Licensing International Names Excellence Awards Finalists

Licensing International has named the finalists for its 2024 Excellence Awards. 

Licensing International has named almost 200 finalists, including hot toy brands such as Barbie, Transformers, Squishmallows, and more. This year, Licensing International introduced the Best Advertising Campaign Featuring a Brand award and expanded voting for the Members’ Choice Award to each member of Licensing International. 

The winners will be announced during the Licensing International Excellence Awards on May 20 at 5:30 p.m. PT at the HyperX Arena Las Vegas at the Luxor ahead of Licensing Expo. The finalists include:

Best Advertising Campaign Featuring a Licensed Brand

Coca-Cola’s Global “Masterpiece” Campaign – The Coca-Cola Co.

CoComelon Toys at Smyths Superstores – Smyths Toys Superstores

Comcast/Xfinity Gig Internet -“Red Flags” – Comcast/Xfinity

Discover Imagination – Tonies

Golf’s Happy Place – PGA TOUR Superstore (Born Licensing)

It’s OK I’m with The AA – The AA (Born Licensing)

Best Brand: Animated

Bluey – Ludo Studio and BBC Studios

Gabby’s Dollhouse – Universal Products & Experiences

Naruto – Shueisha, TV Tokyo, Studio Pierrot

Peanuts – Peanuts Worldwide

Peppa Pig – Hasbro

South Park – Paramount Global

Best Brand: Art, Design, or Museum

Frank Lloyd Wright Foundation (Jewel Branding & Licensing)

Keith Haring (Artestar)

Natural History Museum, London

New York Botanical Garden (Jewel Branding & Licensing)

The Metropolitan Museum of Art (Beanstalk)

V&A

Best Brand: Corporate

Dr. Scholl’s – Scholl’s Wellness Co. (Brandgenuity)

Girl Scouts of the USA (Earthbound)

Hershey’s – The Hershey Co.

Kodak – Eastman Kodak Co.

Scotts, Miracle-Gro – The Scotts Co. (Seltzer Licensing Group)

United States Postal Service (Global Icons)

Best Brand: Food, Beverage, Restaurant

Cinnabon (Global Channels)

Coca-Cola – The Coca-Cola Co.

Entenmann’s – Bimbo Bakeries USA (Brand Central)

M&M’s – Mars Wrigley (Brand Central)

Peeps – Just Born Quality Confections (Brand Activation Consulting)

Stranger Things Scoops Ahoy – Netflix

Best Brand: Interactive or Digital Brand

Bored of Directors – NFIP Holdings (Brand Central)

Chefclub

Emoji – The Iconic Brand – Emoji Co. GmbH (Retail Monster)

Five Nights At Freddy’s – Scott Games (Striker Entertainment)

Minecraft – Microsoft (CAA Brand Management and Merchantwise)

Sonic the Hedgehog – SEGA

Best Brand: Live Action

Disney The Little Mermaid – The Walt Disney Co.

Monster Jam! – Feld Entertainment

Ted Lasso – Warner Bros. Discovery

Teletubbies – WildBrain

Yellowstone – Paramount Global

Best Brand: Music Artist, Celebrity, or Fashion

Drew & Jonathan – Scott Brothers Global

Gloria Vanderbilt – One Jeanswear Group (The Brand Liaison)

Grateful Dead – Warner Music Experience

Laura Ashley – Gordon Brothers

Martha Stewart – Marquee Brands

Best Brand: Publishing, Stationery, or Social Expression

Afro Unicorn – April Showers (Retail Monster)

Black Paper Party (Brand Central)

Crayola

Dr. Seuss – Dr. Seuss Enterprises

Moomin – Moomin Characters Oy Ltd (Rights & Brands)

Strawberry Shortcake – WildBrain

World of Eric Carle/Very Hungry Caterpillar – Penguin Random House (The Joester Loria Group)

Best Brand: Sports, eSports, or Collegiate

24H Le Mans – Automobile Club de l’Ouest (IMG)

Formula 1

NASCAR

NFLPA

U.S. Polo Association – USPA Global

Yale University (Aspire by WildBrain CPLG)

