The Bugg Report Magazine - Edition 9

+ Brand Licensing Show Coverage + Disney Feature Interview + Wide Eyes and Retail Spy Return

buggtoysandlicensing.com edition 9

Embark on an exciting new adventure with the Skylanders and the SWAP Force. For generations, the SWAP Force protected the volcano that replenishes Skylands’ magic. That is until an epic battle caught them in an eruption that blasted them apart, sent them to Earth and gave them the ability to swap powers. Only you can mix and match their tops and bottoms, put them on the new Portal of Power™ and save Skylands.

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SWAPPABLE. ™ UNSTOPPABLE. ©2013 Activision Publishing, Inc. SKYLANDERS SWAP FORCE, SKYLANDERS GIANTS, SKYLANDERS SPYRO'S ADVENTURE, SWAPPABLE. UNSTOPPABLE., PORTAL OF POWER, and ACTIVISION are trademarks of Activision Publishing, Inc.

SWAP TOPS. SWAP BOTTOMS.

WASH BUCKLER

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BLAST ZONE

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SKYLANDERS SWAP FORCE â„¢

WASH ZONE

From the Editor Trying to find something positive to take out of the 21 hour flight home from London can be difficult sometimes, however it does give you an opportunity to think a little bit more clearly about what you have seen at the show and also about things in a broader sense as well.

If I had to sum up the show in one word, I think I would have to choose ‘buzzing’.

The first day of the show within the first couple of hours, and with the character parade in full swing, it was actually hard to move at times (which meant that the new upstairs area was the number 1 place to escape). The show featured a great range of exhibitors this year with no particular stand dominating another, you would have to say that it is a very well balanced setup. The presentation cinema was also packed out hour upon hour with the back-to-back presentations on all the latest and greatest plans and future releases from all the major studios and licensing companies.

Looking at the bigger picture, it seems that we are seeing a trend towards movies and 365 days a year media content becoming the ‘go to’ platforms for building consumer products programs. Yes, apps are also huge, but the number of companies planning new media content on so many different levels is astonishing. You have Disney who have acquired Marvel and Star Wars, Dreamworks who have acquired Classic Media, the new Russian sensation Masha and the Bear, Mind Candy with the new Moshi Monsters movie and Nickelodeon with the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles movie, just to name a few. It looks like having 365 days per year media content is the new black!

In terms of the show floor itself, it’s a great set up. You have the standard downstairs area, a brand-new upstairs area which features a range of art licensing companies, extra floor space and a bar, as well as the designated presentation cinema and a wide range of cafes. It was also very refreshing to see a huge number of mascots running around the show floor, even more so than in Vegas! To see photos of all the characters and also photos of the show floor, please turn to our 2013

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Brand Licensing Show Photo Tour in the feature article section later in Edition 9.

On another note, I was handed a survey form on the Cathay Pacific flight on the way home. There was plenty for me to whinge about, however the thought of filling out the 10 page form 20 hours into the flight was not really at the top of my priority list! It was interesting though because it got me thinking that if everybody had the same thought processes as me, how could the airline ever improve when nobody is telling them what they are doing wrong? Needless to say that my own logic put me in a worse mood because I realised that I really didn’t have an option other than to fill out the form, to vent my frustration at the terrible plane food! If I ever fly with Cathay Pacific again, I would like to give myself the best chance of getting better food next time, and they needed to know this!

This got me thinking about surveys in general, because we see these sorts of surveys all the time. I get them from Qantas, Bupa, Telstra and hotels just to name a few, and they are all requesting my feedback. Nobody is perfect and there

is usually a lot to complain about, however I think it’s amazing the number of people who do complain to each other but not to the people who can actually make a difference, the company itself! In fairness to the companies in question, it would be very difficult to know what your are doing wrong when nobody is telling you about it! I think that despite how tedious it is, if everybody submitted constructive criticism, hopefully over time things may begin to improve (wink wink to the hotel in London including wifi as part of the package instead of an extra $15 per day)...

Until next time, have a great time filling out your survey forms over Christmas and the New Year and see you in Hong Kong!

Bugg Toys & Licensing has been compiled as a guide to Toys and Licensing. The views and opinions provided are based upon the views and opinions of its writers.

In no way is Bugg Toys & Licensing a factual guide to Toys and Licensing and does not take responsibility for how the information provided is used by its consumers.

Bugg Toys & Licensing PO BOX 491 Berwick, VIC 3806 Australia P: +61 3 9769 3963 E: info@buggtoysandlicensing.com

Contents

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From the Editor

04

Licensor Update

30

Wide Eyes News from the Tube

34

Brand Licensing Show Commentary

36

Brand Licensing Show Photo Tour

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Feature Interview Disney Infinity

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Licensor update ×

BBC

Doctor Who Pop-Up Shop Pops-Up Again A Doctor Who Pop-up shop launched in Brisbane recently, following on from the success of the Sydney store earlier in the year.

Brisbane fans turned up in droves on opening day, all keen to grab their very own piece of Doctor Who. Queues went around the block, with loads of fans dressing up in costume despite soaring temperatures. One dedicated fan even fashioned his own Cyberman suit!

An estimated 500 people went through the store on opening day, with first day sales up by 41% and the average basket up by 63% compared with takings on the first day of opening at the Sydney store.

New licensee Iconic Studio Creations signed to make replica props Are you looking to redecorate your home?

Fancy your very own TARDIS or Dalek in your lounge room?

BBC Worldwide Australia & New Zealand have signed Iconic Studio Creations as an official Australian manufacturer of replica props from Doctor Who. They have already built the TARDIS for the ABC exhibition and have signed on to make replica TARDIS, K9, Daleks and other props for fans to have at home.

These replicas will be available soon through the Doctor Who e-commerce site doctorwhostore.com.au.

NZ Mint After selling out of their silver commemorative coin, New Zealand Mint has two new offerings for Doctor Who fans.

A gold one-ounce coin featuring an engraved picture of the iconic TARDIS and the 50th Anniversary logo has been released as well as a collectors set of fine silver coins that carry a coloured image of all 11 Doctors to have played the role since the series creation in 1963.

The Gold Coin has a nominal value of $200 and comes packaged in a classic wooden box. Only 250 have been minted and each one is expected to retail for $2800.

The stories recovered are The Enemy of the World (1967) and The Web of Fear (1968), both starring Patrick Troughton as the second Doctor.

The Enemy of the World (1967) and The Web of Fear (1968) were released on iTunes on the 11th October and were positioned in the number #1 and #2 spots the day after their launch and remained in the top ten for three days.

The fine silver coin sets are legal tender for $1 in the South Pacific Island nation of Niue and the set comes packed in a 3D replica of the Doctor’s fob watch. Only 3,000 sets will be issued for sale worldwide, with a further 1,000 coins offered for individual sale of each of the 11 Doctor coins.

Both stories will also be available on DVD in Australia via Roadshow. The Enemy of the World will be available from doctorwhostore.com.au and other leading DVD retailers from 27 November and The Web of Fear will be released early 2014.

