The Bugg Report Magazine - Edition 19 by thebuggreport

BUGG

THE

Entertainment One Feature Interview

Market Wrap Brand Updates

REPORT The Wiggles 25th Anniversary

Peppa Pig’s Ready for 2016 and Beyond The Bugg Report interviews Trish Padoin and Con Goutzoulas from Entertainment One Australia to learn all about what’s in store for Peppa Pig!

Toy, Hobby & Licensing Fair - Edition 19 LIKE US ON FACEBOOK @THEBUGGREPORT

From The Editor

o it’s time for another Toy, Hobby & Licensing Fair and it seems like last years fair was not long ago, but a lot has happened since then. I could summarise 2015 with Frozen, Minions and Star Wars alone, but obviously the uber-successful re-launch of Star Wars: The Force Awakens last December was impressive and we had (and still have) the normal chatter about the trials and tribulations of retail. Retail is interesting in Australia and in relation to many other markets we have a small footprint here, which means that from a licensing point of view its a matter of pushing activations around major event licenses (movies) versus the everyday ‘evergreen’ licensing programs. Logic says that being such a small market the ability to execute key retail activations could be more focused than in the huge global powerhouse markets like the US, UK and India, where shelf space is filled with too many brands to count. The Australian market means limited shelf space, but that necessitates the importance of being smart and selective with these types of event and everyday activations amongst retailers who can then focus on what they are good at; be it premium, volume or customer experience. Target’s Star Wars concept store pre-Christmas was a nice execution of customer experience and Kmart’s soft-lines program with Mattel is a good example of a sound ‘evergreen’ program which features Barbie and Thomas. Owning licenses with activations is the focus, but by its very meaning,

‘owning’ a license is impossible if there are two retailers involved... unless there is a major point of difference? Where is this going you ask? Simple, we speak to industry people all the time and the message is always, well almost always, the same; where is retail heading and what are you hearing? The idea is not to try and create animosity between key industry players but to create open discussion about ‘the state of play’ and aim to get everyone on the same page and working to the same goals where everyone wins, one way or another. It’s much like the economy, if it is strong then we are all better off, but if it collapses we all lose and I don’t see why it is any different for the retail space? If anyone has any feedback or think I am talking a whole lot of nonsense, please don’t respond with anger; simply get in touch and talk to us about how you see things. If that happens, we can publish a range of opinions, positions and ideas so everyone can learn more about where things are at and hopefully we can create a platform for the industry to speak to each other in an open environment and we can make significant progress to improve the industry in all areas and especially at retail. You can get in touch by emailing editor@buggreport.com.au

THE BUGG REPORT Managing Director Tony Bugg: tony@buggsolutions.com.au Editor in Chief Matthew Bugg: matt@buggsolutions.com.au

Contacts Advertising: bookings@buggreport.com.au Feedback: editor@buggreport.com.au Media: media@buggreport.com.au

Bugg Marketing Solutions Phone: +61 3 8782 3717 | Fax: +61 3 9769 7922 | Email: info@buggsolutions.com.au Address: Level 1, 64 Victor Crescent Narre Warren VIC 3805 | Postal: PO BOX 491, Berwick VIC 3806 The Bugg Report has been compiled as a guide to retail, toys, licensing and other related matters. The views and opinions provided are based upon the views and opinions of its writers. In no way is The Bugg Report a factual guide to retail, toys, licensing and other related matters and does not take responsibility for how the information provided is used by its consumers.

Toy, Hobby & Licensing Fair - Edition 19

MERCHANTWISE Brand updates from Merchantwise

THE WIGGLES 25TH ANNIVERSARY We catch up with the Wiggles

NBCUNIVERSAL We catch up with Jeff Daggett

ENTERTAINMENT ONE INTERVIEW We speak to Trish Padoin and Con Goutzoulas

HAVEN LICENSING We catch up with Tom and Yvonne from Haven

JASNOR AUSTRALIA Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s showtime at Jasnor

HONG KONG INTERNATIONAL LICENSING SHOW We give you a wrap-up of the show this past January

www.buggreport.com.au

Entertainment One THE BUGG REPORT SITS DOWN WITH TRISH PADOIN AND CON GOUTZOULAS FROM EONE TO DISCUSS PEPPA PIG AND THEIR ALL-NEW AND GROWING BRAND PORTFOLIO

Trish, can you give us a brief update on Peppa Pig and outline some of the brand highlights from 2015? Peppa has certainly continued to go from strength to strength. We’ve sustained leading TV ratings on a daily basis; the episodes are broadcast twice a day and averaging 200,000 viewers per episode. 2015 also saw ‘Peppa Pig: The Golden Boots’ TV special premiere on ABC Kids to an audience of 235,000. This is the first of a number of specials rolling out over the next 12 months. Our stage show partner, Lifelike Touring, has completed a second national tour of Peppa Pig Live – ‘Big Splash!’ and a follow up tour is about to go into production again due to its popularity. One the most pleasing things that we achieved in 2015 was to raise valuable funds for Cancer Council & Daffodil Day when Peppa Pig jumped on board as an official brand ambassador. Con, considering the size and status of Peppa Pig, can you give us an indication of just how popular the brand is? We are now entering our 4th year in consumer products. In this time, we’ve sold well over one million DVD’s to Australian consumers and over 1.6 million books at retail. Current local research data shows that

Peppa Pig remains the No. 1 preferred preschool brand amongst our core market. Peppa continues to develop its universal appeal amongst family audiences and this is true to its brand values. The plan for Peppa has always been gradual and sustainable growth; I think it is safe to say that we have been true to this vision. Trish, from an eOne brand portfolio perspective, you have some new lifestyle brands that you are working on building, including those with a fashion emphasis, such as So So Happy. Can you give us an outline of its appeal and what you are looking to develop? So So Happy in particular has been embraced heavily in the US, with a significant following on social media. The brand is focused on empowerment and selfacceptance for girls and young women and we look forward to striking positive brand partnerships and product collaborations, that will help spread this message. The designs themselves are colourful, fun and of course, happy! Con, I believe that David Brent: Life on the Road is a brand that is very exciting to you personally. Can you tell us about this brand and what excites you most? David Brent: Life on the Road documents how Ricky Gervais’ character; David Brent, attempts to realise his dream of rock stardom by self-financing a UK tour with his band, “Foregone Conclusion”. Initial reactions from retail have been extremely positive, so look out for this to be the sleeper hit of the year when the global release opens in cinemas from August. This is a strong licensing opportunity for Father’s Day gifting. With Ricky’s strong social media following in the millions, it’s sure to be one of the most highly anticipated eOne Films theatrical releases of the year. Trish, from an overall Entertainment One angle, what is the major focus for you in the Australian market in 2016 and beyond for your brand portfolio, including Peppa Pig, and the widely anticipated PJ Masks? We will continue to focus on establishing Peppa as an evergreen in our market. Our goal is to focus on strategies that will establish our brands as long term

Toy, Hobby & Licensing Fair - Edition 19

Entertainment One THE BUGG REPORT SITS DOWN WITH TRISH PADOIN AND CON GOUTZOULAS FROM EONE TO DISCUSS PEPPA PIG AND THEIR ALL-NEW AND GROWING BRAND PORTFOLIO

opportunities. Our experiential events have been crucial to building and maintaining loyalty amongst the fan bases. Lifelike Touring are developing an exciting new event at the end of the year called ‘Playdate with Peppa’ which will be an interactive experience where fans can enter into the world of Peppa Pig in the big top. Also, we have our brand new season seven of Peppa Pig rolling out from later this year, as well as an extended 15 minute special Around the World and two seasonal Halloween specials. Big Balloon will be rolling out the new Peppa Pig classic toy range later in 2016, as well introducing the Peppa preschool construction range. PJ Masks is premiering on Disney Junior from 4th April. The TV series launched on U.S. TV screens in September last year, with a strong U.S. ratings result and became an overnight success, as a result of 1.5 million kids tuning in! We plan on various brandbuilding initiatives to support our TV broadcast, with the consumer products rollout currently being finalised. Ben & Holly’s Little Kingdom continues to experience strong weekly ratings on ABC Kids, and the brand will be bolstered on the ground with the launch of the new ticketed show from Lifelike Touring. The live show, ‘Ben

& Holly Live!’ premieres this month and will tour nationally. Initial ticket sales have been incredibly strong, resulting in additional shows being added to the tour schedule to meet demand. Con, to round off your brand updates can you tell us more about Death Row Records? This year marks the 25th Anniversary for Death Row Records, which was co-created by Dr. Dre and has featured many top Hip-Hop artists including Tupac Shakur and Snoop Dog. eOne has global licensing rights to the brand and this year will see some great high-end fashion collaborations which is something to look out for later in 2016. Thanks for your time Trish and Con and we hope to talk again soon to check in your brand portfolio and ongoing success. For more information visit www.entertainmentone.com

www.buggreport.com.au

Toy, Hobby & Licensing Fair - Edition 19

Merchantwise BUILDING AND EXTENDING GREAT BRANDS

Merchantwise is a leading Australasian brand licensing and creative marketing agency, headquartered in Melbourne with offices in Sydney and Paris. For over 16 years, Merchantwise has developed licensing, merchandising, creative and digital marketing programs for some of the world’s bestloved brands. Properties represented cover the entire consumer spectrum, including theatrical and TV entertainment, preschool brands, toys, video games, music, corporate trademarks and celebrities. 2016 is shaping up to be a huge year, with a diverse array of strong and growing programs in the market. The pages following give readers a roundup of the latest highlights. Twentieth Century Fox Thrives Downunder Twentieth Century Fox continues to dominate the global film and TV landscape. The studio led all rivals with an incredible 30 nominations for the 2016 Academy Awards, including highly acclaimed movies The Revenant and The Martian. Fox also leads the way on the small screen. TV drama Empire was the most watched show in the US in 2015, with more than 16 million average viewers per episode. Other recent hits include American Horror Story, Scream Queens and the highly anticipated return of The X Files, alongside evergreen favourites Modern Family, The Simpsons, Family Guy and Bob’s Burgers. Theatrical Entertainment Ice Age: Collision Course Ice Age is the most successful animated franchise internationally, achieving a mammoth $2.8 billion at the global box office. The journey continues with Ice Age: Collision Course, due for release in Australia and New Zealand in June 2016. A new attraction at Melbourne’s Sea Life Aquarium is

the Ice Age: No Time for Nuts 4-D experience. This fully immersive, high energy 9-minute show was custom created by Blue Sky Studios and Fox Animation in partnership with SimEx-Iwerks Entertainment. Also touring Australia in April is Ice Age Live, a spectacular stadium show travelling to 30 countries in 5 continents. The Ice Age franchise has generated an estimated $1.4 billion in retail sales. Local licensees appointed for the new film include master toy (HeadStart), plush (CA Australia), carnival plush (Hunter Leisure), character appearances and live events (The Entertainment Store) and publishing (The Five Mile Press). Ferdinand Scheduled for release in April 2017 is Ferdinand, inspired by the beloved book about a peaceloving, flower-smelling bull who refuses to fight. Director Carlos Saldanha and the Blue Sky team behind the Ice Age and Rio movies are reimagining Ferdinand as a funny, immersive, all audience, 3D experience. The classic children’s book by Munro Leaf and Robert Lawson has been in publication for over 75 years and has 4 million copies in print. By refusing to go into the ring and fight like all the other bulls, Ferdinand will remind us that even when it’s difficult, ultimately there is no better reward than staying true to oneself. Independence Day: Resurgence Independence Day, released in 1996, generated a colossal $817M at the worldwide box office and redefined the event movie genre. The next epic chapter delivers global spectacle on an unimaginable scale. Independence Day: Resurgence, is written and directed by Roland Emmerich and stars Liam Hemsworth, Jesse Usher, Bill Pullman and Jeff Goldblum. The film, due for release in June 2016, is one of Forbes top 10 most hotly anticipated movies of the year.

