Classic Media signed new consumer products partners for Where’s Waldo? in the U.S. The new Where’s Waldo? program will hit retail timed to Waldo’s 25th anniversary, which commences this fall.

These new licensees join existing Where’s Waldo? partners, including Candlewick Press (publishing), Ludia (Apple mobile games), Gameloft (mobile games excluding Apple platforms), and Elope (costumes). Many of these licensees showed Where’s Waldo products at Toy Fair.

Techno Source, a division of LF Products and part of Li & Fung Limited, will be developing innovative Where’s Waldo? board games, puzzles, card games, and novelty items, including the original Where’s Waldo? search-and-find glitter wands.

Concept One Accessories will develop a diverse line of Where’s Waldo? fashion accessories for a wide variety of consumers. They will launch Where’s Waldo? bags, headwear, belts, wallets, and slippers that appeal to juniors, young men, and tweens.

Jem Sportswear and Awake will develop a line of fashion forward Where’s Waldo? fashion tops across all their divisions, including men, juniors, boys, and girls.

Alexander Doll Company, Inc. will commemorate Where’s Waldo’s 25th anniversary with a line of limited-edition dolls. The company will develop a collectible version of Where’s Waldo? soft dolls, vinyl dolls, and dolls with coordinating Where’s Waldo? accessories.

Virtual Greats will launch Where’s Waldo? virtual items online to reach a growing global virtual goods market. They can be purchased as virtual gifts/collectibles, or as elements used to enhance/accessorize user avatars and/or digital worlds.

Skinit, Inc. launched Where’s Waldo? electronic skins in November. The covers, referred to as “skins,” can be applied to a broad range of devices, including smartphones, laptops, MP3 players, gaming consoles, and everything in between.

WOWindows, LLC, manufacturer and exclusive online wholesaler of colored window posters for seasonal and special occasion decorating, has been granted a licensing agreement by Classic Media to expand its WOWindow Posters line with Casper the Friendly Ghost, the “Official Ambassador of Halloween,” and related characters as depicted in the original Harvey comic books. WOWindows, LLC plans to release two new designs in 2012: Casper the Friendly Ghost and Casper and the Ghostly Trio.

Casper the Friendly Ghost has been making friends around the world for generations. The star of thousands of comics (more than 100 million sold), hundreds of cartoon episodes, and a blockbuster Steven Spielberg film, Casper is beloved by audiences of all ages.

Big news out of Hollywood this morning, where MGM Studios announced that it has secured that it has secured the feature film rights to bring Classic Media’s Where’s Waldo to the screen in a live-action format.

Created by Martin Handford and first published in 1987, Where’s Waldo books have sold more than 55 million books worldwide and have been translated into more than 30 languages. Where’s Waldo games have been sold more than 4.6 million times for iPhone and iPad.

MGM’s Cassidy Lange, vice president of production, will oversee the project.

Classic Media, a global media company with a portfolio of some of the world’s leading family entertainment brands, today announced a further commitment from the BBC for the UK’s favorite postie and popular preschool television series, Postman Pat Special Delivery Service (SDS).

Following the launch of Postman Pat SDS in September 2008 with immediate critical and ratings success, Classic Media has received an acquisition for 26 x :15 minute episodes of Postman Pat’s special delivery adventures to air in 2013 on the BBC.

First introduced September 16, 1981, on BBC1, Postman Pat has the honor of being the longest running animated series on the BBC. This new commitment secures Postman Pat’s presence on the BBC through to 2018.

In his heroic new role as head of the Special Delivery Service, Postman Pat transports anything, anytime, anywhere with his fleet of new vehicles and high-tech gadgets. The new series will feature plenty more fun and adventure with Pat and his trusty sidekick Jess the Cat as they take on some of the most difficult deliveries yet.

“We’re delighted to be continuing this long-standing relationship with the BBC for Postman Pat,” says Chloe van den Berg, EVP, International, Classic Media. “As the longest-running animation series on the BBC, there is huge nostalgia and awareness over three generations for the nation’s favorite postie and the new series confirms the popularity of the refreshed SDS brand.”

