LAIKA Boosts European Presence for ‘Coraline’ 15th Anniversary

LAIKA is building upon the global 15th-anniversary re-release of “Coraline” by bolstering its U.K. and European presence with key partnerships in the consumer products, licensing and home entertainment arenas. 

Brandship will represent the studio’s expansion of consumer products licensing and brand collaborations in the U.K. and Europe. The agency will coordinate with LAIKA’s U.S. licensing agency, Licensing Street, to ensure products based on LAIKA’s celebrated films are available on both continents. Under this new association, LAIKA is announcing its first direct-to-consumer partnership in Europe with top U.K. pop-culture retailer and apparel licensee, “Truffle Shuffle.”

In addition, Anime Limited/Plaion Pictures has acquired LAIKA’s catalog for home video release in the U.K., France, Italy, Germany, Benelux, Spain and Portugal. The releases include “Coraline,” “The Boxtrolls,” “ParaNorman” and “Kubo and the Two Strings,” all Oscar- and BAFTA-nominated titles. 

“Millions of moviegoers around the world showing up to experience ‘Coraline’ again on the big screen is a testament to the enduring global appeal of all of LAIKA’s films,” says Michael Waghalter, senior vice president, head of business development, LAIKA. “Fans want to engage more deeply with the characters and worlds of our films, and we’re excited to partner with Anime Limited/Plaion Pictures and Brandship to bring compelling, fan-centered products and experiences to the U.K. and Europe.”

Related:Live at Licensing Expo: A Conversation with Legendary Entertainment

‘’The timing couldn’t be better, and I’m excited and privileged to be working with the LAIKA team,” says Lisa Shapiro, founder, chief executive officer, Brandship. “With pent-up demand and a highly engaged audience, there are a number of best-in-class partners in key categories that are being secured.’’

“We’re incredibly excited to be working in partnership with the great team at LAIKA Studios to bring back physical releases of their incredible catalog,” says Andrew Partridge, managing director, Anime Limited. “With the success of the re-release of ‘Coraline’ in cinemas this summer, it’s clear that the love and appreciation for these films and quality animation in general has never been higher. As a group, we’re thrilled to be able to introduce the works of LAIKA to a new generation across the U.K. and Europe.”