Fans will be able to pre-order The Enemy of the World DVD on doctorwhostore.com.au.

Australia Post stamp sets released

Global Simulcast of Doctor Who 50th Anniversary Episode

Australia Post has released a stamp pack featuring all of the Doctors and a selection of monsters. Great for stamp collectors and Doctor Who fans alike. Available at Australia Post retail outlets.

ABC1 is set to join more than 75 countries around the globe to simultaneously broadcast the Doctor Who 50th Anniversary special on Sunday November 24 AEDT (exact time TBC) and repeated at 7.30pm AEDT.

Missing Episodes

In a first for the world’s longest running and most successful sci-fi series, the featurelength special titled The Day of the Doctor, will be broadcast simultaneously to millions of viewers worldwide in a global television event.

BBC Worldwide was delighted to announce recently that nine recordings from the 1960s featuring missing episodes of Doctor Who, the world’s longest running sci-fi drama, have been recovered in Nigeria, Africa.

BBC Worldwide has re-mastered these episodes to restore them to the fantastic quality that audiences expect from Doctor Who.

From Cairns to Costa Rica, Perth to Poland, and Adelaide to Angola, Australian viewers will join over 75 countries across six continents.

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Cinema Screenings Fans will be able to don their 3D glasses and take their enjoyment into another dimension as Doctor Who celebrates its 50th anniversary with special 3D screenings of The Day of the Doctor at 98 cinemas across Australia.

The hotly anticipated feature-length episode of the world’s longest-running and most successful sci-fi series will be screened at Events, Hoyts, Dendy, Village and Independent cinemas around the country on November 24th. In addition to Matt Smith and Jenna Coleman, the one-off 75 minute special stars former Time Lord David Tennant as well as Billie Piper and John Hurt. In this special event to celebrate the iconic British drama series, fans will be able to enjoy the episode and specially shot introductions for cinema audiences all around the world.

Cinema goers will be able to find their nearest screen by checking doctorwho.tv/watch-theday-of-the-doctor.

spine-chilling Silence and the awe-inspiring Daleks and Cyberman will add to the electric atmosphere.

Doctor Who Symphonic Spectacular

To reserve your seat visit Ticketek for the Brisbane show ticketek.com.au and the Melbourne Symphony Orchestra mso.com.au for the Melbourne shows.

• Melbourne shows: January 31 and February 1, 2014 with the Melbourne Symphony Orchestra • Brisbane show: February 8, 2014 with the Queensland Symphony Orchestra A musical celebration of the iconic series, Doctor Who Symphonic Spectacular featuring Murray Gold’s captivating music from the Doctor Who series, is accompanied by a big screen featuring specially edited sequences of Matt Smith’s performance as the Eleventh Doctor. A host of monsters including the

Contact Elie Mansour on (02) 9744 4544 or at elie.mansour@bbc.com Rachael Hammond on (02) 9744 4585 or at rachael.hammond@bbc.com or Brigid Roberts on (02) 9744 4569 or at brigid.roberts@bbc.com for more information

ABC Exhibition A free Doctor Who Commemorative Exhibition is currently in place at the ABC atrium, Sydney. The exhibition features props from the show including the Tenth Doctor’s costume as played by David Tennant, Kylie Minogue’s costume from Voyage of the Damned, an Ood head, Cyberman, Tom Baker’s scarf, a Dalek and an iconic TARDIS (for fans to have their photo taken with).

The exhibition is open until January 2014. doctorwho.tv/whats-new/article/doctorwho-exhibition-comes-to-abc-sydney

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Weekdays Monday to Friday 9am–5pm

Selected Weekends 10am – 5pm Saturday/Sunday – November 2 & 3 Saturday/Sunday – November 23 & 24 50th Anniversary weekend Saturday/ Sunday/Monday – January 25, 26 & 27

DISNEY

Main: Ed Wright – Franchise Marketing Manager, Marvel. Covering Disney’s plans for their recently acquired brand Star Wars.

Inset: Tanya Fraser – Projects Manager, Blackmilk; Vivienne Mellish – Category Director Soft-lines, Disney Licensing Australia; Tony Bugg – Bugg Marketing Solutions at the recent Disney Summit in Melbourne.

Disney’s Mouse Means Business Episode 2 Summit The message from the recent Disney Summit was – Innovation, Creativity and Partnership.

Under the leadership of John Cracknell (Country Manager Walt Disney Company Australia and NZ) Disney has undergone significant change and alignment of their business units over recent years and is now fully focused to offer a fully integrated entertainment experience across multiple brands.

The appointment of Pete Bird to the role of GM of Licensing, Theatrical and Retail for Australia and NZ and Kylie Watson Wheeler as Chief Marketing officer will allow Disney to deliver greater levels of integration across the market. Pete will manage the Licensing and retail business components together whilst Kylie will focus on the company-wide marketing strategy.

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It has become evident from the recent Summit that the new approach is paying off for Disney allowing them to maximise the significant value of what is the world’s most significant portfolio of brands which now includes, Disney, Pixar, Marvel and Star Wars brands.

and Lucasfilm, Disney now accounts for 51% of The Licensing Letter’s estimated retail sales for the $100 million-plus properties and that Disney, Pixar, Marvel, and Lucasfilm accounted for one-third of the titles on the list but more than half the revenue generated.*

Their clear message is to build strong ongoing partnerships to include brand partners and retailers, which will allow Disney to effectively showcase their product in the most impactful and co-ordinated fashion across the market.

Pete Bird said that the best way for Disney to offer value to partners is to ensure that the Company is delivering the best content and the best experiences. Our content speaks for itself, so we take an integrated approach to make sure our partners are successful.

Disney Princess and Star Wars top the list at $1.52 billion and $1.47 billion, respectively.

The depth and breadth of opportunity is unprecedented from Disney Baby to Disney Junior, Princess, Marvel, Star Wars and movie blockbusters, they have all bases covered. The Licensing Newsletter last week estimated that with its acquisitions in recent years of Marvel

2014 is shaping up as a call-out year for The Walt Disney Company. *For full read of The Licensing Letter’s rankings, please visit: http://finance.yahoo.com/news/disneyprincess-star-wars-hello-175000968.html

Ed Wright – Franchise Marketing Manager. Marvel, Lucas Film and Live Action – ed.wright@disney.com Lian Huddle – Senior Franchise Marketing Manager. Pixar and New Animation – lian.huddle@disney.com

FremantleMedia Kids & Family Entertainment is one of the largest independent producers and distributors of content in the sector today and is renowned for producing high quality and innovative programming across a range of genres: pre-school, kids’ comedy, action adventure and tween and teen content.

Strange Hill High Daring, distinctive, and unlike anything currently on air, Strange Hill High fuses everyday classroom antics with fantastical and mysterious goings-on into a comedy adventure series with a twist. The first (13 x 30’) series debuted on ABC3 in September, and became an immediate ratings success and the number 1 kids’ show in its time slot. Licensees are already on board with Banter Toys signed as toy distribution partner and Hardie Grant Egmont signed as publishing partner.

