Licensing world May 2017 by TOYWORLD MAGAZINE

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May 2017

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The Team...

CONTENTS May 2017

John Baulch

Publisher and Managing Editor john@toyworldmag.co.uk 01442 502 408 07932 651 207

08 News

32 Feature: Character Licensed Merchandise

Mark Austin

Advertisement Manager mark@toyworldmag.co.uk 01442 502 405

News

Features

07 From the Publisher

24 Retail Profile: Tesco 26 Face to Face: Redan Publishing 30 Retail Profile: Matalan 32 Feature: Character Licensed Merchandise 48 Hot Properties 53 Preview: Licensing Expo 54 Touching Base: Licensing Expo Exhibitors 56 Brand Profile: Hotel Transylvania

08 News Anita Baulch

Circulation and Financial Director anita@toyworldmag.co.uk 01923 711 439

Opinion 28 Touching Base - Licensees 46 Talking Shop

Rachael Simpson

Deputy Editor rachael@toyworldmag.co.uk 01442 502 406

Casey Goodman

Editorial Assistant casey@toyworldmag.co.uk 01442 502 406

48 Hot Properties

Mark Crowford

Design and Production Manager markc@toyworldmag.co.uk 01442 502 405

53 Preview: Licensing Expo

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from the publisher

John Baulch - @Baulchtweet

elcome to the first ever Licensing World supplement, brought to you by the team behind the UK’s number one toy trade magazine, Toy World. I’d like to make one thing clear from the outset - this is most definitely NOT a new licensing magazine. Let’s be honest, there are arguably too many already; the world certainly doesn’t need another publication which keeps brand owners in touch with licensing agents across the globe. However, there IS an opportunity for a magazine which is targeted at licensees and retailers in the UK and European kids’ market, giving them all the information they need, not just the odd nugget hidden amongst page after page of less relevant articles. The reality is that licensees and retailers have never been big fans of generic licensing magazines. It’s not rocket science when you think about it; our readers are not interested in adult brands or the Korean market, any more than adult brand owners or Korean licensing companies are remotely interested in the UK children’s market. In today’s time-pressured work environment, no-one has time to flick through a 100+ page magazine on the off chance of finding one or two pieces of information which may prove useful. Since its launch six years ago, licensing coverage has always been a crucial element of Toy World’s editorial content strategy. There were always compelling reasons for this approach, not least the fact that the relationship between the toy and licensing markets is incredibly close and symbiotic: here in the UK, the toy market accounts for £1 of every £3 spent on licensed merchandise for 0-14-year-olds, while over 20% of the UK toy market’s £3 billion sales come from character licensed products. Acknowledging the importance of toys to licensing and vice versa, every monthly issue of Toy World includes a dedicated Licensing World section, which allows us to keep our readers up-to-date with the latest developments from the world of licensing which affect them: new properties, broadcast information, release dates, marketing initiatives, new licensing partners and anything else which might help them to decide which properties to work with. Our regular readers include all the key licensees and retailers in the UK toy market: these are the people who will either sign a licence or select the product - the people who will ultimately determine how successful a brand will be. So, it’s no surprise that the majority of licensing companies which are active in the UK children’s market have established ongoing partnerships with us. Given the presence of licensing content within Toy World, and the strong relationships we have developed with the licensing community, it was a natural progression to broaden our horizons from focusing purely on

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the toy channel to incorporate other children’s leisure product sectors. Which is where the idea of the Licensing World supplement was born. Publishing the supplement as a dedicated, stand-alone magazine has also enabled us to make it available in Las Vegas at the Licensing Expo for the first time. So, if this is your first exposure to a Toy World publication, I hope you enjoy it. This highly-focused title gives a snapshot of how the UK kids’ licensing arena is looking in the first half of 2017; we’ve rounded up some of the latest ranges which will be hitting retail shelves in the coming months, spoken to retailers of every shape and size – from specialist independents to major players such as Tesco, whose head of brand licensing Rachel Wakley is interviewed on page 30 – to gauge their thoughts on the licensing arena, and put together an extensive Licensing Expo preview, which focuses on some of the exciting new properties which UK and European attendees should look out for. We also asked a selection of licensees to name the one thing they would change about the licensing business. In the main, they were fairly restrained, but insightful nonetheless (although I would have loved to see their unexpurgated answers…). I’ll throw my own choice in to the mix: licensors who insist on approving press releases. I think it is debateable whether licensors should even need to approve every ad featuring their properties, but I’ll concede that one for now. But approving press releases is, quite simply, pointless. Any publication worth its salt will not just copy and paste a release it receives; it will rework it into house style, usually removing vast swathes of faux-advertorial rhetoric and corporate jargon (I used the polite word there) in the process. So, essentially, the licensors are asking to approve something which, in all probability, is going to change completely. It just strikes me that perhaps they’re making unnecessary work for themselves, and I wonder whether they could all use the time far more productively. Our licensees’ feedback is pithier than my own observation, but there are a number of eminently sensible suggestions that I hope will give licensors some food for thought. Not only will the Toy World team be visiting the Las Vegas Licensing Expo, I’ll also be blogging from the show. So, if you would like a refreshingly honest view of the event, some insider gossip, tips on which licences are hot and which are not and any other interesting information which I think our readers will want to know about, you can log onto our website www.toyworldmag.co.uk during Licensing Week. In the meantime, I hope you enjoy this inaugural Licensing World supplement and if you would like to meet up with the Toy World / Licensing World team during Licensing Expo, our contact details can be found on the contents page of this supplement.

News Bob the Builder movie release date announced The feature-length special will have its UK theatrical release on the 26th May. The 60-minute film from Mattel Creations: Bob the Builder: Mega Machines – The Movie, sees Bob and his team call on the Mega Machines to help them tackle their biggest build ever. Characters Scoop, Muck and Lofty help Bob construct a dam and

transform an old quarry into a reservoir. The movie stays loyal to the traditions of the TV series, combining entertainment with real and practical learning values, together with lessons in social and emotional development from the characters. There is also an emphasis on friendship throughout the movie. The STEM curriculum has been built into the film’s plotline with lessons in science, technology, engineering and mathematics, whilst Bob and the team demonstrate the power of positive-thinking, problem-solving, teamwork and follow-through.

Spin Master appoints licensing agency for Hatchimals

Character Options prepares for launch of Tiddlytubbies Since the launch of its Teletubbies master toy range 18 months ago, Character Options is expanding the range with the release of the new Tiddlytubbies collection. Tiddlytubbies made their first appearance in the new Teletubbies series in November 2015, and Character Options’ new range of plush and interactive toys is poised to launch this July. First in line is the collection of Giggling Tiddlytubbies plush toys, which giggle when their tummies are squeezed. Made with towelling fabric bodies, the selection includes yellow Umby Pumby, light blue Mi-Mi and pink Ping. The interactive Shuffle-and-Giggle Ping also comes in pastel pink, with towelling fabric. When children press her back, Ping will shuffle

and giggle along the floor. Mark Hunt, marketing manager at Character Options, commented: “We’ve received high demand for the Tiddlytubbies from both retailers and consumers, following their introduction to the series. They are a cute and highly collectible addition to the toy line, and should drive incremental sales. We’ll be advertising through TV, print and digital platforms, as well as an extensive programme of blogging and unboxing videos.”

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CPLG will be building on the Hatchimals brand success, with plans for new licensed products across all markets. CPLG will be focused on expanding the brand into new product categories including apparel, home, stationery, food, and health and beauty. Working closely with Spin Master, CPLG aims to bring consumers deeper into the universe of Hatchimals and some of its species, including Pengualas and Draggles. Peter Byrne, CEO of CPLG commented: “We are thrilled to be working with Spin Master to represent Hatchimals, a truly magical toy. We look forward to launching new creative product ranges across all target categories, opening new retail distribution for the brand and increasing retail presence for all species and characters living in Hatchtopia.” Ben Gadbois, president and COO of Spin Master added: “We have seen a tremendous response to Hatchimals, and are thrilled to be working with CPLG to help bring the magic of Hatchimals to life across new product categories in Europe. This deal, in addition to our other plans for Hatchimals in 2017, will build the brand and fuel children’s imaginations for years to come.”

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News Nickelodeon honours licensees and retail partners at annual awards Nickelodeon & Viacom Consumer Products (NVCP) held its annual UK Achievement Awards on Thursday 30th March. Eight awards were presented by Marianne James and Mark Kingston, who were joined on stage by Chase and Marshall from hit Nick Jr. property, Paw Patrol. Asda won Retail Campaign of the Year, for the Paw Patrol Summer campaign. The Entertainer was named Retail Partnership of the Year in recognition of the support shown to the Nickelodeon and Nick Jr. brands with its range of Science Kits and Dough Lines, now available internationally. MV (outdoor) won Innovative Hard Line Product or Range with its Chase Cruiser receiving a special mention and Sambro was named Licensee of the Year for its efforts in pursuing business opportunities and developing diverse and innovative product lines praised. The complete list of winners is as follows: Retail Campaign of the Year Asda Paw Patrol Summer event Retail Partnership of the Year The Entertainer Soft Lines Partner of the Year Blues Clothing Ltd. Content Partner of the Year Egmont Publishing Innovative Hard Line Product or Range of the Year MV (outdoor)

Platinum greenlights new Young Bear Grylls animated series Platinum Films, the creators of children’s television shows Matt Hatter Chronicles, Dream Street and Planet Cook, has announced an exclusive collaboration with Bear Grylls Ventures to create a new children’s entertainment brand. Young Bear Grylls will be based on the escapades and missions of Young Bear, as he explores the world around him. Nigel Stone, CEO of Platinum Films, commented: “Young Bear Grylls will tap into everything that Bear Grylls represents – adventure, courage, survival and friendship. We want it to be action-packed, inspiring and fun with a good dose of mischievousness and intrigue thrown in, which will appeal to kids and families worldwide.” YBG Films will co-ordinate and execute an international television and merchandising strategy to establish Young Bear Grylls around the world. The new format has already started to capture the attention of the global television market and commercial partners. Bear Grylls added: “Platinum’s vision for the series is totally original, translatable, enduring and exciting – the journey begins.”

Bulldog picks up new partners for Miraculous

Collaboration of the Year Dr. Martens Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles range Licensee of the Year Sambro Long-standing Partnership Danilo

Zuru launches first licence for Bunch O Balloons brand The company has partnered with Universal Partnerships & Licensing to launch Bunch O Balloons Minions this spring/summer. The water balloons appeared on shelves in March and have been given a Minions makeover featuring their trademark yellow, and signature characters printed on the balloons. Renee Lee, marketing manager, Zuru Toys commented: “It was natural for Zuru to look at extending the range with licensing. With the Despicable Me 3 movie launching this June, the mischievous Minions were the perfect fit. We have redeveloped our entire manufacturing line to print on the balloons; each balloon is blown up, printed, dried then produced into a bunch of Bunch O Balloons. The range has fantastic support and early sales reads have been extremely positive. We hope to only see this strengthen as we head into warmer weather and edge closer to the movie release.”

Zag continues to increase its reach of licensees for Miraculous: Tales of Ladybug and Cat Noir. Its representative Bulldog Licensing has signed deals with Gosh! Designs at PMS International (stationery, pocket money toys and creative play), IglooBooks (book publishing), Kokomo (dental and gift sets) and Roy Lowe (socks). The animated series launched on the Disney Channel in the UK over the last year and Disney has also picked up series two, which will screen later this year, whilst broadcaster Pop has got the UK free to air rights to the show. The addition of the new licensees adds to an existing programme. Other partners include Maad Toys (bags and purses), Rubies (dress-up), Gemma International (greetings cards and gift packaging), Aykroyds/TDP (nightwear and underwear), Whitehouse Leisure (amusement plush), and Dreamtex for a varied range that includes duvet covers, curtains and fleece blankets and Bandai as the master toy partner. Bulldog Licensing MD Rob Corney commented: “This new activity shows the strength of Miraculous. With a large programme in place across multiple categories, and with the show performing so well on TV, there is a huge amount of interest in this brand.”

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News Third series of Danger Mouse commissioned FremantleMedia Kids & Family (FMK) and CBBC have announced that Danger Mouse is returning for more animated adventures. Commissioned by controller of CBBC Cheryl Taylor, the series is part of FMK’s five-year co-production partnership with BBC Children’s and has now been sold into more than 100 territories. Due to air on CBBC in 2018, the next instalment of 26 x 11-minute episodes will follow on from the second series which begins later this year on CBBC, bringing the total number of episodes to 104. Rick Glankler, president/general manager, FremantleMedia Kids & Family, commented: “I’m proud that Danger Mouse is now an awardwinning series, as well as a huge hit with audiences all over the world. Collaborating with the immensely talented teams at the BBC and Boulder has created a global smash that’s already much loved and is going from strength to strength, and now there will be even more magnificent missions, dastardly plots and off the wall humour for our fans to enjoy.”

Those Licensing People develops Kidscast app Those Licensing People set about building Kidscast, an SVOD platform for kids 18 months ago, in order to provide an online broadcast platform for the back catalogue of IP for which Those Licensing People was responsible. The beta version of the app worked well, but during construction, MD Russell Dever realised that there could be much more to gain by extending the app beyond TV and into the realm of games, publishing and licensing. TLP decided to hold off launching and began a second phase, initially with five bespoke games, which it has now considerably expanded. With classic series like Rainbow, Sooty and Sweep, and Wind in the Willows, as well as more contemporary productions such as Om Nom Stories, the app finally launched over Christmas 2016 and has been an overnight success for TLP. TLP’s main concern was safety for kids online. The company also recongnised that to engage with its audience on a regular basis, it had to give them a reason to keep wanting to come back, so added a free monthly magazine featuring many of the latest and hottest properties. Stuffed full of activity pages, competitions and prize giveaways, the magazine has become a hub of activity within the

Protecting your brand through product safety compliance and legislation Brand protection is a common term in the licensing industry and is generally associated with areas such as intellectual property/ counterfeiting, royalties protection and trademarking. One area of brand protection that can be overlooked is product safety and product compliance to legal requirements. Licensees will be aware that compliance of their products is an obligation regardless of any contractual stipulation in their licence agreement. Licensors might have it written into the contract that goods need to be safe and ethically produced, but steps need to be taken to ensure that this happens. This could range from a testing organisation running a full testing, compliance and auditing programme for licensees to follow, through to periodic reviews of test reports – the specifics will vary between companies, but robust validation steps should be in place. The consequences of something going wrong can be wide ranging but are rarely positive. If there was a safety incident with a product in the UK, Trading Standards would take the lead in any investigation with the licensee. If an issue was significant enough appear in the media then it is likely that it is the name of the brand/licensor that will be given alongside, or instead of, that of the licensee, and the bigger the brand the more likely this is to be the case. With heightened risk of trial by social media, bad news travels fast, and therefore it’s increasingly important to have a policy in place and to exercise due diligence. Ensuring that goods are safe and compliant is not a simple task. The regulatory landscape is ever changing, can differ between countries/regions, and covers safety along with other areas such as environmental issues. The obligations for compliance are becoming ever stricter and companies need to know what their goods are made of and where they are made, including the factory conditions. This need is not going to change anytime soon regardless of any future Brexit impact. There is no single approach to ensuring that products are compliant, and approaches will vary between organisations, but they will generally involve getting the goods tested in a laboratory and, if required, the factory audited and inspected. The steps in a compliance programme will depend on the product type, number of products, where the goods are to be sold, if the item is intended for children, and many other factors. The requirements for toys differs greatly from apparel. MTS Global is a global testing and certification organisation and a member of LIMA. The company understands the challenges of compliance of retail goods and the licensing industry and can help develop a compliance programme to meet a company’s needs, or review current approaches to help licensees and licensors deliver in this area of compliance/brand protection.

app and has enabled TLP to meet the marketing requirements of industry heavyweights. Though this was the third stage in its development programme for the app, TLP has since gone on to introduce a digital in-app book platform and is also developing exclusive shows just for Kidscast. Those Licensing People will launch a merchandise project for Kidscast, and there is more to come by way of emerging technology in the summer. Kidscast is designed to have as many elements of entertainment as education on one platform and has been developed, not just as extended entertainment, but also as an outreach programme for its burgeoning base of clients who want to see it grow and develop their brands, or piggy back on the work of others. Now recommended by Best App For Kids, the resolve to remain an ad-free and safe platform for children with cast-able content from any blue tooth device, remains the core of Kidscast’s commercial ethos.

