By Allison Watkinson
TLL Reporter
Genius Brands International has launched a global consumer products’ program for the Bee and PuppyCat franchise.
The Bee and Puppycat program includes new licensing and retail partners across several consumer product categories.
Kicking off the retail launch, the specialty retailer Hot Topic recently debuted a collection of Bee and Puppycat apparel online at Hot Topic and BoxLunch. The licensed apparel will be available for purchase in select stores later this year.
“Bee and PuppyCat is clearly resonating with fans with its whimsical, cool vibe that translates extremely well into licensed merchandise,” said Hot Topic VP, Winnie Jaing. “We look forward to seeing the line grow beyond apparel.”
Genius Brands has also secured new licensing partnerships for Bee and PuppyCat products that cater to the tween, teen and young adult demographics.
These licensing partners include Sony Music, BOOM! Studios, Trends International, Toynk, Youtooz and Toy Factory.
The global partnership with Sony Music is through its subsidiary Milan Records, which specializes in releasing soundtrack albums based on entertainment properties. Milan Records is an imprint of Sony Masterworks.
Genius Brands partnership with BOOM! Studios is for a global series of Bee and Puppycat comic books.
Trends International will be responsible for creating a collection of licensed posters and stickers for the Bee and Puppycat franchise.
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The licensing partnerships with both Toynk and Toy Factory are for Bee and Puppycat plush collections that will be released in Canada and the US.
Youtooz will be responsible for manufacturing a series of branded collectibles, figures, and plush for distribution in the US, Canada, Mexico, and the UK.
“It is incredible how Bee and PuppyCat has skyrocketed to become a critically-acclaimed, breakout hit series, and with all of the awareness around it through Netflix and YouTube, there has been a huge increased demand for products from the fanbase,” said Genius Brands International consultant, Karen McTier. “We are excited to launch the merchandise campaign for the brand with these new licensing and retail partners. This is only the beginning for Bee and PuppyCat as more audiences are introduced to the series, and we expand the consumer products’ program into additional categories.”
In addition to these partnerships, Crowdmade has launched a dedicated Bee and PuppyCat online store that features branded apparel, accessories, mugs, posters, plush, gifts, collectibles and home products.
“The Bee and PuppyCat dedicated store has been an amazing success with high demand and multiple sellouts, and we look forward to working with Genius Brands to create additional products!,” said Crowdmade’s Jeremy Levin.
The the 2023 Licensing Expo, Genius Brands will be seeking partnerships for the Bee and PuppyCat brand in additional categories. The additional categories will include stationery, publishing, home, footwear, gaming, electronics, promotional partnerships and more.
Bee and PuppyCat is an animated entertainment franchise that is produced by Genius Brands’ WOW! Unlimited Media subsidiary Frederator Networks.
The series follows an intergalactic temp worker named Bee and her mysterious companion PuppyCat as they experience fantastic adventures in space while working odd jobs. The series was initially created by Natasha Allegri as an animated short. Since its initial launch, Bee and Puppycat has expanded to include an animated YouTube series on Frederator Network’s Cartoon Hangover Channel and a Netflix series called Bee and PuppyCat Lazy in Space.
In 2022, Genius Brands partnered with TOHO International to co-produce new content and expand the global reach of the Bee and PuppyCat property. The partnership gave Toho International a fifty-percent stake in the Bee and PuppyCat franchise and made Toho International responsible for the Bee and Puppycat consumer products program throughout Asia.
Other regions for the Bee and PuppyCat global consumer products program are managed by Genius Brands’ consumer products division.
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