop product for ‘HOME’, I had no idea what I was in for. On the production side, I’ve visited factories all over China and have made mistakes I’ll never make again. On the selling side I’ve been lucky enough to go to London, Hong Kong and New York to sign on distributors together with DreamWorks. I’ve definitely been thrown in the deep end, but have been really grateful to our distributors for giving me the chance!

From what we have seen, the range of figures, plush and talking dolls looks spectacular. It is safe to say that you have exceeded all expectations here. How closely have you had to work with DreamWorks to gain approval to sell the line on a global scale?

M: I am quite sure that once ‘HOME’ hits the shelves, DreamWorks will be very sick of taking my calls! We had a fantastic team to work with from the very beginning and some very creative and experienced minds behind the scenes. I would estimate that I have spoken with DreamWorks every day for the past year, excluding maybe Christmas day! In order to represent the characters properly in the toy line, little things are always being tweaked. Whether it is the stitching on a characters vest or the eyeliner on the doll, we’re constantly in touch.

How will this project position Hunter Products for the future?

J: This experience has encouraged us to look for our next projects and to focus a great deal of energy on developing lines of products, whilst at the same time distributing other companies lines well in Australia.

One is completely separate to the other; however, the allure of the international markets provides a far greater prize.

So Madeline, can you tell us which territories have already committed to market the ‘HOME’ toy line?

M: We have locked away Central and Western Europe, with Giochi Presiozi, the US & Canada with Kid Design, The Middle East with Toy Triangle, Brazil with Long Jump, Asia with Bandai and we have wonderful Distributors in Australia! We have also locked away Mexico, Chile, South Africa and New Zealand.

How do you see the next 12 months for the toy business?

J: As you get older, the greatest joy you have is if your children follow you into the business, and I’m very pleased to say I have three of my children in the business because they love it and have so far proved very capable. I think the business is in good hands long-term.

Well thank you for your valuable time Jeff and Madeleine. This is a very exciting move in the evolution of the Hunter Products business. Having a global toy business will certainly keep you and your team on their toes!

For all Hunter Products ‘HOME’ enquiries, please visit stand 3B‑B09 or call Nelson Chow on +852 3996 7387. hunterproducts.com.au

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Star Wars: The Force Awakens

At the beginning of each year when Bugg Toys & Licensing catches up with all the major brands, year in, year out, Disney continues to demonstrate immense value to licensees and retailers, remaining #1 in the hearts and minds of kids and families everywhere.

The entertainment powerhouse looks ready to set even more records in 2015 with a number of highly anticipated theatrical releases, cementing its place firmly at the top of the character licensing business in Australia and New Zealand.

During an action-packed 2015 Hong Kong Toy Fair, Disney Consumer Products unveiled its dynamic product lines that will dominate boys and girls toy aisles this year with offerings inspired by highly anticipated content including the live action release of Cinderella, Marvel’s Avengers: Age of Ultron, Pixar Animation’s Inside Out and ending the year on a high with the release of Star Wars Episode VII: The Force Awakens.

“The theatrical releases in 2015 are nothing short of spectacular. We have been building momentum with all of our major franchises but in particular, 2015 will be the first time that all four Studio brands will see major releases with incredible content from Disney, Marvel, Pixar and Star Wars. We are incredibly excited to be working with all our partners on making this year a truly standout year,” says Pete Bird, general manager, Licensing, The Walt Disney Company, Australia and New Zealand.

“The content pipeline from our TV business is also a key highlight with Disney Junior’s popular franchises making their presence felt at retail. We’re looking forward to sharing with Australian families and kids the incredible breadth and depth of all of our categories for all ages, from babies to pre-school to young adults and more,” adds Bird.

The blockbuster retail and licensing programs and priorities from Disney in 2015 are:

Cinderella A live-action feature inspired by the classic fairy tale, ‘Cinderella’ brings to life the timeless images from Disney’s 1950 animated masterpiece as fully-realised characters in a visually-dazzling spectacle for a whole new generation. Directed by Academy Award® nominee Kenneth Branagh (‘Thor,’ ‘Hamlet’) and starring Academy Award® winner Cate Blanchett (‘Blue Jasmine,’ ‘Elizabeth’), Lily James (‘Downton Abbey’), Richard Madden (‘Game of Thrones’) and Academy Award® nominee Helena Bonham Carter (‘The King’s Speech,’ ‘Alice in Wonderland’). Opening on 26 March, 2015, the stand out products to be featured include a live action Cinderella collector doll from Mattel, costumes from

Rubie’s Deerfield, and Large Dolls and role play from Jakks.

Marvel’s Avengers: Age of Ultron Marvel Studios presents ‘Avengers: Age of Ultron,’ the epic follow-up to the biggest Super Hero movie of all time.

When Tony Stark tries to jumpstart a dormant peacekeeping program, things go awry and Earth’s Mightiest Heroes, including Iron Man, Captain America, Thor, The Incredible Hulk, Black Widow and Hawkeye, are put to the ultimate test as the fate of the planet hangs in the balance. As the villainous Ultron emerges, it is up to The Avengers to stop him from enacting his terrible plans, and soon uneasy alliances and unexpected action pave the way for an epic and unique global adventure. The incredible demand that Marvel has seen in licensing will include in 2015, new action figures and role play items from Hasbro, Rubie’s Deerfield costumes, bikes from Hunter Leisure, puzzles and games from MJM, construction from LEGO, plush from Headstart and many more.

Age of Ultron opens in Australia on 23 April, 2015.

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Inside Out

Disney•Pixar’s Inside Out

From an adventurous balloon ride above the clouds to a monster-filled metropolis, Academy Award®-winning director Pete Docter (‘Monsters, Inc.,’ ‘Up’) has taken audiences to unique and imaginative places.