With show production led by Josh Weinstein (The Simpsons, Futurama) the groundbreaking series uses innovative production techniques and digital effects. Set in an all-but-forgotten inner-city school with many secrets, the show follows a team of three students as they investigate all manner of bizarre and odd occurrences – with absurd and outrageous results.

Strange Hill High was an immediate hit on its launch on CBBC in the UK this spring, becoming the No. 1 show for kids aged 6–12. Having rapidly amassed an impressive 13 UK licensees across categories including publishing, annuals, timepieces, puzzles and games, toys, apparel, bedding, confectionery, stationery, greetings cards, underwear, nightwear, tableware and lighting, it looks set to have a similar impact in Australia.

Grojband

For more information please contact: Liz Burnett Director, Consumer Products FremantleMedia Kids & Family Entertainment (AUNZ) P: (02) 9434 0722 E: liz.burnett@fremantlemedia.com

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Grojband is a hilarious, offbeat animated musical comedy series that rocks with quirky characters, irreverent humour – and loads of music. Following four wannabe rock legends with attitude in their garage band’s quest for international stardom – using a teenage drama queen’s diary for lyrics – this cool, high-energy 52 x 11’ series was produced for, and is now airing on, Cartoon Network in the US. It has proved to be a particular smash hit with boys aged 6-11. FremantleMedia Kids & Family Entertainment will launch the show in Australia on ABC3 in December 2013 and is now signing key licensing categories, with a focus towards all things music.

advertising and digital advertising on Yahoo and Kidspot, POS, character appearances and a colouring competition.

September saw the exclusive mass market launch of apparel in Target, following an amazing toy sale for Peppa Pig where a number of toys sold out within a couple of days. All online apparel sold out within three days of launch. This launch was supported in-store by character appearances, POS, catalogue listing and a campaign across the Target online portfolio. Character appearances saw an 80% sales uplift and queues throughout the store.

June toy sales results and a number of other significant retail campaigns have cemented retailer confidence in the brand across the board.

A Year of Successes Peppa Pig is not only the fastest growing pre-school brand currently in the market but it is also the most popular brand amongst girls 0-6 years in Australia*. The animated TV series is consistently the top rating children’s show on Australian TV in all her timeslots, the #1 rated children’s show downloaded from iView, with a massive 2 million views per month, and over 285,000 DVD units were sold in the last year, making it the best selling children’s DVD franchise in Australia.

The licensing programme has grown rapidly and there are now 35 Australian licensees developing or distributing product with new and exciting ranges being developed for 2014.

Audience engagement has also reached new heights. Public Meet and Greets are generating excitement and attracting audience numbers on a par with high profile rock stars – with over 100,000 fans turning out to shopping centres and venues nationwide to see Peppa this year alone. Digital platforms are also expanding, and the Australia specific Facebook page now reaches a captive audience of 20,000 people.

Live events is a burgeoning category. The ticketed puppet theatrical production, Peppa Pig Live – Peppa’s Treasure Hunt sold 80,000 tickets within an hour of tickets first going on sale and additional dates have been

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added to the touring schedule to meet the overwhelming consumer demand. The live show presents additional opportunities for licensed merchandise and touring partner, Life Like Touring have partnered with the Love Police to create a line of exclusive tour t-shirts which will be on sale at all theatre venues.

The brand continues to receive critical accolades and this year Peppa Pig was once again awarded Best Pre-school Licensed Property at the Licensing Awards, making it the fourth win for Peppa in this category.

Hatchette Partworks also picked up Best Licensed Written, Listening or Learning Range with their best-selling Make & Bake with Peppa Pig collection.

A Retail Phenomenon 2013 has been a fantastic year for Peppa Pig at retail in Australia with products expanding from specialty stores and ABC to mass market retail with strong results.

ABC continues to see outstanding sales results across all the key categories and figures have been buoyed by the brand’s expansion into new categories including personal care, arts and crafts and stationery. September saw the biggest Peppa Pig retail campaign yet with a multi-platform campaign covering all the major touch points. This included the launch of a new online site, front page catalogue

2014 will also be the year for the grocer accounts, with our partners having some key wins in 2013 that really gives the brand something to build on. Peppa Pig celebration cakes are currently the number 1 selling for girls in Woolworths and a couple of key licensee launches are planned for the preChristmas period. Fonterra will be launching a range of CalciYum yoghurts, Melamine will be launching from McDonald Imports and cupcake and cookie mix will be ranged from Symingtons.

A New Charity Partner Peppa Pig has become a brand ambassador for Australian charity, Life’s Little Treasures Foundation. The charity raises funds to support families with babies born prematurely or sick.

Replicating the successful fundraising campaign in the UK for Tommy’s Charity, this year, Peppa will front an Australian Splashathon campaign for Life’s Little Treasures Foundation. The Splashathon will encourage families with babies and toddlers to take part in sponsored swimming events.

To launch Peppa Pig’s partnership with Life’s Little Treasures Foundation, Peppa attended Life’s Little Treasures Foundation’s annual signature event – Walk for Prems. * BrandTrends Aug 2013

For licensing opportunities, please contact Kerryn McCormack, Senior Account Manager P: (03) 9520 1010 E: kerryn@merchantwise.com W: merchantwise.com

Daniel Tiger’s Neighbourhood

May Gibbs’ Gumnut Babies

Boardwalk Empire

Daniel Tiger’s Neighbourhood has recently been recognized with a 2013 Kidscreen Award for ‘Best Animated Series’ and a 2013 Silver Honour Award in the Television category from the Parents’ Choice Foundation.

In celebration of the 95th year of the book’s release, Australia Post recently launched a Classic Collection of May Gibbs’ Gumnut Babies soft plush toys. The star of the range is a Snugglepot and Cuddlepie doubleboxed set, opening like the book that made these charming characters famous. They are exquisitely presented and accompanied by a Certificate of Authenticity. Other favourites also appear as single boxed characters, including Little Ragged Blossom, Wattle Baby, Flannel Flower Baby, Boronia Baby, Christmas Bell Baby and Little Obelia.

Lovingly designed and developed for Australia Post by Colorific, these items are highly a collectible piece of Australian history.

Television powerhouse HBO has confirmed period drama Boardwalk Empire has been renewed for a 5th season. An average of 7.5 million viewers tuned in to see the 4th season which launched early September.

In the US, Daniel Tiger’s Neighbourhood has been a smash hit with young viewers and their families since its launch on PBS KIDS in September 2012. It has consistently rated among the top 10 programs across all networks for kids ages 2–5 and mums 18-49 with children under age 3 (Nielsen Npower) and is also averaging over 30 million streams per month on the PBS website. 40 half hour (80 x 11’) episodes have been created so far, with another 25 (50 x 11’) now green lit for production.

An attractive range of toys from Jakks Pacific has launched exclusively at all US Toys R Us stores. The line includes plush, playsets and collectible figures.

In Australia, Daniel Tiger’s Neighbourhood has been broadcast on ABC 4 Kids since April 2013 and is already attracting over 170,000 daily viewers. The show also airs up to four times daily on TV-NZ. ABC Roadshow are on board to release the DVDs.

