My Little Pony Inspires Art Exhibit
Female artists will pony up their talents during an art exhibition inspired byHasbro?s My Little Pony Friday, October 21, at the Milk Gallery in New York.The Pony Project, presented in cooperation with Thunderdog Studios, Inc., is afive-day exhibition where each of nearly 50 artists will debut her own 18-inchMy Little Pony figure at a private press screening (5 p.m. to 7 p.m.), followedby an exhibition open to the public (7 p.m. to 10 p.m.). Fifty percent of theproceeds from art sales and other merchandise will be donated to theAssociation of Hole in the Wall Camps, a nonprofit organization dedicated tohelping children with serious illnesses and life-threatening conditions.
In other company news, Hasbro and the Hasbro Properties Group are scaring upinterest in Mr. Potato Head, My Little Pony, and Play-Doh this Halloween with arange of products. For the first time, HPG and the Paper Magic Group, Inc.,will feature Mr. and Mrs. Potato Head on four pumpkin decoration sets availableexclusively at Target for $4.99. Also from the Paper Magic Group, Inc., girlscan dress in a My Little Pony Star Catcher costume available at Kmart andHalloween specialty stores online for $29.99. New also is the Play-DohHalloween Trick-or-Treat Bag featuring 20, 1-ounce cans of black, orange, red,yellow, green, and purple modeling compound for $3.99.
Toon Disney Picks Up Animated Features
B Wooding Media, acting as agent for Bardel Distribution, sold three animatedfeatures?Dragons: Fire & Ice, Dragons: The Metal Ages, and Silverwing: TheMovie Trilogy?to Toon Disney in the U.S. for a fall 2005 debut. The Dragonsmovies will be featured on Jetix and will be supported with cross promotions infall 2005 and fall 2006 through Megabloks and Lions Gate Entertainment.
iPod Accessories to Feature Licensed Movies, Characters
XtremeMac teamed with Warner Bros. Consumer Products, Twentieth Century Fox,Nickelodeon and Viacom Consumer Products, Lucasfilm Ltd., and Major LeagueBaseball Properties to create iPod accessories featuring movie and cartooncharacters, as well as team artwork. The collection of cases, covers, andarmbands will be rolled out over the next several months in all channels, aswell as the XtremeMac Website.
Hyp Hip on New Apparel Line
All Access Apparel, manufacturer of the Self Esteem junior apparel brand,entered into an exclusive licensing agreement with Hyp Inc. to manufacture anddistribute a collection of junior sleepwear, daywear, intimates, hosiery,headwear, and cold weather accessories. First products will be on shelves atmid-tier and specialty stores for back-to-school 2006 with suggested retails of$15 to $20.
Alliance Atlantis Taps International Reps
Alliance Atlantis Communications Inc. appointed several licensing agents torepresent Dragon Booster in various markets throughout the world. This includesCPLG in the UK, ABC in Australia, m4e in Germany, Plus Licens in Scandinaviaand Eastern Europe, Johnnic Communications Rights Management in South Africa,and Benny Sela Alfit Trade in Israel. Each will oversee the development anddomestic launches of all merchandising product, working with master toylicensee Jakks Pacific, Inc., and worldwide trading card licensee ScoreEntertainment.
Franklin Makes Movie Debut in France
Franklin is coming out of his shell and set to star in a new feature film byAlphanim with partners Nelvana, StudioCanal, and Europool. The movie, due intheaters in France in fall 2006, will chronicle Franklin?s quest, along withhis archaeologist Aunt Lucie, for a secret talisman hidden in the forest thatpurports to have the virtue of healing Franklin?s ill grandmother. StudioCanalwill handle international sales, while Munich-based Europool will ensuredistribution in German-speaking markets. StudioCanal also acquired French TVand home video rights and will release the film in France through itstheatrical distribution arm, Mars Distribution.
Just Jimmy Adds New Licensees
Jakks Pacific and J.E.M. International secured rights to Jim Benton propertyJust Jimmy. Jakks Pacific will manufacture and market Just Jimmy girls??make-your-own? or ?do-it-yourself? craft and activity toys, while J.E.M.International will create flips-flops, slippers, robes, shower wraps, and headwraps. CopCorp Licensing secured the new deals.
Radica Tees Up New Deal
Radica Games Ltd. aligned with Incredible Technologies to produce a Play TVgame based on Incredible Technologies? Golden Tee Golf franchise. Due in fall2006, the game will plug into a TV or VCR and allow players to play the GoldenTee arcade-style games.
Ki by Orioxi Launches Apparel Line
Orioxi International will create an exclusive line of women?s apparel in spring2006 as part of a deal with Kathy Ireland Worldwide. Ki by Orioxi is acontemporary knit collection for women ages 35 and older with price points from$20 to $55.
Hot Kiss Eyes New Deal
Hot Kiss is getting into eyewear, signing a deal with Eyeking, LLC, for a linedue on department and specialty store shelves in spring 2006. The collectionboasts updated aviators, retro looks, shields, and large plastics with retailprices ranging from $28 to $38.
Upcoming Industry Events
MIPCOM, October 17-21, Palaisdes Festivals, Cannes, France, http://www.mipcom.com/
American International Fall Toy Show, October 24-27, Toy District Showrooms, New York, http://www.toy-tia.org/
The L.A. Office RoadShow Europe,October 24-25, London, http://www.laoffice.com/roadshow
Triple Play: Voice, Video, Data, at Telecom ?05, October 24, Las Vegas, http://www.ihollywoodforum.com/
Brand Licensing 2005, October25-26, Earls Court, London, http://www.brandlicensingexpo.com/
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License!?s License! Finder allows you to submit licenses granted and availablenow online, which will be published on the License! Website (http://www.licensemag.com/) on a weeklybasis once approved by an editor. Go to http://www.finder.licensemag.com/to fill out the verification form and submit your licenses granted or availablenow. Highlights from each month?s online submissions will be published inLicense! magazine. Any questions, contact Alyson Grala at (212) 951-6743 or viae-mail: mailto:[email protected].
For more information on licensing news and features, visit License! magazine?sWebsite, http://www.licensemag.com.