In Disney•Pixar’s original movie ‘Inside Out,’ he will take us to the most extraordinary location of all – inside the mind.

Growing up can be a bumpy road, and it’s no exception for Riley, who is uprooted from her Midwest life when her father starts a new job in San Francisco. Like all of us, Riley is guided by her emotions – Joy (Amy Poehler), Fear (Bill Hader), Anger (Lewis Black), Disgust (Mindy Kaling) and Sadness (Phyllis Smith). The emotions live in Headquarters, the control centre inside Riley’s mind, where they help advise her through everyday life. As Riley and her emotions struggle to adjust to a new life in San Francisco, turmoil ensues in Headquarters. Although Joy, Riley’s main and most important emotion, tries to keep things positive, the emotions conflict on how best to navigate a new city, house and school. Inside Out will be released on 18 June, 2015 and supported by our master toy partner Tomy with a strong line of figures, role play, plush and collectibles.

Ant-Man

Star Wars Arguably the most anticipated movie event of 2015 will be Star Wars: The Force Awakens, the seventh instalment in one of the most successful franchises in movie history. Star Wars has been building momentum through a strong ever-green business and the recent launch of Star Wars Rebels, the Disney XD animated television series. Star Wars Rebels introduces a new generation of fans to the Star Wars galaxy, inspiring new lines of figures, spaceships and lightsabers, apparel

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and accessories, home décor, books and more from best-in-class licensees including Hasbro, LEGO and Rubie’s Deerfield.

For more information about Disney, please contact support@disney.com.au

Disney Junior Disney Junior’s star line-up of Sofia The First, Jake and the Never Land Pirates, Doc McStuffins and Mickey Mouse Clubhouse continues to reach new viewing and audience heights, bringing lots of young fans to these properties. The Disney Junior audience has doubled in the past two months with the Foxtel re-packaging, making DJ available in all Foxtel homes, and with DJ franchises now airing on the Seven Network for 11 hours each week. In addition, young fans will be able to interact with Jake and Sofia as part of the Pirate and Princess franchise activation that will be visiting Westfield and other shopping centres around Australia in the coming year, reaching approximately three million people. Finally, kids will likely have a new fan favourite when animated series Miles from Tomorrowland launches on Disney Junior in April, and on the Seven Network in September.

Sofia The First

Armed with the astonishing ability to shrink in scale but increase in strength, con-man Scott Lang (Paul Rudd) must embrace his inner-hero and help his mentor, Dr. Hank Pym (Michael Douglas), protect the secret behind his spectacular Ant-Man suit from a new generation of towering threats. Against seemingly insurmountable obstacles, Pym and Lang must plan and pull off a heist that will save the world. Ant-Man will be released on the 16th July 2015 and will be supported with product from our major toy partner Hasbro.

The Digitisation of a Seven-Year-Old’s Wish List

Dan Amos is Head of New Media at Tinderbox, the dedicated digital division of leading global brand extension agency, Beanstalk.

In November of 1990, videogame publisher Sega Corporation released its 16-bit console ‘Mega Drive’ in Europe, following a successful initial roll-out in Japan and North America. I was seven years old at the time, my lifelong love affair with gaming yet to be initiated, having previously been completely devoted to physical action figures such as Beetlejuice, He-Man, Thundercats and their likes. The launch of Mega Drive (known as ‘Sega Genesis’ in North America) undoubtedly spurred my early interest for the digital entertainment space and provided a new source of inspiration and focus for my play. Sonic the Hedgehog had me gripped, and what would soon become my very first gaming console was also at the top of a whole generation’s wish lists. By the end of 1994, once upgraded 32-bit systems made the Mega Drive technologically obsolete, it had sold over 29 million units across the world. In fact, I still own my original console and it is not as dusty as you might think!

Fast track to January 2015 and I have just recovered from a joyous but intense holiday season. As always, it is interesting to see what ends up being my now seven year old son’s favourite Christmas gifts; not too surprisingly, recent years’ success story, Minecraft, was a hit as were Activision’s game series, Skylanders, and

action adventure sandbox game, Disney Infinity. At first sight, his top-picks for the holidays didn’t seem too far from my seven year old self’s yearning for a Mega Drive; what is interesting, however, is the fastevolving nature of the digital arena and how technological developments have significant impact on what children want. Whereas the 1990s 16-bit Sega console opened up my eyes to videogames as a complementary form of entertainment, my son has grown up in a world where the majority of it stems from the new media space.

It ought to come as no surprise, therefore, that the toys that dominated Santa’s sack last month were predominately digital. When I was a child, the action figures I craved were often movie tie-in toys, inspired by blockbuster successes such as Ghostbusters and Batman. My son on the other hand, is mainly interested in toys derived from the new media universe: action figures, paper craft and plush items building on videogames and apps rather than on comics, books and movie franchises. In that sense, the types of products children want have not really changed in the past 24 year period, except for the world from which they originate.

At the same time, it is important to note that the evolution of entertainment is a two-way street with more traditional brands

such as LEGO and The Smurfs taking the leap into digital, launching apps and videogames based on their much loved characters. These examples further highlight the significant impact technology has on entertainment and show that longstanding franchises stand a good chance of survival as long as they develop to stay current in the mind of consumers. Surely, it is fascinating to think that both my son and my seven-yearold self are die-hard fans of LEGO – just in slightly different ways.

We live in a time where technological innovations and digital concepts are key defining elements in both our children’s and our own lives. On the one hand, this makes me wonder whether the generational gap is at the widest it has ever been; things that would have been completely foreign to the children of 1990 are customary concepts to the kids of 2015. Nevertheless, it is important to recognize that it is the delivery mechanisms that have changed, not the fundamental concept of play and entertainment. The thrill I experienced when getting my Mega Drive console 24 years ago is similar to my son’s joy when he unwrapped his Skylanders figures last month. In that sense, technological developments may have significantly changed the origins of entertainment but the emotional connection children tend to form with their favourite toys and properties is still the same.