Strawberry Shortcake Funtastic have announced that they will be distributing The Bridge’s new Strawberry Shortcake scented figurines locally. Strawberry recently graced the cover of Redan’s Tween girl’s magazine, Sparkle World, increasing the brand’s presence in Coles, Woolworths and Kmart.

From Terence Winter (Emmy Award-winning writer of The Sopranos) and Martin Scorsese (Academy Award-winning director), the drama has collected two Golden Globes and an Emmy for supporting actor in a drama (Bobby Cannavale).

Boardwalk Empire joins the iconic HBO licensing portfolio now on offer from Australian agent, Merchantwise. Other properties include True Blood, Entourage, The Sopranos, Sex and the City, Flight of the Conchords, The Wire, Curb Your Enthusiasm and Eastbound and Down.

Anchorman 2: The Legend Continues The cast of Anchorman 2: The Legend Continues will grace our shores for the Australian premier at the Entertainment Quarter in Sydney on November 24. Original cast members Will Ferrell, Steve Carell, Paul Rudd, David Koechner and director Adam McKay will be making the trip. The film releases nationally on December 19.

Elvis Presley The 2014 Elvis Birthday Celebration will be held in Memphis from January 8–11.

Kicking off with a birthday cake cutting and proclamation of Elvis Presley Day by Memphis and Shelby County officials, the celebration will include a host of events, including trivia, parties and a symphony orchestra.

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Master toy licensee, TOMY have continued their investment in the brand, developing an innovative new StackTrack die-cast train system. The Chuggington StackTrack system turned heads back in May when it was awarded a Guinness World Records® title for Tallest Toy Train Track towering 17’ 4” tall.

The feat was achieved in New York’s Grand Central Station.

Chuggington

Sonic the Hedgehog

Children’s train brand, Chuggington made the leap into cinemas during October and November. The brand new Chuggington Chug Patrol: Ready to Rescue movie is screening twice daily on Saturday and Sunday at selected Village and event cinemas.

Sonic the Hedgehog is set to star in his first CG-animated television series. Aimed at children 6 to 11 years, Sonic Boom will air on Cartoon Network in 2014.

Series 4 of the television series is also launching this month on the ABC. Chuggington has been a strong performer for the ABC across all series and Badge Quest mini episodes and has been continually scheduled since its first launch in March 2009. Toys R Us supported the announcement of the new series with a website banner and sizzle.

Talking Friends Talking Friends has just wrapped up its QSR promotion. Five million units of premiums featuring loveable and irreverent characters, Talking Tom, Talking Ben, Talking Ginger and Talking Pierre were produced for the six week period.

New Australian partners include Life Like Touring for meet and greets and storytelling experiences and Kimm and Miller with ceramic and food gifting products. They join a strong ABC Store program and growing grocery melamine range.

Opportunities now exist to expand the licensing program, including commemorative and limited edition product. This product will be supported by an exclusive book and DVD release. Merchantwise is also looking for a charity partner to tie in with all the exciting promotional activity.

Merchantwise and brand owners, Magic light Pictures, are gearing up to celebrate the 15th anniversary of The Gruffalo and 10th anniversary of the Gruffalo’s child in 2014.

There will be plenty of activity, including the return of the ticketed live show (June– September), exclusive DVD, publishing and digital content releases, events, promotions and new character art.

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Adding to the brands product awards this year, UK Gruffalo licensee, Worlds Apart collected a 2013 Licensing Award for their Gruffalo Bedroom Furniture Set. They were nominated in the category for Best Licensed Home Decor, Tableware or Housewares Range.

The Gruffalo is a fast growing classic brand.

The book is a publishing sensation, selling over 12 million copies in 52 different

This announcement was shortly followed by a video game release. ‘Sonic Lost World’ is now available on Wii U™ and Nintendo 3DS™. The game sees two of video games biggest adversaries, Sonic and Dr. Eggman, joining forces for the first time to help defeat a new deadly threat.

For licensing opportunities, please contact Merchantwise P: (03) 9520 1000 E: info@merchantwise.com W: merchantwise.com

languages. The Oscar and BAFTA nominated film premiered on ABC in 2010 to amazing ratings and continues to be a number 1 smash hit every time it airs. The film adaptation of the authors companion book The Gruffalo’s Child premiered on ABC in Australia in Easter 2012 and is always the number 1 rating programme in the month it airs.

First launched in the UK in 2009, the licensing and merchandising programme is building globally. With over 30 licensees, 4 Direct to Retail deals and 300 products in the UK and agents, licensees and distributors in Germany, Scandinavia, North America, South Africa and the Far East.

Also from Magic Light, the adorable Room on the Broom telemovie premiered on Halloween, October 31. Screening twice for the day, in peak times and promoted widely

by ABC Television.

KING FEATURES SYNDICATE Betty Boop Following on from Betty Boop’s successful foray into Myer’s sleepwear department for Mother’s Day 2013, 3 new styles will launch for Valentine’s Day. Designed by Mitch Dowd, the range will hit shelves by the end of January 2014.

TM & © 2013 Archie Comic Publications, Inc.

Los Angeles street fashion label Joyrich teamed up with the iconic screen siren to create their Fall/Winter 2013 collection.

Fashion blogs and social media were in a flutter after spotting One Direction’s Zayn Malik wearing a Betty Boop x Joyrich denim jacket during their acceptance at the Teen Choice Awards this year.

Betty Boop’s fashion prowess is faultless.

Of the 400+ licensees producing product in over 120 countries, nearly 200 are fashion or apparel licensees. She is embraced by style-conscious and trend-setting designers, retailers and celebrities. A true evergreen brand, Betty is recognised by 90% of women aged 18-34.

Archie’s Girls: Betty and Veronica Joining King Features’ impressive portfolio of evergreen characters is Archie Comics brand Archie‘s Girls: Betty and Veronica. This hot new fashion brand is inspired by the classic Archie Comic characters first created in 1942.

Betty Cooper and Veronica Lodge do everything together: go to class, shop, hang out... and fight for the affections of Archie Andrews. The girls represent archetypes of teenage femininity: sweet and wholesome, blonde Betty is the hometown ‘gal next door’ in contrast to the sassy and spoiled, darkhaired Veronica.

Archie Comics is enjoying a recent resurgence.

An inspired advertising campaign surrounding the recent MAC Cosmetics range used Betty, Veronica and Archie look-alikes to model the make-up, both in store and on point-of-sale.

The range soon became one of MAC’s most successful cosmetics lines and was featured on top fashion sites Vanity Fair, In Style, USA Today, Teen Vogue and many more.

A new live-action Archie movie is in the pipeline from Warner Bros. While a release date is yet to be announced, confirmation of the talent involved is starting to come through.

Roberto Aguirre-Sacasa (glee, Stephen King’s Carrie) will write the screenplay, while Jason Moore (Pitch Perfect) will direct.

