Licensing International Announces 2024 Excellence Awards Finalists
This year’s Excellence Awards feature 197 finalists in 32 categories.
April 15, 2024
Licensing International has announced the finalists for the Excellence Awards, dedicated to recognizing outstanding achievements and innovation in the global brand licensing industry.
This year’s Excellence Awards feature 197 finalists in 32 categories. A panel of 200 judges from 20 countries reviewed more than 800 submissions.
This year, a new category was introduced for Best Advertising Campaign Featuring a Brand, which honors print, radio, TV, cinema and outdoor media advertisements in which a property is used to elevate and promote another brand. Also, for the first time, every member of Licensing International had the chance to vote for The Members’ Choice Award, which celebrates licensed offerings that extend a brand in unexpected and innovative ways.
“The finalists for this year’s Licensing International Excellence Awards represent the remarkably innovative nature of the industry as whole,” says Maura Regan, president, Licensing International. “From established brands with a rich history to emerging properties breaking new ground, we applaud the finalists’ dedication to storytelling, brand building, and engagement, and look forward to honoring their achievements.”
The winners will be announced during the Licensing International Excellence Awards ahead of Licensing Expo. The ceremony will take place on Monday, May 20 at 5:30 p.m. PDT at the HyperX Arena Las Vegas at the Luxor. Licensing Expo will take place from May 21 to 23 at the Mandalay Bay Convention Center. Registration for Licensing Expo is open now, find out more.
More information about the finalists is available online. Finalists were presented by sponsors Alifish, Jazwares, SEGA, Spirit Halloween and Stumble Guys.
The full list of nominees includes:
Best Advertising Campaign Featuring a Licensed Brand
Coca-Cola's Global "Masterpiece" Campaign – The Coca-Cola Company
“CoComelon” toys at Smyths superstores – Smyths Toys Superstores
Comcast/Xfinity Gig Internet – “Red Flags” – Comcast/Xfinity
Discover Imagination – tonies
Golf's Happy Place – PGA TOUR Superstore (Born Licensing)
It’s OK I’m with The AA – The AA (Born Licensing)
Best Brand: Animated
“Bluey” – Ludo Studio & BBC Studios
“Gabby’s Dollhouse” – Universal Products & Experiences
“Naruto” – Shueisha, TV Tokyo, Studio Pierrot
Peanuts – Peanuts Worldwide
“Peppa Pig” – Hasbro
“South Park” – Paramount Global
Best Brand: Art, Design or Museum
Frank Lloyd Wright Foundation (Jewel Branding & Licensing)
Keith Haring (Artestar)
Natural History Museum, London
New York Botanical Garden (Jewel Branding & Licensing)
The Metropolitan Museum of Art (Beanstalk)
V&A
Best Brand: Corporate
Dr. Scholl’s – Scholl’s Wellness Company (Brandgenuity)
Girl Scouts of the USA (Earthbound)
Hershey’s – The Hershey Company
Kodak – Eastman Kodak Company
Scotts, Miracle-Gro – The Scotts Company (Seltzer Licensing Group)
United States Postal Service (Global Icons)
Best Brand: Food, Beverage, Restaurant
Cinnabon (Global Channels)
Coca-Cola – The Coca-Cola Company
Entenmann’s – Bimbo Bakeries USA (Brand Central)
M&M’S – Mars Wrigley (Brand Central)
PEEPS – Just Born Quality Confections (Brand Activation Consulting)
“Stranger Things” Scoops Ahoy – Netflix
Best Brand: Interactive or Digital Brand
Bored of Directors – NFIP Holdings (Brand Central)
Chefclub
Emoji – The Iconic Brand – emoji company GmbH (Retail Monster)
“Five Nights At Freddy’s” – Scott Games (Striker Entertainment)
“Minecraft” – Microsoft (CAA Brand Management & Merchantwise)
“Sonic the Hedgehog” – SEGA
Best Brand: Live Action