www.buggreport.com.au

Merchantwise Aliens 30th Anniversary and a New Film 2016 marks the 30th anniversary of Aliens, the cult sci-fi/horror classic starring Sigourney Weaver. On top of that comes news that legendary filmmaker Ridley Scott is directing a new film Alien: Covenant starring Michael Fassbender, Danny McBride and Katherine Waterston, due for release in October 2017. The prequel will bridge the gap between the Prometheus and Alien franchises. The franchise has a wide array of licensing partners including Dark Horse Comics, Titan Books, NECA Collectibles, Sideshow Collectibles, Hot Toys, Rubies and Dark Design Studios costumes, Super 7 and Funko POP! Vinyl and more exciting partners to be announced, while Licensing Essentials is developing apparel and giftware in Australia and New Zealand. Fox Presents the Films of Marilyn Marilyn Monroe remains one of the most celebrated and enigmatic film stars in history. She made 12 films with Twentieth Century Fox, the studio that launched her film career, including classics such as Gentlemen Prefer Blondes and How to Marry a Millionaire. Now in collaboration with Twentieth Century Fox, Australia’s Bendigo Art Gallery has developed a groundbreaking exhibition bringing together the world’s largest collection of authentic artifacts, clothing, accessories, film posters, documents and other objects belonging to, or worn by Marilyn. The Exhibition runs from 5 March to 10 July 2016. Merchandising includes homewares and apparel from Licensing Essentials, wines from Warburn Estate and stamps from Australia Post. TV Entertainment The X-Files Mulder and Scully are back! The biggest paranormal cult TV

Toy, Hobby & Licensing Fair - Edition 19

drama of the nineties has returned to our screens for a special 6-episode revival and the fans are loving it. The show premiered in January across the US and 80 other countries and attracted more than 50 million viewers. In Australia, it has attracted over 900,000 viewers per episode on Network Ten. The revival has sparked renewed interest in X Files merchandise, with new apparel launched at retail from Hot Springs. American Horror Story American Horror Story has been renewed for a sixth season, due in late 2016. Over 5 spooky seasons, this unique horror thriller from Glee creator Ryan Murphy has developed a global cult following, with over 11 million Facebook fans. Each season features a standalone theme, storyline and all-star cast. Season 5 Hotel starred Lady Gaga, who recently won a Golden Globe for her performance. AHS has been nominated for 210 awards and won 47. Popular teen retailer Jay Jays is now ranging spine-tingling AHS t-shirt designs from Caprice. Scream Queens Also renewed for Season 2 is Scream Queens, the ‘terrifyingly funny murdery mystery’ from Ryan Murphy, combining teen comedy and horror with an all-star cast. Scream Queens was the fall season’s No. 1 new comedy among adults 18-34 (the most-coveted demo), and was the top new series when it came to social media and video on demand. In Australia it has been a hit for Channel 10 and won several awards. The Simpsons The Simpsons, now in its 27th season, continues to thrive with 150 million weekly global viewers. It is one of the largest brands on Facebook, with over 68 million fans. The Simpsons is licensed in 180 countries, including global partnerships

The biggest name in entertainment For further information contact: Bethan Jones, Senior Retail Manager P (+613) 9520 1020 E bethan@merchantwise.com W merchantwise.com

www.buggreport.com.au

Toy, Hobby & Licensing Fair - Edition 19

Merchantwise with brands such as Minecraft, LEGO and Apple. In Australia and New Zealand, Simpsons apparel now ranges at all levels of retail across men’s, women’s and children’s wear. Other local categories include collectible figures and plush (HeadStart), giftware (Licensing Essentials), social expressions (Hallmark), comics (Otter Press) and novelty confectionery (Kinnerton). Australia’s Best Loved & Trusted Name in Preschool Entertainment Merchantwise is working with ABC Commercial to develop new licensing and retail initiatives for ABC Kids and flagship TV shows Play School and Giggle and Hoot. There is a special link between ABC Kids and parents of young children, combining entertainment, education and life learning. Only ABC Kids has the trusted shows that parents want their children to watch from a very young age. ABC Kids is on air for 14 hours a day, 7 days per week. It is the dominant platform for preschool viewing, reaching over 2 million people every week, including over 1 million preschoolers. The ABC’s iView digital service is most watched in Australia, receiving over 2 million visitors per month. iView now makes it even more convenient for parents to share preschool content with their children, whether at home or on the go. Play School Celebrates 50 Happy Years “Play School celebrates what it means to be a child, making learning exciting and parents smile. Play School is an Australian icon that continues to evolve and grow with the times. Bring on 50 years in 2016!” Deirdre Brennan, Head of Children’s, ABC TV On July 18 2016, one of Australian television’s most iconic programs will celebrate 50 continuous years as

the most respected and trusted children’s program in the nation. A range of special events and content will celebrate this milestone birthday with children and all the Australians who have grown up with this program as an essential part of their childhood. Today, Play School is more popular than ever, with a fresh new look and outstanding cast including Eddie Perfect, Justine Clarke and Jay Laga’aia. Play School airs four times a day and reaches over a million preschoolers (1 in every 2) each week. National live concerts reach audiences of more than 110,000 people each year. Play School has highest top-of-mind awareness of all preschool shows. 41% of children who watch Play School claim it is their favourite show. 2016 celebrations will include: •

• • •

10-12 x 3 minute interstitials featuring an exciting line up of Australian celebrities to perform various songs, nursery rhymes and stories to celebrate 50 years of Play School ‘Humpty Puts on a Show’ live concert touring nationally from Feb -Oct 16 Partnership events with Play Group Association throughout the year National Museum of Australia exhibition and Family Festival event

Special anniversary product releases will include: • • • • • • • •

Commemorative coin with the Royal Mint Play School birth certificates with the NSW Registry of Births, Deaths and Marriages Australia Post stamps, postcards, medallions and post numismatic cover Retro teen and adult apparel at specialty retail 50th anniversary plush from Jasnor 50th anniversary collector’s edition of The New Useful Book from HarperCollins Publishers DVD releases including Humpty’s Big Adventure and Hip Hip Hooray! Play School colour and activity publishing from HarperCollins Publishers

www.buggreport.com.au

Merchantwise Giggle and Hoot ABC Kids’ award winning Giggle and Hoot screens throughout the day, 7 days a week and reaches an average of 60% of Australian preschoolers every week. Host Jimmy Giggle, Hoot the Owl and friend Hootabelle receive 500-1,000 pieces of fan mail every day and even more over school holiday periods. The Giggle and Hoot and Friends live show continues to tour in 2016 after sell-out performances in 2014 and 2015. It’s A Bing Thing! The new favourite on ABC Kids is Bing, the beautiful, award winning preschool TV show from Acamar Films in the UK, based on the popular children’s’ book series by author/illustrator Ted Dewan. The show celebrates the challenges, learning and fun of being a 3 year old child, as well as the grown-ups in their lives. There are now 78 x 7 minute episodes broadcasting daily at 8.23 AM on ABC Kids and streaming on iView, regularly featuring amongst the top 5 most watched or streamed shows on the network. An extensive range of high quality figurines, plush, playsets and bath toys has been launched by master toy partner Fisher Price at leading retailers including Toys R Us, Myer, Target and Big W. New TV advertised toy lines will be released in 2016. Publisher Harper Collins has released an extensive range of storybooks, activity and colouring books. Other categories licensed include DVDs (ABC Roadshow), apparel, accessories, bags and backpacks, bedding and footwear (Caprice), partyware (Amscan) and character appearances and events (The Entertainment Store). May Gibbs’ Gumnut Babies Turn 100 There are few creations in Australian children’s literature as cherished as the Gumnut Babies. May

Toy, Hobby & Licensing Fair - Edition 19

Gibbs loved the bush and used it as inspiration for her stories and characters. May pursued a career as an illustrator and writer, settling in Sydney in 1913. Here she began to draw her distinctive bush characters, and in 1916 she published Gumnut Babies. The books were an immediate success. In 1918, she released The Tales of Snugglepot & Cuddlepie, her most famous creations. 2016 to 2018 marks the centenary of May Gibbs’ Gumnut Babies and Snugglepot & Cuddlepie. Numerous celebrations are planned, including a new May Gibbs website and Facebook page, a variety of exhibitions and events and the national tour of CDP Productions’ exquisite new stage adaptation of Snugglepot & Cuddlepie, touring 40 cities and towns throughout Australia in the second half of 2016. The Gumnut Babies recently inspired a runway collection from leading fashion designers Romance Was Born, which featured as the climax of Melbourne Fashion Week at the National Gallery of Victoria. Centenary merchandise includes collectible coins and stamps, commemorative birth certificates, limited edition books and a range of premium bedding. Royalties from ticket and merchandise sales supports the Northcott and Cerebral Palsy Alliance, two leading charities assisting Australian children with disabilities and their families. Wild About Blinky Bill In September 2015, Australia’s favourite larrikin Blinky Bill burst back into cinemas in the new CGI feature, Blinky Bill The Movie, produced by Flying Bark Studios. The school holiday hit, starring the voice talents of Ryan Kwanten, Robin McLeavy, David Wenham, Toni Collette and Barry Humphries, generated $3.5M at the box office. Now Blinky’s journey continues in The Wild Adventures of Blinky Bill, a hilarious 52 episode

www.buggreport.com.au

Toy, Hobby & Licensing Fair - Edition 19

Merchantwise animated TV series produced by Flying Bark and expected to launch on Channel 7 in 2017. Licensing and merchandising includes a major partnership with Currumbin Wildlife Sanctuary on the Gold Coast, Sunbeam sultanas, plush toys (HeadStart), carnival plush and showbags (Hunter Leisure), publishing (Harper Collins, The Five Mile Press), DVDs (Universal), live events (Entertainment Store) and commemorative birth certificates. Shopkins on Fire! It has been an incredible 15 months since Moose Enterprises launched Shopkins, the fastest growing girls’ toy and licensing program in the world. Over 200 million Shopkins have sold globally. In the US, the Shopkins 12 pack was the bestselling toy in 2015 across all toys. In Australia, Shopkins was the no. 1 bestselling girl’s toy brand in 2015. Shopkins also dominates the web and social media, with more than 70 million views of Shopkins webisodes and millions of images and videos uploaded by fans. The Shopville App is no. 1 in over 11 countries. Season 4 of Shopkins toys has launched, introducing Petkins and four other ultra-cute teams to the Shopkins range. There will be a fifth season releasing in May and a new theme in August. In licensing and merchandising, Shopkins now features over 130 partners globally, including 26 licensees across more than 30 product categories in Australia and New Zealand. Many categories have launched, with more rolling out through 2016, backed by strong support from all leading retailers. The Shopkins magazine from Next Media has been a great success, with extensive circulation across 4,700 outlets. The Shopkins showbag (Bensons) and trading cards (Banter Toys) are both No. 1 in the market, while everyday lunchware (Zak) is expanding to 880 Woolworths stores

due to strong sales. Other leading partners include Caprice, Scholastic, CA Australia, MJM Australia, Winning Moves and Park Avenue Foods. A major McDonald’s Happy Meal promotion is scheduled for June 2016. Retail marketing activity in 2016 will include major promotions at retailers such as Target and Big W, as well as Shopkins live events from The Entertainment Store. Thunderbirds Are Go... On ABC3 The Tracy brothers are back saving the world, with help from their amazing Thunderbird vehicles. In April 2015, ITV Studios and Pukeko Pictures, in association with WETA Workshop, successfully launched Thunderbirds Are Go, the highly anticipated new TV series for boys 5-11 years, based on the cult British TV series of the 1960s. The show features a ground-breaking mix of CGI animation set against live-action model sets which pay homage to the work of the original show’s producer, model builder and puppeteer, Gerry Anderson. The result is a cinematic experience quite unlike anything else on children’s TV. In Australia, Season 1’s 26 x 30 minute episodes have been screening three times per week, on Channel Nine’s GO! The show consistently rates No. 1 in its time slot, reaching average weekly audiences of over 250,000. Season 1 has now also commenced broadcasting on ABC3 from Feb 2016. Season 2 is in production and will broadcast on GO! later in the year. In June, Vivid and Headstart launched an extensive range of action figures, vehicles, playsets and role-play toys through all major Australian retailers. New lines will be added in 2016. The Australian licensing program now features 16 partners including DVDs (ABC Roadshow), Publishing (Hachette), Apparel (Hot Springs) and Live Events (Just Promotions). 2016 is set to be a big year for the Thunderbirds Are Go, backed by new TV content, Australia’s best free-to-air broadcasters, live events, new toys and other consumer products.

www.buggreport.com.au

Merchantwise Who You Gonna Call?