For more information visit tboxagency.com

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For Australia and New Zealand Licensing opportunities please contact: Rita Viola at rviola@havenlic.com.au

Nickelodeon Viacom Consumer Products Goes Full Throttle in Asia Nickelodeon, one of the most globally recognised and widely distributed multimedia entertainment brands for kids and family, has built a diverse business by creating surprising and playful entertainment experiences everywhere it goes. Its brands are seen globally in more than 500 million households across more than 140 countries and territories, via more than 80+ locally programmed channels and branded blocks.

Nickelodeon recently unveiled its largest ever pipeline of animation and live action content – 10 new series across every genre, and for every platform – all tailor-made for the tastes of today’s generation of kids.

Nickelodeon is capitalizing on the explosion of multiplatform distribution capabilities and in 2014. Introduced multiplatform products like My Nick Jr. and Dora’s Learning Adventure to provide audiences and fans new ways to watch and engage with its content.. Nickelodeon has also been growing in the digital space through IP gaming licensing and emoticon licensing, such as SpongeBob SquarePants and Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles emoticon stickers on WeChat and Line proving to be an innovative way of expanding its presence.

Kelloggs, Mengniu, Mizuno, Giordano, b+ab, A Bathing Ape and Stayreal, 2014 has been a year of expansion across Asia.

Retail branding has been increased thanks to the popularity of Nickelodeon characters like SpongeBob SquarePants, Dora the Explorer and Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles and music celebrities like Greeeen from Japan, Vanness Wu from Taiwan and Sean Li from China have fuelled the popularity of Nickelodeon’s ‘heroes on a halfshell’ with their collaborations on music videos for Asian fans.

Additional 2014 highlights include: • Dora the Explorer Live shows in China, Hong Kong and Singapore in 2014 • Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles launches all over South East and South Asia in 2013Q3 and Greater China in 2014Q1 with ground activations in Singapore, Malaysia, Indonesia, Philippines, Taiwan, China and India • Paramount Pictures’ ‘Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles’ scored #1 opening weekends in China, Singapore and high grosses across Asia with Japan opening in 2015Q1

Accolades include: • Awards for Best Licensee 2013 for Vinda Group China for its SpongeBob SquarePants tissue products during the Asian Licensing Awards in January.

A sneak peek of 2015 highlights: • Asia’s first Nickelodeon-themed attraction will open at Sunway Lagoon in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. Nickelodeon Lost Lagoon will feature more than 12 attractions for fans and visitors of all ages.

• Ahead of its introduction, a 1,700-squarefoot Nickelodeon retail store opens at Sunway Lagoon this holiday season in December, becoming Nickelodeon’s first retail launch in Asia.

• Paramount Pictures’ ‘The SpongeBob Movie: Sponge Out Of Water’ opens in cinemas across Asia in 2015Q2 • Dora Live shows will expand to various Asian cities such as Jakarta, Singapore, Manila and several cities in China • New product lines from the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, in line with the launch of season three of the animation series • The introduction of the new Dora and Friends: Into the City!, a spin-off from the hit pre-school series, Dora the Explorer • Introduction of PAW Patrol products in selected markets • Not under Nickelodeon, but certainly within the Viacom International Media Networks family, the expansion of MTV’s USAVICH franchise from beyond MTV Japan to the rest of Asia.

• Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles won the coveted ‘Golden Monkey King Award’ at the 10th China International Cartoon and Animation Festival – the highest honour at the festival in April.

• Mall events in China, Malaysia, Philippines, Thailand, Taiwan and Hong Kong.

From major live events like the Nickelodeon Slime Cup in Singapore and the Philippines, Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles live shows exclusive to Asia, to exciting collaborations with a notable list of partners including, Honda, Build-a-Bear Workshop, Nestle,

Going into 2015, expect bigger, better and more from Nickelodeon Viacom Consumer Products as the company strengthens its offering across TV, digital and retail with the introduction of new characters and franchises that will not only fill the shelf space, but occupy the hearts and minds of the consumers.

Through continued partnerships with likeminded licensees and partners across Asia, and exciting new developments, Nickelodeon Viacom Consumer Products is well positioned to make 2015 unforgettable for.children, teenagers and families with new offerings and experiences to remember.

For licensing opportunities please contact Nickelodeon Viacom Consumer Products at nvcpasia@nick‑asia.com

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60 Years of Design, Quality and Integrity

Š Mercis bv

All new preschool TV Series, Publishing & Product releases supported by events and promotions throughout 2015

Visit us at booth GH-H06

www.miffy.com

Licensing Opportunities Louise Elkington louise@stellaprojects.com

Miffy – 60th Anniversary in 2015

ABC 4 Kids to launch two brand new Australian preschool programmes in 2015

2015 will mark a special anniversary for one of the world’s most famous children’s characters – Miffy will celebrate 60 years.

Miffy was ‘born’ on 21 June 1955 and her books have sold 85 million copies worldwide since Dick Bruna first drew the character to entertain his young son whilst on a rainy seaside holiday in Holland – is there any other type of seaside holiday in Holland?

To help celebrate her 60th year, ABC TV has acquired the brand new pre-school TV series with ABC Video/Roadshow releasing the DVDs. There will be new publishing from Hardie Grant Egmont, Designworks will launch a baby apparel range in Big W for Easter, there will be home ware and gift lines from Annabel Trends and an amazing moulded design light from Delightful Décor – a must have for everyone’s room!

Plush is available from UK licensee Rainbow Designs and Dutch Licensee Tiamo and Stella Projects will announce the Australian distribution partner in time for the Australian Toy Fair.

“If there was ever a time to become involved with this classic publishing character – 2015 is that time!” exclaims Lou Elkington, Stella Projects’ Head of Licensing, jumping up and down with barely contained excitement for the year of Miffy to come.

