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On Show At BLE 2018 Right: There has been a focus on fashion collaborations for The Powerpuff Girls this year.
Powerful franchises
Following its 2017 global relaunch, the evergreen Ben 10 franchise continues to put down new roots in the boys’ category for Cartoon Network Enterprises. Its screen success is translating to the shelves with Ben 10 repeatedly ranking as a top ten boys brand in action figures and role-play in key EMEA markets. The original bastions of girl power, The Powerpuff Girls, enter BLE ready to party to celebrate their 20th anniversary. New episodes have been rolling out globally including the introduction of new character, Bliss – voiced by Britain’s Got Talent judge Alesha Dixon in the UK – as well as events and new licensing partnerships with a focus on fashion collaborations. Rick and Morty is currently having a storming time – season three has launched exclusively on Netflix in select EMEA markets, including the UK, as well as on Turner’s own channels in France, Germany and Spain, while a further 70 episodes have been confirmed. Also making waves on the stand will be Adventure Time, The Amazing World of Gumball, We Bare Bears and the first Boomerang Original, The Happos Family. Grand Hall D50
Right: The Match Attax Ultimate range is due for launch in November.
A good Match
Celebrating 80 years of trading, the Topps Company will be showcasing latest projects and opportunities for its sports and entertainment-led product portfolio. A robust licensee programme for Topps Match Attax is currently underway, with plans to further expand the offering with a new Match Attax Ultimate range, which is set for launch in November 2018. The premium card set features 150 foil collectible cards, with exclusive autograph and memorabilia cards for the biggest names in the Premier League. Campaigns for the September launch of the 2018/19 UEFA Champions League Collections will support one of the world’s most powerful sports brands. The latest season includes 595 stickers and cards for the UK and European markets. The collection features some of the best players in the world, all 32 teams in the group stages and a bumper 64-page sticker album. Continued long-term partnerships with WWE and Lucas/Disney will also be a focus for the show, while the company will also be presenting retail loyalty and partner promotion opportunities.
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Below: Learning Time with Timmy enjoyed a successful launch in the summer.
Right on Time
Aardman enjoyed a strong start to 2018 with the release of Early Man, and the company is looking to continue its momentum into BLE. The Shaun the Sheep brand continues to flourish with series five broadcasting in over 170 territories worldwide and a movie sequel in production for 2019. In June, Learning Time with Timmy – a new educational online series for early years English language learners – launched on YouTube and will roll out with a number of international broadcasters. The series has been developed in collaboration with the British Council. The team is also developing an international publishing and licensing programme to further extend the brand. On top of this, classic brand Wallace & Gromit will be celebrating 30 years in 2019, with the studio looking to talk to licensing and promotional partners for the anniversary campaign.
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Riding high
Universal Brand Development returns to Brand Licensing Europe 2018 with a powerhouse slate of franchises from the company’s film and television creative partners including Universal Pictures, Illumination and DreamWorks. The company will showcase innovative partnerships with local, regional and global licensees and retailers which are on board to support the continued development of its world-class roster of properties and groundbreaking ‘always on’ multi-media content strategy. The spotlight will be cast on key franchises including Universal Pictures’ Jurassic World and Fast and Furious franchises, and introducing The Voyage of Doctor Dolittle; DreamWorks’ Trolls and How to Train Your Dragon; Illumination’s The Grinch, The Secret Life of Pets 2 and Despicable Me; as well as the DreamWorks TV franchise, Spirit Riding Free; and the iconic U-Vault archive.
Grand Hall D60 Right: Toys for Spirit Riding Free are launching in the UK ahead of the key Christmas period.
LICENSING SOURCE BOOK EUROPE 2018
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