Paddington Bear Turns 60

GLOBAL—Licensing agency The Copyrights Group is readying a flurry of activity to commemorate the 60th anniversary of the first Paddington Bear book, A Bear Called Paddington.

April 6, 2018

Rainbow Designs, MBI, Avec and more will release a raft of merchandise based on everyone’s favorite bear.

Originally published in 1958, the anniversary celebration will see a newly designed logo, a worldwide commemorative partnership, limited edition and collectible products, new and refreshed classic lines, retail activity and special anniversary activities.

Earlier this month, the Great Western Railway named one of its new Intercity Express trains after

Paddington Bear

author Michael Bond; next month, the museum Eki in Kyoto, Japan, will host a traveling exhibition that will feature more than 300 pieces of original

Paddington

artwork; and U.S.-based The Eric Carle Museum will kick off an exhibition that is set to run from April to November.

On the publishing front,

Paddington

will join World Book Day 2018, and HarperCollins will release the final

Paddington Bear

story in June, a year after the passing of Bond.

Other partners

on board include Steiff for a limited edition plush range, Rainbow Designs for anniversary plush, Museums and Galleries for paper products, MBI for pillows and jewelry, Avec for crafting products, Beechdean for marmalade flavored ice cream, Kinenrton for an Easter egg range, VMC for dress-up and Keycraft for a set of Shrinkles.

The new feature film,

Paddington 2

, is in theaters now and will be released on DVD, March 12.