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Maurizio Distefano Tara Duncan
Licensing News
Maurizio Distefano Licensing (MDL) to manage Tara Duncan licensing in Italy

Princess Sam Consumer Products has announced that it has appointed Maurizio Distefano Licensing (MDL), the number one independent licensing agency in Italy, as licensing agent for the children’s animated adventure-comedy-fantasy hit Tara Duncan. MDL was chosen because of its success in Italy, which comes from taking a holistic approach that allows it to analyze and respond to the particular business development needs of each individual licensee. The properties MDL manages include some of the world’s best-known and most successful movies, brands and animated children’s series.

Bluey Disney+
News
New Bluey Episodes Debut July 12th on Disney+

Ten new episodes from beloved animated series Bluey will be available on Disney+ in the U.S. and around the world on Wednesday, July 12. The new episodes include cameos from well-known Bluey fans, including Lin-Manuel Miranda, who appears as a talking horse in the episode “Stories,” and Rose Byrne, who plays Chilli’s sister Brandy in “Onesies.”

Hearthsong
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Hearthsong Celebrates 40 Years of Play with Re-imagined Branding and More Brands In Its Online Toy Store

Hearthsong, the toy brand dedicated to colossal imagination, is celebrating 40 years of playtime with re-imagined branding and an expanding assortment of new brands in its e-commerce toy store at hearthsong.com. For four decades, the company has built its reputation with high-quality toys that unlock imagination. With this magical 40 year milestone comes Hearthsong’s announcement that “the fun has just begun,” reflecting the company’s breakout transformation from mail order catalog retailer to omni-channel imaginative play brand. The new “warm, wondrous, colossal” branding approach honors that deep legacy and provides a foundation for a host of exciting changes in product, packaging, and communications.

Green Team Wins Goliath
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Goliath Adds Healthy Competition to Family Game Night with the Release of Green Team Wins

Global toy and game company Goliath continues to grow its family game-night roster with the exciting addition of Green Team Wins, the newly acquired license from game inventor Nathan Thorton and creative studio, 25th Century Games. The perfect game to play with family and friends who are looking for a healthy dose of competition, Green Team Wins is not about how you’re going to answer, but how you think most people will answer!

Pink Panther MGM Lucha Del Gigantes
Licensing News
MGM’s Pink Panther 60th Anniversary Pop Art Exhibit with Lucha de Gigantes Now Available Online

Lucha de Gigantes, in partnership with MGM, launched the Pink Panther Art Exhibition at the Only You Boutique Hotel in Madrid on May 23rd. The exhibition, which featured 32 artists challenged to pay homage to the Pink Panther on his 60th anniversary, and 33 pieces of art, is Lucha de Gigantes’ most ambitious project to date. The show ran through May 28th, attracting 5,000 visitors over just six days and is now available online at LuchaGigantes.com. The Pink Panther Art Exhibition marked the kick-off of a year of celebrations marking Pink Panther’s 60th anniversary.

Licensing International six new board members
News You're Hired
Licensing International Announces Six New Board Members

Licensing International has announced that six executives—Paul Cannon, Caprice Australia; Carolyn D’Angelo, Gordon Brothers; Pamela Deese, ArentFox Schiff; Raj Malik, Bioworld Merchandising; Marie-Laure Marchand, Chefclub; and George Wade, Bay Laurel Advisors—were elected by the Licensing International membership to serve three-year terms on its Board of Directors, effective July 1, 2023.  As these six new board members joining the Licensing International Board, Steve Scebelo, President of NFL Players Inc., will continue to serve as chairperson; Veronica Hart, EVP of Global Franchise Planning for Paramount Consumer Products & Experiences, will continue to serve as vice chairperson; and Marc Schneider, Chief Financial and Chief Operating Officer at Beanstalk, will continue to serve as treasurer. 

Star Wars Hasbro Mandalorian
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Hasbro Expands Star Wars Mandalorian ‘Mandoverse’ Kid Toy Offerings

Hasbro has revealed two new toys for young fans of the galaxy far, far away with new Mandalorian inspired items! First kids can dive into Jedi training with Mission Fleet Grogu’s Training Adventure. This Mission Fleet toy is inspired by The Book of Boba Fett comes with Ahsoka Tano, R2-D2, Luke Skywalker and Grogu action figures as well as 7 accessories, including 3 Lightsabers , a training droid, and spinning stand, a frog and an attachable backpack that Grogu can sit in, just like in the show! For older aspiring bounty hunters, Hasbro has revealed the NERF The Mandalorian Blaster. This NERF blaster is decorated on both sides with vibrant Mandalorian designs and has an internal 4-dart clip and unleashes 1 dart at a time to help kids brings in their bounties.

Ultraman Licensing Expo 2023
Licensing News
New Ultraman Licensing News Announced from Licensing Expo 2023

Ultraman, the iconic Japanese superhero, is preparing for a major big-budget animated family feature film coming in summer 2024 from Tsuburaya Productions and Netflix Animation. The highly anticipated CG-animated film, which  is co-directed by Shannon Tindle (The Croods, Kubo and the Two Strings) and John Aoshima (Gravity Falls, Ducktales), with animation and special effects by Industrial Light and Magic, is currently in production and will bring an even wider audience to the beloved silver and red character. The epic film continues Netflix’s successful relationship with Tsuburaya Productions following the release of the first season of Anime Ultraman in 2019. The third season of the popular anime series is available now on Netflix.

FUN logo Licensing Expo 2023 F.U.N. 2024
Events News
Friendly Unofficial Networking (F.U.N.) Events Light Up Las Vegas Licensing Expo

Friendly Unofficial Networking (F.U.N.) launched a series of successful in-person networking events this week in Las Vegas to complement the Licensing Expo 2023 trade show. The week of F.U.N. events kicked off on Monday (June 12) with a Monday F.U.N.day Pool Party in the beach bungalows at the Mandalay Bay Resort and Casino Pool. The bungalows were hosted by Striker Entertainment, Most Management, Reemsborko, Toikido and Studio2pt0. The day party consisted of informal networking, pool food, frozen drinks, and inner tube rides on the lazy river. The informal pool event was packed all day long with guests dropping in and out between meetings and summits.