Including eOne outlining a new content plan for Peppa Pig, with Karrot taking over creative production duties from Astley Baker Davies.
Source rounds up more news from the licensing industry across the globe from the week.
Hasbro’s global content studio, eOne has outlined a new content plan for Peppa Pig which confirms that 104 x five-minute episodes have been greenlit for production, ensuring a continuous pipeline of fresh content through to 2027. The addition of the new animated content will take the total number of episodes in the Peppa Pig catalogue to 485. Astley Baker Davies – the original creators of Peppa Pig – will work with eOne to transition creative production duties to British animated studio, Karrot (best known for creating Sarah & Duck). The animation style, music and voice talent will remain unchanged. Key talent from ABD will join Karrot – this includes Phill Hall who joins as head writer having co-written numerous episodes of Peppa Pig since 2007.
Independent children’s book publisher, Sweet Cherry has been selected as a Regional and Country Winner for the Small Press of the Year in the Midlands region. The company is now in the running to be crowned Small Press of the Year at The British Book Awards 2021. The Leicester-based publishing house – which publishes a number of licensed lines – saw export sales double in 2020, with UK and ebook revenue rising nearly as much.
Four decades on from its original BBC TV broadcast, Fawlty Towers continues to shine as a masterclass in comedy writing and performance. Now the original four BBC vinyl albums – Fawlty Towers, Second Sitting, At Your Service and A la Carte – are joined by two newly created collections, Plat du Jour and Enjoy Your Stay, to form a box set of all 12 TV episodes. Much of the special linking narration – supplied by Manuel (Andrew Sachs) – is unique to the vinyl versions and hasn’t been available since the original pressings. Demon Group Music (a BBC Studios company) will release a limited run of 1,500 copies from 28 May.
Art Ask Agency is celebrating a successful launch and the first sell out of the Frida Kahlo collaboration with Calzedonia. The range includes seven pairs of socks catering for various consumer targets and styles including casual, elegant and sports, as well as four pairs of embellished tights. Various models in the collection have sold out, with new stock on the way.
German free to air children’s channel KIKA has acquired rights to broadcast Masha and the Bear‘s special musical season named Masha’s Songs, as well as spin-off Masha’s Tales, airing on weekdays from 12 April and 26 April respectively. In addition, KIKA will also air a new classical Masha and the Bear season, produced in 4K format, plus a new educational musical spin-off from Animaccord named Nursery Rhymes.
Merchantwise Licensing’s May Gibbs brand is now calling Australian fabrics, craft and homewares retailer, Spotlight home. A new range of designs can be seen on home décor including ready to hang blinds, cushions, bedding and kitchen napery.
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