TOTAL LICENSING
Tara Duncan:
building a licensing business for a hit kids’ show The Tara Duncan animated show was launched not too long ago but it enjoyed success remarkably quickly, with multi-country sales and an excellent response throughout 2022 and 2023. In fact a second series is already on the way. But this hit 52 x 13’ adventure-comedy-fantasy, about an ordinary girl from Earth with extraordinary powers making friends and fighting evil on the magical planet OtherWorld, has a lot more in store for the coming year – in both broadcasting and licensing. Of course this isn’t a completely new property. Much of the groundwork for its success was laid well before the show reached millions of screens worldwide. Tara Duncan is already well-known as a publishing hit through a series of books by Sophie AudouinMamikonian that have sold tens of millions of copies since 2003. Sophie now manages Princess Sam Entertainment Group, which she formed to produce and distribute new series and international children’s licenses, starting with Tara Duncan. The animated series, total sales of which now have given it a presence in 80 countries, takes the published tale to another level, using state-of-the-art, 3D CGI motion capture technology and more than 170 artists recruited from the global feature film industry. The result is an extraordinary evocation of another world that is also an exciting, funny story full of engaging characters.
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Following the growth of the past two years, 2024 will see continued expansion as Tara Duncan builds further on its broadcasting success. The core target audience of children aged 6-9 years old who have embraced this amazing show in dozens of countries will this year be joined by kids in many more territories thanks to the work of international distribution company Superights which represents worldwide rights distribution for the show. While this deal does not include China, expansion plans for this vast territory are also under way thanks to a partnership with Reesee Entertainment. So, to put it mildly, Tara Duncan enjoys reach and awareness. It also boasts memorable and distinctive characters, situations and themes that lend themselves well to licensed output. This area is being managed through the Princess Sam Consumer Products (PSCP) division, headed up by Laurent Taieb. And PSCP is already building a strong support network.Very importantly for potential licensing partners, agents have already been appointed by PSCP for such key territories as the UK, Spain and Portugal, Benelux, multiple territories across Latin America and the Caribbean, Italy and, most recently, Canada and Mexico. More agent appointments are imminent. As for categories being targeted, toys have, not surprisingly, played an im-
portant part in planning for the brand from an early stage. In fact with brand awareness growing, PSCP late last year launched its own range of Tara Duncan figurines, playsets and dolls at retail in France, thanks to its French distributor WTT. More territories are to follow soon. Within the toy category alone, the show’s incredible characters, costumes and sets certainly lend themselves to a wide range of possibilities, including fashion dolls and accessories, plush, action figures, mini-universes (such as characters’ homes), and roleplay. But licensing offers many more possibilities. Maurizio Distefano Licensing, which manages licensing in Italy for Tara Duncan in Italy, has announced that Edizioni Play Press will be developing a wide range of Tara Duncan products including colouring books, activity books and word and number puzzle books. Other categories being targeted by the growing network of agents include back to school, stationery, home textiles, apparel, fashion accessories, beauty & personal care, food & beverage, and gifts. Or as Laurent Taieb puts it: “We have a strong network of TV partners and trusted regional agents in place for Tara Duncan. Throughout 2024 and beyond we intend to license and develop products in a wide range of categories that build on the key strengths of the property.” n