King Features

Ghostbusters is back, with a major movie reboot scheduled to hit cinemas worldwide from July 2016. It will be Sony Pictures’ biggest film event of the year and a major revival of the franchise. Ghostbusters took over the world in the eighties and became a cultural phenomenon. The franchise, which included a sequel and several animated series made over $500M at the box office, sold over 4 million units on DVD and Blu-ray and grossed $1 billion in merchandise retail sales. The distinctive ‘no ghosts’ logo has become one of the most recognized symbols in the world. The new movie is being produced by original Ghostbusters Director/Producer Ivan Reitman and directed by Paul Feig (known for comedic hits Bridesmaids, The Heat and Spy). The movie will be a reimagining of how the Ghostbusters team was formed and will star acclaimed comedians Kirsten Wiig, Melissa McCarthy, Leslie Jones and Kate McKinnon, as well as Avengers star Chris Hemsworth as their secretary Kevin. This fresh take on the original classic will feature great comedy, massive action sequences, new ghosts and a new villain, as well as plenty of cameos including Bill Murray, Dan Aykroyd and Sigourney Weaver. Ghostbusters already has over 90 licensing partners worldwide. Mattel, which produced the original Ghostbusters toys in the eighties, is the master toy partner and has confirmed distribution throughout Australian retail. Other global partners include Lego, Activision, Sony PlayStation, Bioworld, Funko, Mad Engine and Rubies. Local partners in Australia and NZ include Licensing Essentials, KidzWhiz, Winning Moves, Banter Toys, Ikon Collectibles, Bensons Trading, Designworks, Hot Springs, Kinnerton, Australia Post and The Entertainment Store.

Betty Boop back on TV

Toy, Hobby & Licensing Fair - Edition 19

Iconic animated character Betty Boop is making her return to television in a new animated series from the makers of the Peanuts TV series. The series is scheduled for release in 2018 and will be produced by Normaal Studios in partnership with Fleischer Studios and King Features. Aimed at tweens and teens, the 26 episode series recounts the adventures of Betty Boop and her journey to becoming a superstar. The Betty Boop licensing program in Australia includes women’s apparel, giftware, showbags and collectibles. Popeye at Peter Alexander Since his first comic strip appearance in 1929, Popeye the Sailorman has become a spinach-fuelled, pop culture icon and a symbol of strength and individuality. Popeye regularly features in a variety of global fashion apparel partnerships with brands such as Dolce & Gabbana, Benetton, Bloomingdales, Gap, Zara, H&M and Uniqlo. Most recently, Popeye partnered with Peter Alexander to produce a top selling sleepwear capsule collection in Oct 2015. The Phantom turns 80 Making his debut on 17 Feb 1936, The Phantom was the first comic featuring a masked superhero and is the most widely read comic strip in the world. The comic strip is distributed to more than 500 newspapers in approximately 40 countries and is translated into about 15 languages. The Phantom is a brand with a long history, dedicated deeply loyal fans and iconic images, a brand which has successfully transitioned to appeal to a

www.buggreport.com.au

Merchantwise contemporary audience. Local partnerships include stamps (Australia Post), pop vinyl (Ikon Collectibles), limited edition collectibles (Brad Exchange), commemorative coins (Perth Bullion) and apparel (Kid Collective). Video Gaming Microsoft’s Halo Smashes Records The launch of the hotly anticipated Halo 5: Guardians in October 2015 has smashed all records to become the biggest Halo launch of all time, with $400 million in sales and 9 million hours of multiplayer game time logged just in the first week of launch alone! Halo has grown from a video game to a $5+ Billion franchise that encompasses New York Times bestselling novels, multiple live-action digital series and consumer products. Brand extensions across apparel, collectables and toys have generated more than $1.5 billion. Merchantwise has recently been appointed by Microsoft to develop local brand licensing and promotional partnerships for Halo in Australia and NZ. Sonic the Hedgehog Turns 25 Celebrating 25 years in 2016, Sega’s Sonic the Hedgehog reigns as one of the best-selling video game characters of all time. New title, Mario & Sonic at the Rio 2016 Olympic Games, will release in June in time for Rio 2016 on 3DS and Wii U. New CGI animated TV series Sonic Boom is now broadcasting on Cartoon Network and Nine’s Go! Local licensing partnerships include toys (Tomy), apparel (Caprice Australia, Playcorp), giftware and Showbags (Licensing Essentials), novelty lamps (Wicked Replicas), posters and stationery (Impact Posters), publishing (Hardie Grant Egmont) and live events (The Entertainment Store).

Toy, Hobby & Licensing Fair - Edition 19

Music Legends AC/DC Rocks Australia The AC/DC Rock or Bust Tour in late 2015 was a major success. 60,000 people gathered in Sydney to kick off the 10 show Australian leg, attracting huge crowds throughout the country. Due to popular demand, the band will continue to tour in 2016 with 32 more shows added throughout the USA and Europe. Aussie rock legends AC/DC have never lost their place in our hearts. They are the second-best selling Australian band of all time (behind only The Wiggles!). With a new album and a second world tour planned in 2016, AC/DC remains a hot property for brand partnerships and merchandising. Local licensing includes an extensive range of apparel, home and giftware. The Beatles still No. 1 The Beatles’ videos and top hits have come together for the first time in a new release of 1. Restored and expanded, the release celebrates the sight and sound of The Beatles in 50 films and videos. The biggest band of all time continues to be a merchandise success story, with fans across the Australian retail spectrum, from Ben Sherman to Cotton On Kids and Big W. 2016 marks the 50th anniversary of classic album Revolver. Global Merchandising Merchantwise has been appointed as Australian and NZ sub-agent for Global Merchandising Services, one of the world’s leading music agencies. Global’s extensive roster includes some of the biggest names in heavy metal, rock ‘n’ roll and pop, including Iron

Merchantwise Maiden (touring Australia April - May), Motörhead, Mötley Crüe, Jimmy Page, Alice Cooper, Slayer, Judas Priest, Kylie Minogue and Sir Elton John. A variety of licensing initiatives are now in development. Corporate Icons GUINNESS®: Made of More The GUINNESS brand of stout beer, owned by beverage giant Diageo, is an Irish institution and one the world’s best-selling alcoholic beverages in more than 120 markets. GUINNESS enjoys strong awareness and affinity in Australia, with over 10 million pints sold per annum. It also resonates strongly among more than 10% of Australasians with Irish heritage. Official GUINNESS licensed products first hit shelves in Ireland in 1985 and expanded through the UK and North America in the 1990s. Other European markets soon followed, and today the brand has approximately 10,000 SKUs at retail. A variety of licensing and consumer products categories are now in development for Australia and New Zealand, focusing on lifestyle apparel, homewares, gifting and food lines. Energizer® No. 1 in power and light Energizer is the no. 1 global brand in batteries, sold in over 160 countries, representing excellence in power and light. Also owned by Energizer is Eveready, a much loved battery brand with over 100 years of heritage, representing value, trust and reliability. Over 6 billion Energizer & Eveready Batteries are sold globally, generating over $4 billion in retail sales. In Australasia, the Energizer brand enjoys market share exceeding 60%. Numerous top-selling power and light focused category extensions have been developed in North America and Europe, including light globes, automotive accessories, power tools, generators and cooling systems. Energizer and Eveready category extensions are now available for discussion in Australia and NZ.

Jack Daniel’s® fires up the barbeque Fans of Jack Daniel’s in Australia and New Zealand will soon be able to enjoy a new range of locally developed Jack Daniel’s Barbeque Sauces, due to hit shelves in time for Father’s Day. The range from Hot Shots will include individual bottles as well as packaged gift sets featuring BBQ utensils and other food gifting items. Australia is one of the top 3 markets in the world for Jack Daniel’s, behind the USA and UK, with annual sales exceeding $0.5 billion. An extensive range of adult apparel, fashion accessories, furniture, bar and drinkware is available from Licensing Essentials at all leading retailers. Jack Daniel’s is a top seller in licensed menswear at Target. Merchantwise Digital Goes Global Merchantwise is achieving strong growth from its Creative and Digital Marketing divisions. Leading accounts include Disneyland Paris, Sony Pictures, Jack Links, Mentos, BabyLove and Phillip Island Nature Parks. The Digital team, located in Melbourne, Paris and Tripoli, develops digital and social media campaigns and now dispatches over 10 million eDMs per month in a variety of languages to customers throughout the world. eDMs include the latest marketing techniques designed to drive brand campaign engagement, including geo-targeting and personalisation. Digital marketing has become one of the most powerful and cost effective forms of advertising, enabling a direct, personal relationship with customers and driving strong return on investment. For more information visit www.merchantwise.com

www.buggreport.com.au

Toy, Hobby & Licensing Fair - Edition 19

Entertainment One ENTERTAINMENT ONE CONTINUES TO BOLSTER ITS STRONG LINE UP OF BEST IN CLASS BRANDS

Entertainment One continues to bolster its strong line up of best in class brands, with its expansion of the children’s portfolio, as well as launching its new ANZ lifestyle division. eOne Licensing is now worth over one billion dollars (US$) globally, and is set to launch a number of brands across TV, theatrical and retail platforms. Global phenomenon Peppa Pig continues to drive the preschool ratings on Australian television, with its ongoing support and positioning as a favourite brand on ABC KIDS. The excitement will be driven furthermore with the announcement of Season seven in production, which includes a further 52 brand new episodes as well as an extended 15 minute special Around the World and two seasonal Halloween specials. The leading preschool brand continues to position itself again as number one for brand popularity in Australia, primarily amongst girls aged 2 – 6, according to BrandTrends Survey (Kidz Global), October 2015. New partners on board this year include Elastoplast with Peppa Pig woundcare, Pacfic Brands with underwear, Hot Springs with apparel Park Avenue Foods with ice-cream. Lifelike Touring will launch a brand new interactive ticketed event nationally towards the end of this year. Ben & Holly’s Little Kingdom continues to be a ratings leader on ABC KIDS, with Lifelike Touring launching a brand new ticketed show nationally: Ben & Holly Live! from March 2016. The brand will be

launching a number of new online & digital initiatives this year and two new home entertainment releases. Publishing sales are growing strong with new releases rolling out throughout 2016. PJ Masks is the brand new TV show, making its mark globally. The preschool action-adventure show is premiering on Disney Junior ANZ from April this year. The highly successful USA launch has generated highly-successful viewing figures and becoming an overnight sensation.

eOne is proud to announce that it has secured the worldwide licensing rights to the upcoming feature film David Brent: Life On The Road. Directed, written by and starring Ricky Gervais, the film sees a documentary crew catching up with Brent – star of hit series The Office and now working as a travelling salesman - as he chases his dream of rock stardom by self-financing a UK tour with his band, “Foregone Conclusion”.

PJ Masks is a brand encompassing adventure, excitement and friendship. The TV series follows three six-year-old best friends, who make every child’s dreams come true by transforming into problemsolving superheroes once they put their pyjamas on at night. The show leads fans into a fantasy world of heroism, highlighting friendship & teamwork. The show has already gained a strong fan base, with 1.5 million children watching the US premiere of the series. Just Play Products have been signed as global master toy partner. Winston Steinburger and Sir Dudley Ding Dong is another new kids TV show hitting our screens on ABC3 later in the year. This high fastpaced, high-energy animated comedy is targeted for kids 8 to 12 year years of age. The series follows the intergalactic exploits of three unlikely amigos; the braniac earthkid Winston, Dudley and Hampton, as they seek out adventure in the Globulus Galaxy; a busy stretch of alien-infused space, millions of moons from earth!

