NEWS
TOTAL LICENSING
HENSON INDEPENDENT PROPERTIES RELAUNCH At Kidscreen The Jim Henson Company is relaunching HIP (Henson Independent Properties), a third-party licensing banner formed initially in 2009, to acquire and service global consumer products programs and media distribution for external brands. Claudia Scott-Hansen, Senior VP for Global Distribution, will be meeting with producers to actively pursue opportunities to sign new entertainment properties to the label. Key titles previously represented by the company include Elias: Rescue Team Adventures and Lily’s Driftwood Bay, for which Henson signed multiple distribution deals across the globe. Also new at Kidscreen Summit is a shift in focus for the company’s development slate.With many STEM- based series successes under their belt, the company is now focusing on properties with social-emotional learning themes, at a time when there are deepening divisions around the world. Three new series are in development, each with an existing audience across publishing and/or toys.
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Teddy Ruxpin: Most recently Henson teamed up with Alchemy II to develop an animated fantasy adventure series for kids ages 3-7 based on the popular Teddy Ruxpin property. The new series will focus on important themes and skills like fostering self-esteem, empathy and individuality. The Teddy Ruxpin series will have an all-star team, including showrunner John Tartaglia (Splash and Bubbles, Johnny and the Sprites); producer Russell Hicks, the original head illustrator for Alchemy II during Teddy Ruxpin’s initial launch; global master toy partner Wicked Cool Toys; and The Jim Henson Company led by executive producers Lisa Henson and Halle Stanford. World-renowned Jim Henson’s Creature Shop will bring the series to life with its Emmy Award-winning Henson Digital Puppetry Studio. Henson is also developing a new liveaction puppet preschool series based on Slumberkins, a leading educational children’s brand working to teach positive social-emotional life skills to both parents and children. Co-founded in
2016 by Callie Christensen and Kelly Oriard, an educator and a family therapist respectively, Slumberkins strives to empower children and parents through the use of their plush and snuggly creatures, help navigate life in a balanced way. And interactive board books and storylines incorporate therapeutic techniques that accompany each creature. Each Slumberkin has a specific socialemotional life skill it promotes, such as self-esteem, relaxation, transition/ coping with change, mindfulness, conflict resolution, growth mindset, and authenticity. Finally, based on Audrey Penn’s picture book series, The Kissing Hand will be brought to life with puppets from Jim Henson’s Creature Shop. The Kissing Hand will feature Chester the raccoon as he learns how to navigate going to school, making new friends, and dealing with the daily anxieties of a preschooler, with the love and support of Mama Raccoon and help from a comforting kiss she leaves on his hand.