Universal Brand Development and Film Concerts Live! launch Jurassic World in Concert; the world premiere features the National Symphony Orchestra performing the complete Jurassic World score live as the 2015 movie is projected in HD onto a massive screen. The opening night will take place on May 30 with a special concert at the Kennedy Center in Washington D.C. This is a follow-up to the currently touring Jurassic Park in Concert, which has been presented by more than 50 orchestras to date in cities including London, Paris, Melbourne, Toronto, Taipei, and Philadelphia.
Mattel’s American Girl is going live in a partnership with Mills Entertainment. The new musical production, inspired by the popular American Girl characters and their stories, kicks-off its nationwide tour in Fall 2018.
Canada Goose partners with the FDNY Foundation to release 400 limited edition jackets inspired by the uniform worn by NYC firefighters on the front lines. The “Bravest” coat is adorned by patches representing five firehouses; all proceeds go to the FDNY Foundation to support initiatives such as fire safety education and help pay for smoke and carbon monoxide detectors in fire-prone neighborhoods. The NY Post reports that PETA apparently tried to persuade the Foundation to pull its support for the jacket, which has no fur or feathers.
Another Mattel property, Thomas & Friends, joins with London Bridge for a 4-week campaign to promote free wifi in the station as well as Thomas’ new summer film. Electronic billboards lead families to the wifi portal and an interactive Mattel “kid’s zone” with video content, books, and activities.
In the U.K., Merlin Entertainments is investing nearly £30 million ($42 million) in revamping and developing new Midlands attractions. Specifically, the company is investing in The Bear Grylls Adventure and a Legoland Discovery Centre.
Mergers & Acquisitions
Basic Fun! (Uncle Milton, K’NEX and CakePop Cuties) acquires Geoworld’s toy manufacturing business and its related brand Dr. Steve Hunters, which will become part of the company’s STEM business. Geoworld is an authentic line of excavation and discovery toys, including paleontology and geology sets, developed by a geo-paleontologist.
Tobar Intl. buys out H Grossman, Scotland’s largest toyco, which will continue to operate in its native home of Glasgow with Martin Grossman as Managing Director.
Legal Updates
In the latest of a bizarre series of events surrounding comics legend Stan Lee, its turns out that blood allegedly stolen from him late last year was sold at the Las Vegas Marvel Avengers S.T.A.T.I.O.N. A former business associate converted the vials of blood into “Solvent DNA Ink” and used it to stamp Lee’s signature on several comic books including Black Panther. The officially licensed exhibition and retail store pulled the comics off shelves, stating that the goods from Hands of Respect LLC and DLK Brand Consulting LLC appeared to be certified and obtained with authorization. Editions were allegedly sold for $250 and $500 each.
The Emoji Co. gets a legal win in Asia in its broader “crackdown” on counterfeiters and trademark copyright infringers. It obtained a court order against Emoji King Ltd., Hong Kong earlier this year and recently secured an interlocutory injunction prohibiting the unauthorised use of its emoji and emoji-family marks.