Shaun the Sheep – The Movie and lots more in 2015 2015 is the Chinese Year of the Sheep and a big year for Shaun the Sheep.

There is a major theatrical release featuring Shaun the Sheep, which is on the same scale as Chicken Run and Wallace & Gromit, in cinemas on 26th March, titled Shaun the Sheep – the Movie.

The Movie will be supported around the country with Shaun the Sheep live appearances from Showtime.

ABC Video/Roadshow is having strong sales of the latest DVD ‘Sheep Thrills’ with a new DVD title – ‘Baa’d Boy’ – being released in March 2015. This release will coincide with a brand new publishing range launching from Walker Books from February 2015.

Jasnor are the master gift and plush licensee, with a great range of Shaun and the gang flock available in plush and gifting. Back to School will be a key time for the brand as they launch backpacks into the marketplace.

Banter Toys will jump onto the activity around the Shaun the Sheep The Movie with the release of a figurine and play set program. Licensing Essentials will service the Carnival segment of the market with plush and a showbag.

A sleepwear program will launch in the ABC Shops from Caprice.

“This is an evergreen brand with a wide demographic appeal, we have a movie releasing in 2015 and TV content on air and more in the pipeline. At last fans can start to get a wide range of consumer products featuring their favourite characters”

Lah-Lah’s Adventures is the TV series that stars pre-school band Lah-Lah’s Big Live Band. Set in a beautiful animated world, it introduces children to music and musical instruments. The 26 X 12 minute episodes are set to premiere on the ABC 4 Kids channel at 8:45am on Monday 4th January 2015.

Roadshow will release the first DVD in March titled Brand New Day. Jasnor have developed a rag doll of lead singer LahLah for the market. Stella Projects have appointed Sharpe Interactive to create the first app for the brand. A publishing program is in development for a September launch. Musical Role Play and apparel will also launch in 2015 and are currently in negotiation.

Bubble Bath Bay is an animated TV series featuring Sydney and Zip; each episode sees fun and adventures for this sailboat and water taxi as they learn the ways of the water through friendship, learning and play.

“The high quality animation and engaging storylines coupled with the play patterns of boats set in Bubble Bath Bay make for a great new TV show on the ABC,” said Grahame Grassby, Managing Director of Stella Projects. “For us adults in the toy business basically it can be described as Thomas on the water.”

ABC Video and Harper Collins are on board for home video and publishing and the search is on for an Australian toy partner.

Bubble Bath Bay launches on ABC 4 Kids in February with daily broadcasts at 7:45am in the mornings and 4:45pm in the afternoons.

Along with Series 2 of Guess How Much I Love You?, this is the ABC’s major animated pre-school series for 2015.

For licensing opportunities contact Louise at Stella Projects at louise@stellaprojects.com

Shaun the Sheep TV Series 1–4 will continue to be broadcast on both ABC 4 Kids and ABC3 which will ensure that Shaun the Sheep remains a ratings winner for both channels especially with a broadcast home on ABC 4 Kids daily in the 6:50pm time-slot.

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The Mr. Men & Little Misses had a wildly busy 2014, with even more mayhem announced for 2015 – so be ready to expect the unexpected!

Last year in Asia began with a colourful and joyful McDonald’s promotion: wishing all customers in Hong Kong and Macau a Happy New Year with Mr. Happy; a year full of Sunshine with Little Miss Sunshine; etc. This promotion catapulted as a SLP and had quite an impact thanks to support from smartly done TV commercials. It was successfully replicated in Malaysia last October under the theme ‘Which Mr. Men or Little Miss are you?’

Our first quarter was quite heavy on the promotional side. In Australia, we initiated a massive newspaper promotion with News Ltd, also backed up by TV and radio ads, which allowed us to deliver over A$10,000,000 in above-the-line advertising and put 4 million books in kids’ hands.

Over in Europe, Evian launched our first character creation of the year, Mr. Glug – a character specially designed for Evian and backed up by an exclusive book. Beyond the 60 million bottles that carried our characters’ likenesses, this Evian promotion is the first interactive campaign we delivered with our characters, focusing on Mr. Glug and character customisation. This site is still very active (http://monsieurmadame.evian.fr) and is regularly updated with new content and various offerings as we extend this promotion into more territories in 2015.

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Our promotional reach goes beyond the FMCG category, as it also encompasses services: we just launched a highly visible promotion with World First, an online currency exchange specialist, with its own exclusive character, Mr. First.

Although promotions are not a lynchpin for our brand, we are infusing them across our three pillars of Fashion, Gifting, and Publishing, building relevance for the foundations and keeping them fresh in the minds and hearts of our customers.

The Publishing pillar received a lot of support last year with the European launch in May of our 86th character, Little Miss Hug. She was the first character created by Sanrio since Mr. Men & Little Miss joined, representing a truly collaborative work with our Tokyo office. Little Miss Hug subsequently launched in Japan over the 3rd quarter 2014 and will have its own event at The One in Hong Kong over this Chinese New Year, with its own hugging booth. Unveiling the character was a particularly fun and

impactful process: a ‘How-to-Hug’ guide was created; a 90-second video was produced; and various grass roots activities took place, such as a book signing and customisation event at Selfridge’s. Our publishing program is helping us to create tentpoles around which we are articulating various trans-generational events at retail, both digitally and physically.

2015 in particular will probably be one of our most prolific years in terms of titles released.

We just got awarded with a ‘2014 Children Book Top Ten’ by DangDang in China, one of their largest e-commerce bookstores.

As our second pillar, Fashion has also seen hearty rejuvenation, with some beautifully executed windows in Chocoolate for Valentine’s Day last year and a very special truck roaming the streets of Hong Kong and delighting customers of all ages. You’ll probably see much more activities this year in that category, with Chocoolate in Hong Kong, but also with Uniqlo on a global basis where, for example, a collection of all ages started to roll out this quarter.