In other news, Archie Comics have produced four Archie Meets Glee crossover comics, where the Archie gang come face-to-face with the teenagers of the hit Fox TV series glee. Also penned by glee writer Roberto Aguirre-Sacasa, whose pedigree includes many other comic adaptations, the series has been wildly successful: Archie #641, part one of the crossover, sold out.

Popeye the Sailorman Our nautical friend Popeye extends his fashion credentials with a new collaboration with Swiss designer Philipp Plein. Plein has created several short-sleeve and long-sleeve t-shirts featuring Popeye, available through independent boutiques and Philipp Plein stores in 80 countries.

Flash Gordon Flash Gordon made his debut in the 1934 comic strip and became an overnight hit.

Films, radio and later, television series and various licensed merchandise appeared.

Flash Gordon has set the standard for space operas around the world. It’s a timeless story of how ordinary people with extraordinary courage can change the course of history and overthrow their oppressors. A message that is as relevant today as the day it was written.

A great range of The Phantom and Flash Gordon short-sleeve and long-sleeve t-shirts are available through online fan retailer, Kasual Friday.

Dolce & Gabbana again teamed up with Popeye for this year’s Spring/Summer apparel collection. Adult and children’s sized T-shirts, sweatshirts and tanks made up the collection, released worldwide through highend department stores and boutiques.

Since his first appearance in the comic strip, Thimble Theatre in 1929, Popeye the Sailorman has evolved into a pop culture icon. His cross-generational appeal has been utilised in advertising campaigns for Mini Cooper automobiles and Bank of America mobile banking services.

For licensing opportunities, please contact Kerryn McCormack, Senior Account Manager P: (03) 9520 1010 E: kerryn@merchantwise.com W: merchantwise.com

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Merchantwise Australians love football We rank 7th in the world for ticket applications to the 2014 World Cup. In the lead up to this holy grail of the football world, fans will be looking for official licensed products to help express their love of the ‘world game.’ Why not partner with the best clubs and federations that the sport has to offer?

Manchester United The world’s biggest sports brand, Manchester United are the current Premier League Champions. The club has over 300 million supporters worldwide, making them the world’s most popular and most valuable football club.

Locally, approximately 800,000 Australians rate the club as their favourite team of any sport. Moreover, the brand has in excess of an 80% awareness amongst Australians.

Manchester United has brought home the Premier League trophy on a total of 20 occasions and are the 3 time European champions.

FC Barcelona Futbol Club Barcelona is a football club based in the heart of the Catalan region of Spain.

Founded in 1899, the club has become a Catalan icon, with its motto, ‘Més que un club’ (More than a club), reflecting the close bond of the football club to its region of origin.

With over 60 major, domestic and international trophies won since inception, FC Barcelona is one of the most successful European clubs in football history.

In 2009, FC Barcelona became the first Spanish club to win the treble consisting of La Liga, Copa del Rey and the UEFA Champions League.

Juventus The Juventus Football Club, also known as Juvé is based in Turin, Italy. The most successful team in the history of Italian football, Juventus has won 51 official trophies; 40 in its country (also a record) and 11 in the European and the world competitions.

In 1985, Juventus became the first club in the history of the European football to have won all three major European trophies and also, the only team in the world to have won all international cups and championships.

The Brazilian Football Confederation

The Netherlands National Football Team

Football is a way of life in Brazil and the national men’s team has for decades been lauded throughout the world for its consummate mix of skill and style: A common quip about football is “The English invented it, the Brazilians perfected it.”

The Dutch hold the record for playing the most World Cup finals without ever winning the final. They finished second in the 1974, 1978 and 2010 World Cups, losing to West Germany, Argentina and Spain respectively.

Despite this, the team is admired by football fans throughout the world for its skill, professionalism and consistency.

Brazil is the only national team to have played in every World Cup, winning an amazing 5 World Cups on 4 continents.

Brazil will be the hosting nation of the 2014 World Cup.

The French Football Federation Based in Paris, the French Football Federation has a long and illustrious history, dating back to its formation in 1919. The French national men’s team pre-dates the forming of the federation, playing its first official match in 1904.

The FFF has won one World Cup title (winning when it hosed the tournament in 1998), 2 UEFA European Football Championships, an Olympic tournament and two Confederations Cups.

At the peak of their success in the 1970s, the team was famous for its mastery of Total Football. In August 2011, the team was ranked #1 in the World Rankings, thus becoming the second national team, after Spain, to top the rankings without previously winning a World Cup.

For licensing opportunities, please contact Bethan Jones, Account Manager P: (03) 9520 1000 E: bethan@merchantwise.com W: merchantwise.com

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NRL “The roles of the NRL 16 Club Mascots are to communicate the ideals and values of the National Rugby League and its clubs, in a manner that will inspire a new generation of spectators,” NRL General Manager Marketing and Commercial Mr Paul Kind said.

“There are terrific opportunities available for everything from bedding, to stationery, luggage and toys and with our primary demographic for our mascot ranges being 3-10 years old it is a really creative opportunity that exists with the program.

The Mascots help bring fans closer to their Clubs and play a vital role in helping our members and fans connect with the clubs, creating loyalty for member retention over the long term.

Licensees of the NRL Mascot Licensing Program will have access to:

“Exposure for our brand is one of the key elements when it comes to our club mascots with their presence creating a relationship with the games youngest fans.

“But it is important to note that the mascot brand also provides a visibility and recognition for all ages and assists with creating a lifelong connection to the club.

The 16 Rugby League mascots are considered to be representative icons for each of the clubs own brand and assist with the communication of the entire NRL brand and are integrated across all areas of business including consumer products, fan days, appearances, sponsorship activations and game collateral.

The NRL is one of Australia’s most successful sports licensing programs and is now calling for expressions of interest for the licensing of the games 16 Club Mascots.

Developed in consultation with the NRL’s 16 clubs, the new look mascots first made their appearances at home games at the start of the 2013 season.

The mascots were designed to embrace the old with the new and with the energy and passion on display for their teams at the games, the mascots immediately brought much excitement to fans all around the grounds.

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The Mascots are also proven to be essential tools in the work of the clubs promotions and marketing elements as well as enhancing match day experience, fan engagement activities and events.

• Flat art for all 16 club mascots including hero pose and action poses • Render hero pose artwork • Signature artwork of the mascot’s names • Biographies which bring the mascots to life, including their all-time favourite players, most memorable moment, favourite hangout and much more

Key categories available for NRL Mascot License include: • Sleepwear • Infants apparel • Dress up costumes • Manchester • Footwear • Games • Homewares / giftware / accessories • Stationery • Luggage / backpacks • Confectionary

“The NRL’s Licensing program has seen a growth of close to 10% from the same position last year and we are beginning to move into a really exciting new era,” said NRL General Manager Marketing and Commercial Mr Paul Kind.

• Activity toys

“Our fans are not only dedicated but are always on the lookout for something new.

Expressions of interest for further mascot license categories are welcomed and will be reviewed on a case by case basis.