Disney “The Little Mermaid” – The Walt Disney Company
Monster Jam! – Feld Entertainment
“Ted Lasso” – Warner Bros. Discovery
“Teletubbies” – WildBrain
“Yellowstone” – Paramount Global
Best Brand: Music Artist, Celebrity or Fashion
Drew & Jonathan – Scott Brothers Global
Gloria Vanderbilt – One Jeanswear Group (The Brand Liaison)
Grateful Dead – Warner Music Experience
Laura Ashley – Gordon Brothers
MARTHA STEWART – MARQUEE BRANDS
Best Brand: Publishing, Stationery or Social Expression
Afro Unicorn – April Showers (Retail Monster)
Black Paper Party (Brand Central)
Crayola
Dr. Seuss – Dr. Seuss Enterprises
Moomin – Moomin Characters Oy Ltd (Rights & Brands)
Strawberry Shortcake – WildBrain
World of Eric Carle/“Very Hungry Caterpillar” – Penguin Random House (The Joester Loria Group)
Best Brand: Sports, eSports or Collegiate
24H LE MANS – Automobile Club de l’Ouest (IMG)
Formula 1
NASCAR
NFLPA
U.S. Polo Assn. – USPA Global
Yale University (ASPIRE by WildBrain CPLG)
Best Brand: Toy
Barbie – Mattel
NERF – Hasbro
Squishmallows – Jazwares
TRANSFORMERS – Hasbro
Best Collaboration: Hardlines or Packaged Goods
Caran d’Ache x Keith Haring – (Artestar/CAA Brand Management)
Krispy Kreme x “Elf”
LEGO x PAC-MAN
Montblanc x Van Gogh Museum (TBR The Brand Residence)
Pringles x The Caviar Co. (Beanstalk)
Rubik's Cube x “Stranger Things”
“Ted Lasso” x Jeni’s Ice Cream
Best Collaboration: Softlines
Frank Lloyd Wright x New Balance x Kith (Jewel Branding & Licensing)
Kenneth Cole x Sesame Street
Marvel x Christian Louboutin
Squishmallows x H&M
Swatch x Jean-Michel Basquiat (Artestar)
The Met x Todd Snyder (Beanstalk)
Tommy Jeans x Keith Haring (Artestar)
Best Experiential or Location-Based Initiative
Hasbro Gaming at Changi Airport – Q’s Advertising Pte Ltd (Pacific Licensing Studio Pte Ltd)
KISS New York City Takeover – Pop Up Mob; Modern English; Tactical Manoeuvre; Alex Coletti Productions (Bravado)
Paris by Emily – Dharma
Pokémon x Van Gogh Museum
Shrek x Airbnb
Snoopy x Mega Adventure – First Asia Realty Development Company (WildBrain CPLG)
Squid Game: The Trials – Superfly
The Friends Experience: The One in Melbourne (Original X Productions)
Best Licensed Promotion
7-Eleven x Brown & Minions – CP ALL PUBLIC COMPANY (7-ELEVEN) (Pacific Licensing Studio)
Lviv Croissants x MAVKA – Lviv Croissants (Nerd Agency)
Paddington at Langham Hotels – Langham Hospitality Group (CAA Brand Management)
Peanuts x Kellogg’s – Kellogg’s
Squishmallows x McDonald’s Happy Meal Program – Jazwares, McDonald’s
Best Product: Apparel, Footwear or Accessories for Corporate Brands
Eastpak – Van Gogh Museum
FILA Golf – McLAREN (CAA Brand Management)
Loungefly – McDonald’s (The Joester Loria Group)
Modern Works – Kodak
Nowhere Co.– Coca-Cola (itochu fashion system)
Over The Pitch – Coca-Cola (CAA Brand Management)
PacSun – The Met (Beanstalk)
Uniqlo – MoMA, PAC-MAN, Katamari Damacy, SimCity 2000, Space Invaders, TETRIS
Best Product: Apparel, Footwear or Accessories for Entertainment Brands
adidas – “The Simpsons”
AKILA – The Beatles (Bravado)
Anya Hindmarch – Mr. Potato Head
Crocs – “Shrek”
Eton Shirts – The Beatles (Rights & Brands)
GUCCI – “Gremlins”
Pandora – “Game of Thrones” (Nordic Licensing Company A/S)
Best Product: Appliances, Housewares or Electronics for Corporate Brands
Aristocrat Gaming – NFLPA
ByTech – Bugatti (IMG)
Car Off Shore S.r.l. – FIAT 500 (IMG)
Cloth & Company – Bendolph, Bennett, Pettway & Wilson (Artists Rights Society)
Custom Accessories – Dr. Scholl's (Brandgenuity)
Muli – Museum of Fine Arts, Boston (Alfilo Brands)
Samsung – The Met, The V&A and Van Gogh Museum
Best Product: Appliance, Housewares or Electronic Product for Entertainment Brands
