Factory Buys Rollo Rights, Adds Licensing Division

“King Rollo,” “Victor & Maria,” Off the Leash and more will now be included in Factory Rights’ portfolio of brands.

EUROPE–U.K.-based animation studio Factory has acquired Rollo Rights in a move that will allow the company to develop its own IP under a new licensing and brand management division, called Factory Rights.

Through the acquisition, Factory and Factory Rights will now have the rights to a slate of brands including Rupert Fawcett’s Off the Leash, David McKee’s “Mr Benn,” “King Rollo,” “Victor & Maria,” “Towser” and “Watt the Devil,” among others. The first content to be developed is “Off the Leash TV,” which will be a 2D line animated version of Rupert Fawcett’s cartoons about dogs.

“We’ve been developing and adapting IP since we launched in 2010, beginning with ‘Strange Hill High’ and ‘Newzoids,’ both of which were developed in house,” says Phil Chalk, managing director, Factory and Factory Rights. “Launching Factory Rights is the next step in our ambition, and we’re delighted to have acquired such an incredible range of titles to launch our new division. ‘Off the Leash TV’ has been generating huge interest already so we’re excited to launch the YouTube channel and unleash it to the world.”

In addition, Factory Rights is currently in discussions to acquire a number of additional licenses.