The Licensing Connection will directly manage the U.K. rights of Ultra Zombies and will work with Tonico to coordinate the licensing activity in EMEA, where it intends to establish a network of agents.

Panini will launch an Ultra Zombies trading card line in the U.K. late summer, which will coincide with the release of the second “Ultra Zombies” app. Panini has also secured European rights to stickers and mini collectible figurines, with the first range of characters to be released in 2020. Each figurine will have three interchangeable parts taking the full collection to many variations.

“We are thrilled to be selected by Tonico to represent Ultra Zombies,” says Johnstone. “It is such a graphically strong brand, and in a sector dominated by superheroes, what Tonico has achieved to date is a testament to its quality.”

“It is exciting to experience the reaction of licensees when they first see images and content of the Ultra Zombies; it is the same sensation that drives children to buy licensed products–love at first sight. It happened to me when I met the brand,” says Eve Capella, licensing director, Tonico. “Ultra Zombies products stand out in retail because they are different and colorful, and once you know the story, you want to know more and more of them.”

Ultra Zombies was created by Pablo Henriquez, director, Peache Brands, and represented globally by Tonico. The property is in the South American domestic market with more than 25 licensees and more than 160 licensed product lines to include action figures, plush, back-to-school, collectibles, publishing, homewares, apps and confectionery, with licensees such as Panini and Penguin Random House.