TOTAL LICENSING WINTER 19

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TOTAL LICENSING

Building Momentum in the UK Allsorts Licensing report that the story is building for Popeye in the UK as they move towards the brand’s 90th anniversary in 2019. Funko already have Popeye figures on sites including amazon.co.uk, forbiddenplanet. com and magicmadhouse.co.uk According to Allsorts Licensing, apparel is going well from Global Licensing with ASOS currently

A few things most people don't know about Popeye!

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Popeye is known as Braccio di Ferro in Italy, Karl Alfred in Sweden, and Skipper Skraek (“Terror of the Sea”) in Denmark.

Wimpy’s iconic catch phrase originally started in 1931 as, “Cook me up a hamburger. I’ll pay you Thursday.”

In the 1930s, Popeye was also a radio program that aired 15-minute episodes three times a week. Supporting voices included Detmar Poppen as Popeye, Olive Lamoy as Olive Oyl, Charles Lawrence as Wimpy, Jackson Beck as Bluto and Mae Questel as Swee’Pea.

It is thought that Popeye and his spinach inspired later animated cartoon characters with unique power sources

The Popeye Village in Malta that was developed for the 1980 Popeye movie starring Robin Williams still exists today! It has grown from its days as a film set for the musical production into a major tourist attraction in the Maltese Islands.

In 1957, Popeye joined the Macy’s Day parade and in the early 1980’s Olive Oyl became the first female balloon to join the parade.

Popeye was also featured as the Google Doodle in 2009 in honor of creator E.C. Segar’s birthday

running two tops. Tesco have recently tested a T-shirt and have now reordered in bigger quantities. Further T-shirts are launching at other retailers shortly. In addition, Foska.com are still marketing their cycling apparel range. The Cend International websites Zavvi and Iwoot launched in January with tees, sweats, phone cases, mugs and coasters on a worldwide basis. Rubies’ new Popeye and Olive Oyl costumes will be available to order as from Toy and Spring Fairs early this year. Product will be available from June. Other categories are currently in discussion.

to introduce Popeye and his friends to today’s digitally native children via the Popeye and Friends Official YouTube Channel. Developed with children in mind, “Popeye’s Island Adventures” introduces the spinach-loving sailor man to the younger generation by combining the original squash and stretch animation style with a fresh update on the original characters and storyline. The new Popeye has a youthful appearance and more eco-friendly position, growing spinach on the roof of his dieselpunk style houseboat and collecting rain water in barrels. Olive Oyl, the original damsel in distress, is now a shining example of feministic ideals that fans new and old will want to emulate. No longer sitting on the sidelines, Olive is now a strong, independent, and resourceful woman who is at the center of every adventure. Bluto remains the series’ antagonist, but his motives have changed as he pursues Popeye’s spinach in a quest for strength. The new Popeye project will complement the sailor man’s growing online presence; the character currently has close to 10 million followers on Facebook. Fans can start watching “Popeye’s Island Adventures” today at the Popeye and Friends Official YouTube Channel and can check out the recently launched website for the latest updates on Popeye’s 90th Anniversary Celebration. Popeye.com also fea-

tures an interactive timeline charting his history and a photo filter feature that allows fans to brand and share their Popeye-inspired strong to the finish moments. In addition to the new entertainment, Popeye’s anniversary also includes the return of “Popeye’s Cartoon Club” as an homage to the fan art that E.C. Segar often shared at the end of “The Thimble Theatre” comic strip. The campaign invites top cartoonists from around the world to contribute their own Popeye comics. And the unveiling of merchandise from more than a dozen new partners from around the world to elevate the iconic sailor at retail in the coming months.


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