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Partnership With Punch Mervyn’s signed an exclusive multi-tiered partnership with six-time world boxing champion and Olympic Gold Medalist Oscar De La Hoya. The deal includes the Oscar De La Hoya Collection of casual, active inspired apparel and accessories for men and young men merchandised in the men’s department in a shop environment. Other elements: The Oscar De La Hoya Experience mobile tour, which gives fans an opportunity to view a wide variety of memorabilia in a custom-built, 75-foot rig that is traveling to community events and select markets this spring and summer. De La Hoya also teamed up with Mervyn’s on its “Go places. Read.” children’s literacy program. Marvel Expands its Universe With Lions Gate Marvel Enterprises is partnering with Lions Gate Entertainment on a deal to develop, produce, and distribute original animated DVD features based on certain characters within the Marvel universe. Marvel and Lions Gate will collaborate on eight original animated projects in either 2-D or 3-D format with the first title slated for late 2005. Under terms of the agreement, Lions Gate will provide Marvel with licensing fees for character rights and fund all of the development, production, distribution, and marketing for each title. Marvel will spearhead creative development and production. National Geographic Digs into Animation National Geographic Television & Film’s Kids’ Programming and Production unit is getting into the animation business signing a deal with creators Paul Rugg and Adam Taylor to develop an animated comedy series for 6- to 11-year-old kids. Rugg is a writer, producer, composer, and voice actor whose credits include Animaniacs, One Saturday Morning, Freakazoid!, and Tiny Toons Adventures. Taylor and his father own Taylor Entertainment Group LLC whose credits include Pink Panther 40th Anniversary Music Video, Bullet Proof Monk, and Stargate Infinity. Fashion Maven to Stylize Trollz DIC Entertainment hired fashion consultant Estevan Ramos to create the overall style guidelines for its new Trollz brand and forecast the trends of young teens. Ramos will collaborate with DIC’s creative team, spearheaded by Mike Maliani, executive vice president of production creative, and Vincent Marchica, vice president of creative in the consumer products division. Ramos is a 16-year fashion industry veteran with an impressive client list from the worlds of music, television, film, and fashion. Mary Engelbreit Gets Animated GoodTimes Entertainment and Mary Engelbreit Studios will partner with Schwartz & Associates Creative to produce and distribute Engelbreit’s first animated DVD and VHS based on her children’s book, “The Night Before Christmas.” The product will feature an extended original story, three original songs, and an original score targeted to four- to eight-year-olds. The Night Before Christmas will be available in all channels October 5, 2004, for $9.95 VHS and $14.95 DVD. Toasting New Deals The Andy Warhol Foundation has partnered with Knightsbridge Fine Wines, Inc. to launch “Amer*Icon,” a super premium collection of wines from Napa Valley. The deal was brokered by the foundation’s exclusive agency The Beanstalk Group. The label of each bottle will feature imagery from the pop artist and retail for approximately $30. The initial portfolio of Amer*Icon wines includes a Chardonnay, red Meritage blend, Estate Cabernet, and Estate Merlot. Proceeds will benefit the Andy Warhol Foundation. In other Beanstalk news, the licensing agency has been selected to manage the licensing program for NYC2012, the committee leading New York’s bid for the 2012 Olympic Games. Seth Siegel, The Beanstalk Group’s co-founder and chairman, licensing, joins the NYC2012 Creative Council, a group of marketing executives who are contributing their time and their marketing agencies’ resources to the bid on a pro-bono basis. The International Olympic Committee will select a host city for the 2012 Olympic Games, July 6, 2005. New York is competing against London, Madrid, Moscow, and Paris. The Hatchery to Support Sammy Keyes The Hatchery LLC has acquired all film and television rights to the “Sammy Keyes” series of children’s mystery books by Wendelin Van Draanen. The series presently has eight titles and more than one million books in print in 11 countries. The ninth book, “Sammy Keyes and the Psycho Kitty Queen,” is due in fall by Random House’s Alfred A. Knopf. The series features feisty girl detective Sammy Keyes, whose penchant for speaking her mind often gets her into trouble but whose tenacity and curiosity lead her to solving a variety of action-packed, exciting mysteries. HarperCollins’ Benji Publishing Program HarperCollins Children’s Books will create a publishing program based on the new feature film, Benji—Off The Leash (due August 27), written and directed by original Benji creator Joe Camp. HarperCollins will launch the movie tie-in book program in July 2004 with three titles, one movie novelization, and two beginning readers. The licensing and promotional program is being managed for The Hatchery, LLC and Benji by Jill Newhouse Calcaterra of Terra Pacific Entertainment Marketing. Giuliano Upped to SVP of Licensing Bruce Giuliano was promoted to senior vice president of licensing of Sanrio, effective immediately. The five-year company veteran is responsible for the continued strategic development and expansion of the company’s licensing program with new products and product categories, retail partnerships around the Sanrio brands, and the continued creation of innovative brand partnerships. Arlen Joins FUNimation FUNimation Productions, Ltd. named Lisa Arlen as the company’s new director of marketing. In her new position, Arlen will be responsible for enhancing retail relationships, programs, and promotional opportunities to support the company’s brands in all retail categories. She also will work in a new division focused on developing and distributing preschool and children’s programs and series due in September 2004. Licensing Show Shuttle The International Toy Center will provide shuttle bus service between the ITC and the Jacob Javits Convention Center during Licensing 2004 International Show, June 8 to 10. This first-time initiative will better accommodate the numerous buyer-tenant appointments that regularly take place at the ITC during the show. The shuttle will run between 9 a.m. and 5:30 p.m. from the ITC’s 23rd Street entrance and the Javits Center. For further information on the shuttle schedule, visit Licensing 2004 International Show Make your plans to attend Licensing 2004 International Show (June 8 to 10, NYC) and enjoy the show’s special features, including: • Expanded Art & Design Licensing Gallery with more than 200 artists and designers to explore. • NEW! License To Style: An exciting live event demonstrating how pop culture is reflected in today’s apparel marketplace, Tuesday, June 8, on the Exhibit Floor. • NEW! The Content Zone: Special exhibit area to meet TV, film, book, and interactive media content and rights owners offering hundreds of sought-after properties. • NEW! Employment Opportunities: Out of work or looking to make a job change? We’re here to help with a job posting board located in the Registration Area. • 13 NEW Sessions at L!censing University. Visit http://www.licensingshow.com/licensingshow/V40/conference/special.cvn?id=26& to explore the 27 in-depth, information-packed conference sessions offered this year. For complete show details, visit Thinking About Expanding Your Licensing Business?
THINK LINK. Presented by License! magazine, Link (Licensing International Networking Conference) is an executive-level conference that brings together the leaders of today’s licensing industry. Top licensors, licensees, retailers, agents, marketers, and the media will come together in one of the most exciting global markets in the country. Conference sessions will cover a full spectrum of licensing topics including: Promotions and Co-Branding, Marketing to Demographics, The State of Retail, Financial & Legal Licensing Issues, and a special concentration on international markets. For information on becoming a Link sponsor, contact Steven Ekstract at (212) 951-6684 or For general information, contact Diane Waltersdorf at (203) 701-0142 or or visit It’s a Wrap in July Complete the Licensing International show cycle by following up with attendees and securing your ad message in our post-show July issue. Be the act to remember as the curtain closes and reviews are read. Let ad frequency give you the edge as retailers, licensees, agents, and consultants do their post-show follow-up. Call at (212) 951-6705 or at (212) 951-6698 to discuss your post-show message. For more licensing news and features, visit www.licensemag.com. For more information on Licensing 2004 International Show, visit |
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