By Gary Symons
TLL Editor in Chief
Spotlight Licensing has been appointed to help expand the licensing opportunities for the fairytale book series Anboran, which features people of color.
The book series is the kind of success story all writers dream of, as author Ronnie Anderson Jr. self-published his initial anthology Five Amazing Fairytales.
Since then, Anderson has been living his own fairytale ending, as the Anboran stories have caught on, and have already resulted in a successful apparel collection in a licensing deal with Mad Engine.
Now, Spotlight Licensing is working with Anderson to expand the opportunities for the writer’s rich IP.
Anderson, a lab scientist, began writing when he realized he could not find new, original, fairy tales featuring people of color to read to his three young daughters. He decided to invent his own characters and fairy tales, which have resonated with children who did not often see themselves reflected in traditional fairy tales or fantasy books.
Anderson’s Anboran books proved to be a hit not only with his own daughters but also with other African American families as well as schools, libraries, and manufacturers, such as the trend-savvy apparel giant Mad Engine Global.
“Representation in stories and product is obviously important to me; that’s what drove me to create Anboran in the first place,” says Anderson. “So I was thrilled when Mad Engine approached me about making Anboran products that children of color would be able to wear with pride and joy and a sense of belonging.”
Anderson has also partnered with the artist Seda Coskun to expand his original tales into illustrated storybooks.
With six beautifully illustrated Anboran storybooks already in print and Mad Engine Global’s line of Anboran clothing and accessories now available from retailers including Walmart, Target, Sears, Amazon, Hot Topic, and Box Lunch, Spotlight Licensing—the agency appointed by Anderson to manage the Anboran licensing program – believes now is the right time to help expand the Anboran brand even further with the right licensing partners.
“We know manufacturers and retailers are looking for ways to meet the growing demand for products with strong appeal for African-American consumers and what Ronnie is creating with Anboran makes it the perfect property for filling that unmet need,” says Spotlight Licensing President Carole Postal. “Spotlight’s job will be to find partners who are committed to increased diversity and representation and love Anboran just as much as we do.”
As global agent for the property, Spotlight is looking forward to talking to interested publishers, potential licensing partners, and sub-agents around the world. Spotlight is actively seeking licensees for Anboran dolls, toys, costumes, games, puzzles, stationery, greeting cards, and digital apps as well as arts & crafts, room décor, and more.
Among the company’s beautifully illustrated titles are Changing Beautiful, The Candlemaker And the Moon, Restoring Joy, Everla and the Stone Prince, and The Hairless Bear. The books are available at the company’s website Anboran.com as well as at Barnesandnoble.com. Anderson is currently working on a seventh Anboran book.
Anyone interested in licensing opportunities for the Anboran collection can contact Carole Postal directly by email at carole@spotlightlicensing.com.
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