Best Brand: Toy

Barbie – Mattel

NERF – Hasbro

Squishmallows – Jazwares

Transformers – Hasbro

Best Collaboration: Hardlines or Packaged Goods

Caran d’Ache x Keith Haring – (Artestar/CAA Brand Management)

Krispy Kreme x Elf

LEGO x Pac-Man

Montblanc x Van Gogh Museum (TBR The Brand Residence GmbH)

Pringles x The Caviar Co. (Beanstalk)

Rubik’s Cube x Stranger Things

Ted Lasso x Jeni’s Ice Cream

Best Collaboration: Softlines

Frank Lloyd Wright x New Balance x Kith (Jewel Branding & Licensing)

Kenneth Cole x Sesame Street

Marvel x Christian Louboutin

Squishmallows x H&M

Swatch x Jean-Michel Basquiat (Artestar)

The Met x Todd Snyder (Beanstalk)

Tommy Jeans x Keith Haring (Artestar)

Best Experiential or Location-Based Initiative

Hasbro Gaming at Changi Airport – Q’s Advertising (Pacific Licensing Studio)

KISS New York City Takeover – Pop Up Mob; Modern English; Tactical Manoeuvre; Alex Coletti Productions (Bravado)

Paris by Emily – Dharma

Pokémon x Van Gogh Museum

Shrek x Airbnb

Snoopy x Mega Adventure – First Asia Realty Development Company (WildBrain CPLG)

Squid Game: The Trials – Superfly

The Friends Experience: The One in Melbourne (Original X Productions)

Best Licensed Promotion

7-Eleven x Brown & Minions – CP All Public Company (7-Eleven) (Pacific Licensing Studio)

Lviv Croissants x Mavka – Lviv Croissants (Nerd Agency)

Paddington at Langham Hotels – Langham Hospitality Group (CAA Brand Management)

Peanuts x Kellogg’s – Kellogg’s

Squishmallows x McDonald’s Happy Meal Program – Jazwares, McDonald’s

Best Product: Apparel, Footwear, or Accessories for Corporate Brands

Eastpak – Van Gogh Museum

FILA Golf – McLaren (CAA Brand Management)

Loungefly – McDonald’s (The Joester Loria Group)

Modern Works – Kodak

Nowhere Co. – Coca-Cola (Itochu fashion system)

Over The Pitch – Coca-Cola (CAA Brand Management)

PacSun – The Met (Beanstalk)

Uniqlo – MoMA, Pac-Man, Katamari Damacy, SimCity 2000, Space Invaders,

Tetris

Best Product: Apparel, Footwear, or Accessories for Entertainment Brands

Adidas – The Simpsons

Akila – The Beatles (Bravado)

Anya Hindmarch – Mr. Potato Head

Crocs – Shrek

Eton Shirts – The Beatles (Rights & Brands)

Gucci – Gremlins

Pandora A/S – Game of Thrones (Nordic Licensing Company A/S)

Best Product: Appliances, Housewares, or Electronics for Corporate Brands

Aristocrat Gaming – NFLPA

ByTech – Bugatti (IMG)

Car Off Shore – Fiat 500 (IMG)

Cloth & Company – Bendolph, Bennett, Pettway, and Wilson (Artists Rights Society)

Custom Accessories – Dr. Scholl’s (Brandgenuity)

Muli – Museum of Fine Arts, Boston (Alfilo Brands)

Samsung – The Met, The V&A, and Van Gogh Museum

Best Product: Appliance, Housewares, or Electronic Product for Entertainment Brands

Dalstrong – Batman

Davolink – Minions

Dragon Glassware – Barbie (Ann McNeill)

Stern Pinball, Inc. – Jaws

Thai Honda Co. – Minions (Pacific Licensing Studio Pte Ltd)

Xiaomi Communications Co., Ltd. – Harry Potter

Zara – Peanuts (WildBrain CPLG)

Best Product: Food or Beverage for Corporate Brands

B&G Foods – Buffalo Trace, Fireball, Southern Comfort (Brandgenuity)

Ferrero/The Coca-Cola Co. – Sprite (CAA Brand Management)

