The Bologna Licensing Awards has unveiled the shortlist of finalists for the upcoming 2025 edition, taking place during the Bologna Licensing Trade Fair/Kids (BLTF/K) from 31 March to 3 April.
Now in their eighth year, the awards are an integral part of the 18th Bologna Licensing Trade Fair/Kids (BLTF/K), which is held within the 62nd Bologna Children’s Book Fair (BCBF).
This year’s awards feature 14 categories – including the newly introduced Best Licensed Video Game Project – and attracted over 250 applications from all over the world.
The judging panel convened at Bologna’s Salaborsa library to select the finalists – Helena Mansell-Stopher (ceo and founder, Products of Change); Marina Narishkin (IP management and strategy expert, with over 20 years of experience); Karin Ebnet (journalist and editor, Toy Store); Michelle Perez Barruos (general manager, Feenix Studio); and Ian Hyder (ceo, Max Publishing).
The shortlist includes three to five finalists in each category and is as follows:
Best Preschool Licensing Project
- Papp International with Paramount for the book 100 First Words with PAW Patrol
- Story Toys with Sesame Workshop for the children’s video game Sesame Street Mecha Builders
- Maurizio Distefano Licensing with Acamar for the Bing for Faba project, developed by Faba
Best Kids Licensing Project
- Mattel with the Actimel Barbie project, developed by Danone
- WildBrain CPLG with Peanuts Worldwide for the United Colors of Benetton x Peanuts project, developed by United Colors of Benetton
- Starbright Licensing with Scopely for the Stumble Guys MonsterFlex project, developed by Diramix
- The Pokémon Company International with the Pokémon OVS Project, realised by OVS
- Starbright Licensing with Toei Animation for Dragon Ball Super Kinder Ferrero Easter Eggs by Ferrero
Best Teen Licensing Project (11-17 years)
- The Pokémon Company International with the Pokémon OVS Project, realised by OVS
- Sanrio with the My Melody brand for the My Melody x Lazy Oaf project, realised by Lazy Oaf
- Cicaboom with Mediatoon Licensing for Naruto Boomez Boad Game
Best Young Adult Licensing Project (+18 years)
- Sanrio with the Hello Kitty brand for the Chinti & Parker x Hello Kitty project, realised by Chinti & Parker
- WildBrain CPLG with Hasbro for the Octopus x Dungeons and Dragons project, realised by Youth Srl
- Bonus Marketing with Warner Bros. for the project Friends Box for McDonald’s
- Rai Com with Lavazza for the Lavazza & Mare Fuori project
Best Retail Project
- Sanrio with the Hello Kitty brand for the Hello Kitty x Chadstone project, realised by Chadstone
- Sanrio with the Hello Kitty brand for the Primark x Hello Kitty project, by Hello Kitty
- WildBrain CPLG with Hasbro for the Intimissimi Uomo x Monopoly project, by Calzedonia
Best Kids Fashion Project
- Sanrio with the brand Mr. Men Little Miss for the Monsieur Madame x Petit Bateau project, realised by Petit Bateau
- Rights & Brands with the brand Moomin for the PO.P’s Moomin Collection project, in partnership with Polarn O. Pyret
- Peyo Company with the Smurfs brand for the Smurfs x Emporio Armani project, curated by Emporio Armani
Best Teens/Young Adults Fashion Project
- Sanrio with the brand Hello Kitty for the project péro ♡ Hello Kitty capsule collection, realised by péro
- Sanrio with the brand My Melody for the My Melody x Lazy Oaf project, by Lazy Oaf
- WildBrain CPLG with Dr. Seuss Entertainment for the Tezenis & Intimissimi Uomo x The Grinch project, by Calzedonia SpA
- WildBrain CPLG with Hasbro for the Octopus x Dungeons and Dragons project, by Youth
- IMG with Goodyear for The Goodyear Tire & Rubber Company project, by Rubber Company
Best Licensed Publishing Project
- Maurizio Distefano Licensing with BBC for the Bluey licensed publishing project, by Fabbri Editori, part of the Mondadori Group
- Papp International with Sogex & Pomase for the book Discover Space with The Little Prince
- Pon Pon Edizioni with Starbright Licensing for the Stumble Guys licensed publishing project
- Sweet Cherry Publishing with NSPCC for the book Techosaurus Saves the School
Best Licensed Toy Project
- Starbright Licensing with Scopely Inc. for the Stumble Guys MonsterFlex project, by Diramix
- Lisciani Giochi with Disney for the Inside Out 2 – Il Gioco delle Emozioni project
- Sanrio with the Hello Kitty brand for the Hello Kitty x Giochi Preziosi project, developed by Giochi Preziosi
Best Licensed Video Game Project
- Rights & Brands with the Moomin brand for the Snufkin: Melody of Moominvalley project, by Hyper Games
- Story Toys with Mattel for the children’s video game Barbie Colour Creations
- Miraculous for the project Miraculous RP: Quests of Ladybug and Cat Noir, realised by Toya
Best Promotion/Loyalty Campaign
- Dea Planeta Entertainment with Miraculous Corp for the Miraculous x La Piadineria project, realised in collaboration with Dynit and La Piadineria
- WildBrain CPLG with Hasbro for the Nostromo x Monopoly project, realised by Nauterra
- Maurizio Distefano Licensing with Acamar for the Bing x Costa Crociere project, realised by Costa Crociere
Best Licensed Kiosk Project
- Starbright Licensing with Scopely Inc. for the project Stumble Guys MonsterFlex First, by Diramix
- De Agostini Publishing for the project Go Go Power Rangers
- WildBrain CPLG with Sega for the project Cocoricoò x Sonic Modern, realised by Cocoricò
- Sbabam with Sanrio for the Hello Kitty Key Chains project
Best Licensed Sustainable Project
- Maurizio Distefano Licensing with BBC for the Bluey Eco Puzzle project, by LiscianiGiochi
- Peyo Company with the Smurfs brand for the Smurfs x Emporio Armani project, by Emporio Armani
- Maurizio Distefano Licensing with Acamar for the Bing for Faba project, developed by Faba
Best Property of the Year
- Sanrio with Hello Kitty
- SEGA with Sonic The Hedgehog
- BBC with Bluey
- Devolver Digital with Fall Guys
The finalists’ products will be showcased throughout the fair at the BLTF/K Awards display area, located in the BLTF/K zone of the Bologna Children’s Book Fair, Hall 29 – Mall 2.
The winners will be announced on 31 March at the BLTF/K Awards Ceremony, held in the Licensing Conference Room (Hall 29 – Mall 2).
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