Licensing World

2024 tipped to be a key year for Tara Duncan

As head of Licensing for Princess Sam Consumer Products (PSCP) since January 2023, Laurent Taieb has enjoyed a very busy year building on the fast-growing awareness of the TV show Tara Duncan. This 52 x 13’adventure-comedy-fantasy, about an ordinary girl from Earth with extraordinary powers making friends and fighting evil on the magical planet OtherWorld, has made its mark in publishing and TV and is now developing a licensed products offering, with toys very much front and centre of planning.

Until the TV series burst onto the scene in 2022, Tara Duncan was better known as a range of 12 books by Sophie Audouin-Mamikonian, first published in 2003 and since then selling tens of millions of copies around the world. The books have provided outstanding material for an animated show, but its creators say Tara Duncan is ‘anything but an ordinary animated show’. Tara Duncan uses the talents of more than 170 artists from the feature film industry and its characters are created through a combination of state-of-the-art motion capture and CGI. Every episode features a vast number of different sets and animated characters.

Since early last year, PSCP has been steadily bringing this look and feel to the licensing world, initially by appointing regional partners with local offices who know their country or region’s licensing scene and its local retailers. Products have already arrived: the first Tara Duncan toys had a limited release on the French market last autumn and are selling well, while magazines and activity books have just launched in Italy via Playpress. PSCP notes that there is a clear appetite for licensed Tara Duncan products. The show that lends itself to fashion dolls and action figures, but also to play sets based upon the worlds of the character themselves.

Series one has rolled out in many territories and series two is on the way, making 2024 a key year for Tara Duncan. Following a promising Nuremberg Toy Fair, there’s a lot more to come, too. Laurent Taieb says: “The source material is well known, the TV series has a massive following and partners in many key territories are in place. Throughout 2024 we intend to license and develop products in a wide range of categories that build on the key strengths and high consumer awareness of Tara Duncan.”

Ravensburger offers first look at Disney Lorcana 2024 line-up

Ravensburger has unveiled a selection of the 2024 Disney Lorcana Trading Card Game line-up, including new products, competitive events and organised play activations. In addition, the company is also sharing the official on-sale dates for the four new sets slated to debut throughout the year.

“Disney Lorcana TCG has struck a chord with players, collectors and fans around the world and we’re so grateful for the support,” said Filip Francke, global head of Games at Ravensburger. “It has proven to be a fantastic entry point for first-time TCG players, and we will continue to do everything in our power to make the product available at MSRP pricing. As we move into 2024, we will continue to support our growing and diverse community through new discoveries for collectors, organised play and competitive events for players and new products that help beginning fans take their first steps into trading card games. We’re only just getting started, but consumer feedback and industry data supports our belief that this game will be around for a very long time.”

This year, the Disney Lorcana TCG will introduce a new stand-alone product: Disney Lorcana TCG Gateway, a progressive learn-to-play experience designed to ease new players into the game and TCG space. This ultimate beginner’s introduction to the Disney Lorcana TCG includes everything two players aged eight and over need to play right out of the box: two 30-card basic Disney Lorcana TCG decks, a two-player game board with character standees, rules and player’s guides, and additional cards that players will be rewarded with to add to their decks as they learn about the card types and gameplay. When players have played through Gateway, they will have built two standard Disney Lorcana TCG decks they can take and play with friends. Gateway will be released on 9th August 2024 and will retail for £22.99.

For established players, Ravensburger will launch an official competitive circuit in North America and Europe starting in May 2024. Titled Disney Lorcana Challenge, the events will begin at a regional level, where players can compete to qualify for North American and European Championships respectively. The top players will earn invites to the Disney Lorcana World Championship slated for early 2025.

Posh Paws and Warner Bros. partner on multiproperty licensing

Posh Paws International has announced a multi-property UK licensing partnership with Warner Bros. Discovery Global Consumer Products (WBDGCP). This new deal includes WBDGCP’s entire catalogue of DC, Wizarding World, Looney Tunes, Friends, Horror and many more.

Posh Paws will start the partnership by bringing to market a range of plush toys inspired by Warner Bros. Animation and DC’s hit animated pre-school series, Batwheels. This series launched in the UK on Cartoonito in March 2023 and has since been a top-performing show among pre-schoolers. In summer, Posh Paws will launch with the show’s main characters, Bam the Batmobile, Robin’s Redbird and Batman, in 7-inch and 10-inch plush sizes with high-quality detailing to ensure the characters’ key features are accentuated in the design.

Included in the deal with WBDGCP, Posh Paws secured the rights to develop plush toys and gifts inspired by more DC characters including Superman and more. From the Wizarding World, Posh Paws will be developing a new range of Harry Potter plush toys and gifts.

The hit TV show Friends celebrates its 30th anniversary this year and Posh Paws is developing a gifting range that will incorporate the show’s most memorable, sentimental and comical quotes and phrases that fans know and love, with plush characters that relate to them.

