Zinkia Entertainment has entered into an agreement with Random House Children’s Books to develop a broad range of books for the U.S. and Canadian markets for its award-winning children’s brand Pocoyo.

Under the terms of the multiyear agreement, Random House will publish Pocoyo storybooks, leveled reader books, coloring and activity books, board/novelty books, and e-books (based on the published books in the referenced formats) in the English language. The first three books, to be published and available at retail this summer, include a Pocoyo storybook, coloring book, and board/novelty book.

Atlantyca Entertainment has signed China’s leading publisher, 21st Century Publishing House, to publish one million Geronimo Stilton books priced for children.

The agreement grants 21st Century Chinese-language rights to The Little Book of Nature, a book about ecology, for distribution to bookstores throughout China. The deal was brokered by Sara Wang, chief representative of Atlantyca’s foreign rights sales division office in Beijing.

The new book was created to attract Chinese children to visit bookstores and learn the principles of respect for nature and the environment from the words of Geronimo Stilton, Italy’s most famous mouse-author. One million Chinese-language books will be distributed throughout China at a value price designed to encourage young readers to experience the joys of reading.

C3 Entertainment, Inc., The Three Stooges brand owner, announced a new licensing agreement with Papercutz for both a Three Stooges Classic and a separate Three Stooges Movie deal.

Papercuts will reprint classic Three Stooges comics in a collector’s hardcover edition and for the film publish a movie based comic book at graphic novel length in both paperback and hard cover formats and e-versions. The to-market date is March, prior to the new movie release date of April 4.

“Getting the classic Three Stooges comics back out to the fans will be a very attractive collectible product and will also give new fans some terrific entertainment about the Stooges prior antics in this medium. The graphic novel style comic for the movie will be a terrific product addition, also in another medium, to the movie event for fans and this, too, will become an instant collectible,” says Ani Khachoian, C3’s Executive Vice President of Licensing & Consumer Products.

IDW Publishing and Nickelodeon has released the debut issue of the first Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles comic series, featuring the beloved “Heroes in a Half Shell,” now available in comic stores throughout North America. TMNT co-creator Kevin Eastman leads the creative team for the comic series. In addition to this new series, IDW will offer Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: The Ultimate Collection. Beginning in October with volume 1, The Ultimate Collection offers more than 300 pages of the best of the Turtles’ underground roots.

IDW and Nickelodeon have stated a long-term commitment to revitalize the universe of Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles comics and graphic novels It’s all part of a larger initiative to bring Turtles to a new generation of fans, starting with these new story lines that recapture the magic of the original Turtles comics and continuing in 2012, when Nickelodeon will premiere a new CG-animated version of the wildly popular Turtles franchise.

If the Turtle franchise is being revitalized and will hit the small screen soon, then I bet that a new Turtles movie won’t be far behind.

—Melissa Tinklepaugh

Penguin Plans Marketing Push for Legend

Penguin Young Readers will release the young-adult novel Legend at the end of November and is planning a marketing push, according to Barbara Chai’s article on WSJ.com. Penguin Group purchased the novel, the first of a planned trilogy by Marie Lu, in July 2010. The Penguin marketing team created an advanced copy that resembles a DVD package, with foldouts, a magnet, and bookmark, according to Chai.

Author Marie Lu created a Flash mini-game for the book, which Penguin will use in its online promotion and link to through Facebook advertising. CBS Films acquired the rights to the trilogy and any sequels or spin-offs.

PBS Announces News Series Inspired by Mister Rogers’ Neighborhood

PBS plans to launch production of Daniel Tiger’s Neighborhood, a new animated multiplatform series inspired by the PBS television series Mister Rogers’ Neighborhood.

Daniel Tiger is a 4-year-old in the new animated preschool series, where he talks directly to the home audience, inviting them into his world. As the first TV series produced by The Fred Rogers Company since Mister Rogers’ Neighborhood, Daniel Tiger’s Neighborhood will launch during fall 2012 on PBS Kids, along with a website that includes free interactive games for kids, online resources for parents and teachers, and other cross-platform content.

