Julius and his friends are traveling to Mexico. Paul Frank Industries announced today a licensing partnership with Fashion Depot, a division of Intermoda Fashion Group in Mexico and Latin America. Fashion Depot will debut the Paul Frank collection for infants, toddlers, boys, and girls at department stores in August. Fashion Depot will debut its collection for juniors and young men next year.
Paul Frank images will be captured on tees, polo shirts, tank tops, sweaters, pullovers, skirts, shorts, jackets, shirts, sweatshirts, sweatpants, hoodies, leggings, coordinates, overalls, Bermudas, jeans, rompers, dresses, coats, jumpsuits, pants, onesies, swimwear, pajamas, and underwear.

Paul Frank Industries’ international expansion is bringing the iconic American brand to Latin American countries including Brazil, Chile, Panama, and Venezuela.

Target Entertainment Group has appointed The Revolution as the licensing sub-agent for the PlayStation brand and selected PlayStation software IPs (intellectual properties) for the following territories: Republic of South Africa, Namibia, Zimbabwe, Zambia, Kenya, Seychelles, Comores, Mauritius, Mozambique, Swaziland, and Botswana.

The appointment will see The Revolution manage a merchandise program spanning all consumer product categories excluding PlayStation peripherals and PlayStation specific accessories.

The PlayStation brand incorporates the PlayStation logo, the format logos: PS one, PlayStation2, PlayStation®Portable, PlayStation3, DUALSHOCK 3 wireless controller designs, and well know PlayStation symbols and phrases such as ‘The Game is Just the Start.’

The PlayStation IPs licensed to The Revolution are LittleBigPlanet, God of War, Ratchet and Clank, Wipeout, EyePet, and Invizimals.

Chorion has announced a range of activities for preschool character Spot as he celebrates his 30^th anniversary year.

In the U.S., BBC America released Where’s Spot? on DVD in April, and will release Spot Goes to School in August and Spot’s Magical Christmas in October. New licensing deals have been inked with Andover Fabric, Starry Story Art, Meri Meri, and the Zoobies. The Spot Zoobie will be featured on QVC for Christmas in July. Master toy licensee Kids Preferred is expanding its Spot product line to include puzzles, backpacks, bath toys, and wooden toys for next year.

In the UK, Abbey Home Media launched a special edition 30^th anniversary DVD in March. The Spot TV series began broadcasting on CITV in April, with further episodes scheduled to air this month. Storytelling and in-store events supported the Spot exhibition at Selfridges in London over the May bank holiday weekend. The touring Spot art exhibition will be featured at the Chelsea Library in London, Foyles book store, and regional museums throughout the rest of this year. An exclusive birthday party is planned for August 5^th in London for parents and children. Master toy licensee Rainbow Designs will introduce an expanded range of products including puzzles and wooden toys for next year.

Additional book titles for Spot from Warne include a 30th anniversary special edition of Where’s Spot?, plus Spot’s Birthday Balloon, and Spot’s Little Library. New publishing formats, touch and feel books, book and plush sets, and an 18-button sound book are planned for the holiday season.

In Australia, Spot appeared in several high-profile events in March and April including Gardening Australia Expo in Adelaide and Brisbane, with further appearances scheduled for the same Expo in Sydney from August 22-24 and Melbourne from October 1-3. The events will include costume appearances, craft activities, and retail opportunities.

Spot plush, through Australian Master toy licensee Jasnor Pty., launched in Japan this year, and new licensing partner Skillman will be creating personalized product. Spot public reading events and retail fairs were held from March through May at Kinokuniya bookstore outlets throughout Japan to celebrate Spot’s 30^th anniversary.  Further events are planned for the rest of this year.

Spot first appeared in Eric Hill’s original lift-the-flap book Where’s Spot? in 1980. To date, Spot has sold more than 50 million books and has a global licensing program that includes toys, apparel, gifts and DVD. The official Spot website features activities for parents and children, competitions, games, and information about the brand and author.

European based underwear company Pull-In, with retail outlets in Paris, New York, and Los Angeles, is set to debut a new product assortment in its men’s collection featuring a partnership with Major League Baseball.

Hitting the company’s stores and online shop this month, the MLB boxer collection from Pull-in features team logos from both the LA Dodgers and NY Yankees. New interpretations and bold colors bring a new twist to the more traditional presentation of the team logos.

In other sports licensing news, ESPN Consumer Products has announced the launch of a new soccer-themed T-shirt collection highlighting ESPN’s “One Game Changes Everything” ad campaign commemorating the sport’s pinnacle event in South Africa this summer.

The collection blends sports and fashion by featuring eight fan-favorite countries (USA, Brazil, England, Germany, Italy, Mexico, South Africa, and Spain) in five different designs and 36 different styles that utilize each country’s colors, images, and fight songs.

The collection is available now at Urban Outfitters stores and website, as well as Nordstrom’s, KarmaLoop.com, and other online sporting goods retailers. The collection was produced with ESPN apparel licensee Sportiqe Apparel.

Noodle Head, Inc. has retained Sharon Bennett of Bennett Branding to represent its Pawparazzi brand and oversee its licensing program.

