Including Silvergate Media acquiring the rights to bilingual picture book series ¡Vamos! with plans for an animated series.
Source rounds up more news from the licensing industry across the globe from the week.
Silvergate Media has acquired the rights to bilingual picture book series, ¡Vamos!, with plans to develop it into an animated series for kids and families. The books – which are told in a combination of both English and Spanish – are written and illustrated by Mexican-American author, Raúl (González) the Third and are published by Versify, an imprint of Houghton Mifflin Harcourt publishers. The initial two picture books were greeted with such enthusiasm that Versify has created a World of ¡Vamos! publishing line with three early readers, two board books and a further picture book in the pipeline. Kurt Mueller, evp creative content at Silvergate Media, will produce the new series in partnership with Raúl the Third.
Stationery brand, Manuscript Pen Company has launched a new animation series following the success of its Lionheart Collection early learners’ craft brand. Originally launched in 2019, the range includes arts and crafts products for 3-10s, designed to support development, learn new skills and offer additional benefits such as pen control, concentration and mindfulness. The brand is now being brought to life with a series of animations about the characters aimed at 3-5s, while the product range has also been expanded. The Lionheart Tales animations will be on YouTube and include Arthur, the Mayor of Lionheart Town, and his friends, who will each have a message to help children develop.
Phat Kandi has partnered with Active Merchandising for the German, Swiss and Austrian territory. The company joins Phat Kandi’s roster of agents which also includes Empire Multimedia, Mondo TV Group and V&M International. In addition, EMP has been signed up for Europe with a DTR for apparel and accessories, which sees Phat Kandi combined with its own Black Blood by Gothicana label.
The Insights Family and US youth experiential marketing agency, InspiredConsumer have formed a new partnership in a bid to ‘transform’ the research sector in the US. As part of the partnership, The Insights Family will provide several research services to InspiredConsumer’s clients to help with planning and measurement including evaluating and demonstrating the ROI of client campaigns.
Art Ask Agency has appointed home décor specialist, Kare Design for a Pets Rock wall art collection. The range – which is already notching up strong sales – includes glass framed wall art, acrylic wall art and canvas prints. In addition, Pets Rock has recently launched a new style guide – The Love Book – with themes of positivity, love, hope and happiness. The new guide is full of rainbow-themed assets and is available to licensees in addition to The London Book style guide. The first licensee to launch the new style will be Teneues Books, which has a book launch planned for September 2021.
The emoji company is celebrating its five-year partnership with Tropicosmeticos in Mexico with the launch of a new oral care product line. The new collection includes four different toothbrush designs and eight new designs for toothpaste.
Italian football star, Marco Verratti and the four protagonists from Rainbow’s 44 Cats have joined forces for a new charity initiative, Italia Gattastica. A new feline, Gatto Marco, will join Lampo, Milady, Pilou and Meatball on a specially customised Italian flag dedicated to UEFA EURO 2020. The revenues from the sale of the flag will be donated to Make-A-Wish Italia Onlus.
Sesame Workshop and The Wiggles have debuted a reimagining of the band’s Fruit Salad song exclusively on YouTube. Starring The Wiggles and Sesame Street’s Cookie Monster, Abby Cadabby and Elmo, the music video features fruit being virtually passed and dropped between the screens. The song is part of a two-music video collaboration in commemoration of a combined 80 years of being in the children’s entertainment space.
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