Photo by Rich Hardcastle www.richhardcastle.com

www.buggreport.com.au

Entertainment One As previously announced eOne handles international sales on the film and is also directly distributing the film in the UK, Australia, New Zealand, Canada, Spain and Benelux. Co-produced by eOne and BBC Films, David Brent: Life On The Road is due to be released in Australian cinemas on 25th August 2016. The licensor will be looking to sign partners across apparel and accessories, home and giftware, stationery, greetings and novelty toys whilst utilising the fully integrated marketing support for the film’s release. Since first airing in 2001 and introducing David Brent to the world, Gervais’ The Office went on to become one of the most successful British TV comedies of all time and the first British comedy ever to win a Golden Globe Award. The show was re-made in 9 countries and broadcast in 90 countries around the world. With over 3.9 million DVDs sold in the UK, The Office is both a critical and commercial success and in total has grossed an estimated £370 million worldwide. Gervais’ subsequent TV properties, movies, stand-up comedy and presenting gigs have garnered him a huge international following particularly on his social media channels where he has 10.8 million Twitter followers, 3.9 million Facebook fans and 781k followers on Instagram.

dedicated strong ranging at Hot Topic USA. The brand is based on stylish & skeletal adorable animals who have met an untimely end— mostly due to their own reckless behavior.

music catalogue in the Urban/Hip Hop music genre, with artists such as Dr. Dre. (Co-founder), Tupac Shakur and Snoop Dog all being signed with the label. The label sold nearly 50 million albums worldwide with revenue close to US$750 million. Between 1992 and 1998, the label produced 11 multi-platinum albums. So So Happy is a fashion brand that originated and was inspired by children’s experiences with bullying. This inspirational brand is targeted to teen girls and young women, with a robust cast of influential characters that reinforce kindness through acts of encouragement, compassion and community outreach.

Death Row Records is the most distinctive and well-known music catalogue in the Urban/Hip Hop music genre, with the label celebrating its 25th anniversary this year.

The So So Happy consumer is part of a generation that loves unique attention-grabbing products that allow them to express themselves. A resounding message of positivity is always at the centre of the products designs. With over one million fans strong on social media, SO SO Happy’s social networks are a place where fans interact directly with the brand.

The company’s catalogue is the most distinctive and well-known

Skelanimals is the original teen & young adult fashion brand, with

Toy, Hobby & Licensing Fair - Edition 19

A loyal and active audience of more than 350,000 fans has grown around Skelanimals through all major social platforms including Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and YouTube. Not only do fans like and share our branded content, you’ll find a myriad of fan art tagged on these networks as the characters are re-created through the eyes of the consumers who love them best.

www.buggreport.com.au

It’s Time for Teletubbies NEW EPISODES IN MORE THAN 15 YEARS PROPEL TELETUBBIES BACK INTO THE SPOTLIGHT

eletubbies is one of the most successful global children’s brands of all time. It has been seen by more than a billion children worldwide and the original episodes aired in more than 120 territories, in 45 languages. So it’s no wonder that the first new episodes in more than 15 years have propelled the Teletubbies back in the spotlight. Originally created in 1997, Teletubbies captivated an entire generation of pre-schoolers, following the adventures of the main characters: Tinky Winky, Dipsy, Laa-Laa, and Po. It achieved critical acclaim winning multiple awards, including a BAFTA in 1998 for best pre-school programme. Its enduring resonance is highlighted by the brand’s YouTube channel which averages more than 91 million views per month. It was against this backdrop that DHX Media decided to update Teletubbies, bringing a refreshed, contemporary look to the brand in 60 new episodes for CBeebies in the UK and broadcasters globally including ABC Kids. Launched in the UK in November 2015, the new series features the same well-loved characters and styling as the original but has been visually enhanced, bringing a refreshed and contemporary look and feel to one of the world’s best-loved pre-school properties. The new series also features a number of brand new elements including Touch Screen tummy TVs and a hi-tech Tubby Phone, which bring the Teletubbies and their home up to date for today’s little viewers. This gentle approach to modernise the brand has paid off for DHX,

with Teletubbies achieving a 66% share of the HWCH 0-3 audience (housewives with children 0-3 years) in its first week in the UK. It was also the top ranking series of all pre-school programming in its first month in the UK (Mediaocean/BARB November 2015). The first Teletubbies toys hit the shelves in the UK in January and were a massive hit. Publishing is set to launch in July, followed by a full raft of products across all categories from over 30 market-leading licensees. The fact that Teletubbies has attracted so much interest from consumer and trade is a true testament to the enduring popularity and love for the brand. The hotly anticipated new series launched in Australia on ABC Kids on 4 January at 7:15am with strong ratings and a great response from parents. Licensing activity in Australia continues to ramp up with Haven Licensing appointed to build the consumer products program and bring the beloved cast to life. Big Balloon will be rolling out toys from May 2016 to all major retailers across nine key sku’s including Plush, Collectable Figures and a Music Day Playset. In addition, Softlines will roll-out from the second half of 2016, and Hardie Grant will be launching with four key publishing titles from the third-quarter of the year. Haven will then look to expand into new categories, adding Live Events, Meet and Greets and FMCG into 2017.

Tom Punch, Managing Director, Haven Licensing said “The Teletubbies is an iconic brand and we’re excited to be building a compelling program across multiple product touchpoints with key licensing and retail partners. The new series is even more captivating than the original and we are confident the brand will be an absolute winner with pre-schoolers down under.”

Toy, Hobby & Licensing Fair - Edition 19

www.buggreport.com.au

Everywhere Kids Are

n 2015, Nickelodeon experienced an incredible year, putting kids first and delivering more content than ever before across multiple platforms. The network successfully expanded its Consumer Products, Events and Recreation portfolio, achieving new heights and putting it in good stead for the year ahead.

“Nickelodeon is everywhere kids are,” said Jihee Nam, General Manager, Nickelodeon Networks ANZ. “Today, Nickelodeon is one of the most powerful multi-platform brands for kids and families with a huge presence on TV and in digital; particularly with our newly launched Nick Play app, reaching over 3 million people a week so soon after launch. Our presence at retail has never been stronger with our strongest content pipeline to date including theme parks, hotels and stores across the globe.”

The secret to Nickelodeon’s success is its incredible content.

successful Kids Tennis Day at the Australian Open. Above all, Nickelodeon commenced 2016 ranked #1 kids network on subscription TV*.

“We’re far more than a TV channel. We are a pre-eminent kid’s brand with content across every platform -- super serving kids and early teens with huge momentum and energy,” said Claire O’Connor, Director Nickelodeon Viacom Consumer Products ANZ.

n 2015, Nickelodeon launched more animated and live action content than ever before, reaching more views than any other kids channel on subscription TV, close to 3.7 million viewers. With a target audience of 5 – 12 year olds, Nickelodeon offers kids a place where they can feel understood, appreciated and above all, be a little bit cheeky. New research from Nickelodeon revealed that Aussie kids see Nick as being “fun, funny, kid-friendly and always coming up with new stuff.”

BIGGEST BOYS FRANCHISE 2016 debuts @ BRAND NEW

21st Jan 2016 TV series 4 launches Feb 2016 on

Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles movie

#1 animated TV Series Kids 5 – 12 yrs on PROMOTIONS: #1 action toy 2015

releases 2nd June 2016

(*ozTAM, eTAM, NatSTV panel: Jan 2015 - Dec 2015 (06:00-19:59, Consolidated Data)

* On channel

(*NPD 31st Dec 2015)

2015 wrapped up with the launch of Nickelodeon Land at , the Nick Play app, which has since garnered over 120,000 installs and a

• • •

#1 program on Nickelodeon based on reach of total people Kelloggs cereal promotion launching nation-wide November New fashion collaborations confirmed in AUS, NZ and globally with

very day is an adventure on Nick Jr., bringing together Australia’s favourite preschool programmes led by PAW Patrol, Blaze and the Monster Machines and Dora and Friends. Targeted at kids aged 2 – 6 years old and their parents, these shows dominate the pre-school market.

Nick Jr. completed 2015 with 14 shows in the Top 20 for Kids 0 – 12 years old on subscription TV*. Overall, ranks # 1 for Kids 0 – 4 years old and grocery buyers plus kids 0 – 12 years old*. *ozTAM, eTAM, NatSTV panel: Jan 2015 - Dec 2015 (06:00-19:59, Consolidated Data).

016 is shaping up to be the biggest year across the Nickelodeon Viacom Consumer Products portfolio. Covering all demographics they certainly have something for everyone. or further info contact Rita Viola at Haven Tel: +61 (3) 9015 6601

Whenever there’s trouble, Blaze is the truck everyone turns to for help. • 1st pre-school show to cover science, technology, engineering & maths in every episode

• HOTTEST PRE-SCHOOL show on the planet

• Show attributes: monster trucks, pumped Up curriculum, fastpaced adventure & comedy

•

• Airs on at 8.30am every day and repeats in the afternoon • Ranked top 3 show in 2015 • Maintains 18.9% share of kids 0 – 4 years old, 5.0% higher than channel average* • Season 3 greenlit 2017 Partners • Fisher Price – master toy - March launch • Caprice – master soft line • Universal – DVD • Hunter Leisure – outdoor, wheeled toys and stationery

• BRAND NEW Season 3 on ’s #1 pre-school show kids 0 – 5 years old*

• On daily

Mon – Fri twice

• #1 pre-school app • #2 2015 character licence toy (behind Thomas the Tank Engine) I&P (Source: NPD AUS data period ending Dec 2015)

• #1 Showbag at Royal Melbourne Show • #1 selling pre-school kidswear brand in boys and now launched for girls • Universal’s best selling kids pre-school DVD • PROMOTIONS:

Coming out of their shells for the very first time, the Half-Shell Heroes are ready for non-stop ninja adventure! • Half Shell Heroes: Blast to the Past TV feature length special at from 21st January 2016 • DVD out June 2016 • Toys launched October 2015 representing 22% of overall Turtles toy sales 2015 • All new merchandise program kicking off 2016 across softlines, hardlines, homewares, stationery & showbags

• A ratings smash on • Delivers consistently 4% above average audience share • On daily at 9.30am and 5.30pm • Season 2 debuts Feb 2016 on • Dora reunites with Boots and Backpack in four new episodes March 2016 • All new Dora and Friends app featuring Boots and Backpack out now

AWE SOM EVE E . RYW .. HER E! For Australia and New Zealand Licensing opportunities please contact: Rita Viola at Haven Licensing E: rviola@havenlic.com.au P: +61&(3) 9015 6688 28 Toy, Hobby Licensing Fair - Edition 19

www.nick.com.au

www.nickjr.com.au

Haven Licensing THE BUGG REPORT RECENTLY CAUGHT UP WITH TOM PUNCH AND YVONNE KING FROM HAVEN LICENSING, TO GET THEIR THOUGHTS ON THEIR BRANDS AND THE EVOLUTION OF HAVEN

Tom - Can you give us a snapshot of how your business has changed and what the future holds for Haven? Our business is evolving as it has been for 22 years and that’s what keeps us excited and motivated to continually be at the cutting edge of brand commercialisation, retail execution and marketing. We’re expanding our focus into new areas and we see Haven’s future evolving into three distinct divisions of Entertainment, Sports and Fashion & Lifestyle Brands. We have dedicated people with responsibilities to grow these new areas and we’ll be announcing more from Toy Fair through to Licensing Show… stay tuned! A lot of the change in focus for 2016 and beyond is driven by our desire to take our brand expansion expertise into new fields and have a lot of fun disrupting new categories. Retailers globally are continually looking to expand their footprint and stay at the forefront of consumer trends, not just in the entertainment space but also in music, fashion, sports and lifestyle. We are building Haven to have an incredibly diverse offer for our retail partners and licensees. Entertainment of course, continues to be the backbone of our business and there’s LOTS of exciting activity

coming up across our portfolio and many of incredible brands which have made up Haven for so long such as Nickelodeon, Sesame Street, Hello Kitty, Cartoon Network, Mr Men & Little Miss and more. These will continue to be massive pillars in our business, with new and exciting announcements coming soon.

apparel and with international retailers like H&M, Women’s Secret, Hot Topic & Primark going out with product this year I think it will be a massive hit for whichever retailer has the vision to put their stake in the ground and take ownership of it locally.