• Beach & sand toys • Inflatables • Outdoor toys • Promotional opportunities

Case study A perfect case study of the impact and success of the NRL Mascot program is one of the games oldest and most famous mascots, Reggie the Rabbit. He is South Sydney’s unofficial 18th man – the heart and soul of a club built on a proud history. He has his own facebook page, twitter handle and support crew and fan club.

To celebrate the Rabbitohs 2013 entry into the NRL Telstra Premiership Finals series, a Daceyville catholic church – in the heart of Bunnies territory – gave the club a heavenly blessing on the Sunday.

During a celebration of St Michael’s Feast Day, priest Father Jerzy played the South Sydney victory song at the conclusion of the mass.

The Glory Glory to South Sydney tune received rapturous applause, and to the amazement of parishioners down the aisle came Reggie the Rabbit, the oldest, most famous mascot in rugby league.

The Rabbit waved and pranced his way to the alter and the parish went wild...

For further information or enquiries please email licensing@nrl.com.au or download the mascot expression of interest document from nrl.com/TicketsShop/ Shop/NRLLicensingProgram/ tabid/11373/Default.aspx.

All expressions of interest must be submitted to licensing@nrl.com.au by no later than 5:00pm on Friday 13 December, 2013.

As per the club based logo program, the mascots are intellectual property owned and licensed by the NRL.

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© 2013 Stella Projects Pty Ltd, Bardel LL Production Services Inc.

A unique little bear with a blue nose and a warm heart Tiny Tatty Teddy products provide a safe, neutral nursery solution for parents

• Complete portfolio of baby safe product including plush, gifts, greeting cards, furniture, bedding, feeding, bathing and apparel © CBG Ltd ®

• Nursery apparel available at Big W • Nursery solution coming soon to My Baby Warehouse

© Aardman Animations Ltd 2013.

d! r a y m he far

nt i g n i n e ! a h s e r

u t n e v d a ts of new

Lo

• Number 1 rating show on ABC2, over 312K viewers tuning in daily • Over 296K Facebook Fans in Australia • New product from Roadshow Entertainment (DVD) and Jasnor (Plush) • Theatrical Release planned for Easter 2015

TM & © 2013 All rights reserved to BOC Productions Limited

COMING DOWN UNDER FOR THE FIRST FECKING TIME!

Top Rating Channel 7 TV program Sell Out Live Show Feb - April 2014 Top Selling DVD franchise TM

Tiny Tatty Teddy Tiny Tatty Teddy is the nursery brand associated with the hugely successful property Tatty Teddy and Me To You. This property is worth $500 million worldwide and originally started in the UK as a greeting card 18 years ago.

Tiny Tatty Teddy is the non-gender specific nursery solution for parents who have grown up with Tatty Teddy and Me To You. “We are very excited to have a successful nursery apparel range in Big W supplied by Caprice. The designs and applications are getting cuter by the delivery!” commented Sandra Benny MD Carte Blanche Australia.

Carte Blanche supply nursery plush, gifting and greeting cards to over 1700 independent and specialty retailers. CNP Brands will round off the nursery offering with a wide range of bedding, furniture, bathroom and activity toys. These will be available through specialty retailer My Baby Warehouse in Q2 2014.

“This is the tip of the iceberg for the grey bear with the blue nose. We intend to grow the brand in 2014 into other categories such as feeding, stationery, calendars, girls and ladies sleepwear and health and beauty,” claims Lou Elkington Head of Licensing Stella Projects.

Shaun The Sheep The most popular sheep in the flock!

Shaun the Sheep is a ratings winner for ABC, holding the top rating show for four consecutive months from May 2013. Viewers are also buying the latest DVD release from Roadshow in October and new plush from Jasnor in ABC Shops.

With a new TV series to be released in 2014 on ABC and a feature film releasing theatrically for Easter 2015; there has never been a better time to join the flock!

Stella Projects are currently looking for partners in sleepwear and underwear, stationery, art and crafts and promotions.

Lah-Lah’s Adventures A new Australian pre-school TV series combining live action with animation where stories, friendship and musical fun come together!

Lah-Lah’s Adventures is a new pre-school TV series being produced by Stella Projects for CBeebies and Channel 7.

Lah-Lah’s Adventures appeals to boys and girls aged 3–6 years but will have the whole family singing and dancing along. It’s a show about how friends working together can conquer any problem and make wonderful music together.

The TV series launches first half of 2014.

With pre-sales in international territories already confirmed it provides a great opportunity for Australian manufacturers to become licensees on a multi-territory basis.

Grahame Grassby, Stella Projects Managing Director said, “I have been lucky enough over the years to work on some of the most successful pre-school properties of all time and Lah-Lah’s Adventures is shaping up to be the next great Aussie pre-school export.”

For licensing enquiries please contact Louise Elkington on 0419 150 730 or at louise@stellaprojects.com

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Feature articles ×

news from the tube – children’s tv edition I have recently returned from Mip Junior and MIPCOM in Cannes and Brand Licensing Europe in London.

Both markets were well attended and the general mood in the TV production and licensing businesses in the US and in Europe were considerably more optimistic than six months ago.

The TV industry is going through rapid change with Netflix, Google and Amazon having a profound impact on how shows are financed and delivered to global audiences.

In Australia we are yet to see the direct consumer impact of this as Netflix, Hulu and Amazon are yet to open up shop in our country but they will surely be on their way.

In our local TV market Deirdre Brennan has been appointed the new Controller ABC Children’s TV and will take up this role early next year once she finishes up at BBC TV Worldwide Australia where she is currently in charge of content on the BBC Channels.

The two ABC Children’s channels, ABC 4 Kids and ABC3 continue to dominate the children’s ratings on Free to Air TV with the Go! channel leading the way with commercial broadcasters.

Channel 11 has recently added a half hour pre-school slot at 8:30am during the week called Toasted Junior and has licensed shows including Care Bears, Tree Fu Tom, the new series of Hi-5 and Tickety Tock.

Internationally there was a lot of discussion around the changes recently announced at Fremantle Family & Kids with the head of their children’s division leaving along with their children’s sales executive.

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The upshot of the changes is that Fremantle will continue to co-finance and distribute shows they are making with Children’s BBC (CBBC) and focus on making the shows that already exist into off-screen hits – the six shows being focused on are Tree Fu Tom, Max Steel, Kate & Mim-Mim, Grojband, Ella the Elephant and Strange Hill High – Max Steel is currently rating exceptionally well on the Go! channel with Mattel releasing the toys this month.

Another conversation being heard in the aisles at both MIPCOM and Brand Licensing Show was how tough the boys TV series action business currently is with only Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles a clear success in most countries around the world.

The standout new show in the boys action space for 2014 was Tenkai Knights being produced by ShoPro and Spinmaster – this is clearly aimed at being the next Bakugan and I think looks really good.

Other boys shows being displayed prominently included B-Daman, Digimon and Pac-Man which are both launching on the Toasted TV block on Channel 11 in October 2013.