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News Mind Candy avoids bankruptcy with new deal The company has renegotiated a critical loan repayment and secured $1.5 million from existing investors. Silicon Valley-based investment firm TriplePoint Capital agreed to a two-year extension of the £6.5 million ($8.1 million) loan to Mind Candy. TriplePoint took a $2 million markdown on the value of the loan to account for these new terms. If Mind Candy had been unable to extend the loan terms the company might have been forced into bankruptcy, the company had said in filings with Companies House in October. Mind Candy has seen good growth in new product Petlandia, which allows people to create avatars of their pets and then order personalised story books featuring these avatars. The company is exploring tie-ups with other petfocused products and brands, including the use of celebrity pets. In addition, the company has been in the process of relaunching Moshi Monsters. A new Moshi Monsters’ Egg Hunt mobile game lets children create a catalogue of different monster characters. Mind Candy hopes to sell personalised storybooks that will be populated with the characters from the child’s personal collection.

Animal Jam continues to grow licensee base UK & Eire registrations for online playground Animal Jam have now exceeded the 5m mark, and Rockpool, WildWork’s UK agent, has announced another wave of licensee partners. New signings include Smith and Brooks for children’s outerwear; DC Thomson, who will be featuring Animal Jam in its new girl’s magazine Sweet; Zak Designs, developing lunch, dinnerware, cutlery and baking sets and MV Sports, who will be launching a range of wheeled toys and vehicles. They join existing partners Centum, Ravensburger, Winning Moves, GB Eye, BC International, Cooneen and Misirli, Dreamtex, Gemma, IG Design, Posh Paws and Whitehouse Leisure.

Fireman Sam celebrates 30th anniversary with Golden Helmet Awards Mattel has revealed details of its UK marketing campaign to mark the 30th anniversary of Fireman Sam in 2017. The brand will be celebrating this important year with a schedule of activations, as well as the launch of the Golden Helmet Awards for real life heroes. Launched in partnership with parenting website Netmums, fans can nominate their local heroes to win an exclusive Fireman Sam trophy and £500. The awards will help encourage children to act out their own adventures and be their own hero, as well as celebrating real life heroes in their local community. Winners will be presented with their awards by Fireman Sam himself. On June 15th, Fireman Sam will also celebrate his first ever theatrical release with the new movie Fireman Sam Alien Alert, featuring David Tennant as new character Buck Douglas. Helen Genia, licensing category manager at Mattel, commented: “We are really excited about our activations that will not only take a look back at Sam’s three decades on

Xilam names master toy partner for Oggy & the Cockroaches Lansay will produce a range of products in France, which will include traditional plush, electronic plush, a full line of 3D plastic figurines as well as board and card games, and will be distributed in France throughout 2018. Marie-Laure Marchand, senior VP of global licensing at Xilam commented: “We’re thrilled to be working with Lansay. They are a leader in children’s licensing and the ideal partner to launch a collection of toys for Oggy & the Cockroaches, a well-known and successful property in France and across many territories globally. We believe this represents a remarkable consumer products opportunity.” CEO of Lansay, Serge Azoulai added: “Lansay is a family company that has been bringing branded and licensed products to the French toy and game market for 45 years. We are delighted to be partnering with Xilam on Oggy & the Cockroaches and look forward to driving the success of such an iconic franchise.”

screen, but also cement our commitment to the future of the brand with the Golden Helmet Awards. These will reinforce how Fireman Sam inspires and teaches children the important lessons in bravery, community and safety.”

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www.kidscast.tv

News Colour change technology from Solar Active Europe SolarActive Europe is the new European arm of the established California-based SolarActive International technology company, which has been producing colour changing products for over 25 years. SolarActive International has previously partnered with global brands including Hasbro, Victoria’s Secret, Nike, Disney, Nivea, NASA, and Mattel, utilising UV colour change technology to produce products ranging from toys to footwear, sun-cream and dolls, to sunglasses and swimwear. Until now, the UK and European market has remained widely untapped, or has depended upon technology which is limited in its colour palette, and products which are limited in their colour-change usage and vibrancy. SolarActive Europe presents a new concept in colour change that reacts to everyday UV light, and is so stable that the colour process immediately begins to revert into its original form once out of direct sunlight/UV. Further, the new technology does not weaken with repeated use. SolarActive’s secret formula has been developed for use across multiple UV colour changing processes and is available as inks, thread, resins, or powder. There are 28 basic UV colour changing ink colours. The inks can be blended to create new colours, and can be tailored to match

client product and pantone specifications for use on products including plastics, fabric, paper, leather and metal. The formula reflects today’s environmental safety standards and is Phthalate, lead and PVC free. SolarActive Europe is in the process of meeting with potential partners across licensing, toys, apparel and accessories, and expects to launch a variety of products across multiple categories this year. The company is looking to create products that meet fashion, lifestyle and entertainment trends, and will also be working with brands and manufacturers to negate fake goods, with its use of colour change counterfeit thread and print.

Universal launches UK Fast & Furious retail events Visitors to Toys R Us in Leeds, Peterborough, Oldbury, and Ipswich and Brent Cross were invited into Dom Toretto’s Garage, a unique experiential store-in-store concept where they were able to create their own high-octane Fast & Furious-inspired action scenes, using global master toy licensee Mattel’s Fast & Furious Filmmaker app. The app allows younger fans to record their own clips using Mattel’s Fast & Furious Street Scenes play sets and die-cast vehicles. It comes with everything needed to recreate the magic of the big screen, including the ability to add special FX, sound effects and original music backtracks. Further to the success of the programme, Universal now plans to extend the consumer experience in partnership with other retailers later this year. The UK consumer products roll out also includes Jada Toys which has just launched a line of die cast vehicles. Targeting adult fans, Underground Toys is on board with a range of collectibles, awardwinning Thumbs Up takes the licence for adult gift, Pyramid has just released a line of posters, and Somberbond has inked a deal for apparel.

Cartoon Network and Weetabix renew Weetabuddies campaign The campaign offers kids the chance to see their breakfast cereal creations brought to life on-air in September. The competition can be entered via the Cartoon Network UK Weetabuddies microsite, which is now live. The partnership also includes Weetabuddies sponsorship in peak breakfast time slots on Cartoon Network throughout April, July, September and November. Additionally, on-air channel sponsorship of Cartoon Network’s sister channel Boomerang covers April, September and November. Andrew Mallandaine, UK sales director, Turner, commented: “We are delighted to be working with Weetabix again in 2017 as part of their renewal of the hugely popular Weetabuddies campaign. Our Cartoon Network viewers loved the award-winning Weetabuddies creative we featured on-air last year and we hope the campaign will continue to encourage kids to get creative and excited about Weetabix.”

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News Hey Duggee adds International Emmy to awards collection BBC Worldwide and Studio AKA have announced that Hey Duggee has been awarded an International Emmy Kids Award at a ceremony at MIPTV in the pre-school category. The award follows a BAFTA win for Best PreSchool Animation last November. Devised by the Oscar nominated and BAFTA award winning Studio AKA, Hey Duggee has proved popular with audiences on CBeebies channels as well as selling to over 150 territories worldwide including Nick Jr in the USA, who have acquired the second season, France Television, ABC Australia, SVT Sweden, Treehouse in Canada and Cartoonito Italy. Henrietta Hurford Jones, director of Children’s at BBC Worldwide commented: “Hey Duggee is a place for children to have fun and be energetic, encouraging learning through doing. Duggee’s unique humour means that grown-ups will enjoy it too, providing a wonderful shared experience for families. Duggee is a very special show and I am thrilled with the International Emmy win.”

Scentco Cars 3 range now available for pre-order A selection of Disney Pixar’s Cars 3 stationery has been added to DKL’s range of licensed products. The range includes coloured Smencils 4-pack, Smencils 4-pack and a Smencils cylinder with Cars 3 packaging featuring a Sketch and Sniff sticker for customers to preview scents. David Allan, sales and marketing director at DKL, commented: “Scentco Scented Stationery performed well throughout 2016 with record high sales. Launching the Cars 3 licence is very exciting as we have already had a huge interest from trade. We are working on other Disney licences to keep the momentum going.” Each of Scentco’s licensed feature scents come with a two-year guarantee. Cars 3 scents include Blackberry, Pineapple, Cherry and Cola. Hama Beads will also be releasing a range of Car 3 licensed products which will be officially announced soon.

Everything’s Rosie to debut on CBeebies Radio The broadcaster has commissioned five specially recorded episodes. The deal will run for five years and the series will follow the adventures of Rosie and her best friend Raggles, the rabbit. Episodes will also be available on demand on the Children’s Radio iPlayer in the UK. RTE Junior in Ireland has also commissioned five recorded stories which will be available on its radio, website and app so that young fans can enjoy popular stories on the move.

Global licensing programme expanded for Num Noms MGA Entertainment has signed over 40 new licensees spanning the globe, making a total of 80 worldwide licensing partners for its property Num Noms. Juli Boylan, global head of licensing, MGAE, commented: “The brand continues to exceed our expectations, appealing to a wide consumer base. We are very excited to be launching key categories this spring, and the full programme worldwide in the fall. Num Noms also continues to grow in the UK and European markets and so our focus as we head into Licensing Expo is to meet with potential partners in the ancillary categories, and further expand the brand in key international territories throughout the Asia Pacific and Latin American markets.” In response to the success of the Num Noms toy

Chocolate Thomas the Tank Engine surprise for Easter travellers A 6ft tall, 7ft long chocolate sculpture was stationed at Kings Cross over the Easter bank holiday weekend. The chocolate Thomas sculpture weighed 140kg and took 250 hours to build by three master chocolatiers. A total of 100kg of chocolate was used to create the masterpiece, which consisted of 60kg milk chocolate, 30kg dark chocolate, 10kg white chocolate and 25kg cocoa butter. Chocolate craftsperson Jen Lindsey-Clark commented: “To take Thomas from a little blue diecast engine to a large-scale chocolate structure was an exciting challenge. To sculpt this much-loved iconic brand in chocolate was one of the most fun projects we have been set.” The sculpture generated extensive PR coverage including BBC Breakfast, BBC London, Daily Telegraph, Mail Online and mass social media engagement.

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line, MGAE has secured over 80 A-list licensing partners worldwide across all major categories of softlines, hardlines, and publishing, to create a global licensing programme. Among its new global licensing partners are: MegaToys (US), Sakar (US, UK, France), Kennedy Publishing (UK), DC Thomson (UK), Amscan (select territories in Europe), Play by Play Toys (Europe and Mexico), RMS International (UK), Winning Moves (UK, Italy), STOR, S.L. (select territories in Europe, Middle East, Africa), Trends International LLC (US, Canada), Innovative Design (US, Canada), IG Design (US).

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Retail Interview

Tesco

An exciting year for licensing at Tesco Licensing World spoke to Rachel Wakley, head of brand licensing at Tesco, about the retailer’s approach to its licensing business.

What is the optimum number of licensed properties for Tesco to work with? We work across a vast number of commercial categories; ranging from toys to entertainment, through to celebration cakes, advent calendars, bedding and stationery. The number of SKUs within each category varies dramatically, and the role that a specific licensed property plays also varies significantly for each area. Instead, we work with each individual category to understand the needs of our customers and work to find the right brand to deliver for our customers.

What are the key attributes you look for in a property? Again, this varies. However, in the main, we are looking for properties that are already well established from a content perspective. Our customers need to know who the characters or brands are, and ideally, already have an emotional connection to them. Whether the property comes from a film franchise, TV programme, published content, online platform or social media – it doesn’t really matter. We look to see how the property lends

itself to the relevant product area, through product design, style guides and so on, although this can vary when it comes to non-entertainmentbased licensing. Sometimes we are looking for aligned values and brand direction, from which meaningful product can be developed. This would be particularly relevant for lifestyle consumer products or personality licensing.

and the timing. It also depends on what your measure is of a cross category activation. We tend to view this type of activation as one small element within our total plan, and use it as a tool to help illustrate our depth of range for a particular brand, or a way of showcasing newness or exclusivity for example. This approach applies to both our stores and online channels.

In terms of your overall range, what balance do you look to strike between current hot properties and established evergreen brands? Does the balance differ from category to category?

How important is in-store activity to the success of a licence?

Our mix between new properties and established brands varies depending on the category, as well as the timings. We are always looking to update and innovate – be that through a new property, or an updated style guide from an existing franchise.

What are the main challenges in co-ordinating licensed merchandise across all the different product categories that Tesco stocks? There are a number of challenges – as there always are when coordinating multiple stakeholders. Timing is one the key challenges, as each category works to different timelines and critical paths. However, we have a well-established team at Tesco, so we tend to have strong relationships with the buying teams. We work with them day-in dayout, which makes cross-category execution that little bit easier.

How effective is crossmerchandising in delivering sales for a licence? It really does depend on the brand

We would say that the most important activity is to secure range listings for a licence. This offers a day-in, day-out product listing – for up to six months on some areas. However, it is also true to say that we have a number of licences that have a shorter consumer product window, and we would aim to build a plan that best reflects this. It all depends on the brand in question, the product area and how this resonates with our customers and their shopping missions. We build our plans for each license across all of our channels – and all have equal significance and focus.

Which licensed properties do you think will be successful for Tesco in 2017? 2017 is developing into a very exciting year for brand licensing at Tesco. There are a number of existing brands that are performing particularly well, but we have also seen some great innovation and development that is still to come for the second half of the year. We work across a number of different brands - from entertainment to lifestyle, to personality and so on – and the comparison and the sales success varies dramatically. Perhaps a great example of this would be our “Davina

Licensing World 24

F&F Active” range collaboration. This has worked particularly well within apparel, but obviously, doesn’t translate into toys.

How far ahead do you work with licensors and licensees to plan activity? We try to work 18 months out with licensors. On some of our larger projects, this can go to two years out. Licensees would be more like 12 months out – but that depends on the category area, and their buying cycle. As a centralised licensing function, our relationship is predominantly with the licensors – whereas the buying teams would be working directly with the licensees. That said, we also try our best to be relatively nimble when needed; where customer demand requires us to react to particular trends or cultural relevance, we will do our best to find the right way to market.

