The timing between movie release and merchandising is a perennial challenge in movie licensing. Historically, merchandise associated with an anticipated blockbuster appears on store shelves around six weeks before release. But several of the entertainment executives we interviewed last spring for The Licensing Letter's 2014 Annual Licensing Business Survey predicted that this … [Read more...] about Disney’s ‘Star Wars’ Merchandising Campaign: Bigger & Earlier than Anything Before
Toys and Games
Disney Opens 15 Week Merchandise Window for Star Wars
By Marcy Magiera When The Licensing Letter spoke to entertainment executives for our Annual Licensing Business Survey back in the spring, several sources predicted that movie-based licensed merchandise this fall would begin to appear in stores earlier than ever, with end-of-year movies loading merchandise into stores as soon as September. The expected leader of that trend: … [Read more...] about Disney Opens 15 Week Merchandise Window for Star Wars
Japanese Phenomenon Poised to Enter U.S. Market
By Marcy Magiera Yo-kai Watch is arguably the hottest kids' property in Japan. Now the franchise, about a young boy who uses a special watch to summon spirits who are causing pesky problems for people, is about to hit the U.S. In November, Nintendo will launch a Yo-kai Watch game for its handheld 3DS, about the same time that Viz Media's Perfect Square imprint will introduce … [Read more...] about Japanese Phenomenon Poised to Enter U.S. Market
Lego Robotic Arm Takes Build-Your-Own Toys to the Next Level
The trend is to make dynamic and adaptable toys that kids can fashion any way they want. Ironically, the purest example of the modern build-your-own trend is the venerable Lego building block. For Lego, build-your-own is not fad but DNA. And now Lego has extended the approach to the field of prosthetics. It began a few years ago, when Lego Future Lab, the company’s R&D … [Read more...] about Lego Robotic Arm Takes Build-Your-Own Toys to the Next Level
Genius Builds Team for Llama Llama
By Marcy Magiera Genius Brands International is building its team for the 2016 multimedia launch of beloved children's book property Llama Llama. The company just brought on NCircle Entertainment as its exclusive U.S. home video distributor for the new Llama Llama animated series that is scheduled to debut next year. NCircle will distribute the program on DVD and digital … [Read more...] about Genius Builds Team for Llama Llama
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
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
DC Plugs Into Girl Power
DC Entertainment, Warner Bros. Animation, Warner Bros. Consumer Products, and Mattel are teaming for a new girls’ property, DC Super Hero Girls, which will launch this fall across multiple entertainment content platforms and product categories. Designed to appeal to girls 6 to 12, DC Super Hero Girls focuses on DC Comics’ female characters before they discovered their full … [Read more...] about DC Plugs Into Girl Power
Sega Expands Sonic Boom
Sega of America unveiled a host of new licensing and promotional deals involving its Sonic Boom game property, including: World Tech Toys for remote- controlled helicopters; Bulls I Toy for erasers, stickers, trading cards and other novelties; teNeues Publishing Group for wall calendars; Rubie’s Costume for costumes; Bakery Crafts/Jack Guttman for cake decoration kits. … [Read more...] about Sega Expands Sonic Boom
Classic Character Capers
Classic entertainment characters just keep chugging along. Some recent deals involving retro TV and other classic entertainment brands: Sony Pictures Consumer Products is conjuring up a licensing campaign tied to the 50th anniversary of classic Barbara Eden-Larry Hagman sitcom, "I Dream of Jeannie.” Products reportedly include a video slot machine from IGT; a commemorative … [Read more...] about Classic Character Capers