Daniel Tiger’s Neighborhood is based on the next generation of the original Mister Rogers’ Neighborhood characters, who have since grown up and have preschoolers of their own. Daniel Tiger’s Neighborhood stories revolve around Daniel Tiger, the son of the original Daniel Tiger, and his preschool friends. The series uses musical strategies grounded in Fred Rogers’ curriculum and music. “Daniel Tiger’s Neighborhood fills a critical gap in children’s media today: modeling the behaviors and habits that kids need in order to excel in formal learning settings—essentially, learning how to learn,” says Lesli Rotenberg, senior vice president of children’s media for PBS.

NBCUniversal Releases The Office Kit

NBCUniversal Television Consumer Products Group and Running Press Book Publishers partnered to create The Office Kit, available in-store and online at nationwide booksellers beginning tomorrow. The deal was brokered by JTMG, the agency of record for NBC programming.

The eighth season of The Office premieres in September. Honoring Dunder Mifflin’s finest boss and brightest office staff, the kit features Michael Scott’s “World’s Best Boss” coffee mug, Pam’s drawing of the Dunder Mifflin building, Angela’s Baby Jazz poster, Dunder Mifflin notepad, Dunder Mifflin mouse pad, Schrute Farms Beet Seed and Vance refrigeration magnets, Schrute Buck, and a 32-page full-color game collection.

—Melissa Tinklepaugh

The Muppets movie doesn’t hit theaters until November 23, but Disney is making sure everyone is aware that The Muppets are coming. The Muppets’ official trailer even declares: “Get ready for Muppet domination.” While four months away from release, the movie’s promotion relies on spoof marketing.

Coinciding with the July 22 release of Captain America, The Muppets’ marketing team rolled out a poster of Sam the Eagle as Captain America. We’ve also seen two other promotional posters this month, showing the whole Muppets gang back together. Enjoyable as those posters may be—who doesn’t smile from seeing a Muppet? —Captain America in Muppet form and Green Lantern Kermit have greater potential for retweets.

Disney released a Muppets teaser trailer parodying the Green Lantern film the day it hit theaters in June. Even if you’re weirded out by seeing Muppet feet, you have to admit Kermit makes a captivating Green Lantern in the accompanying poster.

Aside from the spoofs, plans have begun to roll out for the merchandise program. Little, Brown Books for Young Readers will launch a new Muppets publishing program this fall in conjunction with the film. The Muppets book program will comprise seven titles in an array of formats featuring Kermit the Frog, Fozzie Bear, Miss Piggy, and other favorite characters. Little, Brown Books for Young Readers’ launch consists of a junior novel that features eight pages of full-color photos from the film, two early readers, a giant sticker book, and a punch-out-and-play Muppet theater. The line also features a hardcover joke book perfect for holiday gift giving and the first in an original illustrated middle-grade series about a boy who wakes up as a Muppet.

Beginning August 23, Starbucks will have The Muppets: The Green Album available for purchase. Described as a tribute to the music of the Muppets, the album includes “Muppet Show Theme Song” recorded by OK Go, “Mahna Mahna” by The Fray, and “Bein’ Green” by Andrew Bird, among its 12 tracks. The album cover uses the artists’ names to form an image of Kermit’s face.

For those in New York City, the Museum of the Moving Image launched an exhibition and film screenings from July 16-January 16. Muppet fans can reminisce by watching the classic Muppets films dating back to 1979 and 1980s and the concept Muppet films of the 1990s—perfect preparation for Jason Segel’s approach to creating the upcoming film.

“I’ve just grown a little disappointed with ‘Muppets in the Old West,’ ‘Muppets Under Water,’ and all these weird concept movies,” Segel told MTV. “I just want to go take it back to the early ‘80s, when it was about the Muppets trying to put on a show. That’s what I’m trying to bring back.”