Which is more important when it comes to licensing– breadth of range or depth of stock on the key SKUs? An age-old question! It really does depend on the range or the event, as well as the location. Not all of our stores are the same size, so we have to have a scale-able plan for each range that reflects that. We also have differing web platforms – so our offering on hardlines versus our offering on food product is quite different. In addition, we work very hard not to have a ‘one size fits all’ approach to licensing. We evaluate every category we work with, as well as hundreds of licences in the market. We then understand the need of our customers at each point during the year – and work to develop solutions for our customers through these categories and licences – relevant to the channel they wish to shop.

DC SUPER HERO GIRLS and all related characters and elements ©& ™ DC Comics and Warner Bros. Entertainment Inc.

©Universal

Pyramid International. Unit A, Bruce Way, Whetstone, Leicestershire, LE8 6HP | Telephone: 0116 284 3640 | Email: mail@pyramidinternational.com | www.pyramidinternational.com

Company Profile

Redan

Quality time with favourite brands

Licensing World spoke to Redan's managing director Julie Jones about the company’s 26 years in publishing and how, despite the growing amount of time children spend online, print magazines still hold appeal for them. Can you give us a little background on Redan? Established 26 years ago, Redan is the leading independent publisher of character led children’s magazines in the UK, US, Canada, Australia and New Zealand. We currently publish 24 separate children’s titles, hold the licence for approximately 50 properties, and print over 18.5 million magazines a year. With over 25 years’ experience in the children’s magazine sector, our titles are of the highest quality, with award-winning editorial content and unbeatable presence at retail.

Which brands and properties do you currently work with? Because we have several multicharacter titles, we currently have agreements in place with over 50 properties. However, in terms of stand-alone titles Peppa Pig obviously stands out, as we currently publish two Peppa titles: Fun To Learn Peppa Pig and Peppa Pig Bag-O-Fun, as well as featuring Peppa in both Fun To Learn Friends and Fun To Learn Favourites magazines. We also publish an In the Night Garden Magazine in the UK, and titles from across the entire Disney portfolio in the USA and Canada.

How many kids do you reach with each title? That’s a really tricky question

because each title sells a different number of copies, also differentiating between print run, circulation and reach is very important. The print run is the number of copies printed, the circulation (or official ABC figure) is the number of copies each issue sells and the reach is how many people we estimate will share a copy of each magazine (siblings, parents, carers etc). The industry standard for this figure tends to be 3.5 x the circulation figure but it is variable. Peppa Bag-OFun is our best-selling title in the UK and its current ABC is 83,057 so the reach of that individual title is around 290K a month. The total monthly reach of all of our magazines put together is well over two million.

What are your key new launches for this year? We have just re-launched the In The Night Garden magazine and have some fantastic Bag-O-Fun specials coming out, including Dinosaur Roar in the summer - which will benefit from being stocked in the National History Museum, and a Paddington Bear special which will be on shelves at the same time as the new movie is released in November.

What do you see as the value of the publishing sector to licensors? Magazines offer a truly immersive way for children to interact with their favourite brands. Interactive,

tactile and affordable, children go back to magazines time and time again, pouring over the pages and completing the activities. This kind of quality time spent with a brand is hugely effective in bringing both children and parents on board. With multi-character titles there is huge benefit to be gained in being seen alongside other popular characters, and in the perceived editorial endorsement from a publication that is known and trusted by parents and children. There is also the key fact that the reach of many of today’s magazines out-perform many children’s TV channels, making having a presence on the newsstand an essential part of a brand’s licensing programme.

Given the increase in the amount of time children spend online, are printed magazines still relevant to today’s kids? The internet is definitely affecting the magazine market as a whole but the pre-school area in particular is unique - our target audience isn’t quite sophisticated enough to be using the internet as their main source of entertainment. Parents trust print and still hold ultimate control over what types of media their children are consuming. From an educational point of view, magazines also benefit from being seen by children as a treat, and perhaps as more fun than books.

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Parents see the value of their children learning to read and getting ahead in their early learning goals, making magazines desirable to both parents and children, which certainly puts magazines ahead of online content.

What are the main differences in the markets for children’s magazines in the US and UK? The main difference is that UK sales are almost exclusively made at newsstand whilst in the US they are mainly made via subscriptions. There is very little impulse buying of children’s magazines in the US, as customers have to sign up either online or via agents or school bookclubs to receive copies in the post. As a result, covermount gifts are not part of the children’s magazine culture in the US.

What are the key things you look for in a property that makes it a good fit for a partnership with you? Strong visual impact and clear, engaging story lines along with a comprehensive style guide and effective approvals system, are all important factors that we consider when taking on a new property. It is also beneficial to us if there is the potential to publish in Australia, New Zealand, North America and Canada, as it makes sense to be able to utilise our material across all the territories that we publish in.

Feature

Touching Base

Licensing World spoke to a selection of licencees to ask them if there was one thing they could change about the licensing business, what would it be? Royalty Rates. The lack of acknowledgment about what ‘Brexit’ has done to the currency. Licensors are currently expecting royalty rates to go up and margins are being squeezed to an unsustainable level. My second bug bear is slicensing!

Licensing isn’t rocket science; it just requires everyone – licensor, licensee and retailer – working together to get the best possible licence on the best possible product, on shelf at the right time and at the right price.

Lisa Shand Blueprint

Helen Webster Copywrite Designs I would change the English language so licence the noun and license the verb had the same spelling!

I would bring all the licensors away from the South to the sunny climates of “T’up North”, where you will be greeted by the friendliest people in the world. It is also the home of chips and gravy, chip butties, Peter Kay, The Blackpool Tower, pies and people who talk to you in shops. It offers the greatest cup of tea you will ever drink, we are truly passionate about honest food like black pudding and, in some parts, men and women even call one another “love” without it being weird.

Barry Hughes Golden Bear

Michelle Dalziel HTI Group

Darran Garnham MTW Toys

I would like to hide the crystal ball used to discuss the premature demise of a brand/ product, replacing it with one of support and positivity. All too early in a brand’s lifecycle do we hear a rumble of ‘how long will it last’, ‘I give it two years’. As an industry, we need to support new initiatives, not start a clock ticking a second after launch. Maybe we need a third ball with the ability to stop clocks.

Phil Ratcliffe, MV Sports Grey imports. Everyone knows that the majority are solicited - many are even sold by retained agents in the UK - but there is a reluctance to tackle the problem head on. Maybe they are called grey imports for a reason, as they are the same colour as the elephant in the room. Hopefully Brexit will sort it once and for all.

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Robert Ling, Pyramid International If there is one thing I would change about the Licensing industry, it would be the ability to invent an automatic approvals system, so we could make the process nice and smooth. Then I am sure I would see wider smiles around the office and probably fuller heads of hair! I jest of course, we have great hair....

Retail Interview

Matalan

Matalan grows its licensing presence Licensing World spoke to Kate Callender, childrenswear buyer for Matalan’s Character Shop, about the retailer’s expansion of its licensed range. How important a role does character licensed merchandise play within your stores?

Can you give us a brief overview of Matalan’s history in the UK licensed merchandise market? Matalan has worked closely with Disney for over 10 years, offering a Disney department across all stores and online. In October last year, we launched a dedicated Character Shop, featuring a broader selection of character licences. This initiative has worked well for us and we will continue to offer a year-round Character Shop across all stores and online.

What is the current size of the store estate in the UK? There are 230 Matalan outlets, plus three High Street stores. Within each of our stores, there is a dedicated character department. We are currently in the process of refreshing 25 stores by improving the layout and in-store Point of Sale within the character area.

What do you see as Matalan’s key attributes? Matalan is an honest and ethical retailer. Our focus is family and we aim to own the family-friendly value retailer sector for Mens, Ladies, Kids and Home. We also strongly believe in the importance of charity and support Alder Hey and NSPCC.

Our aim to be a destination for character product; it plays a very important part of our range-building for the Holiday shop in the spring / summer season, and the Christmas Gift Shop for the autumn / winter season. As an out of town family destination retailer, it is imperative we offer the characters which families love, from Disney classics to new licenses such as Pokémon. We aim to offer the breadth of characters to give our customers the widest possible choice.

Are you looking to increase the percentage of character licensed merchandise you carry this year? Character merchandise performed exceptionally well for us last year, so we will look to build on this success by increasing our gifting offer for the autumn winter period.

Which product categories in your range feature licensed merchandise? All childrenswear, from baby to teen- including nursery, layette and new-born, swimwear, outerwear, footwear, accessories, girls fashion, boys fashion, nightwear, socks and underwear. We also cover licences in ladies and mens nightwear and fashion, as well as homeware, gifting and toys.

What were the biggest licensing successes for you in 2016? Frozen continued to perform well last year and we enjoyed great success with new licences such as My Little Pony, Paw Patrol and Pokémon. Among the licences which we will be

backing for 2017 are Shimmer & Shine, Snoopy, Spiderman Homecoming, PJ Masks and Star Wars Episode 8.

Within your licensed ranges, do you favour long-term evergreen properties, or is it all about finding ‘the next big thing’? We have partnered with Disney for over ten years and have successfully grown our DTR portfolio. There is some strong franchise activity for 2017, which will help us to grow our evergreen business, such as Beauty and The Beast, Spiderman Homecoming and Star Wars Episode 8. It is also important we continue to offer the customer new licences, so we are always looking for the next big thing. We will be attending Licensing Expo Vegas in May and this is always a great opportunity to review what is on the horizon in terms of licensing in the UK.

Which new licensed properties and product ranges are you excited about for 2017? I think PJ Masks is going to be a winner. It is targeting a slightly older age range than our usual pre-school licences and the style guides look very fresh and exciting.

our ranges are in line with licensed activity in the market. Attending trade fairs such as BLE and Licensing Expo help in gauging the anticipation for new licences, which is important when planning product launches. We also have a wealth of opinions within our Matalan family, both at head office and in store, and we regularly ask for feedback to ensure we are offering the most popular characters.

How much of a challenge is it to deliver the strong value that Matalan is known for on licensed ranges? It is always a challenge to offer great value product which is comparable to our main range product, whilst still offering great level of licensed design and character application. We are working closer than ever with our suppliers to ensure we continue to offer great value product, despite currency challenges.

How do you decide which licensed products to select?

What can licensors and licensees do to help you navigate the licensing field more easily?

We work very closely with our partner suppliers and licensors to ensure the planning and timing of

Currently both our partner licensee suppliers and licensors are a great support when building the ranges.

Licensing World 30

Available Now! The home of girl-tween stationery and gift

Blueprint Collections Ltd. 1st Floor North, Charringtons House, The Causeway, Bishopâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Stortford, Herts. CM23 2ER

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T: +44 (0)845 217 2400 F: +44 (0)845 217 1500 E: info@bluecoll.co.uk

Feature

Character Licensed Merchandise Over the following pages, Licensing World presents a selection of the latest character licensed products and ranges which will be hitting the market over the coming months.

Pioneer Europe 01279 501 090 | www.QualatexEurope.com Pioneer Europe, recently awarded distribution rights for Procos partyware, offers a wide range of balloons and partyware to meet the needs of party planners. The Pioneer Party Collection includes classics such as Princess, Mickey, Minnie, Avengers, Cars and Spider-Man as well as some new trending names such as Moana, Trolls, Minions, and My Little Pony. To add to the range of licensed party products, Pioneer Europe has announced its recent launch of Beauty and the Beast partyware. Cups, plates and napkins, as well as the balloons, are in stock and ready to ship, while the rest of the partyware is available for pre-order and will ship middle of May.

Stor 01706 375 612 | www.storeline.es New introductions to the Stor range include Despicable Me 3, Trolls, My Little Pony, PJ Masks, and Pokémon. New products and designs in the tableware, drinkware and lunch ranges are now available, featuring character imagery from licences such as Despicable Me 3, Cars 3, Spider-Man 3, Beauty and the Beast, My Little Pony, Paw Patrol’s Chase & Skye, Super Hero Girls, Star Wars Episode VIII (available from Q3), Yo-Kai Watch, Disney Princess and Frozen. The company also offers storage boxes, ceramics, toddler items and a comprehensive kids’ baking range. Also in the offering will be 3D lunch bags, with a lenticular option, and character range lines across all licences including new snack bottles, tumblers and tableware.

Enesco 01228 404 022 | www.enesco.co.uk Gund has released a series of new soft toys from the film, Sing. The soft toys feature three favourite characters from the film; Johnny, Buster Moon, and Rosita, and stocks are due in May 2017. Pusheen’s animated web antics have notched up over nine million Facebook followers, and Gund has launched the Surprise Plush Blind Box Series Three: Places Cats Sit. The Surprise Plush Mystery Box series brings the feline pop culture star to retail in a fun, collectable format. At the heart of this series are eight luxuriously soft plush Pusheen cats, which are matched with one of eight accessories depicting typical cat sitting places such as a keyboard, a cardboard box, and a shopping bag. The Pusheens come in different coat colours, and all the cats and accessories can be mixed and matched, making over 60 combinations. Meanwhile, the attached keyring provides portability. Fans are encouraged to interact, swap duplicates, and share pictures of favourite customisations. There is also one rare mystery style to collect. The Surprise Plush Mystery Boxes are presented in sets of 24 in a specially designed counter display with header.

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S E M A G

Gifts, Games and Fun! @GingerFox_UK

www.gingerfox.co.uk

Search ‘Ginger Fox’

+ (0)1242 241765

GingerFoxUK

Award-winning Licensed Toys 2017 DHX Worldwide Limited. In the Night Garden and all related characters, titles and logos are trademarks of DHX Worldwide Limited. All Rights Reserved. Peppa Pig © Astley Baker Davies Ltd/Entertainment One UK Ltd 2003. Dear Zoo © Rod Campbell 2015 Licensing by Metrostar Media Ltd.

NEW Family Fortunes Card Game for 2017!

MillyandFlynn @MillyandFlynn MillyandFlynn sales@millyandflynn.com www.millyandflynn.com

Character Licensed Merchandise

Tomy 01271 336 155 | www.tomy.com Having launched in May last year with a series of three and a half minute animations across Cartoonito, Molang quickly became a top five television show. Molang has generated over 1,000,000 views in just six weeks across YouTube, leading to a nomination for an International Emmy Award. Tomy’s range is set to launch in July 2017 and follows joyful and eccentric rabbit Molang and his loyal best friend Piu Piu as they teach the importance of happiness, friendship, mutual respect and solidarity. The collection is targeted at pre-school girls, gift givers, tweens and teenagers and consists of basic and feature plush toys that encourage role-play activity and emotional connections to Molang. Molang will be transformed into a soft premium plush made from elastic Softboa. Tomy will also be launching a collection of core figures, play sets and collectible plush at the end of the year that will allow children to relive episodes from the show and encourage collectability between friends. Tomy will execute an integrated marketing and communications plan. The collection’s launch will be supported through in-store merchandising initiatives and events to drive sales by celebrating Molang’s core values of friendship, kindness, community, happiness and humour. Tomy will continue to drive awareness by launching a host of digital activity, including display and social media advertising, as well as creating engaging content for followers. The brand will also work with influencers for reviews and promotions across the entire range.

