Including 35th anniversary celebrations for Back to the Future, and Funko welcoming new vp of sales.
Source rounds up more news from the licensing industry across the globe from the week.
Universal is celebrating 35 years of iconic, time travelling adventure film series, Back to the Future. While the franchise has been going 88mph with global commemorative product launches throughout 2020, more fan-created content, the 4K Ultra HD release, a dedicated Amazon storefront, plus additional retail exclusives and new consumer products were also promised on ‘Back to the Future Day’ (October 21). On the product front, new launches include Playmobil (with its model DeLorean and advent calendar), Hasbro, Funko, Ravensburger, GB eye, Pyramid, RMS and Hype.
Funko has appointed Malcolm Ottley as vice president of sales. Malcolm has joined the company following ten years at Hasbro, where he held the role of sales director. “I am really excited to have joined Funko and look forward to helping build upon their excellent achievements in recent years, as well as help to shape the future direction of the business across EMEA,” Malcolm commented.
Freeman Jewellery has released a line of handcrafted jewellery, inspired by the characters and enchanted moments from the Harry Potter films. Highlight pieces include the Pearl Snitch Earrings, Mirror of Erised Necklace, Golden Snitch Ring Box and Harry Potter Glasses Necklace among others.
Egmont Magazines has launched LEGO Explorer magazine. With a STEAM focus, the magazine encourages young readers to go on a journey through the worlds of science, technology, engineering, art and maths, as well as teaching them new LEGO skills with inside info from real LEGO designers.
Zion Rootswear and Selfridges have launched an exclusive 14-piece collection inspired by Bob Marley during UK Black History Month. The collaboration – which includes five t-shirts, two longsleeve tees, three hoodies, a denim jacket, jeans, cap and beanie – was brought together by Bravado.
The RHS has revealed the launch of new designs for the popular RHS Gifts for Gardeners range from Burgon & Ball. The new ‘British Meadow’ design collection showcases delicate meadow flowers and butterflies. It includes top selling lines from previous RHS Gifts design collections, while it also introduces a new gifting option with gift-boxed RHS-endorsed gardening snips to update and refresh the range.
WildBrain CPLG has scored a new wave of European deals for Dr. Seuss Enterprises’ festive title, How the Grinch Stole Christmas. New UK licensees for the property include Ecell for phone covers and accessories; Widdop & Co for gifting and home accessories; Enesco for figurines and Christmas decorations; Rubber Road for gifting items including Grinch Tubbz; Fashion UK for kids’ daywear; and Portico Designs for calendars and diaries. In addition, fashion partnerships have been secured outside of the UK with Trucare for the Middle East and North Africa, and Elyaf for Germany, Austria and Switzerland.
The Walt Disney Company has confirmed that the all-new original feature from Pixar – Soul – will debut exclusively on Disney+ on December 25, 2020. In international markets where Disney+ isn’t currently or soon to be available, Soul will be released theatrically.
Merchantwise Licensing has been busy building a programme around Minecraft for Australia and New Zealand. New local partnerships include Caprice Australia (apparel, accessories, bags, footwear, bedding); MacEwan Apparel; EB Games (apparel, accessories, gifts, novelties); Hunter Leisure (back to school stationery, bikes, outdoor toys); Zak Australia (lunch, drinkware, home décor); and Impact Merch (calendars, diaries, wall art, puzzles, gifting).
King Features Syndicate has secured a deal with CJ ENM to represent Pucca as the brand’s exclusive licensing agent for North America.
Kidscreen Summit has become the latest event to shift gears due to the COVID-19 pandemic, confirming a virtual event experience running from February 8 to March 5, 2021.
Rights & Brands has been appointed as the licensing agent for Astrid Lindgren and illustrator Ilon Wikland.
Fédération Française de Rugby, the governing body for rugby union in France, has confirmd ORECA as its official online store partner, in a deal brokered by IMG.
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