Yvonne - Social media, online media and the fast paced world that we live in nowadays creates new challenges for business. How have you adapted to meet these new demands and what are you working on from a retail and promotional angle for your brands? Well I think challenges and opportunities are created in equal measure as a result of the multiple ways consumers get their information and ideas, in fact I’d like to think they’re more weighted to opportunity. For one, new brands have emerged from social media platforms – we are having a great time with our EMOJI program which launched late last year through Big W. EMOJI’s have become a language in their own right, they’re immediately recognisable and they can tell pretty much any story you like through the huge variety of icons available. Likewise Facebook’s very own emoticon started to get some serious traction on launch in the UK last year and we are looking forward to launching Pusheen this month. It’s a little bit Garfield meets EMOJI and is proving to be a huge hit with girls & women of all ages. It’s a great brand for social expression, gifting &

Tom - Can you share with us some of the new and existing brands that you are working on and what excites you about these. There’s a lot going on in the portfolio at the moment, some of which I’m at liberty to say... some of which I’m not! The diversity of what we’re working on has always been one of the most exciting things about running Haven. We have some incredible preschool shows coming down the pipe with the likes of Nickelodeon’s Paw Patrol dominating the scene at the moment and a wave of new announcements ready for Toy Fair. We’re strong in young adults and teens and are excited about the incredibly funny and totally irreverent We Bare Bears from Cartoon Network.

www.buggreport.com.au

The V8 Supercars has been a fabulous success story so far, with the licensing business growing by over 500% in the first 18 months of our management. A wave of new partners, new retailers and new sponsorship partners will be announced soon and it’s been really invigorating to work on a brand which is so embedded into Australian culture. You will see more in the Sports area from us soon.

In a totally different direction, we are developing exciting new opportunities in the fashion and lifestyle blogger space, working with manufacturing partners, different retailers and a totally different licensing mechanic which could transform the way we work with brands like this and the way they’re presented to market.

campaign. He was the first commercial partner EVER to be granted access to the actual set of Sesame Street in New York to photograph his catalogue and film vignettes with the muppets and he walked away with an incredible story to tell about the brand with complete authenticity. The campaign won two industry awards including the Creative Design and Execution Award at the Australian Catalogue Awards 2015 and we are hopeful there are a couple more to come this year. Also super exciting for us was the launch of the world first Hello Kitty Diner at Chatswood Chase’s interchange which attracted a huge following on social media before it even opened! Our Hello Kitty x Bondi Bather collaboration was a runway success with our launch at Mercedes Benz Fashion Week and we have just seen the launch of Leroy Nguyen’s beautiful high end fashion range.

There are always commercial sensitivities around announcing new partnerships, but hopefully when we do they’ll be well received by the market and we’ll be sure to keep the BUGG Report up to speed! Yvonne - From a brand collaboration angle, can you tell us a little about your major brand activations from 2015 and what we can look forward to seeing from Haven in 2016? One of our favourite collaborations from 2015 was Peter Alexander’s remarkable Sesame Street

Toy, Hobby & Licensing Fair - Edition 19

Cotton On’s Mr Men & Little Miss January campaign was another winner. They collaborated with the owners of the brand to introduce the all new Mr Superhero which became a best seller in their 80+ sku range. Their promotional overlay “Which One Might You Be?” told a terrific story and the photography, social media and instore marketing across the promotion was some of the best we’ve ever seen. We’ve many more collabs in the works for 2016 but as with all good surprises… they have to be… well, surprises! To contact Haven Licensing visit www.havenlicensing.com.au

www.buggreport.com.au

Cookie, Elmo and the Furry Friends are Coming Your Way. Right now, a frenzied, furry blue monster is packing his bags - gearing up to go down under. Cookie Monster heads off on an Australian adventure this autumn, visiting friends at ABC KIDS for an action-packed day: shooting local segments, chatting about Sesame Street and The Furchester Hotel and, of course, eating as many biscuits as possible!

said Gisela Abrams, Assistant Vice President, International Media Business, Asia-Pacific, Sesame Workshop (the organisation behind Sesame Street).

“We’re excited to bring viewers the timeless lessons of Sesame Street—like learning numbers from The Count, inner strength from Elmo, and kindness from Abby.”

As always, Sesame Street’s next season features a dazzling array of celebrities including Gwen Stefani, Pharrell, Nick Jonas, Fifth Harmony, Sara Bareilles, Ne-Yo, and Aloe Blacc. But now they’ll find their furry friends in unexpected places on the updated, reimagined, and visually vibrant new set: Elmo has moved into the 123 Sesame Street brownstone, and his bedroom is the building’s cornerstone; Cookie Monster now lives above Hooper’s Store where, as you can imagine, he always smells something baking; Abby finds inspiration in her new garden which is full of bright and dazzling flowers and plants; and Big Bird is at home in a brand new nest, cradled for the first time in the branches of a tree.

Meanwhile, there is a lot going on back home on the Street. The gold standard in educational programming has been helping children around the world grow smarter, stronger, and kinder for more than four decades. And, come April, ABC KIDS will showcase Sesame Street’s boldest changes yet, including additional themes tailored to pre-schoolers, a new show open and closing song, a re-vamped set, and the debut of a hilarious segment featuring Cookie Monster and his crime-fighting friends, “Smart Cookies.”

“Families will see fun and fresh changes to Sesame Street,”

Elmo and Cookie Monster have also been hanging about The Furchester Hotel on ABC KIDS this year, haphazardly running an “almost” world-class hotel together with a chaotic crowd of new monsters, the Furchester-Fuzz family, who bend over backwards, forwards and sideways (only occasionally tipping over) to meet the needs of every guest, always with their trademark determination. Even when the Furchesters fear they have exhausted all problem-solving possibilities, perseverance prevails, illustrating their family motto: A Furchester never gives up!

There is a lot happening off the air as well, like the new initiative, “Sesame Street’s Everyday Heroes Club,” which encourages kids and families to engage in acts of kindness big and small, and shows how practicing kindness not only makes other people feel good, it makes you feel good, too. The project includes

“In our busy, complicated world, a small act of kindness can make a surprisingly big difference,” said Abrams. “Everyday Heroes represents the essence of who we are as an organisation: we teach through our content and Muppets, while our wonderful partners and audience members help us spread the word. It’s a win-win for all.”

interactive online activities, laugh-outloud Muppet videos, local events, and a social media campaign where kids and families share their acts of kindness online to earn a membership card, club certificate, and special badges including “Manners,” “Respect,” “Giving,” and “Sharing.”

Cookie Monster also helped spread the word this year – in a television and social media ad campaign for the Australian Red Cross Blood Service. Our favourite blue monster teamed up with celebrity chefs to convince people to donate blood. Of course, Cookie was most excited about the delicious biscuits donors receive afterwards. Other off-air activities include a Sesame Street-themed High Tea held at Melbourne’s Langham Hotel in January, and Lifelike Touring’s newly produced Sesame Street live show set to launch in September 2016.

In licensing news, and thanks to Haven (Sesame Workshop’s long-time licensing rep for the territory), the organization has signed on with new licensees and is expanding its programs with others.

Street Sherrin footballs are currently available for purchase at Rebel sports stores and www.sherrin.com.au.

window displays. Fans will see co-branded PUMA footwear, apparel, and accessories collections featuring Elmo, Cookie Monster, and their friends. The first PUMA Sesame Street co-branded

Russell Corp is offering a range of official AFL Sherrin branded footballs featuring Sesame Street fan favourites Elmo, Cookie Monster, Oscar the Grouch, and Big Bird. The character footballs are all available in junior sizes as well as club-specific footballs for Hawthorn and Port Adelaide. Sesame

Best and Less store will be doing a “Monster Takeover” March 2016. Sesame Street will be taking over the store in multiple categories from pyjamas to toys to housewares. The products will be featured in the Monster Takeover catalogue, Best and Less social media pages, and in-store

collections will launch in Summer 2016 and will be available through a vast retail distribution network that will include PUMA stores, PUMA ecommerce sites, and Rebel Sports. The product ranges will span all age groups starting with toddlers. Crocs will launch a global line featuring everyone’s favourite furry red monster in autumn 2016.

Sesame Street already has a strong relationship with the Australian Football League (AFL) with Cookie Monster, Big Bird, and Elmo suiting up in 2014 with the Melbourne Football Club for a series of YouTube clips, events at games, and an exclusive merchandise program which rolled out to other clubs. Expanding on that partnership through Playcorp (AFL’s apparel licensee), Sesame Street is taking part in the AFL event this year. While Cookie is in Australia, video will be shot on the field with different star players.

“Active play has always been a part of Sesame Street’s DNA to help kids grow to make smarter decisions about their health and well-being,” said Abrams. “We are thrilled to work with these companies to engage children in fun new ways with their friends from Sesame Street.”

In April, Sesame Street was honoured for another licensing program, after partnering with Australia’s pyjama king, Peter Alexander, on an extensive range of sleepwear, outerwear and accessories for men, women, kids (and even pets!). The collaboration marked a first for Sesame Workshop, with Peter Alexander being the first commercial brand to visit and shoot a catalogue on the Sesame Street set in New York. The spread featured the Sesame Street gang having a play date with a human friend

dressed in Peter Alexander’s collection. The catalogue won the award for Best Creative Design & Execution at the 24th Australian Catalogue Awards, and the range sold out within weeks nationwide. The year ahead promises to be as “frenzied” as a furry blue monster packing his bags, but also a lot of fun as Sesame Street continues to tell its stories through engaging and unique content, products, and experiences.

For more information please contact Haven Licensing on 03 9015 6688

News on Retail, Toys & Licensing www.buggreport.com.au

BUGG

THE

Toy, Hobby & Licensing Fair - Edition 19

REPORT

AUSSIE KIDS LOVE DUGGEE HUGS! BBC WORLDWIDE'S TOP PERFORMING KIDS BRAND

· TOP #3 SHOW (ABC KIDS AND CBEEBIES)* · #1 ON AUSTRALIA’S PAID KIDS APP CHART** · 85% SELL-THROUGH OF TOYS AT LAUNCH · SECONDARY CATEGORIES LAUNCHING IN 2016 For more information and licensing enquiries please contact Brigid Roberts: T. +61 2 9744 4569 or E. brigid.roberts@bbc.com

www.buggreport.com.au

HEY DUGGEE™ and character logos™ & © Studio AKA Ltd 2014. Licensed by BBC Worldwide Ltd. BBC logo™ & © BBC 1996. * Source: OzTAM National STV Panel, Consolidated, Jan 15-17 Nov 15; 2AM-2AM, All People. ** January 2016

BBC Worldwide Australia & New Zealand DEDICATED TO BUILDING GLOBAL CHILDREN’S BRANDS NOW AND INTO THE FUTURE

BBC Worldwide’s commitment to building children’s brands that will cut-through for generations to come can be seen by the investment into international hits Hey Duggee, Sarah & Duck and Go Jetters. Director of Children’s Content at BBC Worldwide, Henrietta Hurford-Jones explains: “The essence of our brands is to encourage learning through play and inspire creativity and imagination. The best brands engage children in such a way that they want to interact with their on-screen friends in every way possible, bringing the brand to life and creating longevity. “Our brands will be diversified across multiple platforms including events, digital, partnerships and consumer products. In Australia we are working with free to air broadcasters such as the ABC to achieve the broadest possible reach for these shows.” Hey Duggee is a fresh pre-school brand that launched in Australia in late 2014. Created by BAFTA-winning animation company, Studio AKA, Hey Duggee is led by a big, loveable dog called Duggee. Encouraging fun, exercise and learning, kids take part in activities and earn badges for their accomplishments. With series one airing on CBeebies and the ABC in Australia and a second series already commissioned, Henrietta says: “Kids have really taken Duggee to their hearts. The debut of the plush toys range in Myer was a huge success with 85% sell-through and the paid kids’ app reached number one in January. We’re also excited because in April, Duggee will be making a live

Toy, Hobby & Licensing Fair - Edition 19

appearance at BBC Proms Australia at the kids’ concerts held in Melbourne.” The BAFTA-winning series, Sarah & Duck is shown in over 80 countries including CBeebies and the ABC in Australia. Henrietta says “The series’ success stems from Sarah & Duck’s simple but exciting adventures in the immediate locale of their neighborhood. It allows such wonderful surreal moments of discovery.” Launched in early 2013, Sarah & Duck really resonates with children because the stories are told from a child’s perspective. Sarah provides the natural curiosity and adventure through which our audiences view the world whilst Duck supplies the laughs. Our newest global brand, Go Jetters launched in Australia in January this year. The series follows the adventures of four plucky heroes as they travel the world with their mentor and friend Ubercorn, a funky disco-grooving unicorn. Henrietta says, “Go Jetters is a fresh and dynamic way to introduce our global CBeebies audiences to the geography of the world. This is exploration in a very different way - putting the disco into discovery! At 4-6 years kids are starting to think beyond the end of their street. My father travelled and brought me back a flamenco doll and I remember being obsessed with the idea of Spain. We’re trying to instigate that excitement into the world of the pre-schooler.” BBC Worldwide has partnered with world-class partner Mattel for global rights to develop pre-school toys. The range will debut in Autumn/Winter in the UK and roll-out to ANZ shortly after. Chedney Rodgers, Marketing Director at Mattel, says; “At Mattel we believe in the power of play, enabling kids to learn and develop through toys. Go Jetters is an exciting new property which teaches kids about geography and the wonders of the world. With entertaining characters, it’s a great way for kids to have fun exploring the world around them. We’re excited to be the Master Toy licensee, with launch planned for early 2017, my pick is Ubercorn - a must have item for any Go Jetters Fan!”