Milly & Flynn 01242 241765 | www.millyandflynn.com New for 2017 from Milly & Flynn are two In the Night Garden toys to help celebrate the 10-year anniversary. These include Stacking Blocks, suitable for an introduction to counting, and a double-sided Magnetic Play Set to help create In the Night Garden scenes. The company’s existing range of Dear Zoo wooden toys has been well received by retailers and the innovation, quality and design was recognised with two awards last year. To celebrate the 35th anniversary of the book Milly & Flynn is releasing chunky Wooden Wheeled Vehicles to go with the award-winning Animal Skittles, Puzzle Blocks, Shape Sorter, Puzzle Tray and the Push-Along Monkey. Peppa Pig is also featured, along with her family and friends, in a wooden toy range that is suitable for pre-schoolers. These traditional-style Peppa Pig toys have been carefully created to occupy little hands and stimulate growing minds. The range includes a Peppa Push-Along, a Campervan Shape Sorter, a Skittles Set, a Magnetic Play Set and Puzzle Blocks. New for this year is a Wooden Clock to help tell the time and Wooden Wheeled Vehicles. The toys are ethically-sourced.

Licensing World 34

Blueprint Collections 0845 217 2400 | www.blueprintcollections.co.uk The girls’ tween stationery and gift offering from Blueprint Collections continues to grow as 2017 marks new launches. Blueprint has tapped into the tween market with a multitude of collectible items backed by TV programmes, blogs, and social media presence which have increased the demand for specialised product offerings. Launching collections for back to school, Christmas and spring, Blueprint has a constant stream of new stationery products. New licences have also already been signed for 2018. For this year alone, Blueprint has developed ranges such as Num Noms, which includes a scented stationery collection, Pusheen which displays luxury plush stationery, and Powerpuff Girls, offering a liquid-filled pencil case. With knowledge and expertise in the Stationery and Gift market, Blueprint offers a vast range of licences and designs for all ages.

Character Licensed Merchandise

Pretend to Bee 0115 921 5690 | www.pretendtobee.com The Thunderbirds are Go range from Pretend to Bee comprises Scott Tracy, Virgil Tracy and Alan Tracy. Each costume features details accurate to each character. The all-in-one costumes are made from 100% polyester with a Velcro back fastening, and each comes with a detachable detail printed sash. Each costume features a sound chip which plays the “Five, Four, Three, Two, One” blast off sequence when pressed, so children can re-enact scenarios just like their favourite characters. Pretend to Bee has also renewed its partnership with the Natural History Museum. This continued licence will see the range added to, with costumes catering for under 3s, a large market for all things dinosaur. Dinosaurs in the current range include Triceratops, Stegosaurus and T-Rex.

Pyramid International 01162 843 645 | www.pyramidinternational.com Pyramid International has been creating a host of products for some of this year’s biggest movie releases. The company’s range for the sequel to the 2014 box office smash hit Guardians of the Galaxy has been well received. Featuring more humour, more action, more Baby Groot and an incredible soundtrack, Guardians of the Galaxy Vol.2 is likely to be one of this year’s huge successes. As a standout character from the last film with a positive reaction on social media, Baby Groot has been a focal point of the range, although a variety of characters is available. The range is extensive and features mugs, badge packs, vinyl stickers, festival wristbands, a doormat and posters which are available exclusively from Pyramid International in the UK. The range contains products to suit all ages. Another key licence with a character focus that Pyramid International is working on is Despicable Me 3. Over the last few months Pyramid’s range for Despicable Me has grown to include a plethora of new products. This includes a complete range of stationery focused around the Fluffy Unicorn, as well as an updated library of products with current Minion designs.

Star Cutouts 0161 344 5839 | www.starcutouts.com Star Cutouts, Star Masks and Photo Stand-Ins are complementary products for any toy retailer who stocks the latest licensed toy ranges. Star Cutouts focuses on ranging the biggest licences and latest film releases, and the product is supplied in its all new retail packaging, with in-store POS solutions available. Current key licences include Trolls, Star Wars, Marvel, DC Comics, Peppa Pig, Disney, Wizarding World of Harry Potter, and Minions. Star Cutouts has a range of over 700 cut-outs and a low minimum order value. The company offers a next day delivery drop ship service direct to stores or customers. Guardians of the Galaxy 2 is released in May 2017 and the company predicts the break out character, hugely popular with fans, will be Baby Groot. Captain Jack Sparrow also makes a return in May 2017 and a selection of Star Masks and Star Cutouts is available now. To coincide with the release of Despicable Me 3, an assortment of Minions as well as a group of stand-ins will be on offer, suitable for both adults and children.

Licensing World 36

Character Licensed Merchandise

GB Eye 0114 292 0095 | www.gbeye.com GB eye’s expanding range of drinkware includes Pokémon and Harry Potter along with other key licences from DC Comics, Friends, Supernatural, The Walking Dead, Doctor Who and game brands such as PlayStation, Fallout and Call of Duty. The range now includes over 1,300 titles across a wide variety of formats with more to come in the future. 2017 will see the launch of new styles and formats including premium coloured glassware, glass steins, new 3D mugs for Harry Potter and Pokémon, and heat change mug designs, all of which will be available in early June. Featuring the key licences for coming year, the range uses trend driven design to create a collection of drinkware products ideal for gifting. Further launches are planned for the second half of the year including the company’s aluminium drinks bottles and key gaming ranges from Call of Duty, Destiny 2, Assassins Creed and more.

Anker International 01908 618811 | www.copywritedesigns.co.uk

Posh Paws 01268 567 317 | www.poshpawsinternational.co.uk Lightning McQueen will be back in Cars 3 this July. Cars provides a world of vehicles with personality that appeals to kids’ interest in racing, friendship and humour. The all new Cars 3 Plush range uses new fabrics to reflect the characters from the film. Posh Paws has a range of Marvel plush to support the release of Spiderman Homecoming, and the company has a range of Spiderman and Iron Man plush and accessories available to order now. The Despicable Me family are making a return to the cinema this June. The film features character favourites Gru, Agnes and Fluffy, as well as new characters such as Lucky the UniGoat and new Minion outfits. The extensive Despicable Me 3 plush range includes a variety of sizes and styles. Posh Paws has also developed a range of movie-themed backpacks and plush bags to support the movie launch. In addition there will be an all new collectible plush range launching soon.

Copywrite Designs has put together a roster of new licences for 2017. Copywrite has collaborated with Disney to bring together a range of stationery art and craft items featuring characters from the TV channel, Disney Junior. Mickey and Minnie, Sofia the First, Doc McStuffins and Jake & the Neverland Pirates will all feature. Summer 2017 sees the release of Despicable Me 3, and Copywrite has also partnered with Universal to produce a stationery art and craft range that will be launched in June, just ahead of the film release in the UK. It will comprise of multiple sticker and colouring and activity formats. Another licence for Copywrite Designs is emoji, first launched in 2016, and for 2017 the company has refreshed its emoji design and product range with two new looks, one with a black background and one in pink. August 2017 will also see the UK release of The Emoji Movie. 2017 will also see the release of the Marvel film, Spiderman: Homecoming. Copywrite Designs are the UK Marvel licensee for a range of stationery, stickers, Back to School and stationery art and craft items. Copywrite’s trend stationery offerings are growing apace as 2017 has already seen the launch of Chupa Chups in addition to a new stationery range showcasing UK confectionery brands including Fruit Salad, Refreshers, Dip Dab and Wham!.

Licensing World 38

Character Licensed Merchandise

Ginger Fox 01242 542 765 | www.gingerfox.co.uk Ginger Fox is extending its licensed TV game show game range this year. New for 2017 is one of the nation’s best-loved TV game shows, Family Fortunes. Players must predict the survey results to win in this game for all the family. In The Chase, players must outwit and outrun the Chaser and their opponents in this race to win the most cash, making the choice to gamble or play it safe without getting caught. This games features over 120 questions. Blockbusters, based on the TV quiz show, requires players to use their knowledge and strategy as they make their way across the Blockbusters grid. The winner of the first three rounds goes on to play the Gold Round and be crowned ultimate Blockbuster champion in this game for the whole family. Playing Million Pound Drop will take courage, quick wits and nerves of steel, and players can test their wits with over 110 questions.

Character Options 01616 339 800 | www.character-online.com 2017 marks the Teletubbies 20th anniversary. Character Options has launched a collection of 8” talking Teletubbies with colourful party accessories. Children can squeeze their tummies to hear key catchphrases from the show. Tiddlytubbies first appeared in the TV series in November 2015 and have since become popular with pre-school audiences. The Giggling Tiddytubbies plush toys release a giggling sound when their tummies are squeezed. Umby Pumby, Mi-Mi and Ping come in muted colours with towelling fabric bodies. Shuffle and Giggle Ping is an interactive toy to help encourage crawling, as she shuffles and giggles along the floor. The range is supported with full marketing and PR, plus a programme of blogging and unboxing videos.

GP Flair 0208 643 0320 | www.flairplc.co.uk GP Flair and Moose Enterprise launch a collectible range for Despicable Me 3. The first series of Mineez Despicable Me has over 75 collectible figures, including rare, ultra-rare and limited edition characters split into five different sub segments. Options include the Core Collector pack with three figures, or the Deluxe Collector’s pack with six figures, and a CDU is available. The Collector’s Tin comes with two figures. Blind packed Micro Key Rings offer 12 different Despicable Me characters, and when children aren’t collecting they can entertain themselves with the bouncy Drop & Pop Minions. From August, Dru’s Super Lair will be offering an interactive playset option with sound effects and three figures. Lastly, the water-soluble Fizz Surprise will launch later in 2017, which releases a submarine with two colour changing minions hidden inside when dissolved.

Just Play 0208 643 0320 | www.justplay.org.uk The PJ Masks range from Just Play includes the Collectible Figures Five pack, which includes Catboy, Owlette, Gekko, Luna Girl and Romeo. These 7cm figures are each positioned in a dynamic action pose and are suitable for playtime and as collectibles. Vehicle and Figure Sets are also available, as well as the 7cm articulated single figure assortment. The range also includes a Light-Up Figure Two Pack Assortment; the Deluxe 15cm Talking Figures has six characters to collect, which come with catchphrases. The PJ Masks 16-Piece Deluxe Figure and Accessory Set helps fans to recreate PJ Masks scenes with all their favourite characters. These figures are scaled for use with all of the playsets, including the upcoming Transforming Figure Playsets. Each Transforming Playset comes with two action figures, one as their daytime persona and another as their PJ Masks alter ego.

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For more information, support@pretendtobee.com

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Character Licensed Merchandise

Funrise 01908 555 640 | www.funrise.com The Funrise portfolio has expanded for 2017 to include new property Luna Petunia. As master toy licensee for the new Netflix Luna Petunia series, Funrise has created a toy line that brings the world of Luna and her friends to life as they embark on adventures in Amazia. The Cirque du Soleil Junior show is an imaginative world in which kids are encouraged to believe that they can make the impossible possible. All of the main characters and key moments from the show are included in an assortment of products including figures, mini playsets, plush, large dolls and more. Rounding out the line is the key driver, the Petunia Manor Playset, which features figures, lights and sounds from the show. Funrise will be launching the Luna Petunia range with a full marketing campaign that is to include TV, digital, and parental support.

Mattel 01628 500111 | www.mattel.com Movie Moves McQueen has joined the Disney Pixar Cars 3 range, while the Florida Speedway Playset lets fans race around the motorised track. The Justice League Action range includes a Justice League 12” Action Figure Assortment. Also available is Battle Wing Batman and the new Batmobile. Role-play items include the Voice Changer Helmet, Cyborg Blaster and Cape & Cowl set. The WWE Tough Talkers 6” Figure Assortment has sound-recognition technology that allows figures to interact with signature phrases and sounds. They can be used with the Tough Talkers Interactive Ring Playset. New to the Thomas & Friends’ My First range is the Day to Night Projector and Railway Pals Destination Discovery, while the Adventures range launches the Shark Escape set and Misty Island Zipline. The Trackmaster range introduces Demolition at the Docks and the Scrapyard Escape Set. The new Shimmer and Shine range will include floating dolls, musical playsets, and bangles.

Blue Sky Studios 01133 879 670 | www.blueskydesigns.co.uk

Chicco 0121 454 9707 | www.chicco.co.uk

Looking ahead to Q4, Blue Sky Studios has two key licences backed by movie releases, the first being My Little Pony. The company has a comprehensive movie-specific range of more than 25 products covering stationery, activity, gift and lighting. Advance listings are strong and the brand has been backed by a number of major retailers. My Little Pony has risen in popularity over the past 18 months, and with the increasing interest in the movie the company expects a successful year for its licensed range of My Little Pony toys. Star Wars is set to have a dominant presence again at Christmas with The Last Jedi movie being released in cinemas in December. The company offers a range of both movie-specific product and classic Star Wars, covering stationery, gift, and consumer electronics. New additions to the range include the limited edition Shadow Trooper Bluetooth speaker, a cinema light box, and a Death Star message board. The range of gift and consumer electronic products is preparing for a relaunch in refreshed black and white packaging. The company recently acquired the Hasbro property Hanazuki, and is experiencing positive interest from a number of retailers despite only being in the very early stages of product development. Slated for launch in 2018, the company is working on a wide number of products across a variety of categories in the girls market, and retailers are urged to monitor product development and news as the range progresses.

The Fiat 500 Remote Control is suitable for toddlers aged two years and upwards. It is based on the Fiat 500 sports car and is controlled using a steering wheel shaped remote, which also features a horn. The Fiat 500 joins the RC range by Chicco, which includes other vehicles such as Billy Big Wheels and Johnny Coupè.

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Schleich 01279 870 000 | www.schleich-s.com/en

Trust Your

With a hotly-anticipated new film on the horizon for Spiderman, Schleich has launched new Spider-Man product lines. 7th July will see Spiderman: Homecoming hit the big screen and the new Spiderman figurine, which stands in his signature pose on a cut-out brick scene, will be available for fans of the licence. The new Green Goblin figurine will also be launching in July. Never before seen Dr. Strange and Thor figurines will also join the range in July ahead of respective film releases in November.

Pioneer® Europe Ltd. now official distributor of Procos Partyware for England, Scotland and Wales.

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Jazwares 0203 598 5119 | www.jazwares.com Jazwares has launched a new Roblox toy line, which brings to life the digital game. The selection of playsets and characters includes a range of collectible blind boxes, each containing one of 24 characters. The figures can be mixed and matched to create new characters, and each comes with a redeemable code for exclusive virtual items. Chuggington is Jazwares’ newest pre-school toy line. There are 24 Little Chuggers to collect, plus various track packs and location playsets. The ConnecTrax system is compatible with other train systems, and the range includes Little Chuggers Doubles, the Little Chuggers Mini Playset, Little Chuggers Theme Pack, and Little Chuggers Mini Garages.

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Licensing World 43

Character Licensed Merchandise

Simba Smoby 01274 765 030 | www.simba-dickie-group.de/en For 2017, Simba Smoby has launched a master toy range for pre-school licence Wissper. The 3” figurine assortment comprises Set One of Wissper, Gertie and Otis, or Set Two of Wissper, Dan and Peggy. The hero of the range is the Wissper and Peggy 8.5” doll set which includes a fully articulated Wissper doll, a Peggy figurine and accessories. Later in the year, a 15” feature doll will have three different phrases, play music, and say Wissper’s signature catchphrase. Five different playsets can transform from the real world to one of the fantasy Wissper worlds, and come complete with a Wissper figure, an animal friend, and accessories. Larger 8.5” playsets will be introduced later in the year. Plush also features in the collection and two assortments are available, along with Wissper’s compass, friendship bracelets and musical panpipe toy.