Frankford Candy LLC – Kraft Mac & Cheese, Oscar Mayer, Lunchables, Claussen,

Bagel Bites (Brand Central)

GS Retail – Netflix

Namyang – Mentos (Infiniss)

Best Product: Food or Beverage for Entertainment Brands

Athletic Brewing – The Witcher

Brach’s – Friends

Brewdog – Elf

FoodStory Brands – Yellowstone

Treasury Wine Estates – Universal Monsters

Witor’s – Bridgerton

Witor’s – Harry Potter

Best Product: Health & Beauty

Hismile – Wonka

Kmed – Sex Education

Mad Beauty – Disney100

Premier Brands of America, Inc. – Arm and Hammer

Viking Brand – Route 66 (Ispartner)

Best Product: Home Decor

Crown Baccara – Bridgerton (CAA Brand Management)

Eichholtz – The Met (Beanstalk)

Mrs. Bloom’s – Crayola Flowers

Paladone Products – Barbie

Select Blinds USA – V&A

ZeWood – The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey

Best Product: Interactive or Digital Product

Actionary: The Conqueror – Scooby Doo

Apple – Peanuts

Borderleap – Van Gogh Museum (Licensing Link, UK)

Faurecia Aptoide, Mercedes-Benz – Angry Birds (IMG)

Tafi/Coinbase – Coca-Cola

Best Product: Publishing, Social Expression, or Back-to-School

Compactor – Mentos (Destra)

Insight Editions – The Beatles (Bravado)

Moleskine – Van Gogh Museum (Art Studio 3, Italy)

Montegrappa – Warner Bros Discovery

Random House – Bridgerton

Scholastic – Harry Potter

Best Product: Toys, Games, Novelties, or Role Play (ages 0-8)

Clementoni S.p.A. – Disney Baby, Disney Classics

Fashion Angels – Me and The Bees (The Brand Liaison)

FUN.com – Disney Pixar

Melissa & Doug – National Park Foundation

WowWee – Monopoly

Best Product: Toys, Games, Novelties, or Role Play (ages 8+)

Big Potato Games – U.S. Postal Inspection Service (Global Icons)

Hasbro – Barbie

Hot Toys – John Wick (IMG)

Märklin – Van Gogh Museum (TBR The Brand Residence GmbH)

Ruz – Peanuts

The LEGO Group – Disney

Best Retailer: Corporate, Lifestyle, Fashion, or Sports Brands

Aeropostale – Coca-Cola

Allkinds – Chupa Chups (Asembl Brands)

Kohl’s – Crayola (Retail Monster)

Peter Alexander – Moulin Rouge (Asembl Brands)

Primark – Dr. Seuss Enterprises

Ripley – Bored of Directors (Brand Central and The Business Hub)

Best Retailer: Entertainment Brands

Bloomingdale’s – Wonka

Hamleys – Wizarding World

Miniso Development Hong Kong/ Miniso (Guangzhou) Co. – Peanuts (WildBrain CPLG)

Miniso Group Holding Limited – Sanrio Characters (Alifish)

Rinascente: Roma tritone – Pokémon

The Natural History Museum, London – Jurassic Park 30th Anniversary

Walmart – Kids Apparel Spinners

Williams Sonoma – Bridgerton

Best Sustainability Initiative

Delipap – Moomin (Rights & Brands)

Groundtruth – Ed Stafford (Brandgenuity)

Minions x Bottled Water

Narwhal Ocean Research Center – ERDOS (Alfilo Brands)

Recycle to Read x Tesco

The Landmark Project – National Wildlife Federation (Jewel Branding & Licensing)

Members’ Choice Award

Barbie x Zara

BISSELL – Eggo

Lick x Heinz

LiQ – Malibu (ASPIRE by WildBrain CPLG)

oVertone x Franzia

Peaky Blinders Live Performances – Immersive Everywhere, Rambert Ballet Co.

Seda & Princess Tiana – Seda

The Ice Cream Project by Anya Hindmarch

Most Impactful Service Provider

Dependable Solutions

Fabacus

MyMediabox

Octane5

Pottick Law / Protect for Success