At MIPCOM there were a number of locally produced Australian shows being launched internationally including Beyond’s pre-school puppet show Pipsqueaks produced for Channel 7, Flying Barks’ children’s animation Tashi for ABC/Seven and Stella Projects’ pre-school series Lah-Lah’s Adventures for Channel 7/CBeebies – my favourite is LahLah’s Adventures featuring Lah-Lah’s Big Live

Band which is a hybrid show starring the live action members of the Lah-Lah band having fun and adventures in a 2D animated world.

SLR Productions’ two new series Captain Flinn & the Pirate Dinosaurs and Sam Fox Extreme Adventures for Channel Nine were also being launched at MIPCOM.

For me, the stand out shows were Tenkai Knights and Lah-Lah’s Adventures In the pre-school demo there were a lot of new shows being launched but many will struggle to find a free-to-air broadcaster thus limiting their off-screen success.

As everyone knows at the moment in Australia Peppa Pig is unstoppable and is making life very difficult for all other preschool shows – amazing to think that this show was launched 12 years ago – who would have thought a pig could explode so big after 10 years of being on air!

For me the two stand out children’s TV shows at the MIPCOM market were Tenkai Knights for boys 6–9 years and Lah-Lah’s Adventures for the 3–6 year olds.

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The toy market still appears rs to be doing it tough and is down a couple of points in ficantly down in units sold (18% less units sold year-to-date). dollar value, and it is significantly This means that the average toy selling price is higher than in previous years, which is interesting. The top dollar growth for September came from Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, Peppa Pig, One Direction, Star Wars and Monster High. The new entrants selling well were Monsters University, Disney Planes and Glitzi Globes. Lego still leads the way in regards to the major suppliers, with an increase of almost 6% for the year. Headstart (driven by Turtles) is up almost 70% and Big Balloon is up almost 100%, thanks to Peppa Pig, Planes and Despicable Me 2. Whilst the major traditional suppliers such as Hasbro, Tomy and Funtastic continue to struggle (although the last quarter looks very promising for them), the Mattel business is up marginally when compared to last year.

So what happened in September? Turtles and Star Wars are driving the growth in the action figure category and hopefully Max Steel will start to kick in as well with the storylines being very strong. Arts and crafts have no real drivers apart from Glitzy Globes. The growth from Lego is coming from City, Star Wars and Friends. Lalaloopsy is hanging on with a 24% increase on last year and Monster High is on fire, up nearly 90%. Barbie is down just over 20% and is being pounded by Monster High, however Mattel’s doll business is up a combined 38%, so they are certainly growing the eleven-and-a-half inch doll market. Games are being driven by the Monopoly brand, up over 20%. The Banter Toys Pokemon cards are also driving games, no doubt driven by the frenzy of activity for the new X and Y cartridges. Thomas has much stronger stocks in the market compared to last year, and is up almost 40%. This will be a challenge for Mattel to stay in stock!

Fisher Price is down a few ticks, however it is still the strongest brand in the infant and pre-school space. Get on Octonauts and Jake too, as they are still growing. Leapfrog desperately needs the new release ‘Leapfrog Ultra’ to kick in. Anecdotal reports are that it is doing well since launch, and I am sure it will be in positive territory for the next report.

No real joy in outdoor though, year-to-date. Lets hope we get some good weather and pools kick in towards Christmas! Peppa Pig is the outright winner in the plush toy stakes.

Disney Planes made a strong debut, however compared to the Cars launches, you would have to be a little disappointed. Furby is the outright winner in the electronics category, despite launching last year it still managed an increase thanks to ‘Furby Boom’.

Well that is it for now and the countdown is on. Catalogues are loaded and television is booked. You can not hope for a better Christmas, you have to plan for a better Christmas.

Good luck to all for the holiday season. There is plenty of supplier activity to come, the election is over, interest rates have never been lower, the stock market is doing well and the next two months is when the licensing industry hits it’s straps!

THE SPY

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Brand Licensing Europe, 2013 ‘Question and Answer’ with some key industry figures!

Bugg Toys & Licensing recently attended the 2013 Brand Licensing Europe (BLE) Show, where we caught up with a number of industry figures to ask them their opinion of the show this year and what the standouts were from their perspective.

“The show had a really good buzz about it this year. The Fluid World stand was busy on all three days and there was a good turn out of many of our top retailers on the first two days which showed us their commitment to licensing. I was especially interested to see that one of our licensees, Character World, took a stand – the first licensee to do so. I thought it was very clever given all their major licensors and retailers were attending and as the only one they really stood out.

Will this be the start of things to come?”

Libby Grant Director, Fluid World Ltd

“BLE is always an excellent opportunity to meet face-to-face with licensors, licensees and retailers while soaking up interesting trends that are sure to considerably influence where the industry is heading going forward.

At this year’s show, I was particularly encouraged to see the noticeable presence of, and significant retailer and licensee interest in, digital entertainment properties. Brands such as Mind Candy’s Moshi Monsters and

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“The show was a phenomenal success this year, attendance looked to be up and there was a great buzz around the stand. The new layout of the show worked well and it was good to have more space available.”

“We were really pleased with our Transformers 4 retail room that previewed our entire TF4 range, from toys to apparel and back-to-school, the retail execution we have built was a great way of showing our partners how strong TF will look for 2014. Our keynote presentation was over-subscribed and unfortunately we had to turn away a significant number of people so this is something we will look at for next year. It was great to have so many retailers attending and I now think BLE is truly the big European event to attend.”

James Walker Vice President, Hasbro Brand Licensing & Publishing EMEAP

“BLE 2014 was fantastic. The show seemed its busiest yet, and the aisles were filled with plenty of retailers and licensees. We had four days of meetings and presentations, and although not expecting to see anything ‘new’, there was plenty of new news on current properties such as Star Wars, Marvel and Warner Bros. that was worth the trip alone. The licensing industry seems to have a real buzz around it at the moment, and BLE was the most exciting yet. Great parties too!”

Holly Oldham Head of Licensing EMEA, Rubie’s Masquerade

Rovio’s Angry Birds made a loud and vivid splash in the form of innovative booth designs and inspirational Licensing Academy presentations.

A majority of the people I spoke to at the show were of the opinion that these new media properties are here to stay. Despite the often explosive speed at which they emerge, brands born into the digital space have become constant players on the international entertainment scene. Overall, this

year’s show proved a huge success to Beanstalk and our newly launched digital division Tinderbox, with plenty of interesting meetings as well as a flurry of discussions among interested game developers visiting our booth. If BLE is anything to go by, I anticipate that the interest in digital brands and their branded consumer products will only intensify going forward”.

Dan Amos Head of New Media, Tinderbox

“I attended BLE for the first time in 2012 and I was very impressed.

This was my second fair and it was busy! Most of our Principals were there with stands – both the UK and American companies. We attended very worthwhile meetings and presentations which will set Fusion up for next year and well into the future. The big players featured NDA-only footage and sneak peeks of upcoming properties which were outstanding. We were also introduced to some new, exciting TV-based IP’s as well as some reworked classics with a fresh new angle.”