H. Grossman 01416 132 525 | www.ozbozz.com Power Rangers is expected to make an impact this year, and Grossman has a whole range of outdoor items for kids to test their superpowers with. Products include play tents, pogo sticks, scooters and skittles, and there is even a set of inflatable Power Rangers weaponry for kids to add to their armoury. Emojis are also popular at the moment, and the company is introducing a full range of outdoor products for 2017 including scooters, pogo sticks, skateboards, tents, spiral ball, wall crawlers, bubble wands, skittles, balls of all shapes and sizes and a pocket money priced Emoji hopper.

PMS International 01268 505 050 | www.pmsinternational.com Gosh! Designs, the home of licensed brands at PMS International, is launching a collection from The Gruffalo. The range comprises indoor and outdoor play lines, creative activity products and travel accessories, all launching summer 2017. The collection has items for a typical British summer, with options for sunny days, rainy days and family holidays. From luggage tags for kids on the move, to bean bag games for family get-togethers, the range aligns with the positive brand values of exploration, independent learning and creativity as well as being representative of the much loved publishing phenomenon.

Big Chief Studios 0121 667 8194 | www.bigchiefstudios.co.uk Big Chief Studios has received its first pre-orders for the upcoming Character Replica Figures; Scott and Virgil Tracy. Featuring accurate portraits digitally scanned from full sized puppet heads, moving action eyes, flexible poseable hands, hand-tailored costumes and detailed accessories, each figure comes with a specially designed light up display base. Big Chief plans to release each of the Tracy Brothers as well as Brains, Lady Penelope, Parker, and arch nemesis The Hood. The first wave in the James Bond Collector Edition Series, Goldfinger was made available for pre-order in February and continues to garner interest from independent retailers and distributors around the globe. With the second wave, Live and Let Die currently in development, Big Chief is set to continue its range throughout the eras of 007. Doctor Who returned to TV screens at Easter and likewise Big Chief continues its rollout of collector figures with the Eighth Doctor (Paul McGann). Outfitted in a deep green velvet-like frock coat, the figure comes with multiple accessories and is produced in a worldwide limited edition.

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Vivid Imaginations 01473 322 000 | www.vividtoysandgames.co.uk To celebrate 35 years of Care Bears, Rainbow Heart Bear joins the range in July, accompanied by new characters in the bean bag, medium and large plush assortments. With refreshed packaging, the bears feature new crystal eyes. Hug & Giggle Cheer and Share Bear is the new TV advertised line for autumn. Ooshies are squishy mini figures that double up as pencil toppers. Licences for spring/summer 17 include Marvel, DC Comics, WWE, TMNT, Cars 3 and Disney, with new waves for autumn/ winter 17, along with new Dreamworks & Pixar licences. Vivid’s Disney Emoji collectible range will include popular Disney characters in a #ChatBubble blind purchase option containing two figures, the #ChatPack five figure pack or a #ChatCollection tin with exclusive figures. These are joined by plush #Chatties with sounds, available as Olaf, Sulley, Nemo & Ariel. #Swapsies are plush Emoji characters with 20 expressions, which can be changed according to mood.

Maped Helix 01384 286 860 | www.mapedhelix.co.uk Stationery supplier Helix is expanding its portfolio of licensed products after joining forces with Star Wars and Mattel to launch two new ranges. Helix’s Star Wars range sees the return of the company’s themed stationery products from its original 1977 Star Wars range, in celebration of the 40 year anniversary of the first Star Wars film. Products in the Helix Star Wars anniversary range will feature the Star Wars 40th anniversary logo and include the Death Star pencil sharpener; the original maths set tin featuring the 1977 design but with modern day contents; a range of four pencil cases featuring hand-drawn artwork to represent different characters from the classic movies; the stormtrooper 30cm ruler; and a twelve pack of HB graphite pencils featuring the Star Wars logo and May The Force Be With You slogan. An Anniversary Collection set, as well as a selection of home and office products, is also being produced. Alongside the Star Wars range, Helix will be launching its new Fun to Learn range in partnership with Mattel, which features a host of characters including Hot Wheels, Thomas the Tank Engine, Barbie, and Bob the Builder. Stationery fans will be able to choose from a range of pencil cases, rulers, scissors, pencils, erasers and stencils, all featuring their favourite characters.

Talking Shop Licensing World's Rachael Simpson spoke to a selection of UK toy retailers about the licensed properties which are currently selling well in their stores. Bhav Patel Toy Galaxy, Barnet There are a number of key licences that are performing very strongly in our stores at the moment. Following on from last year’s success, Paw Patrol continues to be a big hitter, and in terms of newer licences, PJ Masks has also experienced fantastic demand. I’m sure many will agree that Pokémon is maintaining a good flow of sales through from last year. The mobile app Pokémon Go gave the brand a massive boost and brought it to the attention of potential customers who perhaps hadn’t been following it up to that point, in addition to broadening the customer base. As a result of this, I would say that consumers who were already fans of Pokémon increased their involvement too. The brand is definitely more popular now than it has been over the last couple of years. Later in the year we will be looking to stock the extended range from Hatchimals, as the price point is especially attractive. Cars 3 is the big licence to look out for in the next quarter given the success of the franchise, especially the first film. I think there will be a big following for the new

movie plus a good product range that will supplement it really well. The Marvel and DC Comic releases should help to boost sales of licensed goods. However, I do feel there is a bit of overkill within those franchises with the sheer number of film releases, and as a result our customers are perhaps a little too used to seeing those particular characters on our shelves. As retailers we see a lot of product, a lot of continuation, and a lot of repetition carried over from year to year. When it comes down to it, a SpiderMan figure is a Spider-Man figure. Such figures tend to target the collectors market, which is not our primary customer base. We carry 35% licensed goods versus 65% generic goods. I feel that one of the main positives with licensed goods is their come-and-go nature, something which generates a lot of interest. However, I was speaking with someone recently regarding Peppa Pig, a property we have had on our shelves for over 10 years, which nonetheless continues to maintain its sales momentum and longevity. When customers come to the store to look for licensed items, most of them will be in the market for role-play products and action figures. The core range of action figures is always a safe bet, but I feel that with licences, especially the likes of PJ Masks, kids really want to become that character. There is always a huge range of products for a licence, and as such the categories they fit into are endless, but a licence will always perform particularly well when there is a bit more to it. Licensed arts and crafts ranges tend to display good sales results, as does Paw Patrol stationery. Parents look for added value within a range, not simply an item with a brand tacked on to it, and a product with which a parent can get their child actively involved in something will always attract customers.

Jon Starling Starlings, Bury St Edmunds PJ Masks is selling so well we are having difficulty obtaining stock at the moment. Power Rangers is also performing well, due to the film release. When undertaking purchases we look at a range of licences and film releases, and we consider whether or not they tie in with the target demographic of our store. In my opinion, the people buying toys are, generally speaking, children under the age of eight or nine, but you probably wouldn’t take a five year old to see Transformers due to the level of violence. Similarly, The Avengers films are popular, and the licensed action figures are high quality, but they don’t always fit with our demographic and the products are often more of an adult purchase. We’re looking forward to the Ninjago movie later in the year, as the range of licensed toys that will accompany it should hit our target demographic quite well. We stock a full range of licensed goods - around 20-25% of our stock is licensed. Retailers have to keep a good range of different products in order to maintain a balance, which is why we have made the decision to stock that ratio of licensed versus generic goods. Over the years we have found that the decision on whether or not to stock something can almost depend more on the product than the on the licence itself – the product can make or break it.

Licensing World 46

Susannah Gill Prisks of Looe, East Looe Trade has been good for us so far this year. Products from the PokĂŠmon Company are experiencing good sales in our store, and Harry Potter items continue to be popular with our customer base, primarily the games and puzzles. As retailers, we are finding that licensed goods are becoming more popular. When we initially started to stock licensed products we only offered a few different options but they sold well compared to the non-licensed toys and games that we stock. Following on from this success, approximately 30% of the games and puzzles we now offer in the shop are licensed. Products from Winning Moves are especially popular with our customers.

Mark Davenport Kaleidoscope, Tavistock Postman Pat and Peppa Pig have always done well for us as licensed products, as does the entire range from Character Options. We also stock Spider-Man and Avengers toys, and all manner of lightweight picture footballs. The footballs are at the cheaper end of the scale and we find that they drift the store through very well. We also offer a wide variety of Thomas the Tank Engine products, plus Star Wars, Paw Patrol, and PJ Masks, which remains extremely popular. Overall, I would say that around 30-40% of our stock is licensed.

Hot Properties Blue Zoo 0207 434 4111 | www.blue-zoo.co.uk

Imperial War Museum 0207 416 5314 | www.iwm.org.uk IWM (Imperial War Museums) is a family of five museums, including the IWM London, IWM North, IWM Duxford, the Churchill War Rooms, and the historic ship HMS Belfast. Together, these branches attract over two million visitors a year, offering activities and experiences to families and adults of all ages. 2016 saw new partnerships with The Monster Factory, who is producing a range of inflatable spitfires plus tank and spitfire rubbers, and The Lagoon Group who produce jigsaws and wooden models. IWM’s recent signing with Smart Fox, a Koch Media company, received great attention as new products were launched at Spring Fair 2017. The range of children’s construction sets features HMS Belfast, that led the fleet at D-Day. It also features the Lancaster Bomber, Sherman Tank, Willys MB Jeep and the Hawker Hurricane, all of which are held in the collections of IWM Duxford, the European centre of aviation history. The sets are designed to offer younger age groups an introduction to history. IWM is set to continue developing products in the toys and games market in categories such as kids crafts, construction sets and models, outdoor play, costumes and dress up and puzzles and games, but welcomes ideas from all areas. Licensees are encouraged to look at the collections creatively as demonstrated by the Spitfire Collection, developed in collaboration with Hemingway Design. This suite of patterns and prints, based on the iconic plane, is currently being used by The Lagoon Group as well as IWM’s latest licensee, Shruti, in a contemporary male gifting range. The Spitfire Collection also includes patterns developed for the children’s market, with designs featuring bold primary colours and a graphic print. As well as access to IWM’s collections including posters, artworks, photos, textiles, vehicles and more, IWM offers licensees curatorial expertise, design collaboration, dedicated research support and use of its renowned brand. IWM’s annual programme of public events, exhibitions and air shows provide marketing and promotional opportunities for commercial partners as well as ensuring the brand is always relevant. 2018 will mark the centenary of the end of the First World War with national and international events planned. IWM is commemorating the centenary in a number of ways, including through the First World War Centenary Partnership which is leading a five year programme of cultural events across the world. A regeneration project is also underway to expand the Second World War galleries.

Licensing World 48

Digby Dragon is a nature-inspired comedy animation for younger children. Set in the colourful and enchanted Applecross Woods, the animation follows Digby, a fledging dragon learning to fly. With his best friend, fairy Fizzy Izzy, Digby takes on adventures in the woods, encountering characters including train driver Grumpy Goblin and Chips the scatter-brained squirrel. Digby was created and based on original work from Sally Hunter, creator of the celebrated pre-school property, Humphrey’s Corner. Digby Dragon is being produced by Blue Zoo Animation Studio entirely at its central London studio. The series launched in July 2016 on Nick Jr. (UK) as the top weekday premiere of all time for live viewing and was the top weekday show on Nick Jr. for that month. Aardman Animations has acquired international TV, DVD, and digital sales rights with Nickelodeon UK, commissioning 52 episodes x 11 minutes of the programme. Digby Dragon is currently available on Nick Jr. and Milkshake in the UK and Nick Jr in the USA, ZDF in Germany and will be rolled out across the following territories in the next few months; Nick Jr. in Latin America, Australia, and New Zealand, MBC3 across MENA, Tele Quebec in Canada, MTVA in Hungary, Canal Panda in Portugal, Disney Asia across Pan Asia, YLE in Finland, and SVT in Sweden. Nickelodeon and Viacom Consumer Products has acquired Consumer Products rights in the UK and Ireland. Nickelodeon believes that ranges such as forest playsets, vehicle, and plush would work well with the property. Dress up and role-play would lend themselves well, along with sleepwear and select apparel. Blue Zoo is renowned for developing, creating, and producing stylish animations, sold across the globe including; Alphablocks, Numberblocks, Tree Fu Tom, Q Pootle 5, Olive the Ostrich, Go Jetters, and Miffy.

Hot Properties

Xilam +33 (0)1 40 18 72 00 | www.xilam.com

JCB 01889 590 312 | www.jcbexplore.com The JCB Kids’ licensing programme has gone from strength to strength over the last 12 months with new product launches, licence extensions and new licensee partnerships. A new partnership with Specsavers has seen JCB enter the eyewear arena for the first time. The deal includes six frames for kids, based on a variety of designs that feature both characterised My First JCB artwork and authentic JCB branding. Available in stores nationwide, the launch is supported by heavyweight marketing including national press, in store displays, and window graphics. Continuing its growth in children’s clothing, JCB is preparing to launch its spring/summer 2017 range with M&Co this May. This follows a hugely successful 2016, which saw JCB become the most successful kids’ licensed range launch for the retailer. The JCB toy range, which includes vehicle and role-play toys with HTI, starts with pre-school My First JCB from Golden Bear and extends right through to authentic machine models with Britain’s (Tomy) and Oxford Diecast. JCB continues to build on its toy offering with new additions to existing ranges, as well as new partnerships that will see products launched later this year. With the great outdoors being a staple part of the JCB message, the #digtheadventure campaign remains an important part of the company’s marketing and is promoted through social media activity. A variety of themed experience zones across the UK aim to encourage families to get outdoors and explore. 2017 will see a significant addition to this initiative which will further strengthen the awareness and appeal of the JCB brand to parents and children across the UK.

