The winners of the Bologna Licensing Awards have been crowned during the Bologna Licensing Trade Fair/Kids.
Now in their eighth year, the Awards are an integral part of the 18th Bologna Licensing Trade Fair/Kids (BLTF/K), the only fair dedicated to children’s and young adult brands, which runs within the Bologna Children’s Book Fair (BCBF) – now in its 62nd year.
This year’s Awards featured 14 categories, including the newly introduced Best Licensed Videogame Project, and attracted over 250 applications from all over the world.
A panel of five jurors convened to select the finalists and winners: Karin Ebnet (journalist and editor at Toy Store); Michelle Perez Barruos (general manager of Feenix Studio); Ian Hyder (ceo of Max Publishing); Helena Mansell-Stopher (ceo and founder of Products of Change); and Marina Narishkin (IP management and strategy expert, with over 20 years’ experience).
The results are as follows:
BEST PRESCHOOL LICENSING PROJECT
Story Toys with Sesame Workshop for children’s video game Sesame Street Mecha Builders.
BEST KIDS LICENSING PROJECT
Starbright Licensing with Scopely Inc for the Stumble Guys MonsterFlex project, developed by Diramix.
BEST TEEN LICENSING PROJECT
Sanrio with My Melody for the My Melody x Lazy Oaf project, realised by Lazy Oaf.
BEST YOUNG ADULT LICENSING PROJECT
WildBrain CPLG with Hasbro for Octopus x Dungeons and Dragons, realised by Youth Srl.
BEST RETAIL PROJECT
Sanrio with Hello Kitty for Primark x Hello Kitty, by Hello Kitty.
BEST FASHION PROJECT – KIDS
Peyo Company with the Smurfs, for Smurfs x Emporio Armani, curated by Emporio Armani.
BEST FASHION PROJECT – TEEN/YOUNG ADULTS
Sanrio with Hello Kitty for the péro ♡ Hello Kitty capsule collection, realised by péro.
BEST LICENSED PUBLISHING PROJECT
Maurizio Distefano Licensing with BBC for Bluey licensed publishing, by Fabbri Editori, part of the Mondadori Group.
BEST LICENSED TOY PROJECT
Lisciani Giochi with Disney for Inside Out 2 – Il Gioco delle Emozioni.
BEST LICENSED SUSTAINABLE PROJECT
Maurizio Distefano Licensing with BBC for Bluey Eco Puzzle, by Lisciani Giochi.
BEST LICENSED VIDEOGAMES PROJECT
Miraculous Corp for Miraculous RP: Quests of Ladybug and Cat Noir, realised by Toya.
BEST LICENSED PROMOTION/LOYALTY CAMPAIGN
WildBrain CPLG with Hasbro for Nostromo x Monopoly, realised by Nostromo (Nauterra)/Globe Trade.
BEST LICENSED KIOSK PRODUCT
WildBrain CPLG with Sega for Cocoricoò x Sonic Modern, realised by Cocoricò.
PROPERTY OF THE YEAR
Sanrio with Hello Kitty.
