Licensing@Russia, the new expo that will take place in Moscow on March 14–16, has unveiled the floor and location plan. The event, which incorporates a trade show, conference, seminars, property presentations, and networking events, will run in the same pavilion and in the next-door hall of the Crocus Expo Centre as Toys & Kids Russia. In addition, Licensing@Russia will also run concurrently with the Skrepka Stationery Fair.

According to organizer Goran Krnjak, interest is running extremely high. “Since announcing the move to Russia we have been dealing with constant demands for information from the international licensing community,” Krnjak says.

Licensing@Russia presents an opportunity for anyone looking to become acquainted with the potential offered by the Russian licensing sector. The timing of the event also gives visitors the chance to enhance the value of their visit by attending a number of shows and tapping into the depth of expertise that will be available. For more information, visit www.licensingshowrussia.com or contact Goran Krnjak (goran@creata.hr).

New York City is slated to become the next stop on the global licensing circuit as the Toy Industry Association (TIA) launches its new Brand & Entertainment Showcase in February. Co-located with the 109^th American International Toy Fair, February 12-15, the showcase offers an impactful and convenient content connection for entertainment licensors and brand owners alike. The event provides opportunities for exclusive access to top-tier media, marketing agencies, and an audience of 30,000+ tradeshow guests from more than 90 countries. Adventure Publishing Group is the exclusive media partner of the Brand & Entertainment Showcase.

The new Brand & Entertainment Showcase satisfies increased demands from the licensing community to collaborate in a formalized setting at the show. Content providers will be able to simply show up and show off in small, private meeting spaces or large, public theaters. Turnkey presentation solutions and an audience of marketers ensure that all participants’ needs will be met.

As the largest and most important gathering for youth entertainment in the Western Hemisphere, Toy Fair last year welcomed an unprecedented surge in entertainment executives (+31 percent) and licensors (+8 percent). In 2010, licensed toys represented 25 percent of total industry sales.  In addition, the co-located Brand & Entertainment Showcase gives participants access to the important ancillary advertising, marketing, and promotion-oriented industries that are concentrated in and around the media epicenter of the world.

Adventure Publishing’s signature publications—The Licensing Book and The Toy Book—and its online communities will be a primary conduit of information and updates about the Showcase to the global community, and the key vehicles for brand advertisers during the event itself.

For more information about participating in TIA’s Brand and Entertainment Showcase, contact Jennifer Coleman, sales executive and producer (973.760.8181, jennifer@jcinc.biz); for information about advertising opportunities, please contact Jonathan Samet at Adventure Publishing (212.575.4510, jsamet@adventurepub.com).

Dress up your imagination with Rubie’s at Fall Toy Preview. The 2012 collection from the Rubie’s Dress Up Division will be on display from October 4-6 at Booth 501, on the 12th floor of Dallas Market Center. Make an appointment by calling 516-326-1500.

American Idol fans take note: a new book, cataloguing the past 10 years of the groundbreaking show, is now available. Licensed by FremantleMedia Enterprises and published by Abrams Image, American Idol: Celebrating 10 Years (The Official Backstage Pass) is designed as a yearbook and takes readers through each season up to the 2010 “class.” Know what Kelly Clarkson’s profession was prior to her American Idol fame or Fantasia’s biggest hit on the show? Find out this and more with the new book.

In other American Idol news, remember Brian Dunkleman? Well, he was Ryan Seacrest’s co-host on the first season of American Idol. He famously walked away from the show after the first season and, well, yeah…

My colleague Elizabeth Reid of The Toy Book and I got to meet Mr. Dunkleman at Toy Fair a few weeks ago while he was promoting Sky Ball League—a new coed game that combines basketball, volleyball and handball. Starting next month, the company will visit several U.S. cities with a televised competition looking for the best Sky Ball players. Elizabeth and I were not aware our interview with Dunkleman was being taped, but it was and here is the proof:  watch?v=ySSh9qKSSLw

Yesterday, I told you about some cool games that made their debut at Toy Fair. Today I bring you dolls and plush.