We also accentuated our partnerships with young designers that grew up with Mr. Men: our 2nd promotion with Peter Alexander last Fall is a ‘festival’ of hugs, encompassing both our Mr. Men & Sanrio Classic universe; we also started a partnership last year with another highly talented designer, Henry Holland, with a collection that reflects all the humour, edginess, and fun that our characters and Henry’s fashion embodies. Over the past three months, you were able to enjoy Henry Holland’s colourful collection at Liberty’s, with a charismatic Mr. Quiffy appearing as the alter ego of Henry in the Mr. Men world, but also at Galeries Lafayette in Beijing, Emporium in Bangkok and I.T in Hong Kong.

At the end of last year, in Hong Kong, we also reached out to Dorophy Tang for a collection that you can now see at Ginger’s.

Niche markets are also an area we love to explore with our brand in Fashion: we’re doing a cooperation this year with the female lifestyle brand Man Up Girl! this autumn, as well as with Cliché, an iconic skateboard company.

Our third pillar is Gift, the crux of our corporate identity and motto for the Sanrio company, ‘Little Gift, Big Smile’. Our Mr. Men & Little Miss products are now present in Sanrio stores in Japan, giving them fantastic showcases and prime locations of exposure.

We continued to work with Selfridge’s, this Christmas, to spread our pop-up stores to

three locations and expand our customised offerings. Additionally, we started a Giftorium across several Myer locations last October in Australia.

We are a truly trans-generational property as Mr. Tickle was created in 1971, meaning that we span at least three generations. This is one of the reasons why Mr. Men & Little Miss translate so well all over the world and capture artists’ creativity and imagination.

In Hong Kong, last Summer saw a street art festival across a popular and highly trafficked neighbourhood with local artist Michael Lau. Michael enjoys an excellent fan base and is a celebrity in his city. He painted and decorated the streets of Causeway Bay in the FashionWalk district and the lofty heights of The Peak. Pedestrians throughout these areas this summer enjoyed some unexpected encounters with our colourful characters: at street corners, on traffic signs, bus stops, even underfoot, as well as at the cult boutique GumGumGum.

Mr Men & Little Miss fit into a busy urban environment very well, possibly providing some happy, friendly guidance: we will launch a cooperation over the second quarter with Transport of London with displays in the iconic London Underground system, activities in the London Transport Museum, and a new book with Mr. Tickle and others helping to guide passengers of all ages.

Tea parties were also part of last summer’s festivities at the Langham Hotel in Melbourne.

We even opened a Mr. Men Café in the Harajuku neighbourhood of Tokyo, very happening and delicious! There is no doubt we will see more food-based activities in the months to come, especially following the UK Beefeater Grill promotion which saw more than 350,000 activations of family photo customisations from last quarter and will continue to captivate families through 2015 (http://social.beefeater.co.uk/mrmen) Sanrio is committing resources into the Mr. Men & Little Miss franchise both creatively and through marketing, of course, but also on the commercial front. This longterm investment, coupled with an established heritage, is already starting to bear fruit – we will announce early this year a major motion picture to be released in 2017.

For further information contact mmlmenquiries@sanriolicense.com

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HASBRO ON THE MOVE IN ASIA As Hasbro look to accelerate the growth of their licensing business in the Asian region, Bugg Toys & Licensing has been fortunate to connect with Claire Gilchrist, Vice President Brand Licensing & Publishing – Asia Pacific.

Claire has recently joined the global Hasbro team from Mattel where she held senior licensing roles. Claire has also worked with Disney in licensing. We spoke to Claire about her plans for the business in Asia, leading into the Hong Kong Licensing Show in January.

Claire we understand that you have recently joined Hasbro from Mattel, where you were also responsible for Asia Pacific. Bearing in mind that a key platform for Hasbro is the development of their licensing business in the region. What will be your first task in focusing the business upon growth?

Hasbro has a wide range of properties and we have identified and continue to be focused on our Franchise Brands, such as Transformers, Nerf, My Little Pony, Littlest Pet Shop, and Monopoly. We will continue to expand our global branded play strategy, which is supported by first-party research and consumer insight. Focused execution will centre on bringing Hasbro properties to life in unique, innovative ways as well as through new channels of distribution.

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The Hasbro portfolio has very strong content for boys, girls, pre-school and lifestyle brands, what brands currently have the most prominent Consumer Products (CP) programs resonating in Asia?

The depth and breadth of the Hasbro brands is one of the reasons why I joined Hasbro.

One example is the Transformers franchise which has a rich history of storytelling and resonates not only with all age groups but across the globe with 98% brand awareness. The overall strong audience is not only the young kids but also resonating with adults as this property has been around for over 30 years. The young kids of the 80s are now parents so they understand the brand and have watched the brand evolve over time. The Transformers brand is now an entertainment brand activated across multiple platforms, reaching more kids and adults than ever before.

Transformers has now developed into a powerhouse toy and entertainment brand.

What has the recent premiere of the fourth movie instalment, Age of Extinction, meant to the evolution of the brand in your region from a CP perspective?

Over 300 licensees and promotional relationships worldwide supported the premiere of Transformers: Age Of Extinction -inspired merchandise. Items were available across all major categories, including apparel, digital gaming, publishing, footwear and toys and were incredibly well supported by our retail partners.

We recently learned that Hasbro has been successful in securing Disney’s Frozen in the doll category. What will this do for your business throughout Asia?

Hasbro has entered a new strategic merchandising relationship with Disney Consumer Products for the globally popular Disney Princess and Frozen properties.

The agreement gives Hasbro global rights (excluding Japan) to develop dolls based on Disney Princess stories and characters including Cinderella, Beauty and The Beast, and The Little Mermaid as well as Frozen beginning in 2016.