The Awl’s Elizabeth Stevens looks further at the evolution of The Muppets. And see The Licensing Blog’s roundup of The Muppets trailers.

Judge Rules Marvel Owns Copyright to Comics
In other licensing news, a federal judge in New York granted a summary judgment to Marvel Entertainment and its parent company, the Walt Disney Company, regarding their dispute with the heirs to comic book artist Jack Kirby, according to Michael Cieply’s article in The New York Times. The judge denied the Kirbys’ request for judgment against the two companies.

The ruling rejects the Kirby family’s claim to comics and characters, including the Fantastic Four, the Incredible Hulk, and the X-Men, created by Jack Kirby, and instead declares them as works for hire.

Fox Partners with Santa Cruz Skateboards

Twentieth Century Fox Consumer Products signed Santa Cruz Skateboards to produce a line featuring characters and iconography from The Simpsons. Available this fall, board designs include a custom Bart Simpson skateboard with his spiky-hared skull and cross bones on the base plate, and a board shaped like a can of Duff Beer. The line is geared toward the hardcore skater or collector.

—Melissa Tinklepaugh

We love Men in Black. We love Men in Black 2. If the pattern holds, we’ll love Men in Black 3, and licensees are starting to line up for the May 2012 Sony release. Jakks Pacific announced this morning that it has signed a master toy licensing agreement with Sony Pictures Consumer Products to manufacture, distribute, and market a line of toys and products based on the film.

The agreement covers the Men in Black franchise and includes action figures, accessories, playsets, role play, youth electronics, novelties, games and puzzles, and Halloween costumes. The line is planned to be released in spring 2012.

Men in Black 3 stars Will Smith and Tommy Lee Jones (which you knew), along with Josh Brolin.

Comic-Con Winners and Losers

Advertising Age’s Andrew Hampp has a big article up on Comic-Con winners and losers that we suggest you check out. Some winners include Warner Bros. Television and Sony Pictures, which plugged The Amazing Spider-Man and next summer’s Total Recall reboot. (Man, there’s a lot of Sony in the blog today.) Losers include Jon Favreau, director of Cowboys and Aliens, whose panel was overshadowed by a Game of Thrones panel… and whose Cowboys and Aliens ranked only No. 6 in the WebTrends analysis of movie buzz.

Mattel Co-Founder Dies

Elliot Handler, co-founder of Mattel, passed away last week at the age of 95.

The New York Times and others reported Handler’s death, which was due to heart failure. Handler and his wife, Ruth, started Mattel in 1945 and stayed there until they were forced out in 1975, the Times‘ Charles Duhigg reports.

It was Ruth Handler who pushed for Mattel to create a doll that looked like a “mature woman,” Duhigg writes, and thus Barbie was born, and named after the Handlers’ daughter. When Barbie’s male counterpart was created, he was named Ken, after the couple’s son.

—Bryan Joiner

Geronimo Stilton, one of the most successful series of children’s books, will be adapted for PSP, it was announced today. Geronimo Stilton The Kingdom of Fantasy: The Video Game will carry children and adults alike to the magical world depicted in the Kingdom of Fantasy.

Geronimo Stilton The Kingdom of Fantasy: The Video Game, exclusively for PSP, will be produced in collaboration with Sony Computer Entertainment España and developed by the Spanish studio Virtual Toys, and is set to be available in Spain and other key European markets at the end of the year.

The Video Game will maintain the spirit of the books and characters, while delivering distinctive graphic adventures full of riddles, optical illusions, enigmas, puzzles and brain teasers. Throughout its levels, Geronimo Stilton The Kingdom of Fantasy: The Video Game will generate unique and enriching experiences for both novice and expert players.

Fans will be able to guide Geronimo Stilton on his journey through kingdoms of fairies, mermaids, and dragons, among others, diving into a colorful world where friendship and family are the greatest treasures to have. Similar to the books, the game will be divided into seven levels designed to recreate each Fantasy Kingdom. In each one, players are required to take on ten different challenges in order to move forward in this spellbinding story.

