Semaphore Premier Licensing continues to expand their all-star line-up of talent as the company takes a deep dive into the world of gaming influencers, signing YouTube star SypherPK (aka Ali Hassan), one of the world’s leading Fortnite gamers. The news follows by just one week the signing of Megan Plays (aka Megan Letter), a massive star among Roblox players with 3.5 million subscribers on her YouTube Channel 3.1 million fans on TikTok and over 1.4 million followers on Roblox. Semaphore now represents influencers from three of the world’s most populous gaming communities, those being Fortnite, Roblox and Minecraft. SypherPKis one of the leading Fortnite gamers and streams content on four YouTube Channels including SypherPK, More SypherPK, Sypher Plays and Sypher Shorts, with the current subscriber reach topping 7.36 million combined…. . . . read more
Funko Releases Six New Disney Games
Funko is once again teaming up with Disney to release six new board games for families, including Disney Mickey and the Beanstalk, Disney Pixar Toy Story Talent Show, Disney Mad Tea Party, Disney You Can Fly, and Disney Hidden Mickeys. Players can fly with Dumbo or Buzz Lightyear, climb a beanstalk with Mickey Mouse, and even take the It’s a Small World cruise from Disney Parks, all from the family’s dining room table. The marquee Disney it’s a small world interactive game will allow nostalgic parents to share the magic of the famous cruise with Disney Parks’s newest and youngest fans. The game is designed to follow the playful route through the Disney Parks attraction on a 3D game board, with stunning illustrated scenes from the classic attraction. All of the games are… . . . read more
Aconyte Publishing Novels Inspired by Marvel, Assassin’s Creed
The newly launched Aconyte Books says it’s publishing a new series of novels inspired by Marvel’s hit tabletop miniatures game Crisis Protocol, and a series based on the Assassin’s Creed video game series. Aconyte is the novels division of Asmodee Entertainment, created last year to deliver on the Asmodee slogan: “Great games, amazing stories!”, and to create new content to be leveraged on further entertainment platforms. Unlike many publishing houses, Aconyte focuses very tightly on becoming a “go-to partner” for tie-in fiction, inspired by the world’s most popular brands. To helm the imprint, Asmodee Entertainment has hired Marc Gascoigne, formerly the publisher & Managing Director of award-winning global sci-fi imprint Angry Robot. The team works in the UK, and began publishing last summer for the US, UK and export markets. As well… . . . read more
Fright Rags Celebrates ‘Halloween’ Early, With Plastic Meatball Deal
New Collectible Action Figures Designed As If They Were Released In 1978 The holiday may be six months away, but fans of the classic horror film “Halloween” will have the opportunity to travel back to an alternate autumn of 1978 thanks to a new line of authentically designed, retro-inspired action figures from Fright-Rags and Plastic Meatball based on John Carpenter’s original motion picture, in partnership with Compass International Pictures. Staying true to the scale, aesthetic and development methods of the period, the new line of toys was specifically created to deliver a sense of wish fulfillment for fans who would have loved to see these figures on toy store shelves during the film’s initial late 70’s release. Notably, while the character of Michael Myers has been immortalized countless times as… . . . read more
Studio 100 Clinches Partnership With Mediatoon
Studio 100 Media has closed a deal with Mediatoon Licensing that will see the company taking over licensing management for popular intellectual property in the Mediation portfolio. Mediatoon is a European animation company known for series like Bobby & Bill, Little Furry, Martin Morning, Ernest & Rebecca, The Fox and the Badger Family, and Marsupilami, all of which are broadcast in primetime slots on KiKA, ZDF and on Benelux TV channels. They are also available on Amazon, YouTube or Kixi. The contract includes the German-speaking territories in Europe, as well as all licensing activities in Benelux, Eastern Europe and Nordics.Mediatoon’s stable of properties will enable Studio 100 Media to establish a broad program of content-driven products, the company says, but also in other categories, new approaches to develop exciting products… . . . read more
