Including intu launching a VR experience around The Emoji Movie.
The Source rounds up more news from the licensing industry across the globe from the week.
Intu has launched its first paid-for virtual reality experience at three shopping centres during August, with shoppers able to interact with characters and worlds from The Emoji Movie. The experience involves VR content exclusive to the UK featuring characters and worlds from the film, plus specially recorded lines from lead actors including James Corden. Players will be charged £5 and each experience will be generated by a unique QR code.
IMG has teamed up with adventurer Bear Grylls to create a survival sport challenge series. The first Bear Grylls Survival Challenge will take place in April 2018 in Los Angeles, with additional stops in the US and Europe. Participants will compete on a four mile, off road journey which will take them through 18 unique survival scenario challenges across five environments. BGSC will culminate in a festival featuring music, brand activations, food and merchandise.
Universal Brand Development has appointed Joe Lawandus to svp and general manager, North America consumer products, joining the company in September. In addition, Marc Low expands his current role to svp and general manager, international consumer products.
Enesco has bolstered its sales team with three new hires. Gillian Blair has joined the company as national business manager, with her role including new business development as well as the management of UK field sales and selected national accounts. In addition, Sam Bond has joined as area sales manager for London and East Anglia, while Simon Kidd takes on the same role for Southwest England and South Wales.
Lifestyle brand Inspire Me! Home Decor – founded in 2012 by social media influencer, Farah Merhi – is to launch its first collection on QVC in the US on September 22 in a deal brokered by CPLG. Products will include bedding, throws, rugs, oil diffusers, mirrors and flameless candles.
Genius Brands is continuing to build the licensing programme for Rainbow Rangers. New licensees for the preschool brand include Global Design Concepts (bags and luggage), Handcraft (underwear) and Taste Beauty (bath and beauty).
Kids media brand Pocket.watch has welcomed Stone Newman as its new chief revenue officer. Stone was previously president of Genius Brands.
Season two of SEGA‘s animated TV series Sonic Boom is to launch in a number of key EMEA markets. Already airing on Nickelodeon in Benelux, Sonic Boom will arrive in Italy on K2 in September. In addition, in the MENA region, Spacetoon will be running with season two from October and in France, Gulli will premiere the show in December. Meanwhile, season one is now showing globally (excluding the US) on Netflix.
DHX Media has teamed up with YouTube for the release of We Are Savvy, a magazine-style series featuring segments about music, fashion, dance and DIY, airing on YouTube Red.
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