Spin Master Corp, a leading global children’s entertainment company, unveils today plans to distribute Punirunes, a squishy digital pet that has captivated fans of Japanese anime culture. First brought to market in 2021 by Japanese toy company Takara Tomy, Spin Master will expand distribution to more global markets as fervent fandom brings anime culture to the forefront.
Ridley’s Games wants you to be unapologetically Selfish. The brand has announced the expansion of their best-selling Selfish board game to include exciting new editions to spice up game night … and let players indulge in a little self-preservation. “Many board games encourage players to win through strategic yet respectable actions,” said Bill Miller, President of Galison & Mudpuppy and Publisher of Ridley’s Games, a subsidiary of Chronicle Books. “With Selfish, players must ruthlessly think only of themselves in order to be the sole survivor and win the game. It’s a wickedly fun way to play with friends and family, young and old alike.”
Hidden Pigeon Company (HPC), the dynamic new multiplatform kids and family content company that is extending the reach of award-winning author/illustrator Mo Willems’s beloved character brands, has appointed Tori Cook as Senior Vice President, Franchise Management. Cook, who joins an expanding team of seasoned professionals at HPC, is a strategic, multidimensional leader with deep expertise in franchise and brand management, consumer products, retail development, and marketing. In addition, HPC has brought on Paula Allen as Publishing Consultant. Allen, president of Screenland Literary Associates, is well-regarded in the publishing business and has played a pivotal role in crafting book deals for authors and facilitating foreign rights licensing for their literary works. Both Cook and Allen report directly to HPC CEO Karen K. Miller.
Legendary studio and anime industry leader Toei Animation Inc together with its North America agent Crunchyroll, LLC announced today their most recent licensing gains for the Dragon Ball franchise. Encompassing the previous 12 months since last year’s expo, the 2023-2024 Dragon Ball franchise report summarizes the success of their joint licensing efforts, including highlighting a selection of key licensee product collaborations and a detailed selection of new license agreements for both the episodic series and movie properties.
Innovative beauty brand Beauty Creations Cosmetics and leading toy and game company Hasbro have signed a license for a collaboration with the iconic heritage brand, My Little Pony. The My Little Pony x Beauty Creations Cosmetics collection is a fun and colorful collaboration that made its debut at Licensing Expo in Las Vegas, with a launch to the public on the International Day of Friendship Day on July 30, 2024. This is the first licensing agreement for Beauty Creations Cosmetics.
Entries for The Licensing Awards close on Thursday 30 May 2024. All of the award categories – including those for licensed products, licensed properties, retail, marketing, honorary achievement, plus the awards for sustainability, international retail and licensed live events – can now be entered, for free, via the website.
Endemol Shine North America, a Banijay Americas company, unveiled a new slate of partnerships for the hit culinary competition series’ MasterChef Junior, airing Mondays (8:00-9:00 PM ET/PT) on FOX, and MasterChef, premiering Wednesday, May 29 (8:00-9:00 PM ET/PT) on FOX. The announcement was made by Chris Lucero, Executive Director, Licensing, Banijay Americas. Expanding MasterChef and MasterChef Junior’s current licensing programs, the US partnerships aim to give fans and foodies alike opportunities to experience their favorite cooking competition series by offering new consumer products and experiences in food & beverage, interactive toys, and more.
Skybound Entertainment, the creator-led, multiplatform entertainment company behind mega-hit franchises The Walking Dead, Invincible, Impact Winter, and more, has announced several licensing deals for its tentpole IP, Invincible, that span tabletop games, merchandise, and collectibles, following the resounding success of the series’ second season, which is “100% Certified Fresh” on Rotten Tomatoes.
IMG has announced a new, multi-year deal as McDonald’s exclusive global licensing representative. Through this collaboration, Endeavor-owned IMG will work closely with McDonald’s to develop a wide range of licensed products and experiences globally, building upon the brand’s icon status and driving its growth to the surprise and delight of fans around the world. Serving more than 65 million customers daily across nearly 40,000 locations worldwide, McDonald’s is one of the most recognized brands in the world and has become an integral part of global culture. IMG will draw inspiration from the brand’s rich legacy, global scale, and visual identity to develop an authentic and culture-forward licensing program that reflects the universal experiences of McDonald’s fans.