Sunrise Confections, a division of Mount Franklin Foods, LLC, is launching Annoying Orange Real Annoying Gummies and Fruit Snacks, based on The Annoying Orange YouTube series. The Sunrise Confections deal was brokered on behalf of The Collective by The Joester Loria Group, the licensing agent for The Annoying Orange brand.

Sunrise will release Annoying Orange Real Annoying Gummies in 3.5-ounce theater boxes and Real Annoying Fruit Snacks in boxes containing 10 0.8-ounce packages. Annoying Orange theater box gummies will be available in both everyday and seasonal designs, and will feature five flavors: orange, punch, apple, lemon, and grape.

Barbara Zobian, president of Candlelighters NYC, an organization helping children fight cancer, went to Dylan’s Candy Bar in NYC on February 15 for the world introduction of Hip Hop’s first official candy product, Micheck da Candy.  The candy-filled toy microphone plays positive, inspirational messages from Chuck D, and is the creation of CandyRific and Sensei Aaron, Chuck D’s first MC partner and former bodyguard. Barbara is embraced by Sensei Aaron (left) and Chuck D (right).

Trans-media entertainment company Atlantyca Entertainment has secured a licensing agreement with Italian confectioner Sorini S.p.A. for the manufacture and distribution of a new line of Geronimo Stilton Kingdom of Fantasy chocolate Easter eggs.

Under the new deal, Sorini will manufacture individual 280 gram chocolate Easter eggs with a surprise inside each egg, and small bags of six-gram chocolate Easter eggs with a surprise inside each bag. Rachele Geraci, Atlantyca’s licensing and agent manager, secured the deal which will result in products being introduced throughout Italy in time for Easter.

“We are pleased to be working with such a well-known company as Sorini on a new line of products that will serve to reinforce the Kingdom of Fantasy property’s position as a fixture among Italian pop culture this Easter,” said Mazzucco.

CandyRific has a hit with M&M’S Brand Star Wars novelties, especially the Light-Up Lightsaber, which, according to CandyRific President Rob Auerbach, is selling at a velocity of two-to-three times greater than other confectionery novelty items.

The company announced its license pairing Lucasfilm’s Star Wars with M&M’s Characters at a New York City event at Dylan’s Candy Bar in February. According to Auerbach, the excitement continues to build around these novelty items as fans gear up for the Blu-ray release of Star Wars: The Complete Saga in late September and the release of Star Wars Episode 1: The Phantom Menace in 3-D, which is the first of all six Star Wars films to be converted in 3-D, in February.

The Light-Up Lightsaber is CandyRific’s number one selling item, and its other M&M’S Brand Star Wars novelty items, including the fan, coin bank, and 9- and 12-inch dispensers are not far behind.

WME Announces Categories Available for Licensing

WME Licensing is looking for licensees for fashion designer Cynthia Rowley, in the bedding, social expressions, health and beauty aids, furniture, and children’s apparel categories; world-renowned health nutritionist Keri Glassman, in the health and beauty aids, food and beverage, fitness equipment, and activewear/sportswear categories; leading Latina chef Lorena Garcia, in all categories; and Survivor host Jeff Probst, in all categories.

—TLB Staff

There was a time when watching videos over the Internet was less a matter of choice than a matter of patience. But when a video with a crudely drawn Jesus Christ battling a crudely drawn Santa Claus circulated in 1995, people waited, watched… laughed. The follow-up to that animated short was a little series called South Park, which debuted on Comedy Central in August 1997.

With South Park set to celebrate its 15th season, Comedy Central will present the Ultimate “South Park” Fan Experience at Comic-Con in San Diego from July 21-24, as part of a $3-$5 million campaign to celebrate 15 years on the air, according to a New York Times report by Stuart Elliott. Corporate partners include Frito-Lay, who will be creating 1.5 million packages of the show’s own fast-food staple, Cheesy Poofs, to be sold at Walmart.

Previously, Comedy Central hosted a South Park 15th anniversary commemorative art show in New York City at the Opera Gallery. Artist Ron English chose 14 artists, along with himself, to create South Park-inspired artwork, some of which is quite good. (We recommend checking out a Flickr slideshow of the whole thing here.)

To celebrate this milestone, here’s Cartman singing his ad-libbed Cheesy Poofs anthem. Have a good weekend. Eat healthy.

—Bryan Joiner

If you were born in Boston, like I was, last night was not a good night to be a sports fan. Not only did the Red Sox get rocked (Lackey!), the Celtics lost their second-round NBA series to the Miami Heat.

We’re inclined to eat away our troubles with some of New York’s famous pizza. Of course, people in Miami, or Celtics-haters, might be celebrating with a pizza party. If they are, Pizza Prints can help them celebrate in style with an officially-licensed Heat pizza print for their pie.

It makes us sad, but we are not sore losers. Fair is fair.

—Bryan Joiner

Po is back, and he politely asks that you do not eat any of his friends.

Dreamworks announced its slate of licensees for Kung Fu Panda 2 this morning, headlined by an unusual partnership with House Foods America for branded tofu. There’s even a website featuring Po to preach the benefits of the product.

We’re pro-Po and pro-tofu, and we’re happy to see characters expanding further into healthy food licensing. If that’s where the money is, it’s good for everybody.

—Bryan Joiner

Mexico-based brewery Cuauhtémoc Moctezuma (CM) has partnered with Bradford Licensing. Bradford will implement a licensing program in the U.S. for the company’s brands.

This licensing partnership will enable Bradford to negotiate deals, lead the product development process and represent the trademarks with retailers on behalf of CM.

Universal Pictures and Walmart have announced a retail program tied to the upcoming live action/CG-animated comedy Hop, which hits theaters April 1.

The Story
Hop is a comedy about E.B. (voiced by Russell Brand), the teenage son of the Easter Bunny. On the eve of taking over the family business, E.B. leaves for Hollywood in pursuit of his dream of becoming a drummer. He encounters Fred (James Marsden), an out-of-work slacker with his own goals, who accidentally hits E.B. with his car. Feigning injury, E.B. manipulates Fred into providing him shelter, and Fred finds himself with the world’s worst houseguest.

The Program
Walmart customers can build Hop-themed Easter baskets, and visit the movie-inspired “Candy Factory,” with 100 exclusive licensed products, including candy, toys, activities and apparel from Garan, Topsville, Hershey’s, Frankford, Bakery Craft, Create a Treat, Keystone Bakeries, Kool-Aid, Country Time Lemonade, Kraft Mac & Cheese, Velveeta Shells & Cheese, Funrise, Dalmation Press and Townley.

The program begins tomorrow at more than 3,000 Walmart stores.

Walmart will also offer Hop-themed video games for the Nintendo DS, DSi and 3DS, greeting cards and children’s books.

Spuds Inc., a producer of organic and all-natural infant and toddler feeding products, and Discovery Communications will develop a line of feeding products for the brand TLC Baby.

As part of the agreement, Spuds will create a line of natural and organic infant and toddler essentials inspired by the network’s baby programming. The product line will be introduced to retailers this spring.