The Licensing Letter

Entertainment/Character

Royal Weddings: Marvel/Epic & Nestle/Starbucks

Prince Harry and Meghan Markle are not the only royals whose union we are celebrating this week. Nestle strikes a $7.5 billion cash deal with Starbucks for the exclusive right to sell the chain's packaged coffees and teas around the world—not including future revenues from product sales and royalties. Starbuck's current packaged business is worth approximately $2 billion; the … [Read more...] about Royal Weddings: Marvel/Epic & Nestle/Starbucks

Birthday Cheer

Jim Davis’ Garfield celebrates his 40th birthday this year with a new TV series, book, feature film, and merchandise with the help of Paws, Inc. Later this year, a new animated series of 120 30-second shorts titled Garfield Originals will be released. An animated Garfield movie is also in development with Alcon Entertainment. The sarcastic fat cat is also collaborating with … [Read more...] about Birthday Cheer

State of Toys & Games

Hasbro snaps up all intellectual property, category rights, and content libraries owned by Saban Properties and its affiliates for $522 million—including entertainment brands Power Rangers, My Pet Monster, Popples, Julius Jr., Luna Petunia, Treehouse Detectives, and certain others. The offer is subject to a number of closing conditions, including obtaining required regulatory … [Read more...] about State of Toys & Games

Experiential: Live Shows, Tech & Film

This fall, Feld Entertainment and Universal Brand Development bring DreamWorks Trolls The Experience, a 12,000-square-foot 90-minute immersive walkthrough adventure, to New York. The live location-based experience marks the first collaboration in a multi-property relationship that will develop and create other large-scale and mobile pop-up immersive experiences. DreamWorks … [Read more...] about Experiential: Live Shows, Tech & Film

Experiential, New Media & Partnerships

Asmodee Group launches a new division devoted to developing content based on its owned IP, primarily through strategic partnerships and licensing. Asmodee Entertainment will be the launching ground for new films, TV series, and comics and graphic novels. Already in development is a film based on the board game Catan, which is being adapted by Sony Pictures. DC Entertainment … [Read more...] about Experiential, New Media & Partnerships

Black Panther Gearing Up to Take $250 Million in 2018

It's not carrying quite the same level of earning potential of Disney's last breakout film, Frozen, but Marvel's Black Panther is one of the few properties set to carry the 2018 merchandising narrative. A box office wunderkind, the film is expected to break the $1 billion mark at the global box office any day now. And, unsurprisingly, consumer demand for the property is strong … [Read more...] about Black Panther Gearing Up to Take $250 Million in 2018

M&A: Toys & Entertainment Edition

Ubisoft acquires 1492 Studio, a French video game development house specializing in free-to-play episodic and interactive stories on mobile. eOne buys out the remaining 49% stake in The Mark Gordon Co. that it didn't already own in a deal worth $209 million. As part of the deal, founder Mark Gordon joins eOne as Chief Content Officer. Spin Master acquires plush manufacturer … [Read more...] about M&A: Toys & Entertainment Edition

NYTF18: Blind Bags, Glitter & Poop

This last week saw the latest iteration of New York Toy Fair and offered a clear formula for success in toy aisles this coming year—if a toy or game includes one or more of the following fads, it might sell: (1) low-price collectible with blind packaging, (2) "cute" sparkles and magic, or (3) "gross" material like poop, slime, and dirt. Retail sales of licensed toys and games … [Read more...] about NYTF18: Blind Bags, Glitter & Poop

Award-winning Toys & Games

At the 18th annual Toy of the Year Awards, the Toy Association honored the top toys, games, and licenses according to votes cast late last year. Toy of the Year: Fingerlings, WowWee USA and L.O.L. Surprise!, MGA Entertainment (tie) License of the Year: Star Wars, Disney Consumer Products & Interactive Media People’s Choice: Mystery Minis, Funko Action Figure of the … [Read more...] about Award-winning Toys & Games