Canada’s Mercury Filmworks has acquired the rights to develop and produce a new animated children’s series based on Scott Rothman’s popular children’s picture book Attack of the Underwear Dragon (October 2020, Random House), an Amazon Editor’s Pick and National Indie Bestseller, illustrated by New York Times’ Best-Selling illustrator and Annie Award-nominated animator, Pete Oswald.
Little Partners, makers of the Original Learning Tower, has partnered with the Arbor Day Foundation to plant approximately 5,000 trees in advance of the 150th Arbor Day national holiday on April 29. The Arbor Day Foundation is the largest member nonprofit organization dedicated to planting trees. Since its inception 50 years ago, the Foundation has helped to plant and distribute almost 500 million trees in more than 50 countries. That is the equivalent to planting every tree in New York City’s Central Park every seven hours for an entire year.
People of Play has announced its first series of quarterly educational webinars targeting industry marketing and PR pros. The first session will be April 21st from 1pmET -4pmET; the session will kick-off with a keynote speaker (TBA) followed by break-out sessions on topics requested by attendees. Topics have been vetted from both agency and brand view point. The session will end with networking in the virtual POP Pub.
JAKKS Pacific (NASDAQ: JAKK) leading toy manufacturer and Disguise, world leaders in costume design and manufacturing, have announced their panel at Wondercon in Anaheim, CA to take place on Friday, April 1 from 5-6 PM in Room 213 CD.
Mattel (NASDAQ: MAT) announced that it has entered into a multi-year global licensing agreement with Universal Brand Development for DreamWorks Animation’s Trolls. The vibrant and joyful animated franchise — teeming with big hearts, hair-raising comedic adventures and award-winning music — Trolls has become one of the most recognized family entertainment brands in the world. Through the agreement, Mattel has the licensing rights to develop a full line of toys for the franchise, including dolls, vehicles, plush, games and more. The collection is expected to launch at retailers around the world in fall 2023. An all-new Trolls film hits theaters in November 2023.
EnchantedMob and PhatMojo have announced their agreement for the hugely-popular game, Poppy Playtime. Under the global deal, PhatMojo will serve EnchantedMob, Inc. as its master toy partner and will manage consumer products licensing for the rapidly-growing Poppy Playtime franchise. Toys and other products will be available this summer.
9 Story Brands and Retail Monster Ltd. are pleased to announce the expansion of the global licensing program for their new animated series Karma’s World from Karma’s World Entertainment and 9 Story Media Group. New partners in the UK include KIDdesigns (Consumer Electronics), Poetic Brands (Apparel, Outerwear and Swim), Cooneen by Design (Nightwear and Underwear), Roy Lowe & Sons Ltd. (Hosiery) and Egmont (Magazines, Colouring and Activity Books). The new UK partners join a growing list of licensees for Karma’s World which include Mattel (global toy), Scholastic (global publishing) and Universal Music Group (global music), as well as Isaac Morris Limited, Hybrid Apparel, Franco Manufacturing Co., Crayola and many others in North America which were announced in fall of 2021.
Cyber Group Studios is pleased to announce that Raphaelle Mathieu, formerly Senior Vice President Sales, Digital and Acquisitions, has been promoted to the newly created position of Executive Vice President.
Sesame Workshop, the nonprofit educational organization behind Sesame Street and local adaptations around the world, is unveiling a new Muppet character named Ameera as part of its work to support children and families affected by crisis and displacement. Ameera will premiere next week on Ahlan Simsim (“Welcome Sesame” in Arabic), the local version of Sesame Street in the Middle East and North Africa. Ameera will also star in innovative, globally tested videos designed to quickly deliver playful learning to children affected by conflict and crisis.