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Kstationery and United Labels (board games and apparel). And that’s not all. Las Vegas will offer Mondo TV the opportunity to build and develop its network of agents across the many countries where free–to-air broadcast of Robot Trains is imminent or planned. Proving the variety and versatility of the Mondo portfolio, Invention Story (104 x 11’), a co-production from Henan York Animation and Mondo TV that arrives
next year, takes a completely different approach. It’s the tale of an intelligent, thoughtful and creative fox who, in each episode, comes up with a new invention. There are plots, conflicts and rivalries as well as funny, eccentric and engaging characters — but this show also offers something different. By following the little fox in his efforts to build each new invention, the show’s young audience will find out more about science and how it works. Such is the enormous potential of Invention Story across both play and learning-related licensed product that Henan York Animation and Mondo TV have already committed to five series – for a total of 520 11-minute episodes. This is an important development. A broadcast reach that will include many of the free-to-air and pay-TV broadcasters of all major countries, combined with a fiveseries commitment, will allow partners to develop a successful long-term licensing programme. In fact a number of categories are soon to be finalised, including master toy and master publisher, with others certain to be announced before the series’ launch in Easter 2019. There has been a strong broadcast and licensing response to YooHoo to the Rescue, the brand-new 3D CGI animated series based on the line of plush toys
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made by Aurora World. Now confirmed as a Netflix Original Series, the show is expected to launch in 2019, and is already attracting strong licensing interest – not too surprising given that more than 80 million YooHoo to the Rescue plush toys have been sold since the worldwide launch of the line in 2007. The licensing programme already has Panini on board for publishing with a worldwide agreement. Dolfin has agreed a multi-territory deal for Easter eggs and confectionery. A new multi-territory agreement has also been recently announced with Nuvita, which will offer baby care products. Meanwhile, for the Italian market the licensees on board are Mondadori with books, Play Press with its popular Magic Albums, and Kimbe, which will focus on live characters and events. The master toy category licensee is close to being finalized. The master toy plush licensee is, of course, Aurora. Other categories have been agreed and will be announced soon. Valentina La Macchia, Licensing Director, says: “With so much to announce and look forward to this is going to be an even busier year for Mondo than usual at Vegas. These properties are already attracting strong attention from licensees and broadcasters in a number of territories and we are keen to extend their reach even more.”