I remember as a kid, I had a teddy bear named Radar—the same name as Big Bird’s teddy bear on Sesame Street. As far as I know, the bear was not based on any particular movie, book or TV show and now, after years of love, it is quite worn out and barely even looks like a bear anymore. Kids today have the opportunity to take their favorite characters home with them in the form of cuddly plush and adorable dolls.

A few new licensed items in the plush and dolls categories include a Girl Scouts collection under the Adora brand from Charisma, and three new 18-inch dolls will be added to the Wizard of Oz collection. Both product lines will be available mid 2011.

Zoobies is also expanding its Eric Carle offerings and adding products featuring the Big Red Dog, Clifford.

Of course, we will bring you more on Toy Fair soon!

-Mackenzie Allison

Imagine a brightly lit, stadium-sized room filled with toys. Imagine four days walking down aisle after aisle of the hottest items to hit shelves in 2011, including adorable plush, every gadget and gizmo known to man, games, games and more games and even encountering a mascot or two. No, this wasn’t the best dream EVER, it was Toy Fair 2011 held at the Javits Center in New York City. This is where the toy industry comes to meet every year and show off what will inevitably be on every kids wish list come holiday season.

It’s a hard job, but someone has to do it and here are just a few of the hottest licensed products at Toy Fair.

GAMES

Bringing Home a Bit of Primetime TV and Big Screen Fun
Test your knowledge of everything Jersey Shore with a new trivia game from Cardinal Games. The new game, which hits shelves in March, is the perfect opportunity to impress your friends–and co-workers–with your knowledge of the MTV series.  Think the questions on Million Dollar Money Drop are a cinch? Well, the company will also debut a new board game based on the hit Fox show.

Pressman Toy is getting on the Smurf train with several new products based on the Columbia Pictures’ release, which hits theaters in August. The lineup includes a matching game, Race to Smurfs Village and a bingo-style game. Other big (and small) screen releases that translate to new product include an action-style game for Green Lantern, a Modern Family trivia game, and a new game for Happy Feet 2, where players fish for penguins.

From USAopoly, Pirates of the Caribbean will get a Yahtzee twist this year, as well as Glee and Family Guy. Other new products include Muppets Monopoly, Glee Cranium and a Three Stooges Yahtzee game.

There was so much to see at Toy Fair and this is just the first entry in our series on Toy Fair news. Stay tuned for more!

–Mackenzie Allison

The University of Missouri, my alma mater, is known for two things: having the first—and best—journalism school in the country and the distinction of having Brad Pitt as a former student…although he opted for Hollywood over earning a degree. However, the school has several other notable programs of study and a few more famous grads, including Beetle Bailey creator Mort Walker. A large statue of his iconic comic strip character even welcomes visitors to the Alumni Center.

I was instantly reminded of my days at “Mizzou” when I heard about the new clothing line inspired by Mr. Bailey. The Americana and military-infused menswear and accessories collection was created by fashion designers Darren Romanelli and Hitoshi Tsujimoto in conjunction with King Features Syndicate. The limited-edition line will be unveiled at PROJECT New York January 16-18.

As an added bonus, the fashion industry will salute Beetle Bailey with a comic strip retrospective exhibit and a special appearance by Mort Walker.

I wonder if Mr. Walker considers himself a trendsetter? I would love to see his fashion tips in the next alumni newsletter.

-Mackenzie Allison

On Tuesday, October 5 visitors to this year’s Fall Toy Preview in Dallas will have the opportunity to meet StinkyKids creator Britt Menzies. Originally conceived as a simple drawing of her daughter as a ballerina, StinkyKids evolved into several characters and a recognizable brand. A long roster of retailers carry the products, including Wal-mart.com, Nordstrom, Nordstrom.com, Fat Brain Toys Catalog, FAO Schwarz, FAO.com, FAO in Toys “R” Us, Target.com, Marshall Retail Group, Saks, MadameAlexander.com, Barnes & Noble, Borders and Books a Million. StinkyKids have nearly sold out on Amazon.com and now trading cards and bookmarks add to the list of offerings.

The company is seeking licensees in categories including toys/games, coloring books, jewelry, stickers, keychains, puzzles, gift & novelty, party paper products, and apparel and accessories.

