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On Show At BLE 2018
Inset: eOne will be debuting Ricky Zoom on its BLE stand.
The Character & Entertainment category at this year’s Brand Licensing Europe is once again bulging with vibrant and colourful properties – from classics and evergreens through to new launches from the worlds of film, TV, gaming and online. The revamped showfloor – which now covers the National and Grand Halls – is certainly packed to the rafters. LSB offers a look at just some of what will be on display.
The Greatest Show Zooming in
eOne will be presenting its new boys preschool property, Ricky Zoom at the show. From the producers of PJ Masks, Ricky Zoom is a CGI action comedy adventure series about friendship, community and learning to stand on your own two wheels. The 52 x 11-minute series follows the adventures of Ricky, a little red motorbike with a zest for speed. A global master toy partner is on board, and eOne is lining up broadcaster for a spring/summer 2019 debut. Peppa Pig will, of course, be a big draw on the stand – the preschool behemoth celebrates 15 years in the UK and Australia in 2019 and generates over $1.2 billion in worldwide retail sales per year. The anniversary will be marked with events including a nationwide theatrical release, new episodes, top tier partnerships and retail events. 2019 also marks the ten year anniversary of Ben & Holly’s Little Kingdom, with the popular
Magic moments
Warner Bros. Consumer Products will be bringing a touch of magic to Olympia with its roster of entertainment franchises. The Wizarding World continues to bring to life the Harry Potter and Fantastic Beasts franchises, with the latter returning to the big screen later this year in Fantastic Beasts: The Crimes of Grindelwald. The ever expanding range of characters and stories has inspired the most robust Harry Potter licensing programme ever with exponential growth across toys, fashion and home, and all sectors of retail. DC will be represented by Aquaman and new action comedy adventure Shazam!, which will drive the DC
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LICENSING SOURCE BOOK EUROPE 2018
live stage show returning across the UK and Ireland from February. PJ Masks has swiftly become a leading preschool property, both on screen and on shelf. Series two aired earlier this year, with series three in production and series four in development, ensuring a fresh pipeline of content through to 2021. Grand Hall E35
Game on
Capcom enjoyed a strong start to the year with the successful release of Monster Hunter: World, which is the best selling game in company history with over eight million units shipped globally. A E3 earlier in the year, Capcom revealed new titles in the Resident Evil and Devil May Cry franchises, with Resident Evil 2 due for release on January 25, 2019 and Devil May Cry 5 launching in spring 2019. The Mega Man legacy continues with the character celebrating his 30th anniversary with the upcoming release of Mega Man 11 on October 2. Expect to see Super Hero franchise in 2019, alongside Wonder Woman, while DC Super Hero Girls will also remain a priority. Looney Tunes will also continue to be in the spotlight, while Scooby-Doo and Tom and Jerry will offer new content for licensing partners to bring to life. Visitors to the stand will also be able to have their photo taken with Harry Potter’s luggage trolley on Platform 9 ¾ or with the Looney Tunes in WBCP’s immersive selfie backdrops and photo opps.
Grand Hall D30 Right: Visitors can take a selfie with WBCP’s Looney Tunes backdrops.