To read more commentary from the Brand Licensing Show Europe, including Haven Licensing, please visit buggtoysandlicensing.com/brand-licensing-europe-industry-commentary

“I would have to say this year was by far the best BLE ever. The hall was buzzing and packed. The stands looked terrific – clearly a lot of thought and effort had gone into design this year. Also, we were inundated by retailers from all of the major accounts across the whole of EMEA. Speaking of attendees, while we’ve welcomed more and more visitors to London from mainland Europe in recent years, I was also pleased to see familiar faces from the US and, of course, Australia.”

Paul Bufton General Manager, Warner Bros Consumer Products UK & Eire

“I was impressed at just how professional the fair was – the new DreamWorks Animation team’s presentation was a standout; Mind Candy’s treehouse stand was constantly busy and the Zodiak Rights Tickety Toc line and Mister Maker programs have now become truly global.”

“As a Licensing Agent it was well worth attending!”

Gail Mitchell Managing Director The Fusion Agency

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London Photo Tour

The giant PokĂŠmon on display

The show floor from the side entrance

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The Nickelodeon stand at the entrance to the show

The Disney stand was looking great again with a holographic entrance

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Rastamouse was busting his moves

Rabbids were out in force

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Poppet was parading around the Mind Candy stand

Paddington Bear eating his toast

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The new Sony Playstation Invizimals Tigershark Max

2014 FIFA World Cup Brazil mascot

The SEGA stand was looking great with Sonic in attendance

The Moshi Bus outside the London Olympia

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The yellow Lamborghini on display at the show

FremantleMedia and Tree Fu Tom

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Smiley World mascot walking the show floor

Mike the Knight was getting around the attendees

The Smurfs were in attendance

In the Night Garden parading around the show floor

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Disney Infinity 2. What this will mean for the Disney business in terms of your gaming exposure?

Well, undoubtedly it’s going to increase.

We’ve been in the games business for a very long time and are the biggest gaming licensor in the world; what Disney Infinity does though is increase the quality threshold for our gaming offering and with that comes more space at retail, increased family time spent with Disney and more quality ways in which kids and families interact with Disney Infinity. If you look around online already, there are unofficial forums popping up, trading events and a whole community evolving to discuss and share ideas about Disney Infinity which great to see.

3. How do you see it’s development now and in the future?

Bugg Toys & Licensing catches up with Scott Bagshaw from Disney Interactive – The Walt Disney Company, Australia, to discuss the hot new gaming sensation, Disney Infinity.

1. Scott, can you tell us a little bit about the development of the platform?

Disney Infinity was in development for several years and is driven by the philosophy of ‘play as you want’ – we like to compare it to how a child does with their physical toys, without limits to their imaginations and by allowing them to imagine their own story lines. I know when I see my children play with their toys it’s chaotic, fun and unrestrained – we wanted to bring that to

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life digitally. We also wanted to ensure that we have a consistent base that can grow and become the gaming platform for all things Disney; the content that is in the game now is staggering and we’re going to be releasing more onto this platform and that’s not including the ‘User Generated Content’ which is now starting to be shared globally; it’s not just going to be a platform, but a community platform which we think is important in this age of connectivity.

Well there’s plenty more to come in the short term, we’ve just launched on iPad devices and will shortly launch on PC bringing more outlets for gamers to interact with the game and crucially share their content. With Disney Infinity you can devise your own creations and share it with Disney, who will moderate them and share to the community across any device which is pretty unique; say I have a PS3, I can create a world on that device and also play that world on my iPad. Besides the hardware we’ve still got lots more characters to launch; before Christmas we’ll see Wreck it Ralph, Vanellope, Jack Skellington, a whole new Toy Story playset and characters and we also open up to more female-skewed characters such as Rapunzel and Frozen. There’s even more waiting in the wings, including Mickey!

4. What are your plans to leverage the platform across the Disney business?

One of the main benefits of Disney Infinity is that we can add new content onto the platform and also determine the scale of inclusion. We can draw from the past, present and future; we have so much content across the Disney business we can choose which franchise will suit the gameplay type or which ‘tent-pole’ title is being driven from our movies, parks, TV or publishing divisions at any given time; we can even choose seasonal characters as we wish, we have Jack Skellington launching around Halloween time as an example; we have Anna and Elsa from Frozen launching before the movie also. Disney Infinity really draws upon the strength of the whole Company and that is really pleasing to see.

5. Is this the most innovative and exciting thing Disney have been part of?

It certainly is continuing in the tradition of Disney’s leadership in innovation. If you look at Disney’s past we have many firsts; first full length animated feature, first modern theme park, first full length CGI feature, the list goes on and on. I would say this is the most innovative thing we’ve done in the Interactive gaming space; it’s also the most ambitious and personally it feels great to have brought such an amazing product to market that has generated so much buzz and allowed fans of all ages to reconnect with their favourite Disney stories and characters are well as build their own. If you read consumer comments about Disney Infinity, there is so much debate about which of their favourite characters they want to see.

6. How do you deal with the vast number of Disney brands and characters all appearing on the same platform?

This is one of the first questions we always get when they see Disney Infinity for the first time. Seeing Sully from Monsters University racing Lightning McQueen whilst wearing Buzz Lightyear’s jetpack or any number of other combinations is startling at first for those who are used to traditional branding guidelines.

However, we know kids don’t want boundaries in their imagination; hence we created the narrative that the characters are the ‘toy’ versions of themselves and to access this unlimited creativity you enter the ‘Toybox’. All the characters have been created with a unique and unifying visual style which distinguishes them from their ‘real life’ version.

Kids today are incredibly intuitive and clever and we very much look forward to seeing all the imagination and creativity that goes into creating their own narratives in Disney Infinity.

7. Will Infinity ultimately become a consumer products opportunity?

If you mean specifically a licencing opportunity, yes we began in earnest prior to the launch of the game. At launch we went to market not only with the game itself but also various storage devices from PDP and we’ll see that range grow, Penguin are our publishing partner and they’ll be launching the first of their range in February.

Besides that, there is a lot of discussion from retailers, licensees and within Disney about expanding the offering; right now we are focussed on making sure that Disney Infinity as a game continues to deliver for our players and fans.

8. How does Infinity rate from a gaming perspective I maybe a little biased but, I believe Disney Infinity is a unique, truly cross company, and cross generational product that can be enjoyed by all. I’d class myself as a gamer, well maybe a lapsed gamer really as I’ve had little inclination or time over the past five years with kids and work! But the past few months I’ve been taking it home with me to play with my kids and Disney Infinity has truly made me fall in love with games again; my kids scream to play Disney Infinity with me every time I come home which is great and makes me feel proud that Disney has created this wonderful experience I can share with my family.

Outside of my little family, the reception has been amazing across the board, from 9/10 from respected journals from Forbes, same from ‘core’ gaming publications like Game Informer and a 9.5/10 from ABC’s Good Game here in Australia.

9. Where to from here?

To Infinity and Beyond!

For information on Disney Infinity, please contact Scott Bagshaw at The Walt Disney Company on (03) 9832 6000 Disney.com/infinity

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Licensee News ×

line at Visit us on ld.com.au ie f r e e d s rubie rders for trade o