Popular with pre-schoolers, Oggy and the Cockroaches has world-wide viewing figures and new licensing activity as the brand continues to grow into 2017. The series began airing on Fox TV in the US in 1998 and has since been distributed in more than 160 countries around the world. The show is watched in 600m homes and has an internet audience of 3.8b videos viewed on YouTube, as well as 3m fans on Facebook. Season five is set to rollout internationally this year on a number of leading broadcasters in key territories including France’s Lagardère Active channel Gulli which will air the new season in September. Additional broadcasters include Cartoon Network Asia, Latin America and Africa, RTBF and VRT in Benelux, and K2 and Frisbee in Italy. Season five sees Oggy exploring the great epochs of civilization; from prehistory, Greek Mythology and the Renaissance, to the Roaring ’20s and beyond, meeting legendary figures on his quest to destroy roaches. Seasons six and seven will premiere from 2017 to 2018 and will comprise a mix of brand new episodes along with full remakes of classic stories from seasons one and two, all produced in 4K. Licensing activity continues to ramp up on the property following a recent master toy deal with French toy company, Lansay. Lansay will bring the Oggy cast to life via traditional and electronic plush, a line of 3D plastic figurines as well as board and card games which will all hit shelves in France next year. Xilam also has several licensing agents on board including South East Asia’s Empire Licensing, Italy’s Discovery and Dream Theatre for India. These partnerships underpin Xilam’s strategic decision to have a stronger and broader international consumer product offering. The licensing program started in 2015 in South East Asia where the series is performing well on both Nickelodeon and Cartoon Network. Empire signed two plush deals with Kin Hsing Toy in Taiwan and Tri Star in Indonesia. Tri Star plans to release a full collection of novelty plush this year for Valentines, Student Graduation, Halloween and Christmas. In September 2016, Xilam launched a third wave of collectible Oggy and the Cockroaches figurines with Gedis Newsstand in Italy. The figurines, produced by Grani Partners for Gedis, have proved so popular that a fourth collection is already in development. Oggy broadcasts on K2 and Frisbee in Italy, where it also has a growing consumer products range across all categories, including toys with Lisciani Giocchi. Dream Theatre represents Oggy and the Cockroaches across all consumer products categories and brand promotion in India. The series is one of India’s leading children’s TV performers, airing on both Cartoon Network and Nickelodeon with the first consumer products expected to hit shelves in spring.

Licensing World 50

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Over 100,000 fans on Facebook!

Ne categow rolling ories in 2017ut

For further licensing information please contact bbcw.licensing@bbc.com HEY DUGGEE™ and character logos™ & © Studio AKA Ltd 2014. Licensed by BBC Worldwide Ltd BBC logo ™ & © BBC 1996.

Airin g on CB now e and N ebies ick Jn r in th e US

New categories rolling out in 2017

New Vroomster ride just launched at Alton Towers!

SERIES 2 COMING IN 2017

For all licensing enquiries please contact: bbcw.licensing@bbc.com

Heavy marketing support throughout 2017

Vegas

Licensing Expo Preview

Another roll of the dice

he global licensing community will shortly be heading to Las Vegas for Licensing Expo, which will once again be held at the Mandalay Bay Convention Centre in Las Vegas. Launched in 1980, Licensing Expo is the world’s largest annual trade show dedicated to licensing and brand extension. The show f loor is merchandised into two zones: Characters & Entertainment and Brands, Agents and Design. Over 16,000 retailers, licensees, manufacturers, distributors and licensing agents attend the Expo from more than 67 countries, all looking to uncover hot new properties, identify the latest trends in the industry and finalise licensing deals. The growing importance of BLE has previously placed a question mark over the need for European visitors to attend Licensing Expo, but the sheer magnitude of the event – together with its timing – does offer UK & European licensees and retailers significant advantages over those who choose to wait until October to attend BLE. The event is taking place a month earlier this year: the show itself will run from

23rd – 25th May, however presentations and meetings start on 22nd May. Jessica Blue, senior vice president licensing, UBM Americas, commented: “Licensing Expo has become the hub for licensing professionals, and the number of events supporting the industry during the week of the Expo in Las Vegas has grown significantly. UBM recognizes that some participants struggle to fit everything into their schedule, so we’re excited to introduce Licensing Week to bring together those events in a full, easy-to-manage calendar that allows everyone to take part in as many of these opportunities as possible.” Licensing Expo, which remains the centrepiece of the week, will host more than 5,000 brands from all categories. Other components of Licensing Week include Studio Screenings, the Licensing University, a Matchmaking service, the Opening Night Party and the Agent’s Business Forum. Over 400 exhibitors occupy booths on the Licensing Expo show f loor, from global giants of the licensing world through to companies representing some of the more unusual and off beat properties that you’re likely to

Licensing World 53

encounter. In addition, numerous licensing representatives from across the globe conduct meetings in coffee bars and restaurants throughout the Mandalay Bay complex, and the networking opportunities continue long into the night. Numerous licensees and retailers from the UK visit the show every year. Toy World will be present too, seeking out the latest hot properties which will be vying for attention over the next 12-18 months. The selection of properties over the next few pages will hopefully give you a f lavour of what can be seen at the show, but from previous experience, numerous brand new licences are kept under wraps until the exhibition opens, and others will emerge as ‘ones to watch’ over the course of the week. So, for an eye-witness report of what’s happening at Licensing Expo 2017, visit the Toy World website (www.toyworldmag.co.uk) from 24th May to read John Baulch’s Vegas Blog from the show. In the meantime, Toy World presents a round-up of some of the key licences of interest to the UK & European toy and children’s leisure product community....

Feature

Touching Base

Winners in Vegas

As this year's Licensing Expo event draws ever closer, Licensing World spoke to a selection of exhibitors to find out what they have in store for licensees, and what challenges the future holds for the licensing community.

Hannah Mungo

country director – UK and Ireland, Universal Brand Development

Julie Kekwick

senior licensing manager, BBC Worldwide Doctor Who series 10, which premiered at Easter in the UK, has been very well received. Both Hot Topic and Seven 20 Brands continue to have great success with the brand in the US and there has been great coverage for our partnership with Penguin Random House and Sanrio on the Doctor Meets the World of Hargreaves. We are thrilled that Hey Duggee has collected another accolade with its International Emmy win. In the UK, soft lines are starting to perform incredibly well at retail. A new series is due to air in early summer and we’re set to announce some new European partners soon. Go Jetters series 2 is already in production, and new lines from Fisher Price will be rolling out for autumn/winter 2017. We continue to see ongoing success with Mr Tumble Something Special and have new licensees rolling out in 2017, as well as new lines from master toy partner Golden Bear. Vegas is an essential industry event which offers a unique insight into global trends. The show allows us to build key relationships, showcase our brands and talk to all of our key partners. It is the perfect platform to showcase both new properties and established global brands. Pre-school and movie franchises operate in an incredibly competitive sector where windows for brands to perform are increasingly squeezed. Continuous dialogue with licensees and retailers is key to overcoming this and there is more opportunity for the specialists and toy retailers to have a point of difference. We’ve been working with retailers to create in-store theatre and retail partnerships – our partnership for the Hamleys parade is an excellent example.

The movie line-up includes the Fast & Furious franchise, Illumination’s Despicable Me 3, and the newly imagined version of Dr. Seuss’ How the Grinch Stole Christmas. Jurassic World is scheduled for release in June 2018 and a new DreamWorks Trolls movie has been confirmed for 2020. Universal will also showcase new content from the DreamWorks Animation television portfolio including Trollhunters; the highly acclaimed, Voltron Legendary Defender; Dragons: Race to the Edge; Dinotrux and preschool series Noddy: Toyland Detective. Licensing Expo is the show where global licensors unveil their plans for the first time, so it’s an excellent opportunity to be ahead of the game. The buzz from the show floor and the anecdotal feedback shared is often a good indicator of what the next big brand or key consumer trend will be. In the UK, the poor exchange rate is a challenge and rising inflation is putting pressure on family budgets. Retailers remain risk averse and the pressure to discount continues to squeeze profit margins. There’s a lot of competition at retail and consumers have more choices due to the explosion of content creation derived from a variety of new sources. Universal, with its global marketing muscle, has a real advantage into creating cut-through IP.

Marianne James Nickelodeon

For the Nickelodeon & Viacom Consumer Products UK team, Rusty Rivets, and Nella the Princess Knight will be key priorities. Both are animated pre-school properties launching this year, with Rusty premiering in the UK on Nick Jr. this March as the channel’s most successful launch to date. Nella premieres for us in May, following a tremendous performance in the US. Both properties offer something new for partners: Rusty, taking its inspiration from the Maker Movement, encourages creative problem solving with the gadgets being found and built in Rusty’s recycling yard providing inspiration for potential product lines. Nella the Princess Knight gives audiences an unconventional princess, with storylines filled with adventure and imagination. Licensing Expo gives licensors, licensees and retail partners another invaluable opportunity to meet face to face to talk over properties and plans. For NCVP, Vegas gives us an opportunity to meet with partners to take them through announcements that were made at the March Nickelodeon upfront event, rather than waiting for later in the summer or autumn. On the Tuesday of the Expo, we will host our global showcase, taking licensees and retailers through previously unannounced updates on content and partnerships. The biggest challenge is the perennial one of limited shelf space and competing for placement. There is also the challenge of cutting through with a new product or property, when retailers are understandably risk averse. Our team prides itself on coming up with creative retail activations and supporting our licensee and retail partners in order to make the most of shelf presence and support our properties as fully as possible.

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Visit us at Licensing Expo 2017

Stand G196

For more details please contact: Email: eOneLicensing@entonegroup.com Website: eonelicensing.com

Touching Base

Helena Mansell-Stopher and Vicky Hill Bulldog Licensing

We will be showcasing the entire Bulldog portfolio at Licensing Expo. From Shopkins, the UK’s no.1 girls’ brand, to Angry Birds, the biggest app of all time, and Miraculous, an exciting new entry to the hero market, as well as evergreens such as Garfield, Enid Blyton and Life. Licensing Expo offers the opportunity for licensees and retailers to meet with all key partners in one venue. Licensors, particularly the studios, all hold summits and often unveil new franchises for the first time in Vegas, putting visitors ahead of the curve. They also are able to share information you may not see anywhere else. It also offers all parties the opportunity to start the planning process for the following year (and beyond) earlier. Retailers have a huge amount of licensed brands and own brands to choose from, along with limited shelf space. If your brand doesn’t hit key retail objectives, it’s tough. Coupled with the multi-brand DTR’s taking up the majority of the options, you have to be able to demonstrate that you have something different to get cut through.

Marie-Laure Marchand

Andrew Carley

head of global licensing, Entertainment One We’ll be showcasing Peppa Pig and PJ Masks, which have grown significantly in the US in the past 12 months, as well as the critically acclaimed pre-school series Ben and Holly’s Little Kingdom. Expo is one of the most important events in the industry calendar for us because it attracts such a wide array of visitors from all over the world. It also presents an opportunity for us to meet with overseas licensees and retailers under one roof. The timing of the show is great, as it allows us to generate business and build momentum that carries through until BLE. We’re seeing that retailers are still risk averse and that just a few brands with strong commercial history, alongside those big budget movie franchises, can end up dominating shelf space. However, retailers are increasingly ready to embrace new properties and keep their product offerings fresh and relevant. As a result, we’re now seeing a greater diversity of properties breaking through, particularly in the preschool market, which is great news for us as we roll-out the global licensing programme for PJ Masks.

Xilam

Oggy and the Cockroaches is our main focus. We currently have three new seasons in production and we are preparing a big TV launch of the fifth season, which will air in September, alongside a host of licensing initiatives. We also just announced our first master toy partnership with France’s Lansay, and look forward to working with additional international licensing partners across the rest of the world. Another key highlight is our first pre-school comedy series Paprika, for which we are currently looking for a master toy and a publishing partner. We’ll also have Zig & Sharko, our new slapstick comedy for 6-10 year olds . We believe that the summer theme of the show could trigger interest from outdoor partners, as well as promotional opportunities. Licensing Expo is the next stop after the Hong Kong Toy & Licensing Show and Nuremberg Toy Fair for licensing professionals and it allows licensees and retailers to detect the next trend and plan ahead. Moreover, Licensing Expo is much more international compared to BLE, which is predominantly European-focused. The biggest challenge for independent licensors, compared to the heavy hitting majors, is getting the attention of retailers and shelf space. This is a true concern for smaller players who have to be innovative and creative to find their way to consumers. Sometimes, this can happen via a digital platform.

Graham Saltmarsh

director of licensing UK and Nordics – Cartoon Network We’ll be focusing on our key franchise priorities, including two of our most popular original shows that are now back in action and better than ever before; Ben 10 and The Powerpuff Girls. Alongside these, we’ll be presenting opportunities for our other irreverently funny properties including Adventure Time, The Amazing World of Gumball and We Bare Bears – and we’ll be throwing a couple of other new properties into the mix too. Expo is great for getting a global perspective, and seeing how merchandise rollout strategies interlock with broadcast plans. It’s also a chance to talk face-to-face with partners and gain a better understanding of what is required from each side of the business, to drive future success. We’re seeing that uncertainty has become the new normal at retail, with various factors all here for the foreseeable future. However, retailers who choose to work in partnership with licensors and licensees are making the most of every opportunity and are striving to make their customer experience and product offering fresh, relevant and enjoyable.

Simo Hämäläinen Rovio

Rovio’s key properties on display will be the Angry Birds and the breakout stars of the Angry Birds Movie, the Hatchlings. Rovio will also present a brand it recently acquired global licensing rights to, Kit’n’Kate; an educational cartoon for pre-schoolers with great growth potential. The Licensing Expo is the biggest licensing show with broader global news coverage, and the USA is one of Rovio’s key markets. The timing of the event is optimal for planning 2018 and 2019. And of course, Rovio will be revealing some big news that will definitely be worth checking out. The ever-increasing competition for shelf space is a major challenge for all licensors. There are many new entertainment properties competing for the limited amount of people’s free time. Consumers are also changing the way they consume entertainment and becoming savvier all the time. We want to delight our huge fan base by utilising opportunities in the digital space, linking that to physical products and boosting retail efforts online.

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Hotel Transylvania

Brand Profile

Monsters aren’t just for Halloween… Licensing World spoke to Jamie Stevens, executive vice president of Worldwide Consumer Products and Licensing, Sony, about the company’s Hotel Transylvania property. Can you give us some background to the franchise? Hotel Transylvania has been a massive success for Sony Pictures Animation since it launched in 2012. Hotel Transylvania broke the record for the biggest September opening at the box office of all time, only to be beaten by Hotel Transylvania 2 three years later.

What is the target audience? Monsters are ingrained in our pop culture, and we’ve found that the combination of witty humour and monster gags that the franchise is known for appeals to a broad audience – the silly monster in all of us.

What are the core strengths of the property?

When will the new movie be released?

There are several core strengths for licensing partners to consider. First, the characters have global appeal and the property is gender-neutral, which we know is important to millennial parents. This complements the gender-free labels we’re seeing on the toy shelves at major retailers. Additionally, we have a full franchise marketing plan to support our monster property as a 365-day business. Kids can’t get enough of monsters, especially with quirky and lovable characters they can relate to.

Hotel Transylvania 3 will be released in the UK on 27th July 2018.

What can you tell us about the latest film? In Hotel Transylvania 3, Mavis surprises Dracula with a family voyage on a luxury Monster Cruise Ship so he can take a vacation from providing everyone else’s vacation at the hotel. The rest of Drac’s Pack cannot resist going along and once they leave port, romance hits Drac when he meets the mysterious ship captain Ericka. Now it’s Mavis’ turn to play the overprotective parent, keeping her dad and Ericka apart. Little do they know that his love interest is actually a descendent of Van Helsing, arch nemesis to Dracula and all monsters. The voice ensemble of favorites returns, including Adam Sandler (Dracula), Selena Gomez (Mavis) and Andy Samberg (Johnny).

What promotional activity do you have planned? We have a full 360-degree marketing programme slated, with bigger retail activations than ever before given our summer release date, and a new emphasis on consumer products, including interactive gaming. In addition, the company will release a Hotel Transylvania short film called Puppy, which is set to debut with The Emoji Movie this summer worldwide. In this short, the residents of Hotel Transylvania find their world turned upside-down when youngster Dennis gets a surprise monster-sized pet. To continue the momentum leading up to the release of the third film, the company is launching an animated television series for

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Hotel Transylvania, produced in partnership with Corus Entertainment’s Nelvana. The TV series will launch this winter in the UK and Europe on the Disney Channel, and focus on the teenage years of Mavis and her friends at Hotel Transylvania. This content will keep the franchise fresh and the characters will become a part of families’ everyday lives.