ERaW N tings K U er Winn

PREMIERED 80% ABOVE THE TIMESLOT AVERAGE ON CBEEBIES*

LAUNCHING ON ABC KIDS APRIL 2016

MATTEL ANNOUNCED AS OFFICIAL TOY PARTNER

STRONG INTEREST FOR SECONDARY CATEGORIES IN ANZ

PUTTING THE DISCO INTO DISCOVERY THE ONLY PRE-SCHOOL BRAND WITH GEOGRAPHY AT ITS CORE FOR MORE INFORMATION AND LICENSING ENQUIRIES PLEASE CONTACT BRIGID ROBERTS: T. +61 2 9744 4569 OR E. BRIGID.ROBERTS@BBC.COM www.buggreport.com.au *OzTAM National STV Panel, Consolidated, Nov 14-Jan16, 2AM-2AM,Total Ppl

NOW ON PLUSH AND PUPPETS AVAILABLE THROUGH

www.jasnor.com.au

For more information and licensing enquiries please contact Brigid Roberts: T. +61 2 9744 4569 or E. brigid.roberts@bbc.com

Toy, Hobby & Licensing Fair - Edition 19

BBC Worldwide Australia & New Zealand BUILDING BRILLIANT BRANDS

2015 was a busy year for BBC Worldwide Australia & New Zealand (ANZ), with an exciting year ahead for its portfolio of the very best of British brands. The first ever Doctor Who Festival Australia took place in Sydney last November, with over 5,500 fans of all ages packing The Hordern Pavilion to celebrate the heritage and magic of the show. Fans were given exclusive access to props, costumes and talent from both in-front-of and behind the camera, including Twelfth Doctor Peter Capaldi.

The Doctor Who Black Milk clothing line was a huge success with youth female customers. A line of quirky, high-end, stylish and story-driven Doctor Who apparel was launched to much excitement, with five pieces selling out within minutes and Black Milk labelling the line as their “most successful launch ever”. Australian fans were also able to get their hands on the LEGO® Doctor Who set and the Doctor Who LEGO® Dimensions game, which have proved to be a hit with Whovians, with strong sales continuing into 2016. Series 1 of the show, starring Christopher Eccleston, was recently

revealed to be BBC Worldwide’s most purchased drama series of the past 40 years, attracting 629 buyers from across the globe. The adventures continue with a Christmas Special in 2016; season 10 set for spring 2017; and Class, a brand new spin off series from acclaimed young adult author Patrick Ness, launching later this year. The world’s favourite detective, Sherlock, recently returned to screens with a 90-minute special, Sherlock: The Abominable Bride, which enjoyed global success. In Australia, the special grossed over Aus$750k from a limited theatrical release, reaching number three at the Australian Box Office. The cinema screenings supported the premiere on Stan, where it fast became one of the streaming service’s most watched shows. Fans in Australia were able to hear directly from the makers of the show at Sherlock: From Script to Screen at the Regent Theatre in Melbourne, where series co-creators and Executive Producers Steven Moffat and Mark Gatiss, and Series Producer Sue Vertue took fans on a journey behind the scenes of the awardwinning drama. Benedict Cumberbatch and Martin Freeman are set to return to screens as Sherlock Holmes and John Watson, with a fourth series filming this year. May 2016 sees the eagerly anticipated return of Top Gear, with new presenting line-up Chris Evans, iconic American actor Matt LeBlanc, Motorsport guru and Formula 1 commentator Eddie Jordan, world

record-breaking German racing driver Sabine Schmitz, renowned motoring journalist and YouTube petrolhead Chris Harris, and car reviewer and TV presenter Rory Reid.

The team will cover the entire automotive spectrum, bringing their own unique and individual love of cars that will resonate with every type of Top Gear viewer, from the family who enjoy the entertainment values of the show, to aspirational car lovers and fanatical petrolheads. The series, which will be seen first on BBC Knowledge in Australia and on Prime in New Zealand, will bring a host of brands and licensing opportunities, with a partnership already underway with Topline Global for a range of automotive accessories. The much-loved, iconic yellow bear Sooty has been enjoying a revival with a new generation of fans recently, with episodes of the modern series of The Sooty Show currently airing on GO in Australia and TVNZ in New Zealand, and Sooty puppets and plush toys from Golden Bear, distributed by Jasnor, launched in October. As such a widely recognised and treasured brand, Sooty has exciting possibilities.

www.buggreport.com.au

THE WIGGLES LEGEND LIVES ON! 2016 MARKS THE 25TH ANNIVERSARY FOR THE WIGGLES WHO HAVE BECOME THE WORLD’S MOST POPULAR CHILDREN’S ENTERTAINERS

rom their humble beginnings in 1991, from an idea by Anthony Field to create a group that played children’s music called The Wiggles, 2016 marks the 25th Anniversary for the group and needless to say, a lot has happened in those 25 years! The original group consisted of Anthony Field (Blue Wiggle), Murray Cook (Red Wiggle), Greg Page (Yellow Wiggle) and Jeff Fatt (Purple Wiggle), went on to become the most successful children’s entertainers of all time, all around the world. By 2012, The Wiggles were the Number 1 children’s act in the world with 7 million CDs, 23 million DVDs, 8 million books plus performing to millions of fans across the globe. Furthermore, they had achieved numerous Gold, Platinum, Double Platinum & Multi-Platinum awards for their CDs/DVDs as well as a record 12 ARIA awards, 5 APRA Awards and an International Achievement Award. But after decades on the road and an exhausting schedule, three Wiggles decided to give up their skivvies.

In order to maintain the ethos and core values of The Wiggles, Paul Field continued as the Managing Director to steer the commercial operations of the business and Anthony Field as the Creative Director and endlessly energetic Blue Wiggle. So, in 2013 a new generation of Wiggles were introduced to entertain future generations of Wiggles Fans. This new, very talented Wiggles line up includes Lachy Gillespie (Purple Wiggle), Simon Pryce (Red Wiggle) and the first ever Female Wiggle, Emma Watkins (Yellow Wiggle) . There is no doubt The Wiggles legacy is in safe hands. Emma, Lachy, Simon and Anthony are setting impressive records with everything they do; sell out tours right across Australia and new TV broadcast shows engaging new audiences, chart topping albums, number 1 selling DVD’s, a broader Wiggly fan base and the list goes on. The fans have spoken, The Wiggles are set to create an even brighter future with new growth frontiers for this evergreen, dual gender, number 1 license property.

The Future of The Wiggles is Bright! • The Wiggles legacy is in safe hands and the growth continues • Emma, Simon, Lachy and Anthony have brought new life, talent and energy to The Wiggles • Emma has become the most popular Wiggle ever attracting new and existing audiences • 81% of children 1-5 years old have been entertained by The Wiggles • 70% of young parents believe The Wiggles are their pre-schoolers favourite entertainers • The Wiggles tours (both The Wiggles and now Emma!) are performed to over 250,000 people each year • The Wiggles have the biggest TV broadcast ever with Wiggle Town!, Emma! and Lachy! (being introduced this year) • The Wiggles have proven themselves by being #1 selling Home Entertainment property for both 2014 and 2015! • The Wiggles consistently have the #1 spot in the children’s iTunes music chart • The Wiggles have a modern style guide to bring new energy into products and marketing • There are new opportunites for license growth with the inclusion of a female Wiggle

Toy, Hobby & Licensing Fair - Edition 19

www.buggreport.com.au

We Catch Up With The Wiggles THE BUGG REPORT CATCHES UP WITH THE WIGGLES TO DISCUSS THEIR 25TH ANNIVERSARY AND LEARN ABOUT ALL THAT IS HAPPENING IN THE WORLD OF WIGGLES

Thank you for taking the time to speak to The Bugg Report Emma (Watkins). To begin, what do you like most about being a Wiggle? Having the opportunity to be the first female Wiggle is such an exciting adventure after watching The Wiggles all through my childhood. The popularity of my character is indeed a wonderful thrill and a big responsibility. Children are coming to the show dressed in hair bows, bow ties, yellow ballet tutus and bows on their shoes; it is quite “bowtiful” to see! Tell us about your ‘Emma!’ TV Show?

songs, but the same warm, intimate, interactive, caring feel to the show. The new series features Emma travelling to new places in a “bowtiful” Emma plane, she meets new friends and invites the child viewer to come on the journey. There will be music to listen and sing along to, new dancing including tap, character and highland dancing and sign language guiding the child viewer along. The dancing on the ‘Emma!’ show demonstrates developmentally appropriate steps that are labelled with the correct terminology and are achievable for the children. This will give the child viewer a real sense of worth and accomplishment. Enjoy the ‘Emma!’ show - bows, bicycle bells and ballet!

The ‘Emma!’ production team, Anthony and Paul Field, Lachy Gillespie and myself, put our heads together and made our objectives for the TV Show. We decided we wanted to produce a show that is specifically designed for the pre-school viewer. We wanted the show to be inclusive and we hoped the child viewer would enjoy experiencing an intimate show including sign language, as well as music to sing along to, with songs in languages from other cultures such as French, Dutch and Italian. We have been overwhelmed with the positive response to our first Emma! series. So much so, that ‘Emma!’ - Series 2 is in production later this year.

Lachy (Gillespie), as we asked Emma, what do you like most about being a Wiggle?

And your new series, ‘Emma!’ - Series 2, looks fantastic, can you tell us more about it?

The show is a short form series of 26 episodes. Each episode is all about music, having fun and going on adventures with my friend Ponso the Pony. Of course the child viewer is encouraged to come along on that adventure. I’m hoping that Lachy and Ponso will become just as popular for children as Roy Rogers and Trigger were in times gone by.

The new ‘Emma!’ series consists of 26 short form episodes with a brand new set design, brand new

There are so many wonderful parts, but most of all, it is that children have accepted and fallen in love with the new generation of The Wiggles. The Wiggles have been an Australian icon for 25 years and to be able to tour all over Australia and all over the world performing for children is an absolute dream come true. For a performer, children and their families are the most wonderful audience. Tell us a about new ‘Lachy!’ TV Show?

Simon (Pryce), we are also interested to know what you like most about being a Wiggle? There are so many wonderful things about being one of The Wiggles, but by far the most rewarding part of the job for me is having the opportunity to meet children and families all over the world. To know that you are putting a smile on someone’s face and are having a positive influence in children’s and families lives is an incredible feeling.

Toy, Hobby & Licensing Fair - Edition 19

We hear you are working on a special project, can you tell us about it?

producing a brand new series of Emma content. We will continue to make new and interesting works.

‘Carnival of the Animals’ is an orchestral piece written in 1886 by the composer Camille Saint-Seans. It was written for children as a bit of fun and is very different to his other works. It is a musical suite of 14 movements and each movement represents a different animal and the sounds of the animal.