This September, Postman Pat will celebrate his 30th birthday with a large-scale PR and marketing campaign including special events, TV, and radio appearances across the UK. Celebrations will be targeted at preschool fans along with their parents and grandparents who grew up with Postman Pat and his daily adventures in Greendale.

Mattel, the worldwide leader in the design, manufacture, and marketing of toys and family products, and Classic Media, a global media company with a portfolio of some of the world’s leading family entertainment brands, will celebrate the 30th anniversary of Masters of the Universe with the launch of a consumer products program for the iconic franchise that will include 30th anniversary apparel from Changes, costumes from Disguise, and a special 30th anniversary edition DVD box set from Mill Creek Entertainment. Publishing partners will be announced shortly.

The award-winning Masters of the Universe Classics toy line, featuring updated sculpts of vintage Mattel toys, will also continue throughout 2012 only on Mattycollector.com. The 2012 annual subscription will go on sale the week of San Diego Comic-Con starting July 22. Additionally, the 30th anniversary program will include interaction with the collector community through “FAN-atic” activities at Comic-Con International: San Diego and New York Comic Con.

“Masters of the Universe is an iconic franchise with a legacy that’s deeply rooted in fantastical storytelling which translates naturally to play experiences and products kids of all ages love,” says Michael Riley, VP, Franchise Development, Mattel. “In 2012 the property celebrates its milestone 30th anniversary allowing us to create a robust synergistic program that offers something for all fans.”

Changes will develop T-shirts, sweatshirts, thermals, track jackets, and fashion tops for men, women, and juniors. The company will also launch an accessory line based on the Masters of the Universe brand including wristbands, belts and belt buckles, key chains, and costume jewelry. In addition, Disguise is launching a line of Halloween costumes and accessories, including Skeletor, He-Man, and She-Ra adult costumes that will first be available this fall through a leading online retailer.

As part of the celebration, Classic Media will introduce a brand-new comprehensive Masters of the Universe style guide featuring retro artwork, all-new modern artist renderings, as well as a special 30th anniversary logo, all of which will be available this summer. Classic Media and Mill Creek Entertainment together will also release the complete series of He-Man and the Masters of the Universe in a special 30th anniversary edition DVD set. The collection will be available in fall 2012 and will include special bonus material along with other memorable content developed especially with collectors in mind.

Since the debut of Mattel’s toy line in 1982, Masters of the Universe has become a hugely successful franchise that continues to have a strong cult following to this day. In 1983, Filmation debuted the original television series, introducing fans nationwide to “By the power of Grayskull…I have the power!,” and in 1987 Warner Bros. released the first film based on the series, Master of the Universe, starring Dolph Lundgren, worldwide. In 1990, animated television series The New Adventures of He-Man launched, and in 2002, Cartoon Network premiered the most recent series, He-Man and the Masters of the Universe.

Classic Media has expanded the line of Lassie-branded pet products, including a renewed partnership with Sunshine Mills, Inc. (natural dog food and treats) and a new partnership with Silver One (pet beds and accessories).

Silver One will develop Lassie pet beds and throws, as well as dog bowls, leashes, toys and apparel. The line will debut at Global Pet Expo March 16-18, in Orlando, Florida.

Since 2007, Classic Media and Sunshine Mills have worked together to provide Lassie-branded natural dog food and treats. The line, Lassie Natural Way, includes dry dog food formulated for puppies, adult dogs or senior dogs, as well as biscuits and treats.

Classic Media and World Events Productions announced new consumer products partners in the U.S.  for the relaunch of the Voltron franchise.

Voltron will return to defend the universe with the all-new animated series, Voltron Force, set to debut on Nicktoons this summer, with consumer products in development from The Bentex Group, Inc., via their Extreme Concepts division (t-shirts/tops) and their Dreamwave division (swimwear/sleepwear), Rubie’s Costume Company (costumes), VIZ Media (kid’s graphic novels for Voltron Force) and Dynamic Forces (new comic books and graphic novels for classic Voltron).

The new partners join Mattel, which is developing master toy lines based on classic Voltron and new Voltron Force, and THQ, which will produce video games based on the Voltron franchise.