Care Bears Get Busy With Licensing Deals
The venerable Care Bears and brand owner Cloudco Entertainment have dived deep into the licensing pool and come up with a wide slate of deals in the apparel sector. Cloudco says it has signed a number of new partnership agreements in the apparel category. They include Bentex for kids apparel and swimwear; Centric for kids and adult sleepwear and hosiery; Freeze for adult apparel; Komar for kids sleepwear; Mad Engine for kids and adult apparel; Handcraft for packaged underwear; and Highpoint for hosiery. In the accessories category, Cloudco signed new deals with Concept 1 and H.E.R. In footwear, ACI will be developing Care Bears-inspired footwear for kids. “We’re thankful to all of our partners who have supported us in spreading sharing and caring across the globe, at a time when it’s… . . . read more
Mattel Signs a ‘Ludacris’ Deal
Toy giant Mattel is joining forces with star musician and songwriter Chris ‘Ludacris’ Bridges on a new animated series called Karma’s World, to air on Netflix later this year. The agreement creates a joint venture between Mattel, 9 Story Media Group Inc., and Karma’s World Entertainment for a multi-year global licensing deal tied to Karma’s World, the series created by Bridges. Better known by music fans as ‘Ludacris,’ Bridges is a successful actor, producer, entrepreneur and philanthropist as well as one of music’s most successful recording artists. He has starred in several top box office and critically acclaimed films, including the Fast and Furious Franchise, Fear Factor, and Crash. The Atlanta, Georgia rapper is known for his love of community, which led him to launch The Ludacris Foundation (TLF), in 2001. This nonprofit organization… . . . read more
ZAG Invests In Interactive Storytelling Tech Firm Epopia
Who says letter writing is dead? Not ZAG, which announced on April 21 that it has acquired a stake in Epopia, a French tech company that developed a “unique epistolary letter format that encourages children to read and write through interactive storytelling.” To put it more simply, Epopia has created a software solution that allows for personalization of content, based on the responses they get to story prompts sent to them by mail. That’s right. Not email, but actual, old-fashioned, pick it up with your hands snail mail that is hand delivered by a postal worker to your mail box. The new deal is an extension of the existing agreement between the two companies, with Epopia holding the global licensing rights in the category for Miraculous™- Tales of Ladybug & Cat… . . . read more
Jazwares Pens Multi-Year Marvel Deal For Costumes
Superhero suits for the masses—and their pets—will be hitting stores in 2022, thanks to a new, multi-year deal between global toyco Jazwares and Marvel Entertainment. Jazwares announced the deal, saying they will produce an all-new line of costumes and costume accessories. Set to hit retailers in North America in 2022, this new line will include an epic assortment of officially licensed costumes, costume accessories, and pet costumes from across the Marvel Universe films, TV series, and comic books. This announcement comes as Jazwares expands its offerings into the costume segment, with additional licenses expected in the months to come. With Jazwares’ Marvel costume line, fans of all ages can transform into their favorite Super Heroes including characters from classic Marvel properties, Marvel’s TV and film roster, Deadpool, Spider-Man, X-Men and… . . . read more
Museum of Discovery & Science Goes Mesozoic With Dino Dana
Fort Lauderdale’s famous Museum of Discovery and Science is ushering in some Stegosaurus-sized fun for kids in a partnership based on Dino Dana The Movie. Kids will discover the wonders of the Mesozoic era, as Dino Dana and her friends roar into the Museum of Discovery and Science (MODS). Guests can visit the new Dino Dana exhibit, see the coolest dino augmented reality (AR) experience and catch Dino Dana The Movie on its ‘GIANT’ screen as part of the MODS Discovery Pass. The film will be released on May 22 with official red carpet premieres at MODS on Saturday, June 5 and Sunday, June 6. “Fascination with prehistoric life never goes extinct, and MODS is excited to partner with Sinking Ship Entertainment and Safari Ltd. for the official U.S. launch… . . . read more