We developed a movie script and movie sound track with our mate Ben Elton. From his success with The Young Ones and The Queen musical “We Will Rock You”, he brought a great sense of fun and an appeal wider than our pre-school audience, which is what we need for a feature film release. We are taking our time with this special project to find the right partners to bring it to screens around the world. We have been working on a wonderful musical and poetry project with Jimmy Barnes called ‘Och Aye the Gnu’. He wrote some very entertaining poems for his grandchildren and came to us to see what we could do together. The music is wonderful and over the next year we will release with him, these wonderful songs and accompanying book. Simon is producing an album called ‘The Carnival’ of the Animals which will be with the backing of the Adelaide Symphony Orchestra and will be another unique and very special release.

For example, the movement for the elephant features a double bass emulating the sounds of the elephant and for the movement of the rooster, the piano creates the crowing of a roosters cock-a-doodle-do. There have been many different narrations written to go with each movement of music but I decided to write a new narration that would appeal more to an early childhood audience. The Wiggles have always been about introducing children to all forms of music in the hope of children finding a love and an appreciation for music that will stay with them for the rest of their lives. Anthony (Field), you have come so far, what will the future bring for The Wiggles? We have got so much more to do with The Wiggles. We have a new TV series for this year, and it’s called ‘Wiggle Town!’ The ABC has commissioned a ‘Lachy!’ series which we have produced, written and directed. After the great success of the ‘Emma!’ TV series, we are

We’ve introduced and entertained a new generation of children in Australia, New Zealand and North America but we want to reach so many more countries. So that’s a great challenge ahead of us, but we feel if we have the right partners, we know that children right around the world, will be engaged by The Wiggles music, characters and stories.

www.buggreport.com.au

FremantleMedia Kids & Family DANGER MOUSE AND TREE FU TOM DELIVER SUCCESS IN AUSTRALIA

remantleMedia Kids & Family (FMK) is one of the world’s most dynamic independent producers, licensors and distributors of engaging and groundbreaking content. The division is currently making great gains in Australia and New Zealand with two of its leading properties: Danger Mouse the brand new animated comedy adventure series featuring the amazing antics of the world’s greatest secret agent and the heroic, interactive boys series Tree Fu Tom, which charts the amazing magical adventures of a young boy who transforms into a tiny but mighty super hero. Danger Mouse Danger Mouse burst back onto UK screens in autumn 2015 in a fanfare of publicity, 34 years after its original debut. The series was an instant ratings success and has been met with critical acclaim. Danger Mouse made its debonair debut in Australia on ABC3 on Monday 29th February supported by a high profile PR and marketing campaign. In New Zealand the series catapulted onto screens on TV Four in January, marking the first time that TV Four has featured children’s programming in peak airtime. With best-in-class partners signed across the lead launch categories, FMK has already received a lot of interest from partners for secondary categories and will be actively seeking further proposals at Toy Fair. In the Toy category, distribution partners have been signed for both territories via Banter Toys & Collectibles (Australia) and Harvey Wholesale (New Zealand). For Publishing, Penguin Random House has secured the rights for Australia and New Zealand while in Home Entertainment, Roadshow have the DVD rights for both territories, with the first volume ‘Mission Improbable’ set to release in May. Kris Thompson from Banter Australia said: “We are really excited about presenting Jazwares’ innovative toy range to retailers at Toy Fair. Jazwares have done an incredible job in successfully translating the comedy and action from the show into stand out products. The toys were really well received at London Toy Fair so we are certain we’ll gain a similar reaction in Melbourne.”

Toy, Hobby & Licensing Fair - Edition 19

Liz Burnett, Director Consumer Products FremantleMedia Australia said: “With its unique blend of action, eye popping animation, crazy gadgets and off-the-wall humour Danger Mouse has enormous licensing potential and we look forward to securing more partners to this stand out new boys’ property.” Danger Mouse Classic, targeted at fans of the original series, is also available for adult licensing opportunities, with Australia Post set to release a stamp pack in April, and Empire Apparel signed for outerwear. Tree Fu Tom An interactive animated adventure series for 3-5 year olds, Tree Fu Tom has proved to be a huge ratings hit in Australia where the first two series have been enchanting viewers on ABC2 and Disney Jr. The eagerly awaited third series will be on Australian and New Zealand screens mid 2016. October 2015 saw the much-anticipated launch of the Tree Fu Tom toys from Jazwares. Exclusive to ABC Shops, the range enjoyed lead front of house and online promotion and was one of ABC Shops’ top three performing brands during their Christmas campaign. ABC Shops said of the launch: “Sales exceeded expectations, achieving one of the highest sell-through rates for a launch brand.” The toys are planned to roll out to further retail partners through Funtastic in mid 2016. Roadshow’s Tree Fu Tom DVD range has been flying off the shelves to become the fourth best children’s pre-school license experiencing the most growth for 2015. FMK will be actively seeking out new partners for Tree Fu Tom at Melbourne Toy Fair.

Â© FremantleMedia Limited MMXV

LICENSED TO THRILL WITH BEST IN CLASS PARTNERS

Join the Danger Network: contact Liz Burnett today! Liz Burnett Director, Consumer Products T: +61 2 9434 0722 E: liz.burnett@fremantlemedia.com.au

www.buggreport.com.au

Bandai Namco Entertainment BANDAI NAMCO ENTERTAINMENT PROPELS ITS TOYS AND COLLECTABLES PORTFOLIO IN 2016

andai Namco Entertainment propels its toys and collectables portfolio in 2016 with Disney Pixar’s Finding Dory, Saban’s Power Rangers, Zag’s Miraculous as well as Bandai’s own Tamagotchi Friends, Hatch’n Heroes, Sprukits, Tamashii Nations and more. Following on the success of Disney’s Big Hero 6 worldwide, Bandai continues its partnership with Disney on a global level with the master toy license for Finding Dory. With the toy release slated for May this year, BNE is ready to bring everyone’s favourite fish friends to life with its vast toy range spanning across plush, figures, collectables, playsets, interactive toys, bath toys, games and model kits. Specific highlights include My Friend Dory interactive soft figure – which features 50 different phrases as Dory responds to swimming and upside-down movements, and Swigglefish Figure Assortment that showcases unique “fun fish motion” allowing kids to bring Dory, Nemo, Marlin moveable figures and other new underwater friends to life! Power Rangers continues to grow as one of the world’s most popular brands, and it is about to get even bigger with a blockbuster movie release slated for March 2017 from Lionsgate who brought us the Hunger Games franchise. Power Rangers Dino Super Charge is supported by new episodes on 9GO! every Sunday starting from 28th February. The new episodes introduces new DX T-Rex Blaster, Zords and Megazords and for the first time, expanding the team to ten Rangers. The toys are out in March following a successful relaunch of the brand last September with more new items planned for 2nd half 2016. Key role-play items in the range will be the DX T-Rex Blaster, and the Ultra Battle gear - Dino Spike. Filled with action, comedy and adventure, Miraculous Ladybug is the only authentic, modern every-girl superhero. Her good character is girl and mom

Toy, Hobby & Licensing Fair - Edition 19

approved and the toy line will inspire every girl to save the day It’s a stunning CGI animation series, debuting on ABC3 this March weekdays. The toy line focuses on key themes of aspirational action play (Ladybug’s World), transformation (BE Miraculous) and friendship (Marinettte’s World). The line launches globally in 2nd half 2016. Following the success in Japan, Asia, US and Europe, the fun and collectible range of Hatch ‘n Heroes, featuring Disney Pixar’s Toy Story and Cars characters, have already hit retail shelves just this March. Hatch ‘n Heroes is a new ‘egg-citing’ range of collectible toys that switch from egg to hero in a few simple steps. A range of Disney favourites will be rolled out in waves later this year including Finding Dory, Good Dinosaur with other favourite Disney and Pixar characters on the horizon. Further product launches this year will include new Tamagotchi Friends devices, Sprukits model kit figures featuring Halo, Batman, Superman, TMNT and more. Sprukits are based on the patented Gunpla technology from Bandai Japan. It is designed and made in Japan to the highest quality, and you can simply snap and fit the pieces together to build your own fully articulated figure. No cutting, glue or paint required! BNE also continues to build the collectables market with a wide range of Dragonball, One Piece, Sailor Moon, Naruto products from Banpresto, Megahouse and Tamashii Nations. Beginning in 2016, BNE will also represent Comicave Studios in Australia and NZ, offering a range of high quality detailed Die Cast figures from Iron Man and Avengers movies, Batman vs Superman, as well as Transformers. And if that’s not enough temptation, BNE also represents the brand licensing business of classic video game titles such as Pac-Man - its last app game PACMAN256 has reached 20 million downloads, Galaga - will be celebrating 35 years in the business in 2016, Tekken - with a new generation title on the horizon and more.

Â©DISNEY/PIXAR

Brand Licensing Opportunities available

Jason Wang | 0401 087 135 | jwang@bandainamcoent.com.au

COME TO SEE US ON STAND K15 Bandai Namco Entertainment Australia

www.buggreport.com.au

Ph: (02) 8303 6868 EMAIL: toys@bandainamcoent.com.au

10 fun activit i & soun es ds

Talkin gS oft

T s oy

B ig

Red Bo Playset at

Toy, Hobby & Licensing Fair - Edition 19

Jasnor Australia

t’s Showtime at Jasnor, and we are thrilled to confirm an exciting new product line-up for 2016! Heading the charge are new ranges Hey Duggee, Twirlywoos and PAW Patrol combined with new additions to our ever-popular licensed properties, including In the Night Garden, Sooty, The Wiggles, Paddington Bear and Beatrix Potter. In keeping with the ever-growing demand for up-to-theminute personal stationery, accessories and DIY craft, Jasnor is also excited to introduce new stationery collections from Pusheen, Emoji and a delightful new arts & crafts range featuring The Very Hungry Caterpillar and friends from The World of Eric Carle. Visit Jasnor at the upcoming Melbourne Toy Hobby and Licensing Fair (stand C40), as we showcase our much-loved toy brands for 2016. Hey Duggee The recently launched Hey Duggee from the TV program aimed at 2-5 year olds - has proven to be a popular choice with children and parents alike. Jasnor is excited to bring to market this delightful range of supersoft plush characters, interactive toys and plastic play sets. Twirlywoos Jasnor’s new Twirlywoos range was inspired by the brand new TV program created by children’s TV legend Anne Wood (creator of Teletubbies & In the Night Garden). The range includes key characters from the TV show, which were

created to reflect the core brand values of laugh-out-loud, childcentric humour and slapstick comedy found in the program. TV programming has launched on ABC Kids and toys will launch in time for mid-year toy catalogue period. Aimed at children aged 2-5, this range is sure to provide lots of fun and giggles! PAW Patrol PAW Patrol is on a roll! A group of six rescue dogs, led by a tech-savvy boy named Ryder, has adventures in PAW Patrol. Check out your favourite PAW Patrol toys from Jasnor with never-ending adventures. Our range includes a fun selection of musthave electronic learning toys – take photos of your heroes using the PAW Patrol camera and discover funny scenes, play fun games with the famous PAW Patrol Blazon or crack the code using the PAW Patrol Laptop. Pusheen Thanks to the power of social media, Pusheen’s star is continuing to rise with a rapidly growing online fan base, which now includes more than 9 million followers on Facebook! The team at GUND have created a fantastic range of plush Pusheen toys, including a mini blind box range with 8 styles to collect in series 1 and for those who just can’t get enough of this chubby kitty, Jasnor is also excited to introduce a range of fun and quirky Pusheen stationery items & accessories. Emoji Driven by the advent of smart phones, social media and text messaging, the use of emoji icons has become an integral part of how we communicate in the digital

world. Jasnor’s fun and vibrant new Emoji Stationery range includes notebooks, pens, stickers and chunky clips – all of which feature your favourite emoji icons to communicate what words often cannot! Sooty The Sooty Show is a children’s slapstick show with the little bear glove puppet Sooty and his friends Sweep and Soo. For more than 60 years, Sooty, Sweep and Soo have become iconic characters that are instantly recognisable and inspire great affection across generations. In 2015 Jasnor were very excited to bring the toy range to market and due to popular demand and increasing support, Jasnor view this brand as long-term - and have committed to new introductions throughout 2016 and beyond. The World of Eric Carle Jasnor is proud to continue our partnership with famed illustrator and author Eric Carle, whose iconic Very Hungry Caterpillar has enjoyed enduring popularity. The new nursery toys feature the additional characters of Brown Bear, Elephant & Ladybug and include individual Comfort Blankets. A new Arts & Crafts collection, is sure to provide hours of DIY entertainment for budding crafters. Founded in 1988, Jasnor is one of Australasia’s leading manufacturers and distributors of quality and innovative licensed products, toys, plush and gifts with a reputation for providing a high level of service, experience and expertise.