Dalstrong – Batman
Davolink – “Minions”
Dragon Glassware – Barbie (Ann McNeill)
Stern Pinball, Inc. – “JAWS”
Thai Honda – “Minions” (Pacific Licensing Studio Pte Ltd)
Xiaomi Communications Co. – Harry Potter
Zara – Peanuts (WildBrain CPLG)
Best Product: Food or Beverage for Corporate Brands
B&G Foods – Buffalo Trace, Fireball, Southern Comfort (Brandgenuity)
Ferrero/The Coca-Cola Company – Sprite (CAA Brand Management)
Frankford Candy – Kraft Mac & Cheese, Oscar Mayer, Lunchables, Claussen, Bagel Bites (Brand Central)
GS Retail – Netflix
Namyang – Mentos (Infiniss)
Best Product: Food or Beverage for Entertainment Brands
Athletic Brewing – “The Witcher”
Brach’s – “Friends”
Brewdog – “Elf”
FoodStory Brands – “Yellowstone”
Treasury Wine Estates – Universal Monsters
Witor’s – “Bridgerton”
Witor’s – “Harry Potter”
Best Product: Health & Beauty
Hismile – “Wonka”
Kmed – “Sex Education”
Mad Beauty – Disney100
Premier Brands of America – Arm and Hammer
Viking Brand – Route 66 (Ispartner)
Best Product: Home Decor
Crown Baccara – “Bridgerton” (CAA Brand Management)
Eichholtz – The Met (Beanstalk)
Mrs. Bloom's – Crayola Flowers
Paladone Products – Barbie
Select Blinds USA – V&A
ZeWood – The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey
Best Product: Interactive or Digital Product
Actionary: The Conqueror – “Scooby Doo”
Apple – Peanuts
Borderleap – Van Gogh Museum (Licensing Link, U.K.)
Faurecia Aptoide, Mercedes-Benz – “Angry Birds” (IMG)
Tafi/Coinbase – Coca-Cola
Best Product: Publishing, Social Expression or Back-to-School
Compactor – Mentos (Destra)
Insight Editions – The Beatles (Bravado)
Moleskine – Van Gogh Museum (Art Studio 3, Italy)
MONTEGRAPPA – Warner Bros Discovery
Random House – “Bridgerton”
Scholastic – “Harry Potter”
Best Product: Toys, Games, Novelties, or Role Play (ages 0-8)
Clementoni – Disney Baby, Disney Classics
Fashion Angels – Me and The Bees (The Brand Liaison)
Fun.com – Disney Pixar
Melissa & Doug – National Park Foundation
WowWee – MONOPOLY
Best Product: Toys, Games, Novelties, or Role Play (ages 8+)
Big Potato Games – U.S. Postal Inspection Service (Global Icons)
Hasbro – Barbie
Hot Toys – “John Wick” (IMG)
Märklin – Van Gogh Museum (TBR The Brand Residence GmbH)
Ruz – Peanuts
The LEGO Group – Disney
Best Retailer: Corporate, Lifestyle, Fashion, or Sports Brands
AEROPOSTALE – Coca-Cola
Allkinds – Chupa Chups (Asembl Brands)
Kohl's – Crayola (Retail Monster)
Peter Alexander – Moulin Rouge (Asembl Brands)
Primark – Dr. Seuss Enterprises
Ripley – Bored of Directors (Brand Central & The Business Hub)
Best Retailer: Entertainment Brands
Bloomingdale’s – “Wonka”
Hamleys – Wizarding World
Miniso Development Hong Kong/Miniso (Guangzhou) Co,– Peanuts (WildBrain CPLG)
Miniso Group Holding Limited – Sanrio Characters (Alifish)
Rinascente: Roma tritone – “Pokémon”
The Natural History Museum, London – “Jurassic Park” 30th Anniversary
Walmart – Kids Apparel Spinners
Williams Sonoma – “Bridgerton”
Best Sustainability Initiative
Delipap – Moomin (Rights & Brands)
GROUNDTRUTH – Ed Stafford (Brandgenuity)
“Minions” x Bottled Water
Narwhal Ocean Research Center – ERDOS (Alfilo Brands)
Recycle to Read x Tesco
The Landmark Project – National Wildlife Federation (Jewel Branding & Licensing)
Members’ Choice Award
Barbie x Zara
BISSELL – Eggo
Lick x Heinz
LiQ – Malibu (ASPIRE by WildBrain CPLG)
oVertone x Franzia
“Peaky Blinders” Live Performances – Immersive Everywhere, Rambert Ballet Company
Seda & Princess Tiana – Seda
The Ice Cream Project by Anya Hindmarch
Most Impactful Service Provider
Dependable Solutions
Fabacus
MyMediabox
Octane5
Pottick Law / Protect for Success
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