What do you see as the main opportunities for licensees and retailers? The Hotel Transylvania franchise transports fans to a fantasy world full of adventure and silly monster stunts. We see this as the perfect content to drive innovation in toys and entertainment. For example, we envision products that integrate the property into VR experiences. Sony can leverage the most advanced technology from its leadership in the gaming category to support the most innovative licensees and retailers.

Do you see Halloween as a particular focal point for the licensing programme? Monsters aren’t just for Halloween anymore. We see the Hotel Transylvania franchise as a 365-daysa-year business. We have big plans to grow the franchise throughout the year, and we’re not only looking at films as a content source, but also television, digital, interactive VR, and short form content to tell our stories. Of course, monsters are relevant at Halloween, so it gives us another opportunity to bring these great characters to life.

NEW TV! Season 1 airing on Netflix from June 2017 Season 2 set to hit screens in 2017 across EMEA New licensees onboard covering multiple categories

NEW GAMES! 2017 welcomes the release of two major video games Sonic celebrates both past & present! Introducing Sonic Mania™ and Sonic Forces™

NEW CLASSIC ART! Celebrate the heritage of a gaming icon New core and trend guides available now!

For licensing queries please contact: Europe, Middle East & Africa:

US, Canada & Latin America:

Rest of the world:

Jason Rice Email: jason.rice@sega.co.uk Tel: +44 (0) 208 996 4568

Anoulay Tsai

Shigefumi Tanzawa

Email: anoulay.tsay@segaamerica.com Tel: +1 (747) 400 2410, ext.203

Email: shigefumi.tanzawa@sega.com Tel: +81 3 6871 7122

www.sonicthehedgehog.com/uk

@Sonic

@sonic_hedgehog

/sonicthehedgehog

/sonic

Bulldog 0208 325 5455 | www.bulldog-licensing.com Angry Birds quickly made an impact on young male gamers, who made up much of the market for the simple yet addictive game. The various games in the franchise have been downloaded billions of times and Angry Birds is now a massive global property, with tens of millions of Facebook followers, and billions of YouTube and Toons TV views for the cartoon series. Bulldog Licensing, which represents the brand in the UK, has announced details of new deals, with licences across apparel, bags, stationery, pocket money items, jigsaw puzzles and more. The recent film further boosted the audience, which now spans across generations, although a large percentage is still the boys who drove the original gaming success of the brand. The Grossery Gang, from Shopkins-creator Moose Toys, is a range of collectible characters. From rotten eggs to dodgy doughnuts and fungus fries, all the characters in the range have appeal with the target audience of younger boys. The first series of the franchise, with over 150 gruesome grocery-based characters, went on sale last year, supported by a website, app and YouTube content. Bulldog has the teen market covered too with Zak Storm. The new CGI animation from Zag Studios, the team behind Miraculous, features Zak, a fearless teen surfer who finds himself sucked into the Bermuda Triangle. Here, he transforms into a Super Pirate and, with the help of Calabras, his trusty magic sword and a crew of friends, he must face and defeat the many perils of the seven seas. The show is set to broadcast across the world in summer/autumn, including on Pop in the UK. A comprehensive licensing campaign is set to follow.

Sony Pictures Entertainment consumer_products@spe.sony.com Sony Pictures Entertainment is currently seeking licensing partners for a range of new films set for UK release in 2017. Emojimovie: Express Yourself unlocks the secret world inside a smartphone. Hidden within the messaging app is Textopolis, a bustling city where emojis live, hoping to be selected by the phone’s user. In this world, each emoji has only one facial expression – except for Gene (T.J. Miller), who was born without a filter and is bursting with multiple expressions. Determined to become “normal” like the other emojis, Gene enlists the help of his best friend Hi-5 (James Corden) and the notorious code breaker emoji Jailbreak (Ilana Glazer). Together, they embark on an epic “app-venture” through the apps on the phone, to find the code that will fix Gene. But when a greater danger threatens the phone, the fate of all emojis depends on these three unlikely friends who must save their world before it is deleted forever. In The Star, a small but brave donkey named Bo yearns for a life beyond his daily grind at the village mill. One day he finds the courage to break free, and finally goes on the adventure of his dreams. On his journey, he teams up with Ruth, a loveable sheep who has lost her flock and Dave, a dove with lofty aspirations. Along with three wisecracking camels and some eccentric stable animals, Bo and his new friends follow the Star and become accidental heroes in the greatest story ever told – the first Christmas. The legend of Jumanji continues as the game comes to life once again. In the new adventure, Dwayne Johnson, Jack Black, Kevin Hart and Karen Gillan are pitted against stampeding rhinos, mambas, saber-toothed tigers, and a jungle full of traps and puzzles, forcing them to play the ultimate game of survival. These releases join the return of popular Sony property Hotel Transylvania in Hotel Transylvania 3.

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An original animated series inspired by the songs made famous by the Beatles, sung by Eddie Vedder, P!nk and many others. TM

LICENSING OPPORTUNITIES OPEN FIND US AT BOOTH M226 IN LAS VEGAS

For licensing enquiries please contact :

Rebekah Belzer (North America) Rebekah.Belzer@CentaIP.com | (310) 403-0026

Universal Brand Development 0203 618 8360 | www.universalpictures.com Universal will present an expanding portfolio of properties from the company’s film and television creative partners, including Universal Pictures, Illumination Entertainment and DreamWorks Animation. As a follow up to Furious 7, the eighth chapter of the franchise - The Fate of the Furious debuted in theaters on 14th April. Anchored by global master toy licensee, Mattel, the Fast & Furious franchise will be highlighted by key partnerships with Jada Toys and the lifestyle brand, Affliction, among others. Tom Cruise headlines an all-new cinematic version of The Mummy, release date 9th June. From the sweeping sands of the Middle East through hidden labyrinths under modern-day London, The Mummy is an imaginative take upon the story that ushers in a new world of gods and monsters. Premiering in theaters on 30th June, Illumination Entertainment and Universal Pictures present Despicable Me 3, the next chapter in the Despicable Me franchise. Anchored by Thinkway Toys, Despicable Me 3 is supported by a broad category toy and lifestyle programme that includes partnerships with Mega Bloks, Puma, Moose Toys, WowWee, and Hasbro Games, among others. Also from the creative team at Illumination, in collaboration with Universal Pictures, comes a newly imagined version of Dr. Seuss’ How The Grinch Stole Christmas, starring Benedict Cumberbatch in the title role of The Grinch, which is set for release November 2018. Scheduled for release in June 2018, the next installment of the Jurassic World franchise is currently in production in London. Executive producers Steven Spielberg and Colin Trevorrow and stars Chris Pratt and Bryce Dallas Howard return for Universal Pictures and Amblin Entertainment’s Jurassic World Sequel. Producers Frank Marshall and Pat Crowley join Spielberg and Trevorrow in the next chapter in the franchise. Directed by J.A. Bayona (The Impossible), the film is written by Colin Trevorrow and Derek Connolly. Belén Atienza joins the team as a producer. Following the success of DreamWorks Animation’s Trolls, an all-new feature film is set to debut in 2020. Universal, in collaboration with master toy partner, Hasbro, will continue to expand the breadth and scope of its consumer products programme with more hair, more music and more characters to engage fans. New content across multiple media platforms is also planned throughout 2017-2019. From the DreamWorks Animation Television portfolio, Universal will showcase the all-new Netflix original series, Spirit Riding Free, which premiered on 5th May. The 2002 Oscar-nominated film, Spirit: Stallion of the Cimarron, introduced the world to a resilient mustang named Spirit, and now has inspired a new story set to enchant a whole new generation. Master toy licensee, Just Play, specialty partner, Breyer, and book publishing partner, Little, Brown Books will be among the key programmes supporting the upcoming launch of Spirit Riding Free. Also part of the DreamWorks Animation Television portfolio are Trollhunters, Voltron Legendary Defender, and Dragons: Race to the Edge. Children’s favourites, Dinotrux, and the preschool show, Noddy: Toyland Detective, based on the classic British brand, are also featured on the bill.

ITV Studios Global Entertainment 0207 157 3693 | www.itvstudios.com ITV Studios Global Entertainment (ITVS GE) will be presenting its portfolio of ITV owned and third party properties. The action TV series Thunderbirds Are Go continues to expand its global footprint and has now been on air in over 40 markets. Recent collaborations for this broadcast include Bernard Matthews turkey nuggets in the shape of the Thunderbird vehicles, and a new range of adventure wear for kids with outdoor retailer Regatta. The mobile game Parker’s Driving Challenge has also been launched for 2017. ITVS GE are adding another property to their slate in Robozuna, a Netflix Original animated series in which 14-year-old Ariston and his homemade robot sidekick Mangle attempt to free their oppressed nation from an evil empire. Fans can join forces with Ariston and Mangle when Robozuna debuts on Netflix around the globe in 2018, and in the UK after its premiere on CITV, with licensing opportunities to follow the broadcast. This year will also see the new interpretation of family favourite Watership Down. The four-part CGI animated mini-series is a reimagining of Richard Adams’ classic 1972 novel and a coproduction between the BBC and Netflix. The series will feature the vocal talents of James McAvoy, John Boyega, Sir Ben Kingsley, Olivia Colman, Nicholas Hoult, Miles Jupp, Freddie Fox, Anne-Marie Duff and Gemma Arterton, and will be written by Bafta-nominated Tom Bidwell. ITVS GE will be talking to licensees about licensing opportunities for the series. ITVS GE will also show opportunities for the Supermarionation brands created by Gerry Anderson, including the original Thunderbirds as well as Stingray, Fireball XL5, and Captain Scarlet, which celebrates its 50th anniversary this year and for which ITVS GE will be launching a range of new limited edition anniversary products. Thunderbirds has recently been in the UK media due to the roles of Parker and Lady Penelope in a marketing and TVC campaign for Halifax bank. The TV ad premiered during Ant & Dec’s Saturday Night Takeaway on ITV on 25th March, and the campaign continues in branch, online and with posters across the country. The ITVS GE team will also be highlighting British drama series such as Poldark and Victoria. ITVS GE is a full-service licensing agent with a UK roster of third party brands including Oddbods, Super 4 and Village People.

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Cartoon Network 020 7693 1124 | www.cartoonnetwork.co.uk Cartoon Network will be returning to Licensing Expo to showcase its diversified brand portfolio, anchored by the relaunch of the Ben 10 franchise around the world. The company is introducing a fresh take on Ben 10, reaching a new generation of fans with a new animated series and corresponding licensing program. In the new animated series, fun-loving 10-year-old Ben Tennyson, his cousin Gwen and Grandpa Max travel the country during summer vacation. The series premiered in EMEA regions and the Asia-Pacific region in autumn 2016, and in the US, Canada and Latin America in April 2017. The global consumer products program will be launching in late spring, anchored by Playmates Toys, the global master toy partner. Playmates will introduce a full range of toys based on the animated series in autumn 2017, including action figures, playsets and role-play. Key announcements, including the addition of new licensing partners, will be made for other Cartoon Network brands. The Powerpuff Girls, one of Cartoon Networkâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s most popular brands, returned globally in 2016, with an all-new animated series from Cartoon Network Studios alongside a full worldwide licensing program. Cartoon Network will continue to grow the franchise by expanding the consumer products program for fans of the series. Cartoon Network will also continue to expand the licensing program around popular franchises Adventure Time, The Amazing World of Gumball, We Bare Bears, and Steven Universe; providing fans with even more ways to connect with their favourite brands On the Adult Swim side of the business, the licensing program for the popular Rick and Morty animated comedy series continues to grow. Earlier this year, Funko was named master toy partner, helping to bring the series to life with the introduction of an assortment of products including mini figures, action figures, plush and more. Additional new partners across other licensing categories will also be introduced.

Sega 0208 996 4594 | www.sega.com At this yearâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s show, Sega will be showcasing the continued expansion of its Sonic The Hedgehog brand, alongside the European launch of the brand new second season of the TV series Sonic Boom. Sonic Boom is back this year across Europe with a new season of adventures featuring Sonic and his friends, Amy, Knuckles, Sticks and Tails. The new season will roll out this year across international broadcasters in key markets and is supported by a new range from master toy partner Tomy. Sega will also be promoting the Sega retro collection, which features the classic consoles Sega Master System, Sega Mega Drive/ Genesis and the Sega Dreamcast, as well as an evolving catalogue of classic game titles such as Streets of Rage and Golden Axe. The Retro programme also covers next generation console titles, for example Yakuza 0 and Valkyria Chronicles, plus action game Bayonetta, which recently launched as an HD remaster on the PC through Valveâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Steam platform. The company is looking forward to exploring opportunities with its international partners around other AAA titles that include Football Manager, Endless Space, Company of Heroes and the Total War series. Sega is fortunate to be able to work with some of the best licensees in the industry and is always on the lookout for new partners and talented companies who are interested in creating quality products inspired by modern action and strategy games. The company has recently started working with Amscan, Koch and Gamestop on a range of new products that will be available this summer and will also be releasing its new customisable range of products later in the year.

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Rights Reserved.

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VISIT US AT

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Sesame Workshop +212 875 6516 | www.sesameworkshop.org Sesame Street and HBO, in partnership with local public television stations, have launched the Sesame Street: K is for Kindness Tour, a free experiential tour in 10 cities in support of Sesame Street’s 47th season. Sesame Workshop has teamed up with Feld Entertainment to develop new touring Sesame Street live shows, and the first production will launch in October. Hasbro will be encouraging fans to share the laughter this autumn when Tickle Me Elmo returns. The company has recently finalised renewals with three of its longest partnerships: American Greetings, Hain Celestial, and Procter & Gamble; has inked collaboration deals with Build-a-Bear Workshop, Globe International, Land of Nod and Lauren Moshi; and renewed a three-year global deal with H&M. The Sesame X Puma global collaboration, including apparel, accessories and footwear for kids and adults, was supported by in-store POS, marketing and social media campaigns. Fans will also see products from new toy licensees; Headstart in Australia and New Zealand, Sambro across European territories, Sungup in Korea, and Nici Toys in Germany, Austria and Switzerland. In Latin America, Sesame Street is now called Sésamo and focuses on early childhood learning. This year saw the terrestrial launch of Listos a Jugar, which focuses on healthy habits, and the digital Pequeñas Aventureras starring Abby Cadabby which teaches girls empowerment and STEM. The region is supported with new partners including licensing agents in Mexico, Brazil, and ROLA. In the digital world, over one million Cookie Monster stickers were downloaded from the App Store and were featured in Apple’s TV campaign. The company also premiered eBooks and video content on Hoopla. Beyond Sesame Street, Sesame Workshop is building its development slate with a new series called Esme and Roy. The series will air on HBO in 2018, and is a co-venture with leading Canadian media company Corus Entertainment. Sesame Street is looking to explore numerous category collaborations for its core demo as well as its adult fan-base as the company prepares for its 50th celebration in 2019. In addition, the company is starting to explore key categories of business for a pre-school property.