With a new Alvin and the Chipmunks film release on the way this holiday season—Alvin and the Chipmunks: Chipwrecked!—Twentieth Century Fox Consumer Products, in conjunction with Bagdasarian Productions, kicks off a long-term merchandising program intended to support the franchise. The program includes seasonal rollouts of fresh product and unique styles with prime retail positioning and the exciting introduction of a new branding initiative based on The Chipettes, the adorable, fashionista, female rock stars of the group.

To meet consumer demand and keep the product fresh, Fox Consumer Products will continuously offer new character art and graphics with themes tied to key retail selling windows such as back-to-school, holiday, and spring. The spring look will include a “Chipwrecked” island theme inspired by both the new film and the season. An everyday look is also available for year-round business. Some of the kid-favorite themes include: rock ‘n’ roll, sports, cheerleading, and nautical.

To fuel this campaign at retail, Fox Consumer Products has aligned with a wide range of partners to produce new product consistently throughout the year. New partners on board include Just Play LLC, who will create basic, feature, and novelty plush lines, with Vivid Imaginations as the as the UK distributor for the product. Santa’s Best will introduce holiday seasonal goods for the new film, while Gipsy has partnered for a specialty plush line in France.

In the interactive space, Majesco will take the lead once again with a follow-up Alvin and the Chipmunks: Chipwrecked video game, based on the upcoming film. Ty will continue to produce their own special lines in the toy category, while Build-A-Bear Workshop will return with its top-selling line of stuffable plush featuring Alvin and Brittany and pre-stuffed plush of the other main characters.

HarperCollins also rejoins for a wide publishing program that will include beginning readers, novelizations, sticker books, and storybooks. They will be accompanied by Bendon Publishing, which will publish a line of activity, board, and coloring books along with flashcards and workbooks.  Editora Alsto Astral will introduce a book program in Brazil.

Apparel and accessories form the cornerstone of the merchandising program and include a robust offering of items: Tees, sets, outerwear, swimwear, sleepwear, headwear, bags, rainwear, hosiery, and footwear for both boys and girls from leading companies in both the U.S. and Canada, such as Isaac Morris Limited, H.E.R. Accessories, Berkshire Fashions, Accessory Innovations, JCorp, SGI, and SG Footwear.

Other key partners include Hallmark, which will create a comprehensive  line of greeting cards, ornaments and giftwrap, and Kellogg’s continues with its top-selling line of branded fruit snacks. When released in support of Alvin and the Chipmunks: The Squeakquel, the fruit snacks marked the brand’s first foray in the food category.

To fully capitalize on world’s love affair with the adorable Chipettes, Fox Consumer Products is focusing on the wholesome and cute, yet sweet and sassy attitude of Brittany, Jeanette, and Eleanor for a line of accessories, toys, and more. Always a favorite among girls, Fox Consumer Products is dedicating a strong program that will introduce The Chipettes as never before at retail to reach this most enthusiastic fanbase.

Spin Master Ltd. and Penguin Group have partnered to bring the hundreds of unique and colorful characters from Spin Master’s Zoobles toy line to a publishing program debuting next spring.

Available across all tiers of retail distribution, the program will feature readers, storybooks, color and activity books, and a collector’s guidebook based on Zoobles, the adorable little characters that spring to life from small colorful balls to form cute, quirky, and sometimes mischievous creatures when placed on their “Happitat.”

Since quickly emerging as the breakout girls’ toy brand of 2010, Zoobles continue to make gains in the small doll category at retailers nationwide. Throughout the year, Spin Master will add all-new characters as well as unique features and accessories to the toys that will enhance young girls’ play. Spin Master will also add to the Zoobles’ content-rich website, www.Zoobles.com, by periodically unveiling new Zoobles Lands, as well as providing exclusive first looks at new Zoobles, fun mini-games, contests, and free downloads.