I notice with interest that your responsibilities include publishing. In this digital age and the general contraction of global publishers, where do you see your this platform over the next three years?

While publishing does not directly report to me, both print and digital remain growth platforms for Hasbro. We have had great success with our brands, particularly My Little Pony & Transformers, within the territory and will continue to develop across formats such as storybooks, comics, e-books and storybook apps to deliver engaging and relevant storytelling to our consumers.

The traditional games business has long been a cornerstone of Hasbro. How do you view this part of your business in the region?

Do you have plans to leverage CPs programs and promotions around your perennials such as Monopoly, Connect 4, etc?

A perennial favourite in the family chest, the Monopoly game has been played by more than one billion people in 114 countries and

47 languages around the world and touts more than 11.5 million global Facebook fans.

Hasbro has many iconic gaming brands in its portfolio, including Monopoly which has been around since the 1930s. We’re always striving to keep them relevant and fresh for today’s kids and families, and one way we do that is through listening to what our fans want by tapping into social media. Social media gives our consumers the opportunity to make their voices heard and impact changes in the Hasbro games they love. For example, in 2014 we let our 11+ million global Monopoly Facebook fans crowd source new rules for the Monopoly game in our ‘House Rules’ promotion. We are excited to celebrate the Monopoly brand’s 80th anniversary this year by offering fans multiple ways to experience the world’s favourite family gaming brand.

I believe My Little Pony is 30 years old now. Do you have CP programs happening in Asia? What are your plans to grow the cross-category presence of the brand?

You are correct, the My Little Pony brand is over 30 years old. Behind a successful global entertainment, licensing and retail strategy which re-launched the brand in 2010, the My Little Pony brand has grown to represent approximately $650 million dollars at retail across all CPs. Its popularity is boosted by the successful hit animated series My Little Pony Friendship is Magic, produced by Hasbro Studios and airing in 180 territories. When we take a look at the My Little Pony brand, licensing helps to build and make the brand come alive. Promotions, such as McDonalds, have run around the world, including Asia, and continue to help re‑establish the brand.

In Asia, we have worked with event licensees in organising My Little Pony Mall events including decorations and promotions where we have mascot meet & greet and stage show. We continue to look for the right licensees to ensure that it helps drive the right tone and voice of the brand.

Has Nerf worked for Hasbro in the region?

Nerf continues to be the brand of choice.

According to NPD, if we combined Nerf and Nerf Rebelle, it would be the second largest property in the US year-to-date through August. NERF revenues grew in the Boys and Girls categories globally, including in both the US and Canada and International segments, and point of sale was strong, growing doubledigits in several markets.

In a nut shell where do you see the Hasbro CPs business in the next three years?

I am looking forward to bringing our franchise brands to the forefront in this market with the goal of delivering a fully immersive and relevant brand in existing and new categories.

Thank you Claire, we really appreciate your time. We hope the Hong Kong International Licensing Show and associated fairs are an opportunity for you to work with your global partners and set plans for 2015 and beyond.

For more information please visit www.hasbro.com/en_hk

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HONG KONG LICENSING SHOW – GATEWAY TO THE WORLD As the Asian market comes into play for more and more Intellectual Property (IP) owners, it is timely that Bugg Toys & Licensing speaks to Angela Ho, who is the Senior Service Promotions Manager for the event on behalf of Hong Kong International Licensing Show (HKILS).

From a global standpoint the fair attracts in excess of 18,000 visitors over the three days. Over recent years we have seen the emergence of a number of animation studios throughout the region. Probably the most high profile operation is the DreamWorks studio in Shanghai. Global players of the likes of Mattel, Cartoon Network, Warner Brothers Consumer Products (WBCP) and Hasbro are all ramping up their commitment to the region. They all understand the huge opportunity that will flow from over 200 million middle class Chinese consumers who all love brands.

We talk to Angela about the evolution of the fair, its current status and plans for the future.

Angela, how long has the HKILS been running in its current format and how many exhibitors are showing for the very first year?

13 years. In the upcoming edition, there will be character brands such as Candy Crush, Simpsons, Smiley, Family Guy and Ice Age. We will also have new lifestyle and cultural brands such as Andy Warhol, Bruce Lee, Lamborghini, Monopoly and the Palace Museum.

Can you tell us where your priorities lie for the 2015 show?

There will be over 800 brands and properties in the 2015 show.

While the global brands remain, the show will be injected with a lot of young properties from Asia and also Hong Kong such as A-li, GG Bond, B.Duck etc, thanks to

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the different international pavilions and the Hong Kong Creative Gallery.

For the first time, China’s Ministry of Culture will lead 40 cultural and creative companies to join the Licensing Show. Together with the regional participations of Guangzhou and Hangzhou, the Chinese mainland Pavilion will be larger than ever this year, helping to promote the mainland’s cultural and creative sectors as a ‘pillar’ industry in line with the National 12th Five-Year Plan.

Likewise, Japan, Korea, Malaysia and Thailand pavilions will also be funded by their local governments in a bid to promote their brands and properties via the Hong Kong platform. Another impressive highlight will be the Taiwan pavilion, number of exhibitors has risen over sixfold in the past three years. Bringing over will be two museums and various illustrators with an authentic Taiwanese taste.

The Hong Kong Creative Gallery debuted last year to nurture Hong Kong’s homegrown properties. This year, the Gallery will return with more than 40 exhibitors carrying original Hong Kong designs and characters.

In addition, more art, lifestyle, fashion and sports properties are observed, including the renowned Andy Warhol, Chelsea FC, Lamborghini, Manchester United FC, Palace Museum, Van Gogh, etc.

We see many global organisations now showing at the fair. Are you experiencing a greater number of the big players in brand licensing wanting to show at the fair?