“We are absolutely delighted to partner with such a prestigious and global powerhouse like Warner Bros. Discovery Global Consumer Products across its entire portfolio of the biggest and most popular brands,” said Lauren Shipman, Group Brand and Marketing director.

“As a market leader in developing and producing licensed plush toys and gifts that are perfect for all ages, we are excited to be launching with our new pre-school Batwheels plush toys this summer and to be working on iconic brands like Harry Potter, Friends and more.”

Mattel unveils plans for animated Bob the Builder movie

Mattel Films, ShadowMachine, Nuyorican Productions and Anthony Ramos have announced plans to develop an animated, feature-length film based on Bob the Builder, the long-running and beloved animated children’s series.

Imagined as an inventive international story for today’s audiences, the film will star Grammy-winning, Golden Globe and Emmy-nominated actor and recording artist Anthony Ramos (Hamilton, In the Heights), who also produces alongside Alex Bulkley and Corey Campodonico of the Academy Awardwinning animation and production studio, ShadowMachine (Guillermo del Toro’s Pinocchio, BoJack Horseman).

Jennifer Lopez, Elaine Goldsmith-Thomas, and Benny Medina for Nuyorican Productions have also joined to co-produce, and Felipe Varga is attached to write.

In the movie, Bob will travel to Puerto Rico for a construction job, taking on issues affecting the island and digging deeper into what it means to build. His journey will celebrate the vibrant and colourful textures of the Caribbean Latin nations.

Robbie Brenner, president of Mattel Films, said: “We are thrilled to collaborate with our brilliant partners on Bob the Builder, our first animated theatrical film. Pairing Anthony and Felipe’s genius vision for the story with ShadowMachine and Nuyorican’s artisan approach will capture this beloved character in a manner that audiences who grew up with Bob will recognise and all-new audiences will enjoy.”

Anthony Ramos commented: “I’m proud to bring this important message to the big screen, adding elements of life that are inspired by my own. The movie is about friends working together, a celebration of a beautiful home they share, and how love can help to conquer any obstacle in your way.”

Elaine Goldsmith-Thomas added: “The show’s ability to promote positive thinking, problem solving and empowerment, with a completely original story set in Puerto Rico, puts a new spin on a beloved brand, and we can’t wait for new and existing fans to connect with these amazing characters.”

New board game from Asmodee and Lego swings onto the scene

The Lego Group and Asmodee have announced their first jointly-crafted board game, Monkey Palace. Created by game designers David Gordon and TAM (Tin Aung Myaing) this jungle-themed game of light strategy is designed for 2-4 players and provides family fun for all ages, incorporating both collaborative and competitive elements.

Players must strategically work together to construct the Monkey Palace while competing for the highest brick income and points, all under the watchful gaze of the Monkey. The palace gradually takes form, resulting in an impressive construction using Lego elements that players can proudly display at home. The iconic Lego System in Play means that each time the board game is played, the building experience and final construction are totally unique.

Birgitte Bülow, industry veteran and leader of the Lego board game creation team at Asmodee, said: “We're thrilled to take all Lego and board game fans on this gaming journey, combining the Lego Group’s timeless creativity with our passion and expertise in board games. Utilising the endless possibilities of Lego bricks was pivotal in designing this game. We believe Monkey Palace offers an extraordinary gameplay experience, blending competition and collaboration for board game enthusiasts worldwide."

Jaume Fabregat, Board Games lead at Lego Publishing, added: "At the Lego Group, we’re committed to inspiring the builders of tomorrow, which is why we’re so delighted to reveal Monkey Palace in collaboration with Asmodee. The game challenges kids and adults alike to use Lego elements to build, unbuild and rebuild their palaces, creating a fun play experience where no two games are the same. This latest collaboration allows us to bring even more creative and innovative ways to play.”

This collaboration was the result of extensive research and development undertaken by both companies, with the shared goal of creating new social experiences in play that transcend generations. Together, the Lego Group and Asmodee aim to discover innovative ways to combine the beloved Lego System in Play with the socially interactive nature of board games, delivering new and unique play experiences for families and Lego fans.

Lego adds Pig to successful licensed portfolio

In addition to the Lego Group showcasing a new line-up of products at London Toy Fair, the show coincided with the announcement that Peppa Pig will be coming to life in Lego Duplo form, to celebrate the beloved character during her 20th anniversary year. This experience is a new way for preschoolers to engage with the globally celebrated character.

Data from Circana has revealed that the Lego Group has retained its position as the UK’s number one toy manufacturer for the ninth year running following an incredible year of activity. This included the launch of its new entertainment IP, Lego Dreamzzz, with the theme becoming one of the top ten new properties in the UK in 2023. The product range and content series continues to expand with new products launched this month including Mr. Oz’s Space Car, Sandman’s Tower and Zoey and Zian the Cat-Owl.

Seven of the top 25 properties for 2023 were from the Lego Group with two – Lego Star Wars and Lego Technic – featuring in the top 10. Three items also featured in the top 10 items in the total toy market, including Harry Potter Dobby the House Elf set.