BBC bbc.licensing@bbc.co m | www.bbc.co.uk Key products for BBC’s Doctor Who brand include the Twelfth Doctor’s Second Sonic Screwdriver from Master Toy partner Character Options as well as new articulated figures including the Twelfth Doctor in his hoodie, Tenth Doctor in a tuxedo, and the Tenth Doctor’s Tardis playset. Character Options have also announced the Cyberman 7” Stretch Toy. Funko Pop Vinyl figures continue to do well globally, featuring a range of Doctors, Monsters and iconic characters. A key partner for Doctor Who in the US is retailer Hot Topic, featuring a limited-edition fashion collection. The nine-piece range launched in 680 Hot Topic stores across the US along with its online store and Torrid, and featured a line-up of dresses, knits and outerwear. New this year is SG@NYC’s Doctor Who clothing and jewelry line launch at Hot Topic featuring necklaces, bracelets and earrings inspired by the show’s iconic emblems. In the UK, Brand Alliance is newly appointed for daywear, to work alongside TDP and Aykroyd and Sons for Nightwear, Swimwear and underwear. Sherlock has made its mark in US pop-culture, being one of only three British TV shows that have appeared on the cover of Entertainment Weekly. Key lines include T-shirts, hoodies, and dresses from Isaac Morris, vinyl figures, bobbleheads, and keychains from Funko and Funko Playmobil and bags and accessories from Bioworld with vinyl figures from Titan. International Emmy and Bafta Award-winning Hey Duggee, sold to over 150 territories worldwide, is an animated series that unleashes a child’s imagination and sense of fun as they explore their world. The Hey Duggee apps, created between BBC Worldwide and mobile games developer, Scary Beasties, have recently sold over a million downloads. In the UK, Hey Duggee has signed multiple licence partnerships including Master Toy partner Golden Bear; Penguin Random House publishing under the Ladybird brand; Immediate Media for magazines, as well as Aykroyd and TDP for nightwear, underwear and swimwear; Blues Clothing for outerwear and a range of clothing including t-shirts, knitwear, jeans and dresses; Blue Sky Designs for art, stationery and activity products; Roy Lowe for socks and Blue Sky and DNC for lunchware and dineware. Partners in the US include Jazwares as Master Toy, and in Australia Jasnor, Winner of 2017 Best Boutique Licence of the Year from the Australian Toy Association, is the distributor for both toy and melamine. In the UK, Go Jetters was ranked number one for its pre-school launch on CBeebies in 2015 and has since received over 18.5 million requests on iPlayer and reached a cumulative audience of 10 million viewers on linear television. Key licensees for the brand include Fisher Price as Global Master Toy, alongside publishing from Penguin, magazines from Immediate Media and puzzles and games from Ravensburger as well as Aykroyd and TDP for nightwear, underwear and swimwear, and Blue Sky Designs who will be creating a range of art, stationery and activity products.

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Meet us at Vegas. Stand F196. global.kids@itv.com

© ITV/Pukeko 2017 | © ITC | ™ and ©2017 One Animation PTE LTD. All Rights Reserved. | ©ITV Studios Limited / KidsCave Entertainment Limited 2017 © Citrus and FactoryVillage People® is a trademark of Can’t Stop Productions. Licensed by PGS HK Limited. | © Watership Down Television 2018 | POLDARK © Mammoth Screen Limited 2017 © 2017 morgen studios and Method Animation ® PLAYMOBIL, pronounced: play-mo-beel

Entertainment One 0203 691 8600 | www. entertainmentone.com Entertainment One (eOne) brings its line-up of global entertainment properties Peppa Pig, PJ Masks and Ben and Holly’s Little Kingdom to International Licensing Expo 2017. With over 800 licensees supplying products globally, Peppa Pig now has a retail presence in the UK, ANZ, the US, Iberia, France, CEE, Latin America, Russia and Asia. In 2016 entry into new markets saw merchandise debut in mainland China, Korea, and India, where the fanbase is growing rapidly. New episodes are also planned through to the end of 2018. eOne’s preschool superhero TV property PJ Masks appeared on shelves across North America, the UK, France, Spain Italy and Australia recently and initial sales reports have surpassed expectations. Consumer products will launch in Latin America, Asia and several EMEA regions throughout 2017 with ancillary lines also launching in GAS, Israel, Middle East, Turkey and South East Asia from this year. The show premiered on Disney Junior in September 2015, and series 2 is poised to launch on air from 2018. A new collection of shorts is in production and will air on Disney Junior in the US from summer 2017 before rolling out globally. Finally, eOne’s Emmy and Bafta award-winning animated series Ben and Holly’s Little Kingdom, which hails from the creators of Peppa Pig, is gaining momentum in the US where Jazwares has been announced as master toy partner, and the toy line will debut from August 2017. Added to this, the company’s key licensing categories for brands Ben and Holly’s Little Kingdom, Peppa Pig, and PJ Masks are all covered in Russia.

Rovio +35820 788 8300 | www.rovio.com The stars of The Angry Birds Movie are the young Hatchlings, who emerged on social media last year in a series of viral videos. Now they’re appearing in a new animated series, Angry Birds Blues, which debuted in March. The new show, along with all Rovio animation, is distributed through digital channels and traditional media throughout the world. A range of Hatchlings merchandise will be available at retailers soon. The company has also announced additional animation. Piggy Tales fourth season, Piggy Street, will debut in autumn 2017 and Rovio is currently at work on a sequel to The Angry Birds Movie, which will further expand upon the story and brand. Details of the sequel are coming soon. The Angry Birds licensing programme has more than 400 licensees around the world and products that extend the Angry Birds brand experience. As a digitally native company, Rovio continues to bridge the digital and physical worlds in their licensed products and campaigns. New style guides for 2018 will focus on sports and space, as well as new art for the main core characters and Hatchlings visuals. Opening in the summer of 2017, the company announces Angry Birds World in Doha, Qatar; an Angry Birds theme park featuring over 150,000 square feet filled with indoor and outdoor attractions, rides and experiences for kids of all ages, the biggest Angry Birds activity park to date. Rovio Games’ portfolio includes key games such as Angry Birds 2, Angry Birds Friends and Angry Birds Pop, and Rovio launched Angry Birds Blast in December. The company has also soft launched several new games recently. One of them is Battle Bay, a new IP featuring technology that has previously not been utilised in Rovio’s games. Battle Bay will be available in summer 2017. In January of this year, Rovio announced the opening a new game studio in London. The studio will initially focus on nonAngry Birds IP’s and massive-multiplayer online (MMO) games.

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Nickelodeon 020 3580 2000 | www.nickjr.co.uk Nickelodeon and Viacom Consumer Products UK will be focusing on pre-school properties in Vegas, with its largest ever pre-school offering. The team will be taking partners through key on-air activity for brands such as Paw Patrol, Shimmer and Shine and Blaze and the Monster Machines. Nickelodeon will continue to roll out new episodes of Shimmer and Shine on Nick Jr. and Milkshake! and continues to perform strongly with the Shimmer and Shine costume characters. Blaze and The Monster Machines takes on a new look as the Wild Wheels theme launches on air, and is supported with themed style guides and a new range of toys from Fisher-Price, while Paw Patrol will feature a new pup this autumn, in a new spy special. The company will also be introducing new pre-school properties. Rusty Rivets, co-produced with Spin Master Entertainment, debuted in March, and has been Nick Jr. UKâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s most successful launch ever, resonating strongly with both boys and girls. The series encourages kids to get creative with gadgets and promotes imaginative problem solving. With strong ratings, it expects that demand will be high when product rolls out in the UK from early 2018. Another Nick Jr. success, Nella The Princess Knight, launches in the UK in mid-May. The series has been performing well in the US and expectations for the seriesâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; performance in the UK are high, especially with the strong marketing and PR support being given to the launch. Vivid is master toy partner for the property and sees huge partnership opportunities for Nella across all categories. Beyond pre-school, Nickelodeon has a live-action opportunity for partners with the NVCP representation of teen sensation, Jojo Siwa. Through her social channels, Jojo has a following of over 12 million with over 221 million views of her single alone. Finally, plans will be revealed for evergreen properties Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles and SpongeBob SquarePants. A brand new Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles series is coming to TV in 2018, and the first look at the new series will be shared with partners in Vegas. Nickelodeon will also be sharing plans for SpongeBob, building on the success of SpongeBob Gold this year.

Centa IP 44 (0)787 969 8465 | www.centaip.com BeatBugs is a 3D animated series inspired by music made famous by The Beatles. It is brought up to date by a collection of contemporary global music superstars, including Robbie Williams, Sia, Pink, Rod Stewart, and James Corden. With 2017 seeing the 50th anniversary of the release of the seminal Sergeant Pepper album, interest in The Beatles remains high across the globe. The show was launched on Netflix in August 2016, where it was originally commissioned for two series. The programme has now been commissioned for a third series, and there will also be a 44 -minute holiday special broadcast over the winter period. Universal will be releasing the soundtrack and DVD this summer, while there will be a retailer exclusive launch, featuring a range of merchandise, during the autumn/winter period. The TV series will go free-to-air in summer 2018, when a trade-wide release of the licensed range will take place. Ultimate Source has the global master toy licence and will be working with Golden Bear as the master toy distribution partner in the UK, while Harper Collins has signed global publishing rights, Igloo Books has a local publishing deal and Sakar is on board in the electronics category. Following on from the success of the BeatBugs concept, the company behind the show has announced that its next project will feature another iconic musical catalogue, Motown. More will be revealed about the new project at Licensing Expo. Centa is also looking after the UK rights for a new animated TV series, Zafari. The show tells the story of a group of friends who inhabit a land where all the resident animals have been magically born with an amalgamation of varying skins, patterns, and characteristics, making each individual truly unique. Zafari celebrates themes of diversity and acceptance, and features a rich cast of creatures, including lead character Zoomba, an elephant with zebra stripes. The series of 52 11-minute episodes is aimed at younger children, and is expected to make its free-to-air debut in Q1 2018.

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DreamWorks Animationâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Trolls, a smart, funny, and irreverent comedy about the search for happiness and just how far some will go to get it.

This hilarious film transports audiences to a colorful, wondrous world populated by the overly optimistic Trolls, who have a constant dance in their step and song on their lips, and the comically pessimistic Bergens, who are only happy when they have Trolls in their stomachs.

For licensing enquiries please contact Naome Jones, naome.jones@nbcuni.com +44 (0)20 36186552

Warner Bros. Consumer Products 0207 984 6116 | www.warnerbros.co.uk Warner Bros. Consumer Products’ (WBCP) offerings bring global licensing and merchandising opportunities to licensees and retailers around the world. Wonder Woman, from director Patty Jenkins and Warner Bros. Pictures, is released 2nd June, supported by a WBCP global licensing programme. In support of the November release of Justice League, WBCP will roll out a global merchandise programme, which features the DC Super Heroes in a range of products and initiatives. The company is also highlighting the upcoming Aquaman feature film in advance of its 2018 release date, giving licensees and partners a glimpse of the DC superhero in his first standalone film. WBCP and The Lego Group continue to create products for The Lego Ninjago Movie, from Warner Bros. Pictures and Warner Animation Group, and Lego System A/S, released 22nd September. The movie will be supported by a global licensing and merchandising programme. J.K. Rowling’s Wizarding World, encompassing the Harry Potter and Fantastic Beasts franchises, continues to offer magic-themed entertainment and product offerings. The second instalment of the Fantastic Beasts film series, from Warner Bros. Pictures, arrives in theatres in November 2018. The content, multiple platforms and merchandising programme of the DC Super Hero Girls spans a wide range of products, including toys, costumes, apparel, accessories, publishing, and digital games. The brand’s global reach is being explored with new categories, product and content offerings, including animated shorts and online activities. DC Super Heroes and Super-Villains featured in the animated series Teen Titans Go! and Justice League Action, as well as TV programming like The Flash, Arrow, Supergirl, and Gotham, all continue to inspire products, promotions and partnerships across global licensing and merchandising programmes. They are joined by The Big Bang Theory. Looney Tunes leads the company’s animation franchise portfolio, including everything from global fashion collaborations to toys for kids. The Hanna-Barbera franchises also continue to capture the attention of licensees around the world, with staples such as Scooby-Doo and Tom and Jerry.

MGA Entertainment 01908 268 480 | www.littletikes.co.uk MGA Entertainment returns to the show with a focus on three properties, including Num Noms, L.O.L Surprise!, and the category expansion of Little Tikes. As a result of the success of the Num Noms toy line, MGA Entertainment has created a global licensing programme partnering with over 80 A-list manufacturers worldwide across all major categories of softlines, hardlines and publishing. MGA is developing a global licensing programme for L.O.L Surprise! to launch at retail in 2018, which will be unveiled at the show, and the company will also launch Little Tikes Kids, a brand which embodies the key attributes of comfort, durability and imaginative play. Finally, MGA are seeking new licensing partners across multiple product categories for Little Tikes Baby to complement the line of newborn toys for autumn 2019.

Aardman 01179 848 485 | www.aardman.com Aardman will be meeting with new and existing partners to present two brand new feature films for 2018 and 2019, which build on the studio’s current portfolio, while also developing new IP. Early Man will be released in 2018, and the company will be working closely with Studiocanal on developing a strong licensing, publishing and promotional programme. Shaun the Sheep is broadcast in over 170 territories worldwide and a film sequel is in pre-production, set for theatrical release in 2019. Ten years since launching as a standalone property, the studio continues to invest in the evergreen brand with a focus on digital content, communities, gaming, VR, partnerships, live events and themed attractions. New short-form content is in the pipeline and Aardman is developing licensing programmes for new design themes which will form part of a bigger brand campaign. Shaun the Sheep has recently been selected as the official goodwill ambassador for Yokohama, which will be the host city for Team GB in the 2020 Tokyo Olympics. Aardman has also just gone into production on Learning Time with Timmy, a new educational online series developed in collaboration with the British Council for preschoolers.

The PokémonCompany 020 7381 7047 | www.pokemon.com 2016 saw the launch of Pokémon Go, the new Nintendo 3DS games, Pokémon Sun and Pokémon Moon, and the Pokémon Trading Card Game achieving record breaking sales. In 2017 interest is set to continue with the recent launch of the first Sun and Moon TCG expansion, supported by Pokémon’s biggest ever TCG retail promotions, and the premiere of the 20th season of the animated Pokémon the Series: Sun & Moon, featuring new Pokémon from the Alola region. New licensing deals, retail promotions, collaborations and promotional partnerships are due to be announced.

FremantleMedia Kids 0207 691 5232 | www.fremantlemedia.com FremantleMedia Kids & Family builds global franchises for its portfolio of TV properties. Current priorities include pre-school series Bitz & Bob. Combining storytelling with the principles of STEAM, this show is set to air on CBeebies from 2018. Also on the content slate is Tasty Tales of the Food Truckers, a slapstick comedy adventure series. Danger Mouse returns this year as season 2 hits screens. Plus Kate & Mim-Mim season 2 continues to roll out globally with broadcasters such as CBeebies in the UK and Disney Junior in the US.

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For all licensing opportunities, please contact Simo Hämäläinen, SVP of Brand Licensing simo.hamalainen@rovio.com

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