Definitely. This year, Twentieth Century Fox Consumer Products, WBCP and Lamborghini are joining directly for the very first time, bringing over big brand names such as Ice Age, Planet of The Apes, Looney Tunes, Batman, etc.

It is only a matter of time before Asian brands begin to resonate across the globe.

This will be similar to the Japanese anime revolution, which includes brands such as Astro Boy, Sailor Moon, and Yhugio. Do you see this trend happening any time soon?

Asian brands are on the rise without doubt.

Some examples include the Pleasant Goat from the Chinese mainland, K-pop and TV stars from Korea and Rilakkuma from Japan.

With the support of their governments (in terms of government funded pavilions in the show), Asian countries are presenting many rising properties in HKILS such as A-li from the Chinese mainland, Pororo from Korea.

HKILS is the only licensing show in the world that presents many rising properties from different Asian countries. The rising Asian properties are hidden treasures that should not be missed.

As the fair continues to grow, space has become a challenge. What are your plans for the 2016 Licensing Show?

It is indeed a challenge to grow the fair due to the space constraint. As of to date, we plan to keep the show with the Toys, Baby and Stationery Fairs for 2016 to maximise the synergy. Until a critical mass of exhibiting properties is achieved and Asian visitors have developed their habitual buying pattern on licensing, we would consider moving the show to another schedule.

The educational seminar program has seen large numbers of visitors attend the sessions.

Has this initiative helped to encourage visitors to stay longer at the show?

The educational seminar program at the licensing show has been transformed into a stand-alone world-class conference, namely the Asian Licensing Conference (ALC) in 2011. ALC is supporting to grow the show in various ways. First, ALC gathers industry experts and renowned global brands to share their success and shed insights on the future development of licensing in Asia. Second, the newly launching industry breakouts on fashion, lifestyle, play & learn and retail this year will assist Asian companies, in particular manufacturers to become licensees to move up their business value chains. Asia’s licensee base is very different from the retaildominant model in US and Europe. Asia, in particular China, is the manufacturing base of

the world. The numerous OEM manufacturers in Asia are the ready pool of licensees for global brands to tap the Asian market.

Can you tell us which country/region has shown the most significant growth in terms of exhibiting companies over the past three years?

• Taiwan (667% of growth; three exhibitors in 2013 to 23 exhibitors in 2015) • Chinese mainland (233% of growth) • Japan (140% of growth) The exponential growth of Asian participations is underpinned by the rapid growth of licensing in Asia. Indeed, the fast-growing Asian market accounts for 12.1% of the global market for licensed merchandise, with the value of retail sales for licensed goods merchandise in Asia (excluding Japan) reaching US$8.7 billion in 2013, representing a 6.9% increase year-on-year.

Italy is also making its debut in the show, reflecting countries relatively mature in licensing are using Hong Kong as the licensing hub to tap the Asian market.

Does the show receive any significant coverage in other parts of the world?

We have over 25 licensing media partners from around the world, not to mention media channels from other sectors. As the HKILS has an Asian focus, it receives significant coverage in Asia and the Greater China.

Can you tell us what are the current trends in licensing for the region for 2015 and beyond?

Entertainment/Character Licensing remains the most popular, with retail sales of licensed merchandise accounting for 37% of the market share in Asia in 2013. Market growth of Corporate Trademarks/Brands licensed merchandise from 2011–2013 has seen an impressive 9.2% increase, and the sales of fashion licensed merchandise has also surged at 6.1% over the same period.

Fashion, Lifestyle and Brand Licensing will be the new trend.

Counterfeit merchandise has long been a difficult problem in the region, has the knowledge base in relation to the ownership of IP and the practicing of ethical standards in licensing improved over recent years?

Over the past couple of years, Asian companies have become more acutely aware of the commercial value and importance of IP protection. Asia is by far the fastest-growing region in the world in terms of the number of IP applications, be they patents, trademarks or industrial designs. During the period 2007–2012, trademark applications in Asia registered a Compound Annual Growth Rate (CAGR) of 10.7%, well above the global growth rate of 6.2%.

Hong Kong has long served as a strategic gateway into and out of the Chinese Mainland, not just for trade and investment but also for ideas and innovation. We serve as a regional marketplace, services hub and an arbitration centre for activities including licensing and franchising, design services and technology transfer. With our robust legal infrastructure, strong IP protection and a huge pool of experienced IP talent, Hong Kong has all the essentials of a premier regional IP trading hub.

According to the IP Trade Survey conducted by the Hong Kong Trade Development Council in 2013, Hong Kong outperforms its competitors in general and specific functions for being an IP trading hub in Asia. We are particularly strong in marketing, financing and accounting of IPs. How many exhibitors will attend this years fair?

290+ exhibitors from 18 countries and regions.

For more information please visit www.hktdc.com

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MONSTER JAM® TAKES CONTROL IN AUSTRALIA Australians have forever loved extreme sports.

Our culture and laid-back lifestyle have seen sport become a big part of our life.

Feld Entertainment is the home for many of the most extreme sports in the world today. Bugg Toys & Licensing recently took time out to speak with Magnus Danielsson, International Vice President at Feld Motor Sports. Magnus is responsible for the production and delivery of the global Monster Jam events, which tour the world.

Monster Jam is a highly organised, highly choreographed and high-octane spectacle, which provides the audience with nonstop entertainment. These huge, highly tuned machines with unbelievable manoeuvrability hurtle around a prearranged obstacle course often ending up on their roofs or spearing off the huge jumps when the machinery has failed.

Wild Pumpkin Licensing International has been appointed to manage the Consumer Products (CP) program in the Australian market.

In addition to the growing television distribution in Australia (Network Ten and Fuel), Feld recently toured Monster Jam in Australia. As part of a world tour, the show began in Brisbane, sold out two shows in Melbourne before moving on to Adelaide and Sydney and then over to New Zealand.

