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Q4 HIGHLIGHTS
It may not be the final quarter of 2020 that we all envisaged, but there is a raft of activity which is still being planned by licensors and agents as we head towards the end of this extraordinary year. LSB takes a look at some of what’s on the cards for the remainder of 2020 and into early 2021.
Quarter
masters
Above: Festival of Licensing marks the first showcase since Hasbro acquired eOne and properties including PJ Masks.
Major milestones
year, with Power Rangers: Dino Fury journeying back to the core roots of the brand. A new global Hasbro will be taking full advantage of October’s brand theme for Peppa Pig – Peppa’s Adventures – Festival of Licensing. will be kicking off in 2021. Plans for milestone anniversaries – including New series premieres will be rolling out for Ricky the 35th anniversary of Transformers in 2021 and the Zoom throughout the 85th for Monopoly, beginning Friends united year, with the consumer in Q4 2020 – will be high on As 2020 moves into 2021, products programme the agenda, while it will also friendship will be even also being mark the first showcase since more at the core of Sanrio’s strengthened across Hasbro acquired eOne. activities. Sanrio will give the spotlight to more of its the region. This will NERF will lead the characters beyond Hello follow the phased presentation slate. The Kitty. The Mr. Men and Little rollout of toys in all key franchise will benefit from Misses are turning 50 in markets in 2020, as significant above the line 2021, with a fun filled secondary categories investment in 2021, with soon year full of marketing Above: The Mr Men and Little activities, celebrations and will be available from to be revealed experiential collaborations. The brand will Miss brand is turning 50 in 2021. SS21. marketing initiatives also be introducing two new characters to the 90+ Finally, a robust plan is promising to bring the brand strong cast and - for the first time ever - asking the public to vote for their favourites. in place for PJ Masks to life ‘like never before’. which will be boosted The My Little Pony world of by series four (launching in Q4), the Disney+ roll out Equestria will be expanding to introduce a new in multiple territories and the series five global launch generation of ponies to a new generation of fans, coming in 2021. In a first for the company, Hasbro will with an all-new computer-animated theatrical be launching its first toy range for the brand with a release arrives in September 2021. core range of new products hitting retail for AW21. Season 28 of Power Rangers will also debut next
Classic characters
Below: A Shaun the Sheep festive special is going into production for 2021.
Aardman’s Shaun the Sheep brand continues to flourish, with the new season enjoying a strong launch on Netflix. A new festive half hour special is also due to go into production for Christmas 2021. Brand teams continue to focus on licensing programmes for Shaun the Sheep and for Wallace & Gromit, now embarking on a whole new tech driven interactive story in The Big Fix Up. Preschool favourite Timmy Time and Aardman’s original clay hero Morph also returns with a brand new longer format production for Sky Kids - The Epic Adventures of Morph - later this year. Recent and renewing partners include Vivid and Aurora for toy; Anthem and Ladybird Education for publishing; Fila and TruffleShuffle for apparel; Funko and Moonpig for gift; Vice Press and Pin Box Limited for art and collectables; Yeo Valley and Dean’s of Huntley for food and beverage; and Playpress models for craft. In addition, the eagerly awaited Chicken Run sequel, plus new IP, Robin Robin are also on the slate.
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LICENSING SOURCE BOOK EUROPE 2020