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Disguise Signs Deal to Manufacture Hasbro-Branded Costumes

Disguise, the Halloween costume division of JAKKS Pacific, Inc., has signed a multi-year agreement with Hasbro to produce Halloween costumes and accessories based on most Hasbro brands. The three-year deal grants Disguise expanded and exclusive rights to manufacture and distribute Hasbro-branded Halloween costumes and accessories in the U.S. and Canada, beginning this Halloween season.

Costumes will include those based on Transformers 3, to be released summer 2011, and the television shows G.I. Joe and My Little Pony, which will air this fall on Hasbro and Discovery Communications‘ joint-venture cable network, The Hub.

Photo Credit: Business Wire

Fox to Expand Avatar Product Lineup Following Film’s Success

Following the success of James Cameron’s Avatar, Fox Consumer Products plans to expand its merchandising opportunities for the franchise.

With more than 125 licensed products manufactured during the film’s release in four main categories (video games, publishing, toys, and apparel), Fox hopes to expand the number in the fall with back-to-school and other seasonal products. Fox also plans on expanding the Avatar brand to encompass bedding, board games, social expressions, and costumes. Current partners include Rubie’s, Abrams, MEGA Brands, JLA Home, and Trends International.

Avatar is the highest grossing film of all time, with approximately $2.7 billion in worldwide ticket sales, and is also the best-selling DVD and Blu-ray with around 20 million copies purchased in the first three weeks. Its retail sales total approximately $153 million.

Learning Express Moves Convention Due to Nashville Floods

Learning Express‘ 2010 convention has changed venues this year due to extensive flooding in May that closed Nashville’s Gaylord Opryland Resort and Convention Center, the original venue, indefinitely. In support of those whose homes were destroyed during the flooding, Learning Express plans to donate vendor-contributed toys from the convention, which typically exceed $25,000, to Nashville children.

After witnessing pictures and video of the devastation, Sharon DiMinico, Learning Express founder and CEO, says she was “shocked” in a press release sent out today. “We hope these toys will spread a little joy in what must be a terrifying time for so many families,” she continued.

The new convention will be held in Orlando, Fla., at the Omni Orlando Resort at ChampionsGate from June 28-30. Attendees will include Learning Express corporate staff, owners of more than 140 Learning Express toy stores, and more than 100 invited toy vendors.

FremantleMedia Joins JAKKS and Dentsu for Monsuno

FremantleMedia Enterprises (FME) has entered into a production and distribution agreement with JAKKS Pacific, Inc. and Dentsu Entertainment USA for the companies’ new joint venture, Monsuno, an original animated entertainment project.

FME will be responsible for the exclusive worldwide (except Asia) distribution of Monsuno programming, and act as the master licensing agent for the Monsuno brand worldwide, except in Asia where Dentsu will serve as the master licensing agent. Monsuno represents the first programming announcement for FME’s Children and Family Entertainment division, launched last fall at MIPCOM.

Read More…

Fox Expands Breadth of Family Film Franchises

Twentieth Century Fox Consumer Products has announced plans to create worldwide, long-term brands out of Ice Age, Alvin and the Chipmunks, Diary of a Wimpy Kid, and Rio.

Ice Age Continental Drift 3-D is scheduled to hit theaters summer 2012, and Fox is planning consumer products based on the brand, including video games, stationery, and toys. Fox plans to release a style guide and new promotional concepts in the coming months.

Alvin and the Chipmunks Chipwrecked will also be in 3-D and is expected to release during 2011’s holiday season. Fox hopes to market the franchise as a year-round opportunity focusing on toys, stationery, interactive, and publishing. Read More…

Nick Launches Merchandising Programs for Series

Nickelodeon Consumer Products (NCP) is launching merchandising and licensing programs for four of its popular series: Big Time Rush, Victorious, Fanboy and Chum Chum, and Team Umizoomi. The programs will span toys, accessories, home décor, apparel, packaged goods, social expressions, and more.

Big Time Rush is a live-action series that chronicles the journey of four best friends who get a chance to be part of the glamorous L.A. pop music scene.

Victorious is a series about a teen called Tori who lands an invitation to enroll in an elite performing arts high school. As she navigates her way through the school and its challenging curriculum, she meets other gifted teens like herself.

Fanboy & Chum Chum, which averages 32 million monthly viewers, tells the story of a boy named Fanboy; his best friend and trusty sidekick, Chum Chum; and their hyper imagination.

Team Umizoomi, a preschool series focused entirely on math, combines action-adventure missions with an interactive math curriculum.

Mattel to Produce Board Games From NBC’s “Minute to Win it”

NBC Universal Television Consumer Products Group and Joy Tashjian Marketing Group, LLC, have announced a deal with Mattel, Inc., to produce a line of board games based off the television show Minute to Win it.

Minute to Win it is hosted by Guy Fieri (from Food Network’s Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives) and has average people perform a series of challenges with household products for a chance at winning $1 million. The hour-long episodes have competitors complete 10 one-minute challenges, which increase in difficulty. Challengers are given the opportunity to walk away with the money they have earned at various points throughout the game and are encouraged to practice the games at home.

Games include “Hanky Panky,” where a contestant must pull out all the tissues from a box using only one hand; “Egg Roll,” where a contestant fans three eggs with a pizza box into a designated target area; and more. Mattel’s board games have a tentative market date of Q4 2010.

MEGA Brands Inks New Deal for Dinosaur Train

As part of a partnership with MEGA Brands, Inc., there will be a new line of Dinosaur Train toys hitting store shelves in North America beginning spring 2011. The new Mega Bloks products will launch worldwide fall 2011.

The deal by The Jim Henson Company, creator of Dinosaur Train, grants Mega Brands worldwide, multi-year licensing rights for the line of preschool construction toys.

Created by Craig Bartlett (Hey Arnold!), Dinosaur Train airs on PBS Kids.

Engage! Expo to be Held During Toy Fair Once Again

Engage Digital Media (EDM) has announced that its Annual Engage! Conference and Expo will co-locate with the Toy Industry Association‘s (TIA) American International Toy Fair for the second time.

The second co-location, planned for February 15-16 at New York City’s Jacob K. Javits Convention Center, will coincide with the four-day Toy Fair event, which will be held February 13-16.

Next year, Toy Fair will celebrate its 108th anniversary. According to TIA, participation last year increased 4 percent over 2009, to approximately 25,000 people. Read More…

LIMA Reports Decline in Licensing Royalties as Licensing Expo Opens

According to the annual Licensing Industry Survey by the International Licensing Industry Merchandisers’ Association (LIMA), brand owners collected nearly $5.2 billion in licensing royalty revenue in North America in 2009, down 8.7 percent from the year before. This marks the second year of decline; overall royalty revenues declined 5.6 percent in 2008.

In the survey, brand owners cited last year’s sluggish consumer spending, a conservative climate at retail, a longer decision-making cycle, and royalty pressure as reasons for the decline. However, brand owners were optimistic, reporting success in expanding their licensing business internationally in 2009. Licensors also reported a continued trend of more diversified retail distribution.

In 2009, the character segment, which produces 46 percent of licensing industry royalty revenues, declined 7.9 percent. Other major segments of the licensing industry include corporate trademarks/brands (17 percent), fashion (14 percent), and sports (13 percent).

The survey results were released at the opening session of the Licensing International Expo 2010. The numbers were derived from results of LIMA’s annual survey of companies that are directly involved in the licensing business, an examination of public financial documents, and interviews with licensing industry executives.