This leg of the tour saw 160,000 spectators attend the five stops.

They played world-class venues including AAMI Park in Melbourne and ANZ Stadium in Sydney. We have added a YouTube video to our Bugg Toys & Licensing website which shows a time-lapse view of how the event unfolds from start to finish. This alone is amazing to watch.

Feld will return next year with an all-new Monster Jam show where they will add new markets to the tour. These will be announced once they have been confirmed.

In the mean time the Wild Pumpkin team will be actively working with retailers and CP companies to develop merchandise and promotional programs around the Monster Jam phenomenon.

We asked Magnus to put his spin on what drives the sport when we asked him a number of questions relating to the show.

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Magnus, we understand that Feld Motor Sports has extensive experience in producing sporting events around the world. Where does Monster Jam rank from an excitement standpoint?

Monster Jam is a worldwide touring phenomenon unlike any other. Fans are able to experience the live excitement of Monster Jam through multiple senses. You are not only able to see it, hear it (and it does get loud), smell it, but also almost feel the power of the enormous Monster Jam trucks as they perform in the stadium. One thing that really sets Monster Jam apart from other live events is the Monster Jam Party in Pits where ticket holding fans are granted exclusive access to Monster Jam trucks and drivers. This is a great opportunity for fans to meet and greet with drivers, get up close and personal with the Monster Jam trucks – they can even take pictures and get souvenirs autographed. It is a really personal experience for a lot of fans.

You don’t see many rock stars or athletes doing that, do you?

How did you find the Australian crowds, were they fully engaged in the event?

Australia has been waiting for a multi-city Monster Jam tour for a long time. This past October we finally were able to make it happen and the response was tremendous.

Monster Jam is truly a family event with the core target audience being kids ages 3–14. In Australia, we saw three generations coming out to experience Monster Jam for the first time. Fans were very excited for the opportunity to finally attend a live show after years of watching Monster Jam on television and interacting with their licensed toys at home. It was great to see the signs that our fans made for their favourite Monster Jam trucks and drivers and to hear how loud they

cheered during their favourite Monster Jam truck’s runs. Monster Jam is the best of the best in live entertainment when it comes to engaging fans.

The bump in and bump out of the event requires an enormous effort from your entire team. Given that you normally play on sporting surfaces, which must be maintained to the highest standard after you depart, is Feld Motor Sports the only operator with the technology to guarantee this?

Feld Motor Sports is an extremely vertically integrated company. In addition to Monster Jam, we also produce a number of other live motor sports events including Monster Energy Supercross and Amsoil Arenacross. Every year we perform in hundreds of stadiums and arenas around the world and each one is unique, so it is important that we employ experts in the field of track construction to protect not only the integrity of our events, but also the stadiums and arenas in which we perform. We do the majority of the track work and preparation internally because it requires a unique skill set. We even have a team of engineers that design the tracks and dirt specialists whose main focus is to locally source tons of dirt each year. It is quite an operation, but paying attention to this level

of detail ensures that we have full control over our shows and are operating on and meeting the highest level of safety standards.

We are experts at creating cutting edge motor sports events that deliver an enjoyable and safe experience not only for the fans but also for the venue operators. We are proud to say that we are a leader in this industry.

Can you tell us which of the Monster Jam trucks were the most popular in Australia?

There are over 100 Monster Jam trucks and each fan has their own personal favourite.

We selected twelve of the biggest names in Monster Jam to perform in Australia including Dragon, El Toro Loco®, Grave Digger®, Madusa®, Max-D™, Mohawk Warrior®, Monster Mutt® and Son-uva Digger®. Fans down under really appreciated the rivalry between heavy hitters Grave Digger® and Max-D™, but were also thrilled when unique animal-themed Monster Jam trucks like Monster Mutt and El Toro Loco came out to compete. One of the greatest parts of the Australian tour was introducing fans to our newest Monster Jam truck, Dragon which is on its way to quickly becoming one of the more popular Monster Jam trucks on tour.

Is the show best suited to indoor or outdoor arenas?

Each Monster Jam event is created and designed specifically around the venue, whether it be a smaller, intimate arena or an Olympic sized, world class stadium. Each type of event delivers a different high quality Monster Jam experience, but all feature the exciting Monster Jam action our fans crave.

What is the skill set for a Monster Jam pilot?

Aside from the obvious athletic and driving skills, it is important that Monster Jam drivers have big hearts. At Monster Jam, the trucks are the focus of the show so it is the drivers job to bring that truck to life and represent the brand both on and off the track. Our drivers are on the road with Monster Jam quite a bit and give back twice as much to the sport and fans. A large portion of a Monster Jam driver’s time is spent interacting with fans and if you ask any of our drivers, they would say this is the best part of their job. Meeting fans, hearing their stories, and understanding how they, as a Monster Jam driver, are impacting lives around the world.

It is an absolutely amazing bond that our drivers have with their fans.

Mechanically how much horsepower does an average Monster Truck develop?

How much do they weigh?

The average Monster Jam truck measures almost four metres high, weighs over 4,500 kilograms, and generates over 1,500 in horsepower. The huge monster truck tyres alone are almost two meters wide and allow the truck to jump more than 10 metres into the air. It is quite impressive.

How many shows are you shooting for as part of the return tour in 2015?

Each year, we look to add new markets to the existing tour schedule. Last year we had four planned stops in Australia in Brisbane, Melbourne, Adelaide and Sydney. We will be announcing the 2015 Monster Jam Australia tour schedule shortly so stay tuned to MonsterJam.com to stay up-to-date as we list international dates in coming months.

Thanks Magnus, we look forward to having Monster Jam back in Australia next year.

I am sure the show will generate some exciting CP programs.

For more information please visit www.monsterjam.com

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