LINE FRIENDS has collaborated with Illumination and Universal Brand Development to unveil a collection featuring Minions and Brown & Friends, inspired by one of the most successful animated franchises of all time. Launched as part of the collaboration between these two powerhouse brands, the collection consists of essential fashion and tech accessories ranging from AirPods cases to phone grips to canvas tote bags, as well as to golf accessories and camping gear. LINE FRIENDS is a global character brand that originally started from Brown & Friends, which were originally created for use as stickers for the leading mobile messenger app LINE and its 200 million active users worldwide. Since that time the company has emerged as a global creative studio by offering diversified content based on its wide array of… . . . read more
Tim Erickson To Head Licensing For Peanuts Worldwide
A former top executive with Twentieth Century Fox, DreamWorks, Disney and LEGO has been tapped to lead the licensing activities of Peanuts Worldwide. Tim Erickson is taking on the role of Executive Vice President of Brand at Peanuts, and will oversee the team who manage the brand’s global licensing business. The characters of Peanuts and related intellectual property are owned by Peanuts Worldwide, which is 41% owned by WildBrain Ltd., 39% owned by Sony Music Entertainment (Japan) Inc., and 20% owned by the family of Charles M. Schulz, who first introduced the world to Peanuts in 1950, when the comic strip debuted in seven newspapers. The Peanuts team says Erickson will be tasked with “sustaining a strategy true to the great heritage of the Peanuts brand – opening new licensing, partnership… . . . read more
Peppa Pig Boots Up Partnership With Hunter Boot Ltd.
When kids in the UK are ready to splash their way back to school through mud puddles this fall, Peppa Pig and Hunter Boot will have them covered. Hasbro and Hunter Boot are about to release their second collaboration based on the Peppa Pig franchise, with the new lines being released Aug. 2, in time for back to school shopping. After the sell out success of the first collection, Hunter and Peppa Pig continue to celebrate a shared loved of nature, adventures, and of course, jumping in muddy puddles with the 2021 collaboration. The Hunter X Peppa Pig collection consists of the Kids First Muddy Puddles Wellington boot, Backpack, Umbrella and Kids Boot Socks. Each product features an exclusive camouflage pattern of the much loved character splashing in puddles. The… . . . read more
Casetify Releases New Disney Princess Line
Casetify has announce a new collection in partnership with Disney, allowing smart phone owners to unleash their inner princess. The new line announced this week comes as part of a longer campaign entitled Be Your Own Princess. The fourth installment of this collaboration joins Disney’s Ultimate Princess Celebration, with the collection launching online at www.casetify.com/disney-princess. Fans can sign up now for the waitlist, which grants priority access on launch day, July 29. “The most magical thing about Disney Princess characters is that everyone can be one,” says Wes Ng, chief executive officer and co-founder, Casetify. “Their charisma, kindness and bravery inspire us to be our own true, authentic self while celebrating what makes each one of us unique —a core value to the members of our own community.” The new… . . . read more
Not So Nice: Baron Cohen Sues Pot Shop
Actor and comedian Sacha Baron Cohen has filed suit against a Massachusetts cannabis shop for using an image of his character Borat on a billboard (pictured here) without his permission. According to documents filed in U.S. District Court in Boston, Baron Cohen alleges the billboard for Somerset-based Solar Therapeutics Inc. showed him posing as Borat with two thumbs up and using the Borat catchphrase, “It’s nice!” The filing goes on to say, “By use of the billboard, the defendants falsely have conveyed to the public that Mr. Baron Cohen has endorsed their products and is affiliated with their business. To the contrary, Mr. Baron Cohen never has used cannabis in his life. He never would participate in an advertising campaign for cannabis, for any amount of money.” The billboard, located… . . . read more
Star Trek Boldly Goes To The Toy Aisle With Playmates
The rich world of the Star Wars Universe is coming to a toy store near you, as ViacomCBS Consumer Products announced a licensing deal with Playmates Toys. ViacomCBS says it has awarded the global toy company with the licensing rights for action figures, vehicles and ships, role play and other toy categories for all Star Trek properties. Playmates will launch its new Star Trek toy line in 2022, following Star Trek’s entry into kids’ content with the premiere of Star Trek: Prodigy, the first Star Trek series aimed at younger audiences. ViacomCBS says the qualities that attracted it to a deal with Playmates are its attention to brand detail, authentic portrait sculpting, and new product innovations it plans to introduce to its forthcoming Star Trek collections. Fans can look forward to… . . . read more
Stan Lee’s Superhero Kindergarten Getting Super Ratings
Genius Brand’s new show Stan Lee’s Superhero Kindergarten has already surpassed 40 million views on Kartoon Channel since its debut on April 23. “I knew the viewership would be great, but even I didn’t think we would be getting this level of views with just 11 episodes streaming so far,” said Arnold Schwarzenegger, who is both executive producer and stars in the show. “Over 40 million views in just a few short months is an incredible achievement, and I am so honored by this reception. I want to thank the entire team for the fantastic work. I know Stan Lee himself would be so proud. We have 15 more episodes left in our first season, so this is just the beginning!” The show has put out 11 episodes so far… . . . read more
Talking Tom Breaks Out With New Series, Licensing Program
The hugely popular Talking Tom franchise is getting a major update this year, as brand owner Outfit7 launches a new CP licensing program, a 3D animated series, and a new Talking Tom interactive app. It’s hard to believe, given the global success of the Talking Tom and Friends videos, but the brand actually started as what now seems like a simple iPhone app. That app allowed users to speak to Tom on their mobile device, and he’d repeat the phrase in his own hilarious way. Since then, Talking Tom & Friends have enjoyed a staggering 79 billion views, and the character is a global phenomenon. Outfit7 and its North American global licensing partner, Epic Story Media, this week announced new deals for the award-winning family entertainment brand, Talking Tom &… . . . read more
LEGO Builds Seinfeld Set For A ‘Toy About Nothing’
LEGO has been on a sitcom roll of late, building out the sets for popular shows like Friends and Big Bang Theory, and now has followed up with a 30th anniversary set for Seinfeld, the “show about nothing.” The classic sitcom, a number one hit in the 1990s, will be immortalized in plastic bricks thanks to a fan-based project launched under the LEGO Ideas program. Brent Waller of Brisbane, Australia submitted the idea and the build design to the LEGO Ideas platform, which is a LEGO program designed to bring in new ideas created by, and voted for, by LEGO fans. Winning projects are then selected by LEGO and turned into a real building kit that is offered for sale with official LEGO status. Waller, the co-founder of a video… . . . read more
Cuteness Overload: Elmo Gets a Puppy!
Elmo by himself: Super cute. Elmo with a puppy: Massive cuteness overload. In a move that makes you think, ‘why didn’t this happen before?’, Sesame Workshop is coming out with an animated special called Furry Friends Forever: Elmo Gets a Puppy. The special will also, of course, generate a new licensing program, beginning with the simultaneous launch of new Sesame Street books and consumer products based on Elmo’s new puppy Tango. The 30-minute show tells the story of the affectionate Elmo meeting up with a stray Puppy, adopting her, and then going on a mission to find Tango her forever home. The show, produced in partnership with A Productions, will premiere on Aug. 5 on HBO Max, and will air again next year on PBS KIDS. Sesame Street Makes Room for… . . . read more