Scholastic Media has announced a deal with Kidz Toyz to produce children’s music products. An electronic keyboard will be released with other musical instruments to follow.
Month: June 2010
Iconix Completes Peanuts Acquisition
Iconix Brand Group, Inc. has completed the acquisition of the Peanuts brand and related assets of United Media Licensing, a division of United Feature Syndicate, Inc., through a newly formed joint venture company, Peanuts Worldwide, LLC. The new company is 80 percent owned by Iconix and 20 percent owned by Charles M. Schulz Creative Associates, managed by the Schulz family.
This deal changes the landscape of Iconix and moves the company beyond fashion. Consumer products outside of fashion now represent approximately one-third of the company’s overall revenue.
In addition to Peanuts, Iconix has acquired the licensing and character representation for a number of character brands, including Dilbert and Fancy Nancy.
The purchase price for the acquisition was $175 million. Iconix funded its portion of the purchase price with cash on its balance sheet.
Bella Sara Introduces Moonfairies Collectible Card Set
Bella Sara is introducing its newest collectible card series, Moonfairies, which include 55 cards that feature horses, characters, and positive messages. The cards feature secret codes to be used to unlock features of the online Moonfairies game.
The new Moonfairies series is an addition to the Bella Sara Adventures online game play component created by Hidden City Entertainment, Inc. Bella Sara is also releasing Collector Card Albums, which feature the Moonfairies; a card checklist; and 10 pages of inserts to place the cards in. Bella Sara products are available at Target, Walmart, Toys “R” Us, and BellaSara.com.
Green Lantern Action Figures, Vehicles, and More on the Way
Warner Bros. Consumer Products (WBCP) has granted DC Comics’ master toy licensee, Mattel, unprecedented access to the DC Comics vault of characters, including Green Lantern, Superman, Batman, and more.
Green Lantern will make its theatrical debut around the world in summer 2011. The movie stars Ryan Reynolds in the title role as the newest member, and the first human selected, of the Green Lantern Corps.
Mattel is launching a comprehensive line of products based on the film for both kids and adult fans. The multi-category toy line includes basic and deluxe action figures, figure/vehicles, role play, play sets, games, puzzles, and vehicles.
Additionally, each action figure toy will include a Green Lantern ring to make kids feel as though they have been “chosen” to be a Green Lantern. Mattel’s Green Lantern product line will hit retail in summer 2011.
LIMA Cares Campaign to Raise Money for Children’s Brain Tumor Foundation at Licensing Expo
The International Licensing Industry Merchandisers’ Association (LIMA) will be supporting its LIMA Cares charity campaign at the Licensing International Expo 2010 in Las Vegas. The campaign will be raising money for the Children’s Brain Tumor Foundation (CBTF) as part of a three-year commitment to raise $3 million to fund the CBTF Tissue Consortium. Attendees can support CBTF through a silent auction, the LIMA Climb, and a texting campaign.
“As our industry gathers for Licensing International Expo in Las Vegas, I can think of no better way for us to show our strength and unity than by supporting efforts to cure children’s brain cancer,” Charles Riotto, president of LIMA, says in a press release.
Bidding for the silent auction will start Tuesday, June 8, and items will include tickets to sporting and entertainment events such as: the U.S. Open Women’s Final, 2011 Final Four, X Games 16, Survivor finale taping, a CBS comedy taping, Beastly premiere and after party, Nickelodeon’s Kids’ Choice Awards, Come Fly Away on Broadway, the 2010 American Idol Summer Live Tour and meet and greet passes, The Price is Right taping, Cartoon Network’s Hall of Game inaugural event, and a NASCAR Ride Along certificate. Bids will be taken through June 20 on Ebay.
Pledges will be taken for the LIMA Climb event to the base camp of Mt. Everest. The climb will take place October 13-31, and over $158,000 has already been pledged.
Attendees can also support CBTF by contributing $10 through a texting campaign by texting LIMA (5462) to 50555.