Pawparazzi pets began as a line of collectible plush pets with funny celebrity personas carried in unique couture purses. Girls intensely follow the pets in a spoofy celebrity magazine and online. The company responded to viral demand for play accessories, clothing, and a Fan Club that sends members gifts, newsletters, and special offers. Planet Pawparazzi, an innovative interactive website, will debut in August.

The line is selling at specialty retailers including Barney’s of New York, Kitson, and FAO Schwarz. It is also appearing in Barnes and Noble and other mid-market retailers and catalogs, and will be featured on QVC in October.

An integrated licensing and merchandising program for the Pawparazzi brand and its world of tween pop-culture is underway and will include a complete line of merchandise and brand extensions such as publishing, interactive, apparel, accessories, social expression, home décor, and entertainment.

At long last, Friday is here. What makes the day even more awesome is that Toy Story 3 is here as well!

I haven’t seen it yet, though I have some friends that went to some midnight showings and will therefore be half asleep at their jobs all day. Apparently the wait, and the all-nighter for those who caught the midnight shows, was totally worth it.

I just read a very thought-provoking review of the movie, that says that the film deals with some very grown-up and serious issues in a great way, yet is still a fun-loving kids movie as well.

I know that so many kids’ movies have grown-up messages in them, and appeal to a diverse audience. Is this a new phenomena? When I was younger, were kids’ movies just fun for kids, or were there deeper meanings that I just didn’t see? I know that Looney Tunes had a lot of jokes for the grown-ups that I missed in the first go-around when I was nine. I know that Happy Feet was about more than dancing penguins.

What do you think of messages about culture, the environment, politics, human relationship, love, and loss being part of fun-loving cartoons? Which properties do you think have pulled it off well? Do our kids know they’re being taught about serious human issues, or do they just like the fun animation?

Whatever your take on it, go see the movie, read the review that got me thinking such deep thoughts at 9 am on a Friday, and tell us what you think!

Also, watch the trailer here.

–Jennifer Sinclair

Animals worldwide will be able to sit, stay and play while wearing the latest fashions from Paul Frank. Paul Frank Industries has partnered with 26 Bars & a Band, a modern pet accessory company, to manufacture a line of products inspired by Paul Frank’s signature design tradition.

The line includes accessories such as beds, charms, collars, and leashes. The products will be available for purchase at Paul Frank Retail Stores and boutiques that carry 26 Bars & a Band items in the United States, Canada, Europe, and Asia. The debut collection will hit stores this month. To celebrate the launch of the line, Paul Frank and 26 Bars & a Band will host a launch party in Los Angeles on June 27.

We are very excited about the Smurfs movie!

We don’t know much about it yet–only enough to know it’s going to be Snurftastic!

This Sony film is set to hit theaters July 29 of next year, and somehow brings the little blue guys into our world.

The newest and most exciting Smurf news is the newly release teaser trailer. Watch it here.

Janet Hsu, President of SANRIO, Inc., has announced the expansion of the company’s senior management team with three strategic executive appointments.

As Vice President of Brand Management and Marketing, Jill Koch is responsible for maintaining the integrity and identity of the SANRIO brand and its cast of characters including Hello Kitty. Koch will work closely with the design team on product development and brand extension. Ms Koch will continue to oversee the expansion of SANRIO’s unique co-brand initiatives and collaboration programs, as well as the management of public relations and marketing to build and drive consistent brand messaging. With SANRIO since 2002, Koch formerly held the title of senior director of brand management & marketing.

Cindy Elfenbein has been named executive director of retail business development.  In this newly created position, Elfenbein will develop new business opportunities with key retailers and create unique partnerships and promotions between SANRIO licensees and retailers. Elfenbein brings with her more than 20 years of experience in the retail, licensing, and entertainment industries. Prior to joining SANRIO, Elfenbein held senior management positions at Sony Pictures Entertainment, DIC Entertainment, and Warner Bros. Consumer Products.

Linh Forse has been promoted to senior licensing manager, responsible for the management of the company’s licensing partners in the U.S., Canada, and Mexico. Her focus will be on expanding distribution in the Canadian market and developing licensing programs for emerging characters. Forse has been with SANRIO since 2008 and was previously licensing manager. Prior to joining SANRIO, Forse held key licensing positions at Jakks Pacific and Brand Sense Partners.

Scholastic Media has announced that it is bringing its children’s apps from the iPhone and iPod touch to the iPad for the first time. The apps, based on Scholastic brands Clifford The Big Red Dog and I SPY, launched yesterday.

CLIFFORD’S BE BIG With Words is a word game for kids who love Clifford and love to learn. Based on the books and TV series from Scholastic that airs on PBS KIDS, the app encourages early readers to build their skills in spelling, phonics, and vocabulary as they spell words and are rewarded with pictures to show the words’ meanings.

I SPY Spooky Mansion takes players on a hidden object adventure through a scary and mysterious mansion where the only escape is to collect keys by solving I SPY riddles and searching through photorealistic I SPY scenes on the iPad.

Since their launch on the iPhone in fall 2009, both apps have consistently topped App Store lists, with I SPY Spooky Mansion ranking among the Top 10 Paid Kids Games and the Top 20 Paid Puzzle Games categories. CLIFFORD’S BE BIG With Words has been ranked among the Top 10 Paid Educational Games as well as the Top 25 Paid Kids Games since its release.