Fisher-Price Takes the Lead on Preschool Series
Fisher-Price will create a line of preschool toys for Harry and His Bucket Fullof Dinosaurs via a master toy licensee deal with Warner Bros. Consumer Productsand
CCI Entertainment Ltd. The initial product line of basic and talking figures,Dino-mobile vehicles, Dino World mini-playsets, and plush toys will launch atTarget. Other new licensees: Falcon Games with jigsaw puzzles and card andcardboard games, and David Halsall International with bikes, trikes, scooters,protection gear, inflatables, and wooden puzzles and games.
It's a Great Promotion, Charlie Brown
United Media partnered with Hinkle Produce on an in-store promotion tocommemorate the 40th anniversary of the It's the Great Pumpkin, Charlie BrownHalloween special. Pumpkin patches filled with 10 million pumpkins, each with aPeanuts-branded sticker, will fill supermarkets across the nation. Otherinitiatives: Snoopy.com with a dedicated Great Pumpkin Website, a DVD with a40th anniversary call-out on package from Paramount Home Entertainment,Halloween-themed photo borders from Fuji Photo USA, Halloween-themed toys fromSababa Toys, a 40th anniversary puzzle from USAopoly, and a coffee-table bookfrom HarperCollins.
Disney Characters Star in New Personal Arcade System
Disney fans ages 6 and up can carry their favorite characters right in theirpocket with Disney GAMEiT!, a personal arcade system (suggested retail, $39.99)created by Performance Designed Products and designed by Disney Electronics.The portable device, due this month, can be played on the go or plugged into aTV and is available in two styles, each with 12 games. "Classic Pals" featuresclassic characters such as Mickey Mouse, Goofy, and Donald Duck, while"Princess Pals" features characters from Disney animated films. Disney GAMEiT!Starter Kits (suggested retail, $14.95) will be available separately and willoffer complementary accessories such as an interchangeable faceplate, carryingcase, and set of A/V cables.
Famed Movie Celebrates 20th Anniversary
Dirty Dancing is filling its dance card with new licensees as the moviecelebrates its 20th anniversary. Awake, a division of JEM Sportswear, willunveil nostalgic Ts for both women and men, and Next Craze, a division of AME,will bring fans a line of juniors' underwear and loungewear. Townley also willcreate a line of health and beauty care targeted at 'tween/teen girls. Productswill begin to roll out at retail timed to the release of the DVD in 2007. Asthe licensing program continues to unfold, United Media will extend into keyareas including publishing, electronics, social expressions, gifts, andcollectibles. Other 20th anniversary initiatives include: a reality televisionseries on the WE channel; a stage show currently in Germany and expanding tothe UK by October and the U.S. and Canada for 2007 and 2008, respectively; anda Dirty Dancing fan Website.
XP Events to Oversee NBA Retail Initiatives
XP Events will manage on-site NBA Store retail merchandise operations at the2007 and 2008 NBA All-Star Games. Through this agreement, XP Events willoversee merchandise concessions to include a range of NBA All-Star retailproducts and memorabilia. There will be dedicated All-Star NBA Store retaillocations in the arenas, at the NBA All-Star Jam Session, and at select hotelsin each city during the event. XP Events also will work with the NBA toestablish additional points of sale at the 2007 All-Star Game February 18 atthe Thomas & Mack Center in Las Vegas, and the 2008 Game February 17 at theNew Orleans Arena in New Orleans.
MGA Games Unveils Miuchiz!
MGA Entertainment's MGA Games division is coming to market this fall withMiuchiz! (Me-You-Cheese). The handheld, portable device features digitalcharacters in digital worlds and allows users to play both offline and onlineusing the same unit. The attached USB connector allows the user to plug thehandheld unit into the computer and connect to a real-time 3-D virtual onlineworld with other Miuchiz! owners who also are simultaneously connected. Onceonline, the user can play multiplayer 3-D games for points and win virtualcurrency, chat with other players (with parental permission and controls), andbuy and sell items. There will be three styles or"Tribez" available at launch: Miuchiz! Bratz featuring Cloe and Yasmin;Miuchiz! Monsterz, a battle-themed series; and Miuchiz! Pawz, cats and dogsthat go on treasure hunting adventures. Each character version of Miuchiz! isavailable separately and retails for $29.99. Entry into "Planet Mion," thevirtual world where Miuchiz! exists online, is included in the price for up toone year.
In other MGA news, the Bratz Forever Diamondz CD hits stores September19 with bonus tracks and special packaging that accommodates a girls' charmbracelet. All music is inspired by MGA Entertainment's new Bratz ForeverDiamondz fashion doll line hitting stores now; the video game follows in earlyOctober.
Tour Celebrates Ranger Power
The Power Rangers are getting powered up for an eight-city tour that kicks offon the eve of the toy line's 15th anniversary. The "Get Powerized" tour beginsSeptember 23 in Bentonville, AR, with kids getting the chance to meet theMystic Force Power Rangers, see toy demos, and participate in activities suchas a green screen photo area where they can re-enact a scene from theirfavorite show and a drawing to win a limited-edition golden Megazord that isnot available in stores. The free admission tour stops every successive weekendat different retailers in the following cities: Boston (September 29-October1), Chicago (October 6-8), Atlanta (October 13-15), Dallas (October 20-22),Houston (October 27-29), Los Angeles (November 3-5), and San Diego (November10-12).
Surf Artist to Create New Line
Island Daze is riding the wave of a new business venture with a board shortline created by surf artist Drew Brophy. The Drew Brophy line of shorts, due in2007, will be available under the Island Daze brand, as well as part of itsprivate-label program.
Execs on the Move
Peter Dougherty was named senior vice president of branding for Cartoon Networkand will be responsible for the creative execution and communication of theCartoon Network brand and its multiple properties to target audiences in theU.S.
Submit Licenses Granted & Available Now Online
The LICENSE Finder allows you to submit licenses granted and available nowonline, 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: [email protected].
MIPCOM Junior 2006
Spot younger trends on the way up at MIPCOM Junior, October 7-8, 2006, CarltonHotel, Cannes, France. Now in its 14th year, MIPCOM Junior is the onlyinternational screening and trading marketplace for children's, preschool, andteen programming and merchandising. Taking place ahead of the main TV market,MIPCOM Junior provides a unique commercial platform for the key internationalplayers in one place and at one time. Find out more at http://www.mipcomjunior.com.
For more information on licensing news and features, visit LICENSE magazine'sWebsite, http://www.licensemag.com/.
