Hot Properties
Peppa Pig Brand owner: eOne
Peppa Pig is a global pre-school entertainment that has over 800 licensees around the world. The property generates over $1bn in global retail sales per annum and has over 2.8 million fans on Facebook. With 52 new episodes starting to air and rolling out internationally in 2017, there is a fresh pipeline of new content to inspire its growing stable of licensees and entertain its huge fan-base. In the UK there are 86 licensees, covering all categories from toys to toothpaste, and the toy category spans a wide range products including plastic playsets and figurines, plush, arts and crafts, construction, puzzles, games, novelty, role-play, electronic learning and outdoor. New toy partners joining the licensing programme include Green Board Games, Underground Toys and H.E.R., and HTI will be updating its product lines in 2017. The licensor is gearing up for the brand’s big screen theatrical return in the UK when Peppa Pig My First Cinema Experience heads to over 400 cinemas nationwide on April 7th 2017. This new cinema experience for preschoolers will feature nine new episodes - never before seen on TV. These will be connected with exclusive live action interactive musical content that offers children the opportunity to sing and dance along to songs with Daisy, Peppa and George. The release will be supported by an above the line marketing campaign and national PR, including talent interviews. Brand partners and retailers will benefit from the halo effect of the cinema release this Easter. A capsule collection of London themed merchandise will launch in spring 2017 to maximise the excitement that will be generated by the theatrical release.
PJ Masks Brand owner: eOne
Entertainment One’s new pre-school superhero TV show is winning over audiences around the world since launching on Disney Junior in the US in 2015 and globally on the Disney Junior network from 2016. PJ Masks follows 6-year-olds Connor, Amaya and Greg who go to school like kids everywhere. But when they put on their pyjamas and activate their amulets, the crime-fighters transform into their dynamic superhero alter egos, and become the PJ Masks. The licensing programme for PJ Masks will be driven by toys, dressup and publishing, and supported by apparel, accessories, stationery, party goods, games and creative play. US toy firm Just Play is the brand’s global master toy partner, and debuted a line of action figures, playsets, vehicles, plush, dress-up and role-play in the US from autumn 2016, exclusively with Toys R Us. Initial sales have been strong, placing PJ Masks as the fastest growing entertainment property in the pre-school toy segment for a four-week period in November 2016. The first wave of consumer products outside of North America will be led by Europe. France leads the international roll-out in January 2017, closely followed by the UK in February 2017 and then Iberia, Germany, Italy, Benelux and Russia. Just Play’s toy line will be distributed internationally by best in class toy partners, including Giochi Preziosi, Simba and Bandai. Beyond Europe, Australia and New Zealand launch merchandise from April 2017, Korea will lead the launch in Asia in time for Children’s Day in May 2017, followed by India. In Latin America, toys and apparel will launch from July 2017. In most territories, toys, publishing and apparel will launch in 2017 and will be followed by ancillary categories in 2018.
Something Special Brand owner: BBC Worldwide
BAFTA award-winning Something Special has been entertaining pre-schoolers and children with special needs on the CBeebies channel for more than 10 years, regularly appearing in the top three most watched shows for pre-schoolers on the channel. Master toy partner Golden Bear recently refreshed and re-designed the Something Special offering under the new banner of Mr Tumble Something Special. The brand continues to perform well at retail, and has increased TV advertised product lines including a vehicle and new feature plush. Fans of Mr Tumble will love the latest award-winning additions to the popular toy collection, which feature many of the key learning elements brought to life from the much-loved CBeebies show. The Mr Tumbles Fun Sounds Musical Car is packed with features; children can push the car to hear fun engine sounds as it wobbles along. Kids can also explore a world of sounds and phrases with Mr Tumble with Fun Tumble Tapp. Also available in the new range is The Mr Tumble with Lights and Sounds - an interactive soft toy. Other product lines include books from Egmont, an Electronic Learning Aid from KD Group and homeware from Zak. New licensees for the brand include Aykroyd and Sons Ltd &TDP Textiles Ltd for nightwear, underwear and swimwear and daywear with K3Y. BBC Worldwide is also representing brands featuring Justin Fletcher, Justin’s House and Gigglebiz.
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