The International Licensing Industry Merchandisers’ Association (LIMA) has announced its sponsorship of the Brand & Character Licensing Zone at the Creative Market Tokyo 2010 trade fair taking place at Tokyo Big Sight (Tokyo International Exhibition Center) October 13-15. Creative Market Tokyo (CMT) is a rebranding of the Licensing Asia and Tokyo Contents Market held last year. CMT is a one-stop solution trade fair offering a range of creative content featuring new and upcoming properties as well as long-established classics. CMT is an official Japanese government-backed CoFesta (Japan International Contents Festival) event. Co-Festa is the world’s largest comprehensive content festival encompassing games, animation, manga, characters, broadcasting, music, film, fashion, and design. Through CoFesta, CMT will benefit from extensive PR and exposure. New initiatives for CMT’s Brand & Character Licensing Zone include enhanced on-site presentation facilities for property launches, licensee meetings and press briefings, a property display gallery area, and a pre-show e-mail PR service to the trade fair visitor database. Returning programs for 2010 include the licensing awards ceremony, seminars, and complementary distribution of the licensing “Yellow Pages” directory. With a record attendance of nearly 10,000 trade visitors in 2009, CMT is the ideal platform for presenting properties to the Japanese licensing community. LIMA members that exhibit will receive a discount from the exhibition fee. More information on the Brand & Character Licensing Zone at CMT, including downloadable exhibition pamphlets and application forms in English, are available online. Alternatively, please contact the Creative Market Tokyo Brand & Character Licensing Zone Secretariat (Phone: +(81) 3 5282 8105 Fax: +(81) 3 5282 8478 Email: lcsasia@convention-info.net). For information on LIMA Japan, contact info@limajapan.org.

At Licensing Show, LIMA presented 16 International Licensing Excellence Awards recognizing the best and most successful licensed properties and products in seven categories: Art, Character/Toy, Corporate, Film/Television/Celebrity/Entertainment, Sports and Sports-Themed Entertainment, Promotion, and Retailer. Nominations were solicited from across the licensing industry and winners chosen by a vote of the LIMA membership.

All awards are based on calendar year 2009. The winners, by category, are:

ART

Best Art Program: Paul Frank

Best Art Licensee: LF USA’s Kids Headquarters Investments Division (for Paul Frank Apparel)

CHARACTER/TOY BRAND

Best Character/Toy Brand Program: Barbie (Mattel, Inc.)

Best Character/Toy Brand Licensee – Hard Goods: Digital Blue (for LEGO electronics)

Best Character/Toy Brand Licensee – Soft Goods: Mighty Fine (for Peanuts T-shirts)

CORPORATE

Best Corporate Brand Program: Food Network

Best Corporate Brand Licensee – Hard Goods: Creative Designs International, a Division of JAKKS Pacific, Inc. (for Black & Decker Junior role-play products)

Best Corporate Brand Licensee – Soft Goods: adidas Originals (for Vespa footwear and apparel)

FILM, TELEVISION, CELEBRITY OR ENTERTAINMENT

Best Film, Television, Celebrity or Entertainment Program: The Twilight Saga: New Moon

Best Film, Television, Celebrity or Entertainment Licensee – Hard Goods: Cardinal Industries, Inc. (for The Twilight Saga: New Moon The Movie Board Game)

Best Film, Television, Celebrity or Entertainment Licensee – Soft Goods: National Entertainment Collectibles Association (for The Twilight Saga: New Moon apparel and accessories)

SPORTS AND SPORTS-THEMED ENTERTAINMENT

Best Sports and Sports-Themed Entertainment Program: ESPN

Best Sports and Sports-Themed Entertainment Licensee: Electronic Arts (for FIFA videogames)

PROMOTION

Best Licensed Promotion: Scrabble at Subway (Hasbro, Inc.)

RETAILER

Best Retailer: Nordstrom (for The Twilight Saga: New Moon)

OVERALL BEST LICENSED PROGRAM OF THE YEAR

The Twilight Saga: New Moon (Summit Entertainment, LLC)