www.buggreport.com.au

NBCUniversal THE BUGG REPORT CATCHES UP WITH JEFF DAGGETT VICE PRESIDENT OF CONSUMER PRODUCTS APAC AT NBCUNIVERSAL BRAND DEVELOPMENT

Thanks for speaking to The Bugg Report, Jeff. Can you give us an update on your background and how you got into the Licensing business? My background is as a retail startup person. I was sent to Japan by The Gap in 1994 to help launch their first retail operation in Asia and subsequently went to work for Levi’s and then Nike to start their retail operations in Japan as well. The way I got started in licensing was that I was pulled into it, actually. A former mentor from my Nike days invited me to apply for his Japan posting when he was promoted to a leadership role in the U.S. I knew very little about licensing when I started and was fortunate to be surrounded by a great team and experienced coaches. I am still constantly learning. Working with companies such as Vodafone and Nike must be a unique experience. What (if any) are the major points of difference when working in these industries when compared to Licensing and Films? Whereas with Vodafone or Nike one is expected to manage every detail of the business, the largest difference is that as a licensor, the goal is to find world-class partners and stay out of their way. As a licensor, we’re fortunate to work with a great agent in WP Brands and with world-class licensees who do a wonderful job managing all of those details to our collective benefit. What is your current role at NBCUniversal and what excites you the most about your job and working for the company? I currently serve as Vice President of Consumer Products for Asia Pacific within NBCUniversal Brand Development. What excites me the most about my job are the stories we tell, and the people I get to work with in order to tell those stories. Great franchises are made from great stories. I love going to work every day because I’m working with master storytellers - both the creators of our content at the studio, as well as the wonderful licensees who interpret it into amazing product. There is wisdom and magic at work in both cases, and both are critical for success.

Toy, Hobby & Licensing Fair - Edition 19

You have had a number of smash-hit movies of late including Jurassic World, Minions and Furious 7. Can you give us a general overview of these and the success you have seen here? Minions grossed $1.2B at the worldwide box office, making it the 2nd highest grossing animated film of all time. NBCUniversal Brand Development expanded its consumer products program to include best-in-class licensing partners like master toy licensee Thinkway Toys along with Hasbro and EA. The franchise’s global retail sales now top $3.5B. Jurassic World appealed to every generation proving that a film can create a shared worldwide experience. The film grossed more than $1.67B at the worldwide box office, becoming the 4th highest grossing film of all time. It was also the No. 3 most talked about film on Facebook in 2015. The global cross-category licensing program was anchored in toys, including industry leader Hasbro, the master toy partner for 20 years, along with The LEGO Group and Ludia. And, this year, fans in Australia will get a special treat - Jurassic World: The Exhibition will premiere exclusively at Melbourne Museum, 19 March – 9 October (for more information or tickets, visit www.jurassicworldtheexhibition.com). Furious 7 topped $1.51B at the global box office on its way to becoming the 6th highest grossing film ever. It was the No. 2 most talked about film on Facebook in 2015. Specific to Australia, four Universal Pictures films made the top 10 highest grossing films in Australia in 2015 Jurassic World, Minions, Furious 7 and Pitch Perfect 2. 2015 was a phenomenal year for Universal in Australia. The Secret Life of Pets is out in September this year; what can fans expect from this film? For their fifth fully-animated feature-film collaboration, Illumination Entertainment and Universal Pictures present The Secret Life of Pets, a comedy about the lives our pets lead after we leave for work or school each day.

The movie, from the humans behind the Despicable Me franchise, will be released on 8th September in Australia. Illumination Entertainment, founded by Chris Meledandri in 2007, is one of the entertainment industry’s leading producers of all-audience event films. With the success of 2010’s Despicable Me; 2011’s Hop; 2012’s Dr. Seuss’ The Lorax; 2013’s juggernaut Despicable Me 2 and the highest grossing animated film of 2015, Minions, Illumination’s films have made more than $3 billion. A film with such wonderful characters must lend itself to great Licensing and Consumer products programs; what is in the works from this perspective?

“

Jurassic World appealed to every generation proving that a film can create a shared worldwide experience.

NBCUniversal Brand Development has secured licensees across all categories in support of Illumination Entertainment and Universal Pictures’ The Secret Life of Pets. The consumer products program is anchored by global master toy partner Spin Master. Spin Master is developing a line that includes traditional plush and figurines along with interactive and motorized toys that bring the pets to life in unexpected ways. The entire product line spanning all categories including toys, games, apparel, accessories, publishing, home furnishings, stationery/social expression and more will be available at retailers around the world. The products will debut in Australia in August, just ahead of the September film release. Beyond the films mentioned above, can you provide any updates on what else in the works from Universal from 2017 and beyond? 2017 will see the release of the next chapter in the Fast & Furious saga along with Despicable Me 3 and Pitch Perfect 3. And in 2018, we’ll release the sequel to Jurassic World. Thanks for speaking with us Jeff and we hope to chat to you again soon. To learn more visit www.nbcuniversal.com

www.buggreport.com.au

Toy, Hobby & Licensing Fair - Edition 19

WP Brands Creative Studio WP BRANDS IS VERY PROUD TO ANNOUNCE THE BIRTH OF WP BRANDS CREATIVE STUDIO

P Brands has now added another aspect to its business structure to service our partners from all different angles by launching WP Brands Creative Studio. The studio provides various creative services for WP Brands as well as other creative assistance you may require. The Creative Studio soft launched in late 2015 and has had a great reception from those who have taken up the service. Working on both product and packaging, licensed and non-licensed designs. WP Brands Creative Studio is led by Mike Farrugia, who has been with the business for 4 years now. Mike

comes from a graphic design background, having originally studied Graphic Design and Business Managment at Swinburne University. The idea for the Creative Studio came from a gap in the industry amongst many partners, answering the design needs of designers who understand licensing and obeying the style guides, yet still being able to have creative freedom. While WP Brands is in the licensing industry, the Creative Studio does have the provisions and capability of non-licensed design making them a fully rounded design studio. WP Brands Creative Studio offers competitive prices and understands how style guides work and what

licensed design is about, reducing the risk of needing to resubmit at the concept stages of the appoval process. They also have a great understanding of production process of which are also considered at the early stages of design. Some of our current clients include Network Clothing, Hot Stuff Merchandise, Hunter Leisure, Beiersdorf Australia and Kinnerton, to name just a few. For more enquiries, please contact Mike Farrugia via email at mike@wpbrands.com.au by phone on +61 3 9274 2900 or visit www.wpbrandscreative.com.au

www.buggreport.com.au

HONG KONG INTERNATIONAL LICENSING SHOW 2016 THE 2016 HONG KONG INTERNATIONAL LICENSING SHOW ENDED ON A HIGH NOTE WITH A NEW RECORD OF OVER 20,000 VISITORS ATTENDING THE EVENT THIS PAST JANUARY

he 14th Hong Kong International Licensing Show (HKILS) this past January saw a record number of visitors attending the three-day event (11-13 January). Organised by the Hong Kong Trade Development Council (HKTDC), the Licensing Show gathered more than 20,800 industry professionals from over 100 countries and regions, up 5.6 per cent compared to the previous year. The fifth Asian Licensing Conference (11-12 January), held in parallel with the Licensing Show, ended on 12 January. More than 30 leading licensing experts from around the world spoke at the conference which attracted over 1,400 industry players to attend. During the Licensing Show, HKTDC Deputy Executive Director of Marketing, Raymond Yip, highlighted the abundant licensing opportunities in Asia. The expanding Asian markets, especially the Chinese mainland, combined with growing regional sales of licensed merchandise are bringing immense opportunities to the global licensing industry, including licensors, licensing agents, licensees from different sectors, marketing and advertising agents, brand promoters, legal advisors and designers. “Hong Kong possesses many distinct advantages, including its proximity to the Chinese mainland, its robust protection of intellectual property and a deep pool of licensing professionals,” said Mr Yip. “Not only can Hong Kong help international brands enter markets in the Chinese mainland and Asia, it is also the best gateway for mainland enterprises to promote their brands to the world.

“

The Hong Kong International Licensing Show Entrance

The HKILS Business Matching Service

The Hong Kong International Licensing Show is the ideal platform for companies from Hong Kong, the Chinese mainland and the world to come together and explore opportunities in licensing.

Toy, Hobby & Licensing Fair - Edition 19

www.buggreport.com.au

Hong Kong: a two-way licensing platform The implementation of China’s “Two-child policy” is creating opportunities for children’s products on the mainland. Licensing professionals worldwide are seeking to take advantage of this to enter the mainland market. Exhibiting at the show for the first time, Paul Field, Managing Director of Australian children’s entertainment brand The Wiggles, said the brand owns a large variety of audio-visual programmes, which are distributed in more than 100 countries. The company hopes to leverage the Hong Kong platform to enter the mainland, and attended the show to find mainland media and broadcast channels and explore mainland market opportunities for preschool edutainment and licensed products. China’s Ministry of Culture returned to the show, leading a larger delegation this year. Together with the regional participation of Guangdong, Zhejiang and Sichuan, it formed the largest Chinese Mainland Pavilion in the Licensing Show’s history with 90 mainland exhibitors taking part. They promoted mainland art, cultural, animation and other original brands to international markets through licensing. Speaking at the Asian Licensing Conference (below), Yang Xiaobo, Sales Management Department Director of the Palace Museum in Beijing, said the museum owns more than 8,700 types of creative and cultural products, with brand names “Forbidden City” and “Imperial Palace” being close to securing international trademark registration. Ms Yang said their participation in the Licensing Show would help to achieve the goal of establishing an overseas sales network and forging co-operation with global brands. Asia’s growing middle class is more willing than ever to spend on well-known brands and high quality services that reflect their individual tastes, thereby boosting demand for licensed merchandise. Among international licensed properties, lifestyle and fashion products have achieved the highest sales, reaching US$57.3 billion in 2014. The Licensing Show’s Lifestyle & Fashion category was set up to showcase both classic and trendy brands, including those of Hearst Magazines, publisher of Cosmopolitan, Harper’s Bazaar and Marie Claire magazines. Adam Cooper, Hearst’s Publisher and International Licensing Director, said the group, which will soon open brand name cafés in the United Arab Emirates, will achieve even bigger success with its lifestyle licensing business in Asia through the Hong Kong platform. Hearst Magazines participated in the Licensing Show for the first time this year, alongside its agent IMG, which is the world’s largest international licensing agency. During the show, Hearst Magazines held talks with buyers from Hong Kong, the mainland and Indonesia on potential deals for licensed fashion, beauty and food products.

Toy, Hobby & Licensing Fair - Edition 19

MMLM_MAG_CMYK.pdf

28/12/2015

09:35

TH BM

- HJ G

Fron

BU E

M a tt w it hco e l In te rv ie py.p P e te df r 1B ro4/ w e01g/2g016 er

t Co ver

H a sb w it h ro In te rv ie Mel w A le x and er

17:3

HKT

Y CM

CMY

CY CMY

Bran d Ne the W orld w, On Tr by Fa end shio and T n! akin g

The HarajBugg Rep uku and ort interv the m ie ost b ws Hun eauti ter P ful d roduc oll in ts the w on all th ings orld !

Enqu

Hon

ire R

g Ko

ng I

nte

rna

egar

ding

t io n

Distr

al L

ibutio

n Opp

ic e n

ortu

nities

s in g

In Yo

Sho

ur Te

rritor

E d it

io n

www.buggreport.com.au

DC w it h In te rv ie w Ang e la Ho

SEE OUR FULL AFL RANGE AT STAND F36

JANUARY 2016

Building & Extending Great Brands For over 16 years, Merchantwise has been building innovative licensing and promotional partnerships featuring some of the worldâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s best loved brands and properties. Call us to discuss how licensing can help to unleash the full potential of your business.

For more information, contact us on: P (+613) 9520 1000 E info@merchantwise.com W merchantwise.com