WordGirl Receives Comic Book Series Through BOOM! Studios
Scholastic Media has announced that superhero series WordGirl will receive a comic book series this fall through BOOM! Studios. WordGirl comic books and graphic novels will be available throughout the U.S. and Canada, ranging from $2.99 to $9.99. The comics will feature all-new storylines.
The deal follows the announcement that the WordGirl series has received three 2010 Daytime Emmy Award nominations. The series was awarded a Daytime Emmy Award for Best Writing in Animation in 2008. WordGirl airs daily on PBS.
BOOM! Studios recently launched it BOOM Kids! imprint in spring 2009. The imprint serves as a home for BOOM!’s kid-friendly content.
The Jim Henson Company Premieres New Properties, Looks for Partners
The Jim Henson Company is debuting several new properties at Licensing International Expo, and seeking licensing partners in an array of key areas.
Me and My Monsters tells the story of the Carlson family who moves from Australia to the UK and discovers there are three monsters living in their basement. Ten-year-old Eddie Carlson thinks the houseguests are the best friends a kid could have, but the monsters proves to be more stressful for Eddie’s working mom and his highly strung dad, and an ongoing embarrassment for his teenage sister.
Me and My Monsters stars human actors and three monster puppets, which are developed by Jim Henson’s Creature Shop. The series will air on BBC in the UK, ZDF in Germany, and Network 10 in Australia. BBC Worldwide is spearheading licensing for the series in the UK, Germany, and Australia, and The Jim Henson Company is managing for the U.S. market.
Wilson & Ditch: Digging America is an internet destination produced for PBSKidsGo.org for kids ages 6 to 10. Kids can embark on a cross-country adventure with two comical gophers (brothers Wilson and Ditch) as they explore America’s most interesting destinations.
Disney Strives to Target Boys
Andy Mooney, chairman of Disney Consumer Products (DCP), last week announced DCP’s new goal to significantly increase annual global retail sales of Disney and Marvel licensed merchandise within the next five years, with boys’ merchandise playing a prominent role.
DCP’s core strategy is to focus on newer properties targeting the boys’ market, including Marvel franchises, TRON, and the Disney Channel and Disney XD series Phineas and Ferb.
The upcoming release of Cars 2 in June 2011 will be supported with cross-company initiatives that are expected to exceed Toy Story 3 retail sell-in. Cars Toons, the series of shorts airing on Disney Channel, has provided fresh merchandising themes for incremental retail programs globally.
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Big Tent to Roll Out More Than 50 New Discovery Kids Products
Discovery Communications has expanded its relationship with Big Tent Entertainment by signing a three-year deal that extends Big Tent’s licensing representation for Discovery Kids-branded products.
As part of the extended agreement, Big Tent will release more than 50 new Discovery Kids products from licensing partners including Parragon Publishing, MerchSource, 505 Games, JAKKS Pacific, MasterPieces, SRM, and Kids Station. Big Tent will also expand its Discovery Kids licensing program in the following categories: platform-based video games, electronics, computers/computer peripherals, R/C, apparel, room décor, furniture, outdoor sport, and select food categories.
Discovery has also appointed Big Tent as the exclusive North American licensing agency of record for its TLC network. Big Tent will spearhead licensing efforts for the TLC brand and the network’s lineup of programming in categories such as home & organization, cooking, fashion, and weddings.
Bandai Picked as Global Master Toy Licensee for Thundercats
Warner Bros. Consumer Products (WBCP) has appointed Bandai America Incorporated as the global master toy licensee for the animated series Thundercats. Bandai will create and distribute products worldwide to complement the original brand property, as well as a new animated series, set to air on Cartoon Network in 2011.
The new Thundercats, based on the series that first aired in 1985, is executive produced by Sam Register (Teen Titans, Ben 10, Batman: The Brave and the Bold), and is being called a “21st century re-imagining of the original.” Michael Jelenic (Batman: The Brave and the Bold, Wonder Woman) and Ethan Spaulding (Avatar: The Last Airbender) are the producers. Warner Bros. Animation and Studio4°C are developing the series, which is currently in production.