Lionsgate will launch the reality series “Her Universe Fashion Show” as the first original content on its Comic-Con International subscription streaming service next year. The show will follow contestants as they design outfits and plan to model them at Comic-Con next year. Her Universe, founded by actress Ashley Eckstein, who voices Ahsoka Tano in Star Wars: The Clone Wars, … [Read more...] about Her Universe on TV
Entertainment/Character
Peanuts Video Game
Photo: 20th Century Fox & Peanuts Worldwide Peanuts Worldwide has licensed Activision Publishing for an original video game tied in to The Peanuts Movie slated for theaters this fall. The Peanuts Movie: Snoopy’s Great Adventure, a side-scrolling exploration platformer game starring Peanuts characters, will launch Nov. 6 for PlayStation4, Xbox One, Xbox 360, Nintendo … [Read more...] about Peanuts Video Game
Disney Reorg Aims to Shore up Video Games
Video games may be the closest thing mighty Disney has to an Achilles’ heel. The merger between Disney Interactive and Disney Consumer Products aims to fix that. The move is hardly unexpected. For years, DCP, which is supposed to focus on “traditional” games, has developed digital products like app-based story books, mobile learning apps like Imagicademy, toys to life like … [Read more...] about Disney Reorg Aims to Shore up Video Games
Marvel Avengers’ Mission: To Get Kids Moving
Walt Disney Consumer Products and toy licensee Hasbro will appeal to families interested in both active play and tech toys with Playmation, a system of toys and wearable devices that uses motion sensors and wireless technology to encourage kids to run around while controlling smart action figure toys from wriststrapped gear. Playmation’s Marvel Avengers will hit stores in … [Read more...] about Marvel Avengers’ Mission: To Get Kids Moving
Throngs Discuss Thrones
Game of Thrones, the highest rated show in HBO history, set the social media universe ablaze with the plot twists in its fifth season finale June 14. Despite the controversial developments, the publicity can only be good news for licensees. New products headed to retail include a new collector’s edition of the book Game of Thrones: A Pop-Up Guide to Westeros, packed with a … [Read more...] about Throngs Discuss Thrones
Build-A-Bear Lines Up Licensees
Build-A-Bear Workshop’s 400 stores will host a lineup of visiting entertainment/characters licenses well into next year. In residence now, ahead of the July 10 theatrical release of Minions, from Universal Pictures and Illumination Entertainment, are Kevin, Bob, and Stuart. In August come four dolls from MGA Entertainment’s Lalaloopsy. Entertainment One’s Peppa Pig will be in … [Read more...] about Build-A-Bear Lines Up Licensees
Will Jurrasic World Hatch Licensing Success?
Few things drive sales of licensed toys, apparel, etc., like a blockbuster movie. And at $208.8 million in North America and $524.1 globally, no film has ever grossed more in its opening weekend than Universal’s Jurassic World. Within days of Jurassic World’s June 12 opening, FX networks picked up the TV rights to the dino-sized hit. Of course, all of this is music to the ears … [Read more...] about Will Jurrasic World Hatch Licensing Success?
Garfield Gets Global Push
Fat cat Garfield will grow a bit more this year with new direct-to-retail deals in Europe and Asia, a new licensing agent in Japan, and stepped up activity in the U.S. Licensor Paws Inc., is taking Garfield direct-to-retail with new programs with Original Marines in Italy, Undiz in France, and C&A and Rei do Mate in Brazil. In Japan, Tohokushinsha Film Corp. is its new … [Read more...] about Garfield Gets Global Push
Peppa Pig Joins the $1 Billion Club
Preschool property Peppa Pig has become a $1 billion property. There was no official announcement. Officials of Entertainment One Ltd., which has licensed Peppa to more than 600 licensees worldwide, recently mentioned Peppa’s having sales above $1 billion in discussing the company’s earnings for the fiscal year ended March 31. Even if it was not delivered with fanfare, the news … [Read more...] about Peppa Pig Joins the $1 Billion Club
Movie Licensing 2016–2019: Comics to Account for Almost One-Third of All Titles
This is the era of the comic book movie, and that's unlikely to change any time soon. If the fact that Avengers: Age of Ultron took in $191 million in the U.S. in its opening weekend this month, en route to a projected $1 billion globally, isn't proof enough, consider this: TLL's chart of films with strong licensing potential scheduled for release in 2016 through 2019 shows 31 … [Read more...] about Movie Licensing 2016–2019: Comics to Account for Almost One-Third of All Titles