LAIKA is building upon the global success of its 15th anniversary re-release of Coraline by bolstering its UK and European presence with key partnerships in the consumer products, licensing and home entertainment arenas.
LAIKA has engaged Brandship to represent the studio’s expansion of consumer products licensing and brand collaborations in the UK and Europe.
Brandship will work in close coordination with LAIKA’s US licensing agency, Licensing Street, to ensure products based on LAIKA’s films are available to millions of fans on both continents. Under this new association, LAIKA is announcing its first ever direct to consumer partnership in Europe with pop-culture retailer and apparel licensee TruffleShuffle.
In addition, Anime/Plaion Pictures has acquired LAIKA’s catalogue for home video release in the UK, France, Italy, Germany, Benelux, Spain and Portugal. The releases include Coraline, The Boxtrolls, ParaNorman and Kubo and the Two Strings, all Oscar and BAFTA nominated titles.
“Millions of moviegoers around the world showing up to experience Coraline again on the big screen is a testament to the enduring global appeal of all of LAIKA’s films,” commented Michael Waghalter, LAIKA’s senior vp and head of business development. “Fans want to engage more deeply with the characters and worlds of our films, and we’re excited to partner with Anime/Plaion Pictures and Brandship to bring compelling, fan-centred products and experiences to the UK and Europe.”
Brandship founder and ceo, Lisa Shapiro, added: “The timing couldn’t be better, and I’m really excited and privileged to be working with the LAIKA team. With pent up demand and a highly engaged audience, there are number of best-in-class partners in key categories that are being secured.’’
Andrew Partridge, md at Anime Limited, continued: “We’re incredibly excited to be working in partnership with the great team at LAIKA Studios to bring back physical releases of their incredible catalogue. With the success of the re-release of Coraline in cinemas this summer, it’s clear that the love and appreciation for these films and quality animation in general has never been higher. As a group, we’re thrilled to be able to introduce the works of LAIKA to a new generation across the UK and Europe.”
To date, the 15th anniversary re-release of Coraline has garnered over $51 million at the global box office.
Want to read more news like this? Simply sign up to our daily digest by clicking here. You can also follow us on LinkedIn and on Instagram (@licensing_source).
